Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation
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harvardash.bsky.social
Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation
@harvardash.bsky.social
200 followers 63 following 170 posts
The Ash Center is @harvardkennedy.bsky.social's hub for research and teaching on democracy.

https://ash.harvard.edu/
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harvardash.bsky.social
“To understand the potential impacts of AI on democracy, we must always think beyond the capabilities and innate properties of AI, and focus on the systems, incentives, and political forces within which the AI is built, deployed, and wielded over time.”

time.com/7331883/how-...
How AI Will Transform Democracy
AI "tools can be exploited by people who want to make democracy more authoritarian," write Schneier and Sanders.
time.com
November 10, 2025 at 7:43 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
Lawrence Lessig discusses ongoing litigation regarding campaign finance regulation in Maine. “We need to start thinking seriously about how we bring constitutional reform through this process that involves citizens as opposed to lawyers and politicians.”

bowdoinorient.com/2025/11/07/h...
Harvard Law professor Lawrence Lessig discusses the strategy for ongoing Maine campaign finance litigation – The Bowdoin Orient
bowdoinorient.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:27 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
Ruth Greenwood joins the Touro Law Review podcast to discuss legal and political responses to gerrymandering and challenges to the Voting Rights Act in recent history.

youtu.be/Zibe_ZRkka4?...
Drawing the Lines: Gerrymandering and Election Law
YouTube video by Touro Law Center
youtu.be
November 7, 2025 at 6:10 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
Pita Limjaroenrat delivers the State of Asia Address at Asia Society Switzerland and the University of Zurich. “The question now is whether Asia, like Europe once did, can build its own frameworks for peace and cooperation before conflict defines them.”

asiasociety.org/switzerland/...
State of Asia Address 2025
On the eve of our flagship STATE OF ASIA Conference, we are hosting our public State of Asia Address with Pita Limjaroenrat, former Prime Minister-designate of Thailand, in collaboration with the Univ...
asiasociety.org
November 7, 2025 at 5:34 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
Freddy Guevara comments on Venezuela’s current political atmosphere “amid heightened U.S. military presence near Venezuela and reports that the Trump administration is considering military action in the country.”

www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Venezuelan Opposition Leaders Say Military Support May Be Last Resort at IOP Forum | News | The Harvard Crimson
Former Venezuelan National Assembly deputy Miguel A. Pizarro said he supports potential U.S. military intervention in Venezuela during a panel at the Institute of Politics Wednesday evening.
www.thecrimson.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:33 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
Nicholas Stephanopoulos comments on the federal lawsuit filed by California Republicans over the state’s recently approved congressional maps, with the suit claiming “the maps are unconstitutional because they improperly rely on race to draw districts.”

www.newsmax.com/newsfront/re...
www.newsmax.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:30 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
Linda Bilmes assesses the long-term costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, estimating “the cost of disability benefits for the Iraq and Afghanistan generation would reach between $1.3 trillion and $1.5 trillion by 2050.”

Read more here ⤵️
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
The trouble with US veterans benefits isn’t ‘rampant’ fraud – it’s bureaucratic roadblocks, advocates say
Veterans groups say recent Washington Post stories on VA disability payments paint a misleading picture. The paper stands by its reporting
www.theguardian.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:38 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
Eric Maskin on public education to inform voters: “For the public to be willing to vote for change, they have to be educated. They have to understand why the current system, the old system, is flawed, and why the new proposal for reform is better.”

thewellesleynews.com/21886/news/n...
Nobel laureate Eric Maskin and leading scholars attend Wellesley’s mathematics and democracy conference
From Oct. 15 to Oct. 17, researchers, democracy advocates, and students gathered at Wellesley College for the “Social Choice: Theory and Computation Conference” hosted by Institute for Mathematics and...
thewellesleynews.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:14 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
“The city’s experience demonstrates that when technology, process and culture evolve together with a focus on service quality, successes and satisfaction naturally follow,” shares Stephen Goldsmith, on how digital products can streamline local services.

www.govtech.com/gov-experien...
San Antonio Digitizes Permitting, Focuses on Customer Service
By investing in streamlined technology tools and taking a collaborative approach to working with the development community, San Antonio's permitting and inspections process has better outcomes for sta...
www.govtech.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:31 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
Tune in to today’s episode of “Terms of Engagement” on YouTube at 12 pm ET!

www.youtube.com/live/pcI8HDD...
How will a lapse in federal food assistance impact millions of Americans?
YouTube video by Harvard Ash Center
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 4:12 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
Archon Fung joins The George Washington Institute’s “Friends and Fellow Citizens” podcast to discuss public participation and transparency in democratic governance.

Listen here ⤵️
georgewashingtoninstitute.org/programs/fri...
Friends & Fellow Citizens - George Washington Institute
georgewashingtoninstitute.org
November 3, 2025 at 8:56 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
“We have allies for a reason. We need their support and we need it both economically and we need it from a security perspective,” shares Jeanne Sheehan Zaino, on U.S.-Canada relations.

jeannesheehanzaino.substack.com/p/canada-was...
Canada Wasn't Lying: Reagan Opposed Tariffs
27 October 2025
jeannesheehanzaino.substack.com
November 3, 2025 at 5:29 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
Stephen Richer joins Katy Tur on MSNBC to speak to election security in the United States in advance of the 2026 midterms.

Watch here ⤵️
www.msnbc.com/katy-tur/wat...
MI Secy. of State gives stark warning about midterms: 'These threats are real'
With the 2026 midterm elections approaching soon, questions are growing about the future of our democracy. A new report from The Atlantic warns that President Trump’s “plan to subvert the midterms is ...
www.msnbc.com
November 3, 2025 at 3:37 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
“ … The United States has everything … to build and strengthen the civil society response to what’s happening, to uphold the institutions that need upholding, and to renew and improve the institutions that need renewal and improvement.”

paulkrugman.substack.com/p/talking-wi...
Talking With Erica Chenoweth
Civil resistance: Does it work, and when?
paulkrugman.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 5:22 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
Changes to Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act may pave the way for several redrawn congressional maps across the country. Nicholas Stephanopoulos suggests the redistricting could “decimate minority representation in the House.”

www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcn...
Louisiana Republicans delay election calendar to prepare for possible redistricting effort
If the Supreme Court weakens the Voting Rights Act, Louisiana lawmakers could have an opportunity to draw new maps further boosting the GOP.
www.nbcnews.com
October 30, 2025 at 5:14 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
Erica Chenoweth joins Stacey Abrams on her podcast “Assembly Required” to discuss protest and nonviolent civil resistance in today’s political climate.

Listen here ⤵️
crooked.com/podcast/how-...
How 3.5% of People Can Change Everything | Crooked Media
crooked.com
October 30, 2025 at 3:14 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
Danielle Allen speaks to the current state of civics education in the United States, noting how government investments in education since World War II have “prioritized funding science, technology and math education over civics and social studies.”

www.knoxnews.com/story/news/c...
UT's Institute of American Civics receives $2 million grant | Georgiana Vines
Money to expand civics education programs, incorporate celebration of 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
www.knoxnews.com
October 29, 2025 at 6:53 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
In a recent article, Bruce Schneier and Nathan E. Sanders sketch a vision for ethical AI application in science and research, exploring how responsible deployment of the technology can “advance the public good.”

Read here ⤵️

spectrum.ieee.org/responsible-ai
Scientists Need a Positive Vision for AI
Scientists have a unique role in guiding AI's future. Learn how they can steer it towards ethical and equitable outcomes.
spectrum.ieee.org
October 29, 2025 at 5:41 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
In a recent opinion piece, Stephen Richer assesses the escalation of “hateful rhetoric” in politics, examining the role individual political leaders can play in responding to inflammatory discourse.

www.azcentral.com/story/opinio...
Condemning 'hateful rhetoric' needs to start from the top | Opinion
Top party leadership and its response matter when party members engage in "toxic politics," as what happened with hateful text messages.
www.azcentral.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:28 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
Stephen Richer joins MSNBC to discuss election integrity in the United States. “Continue to believe in the rule of law … the courts have shown consistently after 2020, after 2022, after 2024 … our elections have been fair.”

www.msnbc.com/katy-tur/wat...
Trump's new election integrity team includes 2020 deniers
President Trump's new election integrity team at the Department of Homeland Security includes 2020 election deniers who worked to overturn the results in Georgia and Pennsylvania. MSNBC Legal Correspo...
www.msnbc.com
October 28, 2025 at 5:47 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
Tune in to today’s episode of “Terms of Engagement,” live on YouTube at 12pm ET.

Watch here ⤵️
www.youtube.com/live/oCst9HP...
From Congress to Kitchen Tables: Understanding the Impact of the Government Shutdown
YouTube video by Harvard Ash Center
www.youtube.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:49 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
Join us on November 3rd to discuss how the Las Vegas Raiders turned Allegiant Stadium into a voting location during the 2024 presidential election, harnessing sport to strengthen civic engagement.

@scottpioli51.bsky.social

ash.harvard.edu/events/winni...
Winning as a Team: How the Las Vegas Raiders are Supporting Civic Engagement – Ash Center
In these times, sports are among just a few things that bring tens of millions of Americans together with a shared sense of joy and belonging. As a result, more than ever, teams have a role to play in...
ash.harvard.edu
October 27, 2025 at 7:40 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
“Universities in the United States … have a true identity that allows for a lot of collective action potential. … If we can continue our voice, I think that’s going to be a powerful pushback,” shares Ryan Enos.

newrepublic.com/article/2021...
Elite Colleges Grow a Spine and Reject Trump’s Authoritarian “Compact”
Harvard’s Ryan Enos argues that Trump’s demolition of the East Wing is the latest step in making America a “competitive authoritarian” nation as opposed to a full-fledged democracy.
newrepublic.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:23 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
“Think of it as a tool — a powerful tool, a power-enhancing tool. … Technology is not going to save us. You’re in charge of picking people,” shares Bruce Schneier, on artificial intelligence as a resource to inform voters.

www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Tech Experts See Artificial Intelligence as a Key Resource Ahead of Local Elections | News | The Harvard Crimson
Schneier and Sanders, a Harvard Kennedy School lecturer, co-authored the book “Rewiring Democracy” that was released on Oct. 21. The two appeared at a Cambridge Public Library panel to share more abou...
www.thecrimson.com
October 27, 2025 at 3:29 PM
harvardash.bsky.social
A recent article highlights a new Nonviolent Action Lab report finding protests in 2025 to be “likely the most geographically widespread in U.S. history,” surpassing records set during Trump’s first term.

Read more ⤵️
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
Why the ‘No Kings’ Protests Matter
Huge demonstrations won’t translate into immediate political results, but there’s a reason the president is so bothered by them.
www.theatlantic.com
October 23, 2025 at 6:16 PM