You Might Be Right

Hyrum Lewis, a history professor, and Verlan Lewis, a political science expert, dive into their groundbreaking book, arguing that the political labels of 'left' and 'right' are more about tribal loyalty than coherent philosophies. They explore how political positions shift over time and how polarization is fueled by media and online interactions. The duo also discusses the limits of the left-right spectrum, using Trump as a case study, and shares practical steps for fostering healthier political discourse.

Rachel Kleinfeld, an expert in international relations and senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, dives deep into America's political polarization. She highlights the surprising ideological agreements among citizens despite intense animosity. The discussion reveals how elected officials often hold more extreme views than the public. Solutions like ranked-choice voting and fostering civil discourse are proposed to bridge divides, along with a poignant look at how the decline of local news affects community engagement.

Two years and over 200,000 downloads later, "You Might Be Righ"t has inspired listeners nationwide. To mark this milestone, we invited our most avid listeners to ask Governors Bredesen and Haslam questions about the podcast, their time in office, and current hot topics.

Nearly a year after the first You Might Be Right episode on AI, Michael Kratsios, former U.S. Chief Technology Officer, joins Governors Bredesen and Haslam to revisit this rapidly evolving topic. They discuss recent AI developments, its societal impact, and America's role in global tech leadership.

Frank Fahrenkopf, co-chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates, joins Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss the history of televised presidential debates, his reaction to two major party campaigns agreeing to debates this year without the Commission's involvement, and the future of these essential civic events.

Governors from Utah and Colorado discuss 'Disagree Better' initiative, emphasizing civil discourse. They explore bridging divides, bipartisan collaboration, and finding common ground. Topics include polarization, immigration problem-solving, and respectful dialogue in politics.

Historian Allen Guelzo of Princeton University and political scientist Daniel Ziblatt of Harvard join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to delve into our presidential election process, its history, and arguments for (and against) reform.

Natalie Allison, national political reporter for Politico, and Dan Balz, Chief Correspondent for The Washington Post, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to examine the evolving role of traditional media in a modern presidential campaign.

Dan DiSalvo, a political scientist and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and Bill Galston, a senior fellow at Brookings and Wall Street Journal columnist, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss our two-party system and if a third-party candidate for president can be successful.

Galen Druke, host and producer of the FiveThirtyEight Politics podcast and Jonah Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief of The Dispatch and host of The Remnant podcast, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to explore the modern presidential primary system – how it evolved, how it works, how it has changed politics, and if it ultimately reflects the will of the people.