Protect Democracy’s Ian Bassin: Freedom Is Still Up to Us

Protect Democracy’s Ian Bassin: Freedom Is Still Up to Us

Author: Interfaith Alliance August 9, 2026 Duration: 58:18
Is the chaos of today’s American politics accidental? Not at all, according to Protect Democracy Executive Director Ian Bassin. This week, he tells host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush about the seven-point playbook of modern authoritarians - and how to counter it. Ian also describes the three "d" strategy to attack democracy: Deceive, Disrupt, and Deny. He also shares a Protect Democracy resource for understanding and defeating this strategy, the Executive Override Report, available at protectdemocracy.org/DDD August 11th is National Poll Worker Recruitment Day,  and the website Powerthepolls.org contains a wealth of information about getting involved, hands-on, in our electoral system – and our democracy. More about Ian Bassin You may recognize Ian’s name from a powerful Ted Talk titled, How to spot authoritarianism — and choose democracy. He’s a former White House counsel and 2023 MacArthur Fellow, and Founder and Executive Director of Protect Democracy, which works to defeat authoritarian tactics and build a stronger, fairer democracy. Protect Democracy partnered with Interfaith Alliance to produce a moving series of advertisements promoting the message “Choose Love, Not Ice”, and the article co-authored by Ian Bassin and Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is titled, We Need A New Great Awakening. The State of Belief host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is President and CEO of Interfaith Alliance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hosted by Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, The State Of Belief is a weekly conversation that lives at the intersection of faith and public life, presented by the Interfaith Alliance. Each episode brings together a thoughtful and often surprising mix of voices-from religious leaders and activists to artists and civic strategists-for discussions that are as engaging and humorous as they are deeply meaningful. These dialogues move beyond abstract theory, offering a grounded look at how spiritual wisdom informs practical action and political engagement in real time. Tuning in, you’ll hear a potent blend of personal stories, strategic insight, and hopeful analysis from people working on the front lines of communities nationwide. The podcast operates from a simple but vital premise, captured in its tagline: “Where Religion and Democracy Meet.” It’s a space designed not for debate, but for exploration, examining how diverse beliefs shape our collective pursuit of justice and democracy. If you’re looking for a source that takes the pulse of faith in America with intelligence, warmth, and a sense of urgency, this is the series for you.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The State Of Belief
Podcast Episodes
Democracy As a Theological Statement with Rebecca Solnit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:37
This week, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush welcomes Rebecca Solnit—prolific writer, best-selling author, activist, and public intellectual. With 25 books to her credit—so far—Rebecca's latest is titled The Beginning…
What We Know About Christian Nationalism with Robert P. Jones [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:02
How deeply has Christian Nationalism penetrated American society? It’s clearly a driving force in our government, but what about ordinary people across the country? With an enormous sample size, the Public Religion Resea…
History as Fuel: Reza Aslan on the latest Iran War [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:38
We’ve been looking at the war on Iran through the wrong lens, according to Iranian-American religion scholar Reza Aslan. It’s tempting to think that economic sanctions or military strikes will change Iran’s course overni…
The Downward Arc of Donald Trump, With Ruth Ben-Ghiat [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:18
Virility and victimhood – how do these seemingly opposite characteristics prop up strongman leaders throughout recent history? Expert and best-selling author Dr. Ruth Ben-Ghiat connects the dots in a conversation full of…
The Epstein Files as a Mirror, With Rabbi Jay Michaelson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:47
As exhausted as many of us are by the ever more sordid revelations in the Epstein scandal, author and journalist Rabbi Jay Michaelson says its importance is only growing. Joining host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush on th…
Faith in Action: Bishop Dwayne Royster's Call to Justice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:26
In a time of mounting division and injustice, faith isn’t just a personal refuge—it’s a call to step up and speak out. This week, host Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush is joined by Bishop Dwayne Royster, Executive Director…
The Light We Give: Simran Jeet Singh on Courage and Community [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:25
What does courage look like on the ground? For many faith leaders and everyday citizens, it involves showing up despite risks, discomfort, or opposition. Dr. Simran Jeet Singh, scholar and activist, describes courage roo…
Jewish-Muslim Solidarity: Moral Witness in Pressing Times [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:29
It’s not a zero-sum game. This week on The State of Belief, interfaith organizer Maggie Siddiqi makes clear that coming together to counter antisemitism and Islamophobia is an essential part of the effort to protect Amer…