How can EU Member States ensure that justice systems are not only efficient, but also trusted by their citizens? 

In this episode of the Liberal Europe Podcast, Ricardo Silvestre (Movimento Liberal Social) sits down with Dr. Georgios Archontas, political philosopher and economic theorist, to explore the findings of the ELF policy paper Strengthening Justice Effectiveness in the EU Member States Measuring Quality and Perceptions Leading to Better Administration. Together, they discuss how improving the quality of justice and addressing public perceptions can lead to stronger institutions and better governance across Europe.

This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in collaboration with Movimento Liberal Social and Fundacja Liberté!, with the financial support of the European Parliament. Neither the European Parliament nor the European Liberal Forum are responsible for the content or for any use that be made of.

How Effective Is Justice System Across Europe? with Georgios Archontas

Abayomi Azikiwe, a long-time Detroit activist and publisher of the Pan-African Newswire, spoke with WORT's Zoe Sullivan about the role labor unions can play in defending democracy.

Abayomi Azikiwe on how unions can defend democracy

2020 was a pivotal moment in American history. We disappeared into our homes and came out a divided nation. That’s the backdrop for Eddington. Ari Aster, the writer/director best known for horror movies like Hereditary, at first seems like an unusual voice to contribute to the discussion. But maybe only a master of horror can get to the roots of the real-life horror movie we’re living through in 2025.

Joaquin Phoenix plays Joe, a sheriff of the fictional town of Eddington. Joe is a lone man fighting against a world spinning increasingly out of his control. He has problems in his marriage (his wife is played by Emma Stone). He can’t stand the Covid restrictions because his asthma makes masks hard to breathe in. And he’s frequently at odds with the liberal mayor of the town, Ted (Pedro Pascal). So Joe decides to take matters into his own hands by running for mayor himself.

Eddington doesn’t fit neatly in any particular genre. Western? Dark comedy? Thriller? Ari Aster certainly brings the same suspense and dread we’ve come to expect from his horror roots. In fact, Eddington may just be a horror movie in its own right, made all the more frightening by the fact that it’s real.

Join Jon and Tim as they discuss podcasting at night, the best Brewers season ever, Pedro Pascal in everything, the hell of polygamy, why The Great is great, old movie theaters, Emma Stone’s quirky choices, the best horror movie of the 2000’s, Ari Aster’s filmography, the 2020 inflection point, social media algorithms, how to participate in democracy, filling the void in your heart with power, the coalition of people who have given up on planet earth, and how to love your neighbor in a country split in two.

Eddington

This is the sixth episode of Overcoming Polarisation: Paths to Common Ground, a podcast series from Debating Europe, Friends of Europe’s citizen engagement unit. In this episode, we’re unravelling equity’s many facets, analysing this delicate moment in time and looking for a stronger tomorrow. 

Europe is feeling fractured. Whether it’s politics, climate, tech, or trust in institutions, more and more people are feeling left out, unheard, and uncertain about the future. But what if we could flip the script? What if instead of fuelling division, we looked for common ground? 

In this series, we’re diving into the real issues behind polarisation. Economic inequality, climate anxiety, digital disruption, and bringing together voices from across the spectrum. From policymakers, activists, business leaders, and most importantly, citizens’ voices via our latest study “Voices for Choices”. 

In today’s show, host Sabina Șancu spoke with Nadia Calviño, president of the European Investment Bank, about many of the things that worry young people: future opportunities, housing, the environmental crisis, AI. 

In the second part of the episode, coordinator of the Jacques Delors think tank institutes Pascal Lamy reflects on the balance between public and private sectors and the need to adapt democracy to modern times. 

If you want to comment on this episode you can send us an e-mail: press@friendsofeurope.org 

Policy Voices | (Re)building competitiveness across social divisions

SCORE pdf [51Mb] is here http://www.picture-poems.com/pdfs/first-amendnent_panelaco.pdf

Can be performed in any way that fits the occasion. All it takes is one mater frummer who knows the 75-step pattern by heart; One run through is one minute. You can break the pulse, and do it as a CALL & RESPONSE People’s Mike. OrYou can march & drum in formation down 5th Avenue!

SEE ALSO the other panelaço of the set, IN OUR AMERICA…https://soundcloud.com/cliff-crego/in-our-america-panelacoa-pots-pans-music-of-protest

FIRST AMENDMENT panelaço:—A Pots & Pans Protest Music

What are the polls telling us about the forthcoming October election in the Czech Republic? Will Andrej Babiš come back to power? What are some of the issues and scandals that dominate the political debate ahead of the election? And what will be the Czech position on Ukraine, the NATO, and security under the new government?

Leszek Jazdzewski (Fundacja Liberte!) talks with Martin Ehl, a journalist and writer, a reporter of Czech economic daily Hospodářské noviny (hn.cz) since 2001; since January of 2006 till June 2018 Chief International Editor, now Chief Analyst. He was previously working in various Czech written media since 1992. He is also a Senior Fellow at the Visegrad Insight (visegradinsight.eu), and a council member of the European Council on Foreign Relations. He is covering primarily Central Europe, transatlantic relations, security issues, and business related to defense and energy. Tune in for their talk!

This podcast is produced by the European Liberal Forum in collaboration with Movimento Liberal Social and Fundacja Liberté!, with the financial support of the European Parliament. Neither the European Parliament nor the European Liberal Forum are responsible for the content or for any use that be made of.

Parliamentary Election in the Czech Republic with Martin Ehl

An interview about how caring for one's nervous system helps sustain one in front-line solidarity work.

Self-Care on the Front Lines

I think the message is clear. I'm just annoyed by what's going on at the moment, it's so absurd, this song just had to be made. This seems naive, but it could all be that simple. So I intentionally kept it this naive and childlike!

Democracy Will Win

The media make an urgent case that democracy is threatened and autocrats are gaining ground. Democracy fatigue is in large part attributable to an inherently slow process, requiring many compromises and engagement by citizens. I argue that we are not helpless and offer action strategies to make the effort required to maintain democracy more palatable.

Four actions to support a sustainable democracy

Two centuries on, Alexis de Tocqueville’s brilliant Democracy in America remains the most prescient account of the virtues, and potential dangers, of our politics and culture. How do Tocqueville’s insights illuminate current events and political trends, both at home and abroad?

Join four distinguished scholars for a lively debate on the continued resonance of this enduring masterpiece: Yale professor Joanne Freeman (acclaimed author of The Field of Blood: Violence in Congress and the Road to Civil War), Pulitzer Prize–winning NYU historian Steven Hahn (Illiberal America: A History), Harvard’s James T. Kloppenberg (Toward Democracy: The Struggle for Self-Rule in European and American Thought), and Olivier Zunz, Commonweath Professor at the University of Virginia and editor of the definitive LOA edition of Democracy in America, featuring Arthur Goldhammer’s celebrated translation.

Reading Democracy in America Now

I mostly write my lyrics myself, always completely randomly, and produce the songs with the help of AI. That's just because I can't really sing and AI is therefore a good tool for realizing ideas. Technology is not my intention, it's the music.

Besides, I don't do this for money or anything like that; it's purely a hobby. It's important to me that people listen to the songs honestly if they like them.

Composer. Writer. Photographer. Former conductor & founder of the ASKO ensemble.

On a bike/ski/hike trek of the Pacific Northwest studying native plants & climate breakdown 🌲 from sagebrush sea to whitebark pine. Composing off-grid the whole way.

#Sun2Sound 🌕 on Bluesky

THINKING LIKE A STONEPINE, a soundpoem manifesto https://vimeo.com/844665859

“LOVE & WATER, three thought poems w/ coda, PHAROS for small orchestra, “Nightwind”” https://vimeo.com/847079690 

CURRENTLY on mt bike/ski/climbing trek through Pacific Northwest, working on a photobook about WHITEBARK PINE COLLAPSE and CLIMATE CRISIS. BASES in the WALLOWAS | AMSTERDAM | ALPS. 

WEEKLY photo/poetry updates at www.picture-poems.com & THE CIRCLE IN THE SQUARE new music, poetry & dance performance project at www.cs-music.com

ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT for progressive, tech-savy, instrumental virtuosi interested in dialogue & collaborative undertakings.

CONTACT cliff@picture-opoems.com
Or on SKYPE or FACETIME @cliffcrego

MUSIC? The one thing humans do,
that makes the rest of nature jealous.

Beyond UBC is where you’ll find stories relevant to your daily life. Powered by UBC Brand and Marketing, our award-winning content is sourced from research experts at the University of British Columbia. We aim to provide a deeper understanding of today’s issues and offer solutions to help shape a better world. We support UBC researchers by helping to make their research relatable to the general public, so that it makes a real impact.

Library of America is a nonprofit publisher and cultural organization dedicated to preserving America's best and most significant writing.

The days of counting swear words are over.  Welcome to a fresh voice in film and faith.  Join Cinema Faith founder Jonathan Butrin and cinephile Tim Nelson as they discuss film through a Christian lens.

Listener-sponsored, volunteer-powered, noncommercial community radio broadcasting to south-central Wisconsin at 89.9 FM and online at wortfm.org via our studios in Madison. 

We provide an outlet for communication, education, free expression, entertainment, training and access for the purpose of sharing music, information, news, and cultural experiences, and strive to give people underrepresented elsewhere in traditional media a voice. 

NOTE: Most of the content posted at this time are news stories or talk shows. 

MUSICIANS:  We NEVER look on our SoundCloud for music submissions, so it's not a very efficient way to contact us. Please go to www.wortfm.org and click on Music --> Music Submissions for our submission info and guidelines. Thanks and we look forward to hearing your music!

We're a leading think-tank that connects people, stimulates debate and triggers change. Don't forget to tune into our weekly Frankly Speaking Podcast on European and world affairs.

The European Liberal Forum (ELF) is the official think tank and political foundation of the European Liberal Party, the ALDE Party.
Together with 56 member organisations we work all over Europe to bring new ideas into the political debate, to provide a platform for discussion and to enable citizens to make their voices heard.

New tracks tagged #DEMOCRACY