In the Making https://www.policylink.org en 2026 This nation is still in the making. We the People? We're in the making too. In the Making is a new series from PolicyLink hosted by Baratunde Thurston, featuring kitchen table conversations with PolicyLink CEO Michael McAfee and President Ashleigh Gardere. Together, they explore how to redesign the nation so that it serves all people. https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/dcd337d4-4e2a-11f1-a1c9-23fa7daa38ad/image/77d851aecf05d91aae2358ceb71264af.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress In the Making https://www.policylink.org episodic Baratunde Thurston, Ashleigh Gardere, Michael McAfee This nation is still in the making. We the People? We're in the making too. In the Making is a new series from PolicyLink hosted by Baratunde Thurston, featuring kitchen table conversations with PolicyLink CEO Michael McAfee and President Ashleigh Gardere. Together, they explore how to redesign the nation so that it serves all people. This nation is still in the making. We the People? We're in the making too. In the Making is a new series from PolicyLink hosted by Baratunde Thurston, featuring kitchen table conversations with PolicyLink CEO Michael McAfee and President Ashleigh Gardere. Together, they explore how to redesign the nation so that it serves all people.

]]> Anna Kim akim@policylink.org Rewriting the Rules What will it take for this country to work for its people, and for government to earn public trust? Baratunde Thurston and PolicyLink CEO Michael McAfee and President Ashleigh Gardere explore how we rewrite the rules to serve all people on Episode 4 of “In the Making.”  They get into why even the best programs and policies can't create lasting change when the underlying design of our nation is working against them. They unpack how we need to empower the 14th amendment’s "affirmative duty of government.” This means we need a shift from making marginalized people prove they’re been discriminated against, to requiring government to proactively deliver for everyone.  They examine why proactive enforcement and accountability are the only way to restore trust between the people and governing institutions, and what a future could look like when we do the work necessary to make this a reality. Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:00:00 -0000 Rewriting the Rules full Baratunde Thurston, Ashleigh Gardere, Michael McAfee What will it take for this country to work for its people, and for government to earn public trust? Baratunde Thurston and PolicyLink CEO Michael McAfee and President Ashleigh Gardere explore how we rewrite the rules to serve all people on Episode 4 of “In the Making.”  They get into why even the best programs and policies can't create lasting change when the underlying design of our nation is working against them. They unpack how we need to empower the 14th amendment’s "affirmative duty of government.” This means we need a shift from making marginalized people prove they’re been discriminated against, to requiring government to proactively deliver for everyone.  They examine why proactive enforcement and accountability are the only way to restore trust between the people and governing institutions, and what a future could look like when we do the work necessary to make this a reality. What will it take for this country to work for its people, and for government to earn public trust? Baratunde Thurston and PolicyLink CEO Michael McAfee and President Ashleigh Gardere explore how we rewrite the rules to serve all people on Episode 4 of “In the Making.” 

They get into why even the best programs and policies can't create lasting change when the underlying design of our nation is working against them. They unpack how we need to empower the 14th amendment’s "affirmative duty of government.” This means we need a shift from making marginalized people prove they’re been discriminated against, to requiring government to proactively deliver for everyone. 

They examine why proactive enforcement and accountability are the only way to restore trust between the people and governing institutions, and what a future could look like when we do the work necessary to make this a reality.

]]> 1704 Rebuilding the Foundation Host Baratunde Thurston talks with PolicyLink CEO Michael McAfee and President Ashleigh Gardere to explore why America's foundation was flawed from the start—and how we can build a new one that works for everybody.  They discuss why the nation's original design excluded many from "We the People," how across ideology, so many experience the system as rigged, and why we should raise the level of our expectations and demands of what government should do.  They explore why the next founding must be built by millions, and why soul work—seeing each other's humanity—is an essential part of this transformation.  Thu, 28 May 2026 12:00:00 -0000 Rebuilding the Foundation full 1 3 Baratunde Thurston, Ashleigh Gardere, Michael McAfee Host Baratunde Thurston talks with PolicyLink CEO Michael McAfee and President Ashleigh Gardere to explore why America's foundation was flawed from the start—and how we can build a new one that works for everybody.  They discuss why the nation's original design excluded many from "We the People," how across ideology, so many experience the system as rigged, and why we should raise the level of our expectations and demands of what government should do.  They explore why the next founding must be built by millions, and why soul work—seeing each other's humanity—is an essential part of this transformation.  Host Baratunde Thurston talks with PolicyLink CEO Michael McAfee and President Ashleigh Gardere to explore why America's foundation was flawed from the start—and how we can build a new one that works for everybody. 

They discuss why the nation's original design excluded many from "We the People," how across ideology, so many experience the system as rigged, and why we should raise the level of our expectations and demands of what government should do. 

They explore why the next founding must be built by millions, and why soul work—seeing each other's humanity—is an essential part of this transformation. 

]]> 1917 yes Becoming We the People Host Baratunde Thurston returns with PolicyLink CEO Michael McAfee and President Ashleigh Gardere to explore why we should be the founders of a redesigned nation for all. They discuss why we must own our power and birthright to do this work, how love and accountability must guide us, and the six essential founders’ capacities we must cultivate in ourselves and our institutions on this journey. Thu, 21 May 2026 12:01:00 -0000 full Baratunde Thurston, Ashleigh Gardere, Michael McAfee Host Baratunde Thurston returns with PolicyLink CEO Michael McAfee and President Ashleigh Gardere to explore why we should be the founders of a redesigned nation for all. They discuss why we must own our power and birthright to do this work, how love and accountability must guide us, and the six essential founders’ capacities we must cultivate in ourselves and our institutions on this journey. Host Baratunde Thurston returns with PolicyLink CEO Michael McAfee and President Ashleigh Gardere to explore why we should be the founders of a redesigned nation for all.


They discuss why we must own our power and birthright to do this work, how love and accountability must guide us, and the six essential founders’ capacities we must cultivate in ourselves and our institutions on this journey.

]]> 1928 Redesigning Democracy for All Amid political chaos, low trust in institutions and government, and the grief of this moment, host Baratunde Thurston, CEO Michael McAfee and President Ashleigh Gardere discuss why this moment calls for redesigning this nation—and how it's always been the people excluded from democracy who have brought it closer to its promise. Thu, 14 May 2026 12:00:00 -0000 Redesigning Democracy for All full 1 1 Baratunde Thurston, Ashleigh Gardere, Michael McAfee Amid political chaos, low trust in institutions and government, and the grief of this moment, host Baratunde Thurston, CEO Michael McAfee and President Ashleigh Gardere discuss why this moment calls for redesigning this nation—and how it's always been the people excluded from democracy who have brought it closer to its promise. Amid political chaos, low trust in institutions and government, and the grief of this moment, host Baratunde Thurston, CEO Michael McAfee and President Ashleigh Gardere discuss why this moment calls for redesigning this nation—and how it's always been the people excluded from democracy who have brought it closer to its promise.

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