Podcast Summary: SNAFU with Ed Helms – BONUS: Culture Wars, Then & Now with Josh Graham Lynn

Episode Information:

• Title: BONUS: Culture Wars, Then & Now with Josh Graham Lynn
• Host: Ed Helms
• Guest: Josh Graham Lynn, Co-founder of Represent Us
• Release Date: May 14, 2025

Overview: In this bonus episode of Season 3's "SNAFU" series, host Ed Helms engages in a profound conversation with Josh Graham Lynn, the co-founder of Represent Us. The duo delves into the intricate dynamics of political corruption, the enduring impact of Prohibition, and the contemporary culture wars shaping American democracy. Through an exploration of historical parallels and present-day strategies, the episode underscores the urgent need for systemic reforms to ensure government accountability and responsiveness to the populace.

1. Introduction to Represent Us and Political Corruption

Ed Helms opens the discussion by introducing Josh Graham Lynn and his organization, Represent Us, which is dedicated to combating political corruption and enhancing the functionality of American democracy.

Josh Graham Lynn [03:44]: "Represent Us is pretty straightforward. The idea here is that the American government should work an answer to work for an answer to the American people. Outrageous. It's just. It's a foreign thought."

Lynn elaborates on the genesis of Represent Us, emphasizing the detrimental influence of big money and special interests on governmental operations. This corruption leads to a government that often does not serve the interests of the average American.

Josh Graham Lynn [06:40]: "Public policy as it is generated by Congress has a statistically non-existent connection to the desires of the public. Why? What are the primary, what are sort of the underpinning reasons for that?"

2. The Impact of Citizens United and Money in Politics

The conversation transitions to the landmark Supreme Court ruling, Citizens United (2012), which significantly amplified the role of money in politics.

Josh Graham Lynn [05:08]: "In the aftermath of Citizens United, which was in 2012, and for those who don't know, Citizens United is a Supreme Court ruling that essentially said that special interests, corporations, private entities, can spend almost unlimited amounts of money to make political contributions AKA by politicians in elections."

Lynn highlights how this decision has entrenched the power of big money in politics, leading to unchecked political spending and diminishing the average citizen's influence on public policy.

Josh Graham Lynn [10:36]: "When you're in Congress, let's say you want to move a bill forward... it's actually better for those in power to have arguments about policy. It helps them fundraise in their elections."

3. Prohibition as a Case Study of Cultural Conflict and Legislative Missteps

Ed Helms connects the topic of political corruption to the historical example of Prohibition, framing it as an early 20th-century culture war that exemplified how laws can be passed with minimal public support.

Ed Helms [07:08]: "Prohibition was obviously a colossal government snafu and a fascinating story in its own right... it’s a warning."

Lynn references a Princeton University study to illustrate how public opinion has little sway over legislative actions, further compounding the sense of disenfranchisement among ordinary Americans.

Josh Graham Lynn [08:57]: "The American people, average American income earners amongst American people appear to have a minuscule, near zero, statistically non-significant impact upon public policy."

4. Gerrymandering and the Lack of Competitive Elections

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on gerrymandering and its role in creating non-competitive congressional districts.

Josh Graham Lynn [19:14]: "In some 87% of races for the U.S. House, we already know which party is going to win the election before it even starts because the districts have been drawn to protect the party that's already in power."

Helms underscores the implications of this practice, noting that it leads to primary elections being the de facto competitive races, thereby favoring more extreme candidates.

Ed Helms [22:15]: "Over 80% of congressional elections are non-competitive... it's not, it's not an actual election."

5. Ranked Choice Voting as a Remedy

To counteract the effects of gerrymandering and promote more representative governance, Lynn advocates for the adoption of ranked choice voting.

Josh Graham Lynn [30:28]: "Ranked choice voting... it’s just ranking your candidates in order rather than choosing one."

Helms and Lynn discuss how ranked choice voting ensures that elected officials receive broader support from their constituents, thereby encouraging more moderate and representative candidates.

Josh Graham Lynn [32:00]: "You have to start broadening your base so when we talk about incentives, if I have an incentive to reach a bigger base to win office, I'm going to have to do that."

6. Ballot Initiatives and State-by-State Legislative Change

Lynn explains how incremental changes through state ballot initiatives have historically paved the way for significant federal reforms. He draws parallels between the movement against Prohibition and contemporary efforts to address political corruption.

Josh Graham Lynn [39:09]: "Passing state laws is ultimately what often leads to a federal victory... city by city, state by state, we fix things and then move on to making it federal."

The conversation highlights successful campaigns, such as the "badass grandmas" in North Dakota, who leveraged ballot initiatives to enact stringent transparency and ethics laws.

Josh Graham Lynn [44:42]: "They actually won. And North Dakota went from having some of the weakest transparency and ethics laws in the country to having some of the strongest."

7. The Legacy and Future of Democratic Reforms

Ed Helms invites Lynn to reflect on the historical efforts to "perfect" the American union, emphasizing the ongoing nature of democratic reforms.

Josh Graham Lynn [43:18]: "We absolutely need everyone's voice to be heard... Represent Us is about taking the ideas of progress and the sort of momentum and legacy that has been built by the civil rights movement, by the suffragists, and saying, we will continue to perfect this union by making it work better for we the people."

Lynn reiterates the importance of citizen engagement and systemic changes to empower the electorate and restore faith in democratic institutions.

8. Conclusion and Call to Action

In a poignant conclusion, Lynn shares an inspiring story of ordinary citizens effecting significant change, encouraging listeners to participate actively in democratic processes.

Josh Graham Lynn [44:42]: "It's real stuff that actually matters. Started at a coffee shop."

Ed Helms expresses gratitude for Lynn's contributions and insights, underscoring the episode's theme of addressing and rectifying systemic governmental flaws.

Notable Quotes:

• Josh Graham Lynn [05:08]: "We know that's true. Lots of people feel that way. I think what a lot of people don't know is that scientific studies, one after the other after the other, prove that to be true."
• Ed Helms [08:35]: "Prohibition was obviously a colossal government snafu and a fascinating story in its own right... it’s a warning."
• Josh Graham Lynn [22:32]: "We're doing the song and dance. We're doing the song and dance of putting a Republican and a Democrat against each other. But in 80% of districts, one will always win."
• Josh Graham Lynn [35:08]: "If you have to do something like ranked choice voting, then you have to do that. And that really is a better way for everybody."
• Ed Helms [43:18]: "We'll get there. What would you say to our listeners out there right now?"

Key Insights:

1. Money's Dominance: The infusion of big money into politics post-Citizens United has severely undermined the average citizen's influence over public policy.
2. Gerrymandering's Impact: The practice of drawing electoral districts to favor incumbents or specific parties has rendered a vast majority of congressional elections uncompetitive, fostering political extremism.
3. Ranked Choice Voting: Adopting this electoral system can ensure that elected officials garner broad-based support, promoting more moderate and representative governance.
4. Ballot Initiatives: State-level reforms through ballot initiatives serve as effective catalysts for broader federal changes, as evidenced by historical and contemporary movements.
5. Citizen Empowerment: Grassroots efforts and citizen engagement are pivotal in challenging entrenched political systems and reinstating government accountability.

Conclusion: This episode of "SNAFU" masterfully intertwines historical context with present-day political challenges, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of how past missteps like Prohibition mirror current struggles against political corruption and systemic inefficiencies. Through Josh Graham Lynn's insights and Represent Us's strategies, the episode not only highlights the pervasive issues undermining American democracy but also illuminates viable paths toward meaningful reform and renewed public trust in governmental institutions.