Unity Talks

The Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy

Unity Talks, produced by the Vanderbilt Project on Unity and American Democracy, is series of conversations and interviews featuring its co-chairs—Pulitzer Prize–winning author Jon Meacham, former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and Vanderbilt faculty member and entrepreneur Samar Ali—and renowned guests from the media, academia and government, focusing on the important issues facing and dividing America today. These conversation aim to restore and reinvigorate the national discourse, supplanting reflexive partisanship with reflective citizenship, anchored upon facts and evidence. read less

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Jon Meacham and Keel Hunt on the history of Tennessee politics

Jon Meacham and Keel Hunt on the history of Tennessee politics

Author and journalist Keel Hunt joined co-chair Jon Meacham to discuss Hunt’s book, Crossing the Aisle: How Bipartisanship Brought Tennessee into the 21st Century and Could Save America. As he describes in his book, throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s, pragmatic politicians were able to power policymaking in issues ranging from public school funding and infrastructure development to health care reform. In addition to discussing the legacy of figures like Lamar Alexander, Ned McWherter, Howard Baker and Al Gore Jr. and reminiscing about past political campaigns, Meacham and Hunt delve into the reasons Tennessee took on its recent bright “red” hue. Perhaps more relevant for today’s political squabbles, they reflected on the need for reflective partisanship (a model that encourages individuals to reflect on the opinions of the opposing side, allowing for a more nuanced view before blindly adopting a position based solely on party affiliation).

Episodes

Jon Meacham and Keel Hunt on the history of Tennessee politics

Jon Meacham and Keel Hunt on the history of Tennessee politics

Author and journalist Keel Hunt joined co-chair Jon Meacham to discuss Hunt’s book, Crossing the Aisle: How Bipartisanship Brought Tennessee into the 21st Century and Could Save America. As he describes in his book, throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s, pragmatic politicians were able to power policymaking in issues ranging from public school funding and infrastructure development to health care reform. In addition to discussing the legacy of figures like Lamar Alexander, Ned McWherter, Howard Baker and Al Gore Jr. and reminiscing about past political campaigns, Meacham and Hunt delve into the reasons Tennessee took on its recent bright “red” hue. Perhaps more relevant for today’s political squabbles, they reflected on the need for reflective partisanship (a model that encourages individuals to reflect on the opinions of the opposing side, allowing for a more nuanced view before blindly adopting a position based solely on party affiliation).

Allida Black and Samar Ali on Eleanor Roosevelt's legacy

Allida Black and Samar Ali on Eleanor Roosevelt's legacy

In episode four of Unity Talks, Vanderbilt University Professor and Unity Project Co-Chair Samar Ali sits down with Unity Project Advisory Board member Allida Black to discuss the life and legacy of Eleanor Roosevelt. In this discussion, they explore Eleanor Roosevelt’s pathbreaking work to advance human rights and democracy both at home and abroad. Besides being a powerful champion for the downtrodden and forgotten, Roosevelt was an astute political operative who understood how to use the levers of power at her disposal to advance her unifying agenda. As a leading expert on Roosevelt and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Black’s reflections on her subject remind us of the role our country has played on the world stage as well as some of the challenges faced here at home.

Will Hurd and Bill Haslam on rebuilding trust our institutions

Will Hurd and Bill Haslam on rebuilding trust our institutions

Episode three of Unity Talks: A Summer Series features a truly fascinating conversation between former U.S. Representative Will Hurd and former Tennessee governor and Unity Project Co-Chair Bill Haslam. In this discussion, Haslam and Hurd touch on a wide range of topics, including Hurd’s experience in the CIA and his path to Congress, the importance of competitive districts, and rebuilding trust in our government and institutions.

Yuval Levin and Bill Haslam on seeking broader coalitions

Yuval Levin and Bill Haslam on seeking broader coalitions

In episode two of Unity Talks: A Summer Series, Bill Haslam, former governor of Tennessee and Unity Project co-chair, sits down with Yuval Levin, a political analyst and senior fellow at American Enterprise Institute to discuss a wide range of challenges on our modern political landscape, one of the most notable being the tendency of both major political parties to appeal only to their dedicated base of voters as opposed to seeking to reach a broader coalition.

Jonathan Martin and John Geer on the media's impact on American politics

Jonathan Martin and John Geer on the media's impact on American politics

We are excited to share with you the first episode of Unity Talks: A Summer Series, featuring a grounded, timely discussion between Jonathan Martin, a New York Times national political correspondent and author of This Will Not Pass, and Vanderbilt University Dean John Geer. In their conversation, Martin and Geer explore the personalities driving American politics, particularly since 2020, and how the controversies of the last few years may continue to impact our country.