Restoring Social Trust in Democracy
Democracy is under attack at home and abroad. We must take swift action to ensure it is accessible to all, accountable, and can serve as a force of good.
What We're Working On
What We're Doing
Increasing representation and access to our democracy
All Americans must have trust in elections and election results. All Americans also must have unimpeded access to the ballot box. That is why national voting standards are so important, along with laws that would protect against interference with valid election results.
Combating the spread of harmful dis- and misinformation
Disinformation, whether about COVID-19 or elections, undermines Americans’ safety and threatens our democracy. We seek to define the government’s role in combating it, give recommendations to online platforms to stem its spread, and support robust local media that can counter its worst effects.
Building a new framework to regulate online services
Americans’ lives are increasingly reliant on online services and affected by their economic, consumer, and civic harms. A robust regulatory framework, paired with new privacy protections and reinvigorated antitrust action, is needed to address the threats these services pose.
Countering violent political extremism
Countering insurgent threats is critical to maintaining our democracy. As part of this work, we have crafted a national blueprint with the McCain Institute to end white supremacist violence. Our plan draws on expertise across CAP and from more than 150 conversations with a diverse range of stakeholders.
By the numbers
59
Gerrymandering shifted an average of 59 seats in the U.S. House from 2012 to 2016.
Source: CAP, “Voter-Determined Districts” (2019).
1 in 10
42 senators, representing only about 1/10 of the U.S. population, can filibuster popular bills.
Source: CAP, “The Impact of the Filibuster on Federal Policymaking” (2019).
30%
The U.S. population has grown by about 30% since the federal bench’s last meaningful expansion.
Source: CAP, “It Is Past Time for Congress To Expand the Lower Courts” (2021).
81%
81% of voters believe tech companies have too much power and influence over politics and government.
Source: CAP Action, “Voters Support Enacting Stronger Consumer Protections Online” (2021).
What You Can Do
Recent work
Fact Sheet: Easing the American Nursing Shortage
2022 State Abortion Bans Are a Patchwork of Increasingly Extreme Laws
Tax Breaks for Retirement Savings Do Not Help the Workers Who Need Them Most
Latest
Trump Against the World at the G-7 Summit
Daniella and Ed chat about President Trump's controversial antics at the G-7 summit and revisit a conversation with former Ambassador Wendy Sherman.
Planning for the Future in an Uncertain Economy
This week, Ed sits down with CAP Senior Economist Gbenga Ajilore to discuss warning signs in the economy, what they might mean, as well as some of the contributing factors.
Yes, the President Is Still a Racist
Following a recent op-ed in The Washington Post condemning the racist remarks of President Trump, two Black former Obama administration staffers sit down with Daniella to discuss how the country can move forward.
No Exoneration: Ned Price on Mueller’s Congressional Testimony
Ned Price—a director at National Security Action and an NBC national security analyst—joins Ed and Daniella to discuss special counsel Robert Mueller's testimony before the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees.
The National Security Council and the ‘American Way of War’
Daniella and Ed chat with two former National Security Council staffers—John Gans Jr. and CAP’s Kelly Magsamen—to discuss foreign policy under the Trump administration, as well as Gans' new book about the NSC.
Steve Scully: An Interview With ‘The Most Patient Man on Television’
This week, Daniella sits down in C-SPAN Political Director Steve Scully to discuss how he has adapted to the changing relationship between the free press in the White House since President Trump took office.
Ari Berman: A Green Light to Gerrymander
Daniella and Ed chat with Mother Jones Senior Reporter Ari Berman this week about gerrymandering, the 2020 census, and the state of voting rights in the United States.
How Oakland, California, Radically Reduced Violence
This week, Ed spoke with Capt. Ersie Joyner of the Oakland Police Department about the city's successful and comprehensive Ceasefire program to address gun violence and crime in the community.
Gov. Roy Cooper and Navigating a Divided Government
Daniella and Ed sit down this week with North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper and discuss his successful efforts navigating the divided North Carolina government.
To Impeach or Not To Impeach—That Is the Question
This week, Daniella and Ed sit down with Jesse Lee, senior adviser for Communications at CAP, and discuss the stream of corruption scandals within the Trump administration as well as the merits of impeachment.