‘Election Connection’: What’s Your Question?
With the 2024 presidential election on the horizon, two Suffolk University professors are teaming up to battle political misconceptions with a new podcast that aims to break down complex topics and promote civic engagement.
Rachael Cobb, associate professor and chair of political science & legal studies, and Shoshana Madmoni-Gerber, associate professor and chair of communications, journalism & media, joined forces to launch “Election Connection,” a platform they hope will help listeners engage with the political process.
Now on its ninth episode, “Election Connection” delves into a new topic each week to help listeners better understand the electoral system. Examining issues like primary elections and voting by mail, the two hosts provide background information and historical context in simple, understandable terms.
“Numerous outstanding political podcasts exist, yet many presume their audience consists of political enthusiasts,” said Cobb. “We recognize that politics possesses its own language and lexicon, which not everyone is fluent in. This can alienate individuals from the discourse, which is harmful. We want everyone to understand how things work!”
“Election Connection” recently hosted Former US Reps. Joe Hoeffel (D-PA) and Fred Upton (R-MI), visiting for this year’s Congress to Campus event, to discuss bipartisanship, political discourse, and social media’s role in politics. They’ve also welcomed Suffolk University Political Research Center Director David Paleologos to talk about polling.
Concerned about the rise of misinformation, Madmoni-Gerber hopes “Election Connection” will help to educate listeners on topics that can often be confusing to people new to the political process.
“We hope to tackle different issues that are part of what we consider ‘election vocabulary’: concepts such as the Electoral College, election forecasting, voter ID laws, and so on,” said Madmoni-Gerber. “We think that if people understand these concepts better, if they know the historical context and are aware of their complexity, they are more like to take an active part in the election process.”
You can find "Election Connection" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Contact
Greg Gatlin
Office of Public Affairs
617-573-8428
Andrea Grant
Office of Public Affairs
617-573-8410