No, You Stole the Election! (Part 3)
Things… escalate
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Hello listeners,
Today in our third and final installment of this series, we delve into what may be the most contested election in American history. We also take stock of the already historic and unprecedented 2024 presidential campaign season. What happens when both sides of our political divide increasingly view the other as an anti-democratic threat?
Our aim with these episodes is to listen carefully to those who feel cheated, move beyond the daily political drama, and inspire deeper reflection on where our society stands and the challenges we face.
If you liked this story please check out our previous episodes, give us a rating on Apple or Spotify (it helps new people discover the show) or consider becoming a paid subscriber to help us keep the work going.
And please reach out to us with your thoughts, criticism, and show recommendations at hello@reflector.show.
– Andy & Matt
 | A guest post by
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I really enjoyed this series and I appreciate its cool, even-handed look at this hot topic. Thank you!
As you might know from my last comment, I was anticipating this episode. It was a fitting conclusion to the overall series. I think it did what it needed to do to outline the challenges of the election from a national perspective. I would say it provides a fulfilling conclusion to the series. Depending on the authors metric for success, this was the first Reflector series I shared with family and friends to better understand the election rhetoric and how we got here.
What I really appreciated was the finale of this episode. The statements of people conceding the election and continuing the traditional democratic process was excellent. One thing I wish, especially for this episode-and as a Social Studies teacher-would have been a read-aloud excerpts from George Washington's Farewell Address. In it he particularly warns against geographical factions, the machinations of parties, of foreign interest, and against obstructions to the rule of law. I think to go back to the first President, who gave up power-willingly and when he had not been asked to-remains a distinct and magnanimous act unique to the leaders of the American experiment. Part of reinforcing the concession speech is to also remind people of the tradition of power transfer that dates back to our founding.
Secondly, in listening to Andy in particular, I was reminded of the power of expectations. Andy discussed the general pessimistic attitude that this election will "destroy the country" One of the things I wish the media would do more of is promote the idea that America will endure. The theory of the self-fulfilling prophecy is well documented in US History, especially prior to the U.S. Civil War> If you take a look at the materials from Chronicling America (the print archives of the Library of Congress) to see how the media and publishers of the day stoked the pessimistic sentiment across the country. Many felt that succession and the eventual war between the states was inevitable.
I write this because I worry that not enough in media, those with the microphones and pen, promote the idea that America will endure. That our institutions have been through these challenges before, but the everyday person-your neighbor, your parents in another county, your cousin in another state, all want to remain United. Even, and most especially, when our politics diverge. I think more media that encourages individuals to seek out groups that are bridging the political divide remains important.
In summation, thanks for this series. I look forward to what you do next. I am also curious as to the name of the podcast-Reflector, especially in light of this episode. What is the "reflection" goal for this podcast? What thought or light does the team plan to investigate, without absorbing or repackaging the toxic media practices that obscure a truthful examination of the issues. What does that look like for this team, and how do you plan to stay true to that north star?