Democracy Under Fire | Breaking the Deadlock: How to Fix an Election

Official website: https://to.pbs.org/3ZsIPN5 | #DeadlockPBS What happens when America’s most fundamental values are put to the test? In Breaking the Deadlock: How to Fix an Election, moderator Aaron Tang (UC Davis School of Law) guides a diverse group of influential voices through an unfolding hypothetical crisis they’ve never seen before. What begins as a localized infrastructure threat quickly escalates, spilling into a high-stakes national moment involving an upcoming election, voting rights, and questions of national security. As the scenario intensifies, panelists confront whether core democratic principles — voting power, free speech, and the right to protest — can withstand the pressure. Turning to the future, participants share their vision for the next 250 years of American democracy and seek something often in short supply: common ground. This program was recorded live at The New York Historical, collecting birthday wishes for the USA as it prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday. Learn more at www.nyhistory.org Funding for BREAKING the DEADLOCK was made possible in part by PBS viewers. For bios of the panelists, please visit https://www.pbs.org/show/deadlock/ Panelists: Chris Christie, 55th Governor of New Jersey Congressman Dan Crenshaw, U.S. Representative, Texas Mark Cuban, Co-Founder Cost Plus Drugs & Entrepreneur Dr. Mark T. Esper, 27th United States Secretary of Defense Deidre M. Henderson, Utah's Ninth Lieutenant Governor Claire McCaskill, Former U.S. Senator, Missouri Melissa Murray, Professor of Law at New York University School of Law Brittany Packnett Cunningham, Impact Strategist and Founder, Love & Power Works Aaron Parnas, Independent Journalist CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction: Testing America’s most fundamental values 01:00 What Do We Owe a Stranger in Crisis? 06:45 Protect the People or Cut a Deal? 17:47 Testing the Limits of Free Speech 21:36 The Line Between Protection and Intimidation 30:58 Protests Spiral Out of Control on the Eve of an Election 33:53 The Election AND the Press Under Threat 50:53 A Republic If We Can Keep It Find more Breaking the Deadlock here on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLzkQfVIJun2JLP4kcEPfhQoAuTizeaY6s&si=YX6sB8OytaHhousp #ethics #civics #debate