To the Point
It's Not Democracy, It's the Rules
Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders are outraged that the presidential nominating process turns out not to be an exercise in direct democracy, and many voters agree. But it's not and it never has been. Most of the time that doesn't matter because there's a clear front-runner before the nominating convention begins.
By Warren Olney • • 32m ListenDonald Trump and Bernie Sanders are outraged that the presidential nominating process turns out not to be an exercise in direct democracy, and many voters agree. But it's not and it never has been. Most of the time that doesn't matter because there's a clear front-runner before the nominating convention begins. But when there's a real contest, each campaign has to master complex rules that are different in all 50 states and for each political party. Is there any chance that widespread anger and frustration might lead to change before this year's conventions?
The full episode
2 of 3
It's Not Democracy, It's the Rules- 1:48Jobless Claims Match Lowest Figure in 43 Years
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Warren Olney
former KCRW broadcaster
Jenny Hamel
KCRW
Paul von Zielbauer
Co-founder of Geezer magazine, former producer for To the Point and Which Way LA?; former reporter for the New York Times
Evan George
Director of Content, News
Philip Bump
national political columnist, Washington Post
Tom Beaumont
Associated Press
Matthew Karp
Princeton University / Jacobin magazine
The full episode
2 of 3It's Not Democracy, It's the Rules- 1:48Jobless Claims Match Lowest Figure in 43 Years
- 8:45It's Not Democracy, It's the RulesYou’re reading this
- 41:32The NPR Story behind HBO's 'Confirmation'