Kettering Foundation

06/19/2026

Few people understand American voters like KF Senior Fellow Sarah Longwell.

In this week's episode of with The Democracy Group, take a deep dive into how everyday Americans feel about how things are going in this country: https://bit.ly/GetTheContext

06/19/2026

Galveston, Texas. June 19, 1865. US Army Major General Gordon Granger arrives with Black Union soldiers and announces the end of slavery in Texas. This is our Juneteenth origin story.

Last summer, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Annette Gordon-Reed joined us on to discuss the history of Juneteenth, why it matters, and the transformative potential of facing the full truth of our country’s past, both good and bad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7JdPsJDyto

06/19/2026

Juneteenth stands as a vivid example of how American history is shaped by people who have fought to make freedom real.

KF Research Fellow Deva Woodly shows how our democracy has been built by those who tirelessly reconstruct it in her contribution to for : https://bit.ly/4vkdjxC

06/18/2026

KF Senior Fellow William J. Barber, II says we need a "third reconstruction" to complete the unfinished work of American democracy—a deep clean of America's house. "This country cannot deliver on its promises until we collectively act to ensure equal protection for all."

This country cannot deliver on its promises until we collectively act to to ensure equal protection for all.

06/18/2026

KF Senior Fellow J. Michael Luttig was interviewed on the inaugural episode of Checks & Balances, a new podcast from the Society for the Rule of Law Institute. He argues that an independent judiciary is the last, most important guardrail protecting constitutional government and that defending its independence is essential to preserving American democracy.

Judge J. Michael Luttig and Gregg Nunziata in conversation on the inaugural episode of the Checks & Balances podcast.

06/18/2026

"Democracy and issues of discrimination and inequality of marginalized communities are never separate issues.”

KF Senior Fellow Johnnetta Betsch Cole emphasizes participation and persistence as crucial tools for preserving democracy in her latest essay: https://bit.ly/3SO7YjG

06/18/2026

"Discarding the language of exceptionalism and embracing that of fraternity would allow the country that has pushed the gospel of democracy around the world . . . to bring those same lessons home.”

2026 CFK Global Fellow Patrick Gathara flips the script when it comes to describing the state of democracy in different regions of the world in the latest for :

Why are some nations called “fragile” while others are merely “deeply divided”? CFK Global Fellow Patrick Gathara challenges the vocabulary that shapes how we see democracy.

06/18/2026

How can creativity help communities move through conflict and imagine what comes next?

In this episode of Art Is Change, Bill Cleveland speaks with activist and peacebuilding scholar Cynthia Cohen about how artists and cultural workers help create conditions for healing:

How do artists help communities survive violence, heal trauma, and imagine a future beyond conflict?In this episode of Art Is Change, Bill Cleveland spe...

06/18/2026

KF Fanning Fellow Judy Woodruff understands that while “telling our stories transparently can be painful, but it’s essential if our democracy is to stay strong.”

Woodruff shares what means for the future of democracy in : https://bit.ly/4uMxNhE

06/17/2026

KF Senior Fellow David French joins with Brad Rourke to discuss the return of “wretched ideas” once discredited by history.

As memories of past failures fade and charismatic leaders who are capable of reshaping culture and politics rise to power, Americans are becoming increasingly receptive to tariffs, political patronage, and authoritarianism.