Freakonomics Radio

Author: Freakonomics Radio Stitcher

Freakonomics co-author Stephen J. Dubner uncovers the hidden side of everything. Why is it safer to fly in an airplane than drive a car? How do we decide whom to marry? Why is the media so full of bad news? Also: things you never knew you wanted to know about wolves, bananas, pollution, search engines, and the quirks of human behavior. To get every show in the Freakonomics Radio Network without ads and a monthly bonus episode of Freakonomics Radio, start a free trial for SiriusXM Podcasts on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
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694. Does Democracy Really Need Elections?
Episode 694
Friday, 6 November, 2026

Stephen Dubner recently served on a criminal jury. Twelve strangers — selected randomly and barely paid — took the job seriously. Afterward, he wondered: why can’t our politics work that way? A growing movement, inspired by Athenian democracy, says it can. SOURCES:Terry Bouricius, author and former Vermont state representative.Dj Hairston, public-defense lawyer.Kathy Hochul, governor of New York.Hélène Landemore, professor of political science at Yale University. RESOURCES:Democracy Without Politicians: Government by the People, by Terry Bouricius (2026).Politics Without Politicians: The Case for Citizen Rule, by Hélène Landemore (2026).The Principles of Representative Government, by Bernard Manin (1997). EXTRAS:"Has America Lost the Plot?" by Freakonomics Radio (2026). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.