US Politics & Elections Videos Hacker News Recommends

lecture#24

George Lakoff: Moral Politics

University of California Television (UCTV)

“Changed how I listen - to anyone - forever.”

3 HN recommenders · 2016–2024

explainer#75

Why Electronic Voting Is Still A Bad Idea

Tom Scott

“Tom Scott still has the best argument against e-voting IMO [1].”

11 HN recommenders · 2020–2026

talk#95

Republic, Lost | Lawrence Lessig | Talks at Google

Talks at Google

“That video has changed my point of view on the entire subject and has allowed me to start striking at the root.”

10 HN recommenders · 2011–2017

talk#111

Antonin Scalia - On American Exceptionalism

AmericanRhetoric.com

“one of the best explanations for why founding fathers built the system the way they did is this[1], by late Justice Scalia.”

12 HN recommenders · 2019–2025

lecture#125

The Cardboard Box Reform - Nixon's Ghost Bill & A Crucial Flaw in Democracy

CRI

“It is long, but well-reasoned and supported by a lot of evidence. Definitely worth a watch...”

9 HN recommenders · 2014–2025

lecture#163

The Coming Collapse of the Middle Class with Elizabeth Warren

University of California Television (UCTV)

“it's gripping stuff, because she develops insights based on research and hard-nosed science.”

10 HN recommenders · 2008–2022

talk#191

We the People, and the Republic we must reclaim | Lawrence Lessig

TED

“This TED lecture[0] is only 18 minutes long and it offers rather a chilling perspective on any sensible reform.”

8 HN recommenders · 2013–2026

explainer#197

Why Your Vote Doesn't Count

CGP Grey

“this CGP Grey video explains how a first-past-the-post voting system all-but-guarantees a two party system to emerge over time”

10 HN recommenders · 2015–2025

other#254

May 1, 1969: Fred Rogers testifies before the Senate Subcommittee on Communications

Road Less Marveled

“Fred Rogers' 1969 testimony before the Senate in defense of PBS funding is very moving.”

9 HN recommenders · 2015–2026

explainer#336

The Voting System That Should Replace Every Election

CGP Grey

“I've been a huge fan of this system ever since CGP Grey made an excellent video on how it works and why it's great.”

7 HN recommenders · 2012–2021

explainer#418

The Voting System That's Actually Too Good for Politicians to Allow

CGP Grey

“CGP Grey did a great video on STV”

7 HN recommenders · 2015–2021

explainer#428

Why Electronic Voting is a BAD Idea - Computerphile

Computerphile

“I love [this video]( ) from Tom Scott in which he explains quite well why e-voting is inherently bad.”

7 HN recommenders · 2015–2025

interview#662

Jon Stewart on Crossfire

Alex Felker

“It's so very worth watching again even if you've seen it multiple times.”

5 HN recommenders · 2009–2025

lecture#692

James Baldwin Debates William F. Buckley (1965)

The Riverbends Channel

“I was watching James Baldwin's speech at Cambridge University the other day and was riveted the entire time”

5 HN recommenders · 2016–2024

talk#766

Our democracy no longer represents the people. Here's how we fix it | Larry Lessig | TEDxMidAtlantic

TEDx Talks

“Very good video explaining the core issue of American politics by Harvard Law professor and founder of creative commons Lawrence Lessig”

4 HN recommenders · 2017–2024

explainer#873

Was YOUR vote counted? (feat. homomorphic encryption) - Numberphile

Numberphile

“Cryptographers are clever and have figured out a way to let you know your vote was counted without being able to prove it to a third party!”

5 HN recommenders · 2016–2024

explainer#910

The Voting System That Gives You Two Votes

CGP Grey

“CGP Grey has a great video on it”

5 HN recommenders · 2012–2026

explainer#988

Animated Voting Methods

Unify The Vote

“I always recommend this pair of videos when discussing STAR voting vs other alternative systems.”

3 HN recommenders · 2018–2022

lecture#1027

Mark Blyth ─ Global Trumpism

Watson School of International and Public Affairs

“which concisely outlines the economics behind the decline of western middle classes”

3 HN recommenders · 2016–2019

commentary#1029

The Alt-Right Playbook: Control the Conversation

Innuendo Studios

“I found it enormously helpful to understand the mentality and tactics of a group that kind of doesn't make any sense.”

4 HN recommenders · 2017–2025

interview#1093

Democrats Need to Face Why Trump Won | The Ezra Klein Show

The Ezra Klein Show

“I highly recommend this interview between Ezra Klein and Democrat strategist David Shor”

4 HN recommenders · 2025–2026

talk#1099

Carl Sagan testifying before Congress in 1985 on climate change

carlsagandotcom

“The address Carl Sagan made in 1985 is well worth watching”

4 HN recommenders · 2021–2026

lecture#1247

Timothy Snyder Speaks, ep. 14: Politics of Eternity, Politics of Inevitability

Timothy Snyder

“You will love this video (12m)”

2 HN recommenders · 2018–2025

explainer#1267

How our voting system (and IRV) betrays your favourite candidate

The Center for Election Science

“here's a video explaining the strategic voting issue”

5 HN recommenders · 2014–2023

comedy#1391

The Daily Show - Burn Noticed

Comedy Central

“my all time favorite Daily Show clip, Burn Notice”

2 HN recommenders · 2015–2025

podcast#1442

Can We Pull Back From The Brink? (Episode #207)

Sam Harris

“Sam Harris did an excellent podcast (in my opinion) touching on the topics you mentioned.”

4 HN recommenders · 2020–2021

comedy#1467

Jim Jefferies -- Gun Control (Part 1) from BARE -- Netflix Special

Jim Jefferies

“I recommend listening to what Jim Jefferies had to say about gun control.”

3 HN recommenders · 2016–2022

talk#1547

Republic, Lost (my favorite version)

lessig

“Lawrence Lessig has some great talks about this topic, here's one of them”

3 HN recommenders · 2011–2022

course#1549

Lecture 1: Introduction to Power and Politics in Today’s World

YaleCourses

“Yale's Power and Politcs was created by Ian Shapiro is an excellent zoom out into global politics and how how the modern world was made.”

3 HN recommenders · 2020–2021

commentary#1580

President Trump: How & Why...

Jonathan Pie

“I think Jonathan Pie encapsulated it perfectly just a few days after the election”

4 HN recommenders · 2016–2020

news#1629

Senate hearing on National Security Space Launch Programs with Elon Musk

canadarm2

“I watched a senate hearing where Elon Musk squares off with the ULA. It's awesome.”

4 HN recommenders · 2014–2016

lecture#1663

Milton Friedman - Why Tax Reform Is Impossible

LibertyPen

“There is a good Milton Friedman video wherein he explains why tax reform won't happen in the United States.”

3 HN recommenders · 2013–2022

commentary#1695

Sinclair's Soldiers in Trump's War on Media

Deadspin

“the Deadspin video of dozens of local news anchors reading the same editorial content handed down by Sinclair Broadcast Group is striking”

3 HN recommenders · 2020–2025

commentary#1697

The Alt-Right Playbook: Always a Bigger Fish

Innuendo Studios

“I think Innuendo Studios/Ian Danskin explains this mechanism very very well”

3 HN recommenders · 2019–2025

talk#1791

The Power of Big Data and Psychographics | 2016 Concordia Annual Summit

Concordia

“I urge everyone to watch this video from Cambridge Analytica about their techniques with big data and psychographic profiling”

4 HN recommenders · 2017–2026

explainer#1936

You Can Win the Presidency With 22% of the Vote

CGP Grey

“you can effectively become president if you can get the right 22% of the USA to vote for you.”

3 HN recommenders · 2015–2020

commentary#1951

How government programs drive up college tuitions

Peter Schiff

“Here's a solid video on the topic where Peter Schiff explains why college tuition is so high”

3 HN recommenders · 2010–2018

explainer#2036

Algorithmic Redistricting: Elections made-to-order

AlphaPhoenix

“For a great (and entertaining!) look into how you can use simulations to generate these types of maps”

2 HN recommenders · 2023–2025

interview#2207

Peter Thiel on “The Straussian Moment”

Hoover Institution

“There is a Peter Robinson interview about the essay that can serve as a good primer[1].”

3 HN recommenders · 2019–2021

explainer#2232

How to Fix America's Corrupt Political System

RepresentUs

“I find these videos to be helpful in briefly understanding the problem and their proposed solution”

2 HN recommenders · 2016–2021

explainer#2274

The UK Election Results Were the Worst in History

CGP Grey

“Great CGP Grey video on the 2015 General Election in the UK”

3 HN recommenders · 2015–2022

talk#2313

Jonathan Haidt: The moral roots of liberals and conservatives

TED

“Jonathon Haidt has actually done some great scientific work on the real differences between liberals and conservatives.”

3 HN recommenders · 2016–2018

talk#2386

Robert F. Kennedy challenges Gross Domestic Product

ipyramid

“the best way to acknowledge that is to watch this speech from Robert F Kennedy”

2 HN recommenders · 2014–2020

talk#2436

F2C2012: Aaron Swartz keynote - "How we stopped SOPA"

F2C2012

“If you haven't watched aaronsw's talk on stopping SOPA, it's well worth your time.”

2 HN recommenders · 2013–2023

documentary#2489

Brian Springer - Spin

MasterpieceConCen7

“You might like Spin , a 1995 documentary composed of unauthorized behind the scenes footage”

2 HN recommenders · 2016–2021

commentary#2601

Trump's Biggest Failure

Kraut

“Kraut has a fantastic video on the topic”

2 HN recommenders · 2020–2023

explainer#2801

Corruption is Legal in America

RepresentUs

“It's pretty compelling and well made.”

2 HN recommenders · 2015–2022

lecture#2857

LESSON 1: Do Not Obey In Advance

Timothy Snyder

“I also recommend the short Youtube series Snyder recorded before the release of the graphic edition”

2 HN recommenders · 2023–2025