This podcast episode delves into the complex relationship between polarization and independence in American politics, as discussed by Wang, who highlights the paradox of voters identifying as independents yet gravitating toward major parties. He scrutinizes the idea of third parties, presenting the 'spoiler effect' as a significant challenge, and advocates for redistricting and ranked-choice voting as viable solutions to enhance democracy. Wang underscores the importance of simulations in exploring and predicting the impact of various reforms, calling for ongoing scientific engagement in democracy analysis, and framing democracy as an ever-evolving experiment.
