At a time of political gridlick and polarization at the national level, Groundwork explores the tone and flavor of democratic action in towns and cities, where one’s antagonist is not an opposing talking head or a politician from a state of a different “color,” but a neighbor.
The one-hour special includes these stories:
Energy: The people of Caroline, New York wrestle over the controversial gas drilling method known as fracking. Producer: Jonathan Miller
Civil Rights / Values: The debate over North Carolina’s Marriage Amendment in an African American church in Hickory, NC. Producer: John Biewen. [A version of this story aired on Weekend Edition on May 6. That segment is expanded in this special.]
Immigration: In San Juan, Texas, the debate over how aggressively to police the border. Producer: Maria Martin
Citizen control of government spending: The “participatory budgeting” experiment in Chicago’s 49th Ward. Producer: John Biewen [This story aired on Weekend Edition Saturday on May 26.]
Young people and democracy: A look at how young people are engaging in politics and social action four years after the Obama Wave. Producer: Karen Michel in Los Angeles.
Environment: Fishermen in Kodiak, Alaska, their livelihoods threatened by ocean acidification, take steps to make their voices heard on carbon emissions. Producer: John Biewen
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Related Pieces
Piece Description
At a time of political gridlick and polarization at the national level, Groundwork explores the tone and flavor of democratic action in towns and cities, where one’s antagonist is not an opposing talking head or a politician from a state of a different “color,” but a neighbor.
The one-hour special includes these stories:
Energy: The people of Caroline, New York wrestle over the controversial gas drilling method known as fracking. Producer: Jonathan Miller
Civil Rights / Values: The debate over North Carolina’s Marriage Amendment in an African American church in Hickory, NC. Producer: John Biewen. [A version of this story aired on Weekend Edition on May 6. That segment is expanded in this special.]
Immigration: In San Juan, Texas, the debate over how aggressively to police the border. Producer: Maria Martin
Citizen control of government spending: The “participatory budgeting” experiment in Chicago’s 49th Ward. Producer: John Biewen [This story aired on Weekend Edition Saturday on May 26.]
Young people and democracy: A look at how young people are engaging in politics and social action four years after the Obama Wave. Producer: Karen Michel in Los Angeles.
Environment: Fishermen in Kodiak, Alaska, their livelihoods threatened by ocean acidification, take steps to make their voices heard on carbon emissions. Producer: John Biewen
Broadcast History
Debut. Some segments aired on Weekend Edition
Timing and Cues
00:00 - 01:00: Billboard
01:00 - 06:00 Blank for newscast
06:00 - 06:30 Begin Program: Music bed
06:30 - 19:00 Segment A
19:00 - 20:00 Music bed
20:00 - 39:00 Segment B
39:00 - 40:00 Music bed
40:00 - 59:00 Segment C
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Never Talk About It | Tift Merritt | See You on the Moon. | Fantasy | 2010 | 01:00 |
| Skinny Love | Bon Iver | For Emma, Forever Ago. | Atlantic | 2007 | 01:00 |
| Yankee Doodle Dandy | The Mexicali Brass | Hello Dolly. | Crownstar | 2006 | 02:30 |
| We Want These Prayers (As They Are Recited) | Birchwood Cat Motel | These Prayers. | Corpus Hermeticus | 2001 | 01:00 |
| Mahalla | Carolina Chocolate Drops | Leaving Eden. | Nonesuch | 2012 | 00:45 |
| Plattenspiel | Marcio Doctor | Idyllen. | Schoner Horen | 2006 | 00:45 |
| This Land is Your Land | Everclear | The Vegas Years. | Capitol | 2008 | 00:30 |
| Somebody That I Used to Know | Gotye featuring Kimbra | Making Mirrors. | Eleven | 2011 | 00:45 |
Additional Credits
Host: Scott Simon
Editor: Deborah George
Segment reporters/producers: Maria Martin, Karen Michel, Jon Miller
Funded by a major grant from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
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