Keepers of Our Republic

What really happens to your ballot after you cast it? On this episode of Keepers of the Republic, host Tate Fall speaks with Christopher Channell, Director of Elections for Glynn County, Georgia, about the safeguards that protect election security and help ensure accurate results. Channell explains how election officials test voting equipment, secure machines with tamper-evident seals, maintain chain of custody, and safely transport ballots and results after polls close.

The conversation also explores post-election audits, including risk-limiting audits, and how these checks help verify election results. Channell shares how local election offices work to improve security...

On this episode of Keepers of the Republic, host Tate Fall sits down with Ryan Germany, former General Counsel to the Georgia Secretary of State, to discuss election administration, election litigation, and the forces shaping public trust in American elections.

Germany shares what he learned working through some of Georgia’s most contested elections, including how claims of voter suppression, election fraud, and voting machine vulnerabilities can shape public perceptions. He explains the complex work behind election administration, from voter registration systems and election technology to the county officials and poll workers responsible for making elections run sm...

Michael Dickerson has run elections in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, for 28 years. In this episode of Keepers of Our Republic, he takes us inside one of the country’s largest local election offices—how early voting transformed elections, what it took to run the 2020 election during COVID, and what happens when 567,000 ballots have to be recounted.

He also explains the layers of security and preparation behind every election, the challenges of managing a growing county with 850,000+ registered voters, and why the people who show up to run elections are ultimately what keep the system working.

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What does it really take to run an election? Andrew Richards, Elections Director for Davidson County, North Carolina, joins Keepers of Our Republic to talk about the people, preparation, and behind-the-scenes work that make elections happen. Andrew shares lessons from more than a decade in election administration, why “boring” elections are the goal, how his team uses poll-worker feedback to improve each election, and why recruiting and retaining poll workers is so important.

Welcome back to Keepers of our Republic, a new weekly podcast from Keep Our Republic that takes listeners inside the institutions at the heart of A...

Missouri’s congressional redistricting fight has taken a series of unexpected turns, with state and federal courts weighing in on which map will be used in the upcoming election. In this episode of Keepers of Our Republic, host Brooke Bergen is joined by Eric Fey, Director of the St. Louis County Board of Elections, and Brianna Lennon, Boone County Clerk, to unpack the complicated legal battle over Missouri’s new congressional map, the state’s citizen referendum process, and the recent decisions involving the Missouri Supreme Court, the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Eighth Circuit. 

This is a de...

What happens when a major disaster strikes just weeks before an election?

 In this episode of Keepers of Our Republic, host Tate Fall sits down with Corinne Duncan, Election Services Director for Buncombe County, North Carolina, to discuss what it takes to run elections in the face of unexpected challenges. Corinne shares how her team navigated the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which devastated Asheville and Buncombe County just weeks before the 2024 election, from losing power and communications to adapting early voting and relying on relationships with emergency management, fire departments, law enforcement, and other c...

In this episode of Keepers of Our Republic, host Tate Fall sits down with Philip Hinson, Deputy Director of Elections for Union County, North Carolina, for a behind-the-scenes look at what it actually takes to run a secure election.

From testing voting equipment and protecting election infrastructure to responding when the power goes out at a polling place, Philip explains the layers of preparation, security, and oversight that voters may never see. He also breaks down how logic and accuracy testing, bipartisan review, post-election audits, chain-of-custody procedures, and physical security work together to protect the election process.<...

Most Americans are familiar with the U.S. Supreme Court—but far fewer understand how state courts operate or why many states elect their judges.

This week, attorney Brooke Bergen sits down with Tom Phillips, retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, for a conversation about the unique role state courts play in our constitutional system. Judge Phillips explains how judges interpret the law, the differences between state and federal courts, and the advantages and challenges of electing judges.

The conversation also explores how campaign spending can affect public confidence in the judiciary, wh...

What does it take to administer elections for more than 858,000 registered voters?

This week, host Tate Fall sits down with Olivia McCall, Director of Elections for Wake County, North Carolina, to discuss the logistics, leadership, and transparency required to oversee one of the largest election operations in the state.

Olivia shares how she found her career in election administration, what it takes to prepare hundreds of polling places and thousands of election workers, and why public outreach is just as important as election-day operations. She also discusses Wake County's award-winning media partnership program, which helps...

In this episode of Keepers of Our Republic, host and former election official Tate Fall sits down with Sydney Romine, Director of Elections for Surry County, North Carolina, to explore how bipartisan election administration works on the ground.

Sydney takes listeners inside North Carolina’s election system, where Republicans and Democrats work side-by-side throughout the process—from local precincts to bipartisan teams that help voters in nursing homes access the ballot. She also shares how her background in marketing has shaped her approach to voter education, poll worker training, social media, and making election processes more transparent and...

Where will the next generation of election officials come from? And what does it take to build a career running America's elections? 

In this episode of Keepers of Our Republic, host and former Georgia elections official Tate Fall sits down with Tim Tsujii, Elections Director for Forsyth County, North Carolina, to talk about the growing professionalization of election administration and the people who dedicate their careers to making our elections work.

Drawing on more than two decades in the field, Tim shares how election administration has evolved from a little-known corner of local government into a...

This week on Keepers of Our Republic, host Brooke Bergen sits down with former Hawaiʻi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark E. Recktenwald for a wide-ranging conversation about judicial independence, accountability, and the unique role of state courts in American democracy.

Justice Recktenwald takes us inside Hawaiʻi's distinctive merit-based system for selecting judges and explains how Native Hawaiian history, culture, and traditional law continue to shape the state's legal system today. He also discusses a developing fight over who has the authority to discipline federal prosecutors—and why state oversight of attorney ethics remains an important chec...

What does it actually take to run an election? And what happens when election officials are asked to do more without the time, staff, or funding to do it?

In this episode of Keepers of Our Republic, host and former Georgia elections official Tate Fall sits down with Milton Kidd, Director of Elections and Voter Registration for Douglas County, Georgia, to talk about the enormous logistical operation behind every election.

Milton shares why running an election can feel like planning the Super Bowl, the real-world consequences of constantly changing election laws, and why lawmakers need...

America turns 250 this week, but what does that milestone mean at a moment of deep political division?

In this special Independence Day episode of Keepers of Our Republic, host Brooke Bergen shares a collection of reflections from retired federal judges, legal scholars, civic educators, and leaders from across the legal profession, recorded during a symposium at the University of Washington School of Law.

Rather than discussing a single legal issue, this episode pauses to reflect on the American experiment itself. Guests offer birthday wishes for the nation, celebrate the enduring ideals of liberty and the...

This week on Keepers of Our Republic, host Tate Fall sits down with Brook Schreiner, Elections Director for Chatham County, Georgia, to discuss what it takes to administer elections in one of the state's largest and most diverse counties.

After spending more than a decade in election administration, everywhere from large metro counties to rural communities, Brook shares why she continues to do this work, how election offices adapt to changing laws and growing populations, and what voters rarely see behind the scenes. 

The conversation explores everything from polling place planning and election audits to v...

In this episode, we sit down with Judge Robert Henry, former judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit, former Oklahoma Attorney General, and Jurist in Residence for Rule of Law at the University of Washington School of Law.

Recorded at the University of Washington School of Law's *Neither Sword nor Purse* conference, Judge Henry reflects on why judicial independence has been essential since the nation's founding, and why he believes it faces unprecedented challenges today. He discusses declining public trust in the courts, the ethical responsibilities of lawyers and judges, growing attacks...

In this episode, host Tate Fall sits down with Tonnie Adams, Elections Supervisor for Heard County, Georgia, and one of the state's most experienced election administrators.

Tonnie shares how he went from a Georgia Tech engineering graduate helping implement Georgia's first statewide electronic voting system to becoming the election official responsible for serving nearly 9,000 voters in rural Georgia. Together, they discuss what voters often don't see behind the scenes of election administration, from logic and accuracy testing to post-election audits and the challenges of implementing new election rules with limited resources.

The conversation also explores...

In this episode of Keepers of Our Republic, former Georgia election official Tate Fall sits down with Rebecca Anglin, Director of Elections in Greene County, Georgia, to talk about what it really takes to run elections at the local level, and why her office proudly calls itself the “Chick-fil-A of voting.”

Rebecca shares her journey from teenage poll worker to county election director and reflects on more than two decades working in nearly every role in Georgia elections. The conversation explores voter education, transparency, poll worker recruitment, election audits, and why local election officials remain deeply committed to s...

This week on Keepers of Our Republic, host Brooke Bergen speaks with civic educators, legal scholars, and former judges at the University of Washington School of Law. They chat about the growing civics education gap in the United States, and what it means for the future of democracy.

Guests discuss declining public trust in government and the judiciary, why so many Americans misunderstand how courts actually work, and the long-term consequences of civic disengagement. From media literacy and youth apathy to judicial independence and the role of teachers, this episode explores how education can help rebuild trust...

In this special episode of Keepers of Our Republic, host Brooke Bergen travels to the University of Washington School of Law for a judicial conference featuring some of the nation’s leading former federal judges, legal scholars, and attorneys.

Through a series of conversations with retired federal judges from across the country, this episode explores growing threats to judicial independence, the erosion of public trust in the courts, and why the rule of law depends on an informed public. Guests discuss the rise in attacks against judges, misinformation about the judiciary, civic education, judicial security, and the re...

In this episode, host Tate Fall sits down with Deidre Holden, longtime elections director in Paulding County, Georgia, for a conversation grounded in service, experience, and a deep commitment to voters.

With nearly three decades in election administration, Deidre Holden from Paulding County, Georgia, shares how she got her start, why she’s stayed, and what continues to motivate her work. From maintaining accurate voter rolls to advocating for election officials at the state level, she offers a candid look at what it takes to run elections, while earning public trust, over the long haul. 

The...

Cut through the partisan noise and find out how elections really work in your community, and around the country, straight from the election workers themselves. 

In this episode, host Tate Fall sits down with Travis Doss, Executive Director of the Richmond County Board of Elections and a 31-year veteran of election administration in Georgia.

Travis shares how he got his start in elections (spoiler: it wasn’t part of the plan), and what he’s learned after three decades on the job. From managing a large, diverse county to launching tools like voter wait time track...

In this episode, our new elections expert co-host Tate Fall sits down with Akyn and Noah Beck, a married couple serving as election directors in neighboring Georgia counties, to talk about what it really takes to run free and fair elections.

From rebuilding voter trust to recruiting poll workers with limited resources, they share how local election officials keep things running—often behind the scenes and under pressure. They also tackle misinformation, public trust, and what they wish every voter understood. At the heart of it all: election officials are your neighbors, and they care deeply about ge...

In this episode of Keepers of Our Republic, host Brooke sits down with former U.S. District Judge John Martin, who also served as U.S. Attorney and Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, one of the most influential prosecutorial offices in the country.

At a time when U.S. Attorneys’ offices are making headlines, and facing growing scrutiny, Judge Martin offers a grounded, historical perspective on the role these offices play in our justice system and why their independence is essential to maintaining public trust. Judge Martin also shares advice for yo...

From East Baltimore to the federal bench, Judge Andre Davis built a career rooted in one idea: the law is a tool for public service.

In this episode of Keepers of the Republic, Brooke sits down with the former Fourth Circuit judge to talk about civil rights, community impact, and what it really means to uphold the rule of law. They cover everything from his unexpected path to the bench, to leaving a lifetime appointment to work on police reform, to why he’s now speaking out alongside other judges to defend democratic norms.

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What's really happening in Michigan elections, and what's changed in recent years? In this episode of Keepers of the Republic, hosts Ari Mittleman and Kamryn Hoadley sit down with Lynn Henry, Deputy Clerk and Elections Director for Grand Blanc Township, Michigan. From implementing early voting to managing a surge in absentee ballots, Lynn shares a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to run secure, transparent elections in a rapidly evolving system.

They break down major changes to Michigan election law, how election equipment is selected and audited, and the real challenges local clerks face—from voter questions to...

Voting is a fundamental right — but for many Americans with disabilities, accessing the ballot can still present real challenges. This week, Brooke sits down with former Cobb County, Georgia Elections Director Tate Fall to explore how accessibility shapes election administration. From ADA compliance at polling places to ensuring voters with physical and intellectual disabilities can confidently cast their ballots, Tate shares practical insights from her experience working at the local, state, and national levels, including how election officials can better prepare ahed of Election Day.

Stick around until the end where Tate shares an exciting update about a...

Wisconsin is one of the nation’s leaders in voter turnout — but how do its elections actually work? This week, Ari sits down with Wisconsin Elections Commission administrator Meagan Wolfe to discuss how the state administers elections through nearly 2,000 local election officials. They talk about Wisconsin’s unique bipartisan commission system, the challenges of training clerks across the state, and some of the most persistent myths about election administration. Along the way, Wolfe explains how local officials and volunteers keep elections running smoothly, even during snowstorms and power outages.

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The Supreme Court has issued a major ruling in the Trump tariffs case — but what does it actually mean? This week, Brooke sits down with former federal judges Philip Pro and Liam O’Grady to break down Learning Resources v. Trump in nonpartisan terms. They explain the constitutional issues at stake, how the decision reflects checks and balances at work, why Justice's Gorsuch and Barrett's position might not be the controversial surprise the media would have you believe, and why supporting an independent judicary is essential to our democracy. 

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Shorewood, Wisconsin is bucking the trends: 90% of registered voters show up to vote in elections, and Village Clerk Toya Harrell has more volunteers than she knows what to do with. What's the secret to Shorewood's civic engagement? This week Brooke chats with Toya Harrell to discuss an unexpected career in public service, voting in Wisconsin, and a family legacy of protecting free and fair elections reaching back to Ms. Rosa Parks herself.
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Welcome back to Keepers of our Republic, a new weekly podcast from Keep Our Republic that takes listeners inside the institutions at the heart...

As Wisconsin continues to play a pivotal role in national elections, Green Bay City Clerk Celestine Jeffreys offers a local perspective on what keeps the state’s decentralized election system strong. As we honor Black History Month on Keepers of Our Republic, Celestine joins Ari to reflect on more than two decades of public service, including her historic election as Green Bay’s first African American city council member. Together they discuss how community bonds and local leadership sustain confidence in our democratic institutions, changes and unique rules in Wisconsin's elections and where you can, surprisingly, still visit an amus...

As partisan politics take center stage in the federal judiciary confirmation process, this week's guest, Retired Federal Judge Lee Yeakel, United States District for the Western District of Texas, talks us through the Senate confirmation process from an insider's perspective. Judge Yeakel and Keeper's host Brooke Bergen discuss the effects of injecting partisanship into the judiciary and why neutrality is necessary for an effective legal system.

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Welcome back to Keepers of our Republic, a new weekly podcast from Keep Our Republic that takes listeners inside the institutions at the heart of...

As Georgia's elections have come under increased scrutiny and national attention in recent years, Bartow County’s Election Supervisor Joseph Kirk has weathered the storm. This week on Keepers of Our Republic, Executive Director Ari Mittleman sits down with Joseph Kirk, current President of the Georgia Association of Voter Registration and Election Officials. Ari and Joseph discuss the many recent, and possible future changes to Georgia's elections, and the work of maintaining trust and transparency in elections, and educating and training election workers across the state. 

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In the wake of President Trump's executive orders targeting various law firms in 2025, a number of former federal judges, attorneys, and legal scholars rallied to create a new set of legal principles that would affirm the necessity of asserting independence and exercising First Amendment rights in the legal profession. On this week's episode, Judge Shira Schendlin and Professor Pearlstein Director of the Princeton Program in Law and Public Policy discuss the new Principles for the Independence of the Legal Profession, and the recent op-ed in the New York Times, co-authored by Judge Schendlin.

Read and sign the...

Welcome back. This week, Brooke sits down with former Judge John Tinder, a former AUSA and Judge of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals. Judge Tinder and Brooke discuss recent mass resignations at the Department of Justice. The DOJ is the most common litigant in the federal court system. With apparent chaos over staffing shortages, firings, and resignations at the nation's largest prosecutorial body, Judge Tinder discusses the erosion of public trust in our federal systems and the effect it has on judges.
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This week on Keepers of Our Republic, Brooke sits down with one of Keep our Republic's newest staff members, Kamryn Hoadley, a former elections administrator from Pontiac, Michigan who literally grew up in elections. Kamryn shares childhood memories of working in elections administration with her family before jumping into it as her full time career. Kamryn shares her experiences pulling in volunteers and poll workers from the younger generations, and why experienced volunteers are the bedrock of running elections smoothly and efficiently.

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Welcome back to Keepers of our Republic, a new weekly podcast from...

Happy New Year, and welcome back to Keepers of Our Republic, a weekly podcast that takes listeners inside the institutions at the heart of American democracy.  This week, host Brooke Bergen speaks with Judge Diane Wood, retuired federal judge of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals to discuss the annual SCOTUS report, and Chief Justice Roberts' not so subtle message about the state of the federal judiciary. Judge Wood offers her own predictions and optimism for what is expected to be a tumultous year for our courts.

Read the 2025 Year End Report on the Federal Judiciary, here: h...

This week, Brooke speaks with former federal judge Robert Cindrich about recent calls for impeachment hearings against federal judges. Judge Cindrich dives deep into the history and legal underpinnings of the impeachment process, and why maintaining judicial independnce is essential for a peaceful and just America. 

You can read the Article III Coalition's statement on judicial impeachment, here: https://keepourrepublic.org/what-we-do/initiatives/article-iii-coalition/
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Welcome back to Keepers of our Republic, a new weekly podcast from Keep Our Republic that takes listeners inside the institutions at the heart of American democracy. Every week, Kee...

This week, Brooke talks headline news and a possible criminal contempt probe against the administration with former US District Court Judge Jeremy Fogel. Judge Fogel takes us behind the headlines regarding Judge Boasberg's criminal contempt probe stemming from this spring's DHS deportation flights of migrants to El Salvador.   In this episode, we dive deep into the legal underpinnings of criminal contempt investigations, address misconceptions of these rare proceedings, and discusses some of the wider issues raised by Judge Boasberg's newly-revived investigation.   

You can read Judge Fogel's remarks on Judge Boesburg's criminal contempt probe, here: https://apnews.com/art...

Welcome back to Keepers of our Republic, a new weekly podcast from Keep Our Republic that takes listeners inside the institutions at the heart of American democracy.

Polk County Director of Elections Cliff Marr talks with Ari this week about running elections during North Carolina's most chaotic elections in decades: 2020 and 2024. Marr and Ari dive deep into the logistics of staffing rural polling locations in a global pandemic and running the 2024 elections just weeks after Hurricane Helene ripped through the region.

Every week, Keepers of Our Republic features thoughtful conversations with election administrators and retired...