Looking Out for the Public Interest: Paul Sabin

February 6th, 2025

”Suing the government is a good thing to do in a lot of cases.”

We discuss how the public interest movements in the 60s and 70s can be a source of inspiration for American democracy and why this movement was a formidable force in influencing public policy that benefits all of us, from traffic safety to the Clean Water Act.

Paul Sabin is the Randolph W. Townsend, Jr. Professor of History and Professor of American Studies at Yale University and previously served as the founding executive director of the non-profit Environmental Leadership Program. Paul is the author of Public Citizens: The Attack on Big Government and the Remaking of American Liberalism.

Your civic action toolkit recommendations from Paul are:

  1. Focus on state and local government.

  2. Make liberal cities and states compelling models for good governance to be replicated across the nation.

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Credits:

Host: Mila Atmos 

Guest: Paul Sabin

Executive Producer: Mila Atmos

Producer: Zack Travis

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Playing Defense for Democracy: Ezra Levin