Margaret Atwood: Democracy Under Her Eye | TVO Today Live

What do artists see that others miss? Canadian writer Margaret Atwood's decades of literary exploration have shown her to be an incisive observer of people and politics. She sits down with Steve Paikin in a live event on the campus of the University of Toronto to talk democracy, authoritarianism and how fact can indeed be stranger than fiction. As a strong voice on several of the pillars of democratic life, the conversation touches on core values such as freedom of speech, citizenship, where democracy can backslide, and how to work for a better democratic future. 00:00 Opening Remarks: A Decade Ago in Sudbury 00:24 Margaret Atwood's Proposal: A Humorous Anecdote 01:13 Acknowledging Red Wilson's Generosity 01:52 Introducing Margaret Atwood 02:13 Opening Banter: Commonalities and Humour 04:50 The Role of Class in Elections 07:00 Gender Dynamics in Politics 10:16 MAGA Movement: A Revolutionary Perspective 12:02 Comparing Gilead and Reality 16:24 Religion, Abortion, and Law 20:28 Social Media's Role in Democracy 25:11 Historical Comparisons of Democracy 28:59 Tribalism in Modern Society 32:51 Democracy's Structural Challenges 38:19 Reflections on Margaret Atwood's Literary Career 44:03 Humour, Longevity, and Life Reflections 49:15 Q&A: Reflections on Democracy and Feminism 1:01:30 Closing Reflections: Trump's Impact and Reality Checks 1:04:38 Final Thanks and Acknowledgements TVO Today Live is an Ontario-based event series that convenes important discussions on the future of democracy. Guests include politicians, journalists and prominent public figures. This initiative is made possible through the support of The Wilson Foundation, whose mission is to strengthen and enrich Canada in education leadership, community, history and heritage, and public service. Learn more about TVO Today Live at https://tvo.me/TVO-Today-Live/ and sign up for email updates to get the latest information. Subscribe to The Agenda with Steve Paikin on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/theagenda?sub_confirmation=1 Listen to the podcast: https://www.tvo.org/podcasts/the-agenda-with-steve-paikin-audio Follow on social media: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/TheAgenda Twitter - https://twitter.com/TheAgenda Subscribe to TVO Media Education Group newsletters: https://www.tvo.org/newsletters Get the TVO Today app: App Store: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/tvo-today/id1616182112 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.tvo.tvomediaapp See more ways to access The Agenda with Steve Paikin and TVO Today: https://www.tvo.org/tvo-anytime-anywhere The Agenda with Steve Paikin is TVO Today's flagship current affairs program, devoted to exploring the social, political, cultural and economic issues that are changing our world. We consistently offer a diversity of viewpoints and in-depth analysis of what lies behind the headlines. See more about The Agenda with Steve Paikin at https://www.tvo.org/theagenda #MargaretAtwood #DemocracyInCrisis #Authoritarianism