98: Why Saving Democracy Sounds Like a Threat to Conservatives – Scott Warren and Sophia Winner

When pro-democracy advocates talk about "protecting institutions" or "preserving democratic norms," why does that message so often fall flat in conservative communities? In this episode, we sit down with researchers Scott Warren (Lab Director and SNF Agora Fellow) and Sophia Winner (Research Program Coordinator) from the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University. They discuss a deep ethnographic study that explores how conservative Americans actually perceive democratic institutions, state legitimacy, and political trust.  Instead of relying on standard polling or quick focus groups, this research involved multi-hour interviews with participants across rural Wyoming, suburban South Carolina, and Ottawa County, Michigan. The findings reveal a crucial disconnect: while mainstream messaging focuses heavily on procedural norms, conservative trust originates at a much deeper level—the moral foundation.  Text me your feedback and leave your contact info if you'd like a reply (this is a one-way text). Thanks, David Support the show Show Notes: https://outrageoverload.net/ Contact me, David Beckemeyer by email [email protected]. Follow the show on Instagram @OutrageOverload. We are also on Facebook /OutrageOverload. Check out our Subtstack https://outrageoverload.substack.com HOTLINE: 925-552-7885 Got a Question, comment or just thoughts you'd like to share? Call the O2 hotline and leave a message and you could be featured in an upcoming episode If you would like to help the show, you can contribute here. Tell everyone you know about the show. That’s the best way to support it. Rate and Review the show on Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/OutrageOverload Also check out our companion podcasts, This Week in Outrage and Outrage Science Bites. Intro music and outro music by Michael Ramir C. Many thanks to my co-editor and co-director, Austin Chen. Outrage Overload, a Conners Institute podcast, is part of The Democr...