Alexander Heffner will discuss the future of civil discourse and democracy in our time, specifically how divisiveness manifests through digital platforms, disinformation, and filter bubbles. What are possible prescriptions to correct this cycle? How can our social footprint translate into constructive instead of destructive behavior? How can citizens, government, and the press restore faith in civic life and the integrity of public policy?

Alexander Heffner is host of The Open Mind on PBS, creator of Breaking Bread with Alexander on Bloomberg TV, and coauthor of the bestselling A Documentary History of the United States by Penguin. He has covered American culture, politics, and civic life since the 2008 presidential campaign.