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Best US politics & elections videos, as recommended on Hacker News

76 videos about us politics & elections that Hacker News commenters keep recommending, mentioned between 2008 and 2026. Mostly explainer, commentary, talk. Channels that come up most: CGP Grey, LastWeekTonight, Innuendo Studios, University of California Television (UCTV). Sorted by how consistently HN recommended them over the years.

The most recommended is George Lakoff: Moral Politics: HN commenters repeatedly say it changed how they hear political speech and recommend it for understanding why opponents are not simply stupid.

• lectureGeorge Lakoff: Moral PoliticsUniversity of California Television (UCTV) · 3 HN recommenders · 2016–2024
• explainerWhy Electronic Voting Is Still A Bad IdeaTom Scott · 11 HN recommenders · 2020–2026
• talkRepublic, Lost | Lawrence Lessig | Talks at GoogleTalks at Google · 10 HN recommenders · 2011–2017
• talkAntonin Scalia - On American ExceptionalismAmericanRhetoric.com · 12 HN recommenders · 2019–2025
• lectureThe Cardboard Box Reform - Nixon's Ghost Bill & A Crucial Flaw in DemocracyCRI · 9 HN recommenders · 2014–2025
• lectureThe Coming Collapse of the Middle Class with Elizabeth WarrenUniversity of California Television (UCTV) · 10 HN recommenders · 2008–2022
• talkWe the People, and the Republic we must reclaim | Lawrence LessigTED · 8 HN recommenders · 2013–2026
• explainerWhy Your Vote Doesn't CountCGP Grey · 10 HN recommenders · 2015–2025
• otherMay 1, 1969: Fred Rogers testifies before the Senate Subcommittee on CommunicationsRoad Less Marveled · 9 HN recommenders · 2015–2026
• explainerThe Voting System That Should Replace Every ElectionCGP Grey · 7 HN recommenders · 2012–2021
• explainerThe Voting System That's Actually Too Good for Politicians to AllowCGP Grey · 7 HN recommenders · 2015–2021
• explainerWhy Electronic Voting is a BAD Idea - ComputerphileComputerphile · 7 HN recommenders · 2015–2025
• interviewJon Stewart on CrossfireAlex Felker · 5 HN recommenders · 2009–2025
• lectureJames Baldwin Debates William F. Buckley (1965)The Riverbends Channel · 5 HN recommenders · 2016–2024
• talkOur democracy no longer represents the people. Here's how we fix it | Larry Lessig | TEDxMidAtlanticTEDx Talks · 4 HN recommenders · 2017–2024
• explainerWas YOUR vote counted? (feat. homomorphic encryption) - NumberphileNumberphile · 5 HN recommenders · 2016–2024
• explainerThe Voting System That Gives You Two VotesCGP Grey · 5 HN recommenders · 2012–2026
• explainerAnimated Voting MethodsUnify The Vote · 3 HN recommenders · 2018–2022
• lectureMark Blyth ─ Global TrumpismWatson School of International and Public Affairs · 3 HN recommenders · 2016–2019
• commentaryThe Alt-Right Playbook: Control the ConversationInnuendo Studios · 4 HN recommenders · 2017–2025
• interviewDemocrats Need to Face Why Trump Won | The Ezra Klein ShowThe Ezra Klein Show · 4 HN recommenders · 2025–2026
• talkCarl Sagan testifying before Congress in 1985 on climate changecarlsagandotcom · 4 HN recommenders · 2021–2026
• lectureTimothy Snyder Speaks, ep. 14: Politics of Eternity, Politics of InevitabilityTimothy Snyder · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2025
• explainerHow our voting system (and IRV) betrays your favourite candidateThe Center for Election Science · 5 HN recommenders · 2014–2023
• comedyThe Daily Show - Burn NoticedComedy Central · 2 HN recommenders · 2015–2025
• podcastCan We Pull Back From The Brink? (Episode #207)Sam Harris · 4 HN recommenders · 2020–2021
• comedyJim Jefferies -- Gun Control (Part 1) from BARE -- Netflix SpecialJim Jefferies · 3 HN recommenders · 2016–2022
• talkRepublic, Lost (my favorite version)lessig · 3 HN recommenders · 2011–2022
• courseLecture 1: Introduction to Power and Politics in Today’s WorldYaleCourses · 3 HN recommenders · 2020–2021
• commentaryPresident Trump: How & Why...Jonathan Pie · 4 HN recommenders · 2016–2020
• newsSenate hearing on National Security Space Launch Programs with Elon Muskcanadarm2 · 4 HN recommenders · 2014–2016
• lectureMilton Friedman - Why Tax Reform Is ImpossibleLibertyPen · 3 HN recommenders · 2013–2022
• commentarySinclair's Soldiers in Trump's War on MediaDeadspin · 3 HN recommenders · 2020–2025
• commentaryThe Alt-Right Playbook: Always a Bigger FishInnuendo Studios · 3 HN recommenders · 2019–2025
• talkThe Power of Big Data and Psychographics | 2016 Concordia Annual SummitConcordia · 4 HN recommenders · 2017–2026
• explainerYou Can Win the Presidency With 22% of the VoteCGP Grey · 3 HN recommenders · 2015–2020
• commentaryHow government programs drive up college tuitionsPeter Schiff · 3 HN recommenders · 2010–2018
• explainerAlgorithmic Redistricting: Elections made-to-orderAlphaPhoenix · 2 HN recommenders · 2023–2025
• interviewPeter Thiel on “The Straussian Moment”Hoover Institution · 3 HN recommenders · 2019–2021
• explainerHow to Fix America's Corrupt Political SystemRepresentUs · 2 HN recommenders · 2016–2021
• explainerThe UK Election Results Were the Worst in HistoryCGP Grey · 3 HN recommenders · 2015–2022
• talkJonathan Haidt: The moral roots of liberals and conservativesTED · 3 HN recommenders · 2016–2018
• talkRobert F. Kennedy challenges Gross Domestic Productipyramid · 2 HN recommenders · 2014–2020
• talkF2C2012: Aaron Swartz keynote - "How we stopped SOPA"F2C2012 · 2 HN recommenders · 2013–2023
• documentaryBrian Springer - SpinMasterpieceConCen7 · 2 HN recommenders · 2016–2021
• commentaryTrump's Biggest FailureKraut · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2023
• explainerCorruption is Legal in AmericaRepresentUs · 2 HN recommenders · 2015–2022
• lectureLESSON 1: Do Not Obey In AdvanceTimothy Snyder · 2 HN recommenders · 2023–2025
• commentaryU.S. Territories: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)LastWeekTonight · 2 HN recommenders · 2015–2019
• otherEisenhower Farewell Address (Best Quality) - 'Military Industrial Complex' WARNINGEwafa · 2 HN recommenders · 2018–2023
• newsReagan and Bush Debate Immigration, Border Fences, and Undocumented Children in 1980TIME · 1 HN recommender · 2018–2026
• commentaryPerhaps Ben Shapiro Shouldn't Be Taken Seriously By Anyone About Anything - SOME MORE NEWSSome More News · 2 HN recommenders · 2019–2020
• explainerDo these scatter plots reveal fraudulent vote-switching in Michigan?Stand-up Maths · 4 HN recommenders · 2020–2021
• explainerHow We Should Vote (Range Voting)Undefined Behavior · 3 HN recommenders · 2017–2019
• explainerWhy do Biden's votes not follow Benford's Law?Stand-up Maths · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2024
• explainerLiquid Democracy In Simple Termspxi · 1 HN recommender · 2015–2020
• explainerSimulating alternate voting systemsPrimer · 2 HN recommenders · 2020–2026
• talkRobert Kennedy on GDPWimble Don · 1 HN recommender · 2021–2024
• commentaryGerrymandering: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)LastWeekTonight · 1 HN recommender · 2017–2020
• commentaryWhy Libertarianism Is So DangerousSchool Sucks · 1 HN recommender · 2013–2021
• musicBrother Ali - Uncle Sam Goddamn (Official Video)Rhymesayers Entertainment · 1 HN recommender · 2013–2020
• interviewAmerica's Great Divide: Steve Bannon (first interview) | FRONTLINEFRONTLINE PBS | Official · 2 HN recommenders · 2021–2025
• musicI'm Just a Bill (Schoolhouse Rock!)TheGreatWorker · 1 HN recommender · 2013–2024
• commentaryNoam Chomsky - The Crimes of U.S. PresidentsChomsky's Philosophy · 1 HN recommender · 2018–2025
• comedyThe Daily Show - Gun Control Whoop-de-doo (ft. John Oliver)Comedy Central · 1 HN recommender · 2013–2024
• comedyWatch Stephen Colbert at the 2006 White House Corresponde...CNN · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2026
• lectureDECLINE of EMPIRES: The Signs of Decayeon3 · 1 HN recommender · 2018–2023
• interviewThomas Sowell: affirmative action creates academic failure & resentmentGravitahn · 1 HN recommender · 2018–2020
• commentaryCongressional Fundraising: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)LastWeekTonight · 1 HN recommender · 2016–2022
• interviewPutin's Revenge: Julia Ioffe (interview) | FRONTLINEFRONTLINE PBS | Official · 1 HN recommender · 2022–2023
• commentaryLiberal Hypocrisy is Fueling American Inequality. Here’s How. | NYT OpinionNew York Times Opinion · 2 HN recommenders · 2021–2024
• talkPolitics and Language | Noam Chomsky | Talks at GoogleTalks at Google · 1 HN recommender · 2008–2018
• commentaryVoting Machines: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)LastWeekTonight · 1 HN recommender · 2020–2023
• otherThe Newsroom - America is not the greatest country in the world anymore...(Restricted language)tpratt441 · 1 HN recommender · 2018–2026
• commentaryAmi Horowitz: How white liberals really view black votersFox News · 1 HN recommender · 2019–2022
• commentaryThe Alt-Right Playbook: I Hate MondaysInnuendo Studios · 1 HN recommender · 2021–2025