In this week’s session of The Civic Forum, Rory Truex is joined by Amanda Litman, co-founder of Run for Something. Amanda explains why America’s political system is dominated by older leaders, and how young people can step up.We discuss:

• Why the U.S. is a gerontocracy, and how it affects democracy.
• The underrepresentation of Millennials, Gen Z, women, and working-class people in Congress.
• The structural barriers that keep young and diverse candidates from running.
• How Run for Something recruits and supports first-time candidates across the country.
• What it means to be authentic as a politician
• Amanda’s vision for political reform — from campaign finance to paying public servants fairly.