2024, some, my employer Vox, are calling it the biggest election year in history.

Billions of people are expected to vote in elections in the next 11 months.

Taiwan on Saturday is among the first.

It's a young democracy, first held a presidential election

in 1996, which is something Taiwanese are very proud of.

I love the fact that Taiwan has done away with strong man politics.

A great nation doesn't need a strong man cult but a civil society.

That's what makes a mature society.

As they go to the polls to pick a president,

Taiwanese will be choosing between a progressive candidate

and a candidate who wants much closer ties to China.

The race is close, though voters do agree on one thing.

I've worked a lot of people on all sides of the political spectrum who made the point that democracy

is shouldn't be taken for granted or something to defend and whoever they're voting for, they're very

excited to have that opportunity. That's coming up on Today Explained.

Before we start the show, Side Door is a podcast from the Smithsonian that will sneak you behind the scenes of the nation's largest museum and research complex.

You will discover stories of history, science, art, and culture

that aren't available on any display case. You'll hear about the ghosts that supposedly

walk the museum halls after dark. What more do you even need? You can listen to Side Door wherever you get your

podcast search for Side Door all one word or find it online at SI. EDU slash Side Door.

Support for this show comes from Kraken.

Cripto is like the financial system, but different.

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