Category Archives: Uncategorized

It’s no secret that American politics has been filled with rage in recent years. On cable news, on social media feeds, at demonstrations, riots and insurrections, a seemingly limitless supply of anger has been spilling into view. But what are the consequences of this rage for the health of American democracy? My guest today, StevenContinue reading “RAGE!!!”

Just a few weeks ago, former Trump administration officials were still claiming that they had brought peace to the Middle East. But the latest round of violence demonstrates that their approach was deeply flawed and only set the conditions for long-term escalation. Meanwhile, the Biden team has clearly been caught flat-footed, having been distracted byContinue reading “Trump, Biden and Israel (bonus episode)”

So far this year, there has been at least one mass shooting per day in the United States. And while you might think that this would lead to calls for tighter gun regulation, the Supreme Court just decided to take up a case which will probably see it declare unconstitutional just the type of regulationContinue reading “One Mass Shooting a Day”

In response to the Big Lie – that last November’s election was stolen from them – Republicans are moving to pass voter suppression legislation across dozens of American states, most prominently in Georgia. In this episode I’m joined by former Obama campaign official Karin Robinson to discuss the scariest parts of the voter suppression effort,Continue reading “Politics of Voter Suppression”

This last week, Joe Biden announced the biggest foreign policy move of his administration so far – a plan to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan this year. In this episode we talk about the arguments for and against withdrawal, why this isn’t so straightforward of a win for progressives as it might appear, and howContinue reading “Debating Afghan withdrawal”

All over the world, democracy is in retreat and authoritarianism is on the march. The Biden administration has put the advancement of democracy around the world at the center of its foreign policy agenda. But at the same time, American foreign relations always involves relationships with autocrats and dictators. In this episode we take aContinue reading “Biden, savior of global democracy?”

Arrivals of migrants and refugees at the southern border are surging – this year could see over two million border-crossers, the highest level in 20 years. The Biden administration inherited a deeply broken refugee admission system from Trump, but it has also made its own choices which are shaping what is happening at the borderContinue reading “Southern border blues”

The coronavirus pandemic, climate change, and animal cruelty in industrial agriculture – all are contributing to a growing awareness that something is amiss in our relationship with animals. Meat alternatives have never been more popular. But at the same time, there are enormous headwinds which keep meat on our plates – cultural, political, even ideasContinue reading “Where’s the beef? It’s with Uncle Sam”

Americans have always liked to believe that their country is special – or, as the phrase goes, exceptional. And as a consequence of believing that their country is exceptional, many Americans have also believed that it has a uniquely uplifting and moral role to play in international affairs. But in Donald Trump, America has had aContinue reading “American exceptionalism”

Insurrections be damned, Joe Biden is now the president of the United States. In this episode we take a look at the three big policy issues he is moving on early – immigration, the environment, and the economy. We dissect his proposals, their chances of success – and how what he learned from the ObamaContinue reading “Biden’s agenda”