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18 March 2024

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May 31, 2014 — Glenn Loury & John McWhorter
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The Glenn Show

On The Glenn Show, Glenn and John react to Ta-Nehisi Coates’s article reviving the case for reparations. John says that Coates won’t persuade Americans. John and Glenn worry that political correctness stands in the way of candid facts. How well does America understand its racist history? What’s the point of reflecting on atrocities? Finally, Glenn offers his own critique of the case for reparations.

May 30, 2014 — Heather Hurlburt & Daniel Drezner
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Drezburt

On Drezburt, Heather and Dan discuss Obama’s big foreign policy speech at West Point. Has the administration failed to prioritize international trade agreements? Who was the speech’s intended audience? Can Congress be persuaded to lift sanctions on Iran? Why is John Kerry telling Edward Snowden to “man up”? Dan argues that Obama is just going through the motions on foreign policy, and wonders if the administration is catering to public indifference to global affairs. Plus: Heather asks Dan about his new book on the financial crisis.

May 29, 2014 — Bill Scher & Matt K. Lewis
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The DMZ

On The DMZ, Bill and Matt react to the Isla Vista shooting: Has the feminist response been productive or damaging? Matt fears all white men being presumed guilty. Is liberal Hollywood responsible for spreading a message of violence and misogyny? Is normal young male behavior at risk of being stigmatized? Moving to politics: Why did the Tea Party oust a 91-year-old conservative WWII veteran the day after Memorial Day? Matt has some counterintuitive advice for Ted Cruz on how to run for president. Plus: How Godzilla is a cautionary tale about a new kind of terrorist attack.

May 27, 2014 — Sarah Posner & Welton Gaddy
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The Posner Show
On The Posner Show, Sarah talks with the Rev. Welton Gaddy, who recently announced his retirement as president of the Interfaith Alliance. They discuss Welton’s history of advocating for religious diversity and religious freedom, after he witnessed first-hand the Religious Right’s takeover of the Southern Baptist Convention. Welton provides a brief history of the politicizing of religion from the “pseudo-piety” of the Clinton impeachment through the Obama administration’s refusal to change Bush-era rules on faith-based initiatives. Did Obama fear crossing “the Christian establishment” in enacting the Affordable Care Act’s contraception mandate? Welton argues that the recent Supreme Court ruling in favor of legislative prayer undermines authentic religion. Plus: Why Welton is scared about the state of religious freedom in America.
May 26, 2014 — Glenn Loury & Andrew Weiss
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The Glenn Show
On The Glenn Show, Glenn and Andy discuss why good intentions are not enough when politicians are trying to help the poor. They consider the downsides of raising the minimum wage, which Andy likens to a “secret sales tax” on the working poor. Glenn plays devil’s advocate and brings up Australia, which has a minimum wage twice that of the US. Is there a better way to help the long-term jobless than the current unemployment insurance system? Andy recounts how his experience as an employer made him much more sympathetic to anti-regulatory arguments. Finally, are there Democrats who are willing to hear from someone like Andy?
May 24, 2014 — Robert Farley & Sam Roggeveen
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Foreign Entanglements
On Foreign Entanglements, Rob and Sam discuss developments in Australia and Asia, beginning with the military coup in Thailand. China’s state-owned oil company moved a rig into disputed waters, which Sam says is an “extremely dangerous environment.” Rob turns to the Asia pivot, and they compare John Kerry to Hillary Clinton. What’s going to happen when China’s economy surpasses America’s? And finally, why is Australia buying expensive F-35 fighter jets from the US?
May 22, 2014 — Kevin Glass & Sonny Bunch
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Rational Actors
On Rational Actors, Kevin and Sonny discuss the phenomenon of “the politicized life,” in which cultural preferences come to reflect political leanings. Sonny argues that the tactic of politicized boycotts has shifted from right to left over time. Kevin asks whether some positions, like 9/11 trutherism, are deserving of ostracism. Why are undergraduates rebelling against controversial commencement speakers? Is the rise of trigger warnings on campus an authoritarian omen? And where is this culture of heightened political correctness headed?

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