On Friedersdorf, the conversation kicks off with a discussion of The Slurve, Michael’s new subscription-only newsletter about baseball. Is the era of the free/open web over? Michael and Conor agree that it’s reassuring for journalists to control a portion of their income. Michael argues that baseball itself is in a golden age, and they share their favorite baseball memories. They next consider the lobster-catching lobster claw, and what it tells us about humanity. They close with a discussion of the harmful effects of the NYPD’s surveillance of Muslims.

On Critic Proof, Alyssa and Scott start by discussing the season premiere of Game of Thrones. Is the show just too complicated for the average viewer to follow? Alyssa thinks the show has responded intelligently to criticism of its frequent female nudity. Is it possible to imagine a happy ending to George R. R. Martin’s bleak fantasy landscape? Next, Alyssa explains why Mad Men is trying her patience. Has the show been about feminism all along? And what should we hope to see in the new season? [Spoilers throughout.]

On Foreign Entanglements, Rob and Michael engage in a lively debate over the lessons learned from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Michael thinks both the invasion of Iraq and the surge in Afghanistan were fueled by undue faith in military force, but Rob argues that the comparison is unjustified. How should the United States respond to Iran and North Korea? Rob and Michael next discuss President Obama’s trip to Israel; Rob has little hope for a US-brokered peace deal. Finally, they discuss the current state of Kentucky politics, including the careers of Senators Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell and the abortive campaign of Ashley Judd.

On The Glenn Show, Glenn and John discuss how they spent their spring breaks away from campus. John reviews his trip to Germany for a conference on creole languages. Glenn gives a report on his journey to Australia, where he discussed incarceration and social policy with academics and government officials. The two complain about the trouble with talkative but boring seatmates on long flights. Glenn discusses the fiction of Yoko Ogawa and Junot Diaz. John recalls his years at Rutgers, and reports on his experience in California giving a TED Talk.

On The DMZ: Why you don’t have to watch the Sunday shows anymore. As the Supreme Court considers marriage equality, are conservatives surrendering the culture war? Matt and Bill give serious thought to the polygamy argument. Does Obama need a “grand bargain” for his legacy? And does Ron Swanson help or hurt conservatism?

On Foreign Entanglements, Rob and Dan take a deep dive into the relationship between the Iraq War and the study of international politics. Dan argues that the Bush started the war because executive power has been unbridled since World War II, not because of the September 11 attacks. After Iraq, will the world question American power and resolve? They speculate how a President Gore would have waged a War on Terror, and, going further into this alternate history, whether a McCain victory in 2004 would have unmade the international liberal order.