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2 May 2024

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Apr 15, 2012 — Mark Schmitt & Edward Luce
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Fireside Chats

On Fireside Chats, Mark interviews Edward Luce about his new book on American decline, Time to Start Thinking. Edward argues that highly unequal societies are also economically less efficient. Have Republicans gamed America’s paralyzed political system? What can the US learn about education from Germany? Edward also dishes on his old boss Larry Summers, and recalls his wine-soaked lunch with Charles Murray.

Apr 14, 2012 — Robert Wright & Baratunde Thurston
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Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Apr 13, 2012 — Brenda Talbot
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Washington Squares
On Washington Squares, Michael and Adam discuss John Derbyshire’s firing from National Review. Adam contends that much “race realism” is just a set of assertions to confirm already existing prejudices, and Michael searches for where to draw the line between intellectual inquiry about racial differences and racism. Michael worries that intellectual racism is likely to grow in the future, but Adam is more optimistic. The conversation then turns to the flap about Hilary Rosen and Ann Romney, where Michael defends political nonsense as a way for non-political junkies to engage in a debate and probe candidates. Finally, Michael launches an epic rant against the Catholic League for their attack on Rosen and their strategy of playing a victim.
Apr 12, 2012 — Matthew Duss & Michael Singh
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Foreign Entanglements
On Foreign Entanglements, Michael argues that we shouldn’t squander our current leverage over Iran. Matt says that we need to offer Iran a better choice than “surrender or else.” Do recent Iranian “clarifications” signal greater willingness to engage? What happens if the upcoming talks collapse? Are fears of Middle East nuclear proliferation overblown? Matt and Michael close by debating the importance of the distinction between “nuclear weapons” and “nuclear weapons capability.”
Apr 12, 2012 — Bill Scher & Matt K. Lewis
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The DMZ
On The DMZ: Does Santorum have a political future? Will Obama run a campaign of hope or hypocrisy? Why did Obama’s 2008 post-partisan rhetoric never become reality? Matt and Bill also debate the kind of anti-Obama narrative Romney will run on and whether this will actually be an intensely negative campaign.
Apr 11, 2012 — Conor Friedersdorf & Kashmir Hill
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Friedersdorf
Conor and Kashmir kick things off by discussing whether Google Glasses will create a surveillance state. Conor argues that the government is eventually going to legislate new privacy norms. Kashmir explains why she’s fascinated by the case of a college football player arrested for taping the sounds of a dorm mate having sex. Is technology making the Fourth Amendment prohibition of unreasonable search obsolete? They disagree about whether the smartphone app Girls Around Me is objectionable. And Conor predicts that people will start taking a “flood the zone” approach to protecting their privacy.
Apr 10, 2012 — Sarah Posner & Matthew Lee Anderson
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The Posner Show
On the Posner Show, Sarah talks with Matt about Andrew Sullivan’s controversial cover story in Newsweek, “Christianity in Crisis.” Matt believes Christianity is—and always is—in crisis because evangelicals love a decline narrative. But he argues that politicized solutions proposed by the religious right have been disastrous for the evangelical witness. Has Obama’s faith outreach to younger evangelicals worked? Or will issues like abortion and same-sex marriage keep younger evangelicals in the Republican fold? Finally: How legitimate are political arguments based on religious belief?
Apr 9, 2012 — Dorian Warren & Josh Eidelson
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Fireside Chats
On Fireside Chats, Dorian and Josh talk about the troubles facing America’s labor movement. They discuss a recent attempt to silence union picketers that was defeated with help from the Tea Party, and how public-sector unions remain a ripe target for Republicans. How does labor law affect union strength? Can labor organizers take lessons from the 1930s? Finally, Dorian and Josh explore the role of unions in articulating a vision of workplace democracy.
Apr 8, 2012 — Robert Farley & Michael Cohen
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Foreign Entanglements
On Foreign Entanglements, Rob and Michael reassess the Libyan intervention and its impact on the rest of the Middle East. Rob reminds us that we aren’t getting better at interventions; Libya was just a special case. And since when has it been okay for the president to mislead Congress to start a war? Rob and Michael want you to know that, despite what you’ve heard, the world is really safe right now. Finally, they worry that an expansive understanding of human rights would lead to too much military action.
Apr 7, 2012 — Robert Wright & Susan Cain
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Nonzero (The Wright Show)

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