logo

28 April 2024

logo
Apr 4, 2012 — Robert Wright & Eyal Press
video screenshot
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Apr 3, 2012 — Anthea Butler & Julian Sanchez
video screenshot
The Posner Show
Guest-hosting on The Posner Show, Anthea talks to Julian about Trayvon Martin. Julian argues that the case been distorted by our search for the perfect allegory, while Anthea criticizes the Stand Your Ground law and the mentality of the gated community. Breaking news: Hispanics can be racist, too! Anthea and Julian move on to discuss the strange way that The Hunger Games has exposed teenage racism and examine the film’s social critique. They close by looking at how the media’s construction of left vs. right narrative frames comes at the detriment of the truth.
Apr 2, 2012 — Bryce Covert & Derek Thompson
video screenshot
Fireside Chats
On Fireside Chats, Bryce and Derek discuss women’s fast ascent in the economy and the barriers they still face. They give an update on the “mancession” and evaluate how the recovery period has treated both sexes. Moving forward, are women poised to dominate the economy, or will affluent women “opt out” of the workforce? Why is the wage gap so persistent? They close by debating whether it’s finally time to be optimistic about the economy.
Apr 1, 2012 — Michael Brendan Dougherty & Jamelle Bouie
video screenshot
Washington Squares
On Washington Squares, Michael Brendan Dougherty and Jamelle Bouie begin by asking whether the Trayvon Martin case can be separated from the larger arguments liberals and conservatives want to make about the country. Michael thinks Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” law is fine on paper but bad in practice. Jamelle is surprised at the amount of open racism on the Internet, and Michael and Jamelle discuss whether racism is actually growing in the digital age. They next discuss why social progress should never be taken for granted. Jamelle argues that America will never really be a minority-majority country, and Michael finishes by asking whether “blackness” will always be America’s most prominent social divide.
Mar 31, 2012 — Robert Wright & Ann Althouse
video screenshot
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Mar 31, 2012 — Matthew Duss & Ben Birnbaum
video screenshot
Foreign Entanglements
On Foreign Entanglements, Matt and Ben discuss new indications that Israel will hold off on striking Iran. Matt brings up the important difference between preemption and prevention. They point out that a nuclear Iran would be subject to the dangers of accidents and mistakes. We shouldn’t grow too comfortable with the Cold War doctrine of mutually-assured destruction, they suggest, just because it happened to work for a few decades. What are the chances of Obama ordering a strike after the election? They close with Ben’s interview with Iraqi opposition leader Ayad Allawi.
Mar 30, 2012 — Robert Wright & Jonathan Haidt
video screenshot
Nonzero (The Wright Show)
Mar 29, 2012 — Bill Scher & Matt K. Lewis
video screenshot
The DMZ
On The DMZ, Bill and Matt discuss the killing of Trayvon Martin. Matt argues that the case has led to oversimplification and misplaced political tribalism. They next discuss Obamacare at the Supreme Court—would overturning the law spark a pro-Democrat backlash? Bill sees a way for Justice Kennedy to uphold the law, but it may come at a price.
Mar 28, 2012 — Conor Friedersdorf & Reniqua Allen
video screenshot
Friedersdorf
Reniqua lays out the argument she made in a recent op-ed lamenting the state of America’s conversation about race and urging President Obama to talk more about the subject. Pushing back against her thesis, Conor argues that President Obama is the wrong man to lead such a conversation. He also claims that for all his eloquent rhetoric, Obama’s substantive record on issues with a racial dynamic isn’t strong. Reniqua talks about her frequent frustration with being the only black person in a room full of white people. They next give different versions of the racial conversation they’d like to see more of in America and grapple with the tension between embracing multiculturalism and creating self-segregation.
Mar 27, 2012 — Sarah Posner & Paul Waldman
video screenshot
The Posner Show
On The Posner Show, Sarah and Paul discuss this weekend’s Reason Rally. Should a secularist movement model itself on the Christian Coalition? They examine obstacles to a secularist movement gaining political influence and whether religious groups will always have an advantage. The religious right and the Republican Party are united, but Democrats worry that they have to appeal to secularists and religious voters alike. Can those two factions unite around protecting church-state separation? Plus: Do secularists need better public advocates than Richard Dawkins?

Archives