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23 December 2025

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Jan 27, 2014 — Heather Hurlburt & Daniel Drezner
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Drezburt

On the premiere of Drezburt, Heather and Dan preview foreign policy at the State of the Union address. They debate whether Obama has failed to make free trade a priority, or whether Congressional obstruction is to blame. Heather praises Democrats for largely holding the line against new Iran sanctions. Next, they discuss the World Economic Forum in Davos, which Dan says has gone “beyond caricature.” What is revealed by the massive gender imbalance at Davos? Moving to the crisis in Ukraine, they consider whether the country could splinter. Plus: Why Syria became a catastrophe but Tunisia did not.

Jan 24, 2014 — Glenn Loury & John McWhorter
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The Glenn Show

On The Glenn Show, Glenn and John talk about the link between inequality and single parenthood—and why this is such a controversial topic to discuss. John is concerned about single women having more than one child. Do we know what to do to keep someone out of poverty? John thinks that by focusing on inequality instead of single-parent families, liberals are putting the cart before the horse. They discuss David Brooks’s recent column on inequality and Robert Reich’s harsh critique of it. Glenn emphasizes that when it comes to discussing poverty, “culture” shouldn’t be a dirty word.

Jan 23, 2014 — Bill Scher & Matt K. Lewis
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The DMZ

On The DMZ: Can Ezra Klein create an independent, high-brow news site that succeeds financially? Bill and Matt analyze Glenn Beck’s apology for “helping tear the country apart.” Should Beck be welcomed back into polite society? Why did former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, indicted this week, throw away his career? Bill notes that President Obama managed to rise through Chicago politics untainted by corruption. Was McDonnell’s sin striving to rise from humble beginnings?

Jan 21, 2014 — Mark Linsenmayer & Frithjof Bergmann
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Jan 20, 2014 — Glenn Loury & Harold Pollack
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The Glenn Show
On The Glenn Show: What does Martin Luther King, Jr. Day mean 45 years after King’s death? Glenn and Harold note King’s radicalism—and the resistance he faced—in the late ’60s. Harold says MLK’s view of political power holds lessons for today’s progressives. What would have happened if King had not been assassinated at the age of 39? Turning to current politics, Glenn and Harold debate the GOP’s campaign to pass voter ID laws. Harold laments that progressives are often bored by the levers of conventional political power, and offers King as a counterexample.
Jan 18, 2014 — Sarah Posner & Anthea Butler
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The Posner Show
On The Posner Show, Sarah talks with Anthea about Pope Francis’s new appointment of cardinals. Anthea argues that by appointing no Americans, Francis was working toward parity, and breaking an Italian “cabal.” Has the media created a “fantasy pope?” While Francis is like the new CEO of a company, there are some ways in which business at the Vatican proceeds as usual. Why did Francis appoint so many cardinals from the developing world? Plus: How the US Conference of Catholic Bishops acts like evangelicals.
Jan 17, 2014 — Bill Scher & Matt K. Lewis
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The DMZ
On The DMZ: How the Super Bowl could affect Chris Christie’s fortunes. What happens to the 2016 field if Christie is toast? Matt and Bill discuss why political tribalism is often rational—and how that fact exposes Christie’s weakness. Bill argues that Obama has shown the value of combining virtue and toughness. Matt warns young political operatives against the seductive pull of the dark side. Plus: Has Obama taken advice from Patrick Swayze in Road House?
Jan 15, 2014 — Kevin Glass & Robert VerBruggen
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Rational Actors
On Rational Actors, Kevin and Robert discuss the conservative struggle to come up with an effective anti-poverty agenda. Can Marco Rubio’s new policy proposal fill the void? They critique the progressive view of the causes of poverty. Is marriage the best anti-poverty program, or is there a chicken-and-egg problem here? How does abortion figure into the poverty debate? Finally: Will conservatives be serious about poverty in the future?
Jan 14, 2014 — Michael Brendan Dougherty & Travis Waldron
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The Score
On The Score, Travis says he would vote Barry Bonds and Mark McGwire into baseball’s Hall of Fame, while Michael explains why Cooperstown is still important to him. Why did Frank Thomas get elected while Mike Piazza did not? Travis is sick of the annual Hall of Fame/steroids debate, and Michael makes the case for the Hall as a brick-and-mortar institution. Turning to baseball’s latest scandal, Michael and Travis explore whether justice has been done in the Alex Rodriguez case. Plus: What role does the baseball players union want to play in all this?
Jan 13, 2014 — Sarah Posner & Katie Engelhart
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The Posner Show
On The Posner Show, Sarah talks with Katie about the successes and challenges of the Sunday Assembly, the “atheist megachurch.” How did the Sunday Assembly spread from East London to forty cities around the world? What caused a split between the Sunday Assembly and a group in New York, which complained about prohibitions on talking about atheism? They discuss why atheist church is appealing—or not—to atheists. Katie says when you create a new church, schisms are inevitable. What is the role of charismatic leaders in keeping churches afloat? Finally: What does the future hold for atheist churches?

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