On The DMZ: What the Etch A Sketch gaffe reveals about Romney’s consultant problem. Why do politicians and their aides embarrass themselves by sharing private campaign strategies in public? Why is Obama talking so much about energy policy? And why can’t conservatives and liberals admit it when their ideas are proven unequivocally wrong? (With bonus prison-gang metaphor!)

On Fireside Chats, Ellen and Michelle discuss the GOP’s “war on women” and its implications for the elections. Are Romney’s recent comments on contraception a game changer? Ellen argues that contraception is critical to women’s economic well-being. Should the left thank Republicans for sparking a backlash? Michelle points to states like Texas that are eliminating healthcare for poor women. They close with a discussion of the importance of Planned Parenthood.

Alex and Conor kick off their conversation by talking about the evolution of Internet comment sections. Alex explains why she goes out of her way to use less technology than she could. Should the government mandate energy efficiency? Conor and Alex have a surprisingly intense debate about whether or not Los Angeles has pleasant weather, leading Conor to claim, in an assertion of Golden State pride, that California does more to shape the national culture than New York. And they conclude by discussing whether iPods have changed the way we listen to music for the worse.

On Foreign Entanglements, Rob speaks with Andrew Erickson, editor of the new book Chinese Aerospace Power.  Andrew and Rob discuss the long road to development of China’s new aircraft carrier, including the choices that the carrier represents and what it might portend for China’s military future.  They then work through the implications of China’s development of anti-ship ballistic missiles and what it tells us about China’s military bureaucracy.

On The Posner Show, Sarah and E.J. discuss whether more aggressive efforts to restrict access to abortion and contraception have sparked a resurgent women’s movement. Can we thank Rick Santorum for this—for being honest about his views on contraception in a way that most conservatives are not? E.J. makes the argument that women’s bodies are an economic issue, not a “culture war” issue. E.J. is optimistic about young women seeing this an freedom issue, and their activism through Slutwalks, social media, and more. Is the fight over contraception really just a rear-guard attempt to undo health care reform? Plus: Are liberals underestimating the political clout of religious conservatives?

On Fireside Chats, Mark talks with Eric Liu, co-author of the new book The Gardens of Democracy. Eric explains how the best way to think about our economy isn’t as a giant machine, but rather as a garden—that is, a complex adaptive system. Mark asks whether Eric’s view of inequality is really very different from the consensus among liberals. Eric responds to Mark’s critique of the book’s proposal that government should focus on more on the goals it wants to achieve and less on how to achieve them. Eric wants a reinvigorated vision of citizenship, but is that possible when everyone thinks politics is corrupt? Finally, they discuss the myth of the wealthy job creator.    

Michael and Freddy talk about the “new” Tory party and David Cameron’s (almost embarrassing) love for Barack Obama. They move on to discussing the appeal of the Big Society, and whether it is a revolutionary idea or an empty slogan. Is the “special relationship” between the US and the UK more like a dysfunctional one? Michael admires the British style of journalism that lacks America’s pieties about the powerful. They close with Michael asking Freddy about Britain’s stance toward the now faltering European project, and whether the future of Toryism is articulating what it means for Britain to remain independent.

Welcome to The DMZ with Bill Scher and Matt Lewis. Now that Santorum has swept the Deep South, should Gingrich quit? What lessons should Romney learn from the Palin pick? And in a new “big ideas” segment, Matt ruminates on the philosophical differences between liberals and conservatives.