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19 March 2024

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Bloggingheads.tv videos — December 2013

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Dec 31, 2013 — Kevin Glass & Zack Beauchamp
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Rational Actors

On a special year-end edition of Rational Actors, Kevin talks to Zack about his theory that 2013 was the best year in human history. What’s driving the decline in infant mortality? Kevin notes that both the US economy and the Eurozone were surprisingly resilient this year, and partly credits sequestration. Is President Obama a stealth fiscal hawk? Zack claims that 2013 was the year of drones and predicts that 2014 will be the year of robotic warfare. Kevin predicts that the school choice debate will become a major issue going into the next elections.

Dec 27, 2013 — Jillian C. York & Katherine Maher
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Interrobang‽
On Interrobang‽, Jillian and Katherine discuss Justine Sacco, whose offensive tweet about AIDS in Africa went viral. Did Sacco deserve to lose her job at a PR firm? They then turn to the recent federal court ruling against the NSA and consider whether privacy advocates should place their faith in politicians or in judges. Can the tech sector develop products to protect users’ privacy? Jillian condemns the United Arab Emirates for its crackdown on online satire. Should the American Studies Association boycott Israeli academics? Plus: How Egypt‘s military rulers continue to arrest civil society activists.
Dec 24, 2013 — Bill Scher & Matt K. Lewis
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The DMZ
On The DMZ Year-End Holiday Spectacular, Bill and Matt discuss what they got wrong in the past year. Was President Obama a winner or a loser in 2013? What about the GOP presidential contenders? They discuss the journalists who had a great year (Robert Costa, Glenn Greenwald), and those who did not (Martin Bashir, Megyn Kelly). Taking a bold stand, Matt maintains that Die Hard is not a Christmas movie. Plus: What are the best Christmas movies to watch with young kids?
Dec 23, 2013 — Robert Farley & Kelsey D. Atherton
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Foreign Entanglements
On Foreign Entanglements, Rob and Kelsey discuss the tactical, operational, and strategic imperatives associated with the War on Christmas. Do Santa’s twice-checked lists threaten the NSA’s data supremacy? Kelsey floats the possibility of countering Santa by destroying the joy of America’s children. What are the best aircraft to challenge Santa’s sleigh in a dog fight? Is it time to nuke the North Pole? Rob and Kelsey discuss the lessons of the Imperial assault on Hoth as prelude to a similar attack on Santa’s northern stronghold. Finally, they consider the possibility of replacing Santa with a fleet of loveable drones, and also point out the value of signature drone strikes against Santa’s reindeer herd.
Dec 21, 2013 — Michael Brendan Dougherty & Mollie Wilson O'Reilly
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The Score
On The Score, Michael and Mollie consider why everyone seems to love Pope Francis. What are the continuities and discontinuities between Francis and Benedict? Can Francis move the Church beyond the liberal/conservative culture war? They consider Francis’s admonition to take care of the poor with your own hands as a way to bridge the post–Vatican II divide. Can the new pope attract holy priests? Finally, Mollie explains why Francis makes her very hopeful about the Catholic Church.
Dec 20, 2013 — Bill Scher & Matt K. Lewis
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The DMZ
On The DMZ: Duck Dynasty vs. Pajama Boy: a false choice? Matt sees a chilling effect on speech in the suspension of a reality TV star. Bill argues that defending political incorrectness is not a wise battle for the conservative movement to undertake. Next, why Pajama Boy infuriated the online right. Bill thinks it’s just advertising, while Matt thinks it’s the downfall of Western civilization. Plus: Analyzing the new delay of Obamacare’s individual mandate for those with canceled insurance plans.

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