A Gentlemen’s Disagreement

Episode 186 - The tragedy & horror of Palestine & Israel two years in

On the two year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, we reflect on all that has transpired since, including the hostages still held by Hamas, the horrific death toll in Gaza, Israel's international standing, the complicity of the U.S. in the destruction of Gaza, and the potential for peace.

Episode 185 - From makers to takers: neofeudalism and the new class struggle with Jodi Dean

We left feudalism, with it's reciprocal obligations, rigid class structures, and lack of social mobility behind hundreds of years ago, right? Jodi Dean, professor of political science at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, argues that we might be headed back to the future into a system she terms as "neofeudalism."

Episode 184 - We have to do better: Kirk, Kimmel, and the future

We reflect on the life, death, and legacy of Charlie Kirk, as well as the reactions to his murder. Where do we go from here?

Episode 183 - Back to school choice with Shaka Mitchell

Tucked inside the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was a first-of-its-kind provision establishing a federal tax credit scholarship program that has the chance to greatly expand school choice for families across the country. Shaka Mitchell, Senior Fellow for the American Federation for Children, joins us to analyze the implications of this provision and discuss the school choice movement writ large.

Episode 182 - How tariffs are affecting the global economy and geopolitics with Lydia DePillis

The New York Times's Lydia DePillis discusses how the U.S.-led trade war is playing out across the world from both economic and geopolitical perspectives, why reliable economic data matters, and why, despite the seeming warning sirens, the U.S. economy might not be headed for a come down anytime soon.

Episode 181 - Six in Sixty: creeping authoritarianism

We talk the takeover of DC, the stakes in Intel & Nvidia, the redistricting push, the control of The Kennedy Center, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and the meeting with Putin.   

Episode 180 - A SCOTUS '24-'25 term review with Professor Jack Beermann

Boston University Law Professor Jack Beermann analyzes the major topics, trends, and decisions that came from the Supreme Court's 2024-2025 term. We talked about the Court's relationship with the other two branches of government, with the Trump Administration, and within itself. We looked at specific cases and the emergence of specific judges from this term as well as what might be ahead in the coming term. 

Episode 179 - Not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead with Ansley Skipper

Ansley Skipper of Protect Democracy discusses what the ouster of the president of her alma mater, UVA, after a pressure campaign from the Trump administration tells us about the state of higher education as we head into a new school year.

Episode 178 - Birthrates are falling and the sky might be too with Marc Novicoff

Is the falling global birthrate the actual existential crisis of our time? The Atlantic's Marc Novicoff joins us to discuss why it's a crisis, why that crisis is even worse than you might've heard, and why you should care.

Episode 177 - Democracy takes work: media literacy with Nolan Higdon

Critical media scholar Nolan Higdon discusses why being discerning about the news you're consuming is so necessary for you, as a citizen of a democracy, and for democracy, as a system, to succeed. We talk about the history of fake news, its current incarnation, and tips for becoming a more discerning consumer of news and, therefore, a better member of our democracy.