TBD | Cities Are Running Out of Money
After months of coronavirus lockdowns, cities are taking stock of their finances. The situation is bleak. With plummeting sales and property tax revenue, American cities of all sizes may be facing a budget crisis. What happens when local governments have to cut their budgets by double-digit percentages? Will the federal government learn from the Great Recession and intervene? Guests: Minh Nguyen, owner of Cafe TH in Houston Chris Brown, Houston City Controller Mildred Warner, professor of urban planning at Cornell. Host: Henry Grabar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
17 Jul 202023min
The First Federal Execution in 17 Years
In the early hours of Tuesday morning, the Supreme Court authorized the federal government to carry out its first execution in 17 years. Daniel Lee was convicted back in the 1990s of murdering an Arkansas family in a white supremacist plot. Attorney General William Barr pushed for his execution to take place starting last year. Why have federal executions resumed under his administration and what does it mean for the future of the death penalty? Guest: Mark Joseph Stern, covers the courts and the law for Slate. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
16 Jul 202023min
What To Do About the Schools
As fall approaches, the Trump administration is calling for a full reopening of schools. Now, districts across the country are scrambling to figure out if it’s even possible to safely bring students back in the classroom at all. Guest: Laura Meckler, national education writer for the Washington Post Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
15 Jul 202022min
Sweden Screwed Up
Swedish officials eschewed sweeping shutdowns when the pandemic hit. Some reasoned that Sweden could still power down if COVID-19 cases spiked. But the spike arrived, along with a high death rate, and still there’s been no policy change. Guest: Lena Einhorn, author, filmmaker, and former medical researcher. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
14 Jul 202023min
John Roberts’ Long Game
The most recent Supreme Court term saw huge progressive wins for DACA recipients, LGBTQ rights and abortion access. However, upon further inspection it’s clear that Chief Justice John Roberts is playing the long game when it comes to conservative issues on the court. Guest: Dahlia Lithwick, writes about the courts for Slate and hosts the Amicus podcast Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
13 Jul 202028min
TBD | Is “Covid Flight” a Thing?
Tens of thousands of people leave American cities every year. Normally, they’re replaced by new arrivals seeking jobs, education, and opportunity. But in a world transformed by the coronavirus, what happens if nobody arrives to replace them? Guests: Emily Badger, reporter at the New York Times Natalie Moore, reporter at WBEZ Amanda Kolson Hurley, editor at Bloomberg Businessweek Host: Henry Grabar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
10 Jul 202021min
Mary Trump’s Truth
It is impossible to write a surprising book about Donald Trump, but you can’t fault people for trying. Mary Trump writes that her uncle lived an “institutionalized” life, but was plainly never loved by his parents. John Bolton writes that the president is incapable of grasping what’s best for the national interest. Both authors reach familiar conclusions with (somewhat juicy) new details. We’ll take it. Guest: Washington Post reporter Shane Harris. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
9 Jul 202028min
How Activists Brought Down a Massive Gas Pipeline
Local activists never expected the Atlantic Coast Pipeline to go bust. Now they’re asking each other: How did that victory happen? And can it be replicated? Guest: Lyndsey Gilpin, founder and editor-in-chief of Southerly. Slate Plus members get bonus segments and ad-free podcast feeds. Sign up now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
8 Jul 202025min
