John Bolton’s One-Man Show
If the U.S. stumbles into a war with Iran, it’ll be largely one of John Bolton’s making. The national security adviser appears to be running the foreign policy show at the White House and has a taste for regime change in several countries, including Iran. Who’s the surprising person inside the administration reining him in? And can the U.S. recover from four years of antagonizing our allies and expanding our enemies list? Guest: Dexter Filkins, staff writer at the New Yorker Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Ethan Brooks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
15 Maj 201924min
The Trade War Escalates
Monday marked another escalation in the trade war with China. And yes, even by the academic definition, our guest says this is a full-blown trade war. Who’s feeling the effect most, and how is the administration handling the fight it began with the world’s second biggest economy? Plus, how are the politics of tariffs playing out for Trump? Guest: Jordan Weissmann, senior writer at Slate Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Ethan Brooks. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
14 Maj 201918min
A Battle Over Abortion in Alabama
Anti-abortion activists in Alabama are rushing to topple Roe v. Wade. But have they crafted an abortion ban that’s too extreme, even for Alabama’s Republicans? Guest: Brian Lyman, reporter for the Montgomery Advertiser. Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
13 Maj 201925min
The Progressive Critic Inside the Church
Last weekend, Slate published an obituary for Rachel Held Evans, the blogger who championed liberal values and challenged evangelicals on their politics. She was known to her devoted readers as RHE, and she represented something new in evangelical Christian communities, as some began to shift toward a progressive ideology nevertheless rooted in faith. That movement is now expanding beyond churches and into the political sphere, where Christians are no longer assumed to be conservative. Guest: Slate staff writer Ruth Graham. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
10 Maj 201922min
The Mayoral Scandal Gripping Baltimore
On May 2nd, Catherine Pugh resigned as mayor of Baltimore - making her the second mayor in less than ten years to leave office amid corruption allegations. The scandal forcing her to step down involved a children’s book, an FBI raid, and a host of ethically dubious business relationships at the highest levels of city government. What happens next for Charm City? Guest: Luke Broadwater, reporter at the Baltimore Sun. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
9 Maj 201920min
The Constitutional Tug-of-War Is Just Getting Started
The House Judiciary Committee is set to vote on holding Attorney General William Barr in contempt of Congress, for failing to provide a full and unredacted copy of the Mueller report. It’s the latest in a series of clashes between the legislative and executive branches—clashes that don’t show any signs of letting up. Was our 230-year-old Constitution designed for this highly partisan, highly confrontational moment? Guest: Noah Feldman, Harvard Law School professor and host of Deep Background, available on Luminary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
8 Maj 201919min
(Fixed) An ERA Advocate On Why She’s Optimistic
We got our files mixed up this morning! This is the corrected show for Tuesday, May 7. The proposed Equal Rights Amendment is simple: It would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex. To become part of the U.S. Constitution, the ERA has to be passed not just in Congress, but in 38 state legislatures. In 2017, Nevada became the 36th state to pass it. Last year, Illinois became the 37th. And last week, Congress held a hearing on the plan. Guest: Carol Jenkins, co-president and CEO of the ERA Coalition and the Fund for Women’s Equality. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
7 Maj 201924min
Why Don’t Democrats Want to Run for Senate?
With all the breathless enthusiasm for the presidential race, no one seems very interested in the U.S. Senate. Why not? Guest: Slate writer Jim Newell. Podcast production by Mary Wilson, Jayson De Leon, and Anna Martin, with help from Samantha Lee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6 Maj 201919min
