This week, the panel discusses the concept of 'cool' and whether it belongs in politics, debate the pitfalls of homeschooling, and shares their favorite quotes on what it means to be a socialist. This episode was recorded a few weeks back and then delayed by the events of Super Tuesday, hence why there are no references to The Ongoing Unpleasant Situation. The panel this week was associate editor Vanessa A. Bee, newsletter editor Nick Slater, administrative maven Cate Root and legal editor Oren Nimni. Your supply host is Aisling McCrea. Music by the fantastic Danny Bradley: https://dannybradleymusic.com/ Wallace Shawn's essay: http://www.tomdispatch.com/blog/175350/tomgram:_wallace_shawn,_are_you_smarter_than_thomas_jefferson/%3E This episode was edited by Dan Thorn of Pink Noise Studios in Somerville, MA.

Current Affairs

#44: The Biden Ramble

Nathan and Aisling are joined by Luke Savage and Will Sloan of the political movie podcast Michael and Us. Together, they ruminate on the three-part documentary series The Most Hated Family in America, which followed the extremist Westboro Baptist Church from 2007 to 2019, and which unwittingly created a time capsule that offers a strange insight into the liberal viewpoint on religion and dogma in the 2000s. (Content warning: we briefly quote some of the homophobic slurs used by the WBC.) Follow Michael and Us at @MichaelandUs on Twitter, listen at https://soundcloud.com/michael-and-us , and please consider subscribing to their Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/michaelandus. Folks, it's good. Luke has also written for us here: https://www.currentaffairs.org/author/luke-savage

Current Affairs/Michael and Us Crossover Special: The Westboro Baptist Church

In the immediate aftermath of this weeks' primaries, Nathan, Oren, Lyta and new Current Affairs team member Allegra gather round to express their feelings and concerns going forward. This is an excerpt from an episode available in full exclusively to our Patreon subscribers. To gain full access to this episode, as well as lots of other delicious bonus content, please consider becoming one of our subscribers at www.patreon.com/CurrentAffairs!

PREVIEW: Hope/Sadness/Cube etc.

Cairo correspondent Eli Massey speaks to Nomiki Konst, Bernie surrogate, commentator and host of The Nomiki Show. Together, they delve into the inner workings of the Democratic party, delegates and superdelegates, discuss possible strategies for progressives going forward, and express some of their political anxieties after Super Tuesday. Eli is broadcasting from Egypt, so apologies for the sound quality being a little less crisp than usual. Our usual fortnightly panel episode will be up in a few days - we're just putting this out today while it's still timely! The Nomiki Show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ma5Tg9oBINo Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thenomikishow Twitter: @NomikiKonst In These Times on superdelegates: https://inthesetimes.com/features/superdelegates_bernie_sanders_hillary_clinton.html

In conversation: Nomiki Konst on election strategy

We've made a little audiobook adaptation of Nathan's recent takedown of Joe Biden. Please share with any and all voters you may know! Article version: https://www.currentaffairs.org/2020/03/democrats-you-really-do-not-want-to-nominate-joe-biden Youtube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSu3khaJunE

Democrats, you do NOT want to nominate Joe Biden

This episode was originally available exclusively to our Patreon subscribers. We're releasing it to everyone - we hope you enjoy it, and if you'd like to hear more episodes like this, please consider subscribing to our Patreon feed at www.patreon.com/CurrentAffairs! Pete Davis talks to Josh Davis of the newly-founded Institute for Christian Socialism. Together, they talk about the intertwined history of left movements and Christianity. The Institute for Christian Socialism: https://christiansocialism.com/ Twitter: @smashmammon The Enchantments of Mammon by Eugene McCarraher: https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674984615 This episode was edited by Dan Thorn of Pink Noise Studios in Somerville, MA.

UNLOCKED! Josh Davis on Christian socialism

Nathan speaks to Heidi Sloan, a former teacher, a farmer, and now a left candidate running in Texas' 25th congressional district. (This episode would usually be available only to our premium subscribers, but we're making it public to try and get out the word before the primary on March 3rd!) Transcript: https://www.currentaffairs.org/2020/02/interview-heidi-sloan-on-running-a-left-campaign-in-texas Heidi for Congress: https://heidisloan.com/ This episode was edited by Dan Thorn of Pink Noise Studios in Somerville, MA.

BONUS: Heidi Sloan on running a left campaign in Texas

This week, the panel tackles yet another round of vital questions. Should we be nice or nasty on the internet? Should children be given the vote? Was it immoral to go to the moon? The panel this week was amusements editor Lyta Gold, senior editor Brianna Rennix, newsletter editor Nick Slater, and—making her podcast debut—administrative maven Cate Root. Your host is Oren Nimni. This episode was edited by Dan Thorn of Pink Noise Studios in Somerville, MA. Download Bloomvuu. Please. We want to go home.

#43: The Baby Caucus

In this new series, Current Affairs interviewer-in-chief Eli Massey turns his razor-sharp interrogation methods on...his coworkers. First up: Sparky Abraham, Current Affairs' finance editor, who writes excellent explainers on debt and education, has strong opinions on the physical world, and grew up in a barn that was also a mosque. Also, tune in to find out why he's called Sparky. This is a preview of an episode available in full exclusively to our Patreon subscribers. To gain full access to this episode, as well as lots of other brilliant bonus content, please consider becoming one of our subscribers at www.patreon.com/CurrentAffairs!

PREVIEW: Get to know...Sparky Abraham!

Pete Davis speaks to Alex Morse, who has been mayor of Holyoke, Massachusetts since the age of 22, and is currently running in Massachusetts' 1st district primary against veteran Democrat Richard Neal. Alex Morse for Congress: https://alexmorseforcongress.com/ This episode was edited by Dan Thorn of Pink Noise Studios in Somerville, MA.

In conversation: Alex Morse, Democrat for Congress (MA-01)

Pete Davis talks to Josh Davis of the newly-founded Institute for Christian Socialism. Together, they talk about the intertwined history of left movements and Christianity. This is a preview of an episode available in full exclusively to our Patreon subscribers. To gain full access to this episode, as well as lots of other brilliant bonus content, please subscribe to our Patreon feed at www.patreon.com/CurrentAffairs!

PREVIEW: Josh Davis on Christian socialism

The panel debates debate, pours their heart out about the Heartland, and gives each other teeny tiny spiels on teeny tiny policies. The panel debates debate, pours their heart out about the Heartland, and gives each other teeny tiny spiels on teeny tiny policies. Plus, tune in to hear about the hot new show claiming to be the number one musical in Iowa... The panel this week was contributing editor Eli Massey, finance editor Sparky Abraham, amusements editor Lyta Gold, legal editor Oren Nimni, podmaster-general Aisling McCrea, and editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson. Your host is Pete Davis. Music by Danny Bradley: https://dannybradleymusic.com/ This episode was edited by Dan Thorn of Pink Noise Studios in Somerville, MA.

#42: BUTTIGIEG!

We had to convene suddenly and put this out fast, using the Current Affairs Emergency Broadcast System located in Basement Sector 11. The Corn Gods have been angered. Tweet: https://twitter.com/ambientGillian/status/1170390242517487616?s=20

Iowa Emergency Broadcast

Nathan and Lyta look back on the year 2019's best (and worst) con-artists, bullshitters and story-spinners. This is an excerpt from a full one-hour episode available on our bonus feed. If you enjoyed this excerpt, please consider subscribing to our bonus feed at www.patreon.com/CurrentAffairs!

PREVIEW: The Grifties!

Originally posted on the Patreon feed, we've made this episode available to everyone just in time for Iowa... As we gear up for the first round of primaries, Eli and Nathan start calling in the shock troops. This week, Jacobin staff writer Branko Marcetic joins us to discuss the former favorite to win the Democrat nomination: Joe Biden. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing to our bonus feed at www.patreon.com/CurrentAffairs! Yesterday's Man: The Case Against Joe Biden is available here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/652731/yesterdays-man-by-branko-marcetic/ Read Branko's work here: https://www.jacobinmag.com/author/branko-marcetic This episode was edited by Dan Thorn of Pink Noise Studios in Somerville, MA.

In conversation: Branko Marcetic on Joe Biden

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