Talk Cocktail Jeff Schechtman
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- Noticias
Jeff Schechtman talks with authors, journalists, newsmakers and opinion shapers, and sheds light on the issues of the day, from local stories to national and international headlines and ideas.
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America Last: The Right's Enduring Romance With Dictators
A recent suggestion for a bumper sticker reading “Trump First, Putin Second, America Last” is more than just a witty jab at current political dynamics; it encapsulates the historical depth of right-wing politics in the United States.
On thisWhoWhatWhy podcast I’m joined by Jacob Heilbrunn, editor of The National Interest, who offers a compelling analysis of the right wing’s enduring fascination with authoritarian figures.
Drawing on his latest work, America Last: The Right’s Century-Long Romance With Foreign Dictators, Heilbrunn helps us understand the conservative admiration for past autocrats like Mussolini, Franco, and Pinochet. He draws a direct line from these historical figures to today’s political landscape, where figures like Viktor Orban, Donald Trump, and Vladimir Putin are seen not just as authoritarian leaders but as exemplars in the fight against liberalism and progressivism. -
Marriage is Now a Luxury Good
Professor Melissa Kearney, talks to me about the overlooked economic and social impacts of marriage and family structures and her book, "The Two-Parent Privilege." Kearney's research reveals the decline in marriage rates, particularly among non-college graduates, as an economic crisis with far-reaching consequences. She argues that the decrease in two-parent households, from 77% in 1980 to 63% today, affects children's behavior, education, and the class divide. Kearney emphasizes the economic imperatives of this issue, moving beyond the traditional cultural and political debates.
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Matthias Gafni gives voice to the lost souls of San Francisco
Matthias Gafni, an investigative reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, delves into the darkest corners of the streets of San Francisco. For a recent project, he attempted to attribute names, faces, and families to 24 overdose deaths during a particularly harrowing week in 2023. They were not mere statistics but individuals with stories: a recent immigrant dreaming of a new life; a star student and athlete; a mechanic striving to escape his past, among others. Each narrative sheds light on the complex interplay of drug use, mental illness, and profound, systemic issues fueling the city’s drug crisis. -
Reclaiming Populism: It’s Not What We Think It Is
As we look at the global political landscape, we see a resurgence of movements labeled as populist. Propelled by rapid social and technological changes, economic upheavals, and complex migration patterns, people around the world are in search of simple solutions to increasingly complex problems. This week my guest on the WhoWhatWhy podcast Steve Babson, argues that this represents a serious misinterpretation of the concept of populism.
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Laura Pappano: The Political Battles inside America's Public Schools
In this podcast, I welcome Laura Pappano, author of "School Moms: Parent Activism, Partisan Politics, and the Battle for Public Education," to explore the intense politicization of American public schools. Pappano, with over thirty years of experience, delves into the far-right's efforts to control education, highlighting the shift from parental support to activism amidst challenges like local school failures and the pandemic. This conversation sheds light on the battle for the soul of our nation, emphasizing the critical role of public schools in democratic society and the ongoing fight to preserve them as a cornerstone of inclusion, hope, and belonging.
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Chance Vs. Choice: How Flukes Shape Our Lives
Do we have the control over our own lives that we think we do? According to Brian Klaas, in his mind-bending new book FLUKE: Chance, Chaos, and Why Everything We Do Matters, we control nothing, but we influence everything.
Think about the unexpected twists of fate that shape our lives. How many times have you stumbled upon a life-changing moment purely by accident? The party you almost skipped, where you met your significant other or a lifelong friend. Or that time you got lost in a neighborhood, only to find your future home. And in a more somber reflection, those who, by sheer chance, overslept or got stuck in traffic and missed their flights on September 11th.
We operate under what Klaas calls the 'delusion of individualism.' But it’s small changes in the world that often result in big changes."