Washington Monthly

Washington Monthly
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Bold ideas. Honest journalism. Smart analysis. Since 1969, the Washington Monthly has brought a sharp eye to politics, policy and the business of government. Our mission: Champion democracy, support good governance, and promote American opportunity for all. Join co-hosts Anne Kim and Garrett Epps each week for expert analysis on both the biggest issues driving Washington - and the issues you may not know about but should.

  1. 4 days ago

    “Deceive, Disrupt, Deny.” The Looming Threat to This Fall’s Elections | Beau Tremitiere

    Recent weeks have seen an escalation of the Trumpadministration’s efforts to interfere with this fall’s elections. Itsaggressive efforts to restrict mail-in voting, for example, could potentially disenfranchise millions while sowing chaos in states. President Trump has also threatened to arrest election officers accused of wrongdoing (many of whom are volunteers) andto send ICE agents to the polls. The nonprofit Protect Democracy argues that all of theseactions are part of a larger scheme by the Trump administration to perpetuate election denialism, interfere with Americans’ right to vote, and thwart free and fair elections.   How can citizens be prepared when they go to the polls thisfall, and what they can do to protect themselves and others in their communities? Host: Anne Kim, Washington Monthly Guest: Beau Tremitiere, Protect Democracy Chapters 00:00 Introduction to election threats and Protect Democracy 01:50 The three tactics: deception, disruption, denial 03:50 How the federal government is undermining election integrity 07:04 Civil society's response and mobilization 08:54 Legal challenges and court rulings protecting elections 11:09 The role of the Supreme Court and untested legal issues 15:05 Voter suppression and intimidation tactics 19:53 How to prepare and respond to election-related threats 23:08 Responsible recording and reporting of election issues 26:02 Resources and where to learn more

  2. 26 Aug

    Identify theft. Food poisoning. Terrorism? Elon Musk's DOGE Has Made You Less Safe | Elaine Kamarck

    Elon Musk's DOGE has "self-deleted." But not without leaving a trail of wreckage that could take decades to undo. Tens of thousands of vital government workers have been fired or have left, leaving Americans more vulnerable to a host of threats: terrorism, natural disasters, epidemics, tainted food. Crucial federal data systems have also been compromised, including Social Security's database with personal information on every living American. Brookings Institution expert Elaine Kamarck explains how the Trump administration's recklessness has jeopardized the health and safety of all Americans. Host: Anne Kim, Washington Monthly Guest: Elaine Kamarck, Brookings Institution Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the DOGE initiative and its failures 01:48 Reinventing government in the 1990s: successes and lessons 04:04 The chaos and randomness of the DOGE approach 05:57 Potential benefits of some DOGE personnel in IT support 07:55 The importance of personnel and timing in government reform 09:49 Emerging risks: food safety, Ebola, and other time bombs 13:11 Risks to social security databases and national security 17:09 Impact of government dismantling on infrastructure and disaster response 19:57 Threats to national security and intelligence capabilities 28:00 Strategies for restoring public trust and effective government

  3. 29 Jul

    Why Autocracy Is Bad Business | Daniella Ballou-Aares

    Businesses need democracy to thrive, argues Daniella Ballou-Aares, founder of the business coalition Leadership Now. They should step up to defend it. Host: Anne Kim, Washington Monthly Guest: Daniella Ballou-Aares, CEO and founder, Leadership Now Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Daniella Ballou-Aares and the topic of democracy and business 01:47 The macro context that led to the founding of Leadership Now 04:03 The argument for business influence in preserving democracy 06:03 Why American businesses are involved in politics but not enough in democracy 08:00 The relationship between business and government: balance and risks 09:52 Historical examples of business influence in regimes and transitions 12:07 The importance of a broad, non-crony approach to business influence 14:09 The impact of January 6th and the importance of election integrity 17:01 Business community responses to threats against democracy 19:58 The importance of bipartisan and diverse business engagement 22:58 The economic and societal reasons for defending democracy 25:57 The risks and opportunities of political alignment for businesses 28:04 How collective action can promote democratic resilience 30:00 How to get involved with Leadership Now Project

  4. 15 Jul

    How DOGE Broke the IRS | Danny Werfel

    The Internal Revenue Service may never be the government’s most popular agency, but it could have been the most efficient.  In 2022, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act, which invested $80 billion to fix the Internal Revenue Service. In 2024, the agency rolled out features like Direct File, a new free filing service for taxpayers. But Elon Musk's DOGE had other plans, including mass firings and data sharing agreements with ICE. The result is new risks for taxpayers. Host: Anne Kim, Washington Monthly Guest: Danny Werfel, former IRS Commissioner Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Danny Werfel and IRS challenges 01:01 The importance of the IRS and public perception 02:04 The referee analogy and public trust 02:57 Modernization goals and digital interactions 05:30 Impact of current administration on the IRS 06:29 Performance before and after the Inflation Reduction Act 07:55 Reversal of modernization efforts in 2025 09:22 Lack of a clear modernization plan from the IRS 11:20 Recent IRS performance and taxpayer frustrations 12:21 Consequences of underfunding and staffing issues 16:39 The size and capacity of the IRS compared internationally 20:43 Doge's mistakes in IRS reform 23:05 Spending, capacity, and efficiency in government 27:08 Risks of rapid reform and the reflecting pool analogy 37:34 The concept and benefits of direct file 40:57 Challenges and opportunities in free file solutions 44:19 The future of IRS reform and innovation

  5. 1 Jul

    Boot Camps and Marriage Payments? The Heritage Foundation's Troubling "Pro-Natalist" Agenda | Varina Winder

    The ultra-right-wing Heritage Foundation blames "feminism" for falling fertility rates. Not surprisingly, its "solutions" are hostile to women.Host: Anne Kim, Washington MonthlyGuest: Varina Winder, Co-founder, Arch CollaborativeChapters00:00 Introduction to the Pronatalist Agenda02:57 The Heritage Foundation's Influence and Report05:50 Crisis Framing: Fertility Rates and Social Welfare08:46 Feminism and Its Role in the Fertility Debate11:55 Policy Solutions and Their Implications15:03 Critique of Heritage's Understanding of Family Needs17:56 Cultural Shifts and Women's Autonomy20:56 Advocacy and Action Steps for Women

  6. 17 Jun

    The Myth of the "Independent Creator" | Matt Robison

    Much like the economy at large, the system favors big players over independent creators. Online sensations like Mr. Beast—the YouTuber with nearly 500 million subscribers—have spurred countless imitators with dreams of online fame. Yet a vanishing few reach the stratospheric heights of Mr. Beast, who reportedly earns $700 million a year. Accordingto a 2025 survey by NeoReach, 70 percent of creators report earning less than $49,000 a year, and more than half earn less than $15,000 annually. (YouTube, meanwhile, reported $60 billion in revenues in 2025.) As veteran podcaster Matt Robison argues, media has become a “superstar economy” where a small number of players dominatethe market. Their incumbency is secured by platforms like YouTube and Substack, which have every incentive to promote their superstars as a way to compete against each other. Algorithms that favor popularity make things worse forsmaller creators trying to break in. The result is that no one who isn’t already big can make it big because the big guys are insulated from competition.   Host: Anne Kim, Washington Monthly Guest: Matt Robison, author of the Substack, “Worth Knowing,” and the host of the podcast, “Beyond Politics.”

  7. 3 Jun

    Real Men Teach - We Need More of Them | Curtis Valentine

    For several decades now, girls have been outperforming boysacademically.  They earn higher grades, are less likely to drop out, and are significantly more likely to attend college. Women now earn themajority of professional degrees, according to the Hechinger Report, including 60 percent of master’s and doctorates.  More male teachers can help close gender gaps inachievement, argues Curtis Valentine, president of the newly launched Male Educator Network, an initiative of the American Institute for Boys and Men. Host: Anne Kim, Senior Editor, Washington Monthly Guest: Curtis Valentine, president of the Male Educator Network and Policy Institute Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Male Educator Network 02:38 Curtis Valentine’s Teaching Journey 05:30 Impact of Male Educators on Students 08:52 Gender Disparity in Education 11:27 Challenges in Attracting Men to Teaching 14:47 Policy Recommendations for Increasing Male Educators 17:40 Addressing the Prestige of Teaching 20:29 Cultural Perceptions of Masculinity and Teaching 23:34 Conclusion and Call to Action

  8. 20 May

    Can capitalism be saved? | Nick Hanauer and Eric Beinhocker

    Billionaires are the apex predators of the modern economy. They tear up governments, buy politicians, and wreck the planet with carbon-spewing yachts. They control the news and what’s in our feeds. They spend $55 million on lavish weddings while the rest of us struggle to buy groceries and gas.That's why entrepreneur Nick Hanauer and Professor Eric Beinhocker argue for a new economic paradigm they call "market humanism." It's not the end of capitalism, nor the end of markets. Instead, what Hanauer and Beinhocker would like to see is the better organization of markets so they produce the outcomes that benefit humanity (i.e., not the production of more billionaires).In this episode, Hanauer and Beinhocker discuss their new treatise, "Markets Built for Humans," and their critique of the current neoliberal paradigm. Host: Anne Kim, Washington MonthlyGuests: Nick Hanauer and Eric Beinhocker

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About

Bold ideas. Honest journalism. Smart analysis. Since 1969, the Washington Monthly has brought a sharp eye to politics, policy and the business of government. Our mission: Champion democracy, support good governance, and promote American opportunity for all. Join co-hosts Anne Kim and Garrett Epps each week for expert analysis on both the biggest issues driving Washington - and the issues you may not know about but should.

Information

  • Creator
    Washington Monthly
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    82
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Washington Monthly
  • Show Website
    Washington Monthly

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