Half the Answer

Liberal Currents
  • 4.2 (17)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Caitlin M. Green and Trent R. Nelson interview experts who weigh in on current debates. In the process they seek not only to uncover answers to the questions of the day, but to explore why they are being asked in the first place. To understand the questions we ask, they believe, is half the answer.

  1. 11H AGO

    "No Quarter, No Mercy": Understanding Pete Hegseth

    A bloodthirsty, homicidal maniac is in charge of our nation's military for some reason, and he just can't stop saying stuff that confirms that he deeply believes that extreme violence is awesome and God likes it a lot. Trent and Caitlin ask Greg Sargent of the New Republic what he learned from experts about the ideology that underpins Pete Hegseth's attitude toward violence. Resources: https://newrepublic.com/article/208322/pete-hegseth-religion-war-iran-sadism-rage https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLh7CFELPzz6ZOwhBZ4h7d84m8Lg1oTKKa https://bsky.app/profile/gregsargent.bsky.social "back to the stone age" tweet https://archive.ph/cWADP https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/14/analysts-say-us-threat-of-no-quarter-for-iran-violates-international-law "Reign of Error" book https://bookshop.org/a/115699/9780345806352 "Creating the Credibility Gap" book https://bookshop.org/a/115699/9781249405627

    50 min

  2. 5D AGO

    Liam Ramos, Kid Prisons, and ICE Flights

    Delta Airlines brought Liam Ramos back from the child prison in Texas, but they don't seem to want to talk about how they took him there in the first place. Trent and Caitlin debrief with Gillian Brockell about the current status of ICE flights, the fate of the boy in the bunny hat, and the way journalists credit each other (and also sometimes don't) when they rely on each other's reporting. Resources: https://gillianbrockell.com https://bsky.app/profile/gillianbrockell.com Uzbek deportation story https://newsletter.mariannedhenin.com/asylum-seeker-deported-after-suicide-attempt-in-ice-jail-advocates-say/ Video proves Delta flew Liam to Dilley https://gillianbrockell.com/video-proves-delta-flew-liam-ramos-and-his-dad-to-ice-detention-center/ Independent version: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/delta-air-lines-liam-ramos-ice-texas-b2940372.html AP version https://apnews.com/article/liam-ramos-video-ice-delta-commercial-flight-7b0ed36899da68177a6fdd665fb8a205 Liam Conejo Ramos judge rejects asylum claim https://www.npr.org/2026/03/20/nx-s1-5753981/liam-conejo-ramos-family-fights-immigration-judges-ruling-to-deport-them-to-ecuador Kristi Noem F**K Jet details https://gillianbrockell.com/noems-luxury-d-jet-for-deportations-is-the-tip-of-the-ice-berg/ The War Zone coverage https://www.twz.com/news-features/new-dhs-gulfstream-jet-now-flying-secretary-noem Careless People https://bookshop.org/p/books/careless-people-a-cautionary-tale-of-power-greed-and-lost-idealism-sarah-wynn-williams/804251bb5d4b06b3?ean=9781250391230&next=t New Hampshire blizzard flight grounded https://gillianbrockell.com/breaking-shackled-migrants-trapped-on-deportation-plane-stuck-in-blizzard/ More on NH flight https://gillianbrockell.com/ice-deportation-flight-leaves-nh-after-31-hours-exposes-chronic-problems/ Seth Miller digging into the NH flight https://bsky.app/profile/wandrme.paxex.aero/post/3mfkamntcws24?ref=gillianbrockell.com Ms. Rachel is getting it done https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/03/ms-rachel-ice-dilley-detention-center-accurso/ Send tips or request flight info for legal clients to Signal @gbrockell.44

    1h 29m

  3. APR 1

    What the Hell Is Happening in Texas?! (with Gwen Howerton)

    What the hell is going on in Texas? Trent and Caitlin welcome Houston culture reporter Gwen Howerton about the Texas senate primaries, censorship in prisons, and the state of LGBTQ+ rights in the Lone Star State. Resources: https://bsky.app/profile/kissphoria.bsky.social https://www.chron.com/culture/article/cornyn-paxton-texas-senate-ai-22082110.php https://www.chron.com/culture/article/texas-prison-book-ban-22079345.php

    59 min

  4. MAR 25

    Sharia Socialism in NYC, Or Just Smarter Governance? (with Ryan Cooper)

    What's happened in New York City since Zohran Mamdani became mayor in January? Has it become a Marxist-Islamic bastion, ruled by a soviet in the succeeding three months? Trent and Caitlin discuss the Sharia Socialism of NYC Mayor Mamdani, the naked vice signalling and stove-touching of the GOP with author Ryan Cooper. Resources https://bsky.app/profile/ryanlcooper.com https://prospect.org/ https://www.leftanchor.com/ https://gothamist.com/news/facing-historic-blizzard-mamdani-says-nyc-learned-lessons-from-last-snowstorm https://www.amny.com/nyc-transit/congestion-pricing-nyc-subways-ridership-report-2025/ https://www.liberalcurrents.com/neon-liberalism-30-rethinking-international-trade/

    58 min

  5. MAR 20

    DOGE Dunces, Depositions, DC Cops and Scoop Ethics (with Marisa Kabas)

    Trent and Caitlin achieve the coveted threepeat guest appearance with journalist Marisa Kabas of the Handbasket, fresh off her incredible legal win obtaining the body cam footage from the DC cops who assisted the DOGE boys in breaking into the USIP office in March 2025. They discuss the total disregard for life, law, and locked doors that was on display that day, as well as the frustrating events following Marisa's FOIA success. Resources https://bsky.app/profile/marisakabas.bsky.social https://www.thehandbasket.co/p/body-cam-footage-usip-doge-raid-mpd-lawsuit https://www.404media.co/the-removed-doge-deposition-videos-have-already-been-backed-up-across-the-internet/

    1h 12m

  6. MAR 17

    Holding ICE and Border Patrol Accountable (with Joshua Erlich)

    Trent and Caitlin catch up with employment litigator Joshua Erlich about the difficulties of holding immigration and border patrol agents to account when they break the law. What happens when you can't be sure which individual attacked you? How can their actions be restricted, and what should Democrats do given their level of power in the government right now? Resources Joshua's bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/joshuaerlich.bsky.social Legal help for federal employees in the DMV: https://mwela.org/ Legal help for federal employees nationally: https://NELA.org/ Joshua's office: https://www.erlichlawoffice.com/lawyers/joshua-erlich/ Federal forces keep shooting people: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2026/01/26/ice-minneapolis-shooting-alex-pretti Dems coalescing around five restrictions on ICE: https://newrepublic.com/article/205723/dem-senator-harsh-new-takedown-trump-hits-home-breaking-point Suozzi is sorry https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/26/us/democrats-ice-funding-vote-dhs.html

    1h 8m

  7. MAR 13

    Political Polarization Across the U.S.A. and Europe (with Aurelien Mondon)

    Caitlin and Trent talk with Aurelien Mondon about his recent political science paper outlining the limitations of considering all politics through the lens of "polarization." They discuss the pitfalls of the term and the ways "polarizing" events and speech can be drastically different and sometimes even positive. Resources https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/s41296-025-00779-4 https://www.searchlightinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Searchlight-Memo-to-Interested-Parties_-Reform-and-Retrain-ICE-Dont-Abolish-It.pdf https://prospect.org/2026/01/19/author-dont-say-abolish-ice-memo-corporate-consultant-westexec/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/02/04/ice-minneapolis-287g-tom-homan-sanctuary/ https://www.huffpost.com/entry/democrats-ice-masks-dhs-shutdown_n_69839db8e4b053ac3e17298d?origin=top-ad-recirc https://www.majorityleader.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=5822 https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2018/06/22/trump-millennial-supporters-washington-dc-218833/ https://www.npr.org/2025/11/14/nx-s1-5608204/white-house-dismisses-release-of-epstein-documents-as-a-distraction-from-democrats https://midutahradio.com/news/local-news/mike-johnson-calls-for-political-rhetoric-to-calm/ https://www.npr.org/sections/publiceditor/2012/02/10/146691773/euphemisms-concentration-camps-and-the-japanese-internment

    1h 13m

  8. MAR 10

    Making America Sick Again: How MAGA is Hurting Healthcare & Science (with Walker Bragman)

    Trent and Caitlin reconnect with journalist Walker Bragman to hash out the current state of the NIH and HHS, the ideologies that drive people to promote eugenics and science denial, and the childish nature of fascism. Resources: https://www.importantcontext.news/ https://www.accountabilityjournalism.org/ https://bsky.app/profile/walkerbragman.bsky.social https://publichealth.jhu.edu/ivac/resources/us-measles-tracker https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/live-blog/trump-means-surgeon-general-congress-state-of-the-union-live-updates-rcna260120 https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/bhattacharya-urges-measles-vaccination-us-activity-increases https://www.brookings.edu/articles/audible-reckoning-how-top-political-podcasters-spread-unsubstantiated-and-false-claims/

    1h 16m
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4.2
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Caitlin M. Green and Trent R. Nelson interview experts who weigh in on current debates. In the process they seek not only to uncover answers to the questions of the day, but to explore why they are being asked in the first place. To understand the questions we ask, they believe, is half the answer.

Information

  • Creator
    Liberal Currents
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    78
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Liberal Currents
  • Show Website
    Half the Answer

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