67 episodes
The Vital Center The Niskanen Center
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- News
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5.0 • 37 Ratings
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Making sense of the post-Trump political landscape…
Both the Republican and Democratic parties are struggling to defend the political center against illiberal extremes. America must put forward policies that can reverse our political and governmental dysfunction, advance the social welfare of all citizens, combat climate change, and confront the other forces that threaten our common interests.
The podcast focuses on current politics seen in the context of our nation’s history and the personal biographies of the participants. It will highlight the policy initiatives of non-partisan think tanks and institutions, while drawing upon current academic scholarship and political literature from years past — including Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.’s 1949 classic “The Vital Center.”
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America Last: Right-wing admiration for foreign autocracies, with Jacob Heilbrunn
In this podcast interview, Heilbrunn discusses the ways in which the Old Right’s preoccupations have returned to the modern American conservative movement as well as the ways in which the New Right’s founder, William F. Buckley Jr., used the hatreds unleashed by Senator Joseph McCarthy’s anticommunist crusade as a political weapon.
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Slouching and the posture panic, with Beth Linker
Probably all of us have, at one time or another in our younger years, been told to stand up straight.
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The case for incremental change, with Greg Berman and Aubrey Fox
As Greg Berman and Aubrey Fox argue in their recent book, bold and sweeping policy proposals rarely come to pass and usually fail when they do. What does succeed is unsatisfactory but pragmatic compromise and gradual, sustained change.
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Understanding inequality and rising mortality rates in America, with Angus Deaton
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Conservative voices in 1960s campus activism, with Lauren Lassabe Shepherd
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Illiberal vanguards in Russia and the U.S., with Alexandar Mihailovic
February 24 will mark the second anniversary of Russia’s brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Although Vladimir Putin’s dictatorial power made the invasion possible, it’s still unclear to many observers why the Kremlin’s leader took this fateful decision.
Customer Reviews
Love the Richard Kahlenberg show!!!
More on him! More on this general subject! Will read his latest book!
Fascinating Conversations
One of the best political podcasts I’ve come across. Impressive and insightful guests, and Geoffrey Kabaservice is remarkably knowledgeable and, perhaps more importantly, a skilled host. Indispensable listening for political moderates and those with an interest in modern American political history.
A Thoughtful Look at today’s issues
This is a podcast that goes beyond the headlines to look at issues affecting American politics and also provide answers on how to improve and defend American democracy. It is not to be missed.