TWO REPORTERS

We hope our elections guru is right: Trump CAN'T steal the elections (at least probably not) / From the archives

Sat, 19 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

David Becker - who runs the nonpartisan Center for Election, Innovation and Research - says Trump is trying to sabotage free and fair elections, yes. But David says the election system is so decentralized, and the vast majority of election officials are so principled, and judges have been so consistent rejecting Trump's illegal efforts to meddle, that your vote will matter as always. For the record though, let's remember some of what Trump and his minions have been doing: His Justice Department is suing states to get their voter rolls. Trump's FBI has raided election centers, and might show up at them on election day. Trump's allies have installed election deniers on state voting boards. Trump supporters have floated a draft plan for him to declare a national emergency before the elections and seize control. But David says don't let that scare you: Vote!

Here's a perfect way to start wrapping up your summer ...

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Read Dave's moving new book of short fiction: The Unfinished Sentence And Other Stories. Short stories are the perfect way to celebrate the moments when you're not hectic with work or chores or other daily tasks. Get a cup of coffee or tea (or stronger beverage of choice), settle onto a comfortable chair or bench, and enjoy Dave's beautifully-crafted descriptions and profound insights - all in one sitting. As Dave describes his collection, "In a world loosened from the anchors of morality, assortments of quirky characters search for scruples among others and themselves. They bump up against some surprising limits, suffer self doubts, yet often emerge victorious over the absence of virtue. The high school girl with invisible brilliance ... The crusty caretaker of an island who possesses but does not own his native ancestors’ land. The optician whose magical glasses offer vision to the morally blind ..." And other memorable tales. You can buy Dave's book in paperback.

Hear what this amazing teacher and his students pulled off - and how they shook government! / From the archives

Sat, 08 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400

An English teacher at Middletown High School in New York State gave students video cameras back in the 1990s, and told them to tell compelling stories. Result: They uncovered illegal dumping of toxic wastes tied to the mob, and then made films about it - which shook the community and triggered government investigations. A documentary about their real-life drama, Teenage Wasteland, has electrified film festivals and now you can see it on Netflix. The teacher who guided the project, Fred Isseks, joins us with two of his former student investigators, Rachel Raimist and Jeff Dutemple. And they say the most important outcome was bigger than exposing illegal dumping: They learned how to ask tough questions, challenge government officials, and sort facts from lies.

Ethnic Cleansing on the West Bank: An Israeli researcher documents how violent Israeli settlers are terrorizing Palestinians and forcing them to flee their homes and land.

Sat, 18 Jul 2026 11:00:00 -0400

With their government's and military's support, vigilante Israeli settlers are converting key villages and swaths of land into Palestinian-free zones, to thwart any prospect that Palestinians could create their own nation there. Dror Etkes, a former Israeli soldier who got his “political education” invading Palestinian homes, describes the systematic strategy behind the campaign, its human cost to Palestinian families he knows, and the dangerous implications for the future. Check out the brave and innovative research that Dror and his colleagues are doing under the umbrella of their organization, Kerem Navot.

Want to know how to inspire young kids to embrace social action? / From the archives

Sat, 27 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Use music! Protest songs in the 1960s galvanized a generation - although singer-songwriter Anya Rose and the group Ants on a Log write social action songs to help children in primary school learn about problems from environmental pollution to racist and sexist behavior. Anya says she was inspired in part by satirist Tom Lehrer, remember him? Warning: After hearing these tunes, the 9-year-olds in your family might feel inspired to organize your neighbors around a controversial issue - and then write your members of Congress about it.

When many African Americans speak, what are they speaking? / From the archive

Sat, 06 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

They're speaking African American English, according to linguist Lisa Green at the University of Massachusetts Amherst - in other words, "it's not mainstream English with mistakes." Lisa grew up speaking AAE in Louisiana, and since then, her ground-breaking research has found that AAE is based on a system of consistent grammatical rules, pronunciations and definitions. Some call it a dialect, which evolved from the African languages that slaves spoke blended with plantation English; in fact, when someone says, "she aks" instead of "she asks," they might be echoing Old English from centuries ago. Lisa argues that schools need to acknowledge and respect black children's African American English, even while they teach them Standard American English that they need to succeed in broader society.

Isn't this the perfect time to lose yourself in a captivating novel? / From the archive

Sun, 17 May 2026 08:00:00 -0400

Yes! (Danny's writing this) - especially when the author is my co-host, David K. Shipler. Dave's novel, The Interpreter - now out in paperback - takes us into the rice paddies and twisting alleys of Vietnam, right after US troops fled the war there in 1973. But Dave explores provocative issues that would resonate in Iran or China or any country where interpreters play a crucial role for Americans. David Ignatius, the acclaimed associate editor and columnist of the The Washington Post, reviews it like this: "Shipler captures the awful truth that every correspondent knows - that we are unworthy of the brave men and women who act as our translators and ‘fixers,’ the solitary heroes living between two languages and cultures but refusing to take sides." Dave's novel raises provocative questions, sure, but some of my favorite parts are like Vietnam travelogs: images of streets pulsing with motorbikes piled with families, chickens and guavas; lush jungles and spidery canals; and Vietnam's foul-smelling but magical-tasting fish sauce.

Would you risk your job - or worse - to blow the whistle on government colleagues breaking the law?

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 22:00:00 -0400

Since Trump returned to the White House, more than 1750 potential whistleblowers have asked for help from the Government Accountability Project, says GAP - a leading group that gives legal advice to whistleblowers and tries to protect them. That's more than triple the number during the last year of the Biden administration, which is even more remarkable when you consider how Trump and his enablers have made revenge a priority. One of the federal employees who asked GAP for help is Erez Reuveni, the Justice Department lawyer who told them that a top DOJ official had ordered him to say "Fuck you" to the courts, if they tried to block Trump's illegal actions. Dana Gold, one of GAP's senior lawyers, tells us the moving story of how Reuveni came to her and agonized over what to do - and then risked his career, and potentially his family's safety, by standing up for truth and justice. PS: Trump rewarded the DOJ official who said F-you to the courts by making him an appeals court judge.

Trump's corruption keeps getting worse. Why isn't it illegal?

Sat, 04 Apr 2026 02:00:00 -0400

As astonishing as it might seem - among all the astonishing changes in today’s America - it turns out that there is no legal way to stop Trump from profiteering from his presidency, even when it damages the nation's interests. We're learning that laws have always been important, but the main reason that America's democracy endured was because most people - from the president on down - followed a set of behavioral norms: They knew it was wrong to act like a dictator, and to make government decisions designed mainly to make them richer. Walter Shaub, former head of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, details Trump’s corruption in a gripping, distressing conversation. And he has urgent advice for government employees who do, despite Trump, want to act ethically.

Will Trump really be able to mess with elections? He's trying.

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 23:00:00 -0400

Trump is calling on Congressional Republicans to "nationalize" elections. His Justice Department is suing states to get their voter rolls. Trump's FBI has raided election centers. Trump's allies are installing election deniers on state voting boards. And now Trump supporters are floating a draft plan for him to declare a national emergency before the elections and seize control. So why on earth does our guest, David Becker, feel confident that America's elections will turn out to be free and fair? David - who runs the nonpartisan Center for Election, Innovation and Research - says the election system is so decentralized, and the vast majority of election officials are so principled, and judges have been so consistent rejecting Trump's efforts to meddle, that your vote will matter as always. So, David says, vote!

Are you kidding? We have debtors' prisons in America?? / From the archive

Sat, 28 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

The US government outlawed debtors' prisons in the 1830s, the Supreme Court ruled they're unconstitutional more than 40 years ago, and you'll find sentences like this on the internet: "Today it is illegal to put someone in prison because of a debt." So how is it that courts across the country lock up thousands of low-income people each year, according to estimates, because they haven't paid up their traffic tickets, garbage collection bills and other minor violations? Lisa Foster, a former judge and co-founder of the Fines and Fees Justice Center, says many courts have become "a place of oppression" because they "make the measure of justice the measure of someone's wealth. That is fundamentally un-American and it is unjust," Lisa tells us. "But our system does it every day."

Can you guess which country has the worst death rate of almost any wealthy nation? Hint: America.

Sat, 07 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

So much for the "greatest country on earth." Recent studies show that if Americans died at the same rate as people do in average European countries, which Trump derides, at least half a million Americans who die each year would likely have lived. And the biggest difference is among people younger than 65. Our guests - epidemiologist Jacob Bor at Boston University and Katherine Newman, executive vice president of the University of California - say that the U.S. is way behind not just because it has a worse health care system: The nation already has far worse housing, education, unemployment benefits and other social supports for middle- and low-income people than many other developed countries do. So what might happen to death rates under the Trump regime?

Think you could never confess to a murder you didn't commit? Think again

Sat, 17 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

America's prisons house a "staggering number" of convicts who didn't commit the crime but said under duress that they did - so says our guest, lawyer Alan Hirsch, who testifies in trials across the country as one of the leading expert witnesses on false confessions. He took the stand not long ago in the chilling case of teenager Brooke Skylar Richardson, who was pressured by police to say that she'd murdered her baby, who was actually stillborn, and then burned the body; the jury acquitted her after forensic studies showed that the baby had never been burned at all. Alan says one problem is that police learn to lie about evidence and use clever interrogation methods that break down suspects' defenses, whether they're actually guilty or not. Some states are requiring police to film their whole interrogations - a step forward but not a panacea.

Trump lies about his accomplishments - and these famous Polar explorers did, too / From the archive

Sat, 03 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

When you learned in school about the fabled drama of Robert E. Peary and Frederick Cook - how they raced each other to be the first explorer to reach the North Pole - did your teachers explain that this was an early example where public figures lied to gain glory? oth The New York Times and New York Herald enabled them, by spreading the explorers' fake news - although critics still debate whether the publishers knew the stories were fake or didn't bother to corroborate the explorers' stories. Journalist Darrell Hartman tells us life and death tales from his fascinating book, Battle of Ink and Ice, that shed light on the perils of vanity and competition for fame and profit.

Listen to what this amazing teacher and his students pulled off!

Sat, 13 Dec 2025 01:00:00 -0500

An English teacher at Middletown High School in New York State gave students video cameras back in the 1990s, and told them to tell compelling stories. Result: They uncovered illegal dumping of toxic wastes tied to the mob, and then made films about it - which shook the community and triggered government investigations. A documentary about their real-life drama, Teenage Wasteland, is making the rounds of film festivals and generating rave reviews. The teacher who guided the project, Fred Isseks, joins us with two of his former student investigators, Rachel Raimist and Jeff Dutemple. And they say the most important outcome was bigger than exposing illegal dumping: They learned how to ask tough questions, challenge government officials, and sort facts from lies.

Feeling depressed about politicians? Hearing this one will boost your spirits / From the archive

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Shekar Krishnan just got re-elected to the New York City Council, with more than twice as many votes as his opponent - which is good news for Zohran Mamdani, the newly-elected mayor, because he'll need progressive allies like Shekar to back his agenda. As you'll hear in our chat with Shekar from two years ago, he's the rare kind of politician who shows how politics and government can actually make people's lives better. He fights for immigrant taxi drivers and minorities who need good low-income housing, and for the LGBTQ community; he got arrested side-by-side with Mamdani at a protest, and got smeared by the Proud Boys. Oh - and Shekar's getting the city to fix potholes and improve parks, too.

A prominent judge’s braided - and surprising - life of blindness and the law, Part 2 / From the archive

Sat, 25 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Now that Judge David S. Tatel has retired from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, he feels freer to warn us all: the Supreme Court is threatening America's democracy by inventing spurious legal doctrines and grabbing more power for itself. There are also lighter moments in this revealing interview, as David pulls the curtain aside and tells us how the judges on this powerful court really do their work. Spoiler alert #1: It used to involve a red children's sand pail. Spoiler alert #2: Because David is blind, he used to hire "readers" who rattled off every word of laws, books and briefs out loud to him, at such mind-boggling speeds that most people couldn't understand them.

A prominent judge’s braided - and surprising - life of blindness and the law, Part 1 / From the archive

Sat, 04 Oct 2025 08:00:00 -0400

In this moving episode, David Tatel, who retired last year from the U.S. Court of Appeals, describes with his wife Edie how he gradually went blind - and struggled to hide it from friends and colleagues alike. David tells about tricks he would use, like counting rows and seats in a movie theater and following the clicks of high heels down sidewalks; Edie shares, among other things, why David's denial caused tension at home. David became an accomplished lawyer who fought landmark civil rights cases - and an inspirational father. You can read their full story in David's book, Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice. David will return in Part 2 to take us behind the scenes of the second most important court in the nation - and to warn how the Supreme Court threatens "the integrity of our democracy."

Want to guess how many laws Trump is violating with all his corruption?

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 01:00:00 -0400

Answer: probably zero. As astonishing as it might seem among all the other astonishing outrages in today’s America, it turns out that there is no legal way to stop Trump’s unprecedented financial profiteering from his presidency, even when it damages the nation's interests. Only society’s norms — stronger than the laws — could have prevented it in earlier times when Americans had higher values. Walter Shaub, former head of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, details Trump’s corruption in a gripping, distressing conversation. And he has urgent advice for government employees who do, despite Trump, want to act ethically.

Trump is acting more and more like Hitler did during his early rule / From the archive

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

We're repeating this episode so soon because we can't hear these warnings enough. Hitler and the Nazis assaulted universities, museums and art institutions; purged them of people that Hitler perceived as enemies; and rewrote textbooks and museum exhibits to tell Hitler's fake version of history. Sound familiar? Historian Joan Clinefelter, who retired recently from the University of Northern Colorado, says there are differences between Hitler in his early days and Trump. "But I think they have the same ultimate goal," Clinefelter tells us, "which is ideological purity, sort of a cultural cleansing of history [and] of culture - so that it only gives the message that they believe is appropriate - and getting rid of anybody who has any sort of dissenting point of view."

Why do we keep declaring how precious children are, but then short-changing them when there's a crisis?

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

It sounds almost ridiculous to say this, but when people talk about wars or floods or wildfires or drought, they often neglect the fact that roughly half of the victims are children. Yet, the officials who dispense aid usually treat the kids as statistics and ignore their special needs. For instance, consider that children's brains are still developing - so if they're malnourished or sick or stressed, even temporarily, it can damage them for the rest of their lives. Sweta Shah is trying through her work with the Brookings Institution and her NGO, ChildArise, to help children in crisis around the world - including in America. And here's one of her strategies: get children themselves to talk about their needs!

There's still beauty and wonder in the world - like humpback whales / From the archive

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 22:00:00 -0400

Scientists have been trying for decades to understand these magnificent creatures, which can grow longer than a typical house. Michelle Fournet and her colleagues at the University of New Hampshire have been breaking new ground: They record the whales' daily communications in Alaska, and then send whale recordings back to the giant animals to see if and how they respond. Some of Michelle's latest findings suggest that they can identify individual whales by their sounds. Michelle tells us the moving story of how she morphed from broke actor to internationally-respected whale researcher, and how she hopes research on humpbacks' "language" can help humans protect them - and respect the natural world better.

Want to know why Iranians don't trust the United States - and its allies? / From the archive

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 04:00:00 -0400

As US, Israeli and Iranian leaders trade bombs and threats, this episode will help remind you one reason why Iran's government learned to detest the US long ago: The US and Britain secretly ran the plot to topple its leader in the 1950s. Why? For Iran's oil. Filmmakers Taghi Amirani and Walter Murch discuss their riveting documentary, Coup 53 - which shows step by step how the CIA and MI6 carried it out. Nations are like people: once they've been traumatized, it's hard to forget.

What emergency powers could Trump declare next? / From the archive

Fri, 13 Jun 2025 22:00:00 -0400

As we post this episode, Trump has sent Marines and Army National Guard troops to the streets, to try to quash protests by fellow citizens - the vast majority of them peaceful. Our guest Elizabeth Gotein, of the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice, has warned us before that any U.S. president could wield dozens of sweeping emergency powers to dismantle democracy, some so secret that members of Congress don't even know about them. We repeated Liz's episode last year and we're repeating it again: The crisis created by Trump and his allies is that serious.

Are there really similarities between Hitler and Trump?

Fri, 23 May 2025 21:00:00 -0400

Hitler and the Nazis assaulted universities, museums and art institutions; purged them of people that Hitler perceived as enemies; and rewrote textbooks and museum exhibits to tell Hitler's (fake) version of history. Sound familiar? Historian Joan Clinefelter, who just retired from the University of Northern Colorado, says that there are major differences between Hitler in his early days and Trump. "But I think they have the same ultimate goal," Clinefelter tells us, "which is ideological purity, sort of a cultural cleansing of history [and] of culture - so that it only gives the message that they believe is appropriate - and getting rid of anybody who has any sort of dissenting point of view."

You think "debtors' prisons" shut down in the 1800s? Think again.

Fri, 02 May 2025 21:00:00 -0400

The US government outlawed debtors' prisons in the 1830s, the Supreme Court has ruled they're unconstitutional, and you'll find sentences like this on the internet: "Today it is illegal to put someone in prison because of a debt." So how is it that courts across the country lock up thousands of low-income people each year, according to estimates, because they haven't paid up their traffic tickets, garbage collection bills and other minor violations? Lisa Foster, a former judge and co-founder of the Fines and Fees Justice Center, says many courts have become "a place of oppression" because they "make the measure of justice the measure of someone's wealth. That is fundamentally un-American and it is unjust," Lisa tells us. "But our system does it every day."

Isn't this the perfect time to lose yourself in a captivating novel?

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 00:00:00 -0400

I think it is (Danny's writing this) - especially when the author is my co-host, David K. Shipler. Dave's new novel, The Interpreter, takes us into the rice paddies and twisting alleys of Vietnam, right after US troops fled the war there in 1973. But Dave explores provocative issues that would resonate in Iraq or Afghanistan or any other country where interpreters play a crucial role for Americans. David Ignatius, the acclaimed associate editor and columnist of the The Washington Post, reviews it like this: "Shipler captures the awful truth that every correspondent knows - that we are unworthy of the brave men and women who act as our translators and ‘fixers,’ the solitary heroes living between two languages and cultures but refusing to take sides." Dave's novel raises provocative questions, sure, but some of my favorite parts are like Vietnam travelogs, painting images of streets pulsing with motorbikes piled with families, chickens and guavas; lush jungles and spidery canals; and Vietnam's foul-smelling but magical-tasting fish sauce.

If schools changed what they teach, could that help prevent wars?

Sat, 22 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Two Israeli educators argue, with evidence to back them up, that Israel's schools have indoctrinated people over the decades to detest and mistrust Palestinians - and to be primed to fight them (Palestinian schools have done a similar job poisoning their own students against Israelis). Daniel Bar-Tal and Nimrod Tal are convinced that revamping the curriculum could help change Israelis' mindsets, and make them more open to working toward peace. Wait until you hear how Nimrod taught teachers-in-training last year about distressing, little-known aspects of Israel's history - and how that opened their hearts (at least a bit) to Palestinians.

Could a deep fake turn your own life upside down?

Fri, 21 Feb 2025 22:00:00 -0500

AI recreations of real people, which clone their faces, distinctive voices and all, have become so convincing that even top computer specialists are finding it hard to tell the difference between fakery and reality. Creative "deep fakes" aren't all bad - they can bring dead artists and historical figures alive, to energize museums and schools - but most uses so far have been evil: Think fake pornographic videos of your sister or daughter, or scams that bilk people out of millions of dollars. Our guest, law professor Danielle Citron at the University of Virginia, has been advising companies and government officials on how to protect the public from the terrible harm that deep fakes can cause, but executives like Elon Musk don't want to listen. Her worst fears haven't come true yet - such as a deep fake that changes an election or triggers a war - but it's hard not to expect them.

Here's another break from depressing events: Can you start a sentence with "And" or "But"?? / From the archive

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Dazzle friends with the grammar smarts you'll get from our second chat with Bryan Garner, one of America's language gurus. Finally, you're about to learn if you can - or cannot - end a sentence with a preposition; if you can use "like" instead of "as"; and if you can banish "whom" and "whomever" from your brain. Just wait until you hear Bryan's rant about lawyers' terrible writing. Speaking of which, can you guess which common five-letter word (which lawyers love) causes endless legal battles?

Want a respite from distressing news? OK, grammar is a serious topic, but ...

Sat, 11 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

... we've never had so much fun debating it! Bryan Garner, one of America's grammar gurus, tells us where we're going wrong grammatically - and what we're getting right. You're sure to find (you'll surely find?) answers to some of your own burning questions, like (or is it "such as"?): should you feel bad about using adverbs? Or should you feel badly? How will this episode impact your own language? (Actually, is "impact" even a verb?) After hearing our conversation with Bryan, you might not write or speak quite the same way.

What emergency powers could Trump declare next? / From the archive

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

As we post this episode, Trump has sent Marines and Army National Guard troops to the streets to try to quash protests by fellow citizens - the vast majority of them peaceful. Our guest Elizabeth Goitein, of the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice, has warned us before that any U.S. president could wield dozens of sweeping emergency powers to dismantle democracy, some so secret that members of Congress don't even know about them. We repeated Liz's episode last year and we're repeating it again: The crisis created by Trump and his allies is that serious.

It's easy to use media to foster hate. Hear how an innovative group uses media to DEFUSE ethnic tensions

Sat, 30 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

In this uplifting chat, John Marks joins us again to tell how Search for Common Ground created radio and TV programs from Africa to Asia - designed to help bring former enemies together. His case studies from Burundi, Kenya and the Democratic Republic of the Congo show how Search’s broadcasts helped soothe conflicts between warring groups, and reduced the scourge of rape by rampaging soldiers. The programs obviously are no panacea, but as John says, they are “keeping hope alive.”

Will Trump follow the playbook of autocrats who destroyed the democracies that brought them to power? / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Sat, 09 Nov 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Trump has already shown that when he moves back to the White House, he's likely to use the strategies of dictators he admires, such as Viktor Orbán of Hungary: pack courts and agencies with ideological cronies, intimidate and harass the press, and continue to denigrate opponents as “evil,” “low IQ,” "vermin" and “enemies from within.” Harvard professor Steven Levitsky, co-author of How Democracies Die and Tyranny of the Minority, tells us why it could take years to rescue America’s democracy. Even if you heard this episode when we first posted it, we think you’ll want to listen again now that Trump is returning to the Oval Office.

Can you get enemies to see what they share in common, and prevent war?

Sat, 19 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

John Marks says yes - and he and the organization he founded, Search for Common Ground, have made it happen. He tells us surprising stories about how they get people to listen to each other, across hard lines of hatred and suspicion: Russian and American intelligence officers, Iranians and Americans, Israelis and Arabs, Hutus and Tutsis in Africa - and more. John's memoir, From Vision to Action: Remaking the World Through Social Entrepreneurship, is like a how-to guide - filled with candid accounts of his successes and failures.

Want to know what whales are saying with their magical sounds?

Sat, 28 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Scientist Michelle Fournet and her colleagues from the University of New Hampshire hang out with humpback whales in Alaska, recording their daily communications - and then sending whale recordings back to the giant animals to see if and how they respond. Some of her latest findings could break new ground: she can identify individual whales by their sounds. Michelle tells us the moving story of how she morphed from broke actor to internationally-respected whale researcher - and how she hopes research on humpbacks' "language" can help humans protect them.

We're sad and angry that it makes sense to repost this episode - on mass shootings / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Sat, 07 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Four more have been murdered by a teen with an assault-style rifle - many more were injured - at Apalachee High School in Winder, GA. Still, this episode gives us a glimmer of hope: specialists in “behavioral threat assessment” have been quietly trying to spot potential killers for decades, in places from schools and companies to government agencies - and the latest carnage could probably have been avoided if authorities had followed their manual. Our guests, practitioners Monique Boudreaux and Matt Talbot, say everybody in America needs to help them instead of looking the other way.

Are you sure you get how the Supreme Court ban on affirmative action could change America?

Sat, 17 Aug 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Lee Bollinger, who was president of Columbia University and the University of Michigan, predicts that the number of black students at many colleges will plummet to low levels they haven't seen since the 60s and 70s. He says Chief Justice John Roberts and the other Republican extremists on the Court misinterpret the Constitution. And as for the belief that under affirmative action, college officials generally admitted blacks who weren't qualified? Lee says: Not true.

When Trump praises Hungary's Viktor Orbán, do you realize exactly how Orbán has gutted its democracy? / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Sat, 27 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Trump, the Republican party and Project 2025 are echoing Orbán's autocratic playbook - along with strategies of other leaders who got elected democratically and then turned their nations into autocracies. Key steps: pack courts and agencies with their cronies, slander and intimidate the media, and denigrate their opponents as "evil" and "vermin." Harvard professor Steven Levitsky, co-author of How Democracies Die and Tyranny of the Minority, tells us why it could take years to rescue America's democracy - even if Trump loses the upcoming election.

Can you teach kids today to tackle social issues - and make it fun? (Hint: Think protest songs from the 60s.)

Sat, 06 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Sesame Street changed TV by using music to help kids learn how to spell and how to share. Singer-songwriter Anya Rose and the group Ants on a Log write social action songs to help children in primary school learn edgier lessons, about problems from environmental pollution to racist and sexist behavior - inspired in part by 60s satirist Tom Lehrer. After hearing these tunes, the 9-year-olds in your family might feel inspired to research a problem in your own neighborhood - and then write your members of Congress about it!

A prominent judge’s braided - and surprising - life of blindness and the law / Part 2

Sat, 15 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

A prominent judge’s braided - and surprising - life of blindness and the law / Part 1

Fri, 31 May 2024 18:00:00 -0400

David Tatel - who retired recently from the U.S. Court of Appeals - has led what he calls a "braided life" that intertwines hardship and accomplishment. With his wife, Edie, he describes how he struggled to hide his gradual loss of sight from friends and colleagues alike - including tricks like counting rows and seats in a movie theater and following the clicks of high heels. Meanwhile, David became an accomplished lawyer who fought landmark civil rights cases. You can read their full story in David's new book, Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice. David will return in Part 2 to take us behind the scenes of the second most important court in the nation.

How a sniper almost killed our guest (plus other chilling tales of a foreign correspondent) Part 2 / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Sat, 11 May 2024 06:00:00 -0400

Lewis Simon's Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting, in collaboration with colleagues, helped spark an international scandal and topple a corrupt dictator in the Philippines; he tells us in this episode how they did it. Lew also gives us remarkable insight into how he could do his work - taking notes as people got beaten to death and blown up in front of him, in countries like Cambodia and Bangladesh - and survive emotionally. And finally, a roving correspondent talks honestly about the toll that constant traveling took on his spouse. After hearing Lew, you might think differently about what reporters face when they tell you the latest from Ukraine and the Middle East.

How a sniper almost killed our guest (plus other chilling tales of a foreign correspondent) / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 11:00:00 -0400

Next time you hear details of the horrific wars in Ukraine and Gaza, think about how you're learning them: journalists are risking their lives to report from the front lines. Lewis Simons won the Pulitzer Prize during decades of reporting on the Vietnam war and other conflicts across Asia. He lived by a motto: "Whatever the threat or danger, I had to be there."

Check out how foreign autocrats whom Trump admires gutted their democracies, step by step - legally

Sat, 30 Mar 2024 07:00:00 -0400

Now Trump and the Republican party are following their autocratic playbooks, whether by design or by instinct: pack courts and agencies with their cronies, slander and intimidate the media, and denigrate their opponents as "evil" and vermin. Harvard professor Steven Levitsky, co-author of How Democracies Die and Tyranny of the Minority, tells us why it could take many years to rescue America's democracy - even if Trump loses the next election.

When they taught you the history of these intrepid explorers, was it pretty much a lie?

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 17:00:00 -0500

When you learned about the American explorers who claimed to discover the North Pole, the answer seems to be, "Yes." In fact, the fabled drama of Robert E. Peary and Frederick Cook was an early example of how powerful newspapers - in this case The New York Times and New York Herald - spread fake news (although critics still debate whether the newspaper owners knew it was fake or didn't bother to corroborate the explorers' stories). Journalist Darrell Hartman tells us life and death tales from his recent book, Battle of Ink and Ice, that shed light on the perils of vanity and competition for fame and profit.

When apps ask to "share your location" or use voice ID, could it hurt you? / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 23:00:00 -0500

It could happen to you: police mistakenly suspect or arrest you, because an app's location data show you were near the scene of a crime. The ACLU's Nathan Wessler returns to explain how geolocation, voice recognition and other high-tech tracking methods - including the way you walk! - could disrupt your life in ways you hardly expect.

Should you worry about facial recognition at airports, malls and unexpected places? / From the archive

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 19:00:00 -0500

America's surveillance network is nowhere near as pervasive and chilling as China's, but U.S. companies and government agencies are already using high-tech tools like facial recognition to track you more than you might think. As the ACLU's Nathan Wessler tells us, the facial recognition software sometimes goofs - and ordinary, innocent people like you end up in jail.

OMG if Trump wins again, he could take over the internet (maybe) / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Fri, 05 Jan 2024 22:00:00 -0500

Presidents have drawn up plans to wield sweeping emergency powers - and some of those plans are so secret that even Congress has never seen them. Elizabeth Goitein, of the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice, has unearthed dozens of emergency presidential powers. Voters should understand the potential powers they could give any president, before they cast their ballot.

Here's another episode that should boost your spirits

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 21:00:00 -0500

David K. Shipler (aka "Dave," our podcast co-host) is not only a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist: He's a poet, and just published his debut volume of poems, The Wind is Invisible. Given the grim news in the world, Dave's lovely poetry - glimpses of nature, reflections on family, moving insights about love - is a refreshing antidote. It's also (according to Danny) a surprising change from Dave's tough-minded journalism. Dave reads some of his poems and explains what influences his work - including his mother, who taught English, and Robert Frost, the legendary poet whom Dave actually met.

Do you know any idealistic politicians? Here's one!

Sat, 02 Dec 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Shekar Krishnan just got re-elected to the New York City Council with three times as many votes as the runner-up. And so far, he's showing how politics and government can actually make people's lives better. Shekar fights for immigrant taxi drivers, the LGBTQ community, and minorities who need good low-income housing; he went briefly to jail and got smeared by the Proud Boys, along the way. Oh - and he's doing the usual political things like getting potholes fixed.

Why do Iran's leaders mistrust and even hate the US - and its allies? / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Sun, 12 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500

As the horrific war between Israel and Hamas continues, US and Iranian officials are sending each other warnings, just as they have for decades: Back off. When you hear this episode, it will help remind you one reason why Iran's government learned to hate the US long ago: The US and Britain secretly ran the plot to topple its leader in the 1950s. Why? For Iran's oil. Filmmakers Taghi Amirani and Walter Murch discuss their riveting documentary, Coup 53 - which shows step by step how the CIA and MI6 carried it out.

Will Republicans ever back a decent leader again - like this one? / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 06:00:00 -0400

As we publish this, Congressional Republicans have just elected their new Speaker - a right-wing extremist who led the fight, which many consider seditious, to overthrow Joseph Biden’s 2020 democratic election. So it’s more astonishing than ever to revisit the presidency of Republican Dwight D. "Ike" Eisenhower. His granddaughter, Susan Eisenhower, describes some of Ike's visionary and controversial policies - which many if not most Republicans would likely oppose today.

The pleasures - and perils - of driving a 2-mile long freight train / Railroads Part 2

Sat, 07 Oct 2023 01:00:00 -0400

Railroad supervisors ignore safety problems. Railroad executives lay off thousands of workers and see accident rates soar. Railroad corporations make record profits while their customers complain about lousy freight service. Marilee Taylor and Ron Kaminkow, veteran train engineers and labor organizers, have encountered those problems just about every day they've climbed aboard a locomotive - and they describe them in vivid detail. Still, they get a thrill from driving trains, if things go well. As Marilee says, sometimes she'd fire up the massive engine, and "I'm, like, yes." But they're stunned that America seems to stand by as its crucial railroad industry deteriorates.

Do you realize that America’s railroads are probably the worst in the industrialized world? / Part 1

Sat, 23 Sep 2023 01:00:00 -0400

The freight railroad industry is crucial, but companies have slashed tens of thousands of workers in recent years while trains have become less reliable and derailments have threatened entire towns. Meanwhile, railroad companies have reported record and near-record profits. Historian Peter Rachleff and train engineer Ron Kaminkow, who’s also a labor leader, guide us through the colorful, brutal history of America’s railroads - built by “oligarchs” on the backs of Black convicts, slaves and Chinese laborers. Once you know that saga, you’ll understand the industry’s current problems better. And you might not get so nostalgic when you hear a train whistle and watch two miles of freight cars clacking by.

This former Russian diplomat is in hiding - since he dared to denounce Putin's war in Ukraine / Part 2 FROM THE ARCHIVE

Sat, 02 Sep 2023 02:00:00 -0400

Boris Bondarev says he wanted to quit his job as a Russian diplomat long ago, to protest Putin's policies, but it took years to gather courage to take that life-changing step. Putin's war in Ukraine pushed him to act - and now he and his wife are living under protection in Switzerland (with their cat; more about that in our episode). In Part 2 of this introspective conversation, Boris explains why resigning was a moral act of “redemption” after a career serving policies that he gradually decided were unworthy of his country. Is Boris right that the war against Ukraine won’t strengthen Putin but destroy him?

This former Russian diplomat is in hiding - since he dared to denounce Putin's war in Ukraine / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Sat, 26 Aug 2023 03:00:00 -0400

Boris Bondarev represented Russia as a diplomat for more than 20 years. But after Russia invaded Ukraine, he took a rare and potentially dangerous step: he resigned, to protest the horrors of Vladimir Putin's "fascist state." In Part 1 of this candid chat, Boris explains why he overlooked Putin's crimes for years - and why the invasion of Ukraine propelled him to act. His actions have turned his own family's life upside down.

If you were an editorial cartoonist, how would you capture Trump's twisted mind? / Part 2 with Darrin Bell

Sat, 05 Aug 2023 04:00:00 -0400

Darrin Bell won the Pulitzer Prize for doing exactly that - depicting Trump as a shrieking infant, a naked tyrant, and as a god giving life to racists instead of to Adam. Darrin explains how his own encounters with racism pushed him to draw, as an emotional escape. And he tells why his cartoons attack not only Trump but sometimes leaders he likes. HINT: young people should hear this interview to learn how perseverance can pay off!

How did this poor black kid grapple with racism and then win the Pulitzer Prize? / Part 1

Sun, 23 Jul 2023 14:00:00 -0400

Darrin Bell's white, wealthy classmates bullied him because he had big lips, and store clerks automatically assumed he was shoplifting. Today, Darrin has transformed his struggles into a brilliant and acclaimed graphic memoir, "The Talk" - named for the conversation that parents of color often have with their children to explain why the world likely won't treat them the same as whites.

How right-wing radicals are reshaping what's taught in your local schools / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 22:00:00 -0400

Republicans and their allies are banning books, courses and even brief classroom chats about "divisive topics" - and passing laws to punish teachers who disobey. They're also spending big money to elect school boards that embrace their extremist visions. Jonathan Friedman of PEN America describes some of the most threatening developments across the country.

How book banning is spreading across America, Part 1 / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Sat, 24 Jun 2023 02:00:00 -0400

You've heard that it's happening - and now two librarians tell us in this moving episode how they became targets of extremists. When Suzette Baker refused to ban books on racial and LGBTQ issues, right-wing parents and local officials in Texas got her fired. Meanwhile, librarian Martha Hickson was fighting her own battle against censorship, 2000 miles away in New Jersey - but she managed to organize supporters to rally against censorship. And they won.

This famous professor got in trouble with some students - and he adjusted his teaching / FROM THE ARCHIVE

Sat, 03 Jun 2023 03:00:00 -0400

None of us can listen to Geoffrey Stone, the First Amendment scholar at the University of Chicago, tell about his encounter with African American students without asking ourselves some tough questions: what kinds of speech do we really want to allow, or prevent, on college campuses? And how do we keep universities faithful to their mission of teaching young people to think? Stone walks us through the controversy and how he responded to it.

When many African Americans speak, what are they speaking?

Sun, 14 May 2023 01:00:00 -0400

They're speaking African American English, according to linguist Lisa Green at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Lisa grew up speaking AAE in Louisiana, and since then, her ground-breaking research has found that AAE is based on a system of consistent grammatical rules, pronunciations and definitions - in other words, Lisa's studies show, "it's not mainstream English with mistakes." Some call it a dialect, which evolved from the African languages that slaves spoke blended with plantation English; in fact, when someone says, "she aks" instead of "she asks," they might be echoing Old English from centuries ago. Lisa argues that schools need to acknowledge and respect black children's African American English, even while they teach them Standard American English that they need to succeed in broader society.

Can you start a sentence with "And" or "But"?? We all need this grammar lesson / Part 2

Sat, 22 Apr 2023 03:00:00 -0400

You'll dazzle friends with the grammar smarts you'll get from our second chat with Bryan Garner, one of America's language gurus. Finally, you're about to learn if you can - or can't - end a sentence with a preposition; if you can use "like" instead of "as"; and if you can banish "whom" and "whomever" from your brain. Just wait until you hear Bryan's rant about lawyers' terrible writing. Can you guess which common five-letter word (which lawyers love) causes endless legal battles?

Can you start a sentence with "And" or "But"?? We all need this grammar lesson / Part 1

Sat, 15 Apr 2023 02:00:00 -0400

Bryan Garner, one of America's grammar gurus, tells us where we're going wrong - and what we're getting right. You're sure to find (you'll surely find?) answers to some of your own burning questions, like (or is it "such as"?): should you feel bad about using adverbs? Or should you feel badly? How will this episode impact your own language? (Actually, is "impact" even a verb?) After hearing our conversation with Bryan, you might not write or speak quite the same way.

How do we teach kids - and everybody - to tell the difference between the lies swirling around them and actual facts?

Sun, 26 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0400

Ebonee Rice is a senior vice president of a national group that’s doing exactly that: the News Literacy Project. They’ve created programs for students across the country - adults can use them too – to teach them how to dissect and evaluate everything from tweets and catchy ads and TikTok posts to news stories on national TV. You might be stunned when you hear statistics showing just how gullible many kids are.

Attacks on free speech at universities - by students on the right and the left - are getting seriously scary

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 19:00:00 -0400

None of us can listen to Geoffrey Stone, the famous law professor at the University of Chicago, tell about his own encounter with upset students without asking ourselves some tough questions: what kind of speech do we really want to allow, or prevent, on college campuses? And how do we keep universities faithful to their mission of teaching young people to think?

How a sniper almost killed our guest (plus other chilling tales of a foreign correspondent) / Part 2

Sat, 11 Feb 2023 03:00:00 -0500

Lewis Simon's Pulitzer Prize-winning reporting, in collaboration with colleagues, helped spark an international scandal and topple a corrupt dictator; he tells us in this episode how they did it. Lew also gives us remarkable insight into how he could do his work - taking notes as people got beaten to death and blown up in front of him - and survive emotionally. And finally, a roving correspondent talks honestly about the toll that his constant traveling took on his spouse.

How a sniper almost killed our guest (plus other chilling tales of a foreign correspondent) / Part 1

Sun, 05 Feb 2023 03:00:00 -0500

Lewis Simons won the Pulitzer Prize during decades of reporting across Asia. He lived by a motto: "Whatever the threat or danger, I had to be there." When you hear him describe his harrowing adventures covering the Vietnam war, it brings that tragic conflict alive better than history books.

Millions of children in America are going hungry - can you believe it? / Part 2 FROM THE ARCHIVE

Sun, 15 Jan 2023 03:00:00 -0500

When you see students across the nation struggling with learning and behavioral problems, it might be partly because their families can’t afford enough good food. Dr. Megan Sandel has a bold idea, which Congress tried briefly - and successfully - but then scuttled: give low income parents more money.

Millions of children in America are going hungry - can you believe it? / Part 1 FROM THE ARCHIVE

Sat, 07 Jan 2023 03:00:00 -0500

Dr. Megan Sandel takes us into the GROW clinic in Boston, where kids look like malnourished children in poor countries. Some 2 year olds look half their age. The Biden administration eased the crisis by expanding child tax credits, but Congress has let those credits expire. So, it's back to crisis.

Enjoy the holidays. Still, please be aware that black cops confront racism every day. FROM THE ARCHIVE

Sun, 25 Dec 2022 03:00:00 -0500

Officer Shanette Hall and Lt. Ray Rice joined St. Louis County's police department because they were passionate about making things better, by exposing racial injustice and bringing the police and community closer together. They told us in this moving interview that instead, department officials punished them for speaking out. (PS Since our interview, Hall quit the force.)

Would YOU throw away a prestigious career - and maybe risk your life - to protest Russia’s war in Ukraine? / Part 2

Sun, 11 Dec 2022 02:00:00 -0500

Boris Bondarev says he wanted to quit his job as a Russian diplomat long ago, to protest Putin's policies, but it took years to gather courage to take that life-changing step. Putin's war in Ukraine pushed him to act - and now he and his wife are living under protection in Switzerland (with their cat; more about that in our episode). In Part 2 of this introspective conversation, Boris explains why resigning was a moral act of “redemption” after a career serving policies he thought unworthy of his country. Is Boris right that the invasion of Ukraine won’t strengthen Putin but destroy him?

Would YOU throw away a prestigious career - and maybe risk your life - to protest Russia’s war in Ukraine? / Part 1

Sun, 04 Dec 2022 02:00:00 -0500

Are right-wing conservatives reshaping what's taught in your local schools?

Sun, 30 Oct 2022 01:00:00 -0400

Republicans and their allies are banning books, courses and even brief lessons about "divisive topics" - and passing laws to punish teachers who disobey. They're also spending big money to elect school boards that embrace their extremist visions. Jonathan Friedman of PEN America describes some of the most threatening developments across the country.

Will extremists ban YOUR favorite books, next?

Sun, 09 Oct 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Librarian Suzette Baker refused to ban books on racial and LGBTQ issues. So, as she recounts in this moving episode, right-wing parents and local officials in Texas got her fired. Meanwhile, librarian Martha Hickson was fighting her own battle against censorship 2000 miles away in New Jersey - but she describes how she organized supporters to rally against censorship, and won.

White extremists are brainwashing your neighbors - and family? FROM THE ARCHIVE

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Attacking the Capitol, trying to overturn the presidential election, sabotaging voting rights: extremists have gone mainstream, with support from the Republican Party. While TWO REPORTERS are on vacation, hear chilling details about the extremists’ game plan - in this compelling episode with Cynthia Miller-Idriss, from our archive.

Can you name a Republican with morals and scruples? FROM THE ARCHIVES

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 03:00:00 -0400

TWO REPORTERS are on vacation - meanwhile, we hope you'll find this repeat episode from our archive more compelling than ever. Hear what Bob Inglis - a former conservative Republican congressman - has to say about his former party and politics. It's especially important against the backdrop of Trump's and fellow Republicans' continuing efforts to sabotage America's democracy.

Could YOU help prevent mass shootings?

Sun, 07 Aug 2022 11:00:00 -0400

Specialists in “behavioral threat assessment” have been quietly trying to spot potential killers for decades, in places from schools and companies to government agencies. Our guests, practitioners Monique Boudreaux and Matt Talbot, say everybody in America needs to help them - and could.

Is George Orwell's 1984 coming true? / Part 3

Sat, 09 Jul 2022 01:00:00 -0400

It could happen to you: police mistakenly suspect or arrest you, because an app's location data show you were near the scene of a crime. The ACLU's Nathan Wessler returns to explain how geolocation, voice recognition and other high-tech tracking methods - including your gait! - could disrupt your life in ways you hardly expect.

Is George Orwell's 1984 coming true? / Part 2

Sat, 02 Jul 2022 02:00:00 -0400

America's surveillance network is nowhere near as pervasive and chilling as China's (hear about China in our last episode), but U.S. companies and government agencies are already using high-tech tools like facial recognition to track you, more than you might think. As the ACLU's Nathan Wessler tells us, the facial recognition software sometimes goofs - and ordinary, innocent people like you end up in jail.

Is George Orwell's 1984 coming true? / Part 1

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 01:00:00 -0400

It's not just fiction anymore: the frightening vision of mass surveillance that Orwell painted has come to life - in China. In fact, Conor Healy of IPVM says that China's vast network of cameras, cell phone tracking, face and voice recognition, and other advanced technology surpasses what Orwell made up. In Part 2, coming soon, we'll examine whether the U.S. is traveling down a similar road.

Two black cops: "Almost nothing's changed since Black Lives Matter. Nothing." / Part 2

Sun, 08 May 2022 10:00:00 -0400

If you could wave a magic wand and make racist behavior disappear from America's police departments, how would you do it? Ray Rice and Shanette Hall, both black officers, have ideas: fire racist cops starting tomorrow, and transform recruiting and training. All their suggestions face huge obstacles.

Two black cops: "Almost nothing's changed since Black Lives Matter. Nothing." / Part 1

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 03:00:00 -0400

Officer Shanette Hall and Lt. Ray Rice joined St. Louis County's police department because they were passionate about making things better - by rooting out racism and bringing police and their community closer together. Instead, they say department officials are punishing them for speaking out about racial injustice. You'll be moved by their unsettling stories.

If you eat meat, or don’t eat meat, listen to this! / Part 2

Sun, 20 Mar 2022 12:00:00 -0400

Imagine meat that's cultured in factory tanks instead of grown on a farm. Thinks it's a fantasy of the future? They're already selling it in Singapore - and professional tasters can't tell the difference between the laboratory and the farm-raised version. Bruce Friedrich, CEO of the Good Food Institute, joins us again to explain how pathbreaking companies are "cultivating" meat from animal cells - and how it could help solve some of the world's most dangerous problems.

If you eat meat - or don’t eat meat - you need to hear this! / Part 1

Sun, 13 Mar 2022 04:00:00 -0400

Bruce Friedrich, former master strategist at PETA, streaked naked past Buckingham Palace with "GoVeg" painted on his body. Like that tactic or not, you'll be astonished as Bruce explains how you can fight global poverty, help prevent a medical crisis, fight climate change - and prevent massive suffering - simply by cutting back on (or shunning) farm-raised meat.

Does Iran mistrust/hate the US for justified reasons?

Fri, 18 Feb 2022 21:00:00 -0500

Nations are like people: once they've been traumatized, it's hard to forget. The US and Britain toppled the democratically-elected leader of Iran almost 70 years ago. Why? For the oil. Filmmakers Taghi Amirani and Walter Murch discuss their riveting documentary, Coup 53 - which shows step by step how the CIA and MI6 carried it out.

Can you name a Republican with morals and scruples? / Part 2

Sat, 29 Jan 2022 01:00:00 -0500

Whatever your political leanings, you're about to go, Really?! when you hear what Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower did in the White House. Many historians used to rank "Ike" among the worst American presidents; last year they ranked him 5th best. Granddaughter Susan Eisenhower, who consults with international executives and government leaders, dug up astonishing facts about his policies that even surprised her.

Can you name a Republican with morals and scruples? / Part 1

Sun, 23 Jan 2022 01:00:00 -0500

Here’s one – but he died more than 50 years ago. In an era when Republican leaders are trying to destroy America’s democracy, it’s a revelation to reconsider Dwight D. Eisenhower. His granddaughter, Susan Eisenhower, dug through diaries, letters and government documents to bring him back to life.

Want to hear a strategy that can help save America’s democracy? - Part 2

Wed, 29 Dec 2021 01:00:00 -0500

An ingenious news site for immigrants just might be the model for reviving local journalism. Actually, every media company should study how Documented keeps attracting a bigger audience, learning from them and forging bonds with the community.

Want to hear a strategy that can help save America’s democracy? - Part 1

Sat, 25 Dec 2021 23:00:00 -0500

Local newspapers and other local news sources are dying, which is one reason many people can’t separate fact from fiction - a crisis we began to detail a few episodes ago. But the American Journalism Project has a solution - and director Sarabeth Berman joins Two Reporters to lay it out. Hint: your local news site might become your favorite charity.

Behind the scenes of TV news / Part 2

Fri, 26 Nov 2021 01:00:00 -0500

In Part 2 of our chat with Terence Smith - veteran of The New York Times, CBS and PBS - he takes us behind the scenes to show us the dramatically different ways in which print and broadcast reporters cover the news. Example: cute animals sometimes beat out Terry on TV.

He covered four wars and five presidents / Part 1

Sun, 21 Nov 2021 01:00:00 -0500

And now Terence Smith takes us back to the golden era in modern American journalism - the 1960s, 70s and 80s, when he sent dispatches from around the globe back to The New York Times and CBS. Marilyn Monroe, the Six-Day War in the Middle East, the war in Vietnam - Terry gives us fascinating glimpses of them all, in his new memoir and on Two Reporters. Coming soon in Part 2: the love/hate world of TV news.

As local newspapers die, is America’s democracy dying with them?

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 01:00:00 -0400

Maybe you never read the Birmingham Post-Herald or Green Bay News-Chronicle, but thousands of papers like them have died in recent years. That’s left a vacuum – which other media have helped fill with propaganda, opinion and outright lies. The New Yorker’s Evan Osnos returns to Two Reporters to diagnose the troubling causes, and describe an intriguing strategy to revive local news.

How can hedge fund executives make so much money, anyway?

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0400

The New Yorker’s Evan Osnos tells us the infuriating answer in Part 2 of our chat about his new book, Wildland. As Evan says, hedge fund executives and their political allies have shaped America’s laws to benefit themselves more than you. Yet, Evan explains why he’s optimistic about America’s future.

What do poor blacks, hedge fund executives and coal miners have in common?

Fri, 01 Oct 2021 00:00:00 -0400

Evan Osnos, staff writer for The New Yorker, gives a provocative answer as he chats about his new book, Wildland. Democrats and Republicans alike should hear what Evan has found, as he’s explored why America is so fractured.

Will Republicans allow Alona Whitebird to teach her students about racism?

Sat, 11 Sep 2021 07:00:00 -0400

Oklahoma is one of the latest states where Republicans have passed a law that gives history teachers chills - when it comes to teaching about race, gender and other human rights issues. Teachers can lose their licenses if state officials don't like what they teach. NOTE: We wish Alona had been our teacher in high school ...

Congressional Republicans: “Would you rather lose your soul or lose an election?”

Sun, 25 Jul 2021 12:00:00 -0400

Bob Inglis, the former conservative Republican congressman, explains his strategy for getting Democrats and Republicans to fight climate change - together. Plus, in Part 2 of our conversation: will Republicans destroy America’s democracy?

God helped prod this Republican to fight climate change / Part 1

Fri, 16 Jul 2021 16:00:00 -0400

After Bob Inglis collapsed and lay on the floor, in the wake of losing a Congressional election, he heard a voice in his head. The words spurred him to see political enemies - and the world - in a new light.

White extremists are brainwashing your neighbors – and maybe some of your family, too

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 13:00:00 -0400

Home repair and cooking lessons on youtube, martial arts classes and catchy music: white extremists are using them all to spread racist, anti-semitic and anti-immigrant ideas, sometimes more cleverly than you think. Cynthia Miller-Idriss joins us again, to help us spot when loved ones are getting hooked - and then know how to handle it.

We thought we knew about white extremists …

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 11:00:00 -0400

... but what Cynthia Miller-Idriss tells us in this two-part episode gives us chills. Hear in Part 1 about key extremist groups, their philosophies and growing violence.

Coming soon: How President Biden’s new plan to fight extremism might – or might not - help.

What's up with Walmart and food programs for hungry people?

Sun, 30 May 2021 10:00:00 -0400

Maria Rose Belding joins us again with one of her mentors, Robert Egger, who founded one of America’s most acclaimed food programs for hungry people. Robert used to run nightclubs but now he's devoted to helping the poor. He and Maria Rose argue that corporations have taken over many of the nation's food programs - not always helping the people they serve.

You'll feel better about the future of America ...

Sun, 23 May 2021 09:00:00 -0400

… after you meet Maria Rose Belding. It’s corny but true: Maria Rose is not quite 26, she’s exuberant and seemingly tireless, and her path-breaking app that helps hungry people is used across the nation. But Maria Rose’s inspiration for this great idea came from a troubling place.

OMG the U.S. President could take over the internet! (maybe)

Sat, 08 May 2021 17:00:00 -0400

Reopen the schools! BUT ...

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 00:00:00 -0400

Dr. Joshua Sharfstein is a big name in the world of public health, and he warns that America will make a huge mistake if it rushes to reopen schools just as they all were BC (Before Covid). Plus: everybody should hear Josh on the gratifications of compromise.

Hunger in America - Part 2 (hear how to end it)

Sun, 28 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -0400

When you see students across the nation struggling with learning and behavioral problems, it could be partly because their families can’t afford enough good food. Dr. Megan Sandel has a bold idea: give them more money.

Hunger in America - Part 1 (get ready to be shocked)

Sun, 14 Mar 2021 00:00:00 -0500

We all wish we had a doctor like Megan Sandel - kind, eloquent, a great story-teller, and passionate about social justice. Children she treats at the GROW clinic echo poor regions of Africa, they’re so malnourished - but it’s Boston. Megan says America has barely begun to tackle social problems that make tens of millions of people “food insecure.”