STORY IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE

#1501 Colin Woodard
As America begins a year-long celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, best-selling author Colin Woodard take stock of America’s enduring revolutionary ideals.

#1502 Phil Tinline
In his new book Ghosts of Iron Mountain, author and journalist Phil Tinline documents the lasting effects of a hoax concocted in the U.S. in the 1960s that set the stage for conspiracy theories still shaping American politics today.

#1503 Ashish Jha
Five years ago, we were in the thick of the pandemic—with the bulk of the sickness and dying still to come. Now, the U.S. federal government is poised to slash spending on public health, as well as basic research in science, healthcare, and more. Physician and public health leader Dr. Ashish Jha helps us make sense of it all.

#1504 Sean O'Callaghan & Paul Hoffman
The history of humanity is the history of individuals making decisions—sometimes collectively, sometimes individually. New artificial intelligence brings a new player into the mix: machines capable of making decisions alongside or instead of their human counterparts. Salve Regina University professor Sean O’Callaghan and Samford University professor Paul A. Hoffman grapple with the theological implications of this new technology.

#1505 Fred Borch
Lawyer, Army veteran and historian Fred Borch discusses President Truman's conflicted decision to drop atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, 80 years ago in August. World War II ended shortly after.

#1506 Anna Massoglia
It’s comforting to think about American political institutions as “transparent” and open to scrutiny. Investigative journalist Anna Massoglia, however, describes a campaign finance system built, increasingly, on so-called “Dark Money.”

#1507 Alex Edmans
Scholars, journalists, and even some politicians often warn about the lack of critical thinking in contemporary public- and private-life. Finance scholar Alex Edmans picks up that alarm and warns that we’re regularly exploited by those who would use our own sloppy thinking and unconscious biases to mislead us.

#1508 James Fishkin
For more than a decade, now, the world has been experiencing a process of “democratic backsliding,” while alternatives to governing by popular consent have gained popularity—even in the West. Stanford professor James Fishkin offers a path to improving not just the health of democracy, but the effectiveness of liberal democratic governments.

#1509 Mhairi Aiken
Artificial Intelligence is changing all of our lives and the biggest changes are yet to come. Yet despite the revolution on our doorstep, few have looked carefully at the impact of AI on children. Technology and ethics researcher Mhairi Aiken has done just that and has evidence-based advice for policy makers and developers.

#1510 Thomas Chatterton Williams
In the summer of 2020, the country was racked by disease, violence, and social disruption as generations of racial injustice seemed to fall in the wake of the murder of George Floyd. Author Thomas Chatterton Williams warns, however, that extreme views on the left—ascendent in that summer heat—are just as dangerous to western liberalism as extreme views on the right.

#1511 Brad Sears
It has been argued that rights denied of anyone diminish the freedom of us all. UCLA law scholar Brad Sears studies the discrimination that has targeted members of the LGBTQ community as well as those living with HIV, and warns us that our collective liberty is at risk.

#1512 John Feerick
In recent years, commentators and gadflies have looked at American presidents and, based on age and, sometimes, politics, called for the invocation of the 25th amendment to remove the president from office. Constitutional scholar John Feerick helped write the 25th amendment and shines a light on its provisions and the intentions of its framers.

#1513 Megan Greenwell
Private equity firms wield enormous control over the American economy, public utilities, and even the health of local newspapers. Author Megan Greenwell explores the extent of their unchecked power and the ways in which these firms—and their private owners—are reshaping America.


Additional episodes, tba