Not All Victims Should Be Martyrs
Charlie Kirk believed in advancing right-wing political goals and attacking left-wing opponents by any and all means necessary—including political violence.
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halftheanswer
Half the Answer #32: The Language of Democrats and Republicans
Trent and Caitlin speak with political science professor Lindsey Cormack about her analysis of the DCInbox database of political communications, focusing especially on the memo from Third Way advising Democrats to avoid certain words that make them sound out of touch, elitist, or insincere. Where did these words come from?
Good Governance Requires Accountability
We must rediscover the virtue of ambition: the ambition to get out there and make some real changes—and the courage to face the music after.
neonliberalism
Neon Liberalism #42: The Spectacle of Cruelty
Join Samantha and guest Alan Elrod, president and CEO of the Pulaski Institution, as they talk about how the spectacle of deliberate cruelty—troops on the streets, deportations of firefighters, the public performance of vileness—is not an accident or a distraction, but is a core part of the Trumpian
oppositionreport
The Opposition Report #5
A summary of August and early September 2025 in the second Trump term.
halftheanswer
Half the Answer #31: The Health of American Democracy
Caitlin and Trent speak with Jacob T. Levy, Tomlinson Professor of Political Theory at McGill University, about the state of democracy in the U.S. How did we get here? What are the tools and motivations of the people working to dismantle the institutions that make us a democratic nation?
Taking Over Space: The Administration’s War on the Workforce at NASA
The Trump administration is returning NASA to the model that led directly to the Columbia disaster.
neonliberalism
Neon Liberalism #41: Is the Fed Okay?
Join Samantha and guest Maia Mindel as they talk about Trump's latest attack on the Federal Reserve, give some historical context for central bank independence, and struggle with the difficult question of how to balance technocratic expertise with democratic accountability. Plus some cats. Neon Liberalism can be heard
Let It Burn: What an Immigration Raid on Washington Firefighters Can Teach Us About MAGA Fascism
MAGA is not merely rule by the worst but an active assault on virtue wherever it exists.
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Half the Answer #30: A Second American Midnight?
Trent and Caitlin talk with author, journalist and historian Adam Hochschild about the historical periods that most inform his view of today's disturbing American politics. What tactics and goals does Trump 2.0 have in common with Woodrow Wilson's post-WWI administration? What is different? What inspiration
A Renewal of the Liberal Spirit of America
The big question for liberalism today is not what policies we need, but how to get them to stick in the places they’re needed most.
A Proposed 5-Step YIMBY Playbook to Fix New York's Housing Crisis
Mamdani made housing affordability and transit the centerpiece of his campaign. Here's everything he could do as mayor to move the needle.