Talk Cocktail

Red vs. Blue America: Federalism in the Fight Against Autocracy

In this WhoWhatWhy podcast, veteran journalist Sasha Abramsky reveals a striking paradox: Progressives, long suspicious of states’ rights — once a  reactionary battle cry against civil rights and federal reforms — are now embracing state power as their best defense against growing authoritarianism. 

As the federal government tilts rightward, blue states are forming unprecedented coalitions to preserve democratic values and progressive policies. But could these defensive measures actually accelerate America’s political fracturing? 

The Comfort of Our False Beliefs: Why We Crave Misinformation

In a world drowning in misinformation, we keep pointing fingers at those who create and spread false narratives. But what if the real story isn’t about them — it’s about us?

In this recentWhoWhatWhy podcast I talk with professor Dannagal Goldthwaite Young, author of Wrong: How Media, Politics, and Identity Drive Our Appetite for Misinformation, we discover a surprising truth: Humans are naturally drawn to misinformation.

It’s not just about believing what we want to believe — it’s about satisfying our fundamental needs for what Young calls “comprehension, control, and community,” even if that means embracing falsehoods.

The End of Weird: Austin's Makeover

 

The recent election has sparked new discussions about changing demographics across America. Austin, Texas is no exception. Long celebrated as a liberal bubble in the heart of red Texas, this once magical and creative city is transforming dramatically. From the controversial new University of Austin, featured this past Sunday on 60 Minutes, to Elon Musk's growing presence with SpaceX, to the influx of tech giants like Larry Ellison and Oracle, along with characters like Joe Rogan and Alex Jones, the city's character is shifting. Add to this the mounting challenges of climate change making Austin hotter and drier than ever. Journalist Alex Hannaford, who lived in Austin for nearly two decades, talks to me aboutthis transformation and his eventual departure from a city that has changed beyond recognition. He writes about it in his new book “Lost in Austin.”

Wall Street's Glass Ceiling Cracked, Long Before Washington's: Paulina Bren Explains

 

While women have yet to shatter the ultimate glass ceiling of the White House, they've been steadily scaling the towering heights of Wall Street since the 1960s. The author of the groundbreaking book "She Wolves: The Untold History of Women on Wall Street," historian Paulina Bren talks to me about how these trailblazers navigated the male-dominated world of finance. From Muriel Siebert becoming the first woman to own a NYSE seat in 1967 to the waves of female graduates entering finance in the 1980s, women transformed the financial sector despite facing persistent discrimination. Bren explains how these pioneering women rose from secretarial pools to trading floors and executive suites, reshaping one of America's most powerful industries.

Women Voters and the Firewall That Wasn’t

 

What happened to women voters as Harris drew fewer of them than Biden in 2020? Even in pro-choice strongholds, economic concerns trumped reproductive rights.

To examine this I’m was joined the morning after the election on this WhoWhatWhy podcast by Amanda Becker, a 2023 Nieman Fellow and Washington correspondent for The 19th. She is the author of the book You Must Stand Up: The Fight for Abortion Rights in Post-Dobbs America.

She expalins that the great female firewall against Trump’s return never materialized. In fact, it crumbled. 

Vice President Kamala Harris actually performed worse than Joe Biden did in 2020, capturing just 54 percent of women’s votes compared to his 57 percent. 

Even more stunning: In states like Ohio and Kentucky, where women had recently mobilized to protect reproductive rights, the expected momentum vanished. What happened? 

The answer challenges everything we thought we knew about women voters in post-Roe America. 

An American Reckoning - Jonathan Alter confronts Trump and Democracy

Journalist and presidential historian Jonathan Alter's new book 'American Reckoning: Inside Trump's Trial—and My Own' offers unique insights from inside the Manhattan courtroom where he sat just 25 feet from Donald Trump. While the political landscape has shifted dramatically since those summer days, Alter finds hope in the long view of history. Drawing on his experience covering nine presidents, the former Newsweek senior editor and NBC News analyst reminds us how other nations have successfully fought to restore their democracies. His deeply personal meditation on democratic accountability becomes a call to arms, arguing that American democracy, while challenged, has the resilience to prevail.

Our Deep Polarization Has Now Taken Over Our Most Local Politics

On a recent California Sun podcast I spoke with Sasha Abramsky, author of the new book “Chaos Comes Calling.” Abramsky talks to me about how America’s deep polarization has cascaded from national politics down to local levels of governance. Abramsky reveals that even in small rural communities, once-mundane local issues like library policies, road repairs, and child care have become ideological battlegrounds. Abramsky illuminates how the pandemic, social media echo chambers, and talk radio amplified partisan voices, transforming school boards and city councils into microcosms of the broader red-blue divide. 

Vigilante Nation: The New Face of American Power

"Vigilantism” - it's a word that conjures images of lynch mobs and frontier justice. But today, both would be Presidents and state governments are not just turning a blind eye to vigilantes, they're actively encouraging them.

From Virginia's tip line for parents to snitch on teachers, to Texas unleashing bounty hunters against abortion providers, to Florida encouraging drivers to run over protesters - vigilantism is becoming the new normal in American politics.

My guest, Jon Michaels, argues in 'Vigilante Nation' that this represents a concerted effort by right-wing politicians, pundits, and preachers to subvert democracy and cement their hold on power. The pattern they expose should concern us all."

The myth of the "Latino vote"

 

On this California Sun podcast I talk with Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano who dismantles the myth of a monolithic “Latino vote.” After 3,000 miles across the Southwest, Arellano finds Latino communities laser-focused on local issues & identity, not national politics The real power? It's in city halls, not DC.

January 6 As You’ve Never Seen It Before: The ‘Fight Like Hell’ Documentary

This is January 6 as you’ve never seen it before. 

My guest on my latestWhoWhatWhy podcast is filmmaker Jon Long. Long has just completed Fight Like Hell, a documentary that offers a provocative, unfiltered, never before seen look at the day’s shocking events, and the Stop the Steal movement’s evolution.

Long explains that what you will witness in this documentary may shock you, move you. You may have thought the talk of January 6 was old news, that the candidates and the country had moved on, but not so fast. What happened still matters a lot.

 

https://youtu.be/ZC-Wo9nJ3O4?si=DXoOaixFGafV34d0

 

 

 

Turning the Page: Steve Wasserman's Life in American Letters

Steve Wasserman's journey from Berkeley radical to literary luminary is a testament to the enduring power of the written word. In our conversation, Wasserman reflects on a life shaped by books, ideas, and an insatiable curiosity that led him from tear gas-filled streets to the pinnacles of publishing. His friendships with intellectual giants like Christopher Hitchens and Susan Sontag honed his empathetic sensibility, while never dulling his capacity for outrage at injustice. Having navigated the literary landscapes of New York, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area, Wasserman offers a unique perspective on American culture and politics. His memoir, “Tell Me Something, Tell Me Anything, Even If It's a Lie,” serves as both a celebration of and a rallying cry for the life of the mind in our digital age.

Why the Nuts and Bolts of Political Organizing Still Matter

In a time when democracy hangs in the balance, how do we turn political conviction into victory? My guest, Robert Creamer, argues it's all about execution - the nuts and bolts of political organizing. 

With five decades of activism under his belt, from working with Saul Alinsky to helping pass the Affordable Care Act, Creamer has been at the forefront of progressive battles. 

His new book, "Nuts and Bolts: The Formula for Progressive Electoral Success," offers a pragmatic handbook for today's political climate. In an era of base elections where undecided voters are rare, Creamer's insights on turning out voters could shape the future of America.

Mobile Voting Is Coming

 

In an age when our smartphones have become extensions of ourselves, allowing us to summon a ride, order dinner, or transfer money with a few taps, why can’t we use the same technology to participate in the most fundamental act of democracy — voting?

In my latest WhoWhatWhy.org podcast, I talk with Bradley Tusk, a venture capitalist, philanthropist, and political strategist. He believes voters, using a smartphone app, could cast ballots securely from anywhere, potentially increasing turnout. He explains that by engaging more moderate voters — especially in primaries — mobile voting could reduce political polarization and encourage more centrist policies and could also lead to a more responsive democracy. He details exactly how mobile voting would work

Pride and Shame: Arlie Hochschild's Cultural Bilingualism Decodes Rural America

After the shocking 2016 election, it was Arlie Hochschild in her book "Strangers in Their Own Land," not "Hillbilly Elegy," that truly explained the power of populist appeal in Appalachia.

In my recent conversation with Hochschild, about her new book “Stolen Pride: Loss, Shame, and the Rise of the Right,” the renowned sociologist continues this exploration, emphasizing the crucial need for what she calls cultural bilingualism to bridge America's political divide.

Hochschild argues that understanding today's politics requires examining the role of emotions, particularly pride and shame. She introduces the "pride paradox" and explains how Donald Trump has masterfully manipulated these emotions to gain support. By transforming "lost pride" into "stolen pride," Trump channels feelings of loss and shame into blame, creating a powerful emotional narrative.

Hochschild's work, based on deep, empathetic listening in Appalachia, reveals how economic decline and cultural shifts have reshaped political allegiances.

AI’s Dirty Secret: Sweatshops, Carbon, and the Race to the Bottom

 

AI’s rapid advancement comes with a hidden human cost. Not just the vast number of jobs that may be eliminated, but the little known digital sweatshops that are crucial to the ongoing development of AI itself.

In my recent WhoWhatWhy podcast, James Muldoon, associate professor of management at the University of Essex and co-author of Feeding the Machine, argues that the rapid advancement of AI technology comes with a significant human toll. Research by Muldoon and his colleagues exposes the often-overlooked exploitation of human capital in the Global South that lies behind the high-tech rollout of AI.

Red Counties, White Sheriffs: How They Are Reshaping the US Political Landscape

 

America’s sheriffs, often seen as small-town peacekeepers, are becoming a major threat to democracy.  My latest WhoWhatWhy Podcast examines what’s happening.

In a country where 80 percent of counties are red, and 90 percent of sheriffs are white, a shadowy world exists where these elected officials wield unchecked power, often aligning with far-right militias and potentially influencing the 2024 presidential election.

Jessica Pishko, journalist, legal expert, and author of The Highest Law in the Land: How the Unchecked Power of Sheriffs Threatens Democracy, talks to me about the sheriffs group that believes their authority supersedes federal and state laws. It’s a movement gaining traction across rural America. 

The Days After November 5th Could be More Consequential Than The Entire Campaign.

My guest on this week’s WhoWhatWhy podcast, David Daley, argues that the six weeks following Election Day 2024 could be more consequential than the entire campaign season.

At a rally in Pennsylvania recently, Donald Trump said, “You know, they do polls on this stuff, and I’m at like 93 percent.  So why are we having an election? They didn’t have an election. Why are we having an election?’”

It’s a scary question when we consider that the next president of the United States might very well be decided by an unelected conservative supermajority on the Supreme Court.

Daley, author of the new book Antidemocratic: Inside the Far Right’s 50-Year Plot to Control American Elections, foresees a looming crisis that could dwarf the chaos of the 2000 election. 

The 9/11 Generation: How Past Trauma Shapes Today’s Young Voters

My latest WhoWhatWhy podcast focuses on how and why young voters, a potential deciding factor in the upcoming election, are shaped by the events of 9/11.

Historian Matthew Warshauer offers a provocative perspective on how the attacks of 9/11 continue to shape American politics and the nation’s youth. Warshauer — a professor of history at Central Connecticut State University and the author of Creating and Failing the 9/11 Generation — argues that those who came of age in the shadow of the attacks harbor a deep distrust in government and a pervasive sense of chaos that profoundly influences today’s political landscape.

Judge David Tatel Redefines Judicial Vision

For nearly 30 years, Judge David Tatel served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, often considered the second most important court in the nation. Tatel accomplished this while dealing with progressive vision loss, eventually becoming completely blind.

Judge Tatel's author of the memoir, "Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice," offers us a very intimate look at an extraordinary judicial career and personal journey. Our conversation explores Tatel's path from civil rights lawyer to respected jurist, his initial resistance to acknowledging his blindness, and how writing his memoir ultimately freed him to discuss his experiences more openly.

An important part of Tatel's journey involves Vixen, his guide dog, who not only assisted him practically but also helped him become more comfortable discussing his blindness openly.

Tatel reflects on the evolution of disability rights and the transformative impact of technology on his work and independence. He also expresses deep concern about the increasing politicization of the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court, and its implications for democracy. Tatel's story is not just about overcoming personal obstacles, but also a thoughtful examination of the changing landscape of civil rights, the role of the judiciary, and the ongoing struggle for equality and justice in America.

Supreme Court’s Immunity Gift to Trump: The Ghosts of Nixon, Bork, and Scalia

Like a hand reaching up from the grave, the recent Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity represents the posthumous triumph of Richard Nixon, Robert Bork, and Antonin Scalia. 

On thisWhoWhatWhy podcast I examine this constitutional crisis with Brown University law professor Corey Brettschneider, author of The Presidents and the People: Five Leaders Who Threatened Democracy and the Citizens Who Fought to Defend It.In a ruling that seems to place former presidents beyond the reach of criminal law, the court has breathed new life into Nixon’s infamous claim: “When the president does it, it can’t be illegal.”

Brettschneider unravels how the ghosts of conservative legal titans have shaped a ruling that threatens the very foundations of American democracy.

The Financial World’s Untamed Beast

 

On this WhoWhatWhy podcast, I talk with Andrew R. Chow, author of Cryptomania: Hype, Hope, and the Fall of FTX’s Billion-Dollar Fintech Empire. Chow guides us through the crypto landscape, from its original utopian dreams C

Cryptocurrency defies conventional wisdom. Once a fringe element in volatile financial markets, it’s now a campaign talking point, with Donald Trump surprisingly emerging as an enthusiast. As blockchain-based crypto goes mainstream, its growing influence on the global economy raises alarm bells. Is it an exciting tech revolution or a financial time bomb?

Bill Gates Is Patient Zero for Billionaires

Billionaires. They're everywhere. But how did this obsession begin?

In many ways, Bill Gates is patient zero in our collective fixation on billionaires, particularly those bred in the tech world. Before there was Bezos, Musk, Zuckerberg, or Thiel, there was Bill Gates. If Warren Buffett is the modern father figure of billionaires, Gates is undoubtedly the first son.

Anupreeta Das, S. Asia  editor of The New York Times and author of the new book 'Billionaire, Nerd, Savior, King: Bill Gates and His Quest to Shape Our World.' has spent years covering the intersection of wealth, power, and influence, and her book offers a penetrating look at Gates and the world he both shaped and was shaped by.

The Federalism and Originalism Fallacy: Rediscovering America's True Constitutional Heritage

A revolutionary perspective on American constitutional history with Alison LaCroix, author of "The Interbellum Constitution." 

Our discussion challenges everything you thought you knew about federalism, originalism, and the foundations of our legal system. LaCroix unveils how the often-overlooked period between 1815 and 1861 profoundly shaped our modern constitutional debates, offering fresh insights into today's political struggles. She reveals how even James Madison rejected what we now call originalism, upending conventional wisdom about the Founders' intent. 

As states and federal authorities clash over immigration, abortion, and more, LaCroix's exploration of historical federalism provides crucial context for our current crises. 

Beyond GDP: Redefining Economic Success by Measuring What Really Matters

When people say their perception of the economy doesn’t match the numbers, are they just ill-informed?

It’s a familiar refrain: stock markets soar, GDP rises, unemployment falls, yet many Americans feel left behind, struggling to make ends meet. 

So what’s causing this disconnect between the rosy numbers and people’s lived experiences?

Joining me for thisWhoWhatWhy podcast are two leading thinkers on reimagining how we measure economic health and well-being: Jacob Hacker, professor of political science at Yale, and Jonathan Cohen from the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

How the Art World Deals With Protests and Politics

In my latest Califonria Sun podcast Sara Fenske Bahat, the former interim chief executive of San Francisco’s Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, explores the interplay between art, politics, and institutional responsibility. Bahat explains the museum’s mission and history leading up to a crisis involving pro-Palestinian protests, questions of free speech, and accusations of antisemitism that ultimately led her to step down. She reflects on that decision, her concerns about safety within the museum, and the broader implications for arts institutions nationwide.

The Couch vs. The Ballot Box: The Struggle for Civic Participation

As passion runs high on the extremes, so does apathy about this election, about democracy, and about any kind of participation in our civic life. This raises the question: Whose responsibility is it to ensure our civic participation?

In this WhoWhatWhy podcast, I examine the reasons for diminished engagement in American democracy with Yale political scientist Kevin J. Elliott. Elliott argues in his book Democracy for Busy People that many well-intentioned reforms actually exclude and discourage potential voters, especially those struggling to make ends meet. He proposes a radically new approach, emphasizing accessibility, inclusivity, and flexibility, to ensure everyone has a voice in the political process.

Weathering the Storm: A TV Meteorologist’s Fight for Facts in a Post-Truth Era

When did giving the weather report become a political act worthy of death threats? For years, we got mad at TV weather forecasters if it rained on our picnic when they predicted a clear day. Today, just explaining the “why” behind the weather can get you fired — or even murdered. 

In this recent WhoWhatWhy podcast I talk with Chris Gloninger, former chief meteorologist at KCCI-TV in Iowa, who faced this chilling reality when his climate change coverage sparked harassment and death threats. His story exposes a troubling trend: the erosion of respect for expertise and facts, even in realms as fundamental as weather reporting. 

Bankruptcy laws are a mess

The decision this week in the Purdue Pharma case emphasizes how the bankruptcy system protects some and fails others, and how the rich and powerful manipulate it to their advantage while perpetuating race, gender, and financial inequality.

My guest Melissa Jacoby (author of "UNJUST DEBTS: How Our Bankruptcy System Makes America More Unequal") is a legal scholar focused on bankruptcy and debt.

Jacoby reveals how the bankruptcy system not only falls short in providing basic debt relief to struggling families, but also how lawyers for big enterprises have transformed bankruptcy into a legal Swiss Army knife, impacting everything from sexual harassment, health care and police violence to employment discrimination and the opioid crisis.

One Week in 1999 that Set Up Today's Politics

The Battle of Seattle, the 1999 protests against the World Trade Organization, marked a major turning point not just for an anti-globalization movement, but for the way we would come to see the world between that protest and the rise of the populist right in 2015.

The direct line between those protests and the election of Donald Trump 16 years later is indelible.

It's a story full of enduring lessons about people and power in an age of ascendant corporate influence.

Talking to me in this podcast is DW Gibson, an accomplished oral historian whose new book One Week to Change the World draws on over 100 original interviews with organizers, officials, observers, and more to bring those momentous days to vivid life.

The Supreme Court Continues to Be the Leading Obstacle to the Right to Vote

The Supreme Court has been eroding democracy for decades. In my recent WhoWhatWhy conversation with Joshua Douglas (The Court v. The Voters: The Troubling Story of How the Supreme Court Has Undermined Voting Rights) he reveals that since the 1970s, the US Supreme Court has been actively destabilizing democracy in the United States.

Nicholas Kristof and Chasing Hope

 

In this week’s TalkCocktail podcast, Nicholas Kristof, long-time NY Times journalist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, talks to me about his new memoir, "Chasing Hope." He takes me on a deeply personal journey through a career spanning more than four decades. Kristof's unwavering commitment to exposing injustice and giving voice to the voiceless has taken him to the far corners of the globe, from the front lines of conflicts to the heart of humanitarian crises, as he has borne witness to some of the most significant events of our time.

The changing social and political contours of divorce

Like every social construct, espeically those impacting women, the divorce landscape is changing. and as usual, California is setting the path. After all, California was the first state to introduce no-fault divorce in 1970 under then-Gov. Ronald Reagan, and celebrity divorces make lots of headlines. My guest on this California Sun podcast, Lauren Petkin, has been practicing family law in Los Angeles for 36 years. She lays out today's divorce landscape, including mediation vs. litigation, the rise in prenups, collaborative divorce, alimony reforms, and the use of private judges.

The Little Newsroom That Could: A Conversation With Ken Doctor

There is still hope for local news. Over the years, the Pulitzer Prize for “breaking news reporting” has typically been awarded to major legacy media brands. However, this year a hyperlocal online publication, the Santa Cruz Lookout, received the prestigious honor for its coverage of the once-in-a-century floods that devastated Santa Cruz in January 2023. On this week’s California Sun podcast I talk with Ken Doctor, who founded the Lookout in 2020, details how the newsroom covered the floods, and how it has emerged as a potential model for the future of local journalism.

An Election Prophecy: How 13 Keys Unlock Presidential Election Outcomes

 

Can elections be predicted like hurricanes or sporting events? American University professor Allan Lichtman believes so, and he has the track record to prove it. Using his unique “13 Keys to the White House” system, Lichtman has, according to him, correctly predicted the outcome of 10 out of the last 10 presidential elections.

In this episode of my WhoWhatWhy podcast, I talk with Lichtman to unpack his groundbreaking method, which goes beyond fleeting polling numbers to consider the complex interplay of 13 immutable forces that, he says, determine who will occupy the Oval Office.

The Conservative Futurist: A Conversation with James Pethokoukis

 

Like a shark, if we don't keep moving forward, we die. James Pethokoukis, a renowned economic policy expert, shares insights from his groundbreaking work, "The Conservative Futurist." Pethokoukis presents a captivating vision of a future where technological advancements and environmental preservation harmoniously coexist. Where the  intersection of technology, culture, and politics, and discovery join to embrace a bold, future-oriented mindset. One that could lead us to a world of abundance and wonder.

"The Guarantee": Natalie Foster's Vision for Reimagining the Social Contract and Building an Inclusive Economy

In "The Guarantee," Natalie Foster argues that our current economic system is failing too many Americans, despite signs of growth. As millennials and Gen Z build wealth amidst the greatest transfer of wealth in history, stubborn pockets of economic stagnation persist.

Foster explores what it would take to create an economy that works for everyone, questioning whether the government should guarantee basic rights like housing, healthcare, education, and a living wage. Drawing on mainstream and heterodox ideas, she passionately argues for a radical rethinking of the relationship between government, the economy, and the people, viewing guaranteed economic rights as an urgent necessity.

The Looming Threats to the 2024 Election: Anatomy of an Election Meltdown

On this week’s WhoWhatWhy podcast, I sit down with the lead author of that report, military sociologist Marek N. Posard, to examine these alarming threats and what we can do to counter them.

Imagine a small, seemingly innocuous hack on a local water treatment plant. A carefully timed disinformation campaign, powered by the latest in artificial intelligence. The physical security of our voting machines compromised. Suddenly, we have the perfect storm that could bring down the integrity of the entire 2024 presidential election and our democracy along with it

This isn’t just a hypothetical scenario — it’s a very real possibility outlined in a chilling new report from the RAND Corporation, titled, The 2024 U.S. Election, Trust, and Technology: Preparing for a Perfect Storm of Threats to Democracy.

Would We Be Better Off With a Whole New System of Governance: American Democracy Reimagined

On thisWhoWhatWhy podcast, we explore the potential for a total reimagining of our beleaguered American democracy.

Joining me is Maxwell Stearns, a professor of law at the University of Maryland Carey School of Law. An esteemed author of numerous articles and books on the Constitution, the Supreme Court, and legal economics, Stearns’s latest work is Parliamentary America: The Least Radical Means of Radically Repairing Our Broken Democracy.

Rewiring Our Brains: The Alarming Neurological Consequences of Climate Change

Climate change is not just threatening our planet, but also our minds. In my WhoWhatWhy podcast, I examine the hidden mental health crisis triggered by climate change with neuroscientist-turned-environmental-journalist Clayton Page Aldern.

Aldern takes us on an eye-opening journey through cutting-edge research, exposing the ways our changing environment is physically altering our brains and behavior. From cognitive impairment sparked by rising temperatures to the psychological aftermath of natural disasters, he paints a haunting portrait of a crisis that has been largely ignored.

A Rhodes scholar who holds advanced degrees in neuroscience and public policy from the University of Oxford, Aldern is a research affiliate at the Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology and the author of the new book The Weight of Nature: How a Changing Climate Changes Our Brains.

The Solution to Our Housing Problems May be Right Next Door: My conversation with Max Podemski

Max Podemski is an urban planner, writer, and illustrator who currently serves as a transportation planner for the city of Los Angeles. In his new book, “A Paradise of Small Houses,” he traces the evolution of American housing types, from the Philadelphia row house and Chicago workers cottage to the California bungalow. Podemski argues, in my recent California Sun podcast, that California’s rich history of desirable multifamily housing could hold a solution to the state’s housing crisis.