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AW: Mark Bauerlein, The Dumbest Generation Grows Up: From Stupefied Youth to Dangerous Adults Jun 22, 2025

Show notes

Emory University professor Mark Bauerlein argues that the lack of general civics knowledge by Millennials poses a threat to America's political and social institutions. He was interviewed by the Federalist's culture editor Emily Jashinksy

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BN+: Claire Hoffman, "Sister, Sinner" Jun 17, 2025

Show notes

It's a story from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. The book by Claire Hoffman is called "Sister, Sinner: The Miraculous Life and Mysterious Disappearance of Aimee Semple MacPherson." FSG, the publisher, further emphasizes that the story is "the dramatic rise, disappearance, and near fall of a woman called Sister Amy who changed the world." Author Claire Hoffman, who has a master's in religion from the University of Chicago, says Aimee Semple MacPherson may not be known to many today, but she was a global star at the inception of global media.

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Q&A: Mark Whitaker, "The Afterlife of Malcolm X" Jun 16, 2025

Show notes

Former Newsweek editor and managing editor of CNN Worldwide, Mark Whitaker, discusses the life and legacy of the Black nationalist leader Malcolm X, who was assassinated in 1965. Mr. Whitaker, author of "The Afterlife of Malcolm X," talks about Malcolm X's split with the Nation of Islam, his relationship with Martin Luther King Jr. and Muhammad Ali, and his posthumous impact on Barack Obama, Clarence Thomas, and others.

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AW: Teresa Ghilarducci, "Work, Retire, Repeat - The Uncertainty of Retirement in the New Economy" Jun 15, 2025

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New School economic professor Teresa Ghilarducci offered her thoughts on how to make retirement in the U.S. attainable for more Americans. She was interviewed by Washington Post economics correspondent Abha Bhattarai.

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BN+: Kathryn Olmsted, "Red Spy Queen" Jun 10, 2025

Show notes

In several recent episodes of the podcast, we have featured books about the World War II era. An important figure from that time has been mentioned but not discussed during any of those interviews. Her name is Elizabeth Bentley. She was the first person to reveal, to the FBI and the Congress, the names of people living in the United States and spying for the Soviets, both Americans and foreign-born operatives. To better understand this former communist spy turned informant, we asked Kathryn Olmsted, author of "Red Spy Queen," a biography of Elizabeth Bentley, to tell us the late spy's story.

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Q&A: Medea Benjamin, CODEPINK Co-Founder Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

Medea Benjamin, co-founder of the pro-peace, feminist grassroots organization CODEPINK, talks about her life as an activist and CODEPINK's current campaigns focusing on Gaza, Ukraine, Iran, and Latin America. She also talks about the nonviolent, disruptive actions taken by CODEPINK at congressional hearings and elsewhere to bring attention to their causes.

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AW: Stephanie Land, "Maid" Jun 08, 2025

Show notes

Stephanie Land discusses her path from working as a maid to earning a journalism degree and later writing about the working poor. She was interviewed by Rachel Schneider, co-author of "The Financial Diaries."

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BN+: Kenneth Rogoff, "Our Dollar, Your Problem" Jun 03, 2025

Show notes

Kenneth Rogoff is professor of economics at Harvard University and former International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief economist. In his most recent book, "Our Dollar, Your Problem," he argues that America's currency might have reached today's lofty pinnacle without a certain amount of good luck. However, as Professor Rogoff nears the end of his 345-page book, he writes, quote: "If rapidly rising debt is left unchecked, and there seems to be little political appetite to rein in massive deficits, the United States and the entire world is in for a substantial period of global financial volatility marked by higher average real interest rates and inflation."

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Q&A: Jason Riley, "The Affirmative Action Myth" Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Riley, author of "The Affirmative Action Myth," argues that the racial preference policies of the 1960s and 70s have had an overall negative impact on the success of Black Americans. He says that Black incomes, homeownership, and educational attainment were all on an upward trajectory prior to these policies being implemented.

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BN+: Rick Atkinson, "The Fate of the Day" May 27, 2025

Show notes

Rick Atkinson has just published the second volume of his American Revolution trilogy. The book is called "The Fate of the Day" and covers years 1777 to 1780. His initial 800-page volume, titled "The British Are Coming," was published in 2019 and focused on years 1775 to 1777. Mr. Atkinson won the George Washington prize for this beginning look at the revolution. His second book in the trilogy covers the middle years. Stationed in Paris, Benjamin Franklin was wooing the French. In Pennsylvania, George Washington was pleading with Congress to deliver the money, men, and material he needed to continue the fight. This volume is timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of the beginning of the American Revolution.

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