Reasonably Optimistic

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What college costs — and what it’s worth May 02, 2025

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With tuition costs rising and student debt weighing many Americans down, how valuable is higher education in this day and age? The answer is complicated. On average, people with a college degree earn much more, and there’s social benefits, too. But it doesn’t pay off for everybody, and with AI encroaching on white-collar work, the decision becomes even trickier. Drew Goins, Molly Roberts and Heather Long talk about college’s true value and which alternatives deserve more investment.

Additional reading:

Heather Long: How can more young people live the American dream? There’s a simple answer.

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Has it been 100 years? Or 100 days? Apr 29, 2025

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Read more from our columnists:

Dana Milbank: For the Trump administration, it’s amateur hour

Philip Bump: The bubble that created Trump is the reason he’s stumbling

Monica Hesse: If Kilmar Abrego García is doomed, we all are

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Why religious people are happier Apr 25, 2025

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Americans have been turning away from organized religion for decades — but recent research suggests that trend might be stalling out. And studies do show that people affiliated with a religion tend to be happier and healthier. So should more people be joining up? And are there ways to make some of the most ancient religions a little more modern, or at least more open to progressive ideas? If not, where else can people find community and a sense of belonging? Drew Goins, Molly Roberts and Shadi Hamid discuss the usefulness, or not, of religion.

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RFK Jr. just doesn’t get it Apr 22, 2025

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s tenure as HHS secretary has been every bit as troubling as many feared. He won’t outright support vaccines, despite a measles outbreak. He’s insulted autistic people by saying the disorder is preventable. And he’s losing scientists who might be able to actually help with his promises to fight chronic disease and get Americans to eat healthier. Dana Milbank, Leana Wen and Robert Gebelhoff discuss the potential consequences of Kennedy’s reign and whether he can keep together the varied assortment of fans who’ve rallied behind him.

Additional reading:

Leana S. Wen:

Why a worsening measles outbreak is a big deal

Who are RFK Jr.’s ‘MAHA moms’? They might surprise you.

Trey Johnson:

Don’t listen to RFK Jr. on autism. Meet my special-needs son.

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Has the right revived comedy — or destroyed it? Apr 18, 2025

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Bill Maher’s visit to the White House appears to mark a shift in how some comedians and late-night hosts will approach the second Trump presidency. But what role should political and subversive humor play during these very serious times? Can it bring Americans together — or just offer a form of escapism? Post Opinions’ Drew Goins, Molly Roberts and Theodore R. Johnson discuss the current landscape of the genre and where it could be headed next.

Additional reading by our columnists:

León Krauze: Bill Maher went to Washington. He got played.

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Will Trump blink on deportation? Apr 15, 2025

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President Trump appears to be thumbing his nose at the Supreme Court by defying its rulings on deportation. And he escalated the issue this week during a visit from El Salvador’s president, when both leaders refused to try to return a Maryland father mistakenly deported to a notorious prison. Columnists Dana Milbank, León Krauze and Jason Willick discuss whether defying the rule of law could finally catch up to Trump —and if he'll take a hit on one of his most popular issues.

Additional reading by our columnists:

Jason Willick: The Supreme Court’s crafty Trump rebuke

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Does anybody want to visit the U.S. right now? Apr 11, 2025

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Global travel has boomed in recent years, sometimes to the point of annoying locals. But with all that’s happening with U.S. foreign policy, might we soon be begging for tourists to return? Post Opinions’ Drew Goins, Molly Roberts and Catherine Rampell discuss the impact of Trump’s policies on travel, and how local economies and tourists are often bound to each other, whether people like it or not.

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How many ‘shocks to the system’ can America take? Apr 08, 2025

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Additional reading by our columnists:

Dana Milbank: The economy. The Constitution. Is there anything Trump won’t destroy?

Philip Bump: What America could look like a decade from now

Heather Long: Something worse could be coming for the economy than a recession

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Don’t whitewash this national treasure Apr 04, 2025

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Is nothing safe from the culture wars? President Trump has found a new battleground: the nation’s museums. He’s demanded that art and stories that he says divide people based on race be removed from the Smithsonian's dozens of institutions. The Post’s Drew Goins, Molly Roberts and Monica Hesse discuss what’s at stake when our history is papered over, and how art can make us uncomfortable or overwhelmed, but sometimes that’s the point.

Additional reading by our columnists:

Monica Hesse: What exactly does Trump think is in the Smithsonian?

Monica Hesse: Don’t say (Enola) Gay

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Is gravity catching up to Trump? Apr 01, 2025

Show notes

President Trump keeps losing in court. A few Republican senators have started to criticize his administration’s actions, albeit mildly. And consumer confidence and the stock market are plunging with news of more and more tariffs. Are we starting to see some cracks in the MAGA unity that’s held strong since Trump’s victory in November? Columnists Dana Milbank, Karen Tumulty and Jason Willick discuss whether there’s a line Trump can’t cross, and what the special elections this week could reveal about the political atmosphere outside of Washington.

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