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S02E3 Alex Mahadevan, Politics of the Nobel Peace Prize Oct 24, 2021

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Committee Backs Media Rebuking Oppressive World Leaders

October 24, 17, 2021 – For only the third time in its 126-year history, the Norwegian Prize Committee gave the world’s most coveted award to journalists, hailing their efforts to beat back the rise in rogue world leaders jailing, killing, and exiling the media.

“Given that we’re in the modern age, it’s 2021, the fact that we’re seeing a slide away from democratic behaviors from leaders around the world is pretty scary,” said Alex Mahadevan, program manager for Poynter Institute’s Media Wise.

S02E02 Kristen Brengel, The Politics of National Parks Oct 17, 2021

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National Parks Turn into Human Zoos

October 17, 2021 – Are Americans loving their National Parks to death? Tourism has hit a historic peak, wearing on our national treasures through crushing traffic, mounds of litter and damage to nature.

“Of course, during COVID, parks are hugely popular because people can’t travel outside of the country,” said Kristen Brengel, senior vice president of the National Parks Conservation Association. “Everyone is visiting these wonderful places.”

S02E01 John Fritze, The Politics of the U.S. Supreme Court Oct 10, 2021

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Supreme Court This Term? Lots of Drama

October 10 – The U.S. Supreme Court has embarked on its most watched term in two decades, facing low approval ratings and handling volatile cases from gun rights to abortion, making it the Greatest Show on Earth.

“This term, everybody’s paying attention,” USA Today Supreme Court Correspondent John Fritze says. “People are fired up.”

S01E52 Charlie Cook, The Politics of Ron DeSantis Oct 03, 2021

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Is Florida Governor Trump Heir Apparent?

October 3 – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is being held up as the leading Republican candidate for president should Donald Trump not run in 2024. And DeSantis is pushing all the right policy buttons to sway Trump supporters.

“Would DeSantis be the best guess today?” said veteran political prognosticator Charlie Cook. “Absolutely.”

S01E51 Paul Kane, Politics of Joe Manchin Sep 26, 2021

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With A 50-50 U.S. Senate Split, One Man Stands Out

September 26, 2021 – West Virginia Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin serves a state that former Republican President Donald Trump won by 39 percent. That puts the former governor’s political life at risk when voting on every piece of legislation.

“He’s described as a centrist or conservative Democrat, “ The Washington Post’s Paul Kane said. “He can be best described as a Joe Manchin Democrat.”

S01E50 Gary Maynard, Politics of Prisons Sep 19, 2021

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U.S: 5 Percent of World Population, 25 Percent of Prisoners

September 19, 2021 – Why does the United States have five percent of the world’s population and 25 percent of its prisoners, with two out of three returning to jail after being released?

“It’s complicated,” veteran national Corrections Administrator Gary Maynard said. “We are a second amendment nation and a prosperous nation and that attracts drugs and organized crime.”

S01E49 Jessica Wehrman, Politics of Infrastucture Sep 12, 2021

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The Politics of Infrastructure

Spends a Little on a Lot, Not a Lot on Much

September 12, 2021 – The U.S. Congress is ready to spend $1 trillion on American highways, bridges, railways, wastewater treatment plants, and the national electric grid. Is it enough?

“This is something presidents have wanted to do for some time,” CQ Roll Call Reporter Jessica Wehrman said. “But the needs are really, really vast...There are wastewater systems that date to the 1800s.”

S01E48 Steven Greenhouse, Politics of America’s Labor Sep 05, 2021

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Unions Struggle Despite Popularity

September 5, 2021 – A new survey shows six in 10 Americans prefer labor unions. So why is the movement still struggling to survive?

“I think people are very hopeful this Labor Day,” said Steven Greenhouse, former New York Times labor reporter. “But also very frustrated,”

S01E47 Carl Hulse, Politics of House Democrats Aug 29, 2021

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House Democrats Fight Instead of Unite

August 29, 2021 – Despite a perilous two-vote margin, U.S. House Democrats are squabbling as the chamber loss to Republicans seems inevitable.

“I think a lot of Democrats are looking at this moment and saying we have to get everything we can right now,” said Chief New York Times Washington Correspondent Carl Hulse.

S01E46 Jeffrey Fleishman, Politics of Leaving Afghanistan Aug 22, 2021

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Afghanistan, Afghanist-gone

August 22, 2021 – The Taliban’s swift Afghanistan conquer showed the tenuous American hold on the nation despite 20 years of war.

“It was ultimately going to happen because the American mission failed,” Los Angeles Times Foreign Editor Jeffrey Fleishman said. “They don’t call Afghanistan the Graveyard of Empires for nothing.”

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