The Week in Philly from KYW Newsradio

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Get ready for another Supreme Court case on abortion Dec 21, 2023

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Another case regarding abortion has made its way to the nation’s highest court. This one has to do with a common abortion pill called mifepristone and whether or not to reinstate restrictions on the medication that the FDA removed. The decision could impact abortion access in all states, regardless of their individual laws. Rachel Rebouché, Dean of Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, helps us understand the issues behind this case and the impacts it could have across the country - on abortion and medication regulation in general.

What makes a feeling bad? Dec 19, 2023

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Life is not easy. It is full of ups and downs. Most of us do our best to focus on the ups and push through the downs as quickly as possible - but Krista K. Thomason, an associate professor of philosophy at Swarthmore College, says in her new book, "Dancing with the Devil: Why Bad Feelings Make Life Good", that maybe we should re-examine that mindset. We talk with Thomason about the book and why bad and negative feelings are important.

Are we living in the multiverse? Dec 14, 2023

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It seems like every superhero or sci-fi movie franchise lately is diving into the multiverse. How much is that concept based on real science? Paul Halpern is a professor of physics at Saint Joseph's University, and he has a book coming out in January called “The Allure of the Multiverse”, where he takes a scientific approach to the concept of parallel universes. He says some scientists believe it is possible, and he joins us to explain how, what that could look like, whether there could even be other intelligent life forms out there, and why people are so fascinated by the multiverse in the first place.

Should big brands be weighing in on big issues? Dec 12, 2023

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From Fortune 500 companies to elite universities and professional sports franchises, big-name brands seem to be weighing in more frequently on big, hot-button societal issues. Why are they doing it and what are the costs of taking a stance? Villanova University Associate Dean of Diversity Equity and Inclusion and Associate Professor of Marketing Dr. Aronte Bennett takes a look at this social media-fueled landscape, and whether or not brands aligning themselves with specific causes actually moves the needle.

Vladimir Putin: emboldened, happy, and as strong as ever? Dec 07, 2023

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For nearly two months, the world has turned its attention to Israel and Hamas. The early winner of the war? You could make the case it's Vladimir Putin. That’s because ever since the October 7th terror attacks, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine seems to have fallen from the public eye. Which country has momentum? What subplots should we be following as winter nears? And why could Russian President Vladimir Putin be just as strong now as he was before attacking Ukraine? Saint Joseph University professors Dr. Melissa Chakars and Dr. Lisa Baglione analyze the latest developments in a high-stakes international conflict that has gotten pushed to the backburner.

OpenAI, Sam Altman, and how we balance safety with progress Dec 05, 2023

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In a matter of four days, OpenAI - the company behind ChatGPT - fired its CEO, Sam Altman, went through two interim CEOs, re-hired Altmanm, and replaced most of its board. How did all this happen, seemingly so out of the blue, to one of the most influential tech companies out there? And why? Dr. Daniel Albert, Assistant Professor at LeBow College of Business at Drexel University, joins us to discuss the turmoil at OpenAI, how safety concerns and an unusual business structure played a part, and what it could mean for the future of AI.

The debate over gun rights for people under domestic violence restraining orders Nov 30, 2023

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The Supreme Court recently heard a case that challenges whether someone who is under a domestic violence restraining order should have access to a gun. Dr. Susan Liebell, professor of political science at Saint Joseph's University, joins us to talk about the case, United States vs. Rahimi. We discuss the impact it could have and how this shines a spotlight on the court's decision last year in the case of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association vs. Bruen.

“Supes Ain’t Always Heroes” - What “The Boys” can tell us about society and psychology Nov 28, 2023

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“The Boys” on Amazon Prime is not your typical superhero show - it’s gory, dark at times, and the “supes”, as they’re called, aren’t always the good guys. But with the real world pressures put on them - toxic masculinity, corporate greed and manipulation, racism - you start to understand how they got to be that way. Clinical psychologist Dr. Lynn Zubernis and counseling psychologist Dr. Matthew Snyder, both professors at West Chester University, co-edited a book called "Supes Ain’t Always Heroes: Inside the Complex Characters and Twisted Psychology of The Boys". We talk with them about how these characters are developed so that you hate them and root for them at the same time, and how the show reflects on the real society we live in.

COVID treatments: Where are we now? Nov 23, 2023

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We have sufficiently slowed the spread of COVID-19, but there is still some risk of getting it, especially as we head into the holidays with more large gatherings. Luckily, we now have a number of effective treatments. Dr. Stephen Pagkalinawan, assistant professor at Drexel University’s College of Medicine, breaks down what those treatment options are, both for mild cases and for people at a higher risk level, and he explains how much progress we’ve made with COVID treatments in just a few years.

“A love letter from your mind”, to men of color Nov 21, 2023

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It’s one thing to say mental health is important, but it’s another to actually take that first step towards getting help. Many people are still held back by stigma or just don’t know how to start that conversation. The Huntsman Mental Health Institute at the University of Utah partnered with the Ad Council to launch the “Love, Your Mind” campaign, offering resources and encouraging Black and Hispanic men - and anyone who needs help - to open up about the challenges they’re facing. We talk about the initiative with Dr. William Smith, Chief Executive Administrator for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at the Huntsman Mental Health Institute, as well as Heidi Arthur, Ad Council Chief Campaign Development Officer.