The Week in Philly from KYW Newsradio

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What’s behind the protests in China? Dec 01, 2022

Show notes

We have seen significant public protests in China over the last couple weeks on a scale that’s almost unheard of in the country. These were sparked by China’s draconian measures to adhere to a “zero COVID” policy, but tension has been building in the country for years. We wanted to break down everything that built up to these protests and what they could mean for the Chinese Communist Party led by President Xi Jinping. For this discussion, we called Dr. Roselyn Hsueh, Associate Professor of Political Science and Global Studies at Temple University.

Where does the FTX disaster leave the cryptocurrency industry? Nov 29, 2022

Show notes

Is it the 2020s, or the 1920s? Given how fast and hard FTX fell in a manner reminiscent of the bank panics in the early 20th century, we had to do a double-take. But if you know your history, the comparison isn't a stretch. How did FTX, at one point perceived to be a cryptocurrency juggernaut, lose everything in a matter of days? What headwinds does the collapse signal for the rest of the industry? Villanova University Associate Professor of Finance John Sedunov shares his analysis.

Do margins matter? What a Republican House of Representatives could look like. Nov 22, 2022

Show notes

In this year’s midterm elections, Republicans took control of the House of Representatives - but it will be a very slim margin. It doesn’t leave much room for absences, vacated seats, or disagreement if they want to get legislation passed. How could such a tight margin play out, especially with a Democratic president and Democrats still controlling the Senate? We talk with Dr. Benjamin Dworkin, Director of the Rowan Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship at Rowan University, about what Republicans could accomplish in the House and how precarious their majority is.

Dyslexia unpacked: what the common learning disorder actually means for kids Nov 17, 2022

Show notes

Dyslexia has been studied for nearly 150 years, but to this day, we’re still trying to fully understand the disorder and how it impacts reading ability, learning, and mental health. Elizabeth Barker is the Accessibility Research Manager in the Collaborative for Student Growth at a non-profit called NWEA (the Northwest Evaluation Association). She joins us to explain the early signs of dyslexia, some misconceptions about the disorder, and how parents and educators can help students navigate it.

Do we still need affirmative action? Nov 15, 2022

Show notes

The Supreme Court recently heard arguments in two cases challenging affirmative action policies at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. In both cases, the Students for Fair Admissions say that colleges shouldn’t consider race as a factor on applications in any way, while the schools say that race is just one of many factors they look at and that intentionally fostering a diverse student body will make their graduates better leaders. The conservative majority in the Supreme Court is poised to overturn another major precedent here. What would that mean for colleges and the country’s perception of the Supreme Court? Dr. Susan Liebell, Professor of Political Science at Saint Joseph's University, breaks down the background of these two cases, the arguments we heard, and where she thinks they’re headed.

Something better than "thank you for your service": rethinking how we appreciate veterans Nov 10, 2022

Show notes

How many times have you either said or thought about saying, "Thank you for your service" to an American military veteran? Despite our best intentions, we might be missing the mark. According to Dr. Robert Kodosky, a professor at West Chester University with an expertise in military history, it's time for us to not only rethink how we talk to and communicate with our veterans, but also how we portray them in films, TV shows, books, and other forms of media. If you catch this interview in time, you can also hear Dr. Kodosky speak about this topic on Veterans Day - Friday, November 11th - at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia at 12:45 PM.

Where is the planet losing most of its wildlife? Nov 08, 2022

Show notes

Over the last 60 years, Earth has experienced an average 69% decline in the relative abundance of monitored wildlife populations. This is one of the key findings in the World Wildlife Fund's Living Planet Report 2022. But despite calling the trend "pretty grim," WWF Chief Global Scientist Rebecca Shaw doesn't believe all the data is doom and gloom. With a key global climate summit set for Montreal in a few weeks, she thinks now is the time for countries to make sure they're doing everything they can to ensure future wildlife survival.

Making sense of Brazil's tense general election and how Lula regained power Nov 03, 2022

Show notes

For the past month, Brazil has been on edge. Would President Jair Bolsonaro accept the results of the general election? While he still has yet to formally concede, Bolsonaro has started to publicly acknowledge his defeat to challenger Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who won by a margin of two million votes. What effect did Bolsonaro's stalling have on Brazil, the largest democracy in South America, and how did Lula, a former President previously jailed on corruption charges, make his comeback? Diego Armus, a history professor at Swarthmore College with a specialty in Latin America, examines the fallout from the election and looks ahead to what the outcome means.

Phillies' World Series run makes Philadelphia's economy a winner Nov 01, 2022

Show notes

The Phillies' magical run to the World Series has completely consumed Philadelphia. While the city anxiously waits to see whether its club can ultimately beat the Houston Astros, one thing is already clear: Philly's economy is going to come out a winner. Villanova University Professor of Economics Peter Zaleski projects just how much money the Phillies' postseason push is worth, and examines the factors that make major sporting events such significant economic drivers.

Getting lost in the joy of a Phillies ride for glory Oct 27, 2022

Show notes

The Phillies are headed to the World Series for the first time since 2009! This success for the Phillies has had a dramatic effect on the city, as well. People whose opinions and beliefs are on opposite ends of the spectrum are united in their joy for the team. We wanted to talk about how sports successes like this can bring people together and how unique this phenomenon is. We caught up with Dr. Meredith Kneavel, Associate Dean of La Salle University’s School of Nursing and Health Sciences, to see just how much good a winning sports team can do for a city.

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