The Week in Philly from KYW Newsradio

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Fighting inflation: are interest rate hikes the only answer? Sep 23, 2022

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Inflation is proving pesky, and the Federal Reserve is having a tough time getting it under control. What's been the Fed's primary tactic to date? Raising interest rates, which happened again with another dramatic hike this past week. But Philadelphia economist David Fiorenza wonders whether the Fed should consider using other inflation-fighting tools in its arsenal as well. Plus, we try to make sense of some emerging trends in the housing market.

Vladimir Putin is scrambling; here's the evidence Sep 22, 2022

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Vladimir Putin bet against Ukraine's resilience. He also bet against the West's ability to stay united. Now, nearly seven months since Russia invaded Ukraine, Putin appears to be scrambling. How has Ukraine managed to gain momentum on the frontlines? Why has Volodymyr Zelenskyy proven to be such an effective leader? What impact has the United States had on the war? Could Putin actually be removed from office? Dr. Melissa Chakars, Saint Joseph's University Professor and Chair of the Department of History, and Dr. Lisa Baglione, Saint Joseph's University Professor of Political Science, caution that while Russia might seem to be on its heels, the country remains extremely dangerous.

Can recent legislative achievements help Democrats hold onto power? Sep 22, 2022

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President Biden and Democrats in Congress have had some major legislative wins lately. The Inflation Reduction Act, the infrastructure bill, gun control legislation, and the American Rescue Plan -- they add up to more legislative wins than most presidents see in their first two years. But is it enough to keep Democrats in power in the midterm elections? We talk with Dr. David Barrett, Professor of Political Science at Villanova University, about these legislative achievements, how they compare to past presidencies, how they’ve affected public opinion of Biden, and whether or not they’ve done anything to renew people’s faith in government overall.

On the ground in Puerto Rico: Fiona's destruction Sep 20, 2022

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Over the last several days, Hurricane Fiona has pummeled Puerto Rico. Despite the storm's destruction, the island remains resilient, and, according to Dr. Michelle Carlo, the people there are eager to get back on their feet. Carlo, the medical advisor for the nonprofit humanitarian organization Direct Relief, checks in from the San Juan region with a first-hand account of the destruction, and provides information about what type of help Puerto Rico needs.

Most Americans agree: democracy is in jeopardy. So, why is the nation so divided? Sep 19, 2022

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Guess what? For as divided as the United States has become, polls show that most Americans agree: our democracy is at risk. So why do we have such a hard time getting along? Saint Joseph's University Professor of Political Science Dr. Susan Liebell takes a look at the health of democracy in America, and explains why she thinks the country has reached a crossroads, especially as tensions grow between what voters want, and the people who represent them.

What to expect from the Fed's next meeting: Weekly economy update Sep 18, 2022

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The Fed is coming! The Fed is coming! At least its next meeting is. What should we expect? In his weekly check-in, Philadelphia economist David Fiorenza forecasts how the November midterm elections could impact the Fed's handling of another round of interest rate hikes. Plus, why, in the face of inflation, does retail spending remain strong? And what are the takeaways from some noteworthy import pricing trends? David has the answers.

Artemis: NASA's bold mission to establish a permanent foothold on the moon Sep 16, 2022

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NASA wants to go back to the moon. We are still waiting for the launch of Artemis I, which had to be scrubbed a couple of times, but they are going to try again soon. This is a bold and exciting initiative, and we wanted to learn more about it, so we asked Dr. Karen Masters, Professor of Astronomy and Physics at Haverford College to come on the podcast and talk about Artemis.

America was founded on independence from British rule. So why are we so obsessed with the monarchy today? Sep 15, 2022

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With the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, there has been a lot of focus on the British monarchy in the United States. From news articles to social media to wall-to-wall coverage on the cable news channels, America is fascinated by the monarchy. And of course, events around the royal family like royal weddings get fawning coverage in the US. When you think about it, isn't that kind of odd? The United States is a country founded by fighting a war for independence from the crown, and yet many Americans seem to be enthralled with a lot about the British monarchy. Why is that? We asked Dr. Catherine Warrick, Associate Professor of Political Science at Villanova University.

Who's to blame when a medical robot misdiagnoses you? Sep 14, 2022

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Artificial intelligence is becoming more and more prevalent every day, in every part of our lives. That includes in the world of medicine. AI has helped advance medical care in a lot of ways, but is there a point that's too far? Professor Sam Hodge teaches Law and Anatomy at Temple University. He talks with us about how AI is being used, from the exam room to the operating room, and some of the legal issues that get tricky when you involve technology. Plus, what could the future of AI in medicine look like?

You're being targeted - Digital ads in the 2022 midterm election Sep 12, 2022

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If you're online at all, you've probably seen a ton of political ads going into the midterm election - maybe even for candidates outside of your district. What's the logic behind these ad campaigns? How detailed can their targeting get, and how are candidates using that targeting? Andrew Arenge, Director of Operations for the University of Pennsylvania's Program on Opinion Research and Election Studies, explains just how important digital ads are to political campaigns, how much money is going into them, and the strategies that some of the major candidates in Pennsylvania are using.

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