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The politics of prison reform May 31, 2018

Show notes

Prison reform is moving in Red States, Blue States and (maybe) on Capitol Hill. But America still incarcerates more people than any other country-- including China. Meantime, the Trump White House is divided. Jared Kushner is pushing sentence reform, while Attorney General Jeff Sessions wants to stay “tough on crime.” What are the prospects for much needed change?

California and America’s future May 29, 2018

Show notes

Less than 10 years ago, historian Kevin Starr warned that California might be “the first failed state in America.” But, despite that dire prediction, the Golden State is now roaring back. Is California’s resurgence establishing pattern for America?

Trump’s war on the FBI May 24, 2018

Show notes

Donald Trump claims rogue FBI agents are part of a Deep State he accuses of “spying” on his presidential campaign. A former agent tells Warren the “the FBI doesn’t spy… it catches spies.” Shades of Watergate? Richard Nixon’s former White House lawyer, John Dean, says, “no way.”

Touching down in fly-over country May 21, 2018

Show notes

Dodge City, Kansas and Erie, Pennsylvania may have something in common. That’s just one surprise in “Our Towns,” a new book by James and Deborah Fallows. The veteran Atlantic magazine correspondent and his scholarly wife spent two weeks in each of 25 different cities. Their search for America’s character provides anecdotes, comparisons and distinctions after a journey of 100,000 miles.

Diplomacy in Jerusalem, death in Gaza May 16, 2018

Show notes

As the U.S. moved its embassy to Jerusalem, Israeli soldiers were killing unarmed protesters in Gaza. Good politics for Trump and Netanyahu, but how long will that last--especially if support for Israel becomes a partisan issue in the U.S.?

Teachers are battling back May 14, 2018

Show notes

Teachers are mad as hell in several red states. They’re walking out over cuts in pay and reductions in classroom support. It’s a grass-roots rebellion from West Virginia to Kentucky and Arizona. Will it renew support for the value of public education in a changing economy?

After the Iran Nuclear Deal: Does Trump have a Plan B May 10, 2018

Show notes

President Trump made good on a campaign promise. The U.S. is out of the “horrible” “one-sided” Iran nuclear deal. Can it stop Iran from restoring its nuclear program? Make diplomatic peace with allies in Europe? Convince North Korea the U.S. can be trusted?

Autocracy, Theocracy and… paperwork May 03, 2018

Show notes

Last month in Berlin, Warren visited the archives of Stasi, the Communist secret police of East Germany. He learned that paperwork was almost as important to oppressive control as maintaining a climate of fear. Then he heard Rukmini Callamachi’s podcast, “Caliphate,” about gathering records from ISIS. The result is a riveting conversation between Callamachi and Dagmar Hovestadt, spokesperson for the Stasi Museum.

Cuban U.S. relations Apr 30, 2018

Show notes

Since 1959 a member of the Castro family has led Cuba, but last week Cuba installed a new president, Miguel Díaz-Canel. This historic and highly anticipated event passed almost unnoticed, so what are the chances of meaningful change on the island or between Cuba and the United States? Also, the untold story of “intimate diplomacy” between ABC news anchor Lisa Howard and Cuba’s revolutionary leader, Fidel Castro.

Immigration enforcement and family breakups Apr 26, 2018

Show notes

Seven hundred children have been separated from adults applying for asylum at the Mexican border. Attorney General Jeff Sessions says that’s what it takes to prevent immigration fraud--even if it means breaking up families. A federal court is deciding whether to end the practice.

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