When Experts Attack!

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Trumpism Isn't Populism Oct 21, 2020

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Thomas Frank, author of "What's the Matter with Kansas" and more recently "The People, No: A Brief History of Anti-Populism," explains that populism — a term invented in Kansas — has been commandeered by political opportunists in the U.S. and Europe.

Witches are dangerous because they don't need men Oct 15, 2020

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For Jane Barnette, Halloween is a thrilling time of year. In this episode, the associate professor of theatre talks about her research into the portrayal of witches on stage and screen, and she challenges widespread notions that gave rise to fictional witches such as the Wicked Witch of the West. In part, Barnette's perspective is based on her own practice of witchcraft.

Gun owners don't really want to use their guns Oct 06, 2020

Show notes

It's not just the fear of violence or a belief in constitutional rights that provides Americans with reasons to own guns. Concerns about Armageddon and "supernatural evil" also enter into people's decision-making. Margaret Kelley's research is part of a larger book project about "normal people using normal guns," specifically focusing on the average woman gun owner in Middle America.

U.S. emergency rooms aren't ready Sep 24, 2020

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When you're racing to a hospital emergency room, you're not thinking about all of the steps it took to make that ER available in a moment of need. But for the past two decades, Frank Zilm has been doing just that. He chats with "When Experts Attack!" correspondent Rick Hellman and dispels the notion that our health systems are prepared for surge events like the current pandemic. To the contrary, Zilm claims hospitals should be rebuilt from scratch to avoid disaster upon disaster.

A 'realistic' war movie would be just 10 minutes long Sep 11, 2020

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Of all the depictions of the military on screen — large or small — "Generation Kill" is the best portrayal of day-to-day life, according to Steve Leonard. The retired senior U.S. Army strategist knows a thing or two about the military and pop culture. He's provided chapters to the books "Strategy Strikes Back: How 'Star Wars' Explains Modern Military Conflict" and "Winning Westeros: How 'Game of Thrones' Explains Modern Military Conflict." In this episode, he explains what Hollywood so often gets wrong about military culture.

LGBTQ rights won't lead to frivolous lawsuits Aug 12, 2020

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The United States Supreme Court deemed it illegal for employers to discriminate against employees for sexual orientation or transgender status. In this episode, Kyle Velte, associate professor of law, explains why the SCOTUS ruling is a "landmark case that will transform the American workplace." She also recounts her own experiences at the Supreme Court and tells us how the highest court in the land conducts its business in the age of COVID-19.

The president doesn't sound 'presidential' Jul 09, 2020

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Bragging, complaining, criticizing. Donald Trump's rhetoric is a drastic departure from that of past U.S. presidents. Robert Rowland discusses Trump's rhetorical departure and what it means for the 2020 election cycle. Rowland — a professor specializing in the rhetorical legacies of presidents Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama — is author of "Analyzing Rhetoric: A Handbook for the Informed Citizen in a New Millennium."

Overpolicing creates crime Jun 26, 2020

Show notes

For individuals and families of color, carceral contact has long-lasting effects well after a traffic stop, arrest, conviction or prison sentence ends. Guest expert Brandon Davis explains that one of the most sinister outcomes of overpolicing is the resulting suppression of political power in communities of color.

We might be stuck with the Electoral College Jun 17, 2020

Show notes

Even though two of the last three U.S. presidents were elected without earning the popular vote, the Electoral College remains the method used for picking our national leader. Political scientist Paul Schumaker has written a book that details a strategy for replacing what he calls an antiquated system.

What we can learn from school closures caused by coronavirus Apr 22, 2020

Show notes

What are people getting wrong about school closures? Several things. Don't assume you can put a child in front of a computer and they will learn. Some students who don't normally do well in school may actually do better in a new environment. Students' social and socioeconomic backgrounds have always been important, but they are especially crucial now.

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