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Words & Numbers — Education
Words & Numbers

Words & Numbers is one of the highest-rated economics podcasts in the world. Each episode, Antony Davies and James R. Harrigan dig into economics, political science, and current events to explain what’s actually happening and why it matters.

Copyright: © Creative Commons

Latest Episodes:

Episode 182: Crossing the Police Line Aug 05, 2020

Show notes

In past episodes, we’ve discussed problems with policing including qualified immunity and the militarization of police. In this episode, we revisit the topic from the perspective of a former police officer.

Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now!

https://isi.org/books/cooperation-and-coercion/

Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers

Quick Hits

Fitch

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/united-states-outlook-revised-to-negative-from-stable-by-fitch/ar-BB17qy05

Foolishness of the Week

Capitalism

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2020/07/07/seattle_city_councilwoman_we_will_not_stop_until_we_overthrow_capitalism_replace_it_with_socialism.html

Topic of the Week

Ian Adams

https://scholars.org/scholar/ian-adams

Data on Police Shootings

https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/four-years-in-a-row-police-nationwide-fatally-shoot-nearly-1000-people/2019/02/07/0cb3b098-020f-11e9-9122-82e98f91ee6f_story.html

Police Shootings, Racism, and Statistical Paradox

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/06/11/opinion/statistical-paradox-police-killings/

Join the Conversation

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Let Us Know What You Think

mailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com

Antony Davies on Twitter

https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter

https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

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Episode 181: The Not So Secret Police Jul 29, 2020

Show notes

The Constitution leaves policing up to the states. There is no provision for a national police force. Yet, numerous federal policing bodies have emerged and now the federal government is employing them in Portland in a manner that is a disturbing reminder of other governments’ secret police forces.

Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now!

https://isi.org/books/cooperation-and-coercion/

Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers

Quick Hits

Balloon-Based 4G

https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/balloons-bring-internet-to-20000-square-miles-of-kenya/

Google Employees Working at Home until 2021

https://nypost.com/2020/07/27/google-will-let-employees-work-from-home-until-july-2021/

Foolishness of the Week

Washington Football Team

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/07/23/washington-redskins-new-team-name-washington-football-team/

Topic of the Week: Federal police action

Clark Neily on Twitter

https://twitter.com/ConLawWarrior

Join the Conversation

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Let Us Know What You Think

mailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com

Antony Davies on Twitter

https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter

https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

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Episode 180: It’s a Conspiracy, Man! Jul 22, 2020

Show notes

Conspiracy theories arise in part from our penchant for seeking patterns in random events and in part from our need to feel in control - to be able to explain the inexplicable. Some conspiracy theories are amusing, some will fool even skeptics, and some are dangerous.

Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now!

https://isi.org/books/cooperation-and-coercion/

Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers

Quick Hits

Minimum Wage

https://reports.nlihc.org/sites/default/files/oor/OOR_BOOK_2020.pdf

https://www.bls.gov/opub/reports/minimum-wage/2018/pdf/home.pdf

Goya

https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/donald-trump-goya-beans/

Foolishness of the Week

Masks and Rights

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/1/forced-face-masking-civil-rights-offense/

Topic of the Week: Conspiracy Theories

Elders of Zion

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Protocols_of_the_Elders_of_Zion

The Clinton Hit List

https://lasvegas.cbslocal.com/2016/08/10/the-list-of-clinton-associates-whove-died-mysteriously-check-it-out/

Flat Earthers

https://flatearthfacts.com/flat-earth-model/proof-the-earth-is-flat/

Petroleum Company

https://ask.metafilter.com/322588/Conspiracy-Theory-Petroleum-Company-Edition-Innovative-Technology

Reptilian Overlords

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilian_conspiracy_theory

Stonehenge

http://www.theunexplainedvault.com/stonehenge-ancient-alien-theory/ancient-aliens/

Join the Conversation

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Let Us Know What You Think

mailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com

Antony Davies on Twitter

https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter

https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

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Episode 179: Political Party Crashers Jul 15, 2020

Show notes

The Founders established the three branches of government to provide checks on one another. But parties have come to supplant these institutions as the focus of loyalty for politicians. In this episode, we explore what the rise of parties means for our system of checks and balances.

Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now!

https://isi.org/books/cooperation-and-coercion/

Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers

Quick Hits

Economic Update

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/UNRATE

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/EMRATIO

https://www.macrotrends.net/1377/u6-unemployment-rate

COVID Party

https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/i-thought-this-was-a-hoax-patient-in-their-30s-dies-after-attending-covid-party

Foolishness of the Week

Upward-Thrusting Buildings

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2020/jul/06/upward-thrusting-buildings-ejaculating-cities-sexist-leslie-kern-phallic-feminist-city-toxic-masculinity

Topic of the Week: Parties and Institutions

Washington’s Farewell Address

https://www.history.com/news/george-washington-farewell-address-warnings

Federalist 51

https://billofrightsinstitute.org/founding-documents/primary-source-documents/the-federalist-papers/federalist-papers-no-51/

Books

https://www.amazon.com/Robert-M-S-McDonald/e/B006G5XJK6

Join the Conversation

Words & Numbers Backstage

https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/

Let Us Know What You Think

mailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com

Antony Davies on Twitter

https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter

https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

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Episode 178: Facts, Freedom & the Founding, Part 2 Jul 08, 2020

Show notes

Rob McDonald returns for the second of a two-part series in which we discuss the Founding and his new book, The American Revolution.

Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now!

https://isi.org/books/cooperation-and-coercion/

Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers

Quick Hits

Misunderstanding Research

https://www.thecollegefix.com/scholar-forced-to-resign-over-study-that-found-police-shootings-not-biased-against-blacks/

https://www.pnas.org/content/116/32/15877

Faithless Electors

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-rules-faithless-electors-can-t-go-rogue-electoral-n1231394

Foolishness of the Week

Kanye West

https://www.showbiz411.com/2020/07/06/kanye-west-used-his-presidential-announcement-as-a-lure-to-sell-merchandise-online-this-afternoon

Topic of the Week

Rob McDonald

https://teachingamericanhistory.org/blog/the-american-revolution-professor-robert-mcdonalds-new-core-document-collection/

Books

https://www.amazon.com/Robert-M-S-McDonald/e/B006G5XJK6

Join the Conversation

Words & Numbers Backstage

https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/

Let Us Know What You Think

mailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com

Antony Davies on Twitter

https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter

https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

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Episode 177: Facts, Freedom & the Founding, Part 1 Jul 01, 2020

Show notes

Rob McDonald joins us this Fourth of July week for the first of a two-part series in which we discuss the Founding and his new book, The American Revolution.

Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now!

https://isi.org/books/cooperation-and-coercion/

Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers

Quick Hits

30 Hour Work Week?

https://www.economist.com/by-invitation/2020/06/01/adam-grant-on-how-jobs-bosses-and-firms-may-improve-after-the-crisis

Woodrow Wilson

https://www.bloombergquint.com/politics/princeton-axing-woodrow-wilson-s-name-from-public-policy-school

Foolishness of the Week

L’Oreal

https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/504865-loreal-will-remove-words-whitening-fair-and-lightening-from

Phil Magness on Civil War Monuments

https://www.aier.org/article/what-the-data-say-about-civil-war-monuments/

Topic of the Week

Rob McDonald

https://teachingamericanhistory.org/blog/the-american-revolution-professor-robert-mcdonalds-new-core-document-collection/

Books

https://www.amazon.com/Robert-M-S-McDonald/e/B006G5XJK6

Join the Conversation

Words & Numbers Backstage

https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/

Let Us Know What You Think

mailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com

Antony Davies on Twitter

https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter

https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

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Episode 176: The Supreme Court’s Qualified Mishap Jun 24, 2020

Show notes

Clark Neily joins us to discuss policing, the origin and effect of qualified immunity, and what the courts have said about whether police have a duty to protect citizens.

Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now!

https://isi.org/books/cooperation-and-coercion/

Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers

Quick Hits

Lottery Winners

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/good-news/arizona-couple-win-dollar410-million-mega-millions-jackpot-thanks-to-family-birthdays-lucky-penny/ar-BB15J25k

Invite Someone to Dinner to Berate You

https://reason.com/2020/02/04/white-women-saira-rao-dinner-regina-jackson-liberal/

Police Ordered to Turn off Body Cameras

https://reason.com/2020/06/19/san-francisco-police-were-ordered-to-turn-off-body-cameras-in-raid-on-journalists-home/

Foolishness of the Week

Minnesota Mayor Finds “Chief” Offensive

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/duluth-minnesota-mayor-remove-chief-microaggresion

https://www.dailysignal.com/2020/06/19/minnesota-city-to-vote-on-removing-chief-from-job-titles-calling-it-a-microaggression/?utm_source=rss

The Word, “Chief”

https://www.etymonline.com/word/chief

Topic of the week

Qualified Immunity

https://reason.com/2020/05/29/the-supreme-court-has-a-chance-to-end-qualified-immunity-and-prevent-cases-like-george-floyds/

A Confederacy of Dunces

https://www.amazon.com/Confederacy-Dunces-John-Kennedy-Toole-ebook/dp/B008UX2UIO

Join the Conversation

Words & Numbers Backstage

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Let Us Know What You Think

mailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com

Antony Davies on Twitter

https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter

https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

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Episode 175: Listener Special #6 Jun 17, 2020

Show notes

In this episode, we answer listener questions that we didn’t have time to cover in the previous listener special episode.

Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now!

https://isi.org/books/cooperation-and-coercion/

Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers

Quick Hits

Deepfake

https://www.forbes.com/sites/robtoews/2020/05/25/deepfakes-are-going-to-wreak-havoc-on-society-we-are-not-prepared/#3748f25d7494

https://www.instagram.com/p/BypkGIvFfGZ/

Oscars

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/12/movies/oscars-diversity-rule.html

Foolishness of the Week

VA Hospital

https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/62-year-old-patient-missing-since-may-found-dead-va-hospitals-stairwell/EBWXDSM3IJBCLNGXOHLUYPAVYY/

Join the Conversation

Words & Numbers Backstage

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Let Us Know What You Think

mailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com

Antony Davies on Twitter

https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter

https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 174: Day of the Debt Jun 10, 2020

Show notes

Deficit Day - the hypothetical day on which the federal government’s tax revenues for the year run out - lands on June 21. Not only is that the earliest Deficit Day has fallen since World War II, the date will get revised to even earlier in the calendar if the government undertakes more stimulus spending.

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Episode 173: Understanding the Perfect Storm Jun 03, 2020

Show notes

The riots sweeping the country are the result of a perfect storm. It’s about racism, but more. It’s about police accountability, but more. It’s about too many people being out of work, but more. The first step to solving our problems is understanding that they are often more complicated than they appear.

Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now!

http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com

Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers

Quick Hits

SpaceX

https://www.spacex.com/

Food Prices

https://apnews.com/54f1efe0afa71b0a939fda91cf917366

Foolishness of the Week

Minneapolis Mayor

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/minneapolis-jacob-frey-white-supremacists-out-of-state-instigators-george-floyd-protests

Topic of the Week: Riots and Police Response

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https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/30/politics/joyce-beatty-ohio-pepper-sprayed-columbus-protest/index.html

https://v.redd.it/tal1ncha4o151

https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/video-shows-milk-poured-over-face-of-child-pepper-sprayed-in-seattle-protest

https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2020/05/30/watch-video-captures-moment-police-horse-tramples-woman-during-houston-rally/

https://twitter.com/ava/status/1266797973834395648?s=20

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-minneapolis-police-protest-update/reuters-cameraman-hit-by-rubber-bullets-as-police-disperse-protesters-idUSKBN237050

Join the Conversation

Words & Numbers Backstage

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Let Us Know What You Think

mailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com

Antony Davies on Twitter

https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter

https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

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