Current Affairs

To celebrate the release of the new Mister Rogers biopic, 'A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood', we're reposting this cosy little episode! This week, unlocked from the patreon bird feed , to the main feed: Current Affairs podcast host Pete Davis and editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson discuss the visionary auteur, child development crusader, and moral voice Mister Rogers. For Pete's favorite book o...

Aisling McCrea and Lyta Gold are joined by Homeric scholar Dan Walden, in an episode that settles the question, once and for all, of whether Ancient Greece and Rome were GOOD...or BAD. This is an excerpt from an episode available exclusively to our supporters on Patreon. To get full access to this episode, as well as lots of other brilliant bonus content, please consider becoming one of our subscr...

Nathan J. Robinson sits down with journalist Maureen Tkacik to discuss the recent Boeing 737 Max disasters, and the toxic management structures behind them. There's also some gossip about sharing a college dorm with Donald Trump, Jr. Maureen's article is here: https://newrepublic.com/article/154944/boeing-737-max-investigation-indonesia-lion-air-ethiopian-airlines-managerial-revolution This is an...

We've unlocked a bonus episode from the Patreon feed! In this episode, Current Affairs host Pete Davis sits down with Ryan Grim, author and DC bureau chief for The Intercept. Ryan shares his experiences as one of the few progressive reporters in Capitol Hill in the 2000s, and gives the inside scoop on Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Nancy Pelosi, among others. Ryan's book We’ve Got People: F...

In this episode, Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson speaks to philosophy professor Elizabeth Anderson about workplaces as dictatorships, expanding democracy, and what feminism can bring to science. This is a preview of an episode available in full to our Patreon supporters. To gain full access to this episode, please consider becoming one of our subscribers - for just a few dollars...

This week, we're unlocking a very special Patreon-exclusive episode for all our listeners! Legal editor Oren Nimni and associate editor Vanessa A. Bee speak to political science professor Corey Robin about his new book, The Enigma of Clarence Thomas. Together, they explore the life and ideology of the Supreme Court's quietest, most mysterious judge, whose perspective on race, power and justice def...

This week, Current Affairs' resident immigration lawyers, Oren Nimni and Brianna Rennix, roll up their sleeves and delve into all the details of Bernie Sanders' plan for immigration policy, which was released November 7th. A few immigration terms that may be useful to know while listening to this episode: metering - limiting the number of people per day who can request asylum at points of entry, r...

Legal editor Oren Nimni and associate editor Vanessa A. Bee speak to political science professor Corey Robin about his new book, The Enigma of Clarence Thomas. Together, they explore the life and ideology of the Supreme Court's quietest, most mysterious judge, whose perspective on race, power and justice defies simplistic conceptions of left and right.

In this episode, Current Affairs host Pete Davis speaks with Elias Crim, founder of the blog and online discussion group Solidarity Hall. Together, they discuss the eclectic blend of influences that have inspired their unique outlooks on politics: from Pope Francis, to Polish unions, to housewives who protest ill-considered expressways. Pete also describes the Current Affairs team as "a ragtag set...

Editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson sits down with legendary sociologist and writer Arlie Hochschild. Together, they discuss her book Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right, based on her experiences in the Tea Party stronghold of Lake Charles, Louisiana. This episode is a preview of an episode available in full to our Patreon subscribers. To gain full access to this e...

Take an hour off from being scared by climate change - be scared by our spooky Halloween podcast instead! This week, the panel discusses their deepest fears, the annual panic around poisoned candy, and their favorite Halloween movies. "You wake up, and you're in a cube. And there are doors, that are squares in the cube. And they go through the door, but then there's ANOTHER cube. And then they mee...

Pete Davis, host of the Current Affairs podcast, is many things. Even we at the Current Affairs headquarters only know, at best, maybe 10% of the things that he is. For over a year now, Pete has remained shrouded in mystery, hosting the show without dominating the conversation, allowing the rest of the team to speak their minds, and referring only occasionally to his own thoughts. Well, here and n...

In this episode, Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson and amusements editor Lyta Gold sit down with Osita Nwanevu, staff writer at The New Republic, to discuss his recent article 'The "Cancel Culture" Con'. This episode is a preview of an episode available in full to our Patreon subscribers. To gain full access to this episode, as well as lots of other brilliant bonus content, please...

Today is apparently 'International Boss Day', so instead of celebrating labor exploitation, we've decided to unlock this Patreon-exclusive episode. Current Affairs editors Oren Nimni and Sparky Abraham discuss the legendary, heartbreaking, much-misunderstood music of Bruce Springsteen. It's okay if you cry. You can read the George Will review mentioned here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/...

This week, the team is very sleepy, podcasting late into the evening in their matching Current Affairs pajamas. Together, they tackle the question of impeachment, excoriate those who get too much credit, and take a few bites of humble pie. The panel this week is: podmaster-general Aisling McCrea, amusements and managing editor Lyta Gold, associate editor Vanessa A. Bee, and editor-in-chief Nathan...

This would usually be a Patreon-only episode, but given how vital this topic is, we've decided to unlock it. Current Affairs contributing editor Eli Massey interviews senior editor Brianna Rennix, an immigration lawyer working with asylum seekers at the U.S. southern border. Brianna does updates on immigration law at the Current Affairs website: https://www.currentaffairs.org/2019/09/this-week-in-...

In this episode, finance editor Sparky Abraham and podmaster-general Aisling McCrea sit down with Julian Brave NoiseCat, writer and Director of Green New Deal Strategy at Data For Progress. Together, they discuss the ins and outs of the Green New Deal, the relationship between climate change and justice, ecofascism, and why Indigenous activists should be at the forefront of climate change activism...

Current Affairs contributing editor/jack-of-all-trades Eli Massey speaks with Candi CdeBaca, a former community organizer and councilwoman for District 9 of Denver City Council. Together, they discuss her vision for the city of Denver, mass incarceration, and why she identifies as an anarchist. This is a preview of an episode available in full exclusive to our Patreon subscribers. To gain full acc...

We've gathered up all your voicemails and picked out a few for discussion! Are the Olympics woke? Should you yell at Ben Shapiro? What is a nation? Who decides how to fund art? How do we protect public schools? Did Eve make the right choice? Should Aisling be sent to Siberia? Today, all these questions will be answered. The song at the end was written and performed by Dan, one of our lovely reader...

We unlocked one of our Patreon-exclusive episodes for y'all! In this episode, Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson, legal editor Oren Nimni, and contributing editor Aisling McCrea sit down with Tim Faust, the author of Health Justice Now: Single Payer and What Comes Next. Together, they discuss the ins and outs of single payer healthcare—what it is, what it isn't, and why it's necess...

Current Affairs editors Oren Nimni and Sparky Abraham discuss the legendary, heartbreaking, much-misunderstood music of Bruce Springsteen. This is a preview of an episode available in full to our Patreon subscribers. To gain full access to this episode, as well as lots of other delicious bonus content, please consider supporting us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/CurrentAffairs!

Originally available only to Patreon subscribers, this episode has been unlocked for all listeners! Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson sits down with founder and editor-at-large of Vox, Ezra Klein. Together, they debate (in a very friendly manner) the successes and failures of the Bernie Sanders campaign, incremental change versus radical change, and whether Nathan was justified in...

Editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson, managing editor Lyta Gold, and Current Affairs contributor Luke Savage come together to discuss a baffling, frustrating, and vaguely upsetting novel: 'Hope Never Dies: An Obama/Biden Mystery'. Does this book give us insight into the dark heart of the Obama administration? Do we support Biden now? How do you make men pee better? Tune in to find out. This is a pre...

Health justice advocate Tim Faust tells the CA team why single payer healthcare is essential. 'Health Justice Now: Single Payer And What Comes Next' is available to purchase now: https://www.mhpbooks.com/books/health-justice-now/ This is a preview of an episode available in full to our Patreon subscribers. To gain access to this episode, as well lots of other delicious bonus content, please consid...

Please note: this episode does contain spiders. You may wish to skip 28.00-29.23 if you do not enjoy spiders. This week, the all-powerful, some-knowing Current Affairs panel discusses self-help culture, productivity, and their most hated left-wing words and phrases. The panel this week is Podmaster Aisling McCrea, senior editor Brianna Rennix, finance editor Sparky Abraham, jack-of-all-trades Eli...