WNET

The Open Mind, Hosted by Alexander Heffner

News EN ↓ 559 episodes

The Open Mind is a thoughtful excursion into the world of ideas across media, politics, technology, the arts and all realms of civic life.

Author

WNET

Category

News

Podcast website

www.theopenmind.com

Latest episode

Jul 9, 2026

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Episodes

The Persuadability of Justice 08.05.2020

Slate law and Supreme Court correspondent Mark Joseph Stern discusses the deliberations and reconciliation of the nine justices. 

What If the 2020 Election Results are Disputed? 07.05.2020

Ned Foley, Director of Election Law and Chair in Constitutional Law at Ohio State University, discusses the history of and contingency for disputed American presidential elections.

Gen Z in the Heartland 05.05.2020

Nico Gendron of The Wall Street Journal discusses the Instagram Local News Fellowship and her work engaging rural Missouri youth. 

Constitutional Deadlock or Consensus? 02.05.2020

New York Times Supreme Court correspondent Adam Liptak discusses the stakes of this term's High Court decisions.

The Case for a Pro-Democracy Supreme Court 30.04.2020

Take Back the Court director Aaron Belkin discusses the historical and contemporary case for adding seats to the Supreme Court and why expanding the judiciary is critical to restoring democracy.

The Right to a Representative Judiciary 28.04.2020

Demand Justice Executive Director Brian Fallon discusses how to improve the legitimacy of the Supreme Court and judicial fairness. 

American Demagogue 27.04.2020

Texas A&M scholar Jennifer Mercieca discusses her new book “Demagogue for President: The Rhetorical Genius of Donald Trump.” 

On the Frontlines of Voter Security 25.04.2020

Brennan Center director Michael Waldman discusses how to ensure that states provide remote balloting and not endanger the health of voters.

The Judiciary's Suppression Machine 23.04.2020

The Nation's Justice Correspondent Elie Mystal discusses the Supreme Court’s recent and future enforcement of voter suppression.

How to Protect the Franchise in a Pandemic 22.04.2020

Perkins Coie's Political Law Group chair Marc Elias discusses how to hold Governors accountable for implementing VBM  (Vote by Mail) solutions. 

The Cult of QAnon 20.04.2020

QAnon Anonymous host Travis View discusses QAnon conspiracy theorists, what motivates them, and their political goals. 

Hey, Hey, DJT, How Many Americans did COVID Kill Today? 20.04.2020

Princeton University historian Julian Zelizer discusses historical analogies to the American pandemic crisis and the 2020 campaign.

A Pandemic’s Origins and Viral Geopolitics 16.04.2020

Sinocism newsletter author Bill Bishop discusses the pandemic's origins in China, deteriorating U.S.-China relations, and its impact on the 2020 campaign. 

"Papa, I Just Voted Online." 14.04.2020

U.S. Election Assistance Commission chairman emeritus Paul DeGregorio discusses remote balloting for 2020 and a secure transition to online voting. 

Dystopia Incorporated 13.04.2020

NBC News dystopia beat reporter Ben Collins discusses exposing viral deception and the companies that enable it. 

The FEC is AWOL 06.04.2020

Center for Responsive Politics researcher Anna Massoglia discusses the need for campaign finance accountability and transparency. 

Knowing the Enemy of Truth 31.03.2020

Information warfare expert Molly McKew discusses foreign interference in U.S. elections and the future of political campaigns.

Breaking Up and Deradicalizing the Socials 25.03.2020

Mother Jones correspondent Ali Breland discusses combating bigotry online, demonetizing extremism, and breaking up new media monopolies. 

Facts and Fears of a Pandemic 25.03.2020

NBC News national reporter Brandy Zadrozny on the coronavirus, anti-vaxxers, and conspiracy-mongers.

Democratizing the Jury 25.02.2020

Wesleyan University political scientist Sonali Chakravarti discusses her new book “Radical Enfranchisement in the Jury Room and Public Life.”

The Kremlin’s Hack Attacks 18.02.2020

Wired reporter Andy Greenberg discusses the next wave of Russian cyber crimes. 

Unbecoming a Democracy 10.02.2020

University of Texas scholar Patricia Roberts-Miller discusses contemporary demagoguery and its historical origins.

The Science and Necessity of Friendship 07.02.2020

Science journalist Lydia Denworth discusses groundbreaking research on the evolution, biology, and power of friendship. 

Bias, Bigotry, and Tyrannical Discourse 23.01.2020

Salmagundi magazine editor Robert Boyers discusses his new book “The Tyranny of Virtue: Identity, the Academy, and the Hunt For Political Heresies. 

Grand Strategy for the Campus Commons 18.01.2020

Vassar College president Elizabeth Bradley discusses free speech, engaged pluralism, and political inequality. 

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