On Shifting Ground

With so many forces undermining democratic institutions worldwide, we wanted a chance to take a step back and provide some perspective. Russian interference in elections here and in Europe, the rise in fake news and a decline in citizen trust worldwide all pose a danger. In this first of a three part series, we focus on the global erosion of trust. Jennifer Kavanagh, political scientist at the RAND Corporation and co-author of “Truth Decay”, and Tom Nichols, professor at the US Naval War college and author of “The Death of Expertise,” are in conversation with Ray Suarez, former chief national correspondent for PBS NewsHour.

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Direct download: 03_26_18_End_of_Authority.mp3
Category:News & Politics -- posted at: 7:00am PDT

In our first segment, we look at critical areas of conflict around the world, and identify options world leaders have to address them. Rob Malley, CEO of the International Crisis Group, seeks to prevent global crises before they turn deadly, or to help resolve conflicts once they do. He is in conversation with Markos Kounalakis, Visiting Fellow at Stanford's Hoover Institution. In the second half, Guardian reporter Rory Carroll shares his perspective on how the once wealthy, oil-rich nation of Venezuela devolved into its current state of economic chaos, first under President Hugo Chavez and now under President Nicolás Maduro. He speaks with Jonathan Visbal, chairman of World Affairs.

We want to hear from you! Please take part in a quick survey to tell us how we can improve our podcast: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWZ7KMW

Direct download: 02_12_18_Malley_Carroll.mp3
Category:News & Politics -- posted at: 7:00am PDT

This week marks the 10th anniversary of the collapse of Bear Stearns, the first of several large investment banks on Wall Street to fall in 2008. Its eventual sale at $10 a share to JP Morgan (down from $159 a year earlier) set off a spiraling loss of confidence that eventually led to the global financial crisis. Ten years later we unpack the forces that led to Bear Stearns’ downfall. What lessons have we learned and are we at risk of another global financial catastrophe? William Cohan, former investment banker and author of “House of Cards” – a chronicle of the Bear Sterns collapse, and David Wessel, senior fellow in economic studies at the Brookings Institution, are in conversation with Ray Suarez, former chief national correspondent for PBS Newshour.

We want to hear from you! Please take part in a quick survey to tell us how we can improve our podcast: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWZ7KMW

Direct download: 03_12_18_Bear_Stearns.mp3
Category:News & Politics -- posted at: 7:00am PDT

With tax cuts, trade tariffs, and military spending grabbing headlines, the recently passed budget and its impact on American society – the wealthy, the poor, and everyone in-between – is President Trump's policy in action. Budgets are not just about dollars and cents, they're also about values, so what does Trump's 2018 budget say about the priorities of the White House, and what does it mean for America's future? Robert Reich, former Secretary of Labor in the Clinton Administration, and Greg Ip, chief economics commentator for the Wall Street Journal, are in conversation with Ray Suarez, former chief national correspondent for PBS Newshour.

We want to hear from you! Please take part in a quick survey to tell us how we can improve our podcast: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PWZ7KMW

Direct download: 03_05_18_US_Budget.mp3
Category:News & Politics -- posted at: 7:52am PDT

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