January 23, 2021 Episode - Biden's Challenges

About the January 23, 2021 Episode – Biden’s Challenges:  Joe Biden had barely finished his oath of office before the Republicans started criticizing his actions, including wearing a Rolex. Given the close margins Democrats enjoy in the House and Senate, What challenges await the new Biden Administration?

January 16, 2021 Episode - Trump's Legacy

About the January 16, 2021 Episode – Trump’s Legacy: Conspiracy theories about election fraud, an encouraged insurrection, two impeachments, nearly 400,000 coronavirus deaths, daily lies on matters big and small — this is the legacy of the Trump White House. While Barach Obama made the history books as America’s first African American president, who brought competency to the White House to steer us out of a recession, Trump has made the history books as perhaps the worst president in US history. Ignorance and incompetence have been the hallmarks of his presidency. Perhaps most important is a point overlooked in this podcast. The historical record will look back at Trump’s rule as a sign of the unpreparedness of the US for global leadership in the Age of Globalization and Climate Crisis. Rather than facing our impending global threats by acknowledging science and using the existent expertise, the US under Trump has turned to crackpot conspiracy theories and the leadership of those who spread them. Biden’s presidency may mark the last chance for the country to get on the trajectory for the needed reforms. The 2022 and 2024 elections will show whether that occurs or whether the 21st century is the century of US decline, with untold harm to the global order and the earth’s natural environment.

January 9, 2021 Episode - The Trump Insurrection

About the January 9, 2021 Episode -The Trump Insurrection: The Trump insurrection on January 6 was announced in advance. Yet the Capitol police proved so unprepared that the Capitol was quickly infiltrated. In this podcast we discuss how this was possible and argue that the right thing to do is to hold Trump accountable with impeachment, assuming that Pence will not invoke the 25th amendment.

December 12, 2020 Episode - Supreme Smackdown

About the December 12, 2020 Episode – Supreme Smackdown: The Supreme Court struck down the Trump campaigns final attempt to steal the American election through the US courts.  We evaluate that here and what it says about the state of our democracy that 17 Republican attorneys general and 68% of Republican congress members signed on in support of the president’s actions here. Hint: It says nothing positive.

December 07, 2020 Episode - Pardon Me?

About the December 07, 2020 Episode – Pardon Me?:  In this episode, we discuss Trump’s latest pardon of Michael Flynn, future rumored pardons and whether Trump can pardon himself. Though all presidents have used pardon power, Trump is setting a bad precedent in pardoning members of his administration and campaign team for any crimes they may have committed in the term of his administration. Particularly concerning is that he also signaled to certain of these individuals earlier in his administration that such pardons may be forthcoming.

November 21, 2020 Episode - The Keystone Koup

About the November 21, 2020 Episode – The Keystone Koup:  This week we discuss the comical and tragic attempt by the Trump and his enablers to mount a coup d’etat through judicial and political means.

November 14, 2020 Episode - Mindset of Trump Supporters

About the November 14, 2020 Episode – Mindset of Trump Supporters:  The election’s aftermath and the mindset of Trump supporters and the politicians who enable them. 70% of Republicans think the election is fraudulent, despite a lack of any substantive evidence. We take up how the reaction of Republican politicians as well as the president’s continued disinformation campaign feed into this disinformation in our current media bubbles.

November 8, 2020 Episode - Election Summary

About the November 8, 2020 Episode – Election Summary:  This week we discuss the election and its aftermath, including a deep dive into the 2020 summer of discontent and its effect on the election.

October 31, 2020 Episode - Worst Case Scenarios

About the October 31, 2020 Episode – Worst Case Scenarios:  Here we discuss worst case scenarios flowing out of the 2020 presidential election. What’s the worst that could happen?

October 24, 2020 Episode - The Great Debate and the State of the Race

About the October 24, 2020 Episode – The Great Debate and the State of the Race:  We discuss the second of two debates between President Donald Trump and former Vice-President Joe Biden and also weigh in on the state of the race 11 days prior to the election.

October 17, 2020 Episode - The Amy Coney Barrett Nomination and Future of SCOTUS

About the October 17, 2020 Episode – The Amy Coney Barrett Nomination and Future of SCOTUS: This week we discuss the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the position of associate justice of the Supreme Court and the Court’s possible future under a Biden administration.

October 10, 2020 Episode - Armed Vigilantes Plot Coup in Michigan

About the October 10, 2020 Episode – Armed Vigilantes Plot Coup in Michigan:  This week we discuss the foiling of an attempted kidnapping of the Michigan governor and accompanying coup against the Michigan government by armed so-called militias.

October 3, 2020 Episode - The First Debate and Trump Contracts Covid-19

About the October 3, 2020 Episode – The First Debate and Trump Contracts Covid-19: In this installment we discuss two of the week’s major news stories, the first presidential debate and Trump contracting Covid-19. In this analysis, they address the interplay between the two stories and also briefly touch on the week’s third major story, the NYT’s release of Trump’s tax information, a story that on its own would have been the major new story for over a week. These are, however, interesting times.

September 26, 2020 Episode - Daylight Robbery?

About the September 26, 2020 Episode – Daylight Robbery?:  In the wake of two articles in the Atlantic magazine outlining how the Trump campaign is planning on stealing the presidential election, Trump refused to agree to accept a peaceful transition of power. In the past, he has refused to agree to accept the results of the election, but this time he refused to even agree to a peaceful transfer. That has reawakened fears of an attempted coup on his part. The Raven and the Owl discuss this issue and game out different possibilities.

September 19, 2020 Episode - RBG RIP

About the September 19, 2020 Episode – RBG RIP:  This week we discuss the sudden death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Republican hypocrisy, the effect on the upcoming election and what Democrats can do in January, assuming a complete victory.

September 13, 2020 Episode - 9/11+19: A Retrospective

About the September 13, 2020 Episode – 9/11+19: A Retrospective: This week we observe the 19th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks and discuss their effects on the American body politic and our psyches.

September, 12, 2020 Episode - Trump Books and The Bob Woodward Revelations

About the September, 12, 2020 Episode – Trump Books and The Bob Woodward Revelations: In this episode, we discuss various books on Donald Trump including Rage by Bob Woodward and the revelation that Trump knew in February that Covid-19 was at “five times” more lethal than even a “strenuous flu” and yet chose to lie to the American people by “playing it down”.

September 5, 2020 Episode - The Rittenhouse Shootings and White Militias

About the September 5, 2020 Episode – The Rittenhouse Shootings and White Militias: This week we discuss the recent shootings in Kenosha, Wisconsin by Kyle Rittenhouse and whether they can be considered self-defense, all in the greater context of white militias, vigilantes, Trump’s attempt to co-opt the militias, and the possible effects on the upcoming election.

August 29, 2020 Episode - The Republican Convention Reviewed

About the August 29, 2020 Episode – The Republican Convention Reviewed: In this episode we discuss the just RNC, its speakers, the positions expressed, ratings, and its possible effect on the election.

August 22, 2020 Episode - The Democratic Convention Reviewed

About the August 22, 2020 Episode – The Democratic Convention Reviewed: In this episode we review the Democratic National Convention and provide commentary and analysis on its effects on the campaign, the election, and the future of the American Experiment.

August 15, 2020 Episode - Kamala Harris

About the August 15, 2020 Episode – Kamala Harris: This week we take a deep dive into Joe Biden’s selection of Kamala Harris as his VP running mate. This episode covers everything from how to pronounce her name to her identification as both Indian-American and Black American, the effects on the American caste system, and even Tucker Carlson.

August 8, 2020 Episode - Socialism

About the August 8, 2020 Episode – Socialism:  This week we discuss socialism in its various guises, covering the diverse uses of the word, distinctions between the old USSR and the Nordic or Danish models, and whether the term has outlasted its usefulness.

August 1, 2020 Episode - Trump Suggests Cancelling the November Election

About the August 1, 2020 Episode – Trump Suggests Cancelling the November Election:  In this episode we discuss President Trump’s suggestion that the election should be cancelled until an indeterminate date in the future of his own choosing.

July 29, 2020 Episode - Fascism Continued

About the July 29, 2020 Episode – Fascism Continued: This week we continue the conversation on fascism and its implications in contemporary American politics.

July 18, 2020 Episode - Fascism

About the July 18, 2020 Episode – Fascism:  Today we begin our discussion of fascism, how it arises, what are its causes, and whether these movements are actually based in any overarching philosophy or whether they can better be described as reactionary phenomena. This is especially timely given that the Trump Administration use of federal police against unarmed protesters in Portland.

July 10, 2020 Episode

About the July 10, 2020 episode: In this episode, we highlight particularly the Trump administration’s failure to adequately deal with the coronavirus. We also have a look at the Supreme Court decisions on Trump’s tax returns.

The Pilot Episode

About the Pilot Episode:  Our inaugural podcast was on July 3, 2020. We used the proximity to Independence Day to consider what patriotism is and how differing views of patriotism are being used to frame Republican in contrast to Democratic politics.