Current Affairs

The entire Current Affairs team comes together to brief listeners on as many of the Democratic presidential candidates as they can in two hours (spoiler alert: we only could get through half!) The Panel: Briahna Joy Gray, contributing editor Vanessa A. Bee, social media editor Brianna Rennix, senior editor Sparky Abraham, finance editor Oren Nimni, legal editor Nick Slater, newsletter editor Lyta Gold, amusements eidtor Nathan J. Robinson, editor-in-chief Pete Davis, host Candidates discussed: Joe Biden (read about his feud with Elizabeth Warren over banks here) Marianne Williamson (read about the debate over 2020 and reparations here) Amy Klobuchar (read Elizabeth Bruenig on feminism and her workplace abuse here) Bernie Sanders (listen to his folk album here; watch his Debs documentary here) Julian Castro (read about the HUD Mortgage Sale scandal here) Elizabeth Warren (read about her groundbreaking Two-Income Trap book here) Andrew Yang (read about the "Yang Gang"'s meme problem here) Tulsi Gab

UNLOCKED FROM THE PATREON BIRD FEED: Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson sits down with Maximillian Alvarez, the host of Working People, a podcast in which ordinary people talk about their lives, jobs, struggles, and aspirations. Read excerpts from Maximillian's podcast here — and read his piece "Can the Working Class Speak?" here. Get bonus episodes immediately when they are released by becoming a patron at our patreon page.

UNLOCKED FROM THE BIRD FEED TO THE MAIN FEED: Current Affairs host Pete Davis sits down with filmmaker, writer and activist Astra Taylor. Check out Astra's three films — Zizek!, Examined Life, and What is Democracy? See her writing in The Nation and in her upcoming book, Democracy May Not Exist, But We'll Miss It When It's Gone. Learn about the debt strike project Astra co-founded here. Learn more about Agnès Varda's The Gleaners and I is here. Many thanks to Dan Thorn, at Pink Noise Studios, for editing the episode. Get bonus episodes immediately when they are released by becoming a patreon at our patreon page.

Every fifth episode, we like to open up the phone lines and take callers. Join us as we answer questions about: science, Beto, doctors, reverse racism and Douglas Adams! Our panel: Briahna Joy Gray, contributing editor Sparky Abraham, finance editor Vanessa A. Bee, social media editor Lyta Gold, amusements editor Nathan J. Robinson, editor-in-chief Pete Davis, host Miscellaneous items Douglas Adams's cookie story Einstein's article on socialism Chomsky's on the responsibility of intellectuals Nathan on how rights don't mean slavery Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw's essay that coined the phrase "intersectionality" Corrections Vanessa said she likes "Vice" — she meant "Veep" This episode was edited by Dan Thorn at Pink Noise Studios in Somerville, Massachusetts. Support us by becoming a patron at Patreon.com/CurrentAffairs. Subscribe to the print edition at CurrentAffairs.org. Call into the next voicemail show at 504-867-8851.

Yes, you read right. Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson sits down with the Patron Saint of Current Affairs, himself: Noam Chomsky! Topics discussed include: consciousness, the limits of human knowledge, Steven Pinker, Jordan Peterson, academia, artificial intelligence and more. Read Nathan's tribute to Chomsky here. Support Current Affairs by becoming a patron at our patreon page.

We present the audio recording of the first-ever Current Affairs: Live! Join the entire Current Affairs team — and guests Ian Madrigal, Saikat Chakrabarti and Lee Carter — as they delight, confuse, and singalong with the Washington, DC crowd last week. Many thanks to the wonderful band, Crush Funk Brass, and band leader, Santo Buzzanca. Follow CFB on twitter and instagram. Vanessa's J20 article is here. Our Chomsky Drop video is here. The art Brianna and Lyta were referring to is here. Learn more about Solidarity Forever here. Support Current Affairs by becoming a patron at our patreon page.

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 on the case that Mr. Rogers is a left-wing icon, see Peaceful Neighbor: Discovering the Countercultural Mister Rogers by Michael Long. For a delightful book of Mister Rogers aphorisms, see The World According to Mister Rogers. The latest hit documentary on Rogers is Won't You Be My Neighbor. For more on Eleanor Duckworth and "the having of wonderful ideas," see her wonderful book The Having of Wonderful Ideas. For more on how narcissism is actually based in a lack of self-esteem, see here. And here's Nathan's piece on teaching climate change. Have a response to this episode? Call into Current Affairs anytime at (504) 867-8851. To listen to interviews when they first come out — and gain access to our patrons' "Bird Feed" — consider beco

We were busy preparing our live show this past weekend, so we took a brief hiatus from making new main episodes. However, to ensure your Current Affairs fix was satisfied, we wanted to unlock one bonus episode each week. We will be back with regularly scheduled main episodes next week! This week, unlocked from the patreon bird feed, to the main feed: Amusements editor Lyta Gold and senior editor Brianna Rennix discuss myths with Classics scholar Daniel Walden, who recently wrote in the magazine about how the whole concept of “Western civilization" is a myth. Tune in to learn about why the myth of dragons may be a lefty one, why Jordan Peterson is confused about myths, what an anti-pope is, what myths can teach us about national origin stories, the purpose of trickster gods, and more. Also, read Brianna's recent essay on the myth of the death of Europe. Many thanks to Harrison Montgomery (@AugmentFourth) for help with edits and audio gags. Factual correction from early point in the conversation, according

A short reminder that the "Current Affairs: Live!" is this Saturday, January 26th at the Rock & Roll Hotel in Washington, DC. Show info here + tickets here. For the past three years, the Current Affairs crew has brought you a monthly magazine of culture, politics, and the unusual. For the past year, from the Current Affairs World Headquarters to your ear, they have brought everything you love about the magazine into audio form, cutting through the nonsense, bursting open ideological piñatas, and presenting a friendly, relaxed, and upbeat guide to the world of politics and culture. And now, for the first time ever, the Current Affairs crew is live in the nation’s capital, to bring you two hours of the pure, unadulterated Current Affairs experience: serious and not-so-serious talk about the important issues of the day, the strange and jovial personalities of the magazine’s editors, and, of course, whimsical gags. Get your tickets, before they run out, HERE.

We are busy preparing for our first-ever live show on January 26th at the Rock & Roll Hotel in DC (tickets here), so we are taking a brief hiatus from making new main episodes. However, to ensure your Current Affairs fix is satisfied, we are unlocking one bonus episode each week. This week, unlocked from the patreon bird feed, to the main feed: Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson and host Pete Davis talk with The Reactionary Mind author Corey Robin about how Donald Trump and the Republican Party is actually weak, what unifies the Right, and how Clarence Thomas is one the least understood political figures today. Read Corey's piece on why Trump, like Carter, is a disjunctive President. Read about the young Reaganites here. Pre-order Robin's new Clarence Thomas book here. Watch Pete host Corey Robin at the Harvard Law Forum here. This episode was edited by Dan Thorn of Pink Noise studios in Somerville, Massachusetts.

We are busy preparing for our first-ever live show on January 26th at the Rock & Roll Hotel in DC (tickets here), so we are taking a brief hiatus from making new main episodes. However, to ensure your Current Affairs fix is satisfied, we are unlocking one bonus episode each week. This week, unlocked from the patreon bird feed, to the main feed: BBC radio used to have a show, Room 101, in which celebrities came on and discussed their pet gripes, trying to convince the host to consign the object of their gripes to the titular Room 101... the punishment room from George Orwell’s 1984. In this episode, legal editor Oren Nimni and editor in chief Nathan J. Robinson recreate the show, sharing their loathing for a famous lawyer, a classic book, a gummy bear brand, a social media platform, a famous Leftist, a genre of movies, a major city, a mode of transportation and... garnishes. To listen to interviews when they first come out — and gain access to our patrons' "Bird Feed" — consider becoming a month

UNLOCKED FROM THE PATREON BIRD FEED: Maryland Delegate Vaughn Stewart was once a normal "very online" progressive poster like the rest of us. But after a health scare, he decided to move from ideas into action, running for — and, with the help of the Metro DC DSA, winning! — a seat in the Maryland House of Delegates. Current Affairs host Pete Davis sits down with him to talk about running for office with DSA's endorsement, finding policy ideas through twitter, how corporate lobbyists woo delegates, and pushing innovative housing policy. Read the Governing magazine article on Vaughn's affordable housing push here. Read Ryan Cooper and Peter Gowan's social housing report from the People's Policy Project here. Read about Phillip Burton here. To listen to interviews when they first come out — and gain access to our patrons' "Bird Feed" — consider becoming a monthly patron at our Patreon page. Call into Current Affairs anytime at (504) 867-8851.

Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson is joined for the whole episode by The Intercept's Glenn Greenwald to talk animal welfare, public censorship, Charles Krauthammer and how to keep track of 26 dogs. Here's the New Yorker profile discussed early in the episode. And here's the New York Magazine profile also discussed. Here's Nathan defending Noam Chomsky from hit pieces. Here's Nathan waxing poetic on Chomsky. Here's Glenn's fundraiser for his anti-homelessness and animal welfare project. Tickets to the live show on January 26th at the Rock & Roll Hotel in Washington, DC are here. Support Current Affairs by becoming a patron on our Patreon page. For the written form of Current Affairs — and to subscribe to the beautiful print magazine — visit: CurrentAffairs.org. To join the conversation, leave us a voicemail at 504-867-8851.

The Current Affairs panel learns about the Green New Deal, discusses the American loneliness epidemic, and share what we think is the worst example of American political amnesia. The Panel: Brianna Rennix, senior editor Briahna Joy Gray, contributing editor Vanessa A. Bee, social media editor Nathan J. Robinson, editor-in-chief Pete Davis, host Tickets for the live show on January 26th at the Rock & Roll Hotel in Washington, D.C. are HERE. Further reading on the Green New Deal: Here is Kate Aranoff with a great GND explainer. Here's Eric Levitz on what type of political action will be needed to make a GND happen. Here's Robinson Meyer on why a GND is exciting. Here's Vice on why a Green New Deal could destroy the GOP once and for all. Further reading on American loneliness: Here's a New York Times piece on why social isolation is killing us. Here's a Wall Street Journal piece on aging alone. And here's a loneliness epidemic story in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Brianna's essay about working at a su

UNLOCKED FROM THE PATREON BIRD FEED: Lawyer and prison reform advocate Sam Weiss joins legal editor Oren Nimni and social media editor Vanessa A. Bee to talk about the state of prison reform and death penalty abolition. To listen to interviews when they first come out — and gain access to our patrons' "Bird Feed" — consider becoming a monthly patron at our Patreon page. Call into Current Affairs anytime at (504) 867-8851.

The Current Affairs panel discusses how they are approaching the 2020 Presidential campaign, we decide whether money is speech, and we all share what we think is the most important lesson that the left can learn from the right. Tickets for the live show on January 26th at the Rock & Roll Hotel in Washington, D.C. are HERE. The Panel Lyta Gold, amusements editor Oren Nimni, legal editor Sparky Abraham, finance editor Nathan J. Robinson, editor in chief Pete Davis, host Tickets for the live show on January 26th at the Rock & Roll Hotel in Washington, D.C. are HERE. Miscellany Nicholas Carnes' White Collar Government book is here. Nathan's Jacobin article on money and speech is here. Corey Robin's facebook post on money and speech is here. Information on the Seattle Democracy Voucher program is here. Tickets for the live show on January 26th at the Rock & Roll Hotel in Washington, D.C. are HERE. Support Current Affairs by becoming a patron on our Patreon page. For the written form of Current Affair

The Current Affairs panel opens up the phone lines, answering listener questions on postmodernism, growth, effective altruism, New Orleans and jokes. The Panel Brianna Rennix, senior editor Oren Nimni, legal editor Lyta Gold, amusements editor Nathan J. Robinson, editor-in-chief Pete Davis, host Miscellany Here's Nathan's original article on the problem of academic language. Here is the 80,000 hours blog referenced in the Effective Altruism segment. Here is Nathan and Brianna's podcast on the morality of wealth. Here is a great book by John Cort on Christian socialism and here is a piece on Martin Luther King's economic radicalism. Here's more on activist Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and here's more on Islamic socialism. Labor's Joke Book, mentioned in the footnotes, is here. Support Current Affairs by becoming a patron on our Patreon page. For the written form of Current Affairs — and to subscribe to the beautiful print magazine — visit: CurrentAffairs.org. To join the conversation, leave us a voicemail at

The Current Affairs panel discusses the politics of tragedy, we attempt to define fascism, and we all share something that gives us hope in the 2018 elections. The Panel: Briahna Joy Gray, contributing editor Vanessa A. Bee, social media editor Sparky Abraham, finance editor Nathan J. Robinson, editor-in-chief Pete Davis, host Further reading on the politics of tragedy Nathan's piece on politicizing tragedies is here. The Outline had an essay on politicizing tragedies here and The Guardian had one on the conservative theory of tragedies here. Plus, here's Nathan's inciteful/insightful architecture article. Further reading on fascism Brendan O’Neill makes the case we should stop calling everything fascist here. Vox explains fascism here, Jason Stanley explains fascism here, and Peter Beinart grapples with whether Trump is a fascist here. Further reading on Election 2018 hope More on Lancaster Stands Up is here and here. More on unanimous juries is here. More on Florida's voter restoration is here. Briahna's

UNLOCKED from the bird feed to the main feed: Current Affairs host Pete Davis invites Jesse Eisinger — Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist with ProPublica and author of The Chickenshit Club: Why the Justice Department Fails to Prosecute Executives — to the Current Affairs World Headquarters to enlighten us on the topic of corporate crime, feckless white collar prosecutors, and why we should care about the underfunding of the IRS. Read Jesse's piece on the IRS dropping the ball here. Read Jesse's piece on why only one banker went to jail after the financial crisis here. Read The New York Times' huge report on the Trump family tax fraud here. Read George Scialabba's new book, which Pete quoted at the end of the episode, here. Many thanks to the amazing Dan Thorn for editing help on this episode. To listen to interviews when they first come out — and gain access to our patrons' "Bird Feed" — consider becoming a monthly patron at our Patreon page. Call into Current Affairs anytime at (504) 8

In our unlucky 13th episode, the Current Affairs panel gets into the Halloween spirit: we investigate the murder of American democracy, Pete makes the case that Halloween is the best holiday, and we all share our favorite unsolved mysteries. The Death Panel: Brianna Rennix, senior editor Oren Nimni, legal editor Lyta Gold, amusements editor Nathan J. Robinson, editor-in-chief Pete Davis, host Miscellaneous Reading: The books Pete referenced in segment one are Democracy's Discontent by Michael Sandel and The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism by Daniel Bell. A James Joyce halloween costume is here and a sultry Edgar Allen Poe costume is here. Nathan's writing on the joy of Mardi Gras is here. More on the sinister Countess Báthory is here. More on Ireland's Land War is here. More on Carlo Tresca is here. Support Current Affairs by becoming a patron on our Patreon page. For the written form of Current Affairs — and to subscribe to the beautiful print magazine — visit: CurrentAffairs.org. To join the convers