Shows / Current Affairs
Current Affairs
A podcast of politics and culture, from the editors of Current Affairs magazine.
Episodes
- Current Affairs
When YIMBYs Attack: Democratic Socialist Dean Preston on the San Francisco Housing Crisis
Dean Preston represents District 5 on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. A tenants' rights attorney and member of the Democratic Socialists of America, he…
- Current Affairs
Why Don't We Have Constitutional Rights Anymore? (w/ Aziz Huq)
Aziz Huq is an expert in constitutional law at the University of Chicago law school. He is the author of the book The Collapse of Constitutional Remedies…
- Current Affairs
What Is "Systemic Racism" and How Pervasive Is It?
Today's guest is Glenn Loury, professor of economics at Brown University. Prof. Loury has had a distinguished career—he was the youngest-ever tenured Black…
- Current Affairs
Does the Right to Counsel Actually Exist In the U.S.?
Today's guest is Stephen Bright, one of the best criminal defense attorneys in the United States. Prof. Bright teaches at Yale Law School and Georgetown Law…
- Current Affairs
Abortion in America, Part II: Diana Greene Foster on "The Turnaway Study"
In this, the second part of our look into the realities of abortion in the contemporary United States, Nathan talks to Prof. Diana Greene Foster, Director of…
- Current Affairs
Abortion in America: Carole Joffe on the "Obstacle Course" to Get Necessary Medical Care
Carol Joffe is one of the foremost experts on reproductive rights in the United States. A professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive…
- Current Affairs
How Did the Bloating Military Become a Cancer on the US? (w/ Andrew Cockburn)
Andrew Cockburn is a veteran journalist who serves as the Washington Editor of Harper's magazine. His new book, The Spoils of War: Power, Profit, and the…
- Current Affairs
Why Are Millennials So Into Astrology?
Tara Isabella Burton is the author of Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World. She joined Current Affairs editor Nathan Robinson to discuss changing…
- Current Affairs
What Does Moral Philosophy Tell Us About Our Obligation To Stop Climate Change?
Today Nathan is joined by Oxford University philosophy professor Henry Shue, author of Climate Justice and most recently The Pivotal Generation: Why We Have a…
- Current Affairs
American Machiavellian: The Rise and Fall of Andrew Cuomo
Ross Barkan, author of The Prince: Andrew Cuomo, Coronavirus, and the Fall of New York, joins Nathan to discuss the career of the infamous ex-New York…
- Current Affairs
Why Isn't the U.S. Trying To End the Pandemic? (w/ Lily Sánchez)
Current Affairs editor and physician Dr. Lily Sánchez joins Nathan to discuss her new (and first) Current Affairs article, "Continuing The Pandemic Is A…
- Current Affairs
Is Christopher Hitchens' Life A Cautionary Tale For The Left?
Ben Burgis is the author of the upcoming book: Christopher Hitchens: What He Got Right, How He Went Wrong, and Why He Still Matters, as well as the host of…
- Current Affairs
How Do You Actually Convince a Climate Denier, Vaccine Skeptic, or Flat Earther? (w/ Lee McIntyre)
Lee McIntyre is a philosopher of science who serves as a research Fellow at the Center for Philosophy and History of Science at Boston University and an…
- Current Affairs
Why Does the Right Dominate Talk Radio? (w/ Thom Hartmann)
Thom Hartmann is the #1 progressive talk radio show host in the country. Today, he joins Current Affairs editor in chief Nathan J. Robinson to discuss the…
- Current Affairs
How Do The Rich Profit From Racism? From Charter Schools to Private Detention
Author Jim Freeman discusses his book "Rich Thanks To Racism: How The Ultra-Wealthy Profit From Racial Injustice." Jim looks at three issue areas, education…
- Current Affairs
Kshama Sawant on How Socialists Can Win Victories In Cities
Seattle city council member Kshama Sawant was elected as an open socialist in 2013, long before the present wave of local socialist political victories began…
- Current Affairs
Jeremy Lent on How To Find Meaningful Altenatives To Neoliberal Philosophy
Author Jeremy Lent discusses his new book "The Web Of Meaning: Integrating Science and Traditional Wisdom to Find Our Place In The Universe." Jeremy's book…
- Current Affairs
#79: The Flannel Coalition
Current Affairs is joined this week by Jacobin staff writer Luke Savage! Together, the panel asks if there are countries that exist outside the US and if they…
- Current Affairs
#78: A Utopia of Rum
The Current Affairs flock investigate how the right created a moral panic around "critical race theory", dare to make all tax records public, and dream of…
- Current Affairs
#77: Literalism in Art and Other Troubling Trends
Studio H3 of the Current Affairs World Headquarters is closed for renovations this week, so instead of the usual panel format, we have something different for…
- Current Affairs
Tiffany Cabán for New York City Council (Election is June 22nd!)
This episode was originally on our bonus feed, but as Tiffany's election is tomorrow we're putting it out today for everyone! Pete speaks to Tiffany Cabán…
- Current Affairs
#76: We Bite, We Vote
The panel give their NFT takes, propose a universal database of all human knowledge, and share some hard-earned life lessons. The nest this week was inhabited…
- Current Affairs
Is MMT Real? Season 2 Available Now!
You've been asking for it, you've been waiting for it. Now, episodes 6 through 12 of Is MMT Real? are available to our Patreon subscribers. They will…
- Current Affairs
UNLOCKED! The MOVE Bombing
This episode was originally released on our Patreon feed last year, but we've decided to release it to everyone. Aisling McCrea and Oren Nimni discuss that…
- Current Affairs
Voicemailbag XV
Once again, we dig into your voicemails. (We hear you, and we see you.) Topics include personality tests, cryptids, political arguments with relatives, and…
- Current Affairs
#74: The Owl Council of Local Heterogeneity
The Current Affairs flock discuss the right to live wherever you want, the dubious value of patriotism, and the things we love to do even though we're terrible…
- Current Affairs
Pete Is Back...And He Has A Book!
Pete returns to talk about his new book Dedicated: The Case for Commitment in an Age of Infinite Browsing. Book is here…
- Current Affairs
Activists You Should Know (feat. Lesley Williams)
This episode was originally posted to our Patreon feed a month ago, but we've decided to make it free for everyone. If you enjoy this kind of content, please…
- Current Affairs
#73: The Pro-Bird/Anti-Fandom Caucus
The panel discuss the recent slate of anti-trans bills, theorize on politics as fandom, and announce their vows for post-pandemic life. Today's flock consists…
- Current Affairs
#72: Are Property Taxes Real?
The team talk through the question of "vaccine passports", reimagine taxes, and judge whether it is obligatory to stay informed. For the vaccine passport…
- Current Affairs
Immigration Update: Biden's First 100 Days
Continuing our series of semi-regular immigration updates, Current Affairs' resident immigration lawyers Brianna Rennix and Oren Nimni explain the Biden…
- Current Affairs
#71: Collective Bargaining For Better Yachts (feat. Ryan Kekeris)
The Current Affairs panel welcomes a guest - Ryan Kekeris (@punished_ryan), director of communications of the International Union of Painters and Allied…
- Current Affairs
Voicemailbag XIV
Once again we peruse, examine and eat your voicemails. Subjects include office animals, accusations of "childishness", the nature of the self and imaginary…
- Current Affairs
BONUS: Action Against Amazon
Sparky and Eli are joined by Max Alvarez, editor-in-chief at The Real News, and a very special guest—Michael Foster, an organizer with RWDSU (Retail, Wholesale…
- Current Affairs
#69: Nice
The team discuss going to Mars, the reopening of schools and go in-depth on qualified immunity. Next episode, we'll be listening to your voicemails! If you…
- Current Affairs
UNLOCKED! Guantánamo Deep Dive
This episode was originally released on our Patreon feed, but we've decided to release it for all listeners. If you enjoyed it, consider subscribing to our…
- Current Affairs
UNLOCKED! Infrastructure Nerd Hour: PG&E and California Wildfires
This episode was originally put on our Patreon feed back in November, but in light of the recent energy crisis in Texas, we've decided to unlock it for…
- Current Affairs
#68: The Episode for Bacteria
The team uses the viral video of Handforth Parish Council as a jumping-off point to discuss the thorny concept of "community"; Sparky makes renting illegal…
- Current Affairs
UNLOCKED! Orphaned Wells (feat. Megan Milliken Biven)
This episode was originally released only to our Patreon subscribers, but we're making it free for everyone today! In this episode, infrastructure enthusiast…
- Current Affairs
#67: Push-Ups in Space
The panel debates whether art has been over-moralized, argues the benefits of short-selling, and airs their petty grievances. At one point, someone triggers…
- Current Affairs
UNLOCKED: Fighting Joe Rogan (feat. Sam Yang of Southpaw)
This episode was originally posted on the bonus feed, but we're releasing it for everyone today! Sparky speaks to Sam Yang (@StuffFromSam) of Southpaw, a…
- Current Affairs
MMT Update
Sparky and Pete took a little break from the MMT series over the holidays. (You can see one of the reasons at the link below.) But don't worry—more episodes…
- Current Affairs
Medical Debt Special with Astra Taylor and Elizabeth Bruenig
Finance editor Sparky Abraham is joined by contributing editor Eli Massey, activist and filmmaker Astra Taylor, and journalist Elizabeth Bruenig to discuss the…
- Current Affairs
Voicemailbag XIII
We dip once again into your voicemails! Topics include expectations for the Biden administration, anarchic education, and aliens. Stay tuned to the end so you…
- Current Affairs
Jubilee Day 5: Shireen Al-Adeimi on the war in Yemen
Eli speaks to assistant professor at Michigan State University and writer for In These Times, Shireen Al-Adeimi, about the ongoing war in Yemen—its causes, its…
- Current Affairs
Jubilee Day 4: Libby Watson on American sickness
Aisling speaks to journalist Libby Watson (@libbycwatson), formerly of The New Republic and Splinter, about her new Substack newsletter, Sick Note. Towards the…
- Current Affairs
Jubilee Day 3: Samuel Moyn on democratizing the Supreme Court
With the Supreme Court very much in the news cycle, Oren speaks to Yale professor of law and history, Samuel Moyn, about why we should not "pack the court", as…
- Current Affairs
Jubilee Day 2: Is Anything Real?
The team discuss the ensmallening of culture, women in science fiction, and reveal which things they suspect may not be real. The panel this week was senior…
- Current Affairs
Jubilee Day 1 - Nick and Sparky's CA Gripefest
Hello all! We took a week off for the holidays, but now we're back—and we've brought presents! To ring in the new year, we're bringing everyone five free…
- Current Affairs
PREVIEW: Yasmin Nair on the arts industry
This week, Lyta Gold had an extra-long, two-part conversation with Current Affairs editor-at-large Yasmin Nair, in which they dissect the arts industry, media…
- Current Affairs
UNLOCKED! Cole Stangler on racism and policing in France
This episode was originally on our bonus feed, but we've released it so everyone can listen for free! Associate editor and real-life French person Vanessa A…
- Current Affairs
#63: Chip-Filled Rooms
The panel dissects Obama's new memoir and what it says about his legacy, investigate the concept of 'cabals', and share their favorite competitive reality…
- Current Affairs
PREVIEW: Cole Stangler on racism and policing in France
Associate editor and real-life French person Vanessa A. Bee speaks to Paris-based journalist Cole Stangler about the recent French protests against police…
- Current Affairs
Is MMT Real? #1: Stephanie Kelton
Modern Monetary Theory—three simple words that are tearing apart the left. Pete Davis and Sparky Abraham have spent the last few years feeling curious and…
- Current Affairs
PREVIEW: Keeping Up With The Cardassians
Lyta and Brianna discuss Star Trek—its utopias, its assumptions, it fun parts, and its hot people. This is a preview of an episode available in full to our $5…
- Current Affairs
PREVIEW: Infrastructure Nerd Hour II (Flying Windmills)
Did you know we can build wind turbines that don't stand on the ground? That, in fact, we can catapult wind turbines into high altitude and collect energy from…
- Current Affairs
PREVIEW: What is Education For?
Nathan, Pete and Sparky discuss the book Cult of Smart: How Our Broken Education System Perpetuates Social Injustice, and education more broadly. Should there…
- Current Affairs
PREVIEW: Talia Lavin on white supremacy and antifascism
Pete speaks to journalist Talia Lavin about her new book Culture Warlords: My Journey Into the Dark Web of White Supremacy. This is a preview of an episode…
- Current Affairs
#62: The Biden Symphony
The team responds and reflects to the Biden win, ruminate on conservative octogenarians, and look forward to a vaccinated future. The panel this week is made…
- Current Affairs
Mass Appeal: A Discussion of Catholicism
As the US prepares for its second ever Catholic president, Rennix is joined by Current Affairs contributor Daniel Walden for an in-depth discussion on…