Best Amna Khalid Podcasts (2024)

1
Braver Angels at The Republican Convention: Jessie Mannisto and Luke Nathan Phillips 27:04

16m ago27:04

27:04

This is our first in a series of new reports on the work, people and projects of Braver Angels— the largest volunteer-led group in the bridging community. The show was recorded a few days after the assassination attempt against Donald Trump. Our guests are Jessie Mannisto and Luke Nathan Phillips, who spent this week in Milwaukee, right outside the…

1
Special Announcement About Our Future 0:59

14h ago0:59

0:59

In the last episode Jim Meigs and Richard Davies celebrated more than nine years as co-hosts. They also announced that their podcasting partnership was ending. But "How Do We Fix It?" is not going away. Instead we plan to focus on something we've covered a great deal recently, and is of urgent importance right now: The broken nature of American pol…

1
Jim & Richard: A Friendship Across Divides 24:44

1M ago24:44

24:44

When we first started our podcast in the spring of 2015, Jim and Richard came from different political tribes. They still do. But during more than 400 shows they've deepened their friendship and learned a tremendous amount from each other, and our remarkable guests. While "How Do We Fix It?" podcast will continue its journey, Jim and Richard's nine…

1
The Case For Ranked Choice Voting. Rob Richie 27:18

2M ago27:18

27:18

Supporters of Ranked Choice Voting argue that we need to a big change how we vote. Our “choose-one” elections, they say, deprive voters of meaningful choices, create increasingly toxic campaign cycles, advance candidates who lack broad support and leave voters feeling like our voices are not heard. We examine the case for this form of proportional …

1
Refuge: A Unique Strength of Liberalism: Professor Bryan Garsten 33:14

2M ago33:14

33:14

Liberalism is out of fashion. You might say that it's under siege. From the populist right to the progressive left, liberal touchtones of limited government, personal freedom, the rule of law, and a mixed economy have come in for harsh criticism. Liberalism is assailed by many critics, but it has not failed, argues Yale Political Science Professor …

1
What's at Stake at Columbia University (and beyond)? 6:29

3M ago6:29

6:29

We saw this clip of Columbia University History Professor Christopher Brown and wanted to share it far and wide. Dr. Brown delivered these remarks on Monday, April 20 at a faculty-led “Rally to Support our Students and Reclaim our University.” He was responding to two events: Columbia President Minouche Shafik’s Congressional Testimony on April 17 …

1
The Collapse of Local News and How to Rebuild Regional Journalism: Anna Brugmann 23:45

3M ago23:45

23:45

In much of the country local news has collapsed, threatening civic pride and a sense of community for countless towns and cities. This dramatic change has also deepened America's divides. As our guest, journalist and public policy researcher Anna Brugmann explains in this episode, "the internet disrupted the local journalism model". Newspaper adver…

1
Diversity Is Great, DEI, Inc. Isn't. 31:10

4M ago31:10

31:10

We recently appeared on "How Do We Fix It?", a wonderful podcast in search of constructive and practical ideas to address the many problems that plague our age. We had a fantastic time talking to the hosts Richard Davies and Jim Meigs about free speech, academic freedom and campus politics. We discussed DEI, Inc.—what the term means and why we thin…

1
Diversity Is Great. DEI Isn't. Amna Khalid and Jeff Snyder 35:30

4M ago35:30

35:30

Diversity equity and inclusion: Sounds like a good thing in an incredibly diverse country such as ours, especially when teaching young people at American colleges and universities. But the DEI industry - or DEI Inc. — has arguably gone off the rails. There’s a big difference between the intentions behind a lot of diversity training and the results.…

1
Politics: Majority In The Middle. Shannon Watson 29:35

5M ago29:35

29:35

News coverage of Super Tuesday and other party primaries focused mainly on base voters— Democrats and Republicans. But most Americans are actually on the political sidelines or somewhere in the middle. Many have a mix of conservative and liberal views. This episode is about them. Our guest is Shannon Watson, the Founder and Executive Director of Ma…

1
Changing Journalism: Boosting Trust in the News Media. Joy Mayer 26:05

6M ago26:05

26:05

Only four-in-ten Americans say they have a lot of trust in the news media. That's a big problem for our democracy, especially in this volatile presidential election year. While journalists are supposed to tell the truth and get the story right, just 35% of right-of-center voters have some trust in what they see on the news. Democrats and independen…

1
Ideas For Everyone: The Virtues of a Liberal Education. Roosevelt Montás 30:06

6M ago30:06

30:06

What is the point of a good education? Do we need it to learn a narrow set of skills ro help us get ahead in the workplace, or should knowledge and learning to be used over a lifetime to acquire wisdom that enables us to think more deeply about our place in the world? This question has profound resonance at a time of angry divides over American pol…

1
What Could Go Right? 2024 Predictions Show 26:09

7M ago26:09

26:09

From the economy and prospects for a Biden vs Trump rematch to the future for global energy and artificial intelligence, Richard and Jim make their forecasts for 2024. And we re-visit our predictions from exactly a year ago and report on precisely how we did. "It's sort of like weather forecasters and opinion pollsters going back and owning up to t…

1
How to Escape The Identity Trap - Yascha Mounk (part two) 31:48

7M ago31:48

31:48

We continue our discussion with Yascha Mounk, one of the leading public intellectuals of our time. The subject is a hugely influential ideology that attempts to put racial, sexual and gender identity at the center of our social, cultural and political life. The "identity synthesis", Mounk argues, denies that members of different groups can truly un…

1
The Origins of Today's Identity Politics - Yascha Mounk (part one) 31:30

8M ago31:30

31:30

Having skewered right-wing populism and its demagogues in his two previous best-selling books, politics professor, writer, and podcaster Yasha Mounk turns now to the threat posed to liberalism from those progressives who champion "woke" identity politics. We discuss his latest, "The Identity Trap: A Story of Ideas and Power In Our Time." This episo…

1
Imaging a Better Future. How Doomers Prevent Progress. James Pethokoukis 36:13

8M ago36:13

36:13

Yes, it's our 400th episode. But instead of looking back over the past eight-and-a-half years of our podcasts, we consider the future: How collective optimism or pessimism can have a huge impact on the economy, risk taking, and the acceptance of new technologies that spark growth and innovation. Our guest is scholar and journalist James Pethokoukis…

1
"Entitled to Judge" 19:29

8M ago19:29

19:29

Celebrated as the bedrock of democracy, freedom of expression is often seen as an American or western value. Yet the concept has a rich and global history. In the spring of 2023 I offered a course on the global history of free expression. The course tracks the long and turbulent history of freedom of expression from ancient Athens and medieval Isla…

1
Polarization Series: Bridging Divides at Braver Angels. Erica Manuel and Manu Meel 30:15

9M ago30:15

30:15

Affective polarization in America – the gap between voters' positive feelings about their own political party or "side" and negative feelings toward the opposing party – has sharply increased during the past two decades. We speak with two leaders in local government and a nationwide students group about effective ways to bridge divides. Erica Manue…

1
Polarization Series: The Soul of Civility. Alexandra Hudson 28:38

9M ago28:38

28:38

It's easy to look at the impacts of rigid polarization and blame our leaders and political parties, the media, or the education system. In this episode, we hear an argument that the first thing all of us should do is focus on what we can control: ourselves. We discuss how to learn to live with others despite deep divisions. All democracies need pro…

1
Polarization Series: The Keys to Good Conflict. Hélène Biandudi Hofer 28:22

10M ago28:22

28:22

Destructive conflict aims to destroy the other side. But constructive conflict can be a force for good. In this episode we learn how good conflict helps move people beyond polarization, slogans, and angry tweets to a place where they can connect and grow— even as they strongly disagree. Hélène Biandudi Hofer says that when we have the vocabulary an…

1
Polarization Series: Is Social Media to Blame? Professor Chris Bail 34:17

10M ago34:17

34:17

Almost everyone has an opinion about the impact of social media on political polarization. Most of us believe that Twitter, Facebook, Reddit, YouTube and other sites have made our civic life more angry and divided. But how much of this is true? Are consumers as much to blame as the platforms themselves? 15 years ago, in the very early days of socia…

1
Polarization: My Side Is Wrong. Jim & Richard 26:08

10M ago26:08

26:08

Have you ever been asked by a political opponent to describe what's wrong or weak about your own side's arguments? That's what Richard and Jim do here. This episode could have been ripped from a Braver Angels training seminar, but to our knowledge, no other podcast has tried this before. Liberal-leaning Richard takes on three hot topics, picked by …

1
Polarization: Is America Too Fragmented? Rick Pildes and Lee Drutman 30:35

11M ago30:35

30:35

Why is American politics so dysfunctional? Is it because we are too polarized or too fragmented? Throughout this fall we will be exploring different aspects of polarization— arguably the most important threat to both effective governance and a stable democracy. This episode includes an edited recording of a lively conversation from the podcast, "Po…

1
American Polarization: Political and Personal. Mónica Guzmán 29:02

11M ago29:02

29:02

Toxic polarization is "the problem that eats all other problems... It's the sludge at the base of everything else," our guest Mónica Guzmán tells us. In this really useful repeat episode from 2022, we learn how to fight back against the confusion and heartbreak of living with rigid divides. This show is a curtain raiser for a series we are doing th…

1
A Bigger Tent for Democrats: Lanae Erickson 27:30

12M ago27:30

27:30

Why aren’t Democrats doing much better in elections for Congress and also in state races? We explore several reasons. One is that Democrats have been losing the support of many black, white and hispanic working class voters. We heard a forceful argument about that in "How Do We Fix It?" episode #389 with Ruy Teixeira. In this show we expand the arg…

1
The Fight to Save the Town: Michelle Wilde Anderson 37:58

1y ago37:58

37:58

Globalization, technology, devastating impacts from the foreclosure crisis and the opioid addiction have wreaked havoc on communities left behind by the modern economy. Some of these discarded places are rural. Others are cities or suburbs. Some vote blue, others red. Some are the most diverse communities in America, while others are nearly all whi…

1
For the Love of Cities. Peter Kageyama 26:40

1y ago26:40

26:40

Why do we connect emotionally with some places and not others? Why does that matter? What does loving the place you live in have to do with healing the partisan divide? We explore these questions and hear about solutions from author, researcher and speaker Peter Kageyama. This shared episode is an edited version of a podcast released earlier this y…

1
Where Have All The Democrats Gone? Ruy Teixeira 32:42

1y ago32:42

32:42

American politics are evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. But our guest argues that it doesn't have to be this way. He tells fellow Democrats: "Given the problems the Republicans have, why aren't you beating the hell out of these people?" Political scientist and author Ruy Teixeira says that recent election results have been a lost op…

1
Should Money Be Free? Rethinking Interest Rates. Edward Chancellor 31:35

1y ago31:35

31:35

Ever since the 2008 financial crisis and recession, central bankers and most economists have agreed that it's good to keep interest rates as low as possible. Making it easy to borrow money very cheaply helps the economy recover from recessions and the COVID pandemic. But what if very cheap money has unintended consequences such as asset bubbles and…

1
The Middle 70%. In This Together: Bill Shireman 28:36

1y ago28:36

28:36

"America is rigidly divided between red and blue." That's what we're constantly being told by pundits, politicians and media outlets, both left and right. But what if that wasn't quite true? On a surprisingly large number of issues, Americans agree on the broad outlines of public policy. Author, conflict mediator, and social entrepreneur, Bill Shir…

1
AI Revolution: Disaster or Great Leap Forward? Nathanael Fast 29:22

1y ago29:22

29:22

Generative Artificial Intelligence has the power to transform lives and change our jobs. In this episode, we discuss the potential for good and bad from large, creative AI models such as ChatGPT. Our guest is Nathanael Fast, who serves as Director of the Neely Center for Ethical Leadership and Decision Making and Co-Director of the Psychology of Te…

1
US-UK Relations. Fit for a King? Richard and Jim 28:47

1y ago28:47

28:47

The Coronation of King Charles III promises to be very big on pomp and circumstance, but it may also play a leading role in healing divisions between post-Brexit Britain and the European Union. Leading EU officials will be in attendance at Westminster Abbey. This podcast shares a personal perspective on some of the momentous changes in the UK over …

1
What's The Future of Journalism? Nikki Usher 27:23

1+ y ago27:23

27:23

The news media and journalists themselves are faced with a crisis of confidence and trust. The internet broke the old business model of locally-based newspaper reporting and replaced it with national opinion journalism written by and for well-educated metropolitan elites. Our guest is Nikki Usher, Associate Professor at the University of San Diego,…

1
Let's Rebuild Local News: Anna Brugmann 27:59

1+ y ago27:59

27:59

In much of the country local news has collapsed, threatening civic pride and a sense of community for countless towns and cities. This dramatic change has also deepened America's divides. As our guest, journalist and public policy researcher Anna Brugmann explains in this episode, "the internet disrupted the local journalism model". Newspaper adver…

1
Risky Business: More Bank Collapses Ahead? Allison Schrager 30:19

1+ y ago30:19

30:19

Rising interest rates and the end of easy money were two factors in the sudden collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and a subsequent stock market run on shares of regional banks. Questions were raised about the safety of the entire U.S. banking industry. We examine risk in banking, investing and the broader economy. Federal regulators faced harsh …

1
Ukraine: Why The War With Russia Has Changed The World: Marci Shore 31:43

1+ y ago31:43

31:43

The people of Ukraine are facing down a military giant. Their unity and bravery in the bloody, cruel year since the Russia invasion are an inspiration to the rest of the world. Instead of talking about politics or the state of the war, we consider the battlefield of ideas. Above all this show is an attempt to put the war into context: What’s at sta…

1
Ukraine and the Wider Conflict. Values at Stake: Jacob Mchangama 27:08

1+ y ago27:08

27:08

By any measure this has been a momentous week for global politics. President Biden’s surprise trip to Kyiv, his “freedom” speech in Warsaw, the visit of China’s top diplomat to Moscow, and Vladimir Putin’s decision to suspend Russian participation in the last remaining nuclear arms treaty with the U.S. are all signs of deepening big-power tensions.…

1
Avoiding Debt-Ceiling Disaster: Chris Low 33:53

1+ y ago33:53

33:53

The last time the U.S. faced a major showdown over the debt ceiling was a decade ago. Much like today, House Republicans insisted on spending cuts before they would vote to raise the amount of money the government could borrow. Then-President Obama and now-President Biden said they would not negotiate. Who will blink first? Nearly all economists an…

1
Anti-Racism: The Pro-Human Approach. Bion Bartning 33:09

1+ y ago33:09

33:09

Sixty years ago in his most famous speech, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. spoke of his vision of an America transformed. "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character," he said. Was this an argument for a color-blind society,…

1
The Sunshine State Descends into Darkness (Again) 13:42

1+ y ago13:42

13:42

Worse than McCarthyism? In this episode of Banished, we explore the all-out assault on academic freedom in higher education in Florida. Turns out there’s a long history of campus witch-hunts in the state. We spoke with Robert Cassenello (history professor at University of Central Florida), Paul Ortiz (history professor at the University of Florida)…

1
Pushing Back Against Polarization: The Village Square. Liz Joyner 33:38

1+ y ago33:38

33:38

One way to help solve America's polarization crisis is to hang out with someone not like you. Someone who sees the world differently or comes from a cultural background, social class, racial or ethnic group other than your own. While social media, political elites and national news outlets profit from polarization, the rest of us do not. This episo…

1
What Will We Fix in 2023? Jim & Richard's Predictions 30:19

1+ y ago30:19

30:19

2022 was another year of COVID-induced anxiety with widespread worries about democracy, polarization, climate change and threats to democracy. But in this new year special Richard and Jim say we have reached peak fear. America may well be calming down and headed towards a new sense of normal. Our co-hosts throw caution to the wind with a series of …

1
The Costs of Culture Wars: Curiosity at Risk. Deborah Appleman 33:52

1+ y ago33:52

33:52

In some ways, our culture is less tolerant and more fragile than it once was. The teaching of literature in schools and colleges is often caught in the crossfire of the culture wars. Support for canceling books and authors by the illiberal left and demands to ban books from the reactionary right have led to the removal of important literature from …

1
Our Electricity Grid is Surprisingly Fragile: Meredith Angwin 31:07

1+ y ago31:07

31:07

Every day Americans take the reliable supply of electricity for granted. Except during severe storms, we rarely, if ever, think that the lights might not turn on in the morning. But in some parts of the country, consumers face the threat of rolling blackouts, and sudden surges in the price of electricity. Nearly two years ago, nearly 300 people die…

1
Democracy: The Voters Verdict. Layla Zaidane and David Meyers 33:44

1+ y ago33:44

33:44

We have a 2022 post-election show with a twist. Instead of focusing on which party is up or down, we open the hood and examine the engine of our democracy. Voters delivered a clear verdict: Most election deniers were defeated as many voters, especially independents, split their ballots, and shunned the extremes. Our guests are Layla Zaidane, Presid…

1
Fixing the Housing Affordability Crisis. Ed Glaeser 28:12

1+ y ago28:12

28:12

No other issue has greater potential for common ground than America's housing affordability crisis. Progressives and conservatives alike agree that for far too many Americans there is a critical shortage of available homes. Since COVID erupted in 2020 the costs of apartment rentals and homes to buy have soared. According to the real estate firm Zil…

1
Will Florida's "Stop WOKE Act" Hold Up in Court? 21:15

1+ y ago21:15

21:15

Banished returns with a special episode on the status of a lawsuit challenging Florida’s “Stop WOKE Act.” To understand how this law threatens open inquiry and academic freedom, Amna talked to the two co-plaintiffs, University of South Florida history professor Adriana Novoa and University of South Florida senior Sam Rechek. For help with the legal…

1
Homecoming: The Case for a Post-Global World with Rana Foroohar 30:52

2y ago30:52

30:52

For much of the past fifty years, American political leaders of both parties have assumed that globalization and free trade would lead to more opportunity, higher living standards and increased business efficiency. But our guest, author and Financial Times columnist, Rana Foroohar, argues that with supply chain disruptions and growing economic inse…

1
They Changed Our Minds. Alina Chan and Jonathan Rauch 28:44

2y ago28:44

28:44

How do you tell the difference between truth and lies? The answer involves a careful process of seeking knowledge that may contradict our long held beliefs. In this episode, our hosts share two conversations with expert guests who changed Jim and Richard's minds about how they approach topics central to our understanding of politics, science, and s…

1
Junk Science in the American Criminal Justice System. M. Chris Fabricant 30:30

2y ago30:30

30:30

No one will ever know how many innocent people have been sent to prison because of junk science and flawed forensics. In this episode, we hear from Innocence Project attorney M. Chris Fabricant about how America’s broken and racist criminal justice system often relies on bogus scientific evidence for convictions. Chris is the author of the new book…

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Amna Khalid Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

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