Best Citizen Assembly Podcasts (2025)

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5446: LISTEN¦ Should NI get its own Citizens' Assembly? Alliance's Michelle Guy has pointed to the success of similar bodies, including in the Republic, as a template 'engaging members of the public in ... 10:07

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8d ago10:07

10:07

Should NI get its own Citizens' Assembly? Alliance's Michelle Guy has pointed to the success of similar bodies, including in the Republic, as a template 'engaging members of the public in those conversations and feeling part of the process' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Fixing Democracy: Citizens’ Assemblies 1:05:51

25d ago1:05:51

1:05:51

David talks to Claudia Chwalisz, founder and CEO of Democracy Next, about how citizens’ assemblies could help fix what’s wrong with democracy. Where does the idea of a jury of citizens chosen at random to answer political questions come from? What are the kinds of contemporary questions it could help to settle? How does it work? And what would enco…

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Bail Reform Laws Citizen Report II Voices 4 Palestine II Shirley Winton NO to AUKUS II Sue Bolton Save Public Housing II This Is The Week II First People's Assembly Reuben Berg Treaty Explainer II

28d ago

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Headlines: - Albanese's Office Response: Prime Minister Albanese blames protestors for disruptions, while the church that owns the building states that the protestors have not caused any disturbances and that the lease simply expired. Criticism arises over Albanese's perceived opportunism in his anti-Palestinian rhetoric. - Worker's Death in Sydney…

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5447: LISTEN¦ Why are breastfeeding rates in Northern Ireland lagging behind other regions? Are there societal barriers that prevent some women from doing it? Frank spoke to Dr Jennifer Hanratty from the ... 13:18

1d ago13:18

13:18

Why are breastfeeding rates in Northern Ireland lagging behind other regions? Are there societal barriers that prevent some women from doing it? Frank spoke to Dr Jennifer Hanratty from the Centre for Effective Services Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Live Special: Prime Minister Farage? 1:01:59

1d ago1:01:59

1:01:59

In this special live episode recorded in front of pupils from Hill House and Hayfield schools in Doncaster, David talks to political scientist Rob Ford about whether Nigel Farage is really going to be the UK’s next PM. Is there anything comparable to the prospect of a Farage premiership in British political history? What are the electoral routes th…

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Fixing Democracy: Better Rhetoric 1:07:12

4d ago1:07:12

1:07:12

David talks to political theorist Alan Finlayson about what’s gone wrong with political speech and how it can be improved. Why do so many contemporary political arguments feel so sterile? What can we learn from the ancient art of rhetoric about how to do democratic politics better? Does the problem lie with the politicians or with the tools of comm…

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The Vanishing Middle: Scott Santens on UBI, AI, and America’s Unfinished Awakening 47:52

5d ago47:52

47:52

Hello nerds. When I first started interviewing Scott Santens years ago during the Nerds for Yang era, he was one of the most relentless and articulate advocates for universal basic income (UBI) in America. Back then, it felt like the country was on the verge of something big. Andrew Yang was on the debate stage making “Freedom Dividend” a household…

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Headlines II Voices 4 Palestine II Peter Norman Day II This is The Week II Pine Gap Desert Flotilla Blockade Report II Submarine Dreams Excerpt II

6d ago

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Headlines & Weather Report II here - Gaza Ceasefire Update: Israeli government approves the initial phase of the ceasefire, effective Friday at 9:00 am GMT, amid concerns over continued airstrikes in Gaza. - IDF Troop Withdrawal: Israel begins withdrawing troops while retaining control over 58% of Palestinian territory, including all Gaza crossings…

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5445: LISTEN¦ 'Nobody's saying peaceful protest isn't allowed, but why at the home? It's really appalling that people would try to intimidate in the way they have - it's more than crossed the line' UUP ... 7:08

8d ago7:08

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'Nobody's saying peaceful protest isn't allowed, but why at the home? It's really appalling that people would try to intimidate in the way they have - it's more than crossed the line' UUP justice spokesman Doug Beattie spoke to Frank Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Fixing Democracy: Compulsory Voting 57:53

9d ago57:53

57:53

In today’s episode David talks to political historian David Klemperer about whether voting should be required by law and what might change if non-participation was no longer an option. Why have some countries made voting compulsory? What difference has it made? Can the people who think democracy has got nothing to offer them be made to think otherw…

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5444: LISTEN¦ Is this the worst Executive ever? SDLP MLA has pointed at undelivered projects like the A5 and Casement Park are examples of 'the incompetence of the DUP and Sinn Fein in government' - Frank ... 21:48

11d ago21:48

21:48

Is this the worst Executive ever? SDLP MLA has pointed at undelivered projects like the A5 and Casement Park are examples of 'the incompetence of the DUP and Sinn Fein in government' - Frank spoke to the West Tyrone MLA and Prof Jon Tonge Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Molly Bohn: Grant County's success, campaign strategies, and 2026 spring and fall elections in WI 30:59

10d ago30:59

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Share your thoughts and comments by sending me a text message S.12 E.32 Molly Bohn is the Chair of Grant County Republican Party in Wisconsin. In this episode, Molly talked about Grant County and her experience as a county party leader. We also talked about the excellent outcome of last year's presidential election, and Molly highlighted campaign s…

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Fixing Democracy: What’s Wrong with Referendums? 1:00:50

11d ago1:00:50

1:00:50

In today’s episode David talks to Alan Renwick from UCL’s Constitution Unit about the pros and cons of referendums. When does a democratic question need to be put direct to the people? Do some countries do it better than others? How can referendums be used to open up political debate? And how can we avoid a rerun of the pitfalls of the Brexit refer…

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Headlines II Voices4Palestine II Italy -General Strike for Palestine II This is the Week II Save Burrup Hub II

13d ago

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Headlines here II - General Strike for Palestine in Italy after the attacks on the Musud Freedom Fortilla- UK Labor Party Conference passes motion condemning Israeli genocide in Gaza- Michael West Media reports Where’s Paul? Inside the attack on cardiologist by St Vincent’s and Victor Chang- InDaily reports Sea lion protection plan amid tonnes of d…

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5443: LISTEN¦ Should the Irish language have more prominence around Belfast? Councillors are to vote on a proposal that would see a bilingual logo appear on council buildings, uniforms and vehicles. Frank ... 14:19

15d ago14:19

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Should the Irish language have more prominence around Belfast? Councillors are to vote on a proposal that would see a bilingual logo appear on council buildings, uniforms and vehicles. Frank spoke to DUP and Sinn Fein councillors Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Now & Then with Robert Saunders: From Kinnock to Corbyn to Starmer 1:01:47

16d ago1:01:47

1:01:47

The second part of David’s conversation with Robert Saunders marking the 40th anniversary of Neil Kinnock’s party conference speech attacking the Militant tendency takes the story up to the present and beyond. Was Jeremy Corbyn’s victory in the Labour leadership contest of 2015 the revenge of the ‘Loony Left’? What’s the difference between Momentum…

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David Varnam: Campaign for Lieutenant Governor, top priorities, and high-stakes 2026 election in WI 28:37

16d ago28:37

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Share your thoughts and comments by sending me a text message S.12 E.31 David Varnam is a Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin. David Varnam is the former mayor of Lancaster. Previously, he also served as a congressional aide and was also a federal policy analyst at Focus on the Family. In this episode, David Varnam talks about…

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Now & Then with Robert Saunders: Neil Kinnock vs Militant 1:02:36

18d ago1:02:36

1:02:36

Today’s episode in our occasional series with Robert Saunders to mark momentous events in British political history explores the lasting consequences of a speech delivered 40 years ago this week. Labour leader Neil Kinnock’s attack on Militant at his party’s annual conference in 1985 brought a long-running conflict out into the open. Who were Milit…

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Voices 4 Palestine II Menzies 4 Palestine Interview II NT Report II This is the Week II Don Sutherland II

20d ago

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Headlines: This week, Slovenia imposed sanctions on Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the first EU state to do so. The Slovenian government cited the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in November 2024, on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed in Gaza since October 2023and the J…

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Fixing Democracy: How to Stop Election Rigging 1:03:39

22d ago1:03:39

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In today’s episode on how to fix democracy David talks to political scientist Nic Cheeseman about how to stop governments rigging elections around the world, from Africa to the United States. How widespread is the problem? Has digital technology made it worse? What makes an election free and fair? And what are the chances that the next US president…

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5442: LISTEN¦ President Trump has caused controversy by suggesting there may be a link between women taking paracetamol during pregnancy and autism rates. EU & UK government officials say it's safe. Frank ... 12:37

24d ago12:37

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President Trump has caused controversy by suggesting there may be a link between women taking paracetamol during pregnancy and autism rates. EU & UK government officials say it's safe. Frank spoke to GP Dr Frances O'Hagan Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Julie Helmer: Key Assembly race, outreach to moderates and independents, improving education, etc. 35:12

24d ago35:12

35:12

Share your thoughts and comments by sending me a text message S.12 E.30 In this episode, I interview Julie Helmer, who is the Vice Chair of Republican Party's 2nd Congressional District in Wisconsin. She is also the Republican candidate for Wisconsin's 40th Assembly District. Julie talks about her candidacy, her policy priorities, and also highligh…

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5441: LISTEN¦ Was the PM right to recognise a Palestinian state? Frank spoke to Alliance deputy leader Eóin Tennyson and TUV leader Jim Allister 18:34

24d ago18:34

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Was the PM right to recognise a Palestinian state? Frank spoke to Alliance deputy leader Eóin Tennyson and TUV leader Jim Allister Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Billie Johnson: President Trump's performance, Wisconsin Supreme Court, 2026 midterm election, etc. 1:09:32

26d ago1:09:32

1:09:32

Share your thoughts and comments by sending me a text message S.12 E.29 In this episode, I interview Billie Johnson, who is the Chairman of Republican Party's 2nd Congressional District in Wisconsin. Mr. Johnson shares his thoughts about President Donald Trump's performance in office so far, immigration enforcement and the rule of law, the upcoming…

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Zohran Mamdani's rise and a missed opportunity for the Republicans 25:58

29d ago25:58

25:58

Share your thoughts and comments by sending me a text message S.12 E.28 Zohran Mamdani is leading in the polls. He is likely to become to next mayor of New York City. In this episode, I discuss the mayoral race and talk about why I believe this is a missed opportunity for the Republicans. ABOUT: Tawsif Anam is a nationally published writer, award-w…

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Fixing Democracy: Parliamentary Reform 59:23

29d ago59:23

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In today’s episode David talks to Hannah White, Director of the Institute for Government, about legislatures in general and the British parliament in particular. Are law-making bodies really being sidelined by strongarm executives? What would enable parliaments to work better? How can they better fulfil their role of scrutinising what government do…

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5440: LISTEN¦ 'I've had colleagues receive many threats. People put on a brave face for the public, but in private it does take its toll' Alliance's Nuala McAllister spoke to Frank after police issued ... 9:58

1M ago9:58

9:58

'I've had colleagues receive many threats. People put on a brave face for the public, but in private it does take its toll' Alliance's Nuala McAllister spoke to Frank after it was revealed police issued nearly 6000 'threat to life' warnings in five years Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

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Healing Racism to Strengthen the U.S. Constitution with Susan Sturm 56:42

1M ago56:42

56:42

What does it take to confront racism without falling into despair and instead transform our institutions for equity and justice? In this episode, Dr. Zeitz speaks with Professor Susan Sturm of Columbia Law School, a leading scholar and changemaker whose work bridges law, education, and community action. Drawing from her new book, What Might Be: Con…

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CALIFORNIA CHAOS: The duality of face coverings 17:56

1M ago17:56

17:56

Share your thoughts and comments by sending me a text message S.12 E.27 It was a few years ago that California Democrats supported mask mandates for all people. And now that federal agents are wearing face coverings while conducting operations to catch criminals, the California Democrats want to ban face coverings for law enforcement officers. In t…

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Fixing Democracy: Electoral Reform 59:04

1M ago59:04

59:04

For the first episode in a new series about the ideas that could help democracy work better David talks to David Klemperer of the Constitution Society about proportional representation. How did nineteenth-century advocates of PR think it could improve democratic representation? Why did PR get adopted in some places but not in others during the twen…

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Voices 4 Palestine II Mercedes Zanker AUKUS II This Is The Week II Justice Not Jails NT II

1M ago

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Headlines:US as Rogue State: Allegations of America acting unilaterally in international affairs.Israel's Attack on Dubai: Reported US consent for Israel's military action in Dubai.Extrajudicial Killings: Intercept reveals US involvement in extrajudicial killings off the coast of Venezuela.Dan Duggan Extradition: Australia to extradite Dan Duggan t…

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5449: LISTEN¦ The stars of a new coming-of-age film 'Unholylands' set in Belfast, called in to the studio to chat to Frank, ahead of its release next month 9:13

1M ago9:13

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The stars of a new coming-of-age film, Unholylands, set in Belfast, called in to the studio to chat to Frank, ahead of its release next month Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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MAGNIFICENT MISSOURI: The possibility of a new congressional map 23:54

1M ago23:54

23:54

Share your thoughts and comments by sending me a text message S.12 E.26 Redistricting is one of the most important current affairs topics. After the approval of a new congressional map in Texas, Missouri has now started the process of updating their congressional map. In this episode, I discuss the matter. ABOUT: Tawsif Anam is a nationally publish…

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CRISIS IN CHARLOTTE: A shocking crime and alarming woke policies 26:50

1M ago26:50

26:50

Share your thoughts and comments by sending me a text message S.12 E.25 The killing of a woman from Ukraine, on a train in North Carolina, has caused nationwide outrage. The incident highlights the failure of Democrats' policies regarding public safety. In this episode, I talk about this shocking crime in Charlotte and alarming woke policies of the…

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Indignity w/Lea Ypi 1:06:48

1M ago1:06:48

1:06:48

David talks to Lea Ypi about her new book Indignity: A Life Reimagined, which tells the story of her grandmother’s extraordinary life and in doing so uncovers the hidden history of mid-twentieth-century Europe. But it is also a book about the different philosophies of dignity and how those ideas can shape, make and break individual human lives. A c…

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ICE IN CHICAGO: Operation Midway Blitz and what it means for our country 24:50

1M ago24:50

24:50

Share your thoughts and comments by sending me a text message S.12 E.24 After weeks of anticipation, finally we know that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has launched an operation to catch criminal illegal aliens in Illinois. It is called: Operation Midway Blitz. In this episode, I talk about this new operation and what it means for our c…

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The Boston Trust Act or the "Breach of Trust Act"? 25:24

1M ago25:24

25:24

Share your thoughts and comments by sending me a text message S.12 E.23 In Boston, the left-wing politicians are using the Trust Act to prevent local law enforcement from cooperating with federal agents. In this episode, talk about the Boston Trust Act, and explain why it should be called the "Breach of Trust Act." ABOUT: Tawsif Anam is a nationall…

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A WILL AND A WAY: Liberating Chicago by catching criminals 24:14

1M ago24:14

24:14

Share your thoughts and comments by sending me a text message S.12 E.22 The Democrats have failed to do their jobs, in a city like Chicago. Widespread crimes are severely affecting the lives of the people. The Democrats, who have a history of supporting "Defund the Police" efforts, are not doing what is necessary to combat crimes and to ensure publ…

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Dignity and Indignity w/Lea Ypi 59:59

1M ago59:59

59:59

Today’s episode is the first in a three-part conversation with philosopher and writer Lea Ypi about the idea of dignity and its role in the history of ideas and in the story of our lives. What is the difference between dignity and dignitas? How does our conception of dignity shape the ways that we think about death? And why is Kant so important for…

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Voices 4 Palestine II Save Public Housing II Stop Work Sept 10 II This is the week II Where Do the Profits Go? II

1M ago

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Voices 4 Palestine here II the voices of people at the most recent Sydney Rally for Palestine recorded by Vivien Langford from #3crClimateActionShowSave Public Housing here II Tenancy Lawyer and Socialist Steph Price from the Save Public Housing Rally.Stop Work Sept 10 here II Dylan from ASU members for Palestine explains why they are calling for a…

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5438: LISTEN¦ Should prison inmates have access to a 'comfort dog'? Officials insist safeguards are in place to ensure the welfare of a dog in Magilligan, but MLA and dog owner Jon Burrows has raised concerns ... 12:28

1M ago12:28

12:28

Should prison inmates have access to a 'comfort dog'? Officials insist safeguards are in place to ensure the welfare of a dog in Magilligan, but MLA and dog owner Jon Burrows has raised concerns with the justice minister Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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5437: LISTEN¦ Were police wrong to arrest Father Ted writer Graham Linehan for gender-critical tweets? The Metropolitan police have faced significant backlash since the arrest. Frank spoke to Connie Shaw ... 2:00

1M ago2:00

2:00

Were police wrong to arrest Father Ted writer Graham Linehan for gender-critical tweets? The Metropolitan police have faced significant backlash since the arrest. Frank spoke to Connie Shaw from the Free Speech Union Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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PPF+: More of What You’ve Been Missing! 1:01:11

1M ago1:01:11

1:01:11

In today’s episode some more highlights from the PPF+ archive of 35 bonus episodes and counting: here are a few more excerpts we think you might enjoy. In this episode you’ll hear David talking about In the Loop and the question of why politicians do and don’t resign; Robert Saunders on the legacy of Brexit for politics in 2025; Shannon Vallor on w…

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Nerds for Democracy: The Board Game That Makes Politics Fun—and Reveals Sobering Truths 1:09:00

1M ago1:09:00

1:09:00

It’s been a while since I hosted a long-form livestream on Nerds for Humanity. Between shorts, behind-the-scenes projects, and life’s chaos, I hadn’t sat down for a deep conversation in some time. That changed when I brought on two co-conspirators, Ram and Spidermang, both collaborators on our board game Nerds for Democracy. What started as a behin…

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5436: LISTEN¦ Should we teach self defense to children at school? A new book revealed that as a teenager, Queen Camilla fought off a would-be attacker on a train. Frank spoke to Glyn Ashton from Vault ... 20:24

2M ago20:24

20:24

Should we teach self defense to children at school? A new book revealed that as a teenager, Queen Camilla fought off a would-be attacker on a train. Frank spoke to Glyn Ashton from Vault self-defence and Treasa Rice from Glow NI Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Action Alert: Join Emergency Mobilization to Renew Democracy 15:23

2M ago15:23

15:23

Trust in our democracy is collapsing, but history shows that when ordinary people rise up, real change becomes inevitable. In this episode, Dr. Paul Zeitz issues a bold call to action: join a nationwide movement to refresh and renew American democracy before it’s too late. From the Freedom Charter to the vision of a National Citizens Assembly, Dr. …

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FOES OR FRIENDS: What does the cooperation between India and China mean for the United States? 25:36

1M ago25:36

25:36

Share your thoughts and comments by sending me a text message S.12 E.21 It appears that India and China have become friends. Is that true? Historically, India and China have been rivals. The two countries had clashes and conflicts in the past. But it seems that the two countries are now cooperating with each other. In this episode, I talk about wha…

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Politics on Trial: Hitler vs Weimar 1:05:08

2M ago1:05:08

1:05:08

Today’s epic political trial is the one that should have been the end of Adolf Hitler but ended up being the making of him: his treason trial in 1924 for the so-called Beer Hall Putsch. How close did Hitler’s attempted coup come to succeeding? Why was he allowed to turn the court that tried him into a platform for his poisonous politics? What were …

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FOCUS ON IOWA: Loss of supermajority, a possible retirement, and the need for better GOP strategy 25:48

2M ago25:48

25:48

Share your thoughts and comments by sending me a text message S.12 E.20 The Republicans in Iowa have just suffered a big loss in a special election. Furthermore, there are reports of the possibility of a major retirement that might put the 2026 U.S. Senate race in Iowa in focus. Recent events point towards to the need for better political strategy …

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Voices 4 Palestine II No Incinerator Wollert II Save Public Housing II No New Vic Off-Shore Gas Permits II Ahmed Abadla II

2M ago

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Voices 4 Palestine here II Highlights from the Sydney Rally, part of the National Rally for Palestine 24 Aug., including Henry Rajendra, the President of the NSW Teachers Federation, and Grace Tame. Thanks to Vivien Langford #3crClimate ActionShow for the recording.No Incinerator Wollert here II Cath Rouse from No Northern Incinerator Wollert joins…