Best Hawaii Narrative Project Podcasts (2025)

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From Oyster Farming to Running for Senate with Graham Platner 50:55

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5d ago50:55

50:55

Campaigns for the 2026 midterm elections are officially kicking off and candidates are starting to roll out their intro bios and platforms. One ad in particular, went viral online. It featured Graham Platner, a marine and army veteran and oyster farmer. He’s running for U.S. Senate in Maine to unseat five-term Republican Senator Susan Collins. He j…

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Protests, Political Violence and Its Alternatives with Erica Chenoweth 57:59

11d ago57:59

57:59

We are resharing this episode, which originally published on May 6th, 2025. You’ve probably seen footage or photos of people protesting the Trump regime. Some data suggests that the volume of protestors is higher than in Trump’s first term. But at the same time, you might be wondering if we’re seeing enough civil resistance to preserve American dem…

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'Here Comes The Sun' with Bill McKibben 54:17

19d ago54:17

54:17

Amid all of the political turmoil and global crises, one source of hope stands out: our ability to power modern life with zero emissions. Scientists warn that to limit global warming, emissions need to be cut significantly in the coming years to reach net-zero by mid-century. Bill McKibben, founder of climate justice organization 350.org and Third …

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Unpacking the US-China Trade War with Bill Bishop 57:29

26d ago57:29

57:29

When President Trump announced sweeping tariffs on all Chinese imports, China retaliated back with tariffs of its own. Since February 2025, the US and China have engaged in a renewed trade war – and to this day, no agreement is in sight. Bill Bishop, a China expert and former media executive with more than a decade experience living and working in …

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Baltimore's Violent Crime Perception vs. Reality with Mayor Scott 51:10

1M ago51:10

51:10

This week, President Trump called Baltimore “so far gone” amid the deployment of the National Guard in DC. In reality, Baltimore has seen record low rates of violent crime the past few years. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott joins WITHpod to talk about the perception versus reality for crime stats in in Baltimore, the city’s Comprehensive Violence Pre…

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'Not My Type' with E. Jean Carroll 50:51

1M ago50:51

50:51

Author and journalist E. Jean Carroll successfully sued Donald Trump in two civil suits, one for sexual abuse and another for defamation. The two suits resulted in a total of $88.3 million in damages awarded to Carroll, both of which are under appeal. She has written five books including her latest, “Not My Type: One Woman vs. a President." She joi…

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The United States' Standing in the Global Economy with Aya Ibrahim 56:07

2M ago56:07

56:07

The state of the U.S. economy will come into full view this week as a wave of crucial economic data is set for release, including the jobs report, inflation, consumer confidence and corporate earnings. Where is the U.S. in terms of the global economic order? And how did we get to this point? Aya Ibrahim served as senior advisor on the Secretary of …

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The Resistance vs. Trump 2.0 with Omar Wasow 52:57

2M ago52:57

52:57

We’ve seen a good number of protests during Trump 2.0. What role does our ability to organize and protest play in this moment as we see the erosion of democracy right in front of us? Omar Wasow, associate professor of political science at UC Berkley, joins to discuss how he’s making sense of American politics at this moment, protests in this era an…

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The Supreme Court’s Power Grab Under Trump 59:35

2M ago59:35

59:35

Well, it was another consequential Supreme Court term. So, we had to have Chris's wife Kate Shaw, along with the other co-hosts of the Strict Scrutiny podcast, Melissa Murray and Leah Litman back to break down some of the biggest SCOTUS decisions including Medina v. Planned Parenthood, U.S. v. Skrmetti, and Trump v. CASA. There's a lot to discuss a…

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Crypto in Trump 2.0 with Zeke Faux 49:15

2M ago49:15

49:15

Note: this episode originally published on 02/11/25. A lot of things are changing. And there’s a lot of things that the new White House administration wants to do differently. One of the areas where we’ve seen a lot of attention is cryptocurrency. Some of the latest developments are pretty confounding, to say the least. Lucky for us, our guest this…

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Discussing the Context of the US Bombing Iran with Robert Malley 53:00

2M ago53:00

53:00

When news alerts went out that the US sent missiles to bomb Iranian nuclear sites, debates began about how deeply the US would continue to wade into the conflict between Israel and Iran. After days of panic, President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between the two countries. But it was Trump himself who, in his first term, stopped US efforts to…

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“My Brain Finally Broke” with Jia Tolentino 57:00

3M ago57:00

57:00

You’ve probably come across content online that seems real but is actually fake. And that experience is becoming more common with the proliferation of AI generated content. Our guest this week points out that the mental gymnastics of this starts to take a toll. Jia Tolentino, a staff writer at The New Yorker, wrote a piece all about this aptly titl…

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Strategies for the Resistance 2.0 with Leah Greenberg 52:34

3M ago52:34

52:34

Note: this episode originally published on 01/07/25. Our guest this week co-founded one of the biggest groups that initially came about in response to Trump 1.0. Leah Greenberg is co-founder and co-executive director of Indivisible, an organization with a mission to organize thousands of local groups to resist the GOPs agenda, elect local champions…

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The Narrative vs. Real Effects of This Economy with Joe Weisenthal 56:17

3M ago56:17

56:17

It can be hard to follow and make sense of all of the volatility we’ve been seeing in the markets and economy recently. Lucky for us, Joe Weisenthal, co-host of Bloomberg’s “Odd Lots” podcast is joining this week to help break down what’s been going on. He joins WITHpod to discuss recent economic volatility and what it means for financial markets v…

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“Empire of AI” with Karen Hao 50:27

3M ago50:27

50:27

There’s a good chance that before November of 2022, you hadn’t heard of tech nonprofit OpenAI or cofounder Sam Altman. But over the last few years, they’ve become household names with the explosive growth of the generative AI tool called ChatGPT. What’s been going on behind the scenes at one of the most influential companies in history and what eff…

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Where Do We Go From Here? with Anna Galland (2024) 59:14

4M ago59:14

59:14

Note: this episode originally published on 11/12/24. From original description: Whew, the past few days have been a lot. Like you probably, Chris hasn’t slept much this past week. There’s a lot to process given that Donald Trump is now president-elect… again. Our guest this week, who has worked as an organizer throughout numerous political ups and …

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What’s Behind the Tax Revolt? with Arjun Singh 57:27

4M ago57:27

57:27

Tax policy has been a core part of the Republican party. A central feature within the GOP, particularly since Reagan, has been cutting taxes for corporations and some of the wealthiest Americans. President Trump, breaking away from traditional party orthodoxy, recently raised the idea of increasing taxes on some of the country’s richest. Our guest …

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How Project 2025 is Reshaping America with David Graham 53:55

4M ago53:55

53:55

We got a pretty clear heads up about what Trump 2.0 could portend for so many facets of American life. The Mandate for Leadership, also known as Project 2025, is perhaps the clearest compilation of goals for Trump’s second term. Now that 100 days have passed of the second Trump administration, we thought it would be a good time to see where things …

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“Trump Is Not a King” with NY Attorney General Letitia James 54:39

5M ago54:39

54:39

A good amount of institutions have capitulated and complied in recent months with many of the Trump administration’s actions that far overstep executive authority. At the same time, we’ve seen a few places where there has been opposition and resistance to tactics employed by the Trump 2.0 regime. Some of the most pushback has come from democratical…

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‘America, América' with Greg Grandin 57:57

5M ago57:57

57:57

The United States is pretty intertwined with Latin America. So why has it historically been seen as more of a European outpost as opposed to a nation in the Western hemisphere that is part of the broader Americas? Our guest this week points out that there are other ways to understand the history and identity of the U.S., aside from the narrative th…

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‘Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza’ with Peter Beinart 55:05

5M ago55:05

55:05

We’re now a year and a half into the war in Gaza. Our guest this week has spent a lot of time thinking and writing about all that has unfolded. Peter Beinart is the author of numerous books including his latest, “Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning” and writes “The Beinart Notebook” on Substack. He’s also an MSNBC analyst and th…

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How Process is Killing Progress with Ezra Klein 1:11:08

5M ago1:11:08

1:11:08

Why has America's 20th century vision of innovation and opportunity transformed into a stagnant and stunted dystopian reality? Our guest this week claims that “the crisis that’s clicking into focus now has been building for decades” and it’s all because we haven’t been following building enough. Ezra Klein is host of The Ezra Klein Show podcast, a …

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Why ‘Everything is Tuberculosis’ with John Green 55:06

6M ago55:06

55:06

Tuberculosis is the deadliest infectious disease in the world. Why does something that’s curable still kill millions every year? And what does this illustrate about global health disparities? John Green is the author of “Everything Is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection.” Green is also the co-creator of Vlog brother…

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Weaponization of the FBI from Hoover to Trump 2.0 with Beverly Gage 50:50

6M ago50:50

50:50

J. Edgar Hoover is one of the most polarizing figures in U.S. history. And the seeds he planted as the decades long founding director of the FBI continue to shape much of today’s conservative political landscape. Kash Patel, who now leads the FBI, has openly vowed to find ways to punish Trump’s political enemies. While that’s appalling, it’s not th…

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What’s the Deal with Congestion Pricing? with Janno Lieber 55:33

6M ago55:33

55:33

Public streets play a big role in our day-to-day lives. And if you’ve visited any large metropolitan city, you’ve seen just how much traffic can fill up roadways. New York City became the first city in America to implement congestion pricing, a program aimed at generating revenue and making streets less crowded. But the initiative hasn’t been immu…

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Resisting Threats to Democracy with Rep. Robert Garcia 57:52

6M ago57:52

57:52

The Democratic Party has its work cut out. Meanwhile, there’s a fundamental issue: the party doesn’t currently have formal power. It doesn't have a majority in either House of Congress, it doesn't control the executive branch, and the Supreme Court has a 6-3 Trump majority. And all of this is creating a kind of impotent rage, frustration and feelin…

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The Darkest Corners of the Internet with Elle Reeve 54:21

6M ago54:21

54:21

Trolls have basically taken possession of the U.S. government. How have trolls been able to go from being mostly cordoned off in dark parts of the internet to gaining so much influence in American culture and politics? Our guest this week has spent years researching and reporting on-the-ground to learn more about how the battle online between the r…

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The Stalled Engine of American Opportunity with Yoni Appelbaum 58:50

7M ago58:50

58:50

A defining feature of America from its inception has been physical mobility. And that physical mobility has been the engine of social mobility. But we’ve seen a great deal of economic and social sclerosis over the past few decades. Our guest this week has how, for many people, America has ceased to be the land of opportunity. Yoni Appelbaum is a de…

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The Uncertain Future of USAID with Jeremy Konyndyk 50:53

7M ago50:53

50:53

So much has happened in the past few weeks. And we’ve seen a speed game of sorts being played by the Trump administration to try to act as rapidly as possible to rework the administrative state of the government. One example of that is the attempts to end the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). The letters have even been taken off of…

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Listen to “The Blueprint with Jen Psaki” 36:18

7M ago36:18

36:18

On a new podcast series, “The Blueprint with Jen Psaki,” host Jen Psaki dives into two crucial questions: where do Democrats stand in this moment? And how can they win again? Listen to the full first episode here, as Jen sits down with Governor Wes Moore of Maryland. They reflect on the meaning of patriotism, where the party can be bolder, and auth…

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Behind the Business Ep 3: Whats the Plan 37:24

7M ago37:24

37:24

We landed our first client—now what?! In this episode, we dive into the challenge of writing our first proposal and realizing that what we want to create isn’t always what the client actually needs. Learning to mold our services to fit their vision is a game-changer, and we’re figuring it out as we go. Here’s what we cover: 📝 The highs and lows of …

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The Reality at the Border with Jonathan Blitzer 58:40

7M ago58:40

58:40

It’s no surprise that immigration policy is an area that we’ve seen so much focus on recently. The Trump administration has moved with lightning speed to roll out its immigration agenda. With everything that’s going on, we thought it would be good to have a conversation about some of the deep roots and complexities in history that have brought us t…

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Behind the Business Ep 2: This is Hard 39:44

8M ago39:44

39:44

Starting a business is no small feat, and in this episode, we’re getting real about the struggles we’ve faced while building Project Local. From managing our time to creating clear goals and a solid business plan, we’re sharing the lessons we’ve learned along the way. Here’s what we cover: 🕒 The challenges of balancing time between work, life, and …

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WITHpod Special: Hear a Chapter of Chris’ New Book: ‘The Siren’s Call’ 56:33

8M ago56:33

56:33

Hi, WITHpod listeners! It’s an exciting day and we have a special treat for you. Today, we’re sharing the first chapter of Chris’ new book, “The Sirens’ Call: How Attention How Attention Became the World's Most Endangered Resource." From the book description: We all feel it—the distraction, the loss of focus, the addictive focus on the wrong things…

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Listen to “Trumpland with Alex Wagner” 33:25

8M ago33:25

33:25

Introducing “Trumpland with Alex Wagner.” On “Trumpland,” MSNBC’s Alex Wagner takes a break from the anchor chair to get out into the field and speak with the people on the frontlines of Trump’s policies—and promises. Listen to the full first episode here, as Alex travels to DC—but not for the inauguration. Hours after President Trump was in sworn …

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Musk in the Trump 2.0 Era with Kate Conger 52:14

8M ago52:14

52:14

We’ve never had a situation where the world’s richest man has essentially joined the White House as a co-president of sorts. What might this mean, especially when we consider Elon Musk’s history of unchecked power? Kate Conger is a New York Times reporter based in San Francisco, covering X and other technology companies. She’s also a co-author, alo…

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Weight Loss Drugs for Curing Addiction? with Nicholas Reville 56:23

8M ago56:23

56:23

The amount of overdose deaths in the U.S. is staggering. And while addiction is a disease, there’s no specific medical treatment or cure for it. Our guest this week points out that weight loss drugs and GLP-1s, or glucagon-like peptide-1s, which are used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity, can be effective for helping people reduce cravings and c…

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Behind the Business: EP: 1 "Hello There" 39:04

8M ago39:04

39:04

Welcome to the very first episode of Project Local! 🎉 Get to know us as your hosts and discover the passion behind our mission. In this episode, we share how Project Local came to life—a creative platform dedicated to telling the inspiring stories of local businesses through YouTube and social media content. Here’s what we cover: ✨ Who we are and w…

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The Case for Unconditional Cash Transfers with Jiaying Zhao 47:07

9M ago47:07

47:07

Happy New Year! Given the holiday, we are sharing one of our most memorable conversations. Stay tuned through the end as we also share updates on this topic. From the original description: You’d probably guess that a major factor contributing to homelessness is a lack of money. Yet, very few programs provide unconditional and lump sum cash to unhou…

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What Happens When Americans Get $1,000 a Month Unconditional Cash Transfers? with Elizabeth Rhodes and David Broockman 44:35

9M ago44:35

44:35

What are the effects when you give $1,000 a month in unconditional cash transfers to low-income Americans for three years? Our guests this week studied the behavioral and political outcomes of this in a 3,000-person study. Elizabeth Rhodes is the research director for the Unconditional Cash Study at OpenResearch, a nonprofit research lab founded by…

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“The Barn: The Secret History of a Murder in Mississippi” with Wright Thompson 52:41

9M ago52:41

52:41

The 1955 murder of Emmett Till, a 14-year-old Black boy who was abducted and lynched in Mississippi, is one of the most infamous crimes in American history. Yet, decades later, so much of what happened to Till is still widely unknown. Our guest this week points out that this is no accident. Wright Thompson is a senior writer for ESPN and is the aut…

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How Democratic Backsliding Happens with Steve Levitsky 52:23

9M ago52:23

52:23

We’re in strange times. In the U.S., we’re finding ourselves in a situation in which the possibility of genuine democratic retrenchment and some version of presidential authoritarian dictatorship is a real possibility. There’s a lot to consider as the liberal democracy we’ve become accustomed to could erode right before our eyes in the near future.…

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Chris is the guest this week! 57:06

9M ago57:06

57:06

There’s a lot to consider about what Trump 2.0 portends for the future of our country, lives and democracy. A lot of questions remain. And perhaps maybe now more than ever, it’s all been keeping Chris up really late at night, like so many of you. Chris and WITHpod producer Doni Holloway unpack post-election thoughts and discuss moving forward. More…

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Conservatism in the Trump 2.0 Years with McKay Coppins 54:41

10M ago54:41

54:41

It’s a given that any political party is going to have ideological factions around different issues. But what happens when the ostensible leader of a party has no real ideology? It’s a big question to consider in the wake of Donald Trump’s re-election. Our guest this week has followed the inherent tensions, fissures and changes within the Republica…

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The Role of the Press in This Moment with Matt Pearce 55:38

10M ago55:38

55:38

The information environment is rapidly changing. And with more media sources at our disposal than ever before, we’re constantly navigating between online and IRL, or in real life spaces. How does that affect our understanding of the world around us, particularly in this unprecedented moment? Our guest this week has spent a lot of time thinking and …

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Where Do We Go From Here? with Anna Galland 59:14

10M ago59:14

59:14

Whew, the past few days have been a lot. Like you probably, Chris hasn’t slept much this past week. There’s a lot to process given that Donald Trump is now president-elect… again. Our guest this week, who has worked as an organizer throughout numerous political ups and downs, points out that we “must not neglect the work of standing up right now to…

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“Polarized by Degrees” with Matt Grossmann and Dave Hopkins 56:18

10M ago56:18

56:18

A lot of things will really change over the course of this week, no matter the election outcome. And with that, we were thinking it would be good to share a conversation that would be illuminating regardless of what happens. Over the past few decades, American society has experienced seismic changes. One of the trends we have seen is a rightward sh…