Best To Mend And Defend Podcasts (2025)

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Max & Jacks Show: Andrew Wakefield's American Antivax Reinvention. From Fraud to Fortune 30:04

Play Pause

6d ago30:04

30:04

Max and Jacks conducts an extensive overview of Andrew Wakefield's shift from a disgraced British doctor to a central figure in the American anti-vaccination movement. After his 1998 study linking the MMR vaccine to autism was retracted as fraudulent and he lost his medical license, Wakefield relocated to Austin, Texas, where he was embraced by a c…

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Max & Jacks Investigate: The Controversy Around Trumps Pathology 34:11

17d ago34:11

34:11

By JRR Langley

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Max & Jacks Show: Democracy Under Assult 37:30

1M ago37:30

37:30

Free speech in the United States is under severe threat, using the assassination of Charlie Kirk as a catalyst for examining various assaults on open expression.By JRR Langley

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Join The Debate. How To Defend Democracy. A False Choice? 18:18

1M ago18:18

18:18

A false dilemma faced by Democrats: whether to prioritize defending constitutional democracy from rising authoritarianism or focus on economic issues. While some argue that economic concerns resonate more with swing voters, the author contends that politicians are capable of addressing both. Join the debate…

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Max & Jacks Show: Romantasy: Fanfiction's Ascendant Reign in Fiction 40:34

2M ago40:34

40:34

Max & Jacks discusses the surging popularity of "romantasy," a subgenre blending romance with fantasy, significantly driven by fanfiction, especially that spun from the "Harry Potter" universe. It highlights how "Dramione" fanfiction, focusing on a romantic pairing of Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger, has transitioned from online communities to ma…

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Max and Jacks Show: Mending the Male Malaise 38:42

2M ago38:42

38:42

Max & Jacks examine the historical and contemporary challenges faced by boys and men in America, drawing parallels between the "boy problem" of the early 20th century and today's "boy crisis." It highlights how technological shifts, immigration, and rising inequality contributed to social isolation and delinquency in the past, leading to the format…

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Max & Jacks Show: The Ruthless Ambition of Stephen Miller 46:05

2M ago46:05

46:05

An in-depth look at Stephen Miller's expanding influence within the Trump administration, contrasting it with his more limited power during Trump's first term. It highlights how Miller, now the White House deputy chief of staff, has become the de facto leader of multiple departments, including Homeland Security and Justice, due to the perceived def…

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Max & Jacks Investigate: New Mexico, Losing The Federal Lifeline 36:01

3M ago36:01

36:01

New Mexico, a state highly reliant on federal funding, anticipates significant challenges due to a new federal domestic policy law that aims to reduce subsidies. This legislation is projected to cause substantial cuts to crucial programs such as Medicaid and SNAP, potentially leading to widespread loss of healthcare and food assistance for resident…

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Max & Jacks Investigate: America's Unraveling Hunger Safety Net 42:35

3M ago42:35

42:35

Max and Jacks examine the increasing hunger crisis in the United States, highlighting the immense pressure on local food banks like the Easthampton Community Center and Food Pantry due to federal policy changes. How the recently enacted domestic policy law is significantly reducing the social safety net, particularly through cuts to the Supplementa…

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Max & Jacks Investigate: China Shock 2.0 Will Be Bigger Than 1.0 45:34

3M ago45:34

45:34

Max & Jacks look into two distinct "China Shocks" and their implications for the U.S. economy. The first China Shock (1.0), occurring between 1999 and 2007, describes the impact of China's transition to a market economy, leading to significant job losses in U.S. manufacturing due to inexpensive Chinese goods. Then a more concerning second China Sho…

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Max & Jacks Show: The West Will Need More Immigrants 39:09

4M ago39:09

39:09

Max and Jacks focus on the complexities of global migration and its impact on concepts of citizenship and belonging. Countries are increasingly competing for migrants rather than immigrants being mere supplicants. They also consider the potential long-term consequences of anti-immigrant policies and the human desire for rootedness even amidst displ…

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Max & Jacks Show: Europe's Clampdown on Speech. Could it Happen in the US? 32:52

4M ago32:52

32:52

Max & Jacks look into Europe's increasing crackdown on freedom of speech, particularly focusing on hate speech laws and their application on social media platforms. They highlight several cases, such as a woman jailed for a post on X (formerly Twitter) in the UK, and instances in Germany and France where individuals faced penalties for satirical or…

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Max & Jacks Investigate: Senate Tax Plan: A Burden on the Poor 42:27

4M ago42:27

42:27

Max & Jacks look into a Republican-backed domestic policy package that was advanced through the Senate, highlighting its potential impact on various income groups and the federal safety net. It primarily focuses on how the proposed legislation, described as "highly regressive" by experts, would disproportionately benefit wealthier Americans while p…

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Max & Jacks Show: The Great Energy Divide: China's Green Ascent, America's Fossil Resolve 33:44

4M ago33:44

33:44

Max & Jacks investigate the divergent energy strategies of the United States and China, highlighting a global competition with significant economic, geopolitical, and environmental implications. It explains that China is rapidly investing in and dominating clean energy technologies, such as solar, wind, and electric vehicles, driven by national sec…

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Max & Jacks Investigate: Trumps Broken Promise To Farmers 24:01

4M ago24:01

24:01

In this show, Max & Jacks fosuc on JJ Ficken, a fourth-generation American farmer, and Otto Vargas, a prospective migrant worker from Guatemala, as they navigate the complexities of a frozen federal grant program. The program, designed to alleviate labor shortages and reduce undocumented immigration by funding H-2A visa workers, was unexpectedly ha…

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Max & Jacks Show: Rethinking Parenthood and Increasing Birth Rates 18:16

4M ago18:16

18:16

This time Max and Jacks examine various global efforts to increase birthrates, highlighting their general ineffectiveness due to a misunderstanding of modern women's needs. They critique approaches ranging from Russian governmental stunts and proposed U.S. incentives to Hungary's and China's attempts to reinforce traditional gender roles, noting th…

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Max & Jacks Show: Investigating Amy Coney Barrett. How She Is Confounding Everyone 20:49

4M ago20:49

20:49

A look at the complex and often surprising judicial career of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, highlighting how her decisions have confounded both conservative and liberal expectations. Despite being appointed by a Republican president, she has demonstrated an independent streak, occasionally siding with liberal justices and showing a metho…

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Max & Jacks Show: America's Chronic Health Crisis 13:31

5M ago13:31

13:31

The United States lags behind comparable countries in terms of overall population health and life expectancy. While past health challenges were primarily infectious diseases, the current major contributors to this gap are chronic conditions, driven by factors like obesity, poor diet, inactivity, and a fragmented healthcare system…

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Max & Jacks Investigate: Meta's AI Companions: Sex, Children, and Concerns 16:56

6M ago16:56

16:56

Meta is facing internal and external scrutiny over its AI-powered "digital companions" on platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp. Concerns have been raised regarding the bots' capacity for sexually explicit "romantic role-play," potentially involving underage users and celebrity impersonations. Despite internal warnings and testing revealing these i…

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#19 Just Streets 18:36

7M ago18:36

18:36

We sit down with Marco te Brömmelstroet and Adrian Fratila from the Just Streets project to talk about what justice has to do with city streets, how to deal with the naysayers, and whether the Dutch urban mobility model is really the one cities should be aspiring to. You can find out more about the project here: https://www.just-streets.eu/ Featuri…

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Max & Jacks Show: Trump's Federal Workforce Cuts and Service Impacts 19:45

7M ago19:45

19:45

Recent widespread firings of federal employees under the Trump administration are significantly impacting public services across the nation. This initiative, driven by a goal of substantial government downsizing, has led to reduced staffing in various agencies, causing disruptions in essential functions.…

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Max & Jacks Show: The Markets Misscalculation 22:11

8M ago22:11

22:11

Max and Jacks analyze the economic policies of President Trump, particularly his focus on tariffs and reduced government spending. It discusses how investors initially believed Trump would prioritize policies favorable to the market but were proven wrong as he pursued disruptive measures.By JRR Langley

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Max & Jacks Show: Trumps Recession 12:01

8M ago12:01

12:01

Fears of a potential recession in 2025 are growing due to President Trump's policies. The article highlights concerns that Trump's tariffs, the highest since the 1940s, and government spending cuts are negatively impacting the economy. Economists express uncertainty, and consumer confidence and spending are showing signs of weakening.…

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Max & Jacks Show: Trumps Threats Lead To Silence 17:05

8M ago17:05

17:05

Under a second Trump administration, a palpable fear of retribution has stifled political discourse. Critics, academics, and politicians are reportedly self-silencing due to concerns about online attacks, business repercussions, and threats to personal safety. This chilling effect is attributed to Trump's menacing signals and Elon Musk's influence,…

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Max & Jacks Show: Debacle In The White House 12:21

8M ago12:21

12:21

President Zelensky of Ukraine's visit to the White House resulted in a contentious meeting with President Trump. Senator Graham had advised Zelensky to avoid arguments, but the meeting became heated when Zelensky pressed for security commitments and seemingly did not sufficiently thank the U.S. for its efforts to end the war. This confrontation led…

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#18 Cities of Making 16:37

8M ago16:37

16:37

Urban Future’s Karl Dickinson is in conversation with Adrian Hill, a social designer and lead researcher for the Cities of Making project, talking about the nature of production in the post-industrial city. They discuss why manufacturing still has a – maybe surprising – place in urban centres, what it really takes to kick off a circular economy, an…

To Mend And Defend Podcasts

1
ALPHANUMERIC! The ReBoot Podcast

Lazor Comb Productions

1
Bend, Break, Burn, and Blow

Josiah Dyer & Aaron Guyett

1
Voice of The Radical Center

JRR Langley

1
The CityChangers Podcast

Urban Future

1
Max & Jacks Show: Andrew Wakefield's American Antivax Reinvention. From Fraud to Fortune 30:04

1
Max & Jacks Investigate: The Controversy Around Trumps Pathology 34:11

1
Max & Jacks Show: Democracy Under Assult 37:30

1
Join The Debate. How To Defend Democracy. A False Choice? 18:18

1
Max & Jacks Show: Romantasy: Fanfiction's Ascendant Reign in Fiction 40:34

1
Max and Jacks Show: Mending the Male Malaise 38:42

1
Max & Jacks Show: The Ruthless Ambition of Stephen Miller 46:05

1
Max & Jacks Investigate: New Mexico, Losing The Federal Lifeline 36:01

1
Max & Jacks Investigate: America's Unraveling Hunger Safety Net 42:35

1
Max & Jacks Investigate: China Shock 2.0 Will Be Bigger Than 1.0 45:34

1
Max & Jacks Show: The West Will Need More Immigrants 39:09

1
Max & Jacks Show: Europe's Clampdown on Speech. Could it Happen in the US? 32:52

1
Max & Jacks Investigate: Senate Tax Plan: A Burden on the Poor 42:27

1
Max & Jacks Show: The Great Energy Divide: China's Green Ascent, America's Fossil Resolve 33:44

1
Max & Jacks Investigate: Trumps Broken Promise To Farmers 24:01

1
Max & Jacks Show: Rethinking Parenthood and Increasing Birth Rates 18:16

1
Max & Jacks Show: Investigating Amy Coney Barrett. How She Is Confounding Everyone 20:49

1
Max & Jacks Show: America's Chronic Health Crisis 13:31

1
Max & Jacks Investigate: Meta's AI Companions: Sex, Children, and Concerns 16:56

1
#19 Just Streets 18:36

1
Max & Jacks Show: Trump's Federal Workforce Cuts and Service Impacts 19:45

1
Max & Jacks Show: The Markets Misscalculation 22:11

1
Max & Jacks Show: Trumps Recession 12:01

1
Max & Jacks Show: Trumps Threats Lead To Silence 17:05

1
Max & Jacks Show: Debacle In The White House 12:21

1
#18 Cities of Making 16:37