“Sometimes you want to make the dictionary sexy but it’s just not a sexy thing,” says Kory Stamper, lexicographer for the Merriam-Webster dictionaries. Sorry if this is disillusioning news for you. The dictionary is not a sexy thing, but as Kory explains, it is a fascinating, complicated, exacting thing.
What damage is being done by failing welfare states? What lessons can be learned from the best welfare states? James Bartholomew is the author of The Welfare of Nations.
Manhattan is home to some of the world's most iconic buildings -- but it's also home to something more mysterious: A looming, windowless skyscraper in the heart of Tribeca. The press doesn't have much to say about it, and neither does the telecom that owns the building. So what exactly is going on inside? Tune in as Ben, Matt and Noel explore bizarre buildings and the future of surveillance in this episode, recorded live in Brooklyn during NYCPodfest.
On this week's Spring Break Special, we revisit two of our favorite interviews. Disney Animation Studios President Ed Catmull talks about the business of creativity. And Freakonomics co-author Stephen Dubner talks about how to think like a freak.
In this episode, we take a look at a landmark decision by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana. First, though, we tackle a question from listener Justin Wilder who wants to know about serving a subpoena on Amazon for evidence in a civil case related to information that might be stored on your Echo. We love that our listeners are becoming civil procedure geeks! In the main segment, Andrew walks us through the landmark Hively decision and discusses what it means and what the likely future of the case will be. After that, fan favorite Breakin' Down the Law returns with an examination of South Dakota SB 149 which extends protections to adoption agencies in the state with (wait for it) sincerely held religious or moral beliefs. Finally, we end with a brand new Thomas Takes the Bar Exam question #19 that asks about diversity jurisdiction in federal court between two companies. Remember that TTTBE issues a new question every Friday, followed by the answer on next Tuesday's show. Don't forget to play along by following our Twitter feed (@Openargs) and/or our Facebook Page and quoting the Tweet or Facebook Post that announces this episode along with your guess and reason(s)! Recent Appearances: Andrew just recorded a two-part episode of the Embrace the Void Podcast; you can (and should!) give Episode 5 a listen right here. Show Notes & Links
If aliens came to Earth looking for a dystopian novel that reflected the current political reality, would you recommend that they read The Handmaid’s Tale? Guest host Alexandra Petri considers this quandary with Mallory Ortberg, Slate’s Dear Prudence advice columnist.
In the Spiel, it’s time to talk about United Airlines.
Steve Bannon and pals have a bad week, Trump goes full Globalist, and still tries to hold health care hostage. Then, Obama pollster Cornell Belcher joins Jon and Dan to talk about the Democratic coalition, and Indivisible’s Ezra Levin talks about how you can get involved in the Tax March and Congressional Recess.
Britain's top diplomat to Nigeria on the three-year long search for the Chibok girls; More than ninety migrants feared drowned after their boat sank off the coast of Libya; Eighty thousand teenagers in danger of missing out on school in Burundi.
The Department of Homeland Security wants border drones that can recognize faces and track individuals over long distances. Matthew Feeney discusses the implications for liberty and privacy.
