Amanda Holmes reads Robert Lowell’s “Epilogue.” Have a suggestion for a poem by a (dead) writer? Email us: podcast@theamericanscholar.org. If we select your entry, you’ll win a copy of a poetry collection edited by David Lehman.
This episode was produced by Stephanie Bastek and features the song “Canvasback” by Chad Crouch.
Author and journalist Seth Harp returns for an interview about the National Guard shooting in D.C. We analyze the accused shooter, his time in covert “Zero Units,” and we also speculate about the ramifications of Pete Hegseth’s double-tap order in the Caribbean. To close things out, Will and Felix talk about Bari Weiss’s plan to return America to the reasonable center and react to the viral Oklahoma University essay on why God made man and woman different.
Buy Seth’s book here (and give it 5 stars on Amazon!): https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/730414/the-fort-bragg-cartel-by-seth-harp/
And follow him on X at @sethharpesq
Did the U.S. military commit a war crime with a strike on a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean, or is the story made up? What exactly is President Trump up to regarding Venezuela? How do we fix immigration and asylum policy so that Muslim immigrants are better assimilated? And what's the mood in Israel regarding Netanyahu's pardon request? We raise these and other issues on today's podcast. Give a listen.
New York Magazine columnist and longtime knower of Zohran Mamdani, Ross Barkan, returns to Bad Faith alongside first time guest, Palestinian activist and founder of Within our Lifetime Nerdeen Kiswani, to discuss recent controversies around mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani following his historical win in New York. Why did Mamdani weigh in on Chi Ossé's potential primary against Hakeem Jefferies instead of sitting it out? If the DSA is concerned about divided resources, why didhe argue that now is not the right "time" for a primary on principle, and why did he go on to endorse Jefferies as Speaker of the House? What's the logic behind keeping Jessica Tisch on board -- especially after the recent ICE activity in NYC? And is Zohran's strategy of giving statements appealing to "both sides" -- criticizing an Israeli settler recruiting event at a NY synagogue while also discouraging protests outside of it -- a successful strategy, or does it simply serve to frustrate everyone?
Modern life can make it tempting to return to simpler times, like a 16th-century Spanish convent. In the new book Convent Wisdom, academics Ana Garriga and Carmen Urbita look to the writings of Renaissance-era nuns for insights to apply to modern dilemmas. In today’s episode, the co-authors speak with NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe about the backstory behind the project and what makes these nuns of the past relevant today.
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Why can't the US be like Europe, Japan or India—countries that all have extensive passenger train systems? On today's show, why the US chose not to. We learn why, despite this, US railroads could still be worth bragging about.