Veeps, Beach-Going, and the Olympic Doping Scandal

Past Present Episode 45

On this week's episode, Natalia, Neil, and Niki debate the changing role of the vice presidency, the history of beach-going, and the Russian doping scandal overshadowing the Rio Olympics. Here are some links and references mentioned during this week’s show: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have picked Tim Kaine and Mike ...
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Veeps, Beach-Going, and the Olympic Doping Scandal

You Tell Me: Trump and the Politics of Denial

“You tell me,” said Donald Trump recently implying that there was some nefarious reason why Ghazala Khan, the mother of a fallen Iraq war hero Army Captain Humayun Khan, stood by silently while her husband Khizr explained at the DNC in July why Trump’s lack of character and knowledge makes ...
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You Tell Me: Trump and the Politics of Denial

Jo Freeman Captures the Republican National Convention

Noted feminist, political scientist, and photographer Jo Freeman went to the Republican National Convention. Amongst the madness, Freeman managed to capture a humanity rarely seen on the political stage. It's a reminder to us all that, at the end of the day, the foundation of our nation's political economy lies with ...

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Jo Freeman Captures the Republican National Convention

An Open Letter to John McCain

Dear Senator John McCain: We don’t know each other. You are a war hero, a major public personality, a former Presidential candidate, a distinguished leader of your party, and a Republican. I am a 59 year old political science professor who grew up in New York and lives in Indiana, has ...
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An Open Letter to John McCain

Patriotism, Nationalism, Exceptionalism

Over the past fortnight, two very different versions of patriotism were put on display. One of them was xenophobic, hostile, and downright plug-ugly. The other was hopeful, inclusive, and cheerful. Even though the media-saturated presentations of each were designed to “sell” a prepackaged vision of the political community known as ...
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Patriotism, Nationalism, Exceptionalism

You’re Fired!

Donald Trump and the History of Failure

Ridicule is Donald Trump's most prominent rhetorical strategy. Like the schoolyard bully, his attempts to humiliate and dominate others seize on a snippet of public identity, physical appearance or personal history. You can access many of these taunts on his Twitter account: in case you don't want to sift through ...

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You’re Fired!

Jo Freeman’s DNC Diary: Bernie Sanders Supporters, More Sad Than Celebratory, More Angry Than Uplifted

Bernie supporters turn victory into defea

Protestors often prefer a brilliant defeat to a drab victory. That’s what happened Tuesday night when Bernie Sanders moved to endorse Hillary Clinton as the Democratic Party nominee by acclamation. Many of his delegates in the WFC walked out. A few blocks away those of his supporters who were watching ...
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Jo Freeman’s DNC Diary: Bernie Sanders Supporters, More Sad Than Celebratory, More Angry Than Uplifted