Trying Accountability on for Size; Also, the Allure of Conspiracy Theories
The murder conviction of a former Minneapolis police officer is proof that holding police officers accountable for misconduct is possible in the U.S., so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider how society has changed over the last year and how it still needs to change moving forward (01:41). The guys also weigh in on some recent analysis into the...
A Broad View of the Issues at the Southern Border; Also, Seeing our Brain as a Computer
Reportedly over 100,000 migrants per month have been encountered in consecutive months at the U.S. southern border, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider the implications of this scale of activity from a historical, humanitarian, and political perspective (01:16). The guys also take a look at an essay and related research which lays out why the common the human...
Biden’s Big Move on Infrastructure; Also, Global Trends and Future Challenges
The Biden Administration’s infrastructure proposal is quite ambitious, and James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss both the timing of it and the approach being taken to improve the nation’s infrastructure and increase the nation’s potential (01:23). The guys also take a look at the US National Intelligence Council’s recent Global Trends report and the types of challenges facing the...
COVID Vaccines Bring New Technology & Old Skepticism; Also, Parenting Styles & Correlated Outcomes
Seeing the strikingly fast development and roll out of the COVID-19 vaccines, James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at the new mRNA technology that is driving two of the vaccines and also at some of the skepticism of the vaccines amongst the public (01:13). The guys also discuss some recent research into how different parenting styles may...
Election Interference Appears to be the New Normal; Also, the Fight Over Women’s Sports
Alarmed by the U.S. Intelligence Community recently released a declassified assessment of foreign threats to the 2020 U.S. election, James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss whether the significance of the escalating efforts to undermine our democracy from abroad, often with assistance from domestic actors, is being underplayed (01:30). The guys also take a look at the fight over whether...
Political Disputes Becoming Like Religious Ones; Also, Boosting Civics in Schools
It has been observed that political interactions have increased in intensity as markers of religious faith have declined, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at how religious and political approaches to interacting with others can differ and affect outcomes (02:00). The guys also discuss a recent push to improve civics education in schools (40:10). America Without God...
The Stimulus and the Politics of Unpopularity; Also, Finding a Champion to Save Daylight
A third stimulus has been signed into law in the United States, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider what it appears to be trying to accomplish and the political strategies around its passage (01:32). The guys also take a look at daylight savings time around the U.S. and wonder who will step up to save daylight all year...
BLM’s Organizational Successes and Challenges; Also, a Step Towards IRL Inception
With Black Lives Matter establishing itself as a potent fundraiser, and local activists beginning to question its use of funds and demand financial support, James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the organization’s growth and successes as well as some challenges it may face moving forward on its current trajectory (01:12). The guys also take a look at some research...
The Economic and Social Implications of Raising the Minimum Wage & Aggressive Manhood
The fight over raising the federal minimum wage in the U.S. looks to be heating up, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider the extent to which most of the economic and the social questions being debated have already been answered (01:56). The guys also take a look at recent research on what makes men more likely to respond...
Leadership in Times of Rolling Blackouts & a Look at Prince Hall
The crisis in Texas involving an overwhelmed power grid and millions being left in the cold presented a challenge and an opportunity for the state’s leadership, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the approach that has been taken and what is need for our society to better handle matters like these (01:23). The guys also take a look...
Streaming Between the Lines – Reconstruction: America After the Civil War
Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s “Reconstruction: America After the Civil War” documentary series, which originally aired in 2019 on PBS, provides a deep dive into an immensely impactful yet often overlooked time in American history, and James Keys, Tunde Ogunlana, and Rick Ellsley discuss their biggest takeaways from the series and how what happened during this time period still influences...
Restricting Voting as a Political Strategy; Also, are UFOs too boring?
Since the 2020 election’s record voter turnout, there have been many efforts around the country to make it harder and more inconvenient to vote, so James Keys, Tunde Ogunlana, Rick Ellsley take a look at both who is pushing these efforts and why they appear to be doing so (01:35). The guys also discuss whether the recent confirmation of...