Politics: Meet Me in the Middle

What is the responsibility of social media outlets like Facebook, YouTube, Google, and Twitter in a healthy society? In a time where anyone - including radicals and even politicians - can use 'shock jock' outrageous methods to influence and mobilize huge audiences, to promote violence, and ruin people's lives, how can we get a handle on it? Renown Yale Law Professor and author, Jack Balkin, returns for a discussion with hosts Bill Curtis and member of the Supreme Court Bar, Jane Albrecht, about the Constitution, social media responsibility, advertising dollars, and how Facebook is damaging our world: politically and socially.

Episode Timestamps:

2:12 Why does Facebook get a free pass but, broadcast TV is regulated by the government. The history of The Telecom Act.

3:23 Did the government promote the internet?

3:55 The idea of network effects

4:23 We are the content producers and the lack of editing

5:03 Rules and regulations of the FCC / Broadcast VS Internet

5:47 Sec 230 Communication Decency Act

7:03 The Digital megaphone and how internet helps promote radicalization

7:32 Digital Terrorism and organization

8:23 Twitter, and Google: Surveillance Companies

8:37 These free companies online monetize their data and experiments on users -

11:10 The two faces of Facebook and the culture of working for them. Social media Culture in general and their business model / The Power of Facebook

2:03 Will the US go the way of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) (FB AD) -

14:13 Regulating business for social responsibility

15:44 How to regulate private business to be socially responsible

15:51 Why give people a platform if BAD ACTORS will also have a platform.

21:13 How to change the policy / The Balkin Plan

23:50 Limiting monizitation

26:45 Free Speech and wrapping up the topic

28:30 The 800 Pound Gorilla known as Trump

31:14 If the USA ran its own Social Media Company

33:29 Final question: All social media uses should be qualified as real people

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Follow Us on Twitter: @politicsMMITM

Hosted by: Bill Curtis and Jane Albrecht

Edited and Sound Engineering by: Joey Salvia

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

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"American democracy has weathered these cycles before, and we'll get through them again." - Jack Balkin

Politics: Meet Me in the Middle is back for 2021: a new administration, another impeachment, and the same old politics.

Legal scholar, Yale Law Professor, and author, Jack Balkin, joins Bill Curtis, Jane Albrecht and Professor Ed Larson for a discussion about the constitution, political polarization, impeachment, and The Cycles of Constitutional Time, to explain, and help us weather, this waxing and waning of political polarization.

3:26 Why Jack wrote The Cycles of Constitutional Time

4:19 Jack explains how we got here, politically.

4:53: The shifts between political parties over time.

6:18: What causes a party to die-off

6:52: Republicans are in the middle of a civil war

7:27: Political Polarization’s history

9:09: What is constitutional rot?

10:02: The Rough Framework or Outline of the Constitution

11:50: Checks and Balances

14:30: Political reform and renewal of party

16:04: What is constitutional time and outlining the cycles?

18:16: How are party coalitions the victim of their own success?

19:00- The Great depression

19:20- The impact of the media “Yesterday and Today”

20:30: 1930’s newspaper & radio polarization

22:20: The Gilded Age

23:30: A second progressive era and the insurrection

24:23: The issues of impeachment

25:40: 14th amendment Section 3

27:13: Republicans will not behave

29:45: Believing the election was stolen is political rot

31:00: What did the mob want with the Capitol?

32:00: Lunatic Fringe (radical and lunatics)

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Learn More: Politics: Meet Me in the Middle

Follow Us on Twitter: @politicsMMITM

Hosted by: Bill Curtis, Ed Larson and Jane Albrecht

Produced by: AJ Moseley

Edited and Sound Engineering by: Joey Salvia

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We welcome author, legal scholar, and professor, Sanford Levinson to the podcast to discuss the need for adjustments in our constitution, campaign finances, and election process.

Sanford Levinson holds the W. St. John Garwood and W. St. John Garwood, Jr. Centennial Chair in Law at the University of Texas Law School. His is the author of over 200 articles in professional and more popular journals and has written numerous books.

TIMESTAMPS:

:20 Where did our constitution fall short in checks & balances?

1:10 Why do we need campaign finance reform?

2:50 Introduce our guest and what are some of the provisions that promote unjust and ineffective government. Article 5, and why it’s near impossible to rewrite the constitution

4:00 Can we rewrite the constitution regardless of article five and how would that process look?

6:25 What would be the education level of the delegates would be chosen?

7:30 A recent constitution of California and how can we put the new constitution together?

9:20 Hamilton’s preference that the president would be a lifetime appointment and term limits… and a constitutional amendment over judicial revue

13:40 We have disenfranchised the majority with the electoral college

6:00 How can we amend the constitution regarding the electoral college

20:00 EL discusses his recent article regarding the constitutional power to declare war

21:45 Does congress hold the purse-strings regarding war and the military

24:05 The need for campaign finance reform

25:40 How would SL change the constitution regarding campaign finance

27:40 American voters have spoken but 74 million still voted for Trump and “Trumpism” and SL fear of his supporters

29:30 Will Trump run again in 2024?

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Learn More: Politics: Meet Me in the Middle

Follow Us on Twitter: @politicsMMITM

Hosted by: Bill Curtis, Ed Larson and Jane Albrecht

Produced by: AJ Moseley

Edited and Sound Engineering by: Joey Salvia

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why has the constitution failed? Dean Erwin Chemerinsky, one of the country’s preeminent constitutional law and federal civil procedure scholars and frequently argues appellate cases, including in the United States Supreme Court, returns to discuss the constitution and recent Supreme Court rulings regarding the 2020 election. Our host, Bill Curtis recites political poetry, revisits a few SCOTUS decisions, and asks Professor of History and Pulitzer Prize winner, Ed Larson, can Trump pardon himself for crimes he hasn’t been charged with? Why did Texas sue 4 other states? Will Attorney General, Ken Paxton get a pardon, too? 

TIMESTAMPS:

Opening statement: BC talks about a Texas case to sue 4 other states over the recent election.

3:28 EL gives a background of our constitution, its checks & balances, and how Trump has abused our founding father’s document.

7:20 m EC gives a basic summery of the US constitution’s “checks and balances”, and the fact that President Trump has failed to honor it.

8:30 EC gives his summary of the SCOTUS’s role in the foundation of the constitution. He also goes on to say that our constitution assumes good faith by our officials.

11:05 BC asks about the Texas case. EC confirms that our constitution has not been compromised by our SCOTUS. Like it or not, Joe Biden won.

 13:35 BC asks if the recent rulings from the Supreme court isn’t looking for ways to suppress voters.

14:00 EC has confidence that the Supreme Court will not disenfranchise people.

14:20   EC explains the Purcell Principle.

Break

16:16 BC with a poem about a Thanksgiving ruling on religious gatherings. EC then goes on to explain the poem’s subject in a deeper manner. He also explains the difference one SCOTUS appointee makes.

17:28 BC points out the difference one judge makes

17:58 BC moves to ACA and the mandate

21:12 BC with a Lightning Round about Robo Calls, El Paso VS Trump on The Wall and deployment of funds, Trump VS Knight about the 1st amendment and Twitter regarding announcing official policy. Trump VS Vance about financial records, campaign violations, and Stormy Daniels.

Break

26:10 BC asks the details and meaning of the VP presiding.

27:26 BC asks about Georgia and the senate seats. When will Kamala have an influence over this situation.

28:49 BC asks about the pardoning himself

30:20 BC trivia about the constitution and predictions

33:53 Second poem on vaccines and the need to continue wearing your mask

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Learn More: Politics: Meet Me in the Middle

Follow Us on Twitter: @politicsMMITM

Hosted by: Bill Curtis, Ed Larson and Jane Albrecht

Produced by: AJ Moseley

Edited and Sound Engineering by: Joey Salvia

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happened with this years election polls? Do news sources and polling institutes need to re-earn our trust? Expert pollster, and founding director of the Monmouth University Polling institute, Patrick Murray joins the show again to defend and illuminate the poll results from the election.

Timestamps:

2:49 Have the polls in the past been an accurate representation of the results?

4:04 Why did it seem that pollsters didn’t improve their accuracy from 2016 to 2020?

6:38 How do pollsters usually reach people? How do they take into account that they are only talking to people who actually ant to talk to them?

8:20 Is polling moving exclusively to digital source of accumulation?

10:45 Does the media misuse the polls?

12:49 Patrick explains what happened to the battleground states in regards to the polls

15:35 What changed with the polling methods in Florida from 2016 to 2020?

17:15 Patrick goes through the relatively new process of a longer “waiting” for polling

21:36 Should we ignore polls in the future?

25:35 Why did the polls also seem to mess up things downstate?

26:58 What is the difference between public pollsters and private campaign pollsters?

31:05 Bill rapid fires some current events with Patrick

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Learn More: Politics: Meet Me in the Middle

Follow Us on Twitter: @politicsMMITM

Hosted by: Bill Curtis, Ed Larson and Jane Albrecht

Produced by: AJ Moseley

Edited and Sound Engineering by: Joey Salvia

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

E.J. Dionne Jr,. author, journalist, and long-time op-ed columnist for The Washington Post, revisits his pre-election predictions and discusses the difference between Progressives and Moderates,  the transition into the White House, and new predictions for the Biden Administration.

Timestamps:

2:32 E.J.’s presidential prediction from a past recording is revisited.

3:40 Does the Democratic party realize the mixed messages they’ve sent from the election?

5:11 Did the election say “no” to progressives?

7:57 E.J.’s prediction of how moderates and progressives will work together is revisited.

9:16 How will the Biden team work to bridge to the Republicans when necessary?

12:20 Should Biden lend an olive branch to the Trump Administration for progressing the country towards a vaccination?

14:12 Are there any members of the senate or house that actually believe the election was stolen from Donald Trump?

16:24 What are the main differences behind how the progressives and the moderates want to approach Biden’s presidency?

18:00 Biden’s $400,000 tax rate

20:15 Progressives vs Moderates and the handling of COVID-19

23:38 Progressives vs Moderates and the handling of China and Russia

25:10 Progressives vs Moderates and Troops in the Middle East

29:45 E.J.’s thoughts on Antony Blinken

30:14 E.J.’s thoughts on Linda Thomas-Greenfield

30:52 Jane's thoughts on John Kerry

31:10 E.J.’s thoughts on Avril Haines

31:52 E.J.’s thoughts on Jake Sullivan

32:58 E.J.’s thoughts on Janet Yellen

34:00 E.J. makes his final predictions on what the Biden Administration will achieve during this term

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Learn More: Politics: Meet Me in the Middle

Follow Us on Twitter: @politicsMMITM

Hosted by: Bill Curtis, Ed Larson and Jane Albrecht

Produced and Edited by: Mike Thomas

Sound Engineering by: Steve Riekeberg

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UBI expert, professor and economist Ioana Marinescu of the University of Pennsylvania joins the Meet Me in the Middle panel of Pulitzer Prize winning historian Ed Larson, International Trade Attorney Jane Albrecht, and CurtCo CEO Bill Curtis, to discuss universal basic income, minimum wage, and the stimulus. With the economy potentially breaching the danger zone as the country begins to lockdown again, a discussion of increased public benefits becomes more important than ever. Throughout the episode the panel discusses:

2:30 What is the conversation around the $15 Federal minimum wage?

6:09 Fair Wage vs Living Wage

10:26 What is Universal Basic Income?

12:28 Why is UBI unconditional?

14:00 What are the benefits to UBI?

16:00 The elimination of other public benefits for UBI

18:00 Where would the extra 2 trillion dollars come from?

20:15 Investing in education first and foremost

24:00 How much of the UBI payments will go directly into the economy?

28:00 UBI: Too expensive with not enough benefit?

30:45 What would Ioana recommend to the incoming administration regarding a Stimulus package?

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Learn More: Politics: Meet Me in the Middle

Follow Us on Twitter: @politicsMMITM

Hosted by: Bill Curtis, Ed Larson and Jane Albrecht

Produced and Edited by: Mike Thomas

Sound Engineering by: Steve Riekeberg

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Politics: Meet Me in the Middle is excited to welcome back Pepperdine Professor, author, and regular contributor to CNN Dan Caldwell to the show. Top of the mind on today’s episode is the transition process from President Trump to President-elect Joe Biden. The panel discusses what the country can expect during the next two months, as well as some potential worries with concern to a rocky transition. Will President Trump pull our troops out of Afghanistan? How will relations between North Korea and Russia change? Is the novel coronavirus more worrisome than ever? 

Timestamps:

2:25 Historically difficult presidential transitions

4:20 How does the new administration go about picking their staff?

9:55 How are the presidential transition funds used?

11:28 Security briefings and national security

13:10 Homeland security and changes with immigration via President Biden?

14:20 How worrisome is the nations future of COVID during the transition process?

16:10 Will Trump be able to withdrawal all American troops from Afghanistan by Christmas as proposed?

17:19 What can the country and Joe Biden expect with US relations to North Korea and Kim Jong Un?

19:58 The Biden administration and Russia

24:20 Where might Donald Trump make some strategic moves for the Republican party in his last month and a half?

27:36 Can Trump prevent himself from being removed from office?

30:26 The power of pardons

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Learn More: Politics: Meet Me in the Middle

Follow Us on Twitter: @politicsMMITM

Hosted by: Bill Curtis, Ed Larson and Jane Albrecht

Produced and Edited by: Mike Thomas

Sound Engineering by: Steve Riekeberg

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will there be a peaceful transition of power between Joe Biden and Donald Trump, and what moves can we expect to see from Trump as he grips on to his last days as President? 

Norman Ornstein, renowned political scientist, contributor to CNN, FOX, The Atlantic, the National Journal, and NPR, and author joins Bill Curtis, Pulitzer Prize Winning Historian Ed Larson, and International Trade Attorney Jane Albrecht, to break down our current, somewhat unprecedented political situation including what will happen if Donald Trump refuses to leave the White House, Trump's plan to fire career-political positions with his new Schedule F class, a possible new 'Trump TV' media plan, and what to do if you feel stuck in the middle as a Fiscal Conservative, but a Social Liberal.

Timestamps:

3:28 Has there ever been a president that didn’t accept being elected out of office?

4:20 What should we expect from President Trump in these next few months as the Biden transition initiates?

6:36 Can President Trump pardon himself from a charge that hasn’t been issued yet?

7:34 What sort of troubling executive orders is President Trump issuing as he begins to step away?

11:40 The cult of President Trump and what to expect with the stimulus package.

13:30 Fiscal conservatives and their place in the current political landscape.

15:25 The state of the Federal budget 

17:58 Upcoming adoption rights for LGBTQ families as well as abortion rights

19:00 President Trump running again in 2024

21:36 Will President Trump start his own media network?

22:25 The division in American between the metropolitan areas and the fly-over cities 

24:24 Will the State of New York go after President Trump for tax fraud?

28:33 Norman shares a personal story about an interaction with Joe Biden

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Learn More: Politics: Meet Me in the Middle

Follow Us on Twitter: @politicsMMITM

Hosted by: Bill Curtis, Ed Larson and Jane Albrecht

Produced and Edited by: AJ Moseley

Sound Engineering by: Steve Riekeberg

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How will the newly appointed Supreme Court Justice, Amy Coney Barrett, determine America's path forward? Supreme Court Litigator Ed Warren returns to discuss some of his previous, spot-on predictions and the implications around the massive changes happening in the country, including of course, the impending election.  

TIMESTAMPS:

3:15 Ed Warren predicts Justice Amy Coney Barrett for Supreme Court 9 months ago and discusses why he thought the way he did

6:45 How pre-planned was Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination?

10:49 Why does everyone on the Supreme Court want to avoid the perception that the court is “political?”

14:12 Brett Kavanaugh and bipartisanship

17:47 What are the likely cases that would put the Supreme Court in the position of deciding the election?

20:26 The implications of states that are not required to choose their electors via popular vote

22:00 Likely litigation for the election, and the suppression of votes

24:46 Trump and Roe v. Wade

27:46 Obamacare and the Affordable Healthcare Act

29:30 Does Trump have a healthcare plan that he’s holding close to his vest?

31:25 The panel goes over their respective predictions for what to expect with the election this week

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Learn More: Politics: Meet Me in the Middle

Follow Us on Twitter: @politicsMMITM

Hosted by: Bill Curtis, Ed Larson and Jane Albrecht

Producer: AJ Moseley

Edited and Co-Produced by: Brian Bielanski

Sound Engineering by: Steve Riekeberg

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Multi-award-winning author and renowned founding director of “The Difficult Conversations Lab” at Columbia University, Dr. Peter Coleman joins the show to chat about the incredible political divide and current polarization of the country. The panel illuminates how we got here, and what we might expect come December post-election. As bleak as it may look, Dr. Coleman shares that there are multiple paths to success in getting the country back on track.

3:00 Why is the US so divided right now?

5:00 Is the media responsible for the division of the US right now?

9:00 What changed after the 2016 primaries?

10:44 Is the country past the point of fixing their politically damaged priorities?

13:50 How do we handle the new notion to respond with violence to politics?

18:20 How do we prepare for the possibility that Trump wins and continues to degrade society?

21:50 How does the country press the reset button?

22:50 What needs to happen to instill public confidence in the political system?

26:45 What are good steps to creating a new and solid cabinet around the president?

29:00 Peter Coleman talks about his new book on toxic polarization. 

31:26 Everyone describes what they think the country will look like in December this year.

 Learn More: Difficult Conversations Lab

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Learn More about the show: Politics: Meet Me in the Middle

Follow Us on Twitter: @politicsMMITM

Hosted by: Bill Curtis, Ed Larson and Jane Albrecht

Produced and Edited by: Mike Thomas

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special re-release, we revisit our episode with the polling expert from Monmouth University Mr. Patrick Murray. Patrick demystifies the world of polling and helps explain how we should and shouldn’t approach the results come election time. 

1:47 How did Patrick first get started in poling

3:40 How can we tell if we are getting an honest opinion from pollsters

6:50 What lessons did we learn from the 2016 election

8:02 Does Patrick poll for the electoral college or the popular vote

10:22 Was the 2016 election polling so skewed because people were too afraid to vocalize their backing for President Trump

13:20 How are pollsters controlling for all the unique variables that the 2020 election brings

14:43 Patrick shares actionable advice when viewing the upcoming 2020 polls

16:40 How are the upcoming polls being affected by the pandemic

17:50 Does it matter who is funding the polls

20:05 Patrick rates the effects of all the popular stances and how they will ultimately sway who the public votes for

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Learn More: Politics: Meet Me in the Middle

Follow Us on Twitter: @politicsMMITM

Hosted by: Bill Curtis, Ed Larson and Jane Albrecht

Produced and Edited by: Mike Thomas & AJ Moseley

Sound Engineering by: Michael Kennedy

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan joins the show to discuss both technicalities and expectations to the very unique upcoming presidential election. 

With the unprecedented nature of a pandemic occurring alongside this year's presidential election, voting expert Robin Carnahan, host Bill Curtis, Pulitzer Prize Winning Political Historian Ed Larson, and International Trade Attorney Jane Albrecht help us navigate the uncertainty of what’s to come in November. Robin also helps to illuminate the differences from state to state on how votes are processed. One thing is for sure, the sooner you can get your vote in, the more certainty the nation will have on election day. 

Timestamps:

2:36 What is the state secretary of state's functions when it comes to elections?

3:26 Has there been times in the past where candidates have tried to invalidate the results of an election?

4:45 What is the history and timeline to the present day expedited election results?

5:42 Individual state preparedness for the massive increase in mail-in votes

6:50 How would Robin ensure confidence in the election results. 

9:04 Is there validity to President Trump's concerns of mail-in voting fraud?

11:04 Why does the presidential voting system still feel so archaic compared to other online industries such as banking?

14:45 The logistics and security of the present day digital in-person voting systems?

17:42 Why does President Trump believe that the Republicans benefit from fewer people voting? 

20:50 Will the US know the next President by the end of election night? 

23:50 What will the individual states do if President Trump denies the validity of the results.  

26:04 Where will the likely appeals from this election occur if President Trump decides to act against the results?

26:45 Voter suppression past and present in the US.

30:45 Robin's final thoughts on the optics of the US internationally after this unprecedented election? 

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Learn More: Politics: Meet Me in the Middle

Follow Us on Twitter: @politicsMMITM

Hosted by: Bill Curtis, Ed Larson and Jane Albrecht

Produced and Edited by: Mike Thomas

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Walter Shapiro is a veteran of eleven Presidential campaigns. In this episode he brings his insights and observations about how coverage has changed campaigning during the pandemic. Ed Larson relates how debates have changed throughout history. Jane Albrecht wonders if - in the race for ratings and clicks - the news media has lost sight of their purpose. The panelists present their views on future campaigning and if the country can return to the middle ground.

TIMESTAMPS:

2:15 - How has Presidential campaign coverage changed,

3:40 - The history of press coverage since 1960,

6:00 - Was the Press responsible for Donald Trump,

6:50 - Ratings and the press,

8:25 - History of partisan news,

10:15 - Can the media return to unbiased coverage?,

12:35 - Will the 2020 Presidential debates change minds?,

14:45 - Do National polls matter?,

15:5 - How has the pandemic changed campaigning,

17:35 - Faith in Government,

23:50 - Being a speech writer for Jimmy Carter

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Learn More: Politics: Meet Me in the Middle

Follow Us on Twitter: @politicsMMITM

Hosted by: Jane Albrecht and Ed Larson

Produced and Edited by: Mike Thomas

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Civil Rights Attorney Carol Sobel discusses the challenges and offers solutions to police handling protesters and the homeless. Historian Ed Larson talks about the nation's founding on revolution. Professor Sobel discusses LAPD's "warrior mentality." She states that the LAPD lacks an institutional memory and forgets past practices. Co-host Jane Albrecht posits that current policing practices are also a federal problem. The term "Defund The Police" is explained and discussed. Carol Sobel discusses the explosive growth in the number of homeless in LA and the nation due to COVID-19.

TIMESTAMPS:

3:50 - LAPD at war with the First Amendment

5:20 - Policing as a federal government concern

5:55 - Institutional memory and qualified immunity

7:30 - Protest differences from 2007 through 2020

8:50 - Use of sedition laws against protesters

10:00 - How prosecutors are reacting

14:35 - Defunding the police

21:30 - Homelessness in LA and nationally.

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Learn More: Politics: Meet Me in the Middle

Follow Us on Twitter: @politicsMMITM

Hosted by: Bill Curtis, Ed Larson and Jane Albrecht

Produced and Edited by: Mike Thomas

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anthropologist Wade Davis explains the importance of the study of Anthropology in a way that will entice you to become an Anthropologist. He discusses his Rolling Stone love letter, "The Unraveling Of America" and states the case that America has survived in the past and can thrive in the future. Professor Ed Larson and Trade Attorney Jane Albrecht debate the history of the so-called rugged individualist versus "Me-ism". Ed Larson and Wade Davis discuss regulating the Internet, and Professor talks about his newest book, "Magdalena, River Of Dreams."

TIMESTAMPS:

4:15 - What is Anthropology

4:50 - Rolling Stone's Unraveling Of America

7:00 - The effect of COVID 19 on America

9:30 - Quarantine in Canada versus the US

10:55 - Individual versus "Me-ism"

12:50 - History of Individualism in America

16:35 - Response to Rolling Stone article

17:20 - Wade Davis's "Signs Of Progressive Change"

18:00 - Regulating the Internet

20:50 - Fairness Doctrine

21:45 - "Roadmap Of Hope" Rolling Stone followup article

23:00 - Description of Leadership

25:45 - Wade Davis talks about his new book "Magdalena, River Of Dreams"

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Learn More: Politics: Meet Me in the Middle

Follow Us on Twitter: @politicsMMITM

Hosted by: Bill Curtis, Ed Larson, and Jane Albrecht

Produced and Edited by: Mike Thomas

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The episode begins with a brief and understandable explanation of what the economy is and why it matters. Historian Ed Larson explains how past events have effected the economy and why debt is necessary. Daron Acemoglu talks about balancing lives and prioritizing the economy. Jane Albrecht wonders how fast the economy will bounce back and will it be equitable. The panel discusses how the US stacks up against other countries in dealing with the economic impact of the pandemic. Why the stock market isn't necessarily an accurate reflection of the economy.

TIMESTAMPS:

2:20 - What makes up the US economy

3:30 - How does the economy affect individuals

7:00 - The balancing act of lives versus the economy

11:30 - A future look of the economy after the pandemic

15:00 - The stimulus and the economy

17:00 - The history of the National Debt

18:00 - Does the National Debt matter?

24:50 - Does the stock market reflect the health of the economy

Learn More: Politics: Meet Me in the Middle

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Hosted by: Bill Curtis, Ed Larson and Jane Albrecht

Produced and Edited by: Mike Thomas

Sound Engineering by: Michael Kennedy

Theme Music by: Celleste & Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In support of President Trump, Government Affairs Consultant Don Schmitz contrasts the President's approach to governing with prior administrations. Historian Ed Larson explains why the President is not elected by popular vote. Trade Attorney Jane Albrecht debates the effectiveness of the U.S. relationship with China and NATO.

This episode begins with a review of Postmaster General DeJoy's appearance before the U.S. House Of Representatives. Then the panel discusses the security and the history of voting by mail and absentee voting. Ed Larson offers a history lesson on how Presidents are decided by state legislators rather than by popular vote. After the break, Host Bill Curtis leads a discussion about the balance of power among the three branches of government. Guest Don Schmitz debates the President's overall effectiveness and his handling of international trade with Co-host Jane Albrecht.

TIMESTAMPS:

2:50 - Postmaster General DeJoy appears before Congress

4:00 - Vote By Mail security

5:00 - History of Absentee balloting

7:40 - History of disputed Presidential elections

14:00 - Dived government and the balance of power

19:10 - Conservative concerns about a Democratic sweep

22:20 - President Trump's personality versus governing

27:00 - The US relationship with China and NATO

Learn more: Politics: Meet Me in the Middle

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Hosted by: Bill Curtis, Ed Larson and Jane Albrecht

Guest: Don Schmitz

Produced and Edited by: Mike Thomas

Sound Engineering by: Michael Kennedy

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media production

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode screenwriter Billy Ray and author Gregg Hurwitz discuss the differences between Republicans and Democrats. They present practical ways to have good faith discussions with each other. Ray and Hurwitz acknowledge there are valid reasons for Republicans to support Trump and for Democrats to support Biden. They suggest that both sides agree politically more than we disagree and that politicians and corporations play on individual fear. Gregg Hurwitz relates his experience with cults and messaging. Billy Ray concedes there are problems on both political sides. Historian Ed Larson lists the reason why Republicans support Trump. Ray and Hurwitz state their case for how Donald Trump was elected in 2016.

TIMESTAMPS:

4:00 - How to communicate with Conservatives and Liberals

7:30 - Personality traits in Republicans and Democrats

12:15 - Ed Larson on Culture War and Wedge Issues

16:15 - Political positioning and cults

21:30 - Conceding that we can agree to disagree on many issues and personalities.

23:10 - How to appeal to Conservatives

26:15 - How Hillary lost in 2016

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Hosted by: Bill Curtis, Ed Larson, and Jane Albrecht

Guests: Screenwriter Billy Ray and Author Gregg Hurwitz

Produced by: Mike Thomas

Edited by: AJ Moseley

Sound Engineering by: Michael Kennedy

Theme Music by: Celleste and Eric Dick

A CurtCo Media Production

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How secure is the Homeland?

In this episode, special guest expert Paul Rosenzweig, founder of the Homeland Security consulting company, Red Branch Consulting, and senior advisor to the Chertoff Group joins Politics: Meet Me in the Middle. He was the first deputy assistant secretary for policy in the Department of Homeland Security and he's an author, a consistent contributor to the Atlantic, and a frequent authority on CNN. Paul joins the panel of: host Bill Curtis, and co-hosts Pulitzer Prize winning historian Ed Larson and International Trade Attorney Jane Albrecht to discuss questions of the use of force of the use of Homeland Security "troops" to quell local protests, especially regarding the protests in Portland, Oregon. Did the federal response go too far and is the executive expression of force written too broadly? 

Professor Ed Larson provides historical context of Federal militia entering and occupying a state and the entire panel discusses cybersecurity and the vulnerability of U.S. elections. 

Paul and Jane also discuss the role of the Department of Homeland Security including why and how it was formulated after 9/11, how it has changed in the last 20 years, and the role it is currently playing in today's administration - with a targeted focus on immigration monitoring.​

The conversation moves towards Paul's time at Homeland Security, especially his focus on rules for International Data Protection, what it means, and how it helps track terrorists' movements around the globe, and continues into how this data share personally affects Americans in their day-to-day lives.​

Paul shares his thoughts and experiences on the current state of checks-and-balances and the panel weighs in with their perspectives.

They also delve into the issue of the safety and security of the upcoming election and the role of DHS in protecting the election, including issues with electronic voting versus mail in voting and the problems each option poses.

TIMESTAMPS:

(1:35) - History of using Federal troops in local disputes.

(4:00) Federal "Troops" versus Law Enforcement. Border Tactical Unit.

(7:30) Can the Federal Government deploy troops against the wishes of a State Governor?

(13:50) How and why was the Department of Homeland Security DHS created.

(19:00) Cybersecurity and Data.

(23:00) China and data theft.

(27:30) Checks and Balances versus Executive Power.

(35:20) Election security and DHS.

(39:00) Mail-in balloting.

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Follow Us on Twitter: @politicsMMITM

Hosted by: Bill Curtis, Ed Larson and Jane Albrecht

Guest: Paul Rosenzweig - Follow Paul on Twitter @rosenzweigp

Producer: Mike Thomas

Edited by: Aj Moseley

Sound Engineering by: Michael Kennedy

Theme Music by: Celleste & Eric Dick

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