- DemagoguesPultizer Prize-winning historian Gordon Wood discusses how the founders of America intended to thwart the ascendance of demagogues, who could provoke mobs, in the fledgling democracy they were building.Listen Now
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Recent Programs
- The Rights of CiviliansCan the rule of law protect innocent men, women and children? Learn about the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The prosecutor seeks indictments of both Hamas and Israeli leaders. And hear the history of war crimes tribunals.
- The Diet-Climate ConnectionAgriculture is a huge emitter of greenhouse gases associated with climate change. Medical experts recommend that our diets emphasize many of the same tasty foods that scientists regard as most climate-friendly.
- Helping Prisoners to HealMore than a million Americans are locked in jails and prisons. Helping them recover from earlier trauma can safeguard society. Hear the stories of ex-prisoners who've begun to heal, through the inspired work of Robin Casarjian.
- The Power of Nonviolence: Seeds of PeaceHow exactly can we build a future based on understanding and connection among people of diverse backgrounds — rather than prejudice, misinformation and suspicion that are the fuel for violence?
- Living on the EdgeOver a third of Americans lack sufficient savings to handle a $400 emergency. We consider the plight of tens of millions living on the edge of poverty in the United States.
- The Lost Cause (Pts 1 & 2)Are we still living with the racial divide left over from the Civil War? Has it resurfaced today in the rise of white supremacism and election denialism?
Staff Picks
- Resilient NursesA no-holds-barred look at the stressful conditions in which many nurses work: the long hours, the emotional toll, the rapid pace, and the way that technology and institutional practices can make it hard to form a caring bond with patients.
- Simple Relaxation ExerciseA 15-minute stress reduction session to calm the body and mind.
- Libraries ReimaginedIn 2019 Americans visited the library more often than they went to a movie or attended a sporting event. But far from institutions of the past, libraries today are rapidly evolving, ensuring free access to knowledge and protecting democracy.
Producer’s Note
1 in 11 people went hungry last year. Climate change is a major cause.
Hunger and food insecurity are no longer merely benchmarks of public health. They are symptoms of a warming world, as reported by Grist.