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Slate Debates

321 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 14 hours ago - ★★★★★ - 2.7K ratings

A feed from the Slate podcast network featuring episodes with enlightening conversations, opposing views, and plenty of healthy disputes. You'll get a curated selection of episodes from programs like What Next, The Waves, and the Political Gabfest, with deep discussions that go beyond point-counterpoint and shed light on the issues that matter most.

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Episodes

Hear Me Out: Third Parties Are Saving Democracy

April 23, 2024 07:00 - 35 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out: nobody wins with two parties. A competitive presidential election draws closer every day – and as ever, every vote will count. So is it fair to accuse third-party voters of wasting a vote, as often happens? Or are third-party candidates actually preserving what little we have left of a competitive democracy?  Bernard Tamas of Valdosta State University joins us to make the case for the power of the third party. If you have thoughts you want to share, or an...

Hear Me Out: Legalize Weed, But Not Like This

April 16, 2024 07:00 - 36 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out: blaze it. Ahead of the honorary stoner holiday that is 4/20, we’re taking a look at the marijuana landscape. Public opinion has warmed considerably to legal weed in the past few decades – both medicinal and recreational – even though it remains a Schedule 1 drug on the federal level. But some public health experts are still sounding the alarm, because this has all happened very quickly… and though hard-line illegality was harmful, what we’re doing now migh...

A Word: Candace Owens: Back to Black?

April 12, 2024 07:00 - 42 minutes

Commentator Candace Owens’ messy fall from grace in conservative media coincided with her appearances on popular Black chat shows. That includes The Breakfast Club, led by radio host and personality Charlamagne tha God. Once a minor social media personality who condemned Donald Trump as racist, Owens became one of the former president’s chief defenders, and a leading Black voice of anti-Black rhetoric. So is Owens saying anything new in Black media, and were those outlets doing the right thin...

Hear Me Out: Interracial Marriages Can Still Be Racist

April 09, 2024 07:03 - 36 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out: amore, but make it anti-racist. Honoring interracial marriage has only been the law of the land for a few decades in this country; there are couples alive today whose relationships were illegal within their lifetimes.  There are now more mixed-race couples – and children – in the U.S. than ever before, and interracial love is overwhelmingly supported by all Americans. But is that an indication that we’ve actually made progress toward racial equality?  Jam...

Hear Me Out: Don’t Blame Capitalism For The Housing Crisis

April 02, 2024 07:00 - 37 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out: housing the nation.  We have an affordable housing problem — and an affordability problem, period, but that’s another show.  When we talk about solutions to homelessness and cost burden for renters and homeowners alike, many progressives lean toward government intervention… because capitalism seems to have failed us. But has it, really? Or is for-profit development the surprising answer to affordable housing? Jon McMillan of TF Cornerstone – and author of...

Hear Me Out: Anti-Vaxers Aren’t Just Extremists

March 26, 2024 07:03 - 35 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out: getting the jab. Vaccine hesitancy is not a new phenomenon in the United States, but it is a growing one… particularly in conservative Evangelical circles.  At the same time, there’s a lot for all of us to dislike, and distrust, about the American healthcare system. So, for those of us who have a hard time working up any sympathy for the vaccine-skeptical crowd, it’s worth asking: what if this is a symptom of the problems we’re all experiencing? Johanna R...

Hear Me Out: You Probably Don’t Need Therapy Forever

March 19, 2024 07:03 - 44 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out: talk it out. Talking about therapy isn’t taboo anymore — and that’s great, because everyone deserves help when they need it. The question is… do you really need it? Dr. Richard Friedman of Weill Cornell Medicine wrote a piece for The Atlantic last month, headlined ”Plenty of People Could Quit Therapy Right Now.” So why is that the case… and what are the consequences of getting therapy when you don’t need it?  Dr. Friedman joins us to discuss. If you have...

Hear Me Out: Purity Is Poisoning the Progressive Movement

March 12, 2024 07:03 - 37 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out: the purity test. Purity, in political science, doesn’t have anything to do with morality. It has to do with whether your policy aligns with your principles.  From “Bernie Bros” to the uncommitted vote against Biden, we’ve seen progressives protect ideological purity… and punish stances that don’t align. An all-or-nothing stance on issues like universal healthcare and student loan forgiveness might sound appealing to voters. But does it doom progress, pract...

Hear Me Out: The House Should Elect The President

March 05, 2024 08:03 - 44 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… Parliamentary America? It’s Super Tuesday, and the process by which we elect a president is on full display (warts and all). Americans on both sides of the aisle agree that the electoral college has to go. But what should replace it?  Maxwell Stearns, author of Parliamentary America: The Least Radical Means of Radically Repairing Our Broken Democracy (out 3/5/2024), presents his case for restructuring American government to look more like a parliamentary s...

Hear Me Out: Horse Race Journalism Is Good, Actually

February 27, 2024 08:03 - 44 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… are journalists killing democracy? Mainstream news outlets are starting to move away from horse race election coverage and toward policy substance. Though it’s a slow change, it’s heralded by much of the news industry as a good one. But what if the horse race was never really the problem?  Journalist and writer Chris Cillizza joins us to defend the horse race. If you have thoughts you want to share, or an idea for a topic we should tackle, you can email t...

Hear Me Out: Un-Cancel Woodrow Wilson

February 20, 2024 08:03 - 44 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… making (fourteen) points.  A piece in this month’s issue of the Atlantic argues that it’s time to re-evaluate the presidency of Woodrow Wilson. President Wilson was indisputably a productive president — but he’s now reviled by the left as a racist and the right as a tyrant. Is there room to meet somewhere in the middle? David Frum of the Atlantic joins us to argue that, yes: it’s time to un-cancel Woodrow Wilson.  If you have thoughts you want to share, o...

Care & Feeding (After Dark): Couples’ Therapy

February 15, 2024 19:00 - 33 minutes

On our second C&F After Dark episode: we know that Valentine’s has come and gone. But we’re not done talking about grownup stuff!  Elizabeth, Zak and Lucy each sit down with their spouses — Jeff, Shira and Geno — to talk through a problem they’ve had as a co-parenting couple. The hosts chime in on each others’ problems, too. It’s an advice extravaganza… and, dare we say, a love-fest? Then, we’ll wrap up by testing how in-sync our hosts are with their spouses. It’s time for a round of the Ne...

Hear Me Out: The Constitution Can’t Save Us

February 13, 2024 08:03 - 37 minutes

Though most Americans have problems with the way this country is run, the Constitution remains popular — and untouchable, in our nation of laws. But it’s often difficult to solve 21st century problems with an 18th century document. Aaron Tang, author and professor of law at UC Davis, joins us once again to argue that, instead of aligning with the Constitution, courts should try to cause the least permanent harm possible. If you have thoughts you want to share, or an idea for a topic we shoul...

What Next: A Mass Shooter’s Mom Found Guilty

February 07, 2024 08:00 - 24 minutes

Yesterday, a jury found Jennifer Crumbley guilty of involuntary manslaughter for the mass-shooting carried out by her son Ethan at his high school in Oxford, Michigan.  How will this conviction change the way school shootings are prosecuted? Can future violence be prevented by holding the parents accountable? Guest: Quinn Klinefelter, host and Senior News Editor for 101.9 WDET in Detroit. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits lik...

Hear Me Out: Campus Assault Hearings Are A Disaster

February 06, 2024 08:03 - 36 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… dear colleague.  The way universities and colleges handle sexual assault cases has changed a lot in the last 13 years. Part of that is because of the sheer vastness of the higher education system; everyone does everything differently. But federal guidance has also shifted with each of the last three administrations… and our guest today argues that none of those systems have worked. In fact, they’ve all been unmitigated failures. Lara Bazelon of the Univer...

Hear Me Out: Actually, Trump Supporters Are Delusional

January 30, 2024 08:03 - 38 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… folie à deux (again). A few weeks ago, Frank Buckley joined us to argue that Trump voters aren’t delusional. And a lot of you disagreed. One of you, though, turned out to be an expert in the nature of delusion. So who better to join us, and make the case that we got it wrong? Barry Mauer, a Hear Me Out listener and associate professor at the University of Central Florida, joins us to argue that the pro-Trump movement isn’t just delusional — it’s dangerous...

Hear Me Out: Feminism Is Dying (But It Can Be Saved)

January 23, 2024 08:03 - 35 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… which wave is this, anyway? There’s no denying that the feminist movement looks different now than it did 50 years ago — and in some ways, that’s a good thing. But there’s an argument to be made that the modern movement skews politically progressive… so much so that it’s leaving some women, and some issues, behind.  Phyllis Chesler, author and second-wave feminist, joins us. If you have thoughts you want to share, or an idea for a topic we should tackle, ...

Care and Feeding: Private School Guilt

January 22, 2024 08:00 - 22 minutes

On this episode Elizabeth Newcamp, Zak Rosen, and Lucy Lopez weigh in on a classic question: what school is right for your family? Our letter writers’ kid is gifted and their family has fallen in love with a local private school — but they’re also grappling with some guilt. How important is it to give your kid the best, if it also means putting them in a privilege bubble?  They also share some products and activities they’re loving right now. Then, if you have Slate Plus, is yelling actually...

Hear Me Out: George Santos and Gypsy-Rose Aren’t Your Icons

January 16, 2024 08:03 - 43 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… yas, queen? It’s been hard to avoid an onslaught of memes about bad people lately. People like Gypsy-Rose Blanchard and George Santos have been punished for their misdeeds in one way… but now, it seems, they’re being rewarded by the attention economy. The question is: is it our fault? Rachel Greenspan, writer and social strategist, joins us once again to argue for discretion in memeing. If you have thoughts you want to share, or an idea for a topic we sho...

Hear Me Out: Trump Voters Are Not Delusional

January 09, 2024 08:03 - 41 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… delusion is not the solution. Welcome to a presidential election year, where everyone will surely be cool and normal. We know, we know — the prospect of dealing with electoral discourse is one that most of us aren’t looking forward to. But we’re here to prove that it’s possible to talk.  For Democrats, and liberals writ large, it’s hard to understand why anyone would want another Trump presidency; and it’s tempting to chalk that desire up to delusion, idio...

Hear Me Out: Yes, You Can Self Improve Right Now

January 02, 2024 08:03 - 47 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… new year, new you?  If you’ve resolved to make 2024 your happiest, healthiest, most organized, most peaceful, etc. year yet? You’re not alone. And if you’re pretty sure the people who have made resolutions are doomed to abandon ship before January is over… you’re not alone, either. Nor are you wrong, exactly. In the season of giving, getting, and evaluating self-improvement advice, there’s a line between over-optimism and self-limiting skepticism. And our ...

Hear Me Out: The Holidays Are Tacky. Embrace It

December 19, 2023 08:03 - 37 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… ‘tis the damn season. Break out the glitter and the ugly sweaters. If you’re on social media, you’ve probably seen a lot of minimalist holiday décor this year — from celebrities, influencers, and DIY-ers alike. It seems trendy to try “class up” the holidays and eschew the bright and gaudy for the monotone, the understated, or the expensive-looking… but does living in fear of committing a faux pas maybe miss the point?  Kristen Meinzer, culture critic and c...

Hear Me Out: Race Isn’t Real. The Census Should Reflect That.

December 12, 2023 08:03 - 42 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… cen-suspicions. We’re a little over six years away from the next national census. It’s understandable that this might not be at the top of your mind, but for a small group of academics and activists, it absolutely is.  Race isn’t a real thing, scientifically speaking. But we still live in a heavily racialized society, and the Census sets the stage for many, many policy decisions that impact race equity. So, if race isn’t real, why does the Census act like ...

Hear Me Out: The Oppressed Still Have Moral Duties

December 05, 2023 08:03 - 33 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… atrocities beget atrocities. The war in Gaza is ongoing, and brutal – and on this show we’ve discussed whether you, as an observer, have a responsibility to speak out about it… or to even choose a side between Israelis and Palestinians. This week, we take a different angle: who has a responsibility, in war, to do what? And not do what? And to whom?  Michael Walzer, author and professor emeritus at the Institute for Advanced Study, joins us to argue that ev...

Hear Me Out: Psychiatry Alone Can’t Heal You Completely

November 28, 2023 08:03 - 41 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… great, but not enough. Mental health is on a lot of minds as we enter the holiday season — a time when we know many people struggle. So this week, we talk candidly about what it means to treat mental illness… and what it should mean, if we want that treatment to be effective, long-lasting, and sensitive. Spoiler: psychiatry and psychology are not the panaceas you might think. Erin Grimm, author and mental health advocate, joins us. ** NOTE: This episode ...

Hear Me Out: Be The Holiday A--hole

November 21, 2023 08:03 - 42 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… thanks, but no thanks. Americans are anxiously awaiting their Thanksgiving celebrations this week – for many, with some trepidation. Polls suggest we all know we don’t want to talk about politics around the table… but that most of us will anyway.  With keeping the peace at the front of many minds — and civility always at the front of ours — our guest this week proposes an alternative: be a little bit of a jerk, if you need to. And, if you can… it’s okay to...

Hear Me Out: It’s Time To Sunset Social Security

November 14, 2023 08:03 - 46 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… solving the insolvent. With the threat of a government shutdown looming (again), there are a lot of key programs and initiatives proving contentious for lawmakers. But nobody seems to ever flirt with the idea of cutting – or ending altogether – social security, And maybe it’s time to do just that.  Eric Boehm of Reason Magazine joins us to argue for the end… even the beginning of the end… for social security. If you have thoughts you want to share, or an ...

What Next: How the Israel-Gaza War Rages in America

November 14, 2023 08:00 - 32 minutes

A Jewish writer and Muslim journalist sit down to discuss the power dynamics, tribalism, and role of empathy in a far-away conflict that hits close to home in America.  Guests: Aymann Ismail, Slate staff writer Emily Tamkin, writer and author of The Influence of Soros and Bad Jews. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be suppor...

Hear Me Out: Nerds are a Menace to Society

November 07, 2023 08:03 - 42 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… lovable underdogs? For a long time, we’ve been sold — and we’ve bought — the idea of the nerd hero; usually a man, usually brilliant, and usually a social outcast who, inevitably, gets the girl. That was the happy ending. But now, we’re surrounded by powerful, self-styled nerds who have it all and still want more. And, to some, it’s increasingly hard to root for these guys. Ian Bogost, a writer and video game designer, joins us.  If you have thoughts you...

How To!: Build a Marriage That Lasts

November 07, 2023 08:00 - 45 minutes

To celebrate their third wedding anniversary, Anjali and Rahul are each selecting a surprise activity to do together. This happy couple loves spontaneity, so they’re concerned about someday growing bored in their relationship. They’re also feeling pressure to mark the traditional milestones of marriage, including having kids. On this episode of How To!, authors Caryl and Jay Casbon join us to share the wisdom they gained from interviewing other married couples for their book Side by Side. The...

Hear Me Out: On Halloween, Death Should Be Celebrated

October 31, 2023 07:03 - 37 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… the veil is thin. It’s easy to forget, between the plastic skeletons and cheap chocolate, that Halloween was — and is, for many cultures — very much about the reality of death.  As the Northern Hemisphere goes dormant for the winter, it’s worth remembering that the circle of life includes death. And instead of a punchline or a thing to be feared, we might actually celebrate death, when we can. And who better to consult on how to do that than modern-day wit...

How To!: Hit “Reset” on Your Career

October 31, 2023 07:00 - 39 minutes

Our listener Abdullah has reached a plateau. A mid-career manager at a large electronics engineering corporation, he feels intellectually unstimulated. Even though Abdullah has a stable job with seniority, he dreams of going back to school, and pursuing his true passion: economics. But with a family to support, should Abdullah make a risky leap? On this episode of How To!, host Carvell Wallace is joined by Freakonomics co-author and University of Chicago economist Steven Levitt. Well-known fo...

Hear Me Out: You Don’t Need to Post About Israel and Palestine

October 24, 2023 07:03 - 40 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… when silence is violence.  The war in Israel and Palestine is a rapidly-evolving situation – and one that’s bringing up a lot of emotions for a lot of people. Couple that with the flood of mis-and-disinformation on social media, and “to post or not to post” becomes an extremely loaded question.  Are you ever required to speak up on social media? Even if you don’t know the whole story? And if you elect not to say anything, is that inherently choosing a side...

How To!: Let Go of Kid Clutter

October 24, 2023 07:00 - 38 minutes

Kids generate so…much…stuff. A lot of it is memorable. Videos of their first words? So cute. Colorful drawings that progressively get better? Masterpieces. Trophies, stuffies, books? All valuable. The problem: There’s no way to keep everything. So how do you figure out what to cherish and what to toss? On this episode of How To!, co-hosts Carvell Wallace and Courtney Martin bring in Nonnahs Driskill, professional organizer and founder of Get Organized Already. She has lots of insight into why...

Hear Me Out: Teaching Civics Can’t Save Democracy

October 17, 2023 07:03 - 43 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… I’m just a bill. A lot of Americans will agree, even across party lines, that our democracy feels broken. A commonly proposed solution is beefing up, or formalizing, the way we teach young people civics.  Entities from the Center for American Progress to Vivek Ramaswamy have suggested that it’s time that we get students to know more about their government — in the hopes that knowing more leads to caring more, and engaging more. But by prioritizing civics, w...

Hear Me Out: Columbus Day Is Worth Celebrating

October 10, 2023 07:03 - 38 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… sailing the ocean blue. Most of us just had Monday off for the holiday formerly known as Columbus Day — and technically, still known as Columbus Day, on the federal level. Indigenous People’s Day, or Native Americans’ Day, was christened as a rebuttal to what Columbus actually meant for many: colonialism, violence, death, and destruction. But there are those who believe that Columbus, the man, is a different beast than Columbus, the event. Spanish ships land...

Hear Me Out: Walks Are Boring, Nay, Agonizing

October 03, 2023 07:03 - 31 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… stretching our legs. We know we like to bring you deep conversations about the biggest topics in the news. But today? Let’s go for a walk. Lots of us picked up this new healthy habit over the course of the pandemic. But walking is still one of those things you either love or really, really hate. So we took our host — an enthusiastic walker — and sat her down with someone who hates it.  Our guest is Lucy Lopez, media personality and host of the Mamacita Ri...

What Next: Can Marriage Fix America?

September 28, 2023 07:00 - 24 minutes

Why is everyone—on the left and the right—suddenly touting the benefits of a married two-parent family? And what is it about this institution that appeals to a certain class of politicians and pundits as means to address American poverty, even as it loses popularity? We consider the public meltdown over lower marriage rates and the renewed interest in ending no-fault divorce.  Guest: Rebecca Traister, author of All the Single Ladies: Unmarried Women and the Rise of an Independent Nation and...

Hear Me Out: Being Adopted Is Traumatic

September 26, 2023 07:03 - 41 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… what? Oh my god, who told you? Adoption is a complicated thing. Raising a child who’s not related to you is challenging — and being that child, in many ways, is even harder.  And it’s all too easy for adoption, particularly a white family adopting a black or brown child, to be framed as a heroic act. The truth, as adoptees will tell you, is a lot messier. Angela Tucker, a writer and transracial adoptee, joins us to argue that adoption is traumatic… and wi...

Hear Me Out: Bring Back The Draft

September 19, 2023 07:03 - 36 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… the conscription question. The U.S. military is having trouble meeting recruitment goals — and for the first time in recent history, the Army has actually failed to meet its minimum.  Joe Plenzler, a writer, consultant and Marine Corps veteran, joins us to argue that it’s time to bring back the draft; more specifically, a partial one. It’d help address recruiting shortfalls, but more importantly, it might also change how Americans feel about public service...

What Next: The Case Against Harm Reduction

September 14, 2023 07:00 - 31 minutes

Following “The Call,” our series on the opioid epidemic continues in Harlem. Inside a safe-consumption site, addiction is destigmatized—outside, however, the neighbors feel differently. Guest: Syderia Asberry-Chresfield, co-founder of the Greater Harlem Coalition and a former Vice President for JP Morgan Chase. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear...

Hear Me Out: It’s Time To End The Engagement Ring

September 12, 2023 07:03 - 32 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… popping the question. By The Knot’s estimates, we’re officially entering peak wedding season. And we know there are many, many controversial opinions we could tackle about weddings, but let’s start with that thing that precedes most weddings: the engagement ring.  The ring – especially a diamond one – is an institution that feels like a foregone conclusion for couples taking the next step in their relationship. But does it need to be?  Belinda Luscombe, a...

Hear Me Out: Overconfidence Is Killing The Supreme Court

September 05, 2023 07:03 - 39 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… supreme hubris. The Supreme Court is currently unpopular to a historic degree. That popularity is, of course, contingent on political opinion – and whether the court has bucked it recently. But most people agree that something’s wrong with the Supreme Court as an institution. And, according to Aaron Tang, it’s not partisanship… even though that’s a popular scapegoat. It’s overconfidence and egos running wild. Professor and author Aaron Tang joins us to di...

Hear Me Out: Harm Reduction Saves Lives

August 29, 2023 07:03 - 32 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… preventing the preventable. At best, the rate of epidemic of drug overdose deaths in this country is slowing — but by many metrics and in many jurisdictions, the situation remains as dire as ever.  Which begs the question: what tactics will work to prevent these deaths, if nothing has yet?  Laura Guzman, Executive Director of the National Harm Reduction Coalition, joins us to say that harm reduction strategies like clean needles, clean pipes, and Narcan d...

Hear Me Out: Sit Down and Shut Up at Concerts and Theaters

August 22, 2023 07:03 - 40 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… main character syndrome.  As concerts and movie theaters have roared back to life this summer, so has a disturbing trend: bad behavior. You’ve seen the videos, probably — picking fights with neighbors, throwing things onstage, and taking videos during Barbie. Some of these behaviors have higher stakes than others, obviously. But it’s clear that we’re in a new frontier of public behavior… and that it might be more difficult, and more dangerous, to chide our...

Hear Me Out: You’re Not Too Cool To Go On A Cruise

August 15, 2023 07:03 - 36 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… choosin’ cruisin’.  There seem to be two types of people in this world: those who love going on cruise ships, and those who wouldn’t be caught dead on one. Whichever you are, you probably feel pretty strongly about this. The cruise industry has come roaring back from the brink since the lifting of pandemic restrictions, and there’s never been more to do while you’re at sea. So for the slight majority of you who, statistically, aren’t cruise fans, today’s g...

Hear Me Out: Affirmative Action Failed Poor Black Kids

August 08, 2023 07:03 - 35 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… almost affirmative.  We don’t yet know what the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action is going to do, tangibly, to college admissions — or how long those impacts will last. But, based on past experiments, we have a decent idea. And many advocates say the implications here are urgent and dire. But affirmative action might not have been the great equalizing force that a lot of people believe it was.  Bertrand Cooper, freelance journalist and policy r...

Hear Me Out: Less Porn, More Sex Tapes

August 01, 2023 07:03 - 28 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… let’s get it on.  Whether you watch porn or not — admit it, or not — adult entertainment shapes the way we think about sex, gender, and power.  Our guest today argues that porn is an industry, but it’s also a genre, and it’s much closer to fantasy than it is to reality. But if we abandoned porn and replaced it with watching real people have real sex, we might not just shake off taboos; we might also become better lovers, and better people, too.  Cindy Gal...

Hear Me Out: Learning Gun Safety Could Save Your Kids’ Lives

July 25, 2023 07:03 - 39 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… safety on.  July sees the most accidental shootings involving children of any month on the calendar — but there’s not really a month where these tragedies don’t happen.  So put aside your feelings on gun control for a moment and consider: how, in the world we live in right now, can we protect children from their own curiosity?  Our guest, author Yehuda Remer, argues that teaching kids what guns can do — and how they can keep themselves safe — is the best ...

Hear Me Out: The U.S. Sugar Program Isn’t A Sweet Deal

July 18, 2023 07:03 - 34 minutes

On today’s episode of Hear Me Out… a spoonful of sugar helps the trade protectionism go down. The Farm Bill is up for renewal this year — and there’s a chorus of voices now, as in years past, saying it’s time we stop favoring domestic sugar. The U.S. has subsidized American sugar producers for almost as long as we’ve been a republic, but the current system is very complicated… and very costly for the average consumer. Some argue that it’s closer to a cartel than it is a regulatory model. C...

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