Political Curiosity
35 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 years ago - ★★★★★ - 6 ratingsThe world of politics can be complicated, confusing, and usually disappointing. But that's what makes it worth talking about! Hosted by Pete Reo and Luis Salvador, the Political Curiosity podcast aims to use captivating conversations to provide a different kind of space to explore important issues and foster a community of politically curious individuals. Feedback? Episode Requests? Email us! [email protected]
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Episodes
Money & Policy alongside a Hopslam
February 14, 2022 08:00 - 50 minutes - 34.8 MBJoin us this week at the Lounge for another captivating policy discussion! We dive into the issue of campaign and election financing, an important topic affecting the state of our democracy. We look through some of the legislative and judicial history around this issue leading up to the Citizens United case. How was the first amendment used in this case? How did the changes from this ruling affect campaign finance policy as well as transparency in our elections? In addition, we compare how e...
The Impact of U.S. Foreign Policy in Afghanistan (with Abu Yousufzai)
January 31, 2022 10:00 - 1 hour - 44.8 MBThis week we are excited to introduce the PC Lounge's VIP Interview Booth! We're opening up a space in the lounge to speak to people who may be policy experts in certain fields or people who have been impacted by a specific policy. We want to link personal stories and experiences to policies enacted by governments so that everyone at the lounge develops a level of consciousness on how we are all connected and influenced by policy. Our first guest is our college friend Abu Yousufzai, who ...
MLK's Legacy and Political Eras alongside a Tequila Marking Jay
January 17, 2022 11:00 - 56 minutes - 38.6 MBHappy New Year Everyone! Season 3 starts out with a bang as the PC Lounge celebrates one full year in business. The gang dives into their views on MLK's legacy and if government is capable of transforming society like they did during the civil rights movement during Bar Side Banter. After the break, FDR kicks off Policy with Character as the lounge analyzes political eras and whether we're in the midst of a change in eras in a post-Reagan world. Plus this week's tasty cocktail is a Tequi...
PC Year in Review: The Pod and Biden, mixed with some Irish Coffee
December 20, 2021 08:00 - 49 minutes - 34.1 MBThe PC Lounge opens for the last time in 2021! It's been an incredible journey for us at the Political Curiosity podcast and during this episode we take some time to review the pod and politics, particularly the Biden administration. We had big expectations for Biden as he took office; thus, we discuss his successes as well as his disappointments. In addition, we take a moment to reflect on the first year of the podcast, our favorite episodes and moments! Finally, Marky J puts together a qui...
Michigan Football and NIL paired with an Apple Cider Margarita
December 06, 2021 08:00 - 59 minutes - 40.8 MBAs we approach the holidays, we decided to take things a bit lighter at the Lounge this week! With two hosts being Michigan alumni, during the Barside Banter we could not pass the opportunity to discuss UM's victory over OSU! Marky J mixed up some Apple Cider Margarita's as he attempted to disrupt our joy talking about his Tar Heels. During Policy with Character , we kept the sports theme giving our perspective on Name, Image and Likeness, and how college sports would change if athletes' rec...
Policy vs. Culture, a Global Tax and the Aperol Spritz
November 23, 2021 03:00 - 1 hour - 43.4 MBThis week we took on some complex issues @ the PC Lounge, so to make the conversations a little lighter Marky J mixed up some Aperol Spritz for us! During the Barside Banter, we discussed why voters are more attracted to the GOP's cultural values while at the same time preferring the DNC's policies? In Policy with Character, we were briefly joined by venture capitalist Alec who gave us his impressions of a global minimum corporate tax. This recent initiative embraced by more than 130 countr...
The Labor Shortage & Child Tax Credit paired with the Spicy Watermelon Margarita
November 08, 2021 11:00 - 1 hour - 42.2 MBThings get a little bit spicy at the PC Lounge this episode. The lounge's lawyer provides a disclaimer before we start sipping on the cocktail of the week: "The Spicy Watermelon Margarita". Once Luis joins us, we dive into the Bar Side Banter topic this week: The Labor Shortage. Luis and Pete discuss the complexities and realism of trying to rebound the labor market as the pandemic moves into this new phase. In Policy with Character, Tony's son 'Pep' introduces the topic of the Child Tax...
Squaring our History, Clean Energy and a Spiked Cider
October 25, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 52.1 MBWe are back at the PC Lounge this week! During our bar-side banter, we take some time to discuss what's behind the history of October 12th, until recently known as Columbus Day. How do we make sense of this part of history in the 21st Century? Next, in our policy with character segment, we dive into the clean energy policy as part of Biden's Build Back Better bill. What's included? What are the benefits? Who is negatively impacted? How do we make sense of the politics around this important i...
Crime Surge, Housing Policy and the Sazzie
October 11, 2021 07:00 - 57 minutes - 39.3 MBThis week we are back at the PC Lounge for another great episode! We discuss what may be behind the crime surge in the U.S. and what that says about our society. We also dive into housing policy: should housing be a right? what is the role of government in providing housing? As always, Marky J surprises us with a new drink "the Sazerac" and we have a interesting chat with a new guest! The recipe for The Sazzie is simple: Chill a rocks glass (very cold), Add rye whiskey (preferably Sazerac R...
Introducing the PC Lounge!
September 27, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 42.9 MBSettle in as this week we are excited to welcome you to the PC Lounge for season 2 of Political Curiosity! Our captivating conversations will now continue at the Lounge where we will be joined by the famous bartender Marky J! We never know who we might encounter at the Lounge, this week it was Tony, who shared with us some of his concerns regarding childcare. We dive into that topic and we also hit on vaccine mandates during the first pod at the Lounge! And also, here's a look at Marky J's ...
Education, Political Fatigue and a Mystery Caller?
September 13, 2021 07:00 - 55 minutes - 37.8 MBWe are back for another great episode of Political Curiosity this week! We discuss the flaws of the education system in the US, particularly in rural areas around the country. What impact does this have on our society and politics? We also talk a little bit about political fatigue, why does this occur? What are the causes behind this issue that many of us seem to be experiencing? This week we have a mystery caller, look out for what words he has for us and the pod! Resources: Rural Educat...
Is Biden Losing Momentum?
August 30, 2021 07:00 - 58 minutes - 40.2 MBIn this week's episode, our conversation is centered around recent polls that show Biden losing ground in his approval rating. We discuss to what extent we should trust polls and how public opinion may be influenced by mainstream media narratives. Can Biden bounce back from the recent developments at home and abroad? To talk about this and more, our favorite permanent guest Mark joins us to give us his valuable takes!
PC Special Series: Democracy vs. Authoritarianism, Part 3
August 16, 2021 10:00 - 1 hour - 72.3 MBThis week we bring you part 3 of the Political Curiosity Special Series on democracy vs, authoritarianism! In this last part, we discuss the confrontation between the United States and China in three different aspects: geopolitical, economic and cultural. We each have different views on how this will unfold during the 21st Century and the potential implications. Our friend Mark Johnson join us to give us his take too! As always, we welcome any feedback or comments.
What's inflation really, and should we care?
July 26, 2021 07:00 - 57 minutes - 39.7 MBWhat's inflation? Why does everyone seem to be talking about this issue? To what extent does it matter and should we be worried? This week we attempt to answer and give our take on these important questions. We hope our conversation sparks your curiosity about inflation and we look forward to your feedback as well! References: What is Inflation? What's going with inflation now?
What's behind political loyalty?
July 12, 2021 07:00 - 47 minutes - 32.8 MBWelcome back to another episode of Political Curiosity! This week our discussion stems from the word "loyalty". What drives loyalty in the political sphere? Are people loyal to ideas, leaders or political organizations? What are the implications of extreme political loyalty? We dive into these and many other interesting questions this week. Also, make sure to listen to the end to see if the quote-game score was updated!
PC Special Series: Democracy vs. Authoritarianism, Part 2
July 06, 2021 07:00 - 1 hour - 52.4 MBThis week we bring you Part 2 of our 3 part Special Series on democracy vs. authoritarianism. In this second part, we analyze the Chinese model for development; its successes as well as its controversies. We also discuss the consolidation of power under Xi Jinping in the past years and how that may compare to the centralized/decentralized political system in the U.S. We are joined again by Mark Johnson, who is looking to gain another honorary point in "who said it?". We'll be back for part ...
Can voting access grow?
June 28, 2021 09:00 - 42 minutes - 29.5 MBIn this week's episode Pete and Luis discuss Luis's wedding, Ezra Klein's latest book 'Why we're polarized', and dive head first into their conversation starter 'access'. Stay til the end to take your shot at 'Who said it?'.
Where's the generosity USA?
June 14, 2021 10:00 - 49 minutes - 34.3 MBA lucky fan's suggestion of generosity was this week's conversation starter. Pete and Luis explore Madame Vice President Harris's disastrous trip to Central America, the Biden's recent G7 vaccine donation announcement, and if being generous is part of fundamental human behavior. They also touch on current events like inflation and infrastructure negotiations. While Luis continues to destroy Pete in 'Who said it?'
PC Special Series: Democracy vs. Authoritarianism, Part 1
June 07, 2021 07:00 - 53 minutes - 36.5 MBThis week we bring you the first of a three part series on democracy vs. authoritarianism! In many ways the 21st century will be a confrontation between these two governing models, and in particular, between the United States and China. In this first part, we discuss what the state of democracy is in the U.S: how did we get here? To help answer this question, Mark Johnson joins us for this series of episodes. Stay tuned for part two and three over the next few weeks!
Embarking on a progressive paradigm?
June 01, 2021 07:00 - 49 minutes - 34.2 MBThis week's conversation starter is paradigm! What is an economic/political paradigm and why is it significant? The latest speeches and actions by the Biden administration seem to be signaling a paradigm shift from Reaganomics and neoliberalism to a more progressive/inclusive vision for the 21st Century. We discuss the importance of embarking on a new paradigm a for the United States and the world. Resources: Biden Speech in Ohio
Where is our society failing?
May 24, 2021 07:00 - 55 minutes - 38.2 MBThis week we talk about failure! How do we assess political and societal failures? Should we consider generational processes in the analysis? Is failure necessary to learn and grow? We explore these questions and more this week, and also, find out who is leading in the quote-guessing count! Check out what are reading this week: https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01299-y https://mashable.com/article/ford-f-150-lightning-tesla-cybertruck/
Are we lacking political leaders today?
May 17, 2021 07:00 - 43 minutes - 30.2 MBIn this week's episode we talk about leadership! What is leadership? What makes a good leader? How can we measure the effectiveness of a leader? Are there different world views on leadership traits? We also share a quote from one of our favorite leaders! Who do you consider a leader today? let us know!
PC Special: Who said it?
May 03, 2021 07:00 - 39 minutes - 26.8 MBThis week we are changing things up a bit with a special episode! We picked some famous quotes from renowned politicians, activists and policy experts that resonated with us and asked each other to guess who said the quote. This exchange led to some interesting discussions and we learned something knew about these public figures and about us too. We hope you enjoy this episode, let us know what you think and share one of your favorite quotes with us!
More Coalitions, More Progress?
April 26, 2021 07:00 - 50 minutes - 35 MBWe are starting this week's conversation with the word "coalition". How are coalitions formed? Who can be part of coalition? Are they a requirement for policies to be implemented in a democratic manner? Do coalitions reduce extremism? Can coalitions be stable in the long-term? Our conversation starter sparked many interesting questions and; join us as we try to answer them!
What's American identity?
April 19, 2021 07:00 - 52 minutes - 35.8 MBOur conversation starter this week is "American"! We discuss what we think American identity is and how it is viewed/perceived both at home and abroad. We also touch on the American Dream, its past, present and future. We hope you enjoy this week's word and let us know what you think next week's conversation started should be!
Ready for 21st Century Innovation?
April 14, 2021 07:00 - 44 minutes - 30.9 MBOur conversation starter this week is "innovation", a complex, multi-dimensional word indeed! We dive into the differences in access to 21st century innovation across the country and across the world. Moving forward, we discuss whether innovation emerges more effectively under democracies or under autocratic/one party rule. Let us know what you think next week's conversation starter should be at [email protected]
Wait, politics is phony?
April 05, 2021 07:00 - 56 minutes - 38.9 MBWe are trying out a new format! Every week, we'll select a word from one of our listeners that will serve as our conversation starter. For today's episode, we selected "phony". Join us as we discuss what political leaders, economic ideas and institutions we perceive to be phony and why we should call them out.
How is social media extremism shaping our politics and society?
March 24, 2021 03:00 - 52 minutes - 36.3 MBIn this episode we hit a topic that has become part of our daily lives: social media. The lack of a social contract (minimum standards of engagement) in social media platforms has enabled more and more radicalization and extremism in the past years. Now, the extremism we see on social media is migrating to the halls of congress, our classrooms and other common spaces, threatening the future of society. Resources: Social Media and Political Discourse Social Media and Democracy Social Medi...
Infrastructure, Part 2: Why did the U.S. fall behind?
March 12, 2021 02:00 - 37 minutes - 25.8 MBAlong the way, the United States seems to have lost its national vision and that has had a negative effect on the country’s priority in investing in infrastructure. We discuss what factors have led the US to fall behind in infrastructure and what we believe the government can do to regain a national vision for future. Let us know what you think the US’s vision should be for the coming decades! Resources: The State of U.S. Infrastructure Benefits of Infrastructure Investment Infrastruct...
Infrastructure, Part 1: An indicator for a country's vision?
March 10, 2021 03:00 - 27 minutes - 18.6 MBPart One: What is infrastructure? Why do governments invest in infrastructure? Our curiosity this week brought us to this important topic and since our conversation touched on several aspects, this episode will be divided into two parts. In part one, we discuss how investing in infrastructure can be an indicator that a country has a strong vision for its present and future. Don’t forget to check back in for part two! Resources: The State of U.S. Infrastructure Benefits of Infrastructure...
The Podcast's origins and purpose
March 04, 2021 03:00 - 20 minutes - 14 MBWho are we and why did we start this podcast? For those new to Political Curiosity and want to learn a little more about the people behind the microphone give this a listen. We spend some time discussing how we met, how the podcast got started, and most importantly what we hope this podcast can achieve.
When does government debt matter?
February 24, 2021 03:00 - 56 minutes - 39.1 MBJoin us as we dive into a complex economic issue and attempt to answer the question "When does government debt matter?" The debt discussion can be ideologically heavy with a variety of perspectives; however, in our conversation we aim to explain some general concepts on the issue and provide some examples from around the globe. We hope this episode sparks your curiosity on this important topic (more resources below)! Additional Resources The Atlantic: Stop Worrying Budget Deficits Brookings...
Can the Senate be fixed?
February 09, 2021 19:00 - 48 minutes - 33.4 MBShould we end the filibuster? This question was posed to Pete. Before he answered it he leaned into his political curiosity to learn more about the Senate, it's history of debating, and why we've seen a dramatic rise in the use of the filibuster since the 1970s. Join us as we walk through how the Senate got into it's current gridlock and our ideas to fix the Senate while staying true to it's rich history of debate. We also welcome our first ever guest Reuben Kapp, who weighs in on this ...
What do Biden's initial actions tell us?
January 27, 2021 04:00 - 53 minutes - 37 MBAn inaugural address, executive actions, legislative proposals, the pandemic; and we're only one week into the Biden Administration! Luis and Pete talk through what his initial actions tells the American people and the world. Feedback? Episode Requests? Email us! [email protected] Reference to article: Biden has set sky-high expectations. Can he meet them?
Why be politically curious?
January 13, 2021 01:00 - 46 minutes - 31.8 MBJoin us for our first episode as we work through answering the question of "Why be politically curious?" We dive into how we started our politically curiosity journey, why we think many people aren't politically curious, and how our podcast can foster a community of politically curious individuals. Link to Atlantic article we reference: College-Educated Voters Are Ruining American Politics