Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss the idea of charismatic authority developed by Max Weber (1864-1920) to explain why people welcome some as their legitimate rulers and follow them loyally, for better or worse, while following others only dutifully or grudgingly. Weber was fascinated by those such as Napoleon (above) and Washington who achieved power not by right, as with traditional monarchs, or by law as with the bureaucratic world around him in Germany, but by revolution or insurrection. Drawing on the experience of religious figures, he contended that these leaders, often outsiders, needed to be seen as exceptional, heroic and even miraculous to command loyalty, and could stay in power for as long as the people were enthralled and the miracles they had promised kept coming. After the Second World War, Weber's idea attracted new attention as a way of understanding why some reviled leaders once had mass support and, with the arrival of television, why some politicians were more engaging and influential on screen than others. With Linda Woodhead The FD Maurice Professor and Head of the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at King's College LondonDavid Bell The Lapidus Professor in the Department of History at Princeton UniversityAndTom Wright Reader in Rhetoric at the University of SussexProducer: Simon Tillotson

David Bell discusses the funding of right wing think tanks and the shift in American culture. Topics include the evolution of political labels, the influence of think tanks on policy decisions, the flawed strategy of the Rand Corporation in the Vietnam War, and the marketing of trickle-down economics.

David Bell, famous pervert and big bean, discusses the compelling aspects of the game Deathloop. The hosts talk about the game's simplicity, different play styles, story mining, and the use of AI. They also discuss the unique gameplay mechanics and puzzle strategies. Overall, they express positive opinions on Deathloop and its potential future projects.

Muammar Qaddafi was probably the craziest bastard to ever steer a nation. In Episode 11, Robert is joined by David Bell (www.patreon.com/GamefullyUnemployed) and they discuss the insane life of Libyan Dictator, Muammar Qaddafi. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert is joined again by David Bell and they continue discuss the insane life of the controversial former leader of Libya, Muammar Qaddafi.  Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.