Jay Caspian Kang

This conversation was recorded ahead of the Supreme Court's expected decision on affirmative action. As of publishing, no decision has been issued.The Supreme Court is expected to rule on affirmative action sometime this month. Most of us understand that some colleges use race as a factor in college admissions. But journalist Jay Caspian Kang argues that this focus is too narrow, and that it avoids harder conversations we need to have as a culture. In his view, focusing on the admissions practices of a select few universities creates "a fight for spots in the elite ranks of society" — and blinds us to the bigger problems plaguing American democracy. On today's episode, we talk with Kang about affirmative action's origins in the civil rights era, what it does and doesn't achieve, and what a more equitable education system could look like.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Jay Caspian Kang, staff writer for The New Yorker, shares insights on podcasting vs. magazine writing, podcast recommendations, and his writing projects. Topics include creative evolution, challenges in the media industry, transitioning to filmmaking, and reflections on the podcasting journey.

In this enlightening discussion, Sam Biddle, a journalist from The Intercept, and Jay Caspian Kang, author of Time to Say Goodbye, explore the unsettling realm of prediction markets. They delve into the ethical quandaries of betting on coups and invasions, revealing how these platforms blur moral lines. The conversation touches on DARPA's controversial experiment with terrorism forecasting and the troubling normalization of profit-seeking from violence. Biddle and Kang challenge the implications of human suffering becoming a tradable asset in our financialized world.

Jay Caspian Kang, staff writer for The New Yorker, discusses the intertwining of sports and gambling, exploring recent scandals and the impact of widespread legalization. Topics include the evolution of sports betting, the intersection of betting and Major League sports, and the concerns surrounding app-based betting.

The Ringer's Bill Simmons shares his thoughts on the Dodgers' Game 5 win over the Giants, sending them to the NLCS for the second straight year (2:55). Then Bill talks with NFL Network's Peter Schrager about Jon Gruden's exit from the Raiders, before making their Million-Dollar Picks for NFL Week 6 (22:29). Finally Bill is joined by Jay Caspian Kang of The New York Times to discuss his new book, 'The Loneliest Americans,' as well as a range of NBA topics including Kyrie Irving and the Nets, the limits of NBA analytics, why the Trail Blazers need to trade for Ben Simmons, and more (1:14:30).Host: Bill SimmonsGuests: Peter Schrager and Jay Caspian KangProducer: Kyle Crichton Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices