The Argument

The day-to-day chaos of the Trump administration can make it easy to ignore slow-moving threats on the horizon — like the $37 trillion national debt. How can you pay attention to a crisis building months or years away when every morning brings reports of basic freedoms being stripped away?In this episode of The Argument, host Jerusalem Demsas interviews economics journalist Jordan Weissmann about the U.S. debt crisis, whether Jordan's advancing age has anything to do with his sudden concern about the national debt, and how expanding social welfare programs may rest on taking the national debt seriously.The Argument is a podcast dedicated to honest, unflinching debate about the biggest questions facing democracy, culture, and our future. As the host, Jerusalem will bring together voices across the political spectrum to argue, challenge, and persuade. Each episode is a space where disagreements are confronted directly, with clarity and conviction, rather than hidden or shouted down.The Argument's production team includes Ranjani Chakraborty, Isabella Pereira, Angela Tracy, Eli Richman, and Kate Crawford, with music by Breakmaster Cylinder. If you want to hear more of The Argument, you can become a subscriber at thergumentmag.com.The Argument's production team includes Ranjani Chakraborty, Isabella Pereira, Angela Tracy, Eli Richman, and Kate Crawford with music by Breakmaster Cylinder. If you want to hear more of The Argument, you can become a subscriber at The ArgumentMag.com.

Ezra Klein, an Opinion columnist at The New York Times, Matt Yglesias, a writer known for actionable policy insights, and Derek Thompson, a cultural and economic commentator, engage in a lively debate. They discuss the challenges facing liberalism, the dynamics of intra-left arguments, and the impact of social media on civic engagement. The panel delves into why liberalism struggles to unite amid cultural conflicts and whether recent critiques of abundance accurately reflect the housing crisis. Their honest exchanges showcase the complexities of political discourse today.

We’re in the age of attention. Donald Trump and J.D. Vance are trying to remake America into a poorer, more dangerous and less free version of itself. Liberals have to fight back.Enter The Argument.We are a new media company with a mission to revitalize liberalism. We’re going to argue about AI and education, NIMBYs and affordable housing, and present our own issue polling on the biggest questions of the day.Join us. We’re libbing out.Get full access to The Argument at www.theargumentmag.com/subscribeThe Argument's production team includes Ranjani Chakraborty, Isabella Pereira, Angela Tracy, Eli Richman, and Kate Crawford with music by Breakmaster Cylinder. If you want to hear more of The Argument, you can become a subscriber at The ArgumentMag.com.