What Could Go Right?

Is fundamental change possible in a polarized two-party system? Zachary and Emma speak with Forward Party Founder Andrew Yang to discuss the current state of the primary system in the United States and what positive change might look like. They talk about what ranked choice voting is, some key benefits of that system, and the hurdles it faces. They discuss the likelihood of achieving popular but challenging reforms like term limits and stock trading in Congress. The conversation also touches on the dysfunction within the current political system, the incentives that reinforce that dysfunction, and the need to reconfigure the system to reward doing the right thing so that good public servants keep their jobs.What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate.For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.orgWatch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theprogressnetwork Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's Progress Report covers a range of topics, including the banning of wild animals in circuses, the reduction of air pollution in China, and the ban on ghost guns in Oregon. The conversation also touches on the future of zoos and the potential for changes in gun laws. Despite the polarizing nature of the gun control debate, there seems to be a consensus on moderate measures to control guns.What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate.For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.orgWatch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theprogressnetworkAnd follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we’re sharing an episode of a podcast we think you’ll really like – BBC’s The Global Story. Indonesia is building a brand-new capital city - twice the size of New York – in the middle of a rainforest. The current capital city, Jakarta, suffers from pollution, congestion, flooding, is prone to earthquakes and is also one of the fastest sinking cities in the world. The new high-tech metropolis called Nusantara aims to be carbon-neutral and better protected from natural disasters. But the project is facing some major hurdles and has fallen well behind schedule.On this episode Caitríona Perry is joined by Astudestra Ajengrastri and Rebecca Henschke to find out if Nusantara can live up to its environmental promises and if Jakarta will still be saved from sinking beneath the ocean.Find more episodes of The Global Story at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-global-story/id1715473158 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's Progress Report, Zachary and Emma discuss lesser-known news stories that highlight positive developments and meaningful change. They cover topics such as a gel that stops bleeding from wounds in seconds, the world's first trial for an mRNA-based vaccine against lung cancer, the elimination of maternal and neonatal tetanus in Guinea, and the stability of the Doomsday Glacier.What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate.For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.orgWatch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theprogressnetworkAnd follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Evan Osnos, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author, offers insight into the current state of the Biden presidency and the ascendant Kamala Harris. He analyzes how Biden’s decision to step back reshapes the Democratic Party's landscape. The conversation delves into how social media influences voter engagement, especially among younger demographics. Osnos also discusses the shifting political sentiments in places like West Virginia and the challenges facing the Democratic Party amidst right-wing propaganda. A pivotal look at contemporary political dynamics!

Kevin Davies, executive editor of The CRISPR Journal and author of 'Editing Humanity', discusses the cutting-edge advancements in gene editing, particularly CRISPR's transformative role in treating diseases like sickle cell. He Jiankui's controversial gene editing work raises questions about ethics and oversight in the field. The conversation also emphasizes the balance between innovation and moral responsibility, highlighting accessibility issues and the potential for wealth disparities in accessing gene editing technologies.

In this week's Progress Report, Zachary and Emma discuss various news stories, highlighting both the good and bad news. They cover topics such as the development of smart insulin, Europe warming faster than the rest of the globe, human adaptation to heat, and a decrease in opioid overdose deaths in the US.What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate.For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.orgWatch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theprogressnetworkAnd follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why have leading publications been obsessed with Donald Trump for so long? What's the master thesis behind political and cultural schisms in the US? And why are the nation's elite all talk and no walk about social justice? Zachary and Emma speak with Musa Al-Gharbi, sociologist and author of "We Have Never Been Woke: The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite." They discuss The New York Times and other publications' fascination with Donald Trump as a politician over the years, the journey of "jumping class," and how Ivy League universities are schools for elites that turn away the disadvantaged.What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate.For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.orgWatch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theprogressnetworkAnd follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Progress Report, Emma discusses three news stories: the pro-democracy protests in Bangladesh, the projected peak of world population, and state-level initiatives in the United States. The main themes include political unrest and democratic movements, population growth and sustainability, and state-level experimentation and regulation. The takeaways include the power of grassroots movements, the potential positive impact of declining population growth, and the importance of state-level action in shaping policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should psychedelics be legal nationwide? Are they a bipartisan topic? And if they become a retail product like marijuana, how would screening and licensing work? Join Zachary and Emma as they speak with Oshan Jarow, a staff writer at Vox's Future Perfect. Oshan discusses psychedelics in politics, cultures using these drugs therapeutically and spiritually, and both the controversial history and legal future of psychedelics.What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and The Podglomerate.For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.orgWatch the podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/theprogressnetworkAnd follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices