Night Owls

Part One of our interview with Jane Metclafe, a woman who saw the future clearly. Twice. 

An interview with University of California San Diego Professor Barbara Walter, whose book -- "How Civil Wars Start: And How to Stop Them" -- examines the risk factors that presage civil wars. Those factors are "anocracy," factionalism, loss of power and loss of hope, all hyper-linked by social media. The U.S. has been on her watch list for civil war for some time. She's keeping it there. 

A last look at the 2024 presidential campaign. A disagreement about Jeff Bezos. A watershed moment in Germany. And more! 

Renowned voice forensics scientist Rita Singh unveils the secrets our voices hold about us, from health indicators to honesty. Journeying from India to Carnegie Mellon, she revolutionizes voice analysis with discoveries like detecting COVID-19 through vocal patterns. Her insights into AI’s role in healthcare promise early disease detection. There's also an intriguing segment on reconstructing historical voices, including Rembrandt's, revealing the fascinating interplay between vocal qualities and identity. Discover how these advancements could shape the future of forensics!

General David Petraeus (Ret.) talks about the paperback edition of his book, Conflict, written with Andrew Roberts—and brings us up to date on the state of war in Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon and potential wars in Iran and Taiwan.

Three topics -- the VP debate, the Middle East and Hurricane Helene -- in 30 minutes. Joe's experience covering the Middle East is on full display. 

Part 2: John talked with Daron Shaw, one of the nation’s best pollsters who most people have never heard of. They talked about polling, politics and the presidential election. 

Daron Shaw, a distinguished professor from the University of Texas and a top pollster, shares his insights into the world of polling and politics. He discusses the evolution of survey research, revealing how methodologies have shifted dramatically since the 1990s. Shaw also examines the impact of COVID-19 on voting practices and the rise of micro-targeting in campaigns. Additionally, he highlights California's transformation from Republican dominance to a Democratic majority, while addressing the political challenges facing Texas.

John and Joe dive into the recent presidential debate, scrutinizing the performances of candidates like Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. They dissect media coverage, especially the contrasting reactions to Trump's controversial statements. A bizarre conspiracy theory about illegal immigrants consuming pets is explored, alongside its impact on the Trump campaign. The lack of focus on crucial issues like national debt and AI in the debate is critiqued. Lastly, they analyze public sentiment towards Biden and Trump, revealing surprising voter hesitations.

John and Joe welcome Paul Vallas to the show! Paul Vallas is best known for his innovative work in public education — as superintendent of schools in Chicago and in the all-charter school system in New Orleans — and (most recently) his impressive campaign for Mayor of Chicago (he got 48% of the vote, running against the mighty machine of the Chicago Teachers Union). Joe Klein, who has been campaigning in print against teachers unions for the better part of four decades, conducted the lion's share of the interview.