The Braver Angels Podcast

Ciaran O'Connor and John Wood, Jr. talk to Arthur Brooks, the President of the American Enterprise Institute and the author of the recently-published "Love Your Enemies," about his new book, antidotes to polarization, and the transformational power of love amidst today's social-media-fueled rancor.

*Correction: This episode states that Cook County State Attorney Kim Fox was formerly a chief of staff for first lady Michelle Obama. This is incorrect. What has been reported is that former aide to Michelle Obama, Tina Tchen, contacted Ms. Fox on behalf of the Smollett family prior to charges against Smollett being dropped. John Wood, Jr., along with Better Angels leaders Randy Lioz, Greg Steinbrecher and Better Angels editor Luke Phillips take on the politics of the Mueller Report, Also, the Jussie Smollett controversy continues and Better Angels gears up for the 2nd Annual Better Angels National Convention at Washington University. Interested in attending the Better Angels Convention? Apply at https://www.better-angels.org/convention/

Ciaran O'Connor and John Wood, Jr. welcome Terence Szuplat to the podcast. Terry was Barack Obama's senior foreign policy speech writer and a member of the administration's speechwriting team for all eight years of the Obama presidency. Here Terry talks his work with the Obama administration, his experience coming to a Better Angels workshop, and the challenge of unearthing common values across the partisan divide.

Green New Deal, Ilhan Omar, AOC, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Better Angels, Ciaran O'Connor, John Wood Jr., Greg Steinbrecher, Randy Lioz, polarization.

Average Joe turned political celebrity Ken Bone joins John and Ciaran to talk about his wild ride to fame following his celebrated appearance at the second 2016 Trump vs. Clinton presidential debate, and to share his insights into the problem of political polarization and how we can overcome it. Follow Ken Bone: Twitter: @KenBone18 John Wood, Jr. Twitter: @JohnRWoodJr Facebook: @Transcending Politics Ciaran O'Connor Twitter: @ciaranjocconor Better Angels Twitter: @BetterAngelsUSA Facebook: @reconnectamerica www.better-angels.org Music by Josh Lim: www.joshjameslim.com/

[We had some audio issues on this one. Sorry everyone! But the conversation was great. We'll avoid these problems in the future.] Ione Butler, founder of Uplifting Content, and artist and activist Billy Singhas join Ciaran and John to talk about the suite of racial controversies to hit America in the last couple weeks, including the Ralph Northam blackface scandal, Liam Neeson's shocking admission and congresswoman Ilhan Omar's perceived anti-Semitic tweets. Join the Depolarization Movement at www.better-angels.org. ********************************************************* Ione Butler: Uplifting Content: https://www.upliftingcontent.com/ Twitter: @ionebutler @upliftingcont Billy Singhas: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkUEx6dQzSIeJ-aoZ1Sy0Ww/featured John Wood, Jr. Twitter: twitter.com/JohnRWoodJr Facebook: www.facebook.com/TranscendingPoli…cs/?ref=settings Ciaran O'Connor Twitter: twitter.com/ciaranjoconnor Music by Josh Lim: www.joshjameslim.com/

[Recorded on January 16th, 2018] John and Ciaran are joined by sharp and lively Kim Iversen, former syndicated talk radio show host and co-founder of The Left media network, to talk about immigration, the causes of polarization, special interest influence on politics, Kim's issues with the Democratic Party as well Donald Trump, and more. See more at www.better-angels.org Kim Iversen Website: https://www.kimiversen.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kimontheleft?lang=en John Wood, Jr. Twitter: twitter.com/JohnRWoodJr Facebook: www.facebook.com/TranscendingPoli…cs/?ref=settings Ciaran O'Connor Twitter: twitter.com/ciaranjoconnor

Ciaran O'Connor and John Wood, Jr., with fellow Better Angels leaders Greg Steinbrecher and Randy Lioz, discuss bias and pile on culture in the wake of the protests involving Covington Catholic High School students and participants in an Indigenous People's Rally, and the Gillette commercial targeting "toxic masculinity." Learn more about Better Angels at www.better-angels.org John Wood, Jr. Twitter: https://twitter.com/JohnRWoodJr Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TranscendingPolitics/?ref=settings Ciaran O'Connor Twitter: https://twitter.com/ciaranjoconnor Greg Steinbrecher: Twitter: https://twitter.com/gregsteinbreche Randy Lioz Twitter: https://twitter.com/randylioz

John and Ciaran dive back into the government shutdown and immigration debate, imagining a new way forward. J and C also announce the Better Angels State of the Union event, two days after President Trump's SOTU and the Democratic response, in Washington D.C. Get involved in the event, or hold your own B.A. State of the Union gathering: https://www.better-angels.org/SOTU/ Music: Josh Lim www.joshjameslim.com/

Former Clinton and Obama campaign staffer Ciaran O'Connor and former Republican congressional nominee John Wood, Jr. kick off the relaunched Better Angels Podcast with discussion about the Trump Administration's pullout from Syria, the government shutdown, the work of Better Angels and the importance of the Depolarization Movement. Music: Josh Lim www.joshjameslim.com/