The Braver Angels Podcast

Photographers Roben Bellomo and Jim Hamel created Behn Gallery to explore the different ways people might experience their work. Randy Lioz chats with them about how—through their own very distinct views of the world, often experienced side-by-side—they've come to a much more complete understanding of perspective and meaning. Roben and Jim are co-owners of Behn Gallery (www.behngallery.com and @behngallery on Instagram). On their blog, you can learn more info about their philosophy and perspectives. You can also go behind the scenes of their gallery on their YouTube channel (link). Jim’s website: www.jimhamelphotography.com Roben’s website: www.bellomostudios.com Twitter: @braverangels, @randylioz

"America's politics diet is broken," says Isaac Saul, founder of Tangle News. "And Tangle is here to fix it." Isaac Saul, a former reporter, has quickly grown his newsletter, Tangle, into one of the most original, informative political newsletters in the country, combining a left/right breakdown of the news of the day with Isaac's raw personal perspective. Whatever the issue, Isaac’s goal is to represent the best arguments from both sides of the aisle. In this episode of the Braver Angels Podcast, Isaac joins host Ciaran O'Connor for a deep dive on the future of political news, the power of storytelling, and what happened when he decided to open up about past transgressions—and what he learned from the experience. Read and subscribe to Tangle News here: www.readtangle.com Twitter: @braverangels, @Ike_Saul, @tanglenews, @ciaranjoconnor

Author and journalist Bari Weiss stops by the Braver Angels Podcast to talk about her upbringing in Pittsburgh, how the Tree of Life massacre and her Jewish roots informed her journalistic mission, the ideological capturing of mainstream media, and the reasons she resigned from The New York Times. Hosts Ciaran O'Connor and John Wood, Jr. chat with Bari about the need for diversity in the editorial room, The 1619 Project, the role of conservative media in polarization, and more in this episode of the Braver Angels Podcast. Visit Bari’s website (www.bariweiss.com) to find a hub of her past articles and learn more about her book, How to Fight Anti-Semitism. Or subscribe to her Substack to receive newsletter updates in your inbox (bariweiss.substack.com). Twitter: @braverangels, @bariweiss, @JohnRWoodJr, @ciaranjoconnor

James Lindsay is a leading critic of antiracism in the digital space. But he is a lightning rod for criticism and condemnation, with a style that many believe makes him a damaging influence on the public discourse. For others, he is a champion of truth telling and an independent intellectual voice that needs to be heard. John Wood, Jr., national ambassador for Braver Angels and a public voice on matters of race and society, plumbs the depths of antiracism in its substance, cultural origins, and arguments in this far-reaching conversation on one of the most important intellectual movements of our time. Lindsay is founder of the media website New Discourses (www.newdiscourses.com), and co-author of Cynical Theories (www.cynicaltheories.com), a book on critical race and gender studies written in collaboration with Helen Pluckrose. Twitter: @braverangels, @ConceptualJames, @JohnRWoodJr

Should the outcome of the 2020 election be up for debate?  Braver Angels exists to connect Americans in dialogue over their differences. That’s why Braver Angels decided to hold a debate about the 2020 election—though some BA leaders think the decision was a bridge too far. Braver Angels leaders Ciaran O'Connor, John Wood, Jr., David Blankenhorn (BA president) April Lawson, and Silas Kulkarni talk it through in real time in this special episode of the Braver Angels podcast. Register for our upcoming debate: https://braverangels.org/event/debate-national-coliseum-debate-on-voter-fraud/ Further reading: Deep Divisions in Views of the Election Process – and Whether It Will Be Clear Who Won (Pew Research) Voters’ reflections on the 2020 election (Pew Research) Republicans who relied on Trump for news more concerned than other Republicans about election fraud (Pew Research) 1965 The James Baldwin And William F. Buckley Debate (Aeon) A fight over Halloween costumes at Yale has devolved into an effort to censor dissenting views. (Atlantic) Twitter: @braverangel, @ciaranjoconnor, @JohnRWoodJr, @AprilALawson, @SilasKulkarni, @blankenhorn3 

Rakim Brooks of the American Civil Liberties Union joins John Wood, Jr. to clear the air on the ACLU's commitment to free speech and to highlight the organization’s work in the area of social justice. But before all of that, Rakim takes us back to his upbringing in the public housing projects of East Harlem and his unlikely journey to success as a public interest attorney. Learn more about the ACLU's campaign for systemic equality: https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-launches-new-systemic-equality-racial-justice-agenda Twitter: @braverangels, @BrooksRakim

The U.S. Senate must decide whether to convict Donald Trump of high crimes and misdemeanors in the aftermath of the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Two intellectual heavyweights on opposite sides of the aisle join host Ciaran O'Connor for a penetrating exchange. The conversation begins with the merits and constitutionality of Trump's second impeachment and ends with a deeper discussion of the role of cultural and racial grievance in political polarization—and how we might move forward together. Lawrence Mead is a conservative political scientist, an author, and a professor of politics and public policy at New York University. William Galston is a former professor at the University of Maryland, a former policy advisor to President Bill Clinton, and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute who writes a column for The Wall Street Journal. Twitter: @BillGalston, @braverangels

Matt Taibbi is a contributing editor at Rolling Stone Magazine and the author of numerous books including Hate Inc. and Insane Clown President. Matt joins John Wood, Jr. and Ciaran O'Connor to talk about the history of media and how it became so polarized, the dangers of big technology companies regulating the public square, lessons learned as a journalist in Russia, Donald Trump being booted off Twitter, and more. More by Matt Taibbi: TK News (Substack newsletter); Useful Idiots (podcast), Hate Inc. (book), The Divide (book), Insane Clown President (book) Twitter: @mtaibbi, @ciaranjoconnor, @JohnRWoodJr, @braverangels

Greg Smith, a blue-collar Ohioan and Trump voter, and Sage Snider, a Nashville musician and Biden voter, became friends through Braver Angels. Greg is deeply worried for America after President Biden’s inauguration; Sage is hopeful. In this candid and heartfelt conversation, they join Braver Angels cofounder David Lapp to discuss their thoughts on unity and what it will take for reds and blues to save the Union. (Be sure to listen all the way to the end to find out how they really feel about each other!) About the guests: Greg is a former police chief and the founding co-chair of the first-ever Braver Angels Alliance. Sage is a fiddler (check out her music here) and the founding director of cultural engagement for Braver Angels.  Twitter: @sagesnider, @braverangels

The Reunited States is a groundbreaking documentary film by filmmaker Ben Rekhi, executive produced by Van Jones and Meghan McCain. The documentary follows the journeys of 5 Americans from across the political spectrum as they challenge themselves and the people around them to rediscover the shared humanity and imagine a path towards a healed nation.Ben Rekhi alongside Erin Leaverton, one of the subjects of the documentary, join John and Ciaran to talk about the mission of the film, the stories behind it, and the challenges facing the bridgebuilding movement in a polarized world.Watch the virtual premier of The Reunited States. Sign up below: https://watch.eventive.org/reunitedstates/play/60085cf2d2162a0029830b45 Follow on Social Media:Twitter: @the_reunited @ErinLeaverton @BraverAngels @JohnRWoodJr @ciaranjoconnor Facebook: @BraverAngels