The Realignment

Bethany McLean, co-author of The Big Fail and co-host of the Capitalisn't podcast, discusses the impact of COVID on America, including snarled supply chains, school closures, poorly evaluated mask mandates, and how capitalism has jumped the rails in the 21st century.

Seth D. Kaplan, fragile states expert and author of Fragile Neighborhoods: Repairing American Society, One Zip Code at a Time, discusses the roots of issues plaguing America and how revitalizing local institutions and social ties can help repair the country. Topics include the fragility of American society, addressing childhood poverty, the gap between diagnosis and action, and the collapse of neighborhood life.

Rikki Schlott, co-author of The Canceling of the American Mind, discusses cancel culture's origins, its impact on free speech, and the dangers of censoring differing viewpoints. The podcast also explores the role of social media, the complexities of cancel culture, and the importance of engaging with opposing ideas while defending free speech.

Marshall and Saagar discuss Israel, Gaza, Hamas, and the ongoing war. They explore challenges of verifying information, controversial claims about beheaded babies in Gaza, comparing Hamas to extremist groups, the role of religion in the conflict, turning off utilities in a conflict zone, ethical obligations of nations, and dynamics and divisions in Europe.

James Pethokoukis, AEI Senior Fellow and author of The Conservative Futurist, discusses the 'Great Downshift' of post-1970s America and the potential for a technologically advanced future. Topics include failed retro-futuristic visions, the importance of progress and innovation, the trade-off between climate change and space exploration, the changing perception of the future, and the American ethos of embracing technology and research.

Marshall and Saagar discuss Israel, Gaza, Hamas, and the broader Middle East in a special Q&A and week in review episode.

This podcast explores the shift of the Republican Party towards pro-worker economic policies. They discuss the findings of a poll on economic policy within the GOP, the potential for a new economic agenda, the differences between Biden's education approach and American Compass' vision, the purpose of higher education and alternative pathways, and the importance of building a coalition and effective governance.

Subscribe to The Realignment to access our exclusive Q&A episodes and support the show: https://realignment.supercast.com/REALIGNMENT NEWSLETTER: https://therealignment.substack.com/PURCHASE BOOKS AT OUR BOOKSHOP: https://bookshop.org/shop/therealignmentEmail Us: realignmentpod@gmail.comFoundation for American Innovation: https://www.thefai.org/posts/lincoln-becomes-faiNabila Ramdani, journalist and author of Fixing France: How to Save a Broken Republic, joins The Realignment. Nabila and Marshall discuss the challenges and problems facing the French Fifth Republic, why she believes Emmanuel Macron's presidency trends towards failure, France's foreign policy in former colonial Africa and Ukraine, and why it may be time for a Sixth Republic premised on a reconception of the country's democratic practices at the presidential and parliamentary levels. 

Yonah Jeremy Bob, co-author of Target Tehran, discusses Israel's efforts to sabotage Iran's nuclear program, the Abraham Accords, and the Middle East. Topics include Iran's desire for a nuclear weapon, implications of regime change, the significance of the Abraham Accords, assessing Iran's geopolitical position, and Israel's actions to limit Iran's nuclear program.

Vincent Bevins, author of If We Burn and The Jakarta Method, discusses the reasons why mass protests in the 2010s didn't lead to revolutionary change. They explore the factors that drove protests in various countries, the success and limitations of mass protests, and challenge the conventional wisdom on revolutionary change. The podcast also covers the role of social media, media coverage, and the influence of tactics from different countries on protest outcomes.