

City Journal Audio
Manhattan Institute
City Journal is America's premier source of insightful policy analysis, sophisticated cultural commentary, and bold investigations that legacy journalists are too timid to touch. From incisive interviews to lively panel discussions, our podcasts extend CJ's trademark rigor and wit beyond the written page to the dynamic world of streaming audio. Listen today.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 3, 2021 • 32min
How “Openness” Defines Human Progress
Swedish author and scholar Johan Norberg joins Brian Anderson to discuss his new book Open: The Story of Human Progress, a finalist for the Manhattan Institute's 2021 Hayek Book Prize. Learn more about the Hayek Prize here.

Feb 24, 2021 • 19min
Critical “Race” to the Bottom
Christopher Rufo joins Brian Anderson to discuss his recent work on critical race theory (CRT) in American schools, the whistleblowers behind much of his reporting, and President Biden's decision to revoke former president Donald Trump's executive order banning CRT-inspired training in the federal government. Read Rufo's series on CRT in American schools: Failure Factory (Buffalo, NY) Gone Crazy (Manhattan, NY) Bad Education (Philadelphia, PA) Spoiled Rotten (UN International School) "Antiracism" Comes to the Heartland (Springfield, MO) Woke Elementary (Cupertino, CA) Radicals in the Classroom (San Diego, CA) Teaching Hate (Seattle, WA)

Feb 19, 2021 • 19min
Cuomo, de Blasio, and New York’s Future
Seth Barron joins Brian Anderson to discuss New York governor Andrew Cuomo's handling of the pandemic, Bill de Blasio's time as mayor of New York City and the race to succeed him, and the condition of city politics today. Seth's book, The Last Days of New York, is due out in May.

Feb 10, 2021 • 17min
Congress and the Balance of Power
Chris Pope joins Brian Anderson to discuss the balance of power on Capitol Hill, some major legislation that the new Congress is considering—such as a $15 minimum wage or a "Green New Deal"—and why Senate Democrats are unlikely to abolish the filibuster.

Feb 3, 2021 • 17min
Biden’s Retreat on Crime
Rafael Mangual joins Brian Anderson to discuss why the Biden administration’s policy on law enforcement and prosecution could spell disaster for American cities, last year’s nationwide increase in homicides and shootings, and what New York’s progressive political class has planned for criminal-justice “reform” in the future.

Jan 28, 2021 • 59min
City Journal at 30: A Reflection
Brian Anderson talks with long-time writers Heather Mac Donald, Steven Malanga, and Nicole Gelinas about how they came to the magazine, the issues that they have covered over the years, and the future of New York and other American cities. Fred Siegel also joins briefly to talk about City Journal's early years and its importance today. The audio for this episode is adapted from a recent virtual event (watch here).

Jan 20, 2021 • 15min
On White Flight and “Whataboutism”
William Voegeli joins Brian Anderson to discuss the subjects of his two recent stories for City Journal the history of the mid-century exodus of whites out of cities, known as "white flight," and political reactions to the January 6 Capitol riot.

Jan 13, 2021 • 21min
The Botched Vaccine Rollout
Physician Joel Zinberg joins Brian Anderson to discuss the slow rollout of coronavirus vaccines, why states like New York and West Virginia have widely different vaccination rates so far, and reasons for optimism that the pandemic's days are numbered.

Jan 6, 2021 • 19min
San Francisco’s Lockdown Burdens
Erica Sandberg joins Seth Barron to discuss how San Francisco's small-business owners are handling the city's latest lockdown, how new outdoor dining facilities became a magnet for the homeless, and whether California public officials who violate Covid restrictions will face political consequences.

Dec 30, 2020 • 17min
Ringing in the New Year, and Farewell to 2020
This special year-end episode of 10 Blocks features highlights from some of our favorite interviews this year, and City Journal editor Brian Anderson extends holiday wishes to listeners. If you're interested in supporting the Manhattan Institute and City Journal, please visit our website. Excerpts included in this episode: How the Plastic Panic Hurts Us—and the Planet, with John Tierney CHAZ to CHOP: Seattle's Radical Experiment, with Christopher Rufo Fearless Thinking in an Age of Conformity, with Heather Mac Donald