

Half the Answer
Liberal Currents
Caitlin M. Green and Trent R. Nelson interview experts who weigh in on current debates. In the process they seek not only to uncover answers to the questions of the day, but to explore why they are being asked in the first place. To understand the questions we ask, they believe, is half the answer.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 5, 2025 • 1h 5min
Sick in America: Is Everyone Else Lying to You?
Caitlin and Trent talk with Jonathan Howard, a neurologist, psychiatrist, and author of *Everyone Else Is Lying to You* and *We Want Them Infected*, both books analyzing the policies and discourses around the COVID-19 pandemic.ResourcesScience-Based Medicine website: https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/*Everyone Else Is Lying to You*: https://bookshop.org/a/115699/9781959346999*We Want Them Infected*: https://bookshop.org/a/115699/9781959346036Zeb Larson, "Propaganda, Rather than Pandemic Policies, Caused the War on Public Health" https://www.liberalcurrents.com/propaganda-rather-than-pandemic-policies-caused-the-war-on-public-health/"crank magnetism" https://www.mcgill.ca/oss/article/critical-thinking-pseudoscience/crank-magnetism-weston-price-foundation

Dec 2, 2025 • 1h 12min
Modern Gangsters of Capitalism and the Imperial Boomerang
Trent and Caitlin talk with journalist and author Jonathan Katz about the gangsters of capitalism, the imperial boomerang, and the moral injuries inflicted when officers, agents, and soldiers engage in the inhumane and depraved acts that are demanded of them.ResourcesJonathan's book https://jonathanmkatz.com/gangstershttps://theracket.newshttps://www.tiktok.com/@katzonearth?lang=enhttps://www.instagram.com/katzonearth/?hl=enimperial boomerang https://www.versobooks.com/blogs/news/4383-the-imperial-boomerang-how-colonial-methods-of-repression-migrate-back-to-the-metropolis?srsltid=AfmBOorPodSS76ia1ZcpE5D7F77PSU84p0owKWfM2ukUp0s1E10FaYmrthe wrongest war https://theracket.news/p/the-wrongest-warmoral injury https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/treat/cooccurring/moral_injury.aspLA agents drive away with toddler https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-11-04/ice-border-patrol-dodger-stadium-parking-lotUS-Mexico restriction https://www.cbsnews.com/news/warning-signs-mexico-beach-us-department-of-defense-property/Controlled Pod Into Terrain https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNrA2-FWoOnpgOS-ywSQlowThumbnail image https://wpde.com/news/nation-world/unauthorized-us-signs-on-mexican-beach-along-texas-border-lead-to-international-dispute-mexico-president-trump-military-action-marines-drug-war-rio-grande

Nov 24, 2025 • 1h 9min
National Delirium: NatSec in Post-9/11 America, from Dubya to Donny
Trent and Caitlin speak with journalist Spencer Ackerman about the CIA, DHS, and other parts of the US government ostensibly protecting us from terrorism. How have they achieved this level of impunity? What are the precedents for the intolerable level of human rights and privacy violations we see today? What have we allowed to be done to the “other” in the past and present?Resourceshttps://www.forever-wars.com/Spencer's upcoming book https://www.forever-wars.com/book-two-majid-khan-iran-troops/Spencer’s Iron Man issue https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/114934/iron_man_2024_1Homan Square https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/feb/24/chicago-police-detain-americans-black-siteUSS Gerald Ford in Caribbean https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/uss-gerald-r-ford-caribeean-venezuela-rcna244193Sexual abuse in ICE detention https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/hundreds-of-immigrants-have-reported-sexual-abuse-at-ice-facilities-most-cases-arent-investigatedCIA abusive practices https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/enhanced-interrogation-tactics-included-lunch-tray-gruesome-force-feeding-methodsSusan Sontag https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2001/09/24/tuesday-and-after-talk-of-the-townStellar Wind https://www.theguardian.com/nsa-inspector-general-report-document-data-collection"surveillance capitalism" https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2019/03/harvard-professor-says-surveillance-capitalism-is-undermining-democracy/Palantir and the CIA https://www.fastcompany.com/91446398/cia-police-palantir-alex-karp-predictive-peter-thiel-paypal-sequoia"white innocence" https://www.dukeupress.edu/white-innocence

Nov 21, 2025 • 1h 25min
Leaving Children Behind: Education Policy from Bush to Trump
Caitlin and Trent speak with educational policy researcher Derek Gottlieb about what it's like to research education in a country whose administration thinks public education shouldn't really even be a thing.Resources: https://www.derekgottliebphd.com/"Building a Better Teacher" https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/magazine/07Teachers-t.htmlKristof, "Obama and Our Schools" https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/opinion/13kristof.htmlCavell, "The Claim of Reason" https://academic.oup.com/book/49825Malcolm Gladwell's quarterback problem https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/12/15/most-likely-to-succeed-malcolm-gladwellReduction in Force notices https://www.k12dive.com/news/education-department-layoffs-what-to-know-special-education-civil-rights-lawsuits/802779/Reduction in Force halted https://www.npr.org/2025/10/28/nx-s1-5585083/government-shutdown-trump-rif-layoffsAhmed, "On Being Included" https://www.dukeupress.edu/on-being-included

Nov 14, 2025 • 1h 47min
What's It Really Like at the Portland ICE Facility? Part Deux
Caitlin and Trent speak with livestreamer Audrey Lee about her experiences participating in and documenting protests at the Portland ICE facility. Audrey explains the relationship among the people on the street, the officers of various departments and agencies, and the counterprotesters and right-wing influencers who have been interacting since she arrived this fall.Resourceshttps://www.tiktok.com/@awkwardly_audrey?_r=1&_t=ZT-91NRgOQJsXlhttps://youtube.com/@awkwardlyaudrey?si=hn9Pm439rt_LO0lxNational ICE stories:https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/30/us/ice-immigration-customs-enforcement-explained-cec https://www.vera.org/news/more-people-are-in-immigration-detention-than-ever-before https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/new-ice-recruits-showed-training-full-vetting-rcna238739 https://www.wired.com/story/fbi-warns-of-criminals-posing-as-ice-urges-agents-to-id-themselves/https://newrepublic.com/post/196292/ice-director-tom-homan-immigration-crackdown https://www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/press-release/congress-approves-unprecedented-funding-mass-detention-deportation-2025/ https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/stephen-miller-immigration-diplomats-secret-calls-b2856464.html https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2025/06/09/trumps-immigration-crackdown-guru-stephen-miller-wants-even-more-arrests/ https://www.yahoo.com/news/stephen-miller-yells-ice-agents-152117107.html Customs and Border Patrolhttps://www.aclu.org/news/immigrants-rights/border-patrol-agents-replace-top-leadership-at-ice-offices-despite-human-rights-violations US Citizens detained:https://www.propublica.org/article/immigration-dhs-american-citizens-arrested-detained-against-will Kavanaugh stop: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/25a169_5h25.pdf New York:https://longisland.news12.com/federal-jury-awards-112m-to-immigrants-detained-by-suffolk-for-iceFlorida:https://www.latintimes.com/congressman-reveals-conditions-alligator-alcatraz-that-made-his-heart-sink-after-tour-586655 https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/former-alligator-alcatraz-worker-describes-inhumane-conditions-inside/3673307/Illinois: https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/lawsuit-alleges-inhumane-conditions-at-broadview-ice-processing-facility/3846195/https://abc7chicago.com/post/ice-chicago-news-lawsuit-filed-aclu-illinois-conditions-inside-broadview-facility-court-tuesday/18111176/ https://time.com/7323334/ice-raid-chicago-pritzker-trump/Oregon:https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/10/ice-in-oregon-pointing-rifles-at-family-stopping-minors-at-gunpoint-laying-on-top-of-man-during-arrest.html https://www.opb.org/article/2025/10/14/lawmakers-condemn-ice-arrest-four-gresham-construction-workers/https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/11/ice-detains-us-citizen-for-7-hours-after-she-photographed-agents-in-gresham.html https://www.opb.org/article/2025/11/08/hillsboro-immigration-customs-enforcement-victor-cruz-ice-oregon-washington-county-democrats/ https://opb.org/article/2025/11/05/washington-county-emergency-increased-ice-activity/ At the Portland facility: https://www.portland.gov/hello/news/2025/7/8/update-chemical-munitions-use-near-ice-facilityRight wing influencers aren’t journalists and they’ve got Trump’s ear: https://www.theverge.com/policy/813408/portland-influencers-national-guard-oregon-ninth-circuithttps://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/11/livestreamers-are-filming-and-sometimes-creating-conflict-at-portland-ice-protests-for-clicks-and-cash.html NG went to OR despite order: https://www.opb.org/article/2025/10/29/oregon-national-guard-portland-ice-immigration-karin-immergut-donald-trump/ https://www.wyden.senate.gov/news/press-releases/bonamici-wyden-merkley-dexter-demand-answers-about-portland-ice-facility

Nov 12, 2025 • 1h 22min
Prison Reform, Mass Incarceration, and the History of ICE
Trent and Caitlin speak with Professor John Pfaff, author of "Locked In: The True Causes of Mass Incarceration—and How to Achieve Real Reform." They talk about prisons, militarized police, and ICE in today's political climate.Resources:John's book https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/john-pfaff/locked-in/9780465096916/?lens=basic-books ICE accidentally gasses everybody https://newrepublic.com/post/202443/portland-police-chief-donald-trump-protest-tear-gas-accident Mutual aid supplies cleared https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/10/portlands-ice-protest-camp-was-suddenly-cleared-by-police-after-months-of-routine-removals-heres-why.html John's Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/johnpfaff.bsky.socialJohn's website https://johnfpfaff.comGhettoside https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/100077/ghettoside-by-jill-leovy/ Study of gun-carrying young people in NYC https://www.innovatingjustice.org/resources/gun-violence-brooklyn/ Gun boats in Chicago river https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/ice-us-customs-and-border-patrol-boats-spotted-on-chicago-river/Skip Intro on Copaganda https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2ac8vr2QyTdlWwd8OQIc1it6bAfMGPPC Kavanaugh defends racial profiling https://www.scotusblog.com/2025/09/justice-brett-kavanaugh-and-racial-proxies/Kalief Browder https://innocenceproject.org/news/remembering-kalief-browder-year-suicide-rikers-island-shutdown/Chicago pajama guy https://www.reuters.com/world/us/were-not-violent-city-chicago-locals-take-ice-block-by-block-2025-11-02/Migra whistle information https://migrawhistle.carrd.co/

Nov 9, 2025 • 2h 18min
The Tucker Carlson–Nick Fuentes Interview Episode
Caitlin and Trent check in with Daniel Harper of the "I Don't Speak German" podcast, taking another moment to peek under the rock and discover that the creepy crawlies are making friends with each other. They discuss the controversial interview between Tucker Carlson and Nick Fuentes, the role it seems to be playing in the far right, and various reactions (the good and the goofy).Resources:I Don’t Speak German https://idontspeakgerman.libsyn.com Ali Breland on the interview https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2025/10/nick-fuentes-tucker-carlson-interview/684792/Michele Goldberg on the interview https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/opinion/nick-fuentes-kirk-successor.htmlThe Bulwark on the interview https://www.thebulwark.com/p/one-of-the-most-dangerous-interviews-ever-maga-media-tucker-carlson-nick-fuentes?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=The%2BBulwark&utm_campaign=publerKnowledge Fight episode on the interview https://knowledgefight.libsyn.com/1089-tucker-the-man-and-his-capitulationFired over comments? No! https://www.mediamatters.org/right-side-broadcasting/right-side-broadcasting-and-nicholas-fuentes-host-who-participated-whiteOn the no fly list because of asking questions? No! https://thegrayzone.com/2023/02/15/nick-fuentes-america-firsts-death/ Fuentes threatened by gunman https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/12/19/nick-fuentes-armed-man/77090618007/The SPLC article he blames https://www.splcenter.org/resources/hatewatch/nick-fuentes-trades-parents-basement-pricey-livestreaming-den/Heritage Foundation reaction https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/tucker-carlson-nick-fuentes-interview-heritage-foundation-outrage-rcna241251When the Clock Broke https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780374605445/whentheclockbroke/Molly Conger on car attacks https://podcasts.apple.com/lu/podcast/a-brief-history-of-vehicular-violence/id1760218611?i=1000714601117&l=de-DEWilliam Luther Pierce https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/william-pierce/David Duke https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/david-duke/Oswald Spengler https://www.britannica.com/biography/Oswald-SpenglerRobby Soave's "Deplatforming" article https://reason.com/2025/10/30/deplatforming-nick-fuentes-wont-stop-antisemitism/

Nov 6, 2025 • 1h 2min
SCOTUS, the Originalism Trap, and the Civil Rights Act
Caitlin and Trent check in with attorney and legal scholar Madiba K. Dennie about the Supreme Court and the originalist reading of the US Constitution—and why the originalist reading is a trap.Resourceshttps://ballsandstrikes.orghttps://madibadennie.com/The Originalism Trap https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/735353/the-originalism-trap-by-madiba-k-dennie/NJ Reparations Council report https://www.njreparationscouncil.org/reportDobbs decision https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/supreme-court-case-library/dobbs-v-jackson-womens-health-organizationGun rights decision https://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/597/20-843/Steve Vladeck on judicial power https://www.stevevladeck.com/p/91-the-broader-article-ii-implicationsTrump v Casa, birthright citizenship https://www.nilc.org/articles/analyzing-scotus-trump-v-casa/"undue burden" https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/undue_burden"Kavanaugh Stops" https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/kavanaugh-stops-american-citizens-ice-detention-rcna238194ICE break car window with baby in car https://www.alamosanews.com/stories/ice-agents-draw-weapon-break-car-window-while-arresting-alamosa-man,103677Kilmar Abrego Garcia https://apnews.com/article/kilmar-abrego-garcia-mistaken-deportation-smuggling-27c2822466b717f10318c3268127a518Dreyfus Affair https://www.britannica.com/event/Dreyfus-affair

Oct 29, 2025 • 1h 12min
What Does History Tell Us About the Second Trump Term?
Trent and Caitlin talk with Emily Glankler of Anti-Social Studies about moments in American history that could inform us about the events of Trump’s second term as president. Who are some characters who resemble the individuals we are dealing with today? Who are the scapegoats? Resources:https://www.randyblazak.comhttps://www.tiktok.com/@antisocialstudies?_t=ZT-90u54I8WX3F&_r=1https://youtube.com/@AntiSocialStudies?si=1qzjSoKUDf20oTolhttps://www.instagram.com/antisocstudies?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==https://www.britannica.com/biography/Neville-Chamberlainhttps://www.itcouldhappenherebook.orghttps://www.britannica.com/topic/Nullification-Crisishttps://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/slave-catchers-slave-resisters/https://allthatsinteresting.com/pinkerton-detective-agencyhttps://history.state.gov/milestones/1866-1898/chinese-immigrationhttps://www.thenation.com/article/archive/exclusive-lee-atwaters-infamous-1981-interview-southern-strategy/https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2016/summer/lavender.htmlhttps://www.archives.gov/federal-register/codification/executive-order/10450.htmlhttps://www.randyblazak.com

Oct 25, 2025 • 1h 24min
What's It Really Like at the Portland ICE Facility?
Caitlin plays field reporter at the Portland ICE facility, interviewing the famous Portland chicken suit guy, Jack Dickinson himself, who gives his observations and thoughts after eight months on the scene.Resources:The impact of inflatables: https://www.404media.co/the-surreal-practicality-of-protesting-as-an-inflatable-frog/ICE recruits not well vetted: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna238739Health concerns from chemical munitions: https://www.portland.gov/hello/news/2025/7/8/update-chemical-munitions-use-near-ice-facilityLong-term effects of tear gas: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK595624/Tracking ICE vehicles: https://icecarsinpdx.wordpress.com Land use violations: https://www.portland.gov/mayor/keith-wilson/news/2025/9/17/city-portland-will-issue-land-use-violation-notice-ice-facility Using zoning laws to fight ICE: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/20/us/politics/portland-ice.html ICE uses extreme force: https://www.portlandmercury.com/news/2025/10/15/48075462/a-night-of-terror-civil-disobedience-met-with-extreme-force-at-portland-ice-facilityBlind man tackled and dragged by ICE: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/10/blind-protester-dragged-detained-by-feds-says-agents-picked-the-weakest-person-they-could-find.htmlYoung woman sprayed by ICE: https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2025/10/federal-officer-blasts-chemical-spray-into-vocal-but-nonviolent-portland-protester-video-shows.html Antifa frog sprayed in his air vent: https://www.oregonlive.com/politics/2025/10/ive-definitely-had-spicier-tamales-says-portland-ice-protest-frog-that-got-pepper-sprayed-by-federal-agents.html


