Trending Globally: Politics and Policy

How does a President’s health affect their ability to lead? Do Presidential candidates deserve any privacy in terms of their medical history? How do we define what health issues ‘matter’ for a role as all-encompassing as President of the United States?On this episode Sarah looks for answers with the help of Watson Professor Rose McDermott. McDermott’s 2010 book ‘Presidential Leadership, Illness, and Decision Making,’ explores the history of health issues faced by US Presidents, and the effects they’ve had on the country and the world. As we prepare for the inauguration of a 78-year-old President amidst a global pandemic, there’s no better time to understand the complex relationship between a President’s health and health of the nation.You can learn more about and purchase Rose McDermott's book here. You can learn more about Watson’s other podcasts here.

On this episode Sarah talks with Watson Senior Fellow and former North Dakota Senator Heidi Heitkamp. As the Democratic Party faces a divided government and nation, Senator Heitkamp is someone many people are turning to for ideas on how to move forward. Sarah and the Senator discuss the fallout from the Presidential election, as well as the strategic and philosophical debates that are happening right now within the Democratic Party.You can learn more about Watson’s other podcasts here.

On this episode Sarah talks with Watson Visiting Associate Professor of Latin American and Caribbean Studies Erica Durante about her new book ‘Air Travel Fiction and Film: Cloud People,’ which explores the role air travel plays in modern storytelling, and by extension, our culture. By looking at how air travel manifests itself in film, literature, and our everyday lives, Erica makes clear: whether you used to fly regularly or you’ve never gotten on a plane, we’re all cloud people now.You can learn more about and purchase Erica's book here. You can learn more about Watson’s other podcasts here.

On this episode Dan talks with Watson Faculty Fellow and Chair of the Political Science Department at Brown Wendy Schiller about the state of the race in its closing days: who has already voted, who is left to sway, and what we’ve learned so far from this unprecedented election season.You can learn more about Watson’s other podcasts here.

No matter who wins the Presidency this fall, this much we know: human-driven climate change will continue to be one of the greatest threats we face, as a country and as a planet. On this episode Sarah talks with Watson Professor Jeff Colgan and political science PhD candidate Fred Shaia about the newly created Climate Solutions Lab at Watson, and their recently published report “Presidential Climate Action on Day One: A Foreign Policy Guide for the Next U.S. President.” The report looks at the ways executive action in the US could be used to fight climate change, with or without cooperation from Congress. Some are ideas you might be familiar with. Others, not so much. All of them are worth considering. You can read Jeff and Fred’s report here. You can learn more about the Climate Solutions Lab here. You can learn more about Watson’s other podcasts here.

On this episode, guest host Rich Arenberg talks with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island about some of the most pressing issues in American politics. Rich is the Interim Director of the Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy at Watson, and spent decades staffing some of the most influential Congress people of the 20th century. Senator Whitehouse is a leading voice on many issues in Congress, including climate change, campaign finance reform, and judicial appointments. In this conversation, they give an insider’s view on everything from the Supreme Court battle to the presidential election, to the newest evolution of dark money in our politics.You can learn more about the Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy here. You can watch their entire conversation on YouTube here. You can learn more about Watson’s other podcasts here.

On March 2, 2020, Watson Fellow and Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Kertzer was granted access to the Vatican Apostolic Archives -- formerly known as the Vatican’s ‘secret archives.’ David used the opportunity to explore the records of Pope Pius XII, who led the church during World War II, and whose role in that war is still a source of heated debate. In August, David published a piece in The Atlantic based on his research, about the Vatican’s behavior in the face of rising German power during World War II. It was groundbreaking, beautifully written -- and utterly disturbing. On this episode, Sarah talks with David about what he uncovered, and why it should be a lesson for us all. You can read David’s article in The Atlantic here. You can learn more about Watson’s other podcasts here.

Trending Globally will have more coverage of the US election results in the coming weeks, but today, as votes are still being counted, we have something for those who might want a little break from election news. This is the first episode of a series we produced last year about the Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua. The Sandinistas first came to power over 40 years ago, but in many ways their revolution remains unfinished. It’s a story about politics and war, but it’s also about a family, and how to imagine a better future when nothing is certain. In this episode: Who are the Sandinistas? How did they grow from a rag-tag army to an unstoppable revolutionary force? On this episode we get answers -- from former Sandinistas themselves. You can listen to the remaining three parts of 'Revolution Revisited' here: Part II: https://soundcloud.com/watsoninstitute/trending-globally-presents-revolution-revisited-part-ii Part III: https://soundcloud.com/watsoninstitute/revolution-revisited-part-iii Part IV: https://soundcloud.com/watsoninstitute/revolution-revisited-part-iv For more information about the conference this podcast was based on, including recorded lectures and a short film featuring many of the voices in this podcast, visit [watson.brown.edu/nicaragua]. And you can read a transcript of this episode here: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KsYAx_K0F3LbIL-cdiSKrzrOUX-AcTeq/view?usp=sharing]

On this episode Sarah talks with physician, public health expert, and Watson Faculty Fellow Adam Levine about a new study examining the effectiveness of convalescent plasma treatment for people with Covid-19. Depending on what Adam and his colleagues find, it could mark the beginning of a new phase in the fight against coronavirus. Adam’s team is looking for volunteers for this study, in Rhode Island and across the country. You can find out if you qualify and learn how to get involved by following the links below:Trial for people currently infected with Covid-19. Trial for people who are at high risk of infection. Adam Levine is Director of the Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies at the Watson Institute, as well as Director of the Division of Global Emergency Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. You can learn more about Watson’s other podcasts here.

In the US, we’ve grown accustomed to hearing about China’s transformation into a ‘global superpower’ in the 21st century. But according to journalist and author Michael Schuman, that’s not the only way to see China’s economic and political resurgence. On this episode, Watson’s Director Ed Steinfeld talks with Michael about his book 'Superpower Interrupted: The Chinese History of the World.' The book will be, to many, a fresh perspective on Chinese history. But it's more than a history lesson; it’s also a powerful example of how national narratives develop, and how they are used for political ends. You can learn more about and purchase 'Superpower Interrupted: A Chinese History of the World,' here. You can learn more about Watson’s other podcasts here.