Trending Globally: Politics and Policy

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.

This is the second part in a special series from Trending Globally exploring the housing crisis in the United States, and in Rhode Island in particular. The crisis has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, but as we’ll show, it’s a problem that has been with us for much, much longer. In Part 2, we explore the role racism has played in this ongoing crisis, through policies and practices both unofficial and government sanctioned. We also look at how history is repeating itself today, as President Trump implies that white suburbs are facing an existential threat. But if the current inequalities are the result of deliberate actions, perhaps deliberate actions can also be used rectify them.Listen to Parts 1, 3, 4, and the series epilogue. Contributors to this podcast include students from Brown University and the media collective Signs of Providence. You can learn more about their organization here. (Photo credit: Steve Ahlquist)

After reading about how supply chains were disrupted by the pandemic, and how American farmers were suddenly left with food they couldn’t sell, Will Collier ‘20 (Architecture and Economics concentrator) and Aidan Reilly ‘21 (Political Science and Government concentrator) had an idea: maybe they could raise money to buy the food, and deliver it themselves to people that needed it. So in the midst of the pandemic they founded Farmlink, which to date has delivered over 10 million pounds of unsold produce to food banks across Southern California. And while their idea was born out of this current crisis, it has grown into something far bigger than emergency relief. This episode is the third in our series on how Brown students are navigating the pandemic. Will and Aidan discuss how they came up with the idea for Farmlink, the underlying issues in our food system that have made Farmlink so impactful, and what it’s like learning to drive a semi-trailer. You can learn more about Farmlink here. You can learn more about Watson’s other podcasts here.Photo credit: Owen Dubeck

A good documentary doesn’t just tell a story; it makes you question what you think you know, and helps you to understand lives that are different from your own. Rory Kennedy ‘91 is a celebrated documentary filmmaker; Randall Poster ‘83 is a film music supervisor, who has worked with filmmakers such as Wes Anderson and Martin Scorsese. Last year, they helped launch the John F. Kennedy Jr. Film Initiative, which is housed at Watson. Like John, they’re both Brown alums; John was Rory’s cousin, and Randy’s classmate. Through screenings, discussions, and workshops, this Initiative connects world-class documentarians with the Brown community, at a time when more and more students are looking to use narrative storytelling in their research and activism. On this episode, Watson’s Director Ed Steinfeld talks with Rory and Randall about their careers in film, the motivation behind the Initiative, and the power documentaries have to affect social change.You can sign up to for updates about the initiative here. You can learn more about the full slate of programming here (Fall Event announcements will be added in the coming days). You can learn more about Watson’s other podcasts here.

This is the second in our ongoing series of conversations with Brown students about life during the pandemic. On this episode: Aaron Gruen ‘22 is a double concentrator in chemistry and music, and he was preparing for the most important cello recital of his life when Brown’s campus closed in March. He flew back home to Germany, and finished his classes remotely. Between classes, he found a new extracurricular -- serving as a frontline healthcare worker.You can learn more about Watson’s other podcasts here.

On this episode, the second part of our interview with writer and Taubman Center Visiting Fellow Dan Denvir about his book ‘All American Nativism: How The Bipartisan War on Immigrants Explains Politics as We Know It.’ In it, Denvir explores the long, disturbing history of nativism in the US, and the fundamental role it plays in our politics today. If you haven’t listened to Part I yet, you can find it on your favorite podcast app or listen to it here: [https://soundcloud.com/watsoninstitute/all-american-nativism-with-dan-denvir-part-1] You can learn more about and purchase Dan Denvir’s book here: [https://www.versobooks.com/books/2858-all-american-nativism] You can read the transcript of this episode here: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wDN1xr7jc-blWyaRda2GctF5B9ZQykJY/view?usp=sharing]

On this episode guest-host Dan Richards talks with Dan Denvir, a journalist, host of the hit podcast ‘The Dig,’ and Visiting Fellow at the Watson's Institute's Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy. His recent book, ‘All-American Nativism: How the Bipartisan War on Immigrants Explains Politics as We Know It,’ explores the foundational role nativism has played in American politics, and explains why the Trump Presidency is less of an aberration than many would like to believe. This will be the first in a two-part conversation with Denvir. You can learn more about and purchase his book here: [https://www.versobooks.com/books/2858-all-american-nativism] You can read or download a transcript of this episode here: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/15jvSN59FRB-93QU4AXPIRVHwE5X1qMNW/view?usp=sharing]