Factually! with Adam Conover

In the final episode before the American election, Adam explores the history of conservative reactionary politics in America with acclaimed historian Rick Perlstein, who explains where the false narrative of the hippies “winning” the 60s came from, the historical “hinge” moments which bring progress, and how progressive and reactionary politics have evolved through the decades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Daryl Atkinson joins Adam to break down a recent partial-victory in voter rights in North Carolina, the historic disenfranchisement of black voters, why it is unconstitutional to connect someone’s right to vote with their ability to pay off fines, the set precedents for allowing felons the right to vote, and the work Atkinson’s group Forward Justice is currently doing in voter rights advocacy. To learn more about Forward Justice and support the work they do, visit forwardjustice.org. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Philosopher and author, Carol Hay, joins Adam to discuss the intellectual history of feminism, its challenges (including what she calls its historic “PR problem”), and how it’s evolved as a system of thought in the 21st century. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Physician Vikram Krishnasamy joins Adam to discuss his work fighting the opioid epidemic at the CDC, for which he won the 2020 Service to America Medal, and why he decided to devote himself to public service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nithya Raman, a candidate for Los Angeles City Council, dives deep into the significance of local elections and their profound effects on daily life. She emphasizes how low voter turnout impacts community governance and discusses pressing issues like housing and public safety reform. Raman also addresses the challenges of translating movements like 'defund the police' into actionable policies, advocating for mental health support. Her journey from citizen to candidate reveals the transformative power of grassroots engagement in shaping local dynamics.

What’s worse than a pandemic? The economic consequences on the poorest Americans. Indi Dutta-Gupta of the Georgetown Center on Poverty & Inequality talks with Adam this week about how the pandemic has affected those already struggling with poverty, and how things look moving forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Drug discovery chemist Derek Lowe joins Adam to break down why producing an effective COVID-19 vaccine is so challenging, the science of how vaccines work, and the issues that arise when pharmaceutical research is conducted for profit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hip-hop artist Open Mike Eagle joins Adam this week to speak candidly on what it's really like to be a musician in the midst of a pandemic, how rapidly the industry has changed and if you can really have a career in music in 2020. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Princeton University professor Ruha Benjamin joins Adam to reveal the issues at play at the intersection of technology and race, her concept of the “New Jim Code", digital redlining and and how the technology can’t be relied on to solve what are ultimately social problems. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Stephen West, a self-taught philosophy expert and host of 'Philosophize This!', shares his transformative journey through philosophy and how it can impact our lives today. He discusses the power of ancient Greek thinkers like Socrates and Epicurus in addressing modern existential questions. The conversation also dives into the philosophical significance of humor, exploring how laughter can unify us. West emphasizes the importance of humility in understanding diverse perspectives and how contemporary philosophy relates to societal change.