The Disagreement

Today we have a sharp disagreement about circumcision with  two cutting-edge experts in the field.Professor Brian Morris is professor emeritus of molecular medical sciences at the University of Sydney in Australia. Over the last few decades, he has become perhaps the most prolific researcher in the world when it comes to the medical benefits of circumcision.  Dr. Ted Handler is a pediatrician at East Bay Pediatrics in northern California and the founding pediatrician for Oath Care, a venture-backed healthcare startup. In 2023, he wrote a viral article called “A Jewish pediatrician’s surprising take on circumcision." Today we ask a wide range of questions:How common is circumcision in the United States and across the globe?How do you weigh the risks and benefits?What are the implications for sexual health and pleasure? Show NotesDiffering UTI rates [07:45]Hygienic argument for circumcision [14:07]Sexual experience sensitivity [16:34]Does removing the foreskin remove sensation receptors? [18:35]Evolutionary purpose of foreskin [25:20]Risk of injury from circumcision [26:28]Trauma for the parents [30:21]The Plastibell technique [34:38]Perspectives of sexual partners [39:24]Social/cultural reasons [41:15]Changing rates of circumcision [42:36]Steelmanning [43:59] If you know of anyone who would be a good guest on the following episodes, please reach out to Greg Woodward at greg@thedisagreement.com:An expert who is opposed to banning TikTok in the U.S.An expert who supports the use of consequences/punishments in day-to-day parenting Questions or comments about this episode? Email us at podcast@thedisagreement.com or find us on X and Instagram @thedisagreementhq. Subscribe to our newsletter: https://thedisagreement.substack.com/

Today's disagreement is about the relationship between Israel and American Jews. To have this conversation, we’ve brought together two prominent American Rabbis with two very different perspectives on the current conflict. The GuestsRabbi Stuart Weinblatt founded Congregation B’Nai Tzedek in Potomac, Maryland in 1988 and is the Senior Rabbi there. He is the Chair of the Zionist Rabbinic Coalition and has previously served as the President of the Rabbinic Cabinet of the Jewish Federations of North America, and the Director of Israel Policy and Advocacy at the Rabbinical Assembly. Rabbi Matthew Soffer is the Senior Rabbi at Judea Reform Congregation in Durham, North Carolina. Previously, Rabbi Soffer served at Temple Israel in Boston, where he led the nationally influential Riverway Project and Ohel Tzedek, the synagogue’s social justice wing. Today we ask a wide range of questions relating to the war in Gaza and Zionism more broadly: Is the war in Gaza a just war? How does one balance the particularism of Jewish peoplehood with the universalism of Jewish teaching?How should advocates of Israel be publicly speaking about Palestinian suffering? Can Israel defeat Hamas? If so, at what cost?Two quick notes:This is the first of what will hopefully be many conversations on Israel/Palestine and the broader conflict. Our goal is to give voice to a wide variety of stakeholders and perspectives.Disagreements are live and feral and unpredictable. In my conversation with the Rabbis, there are times where I cross over into being more of a participant than a host. This happened organically. It’s not our core model. But it’s honest and real. And it’s representative of many of the conversations that are taking place right now. Show NotesGeneral atmosphere in Israel [05:09]Feelings of moral confusion vs moral clarity [06:44]What is the cost of defeating Hamas? [08:35]Jewish ultra-nationalists in Israeli government [15:41]Acknowledging the suffering of Palestinians [21:54]What does “defeating Hamas” mean? [28:42]Ratio of civilian to combatant deaths [30:42]Jewish concept of tikkun olam [32:43]Do American Jews need Israel? [40:32]Netanyahu’s impact on Jewish peoplehood [42:46]Does Israel fill a spiritual vacuum for American Jews [46:16]Anti-Zionist Jews [51:44]Steelmanning [53:20] If you have any recommendations for other guests on the topic of Israel/Palestine/Gaza (or any recommendations for any other topics/guests) please reach out to producer Greg Woodward at greg@thedisagreement.com. Questions or comments about this episode? Email us at podcast@thedisagreement.com or find us on X and Instagram @thedisagreementhq. Subscribe to our newsletter: https://thedisagreement.substack.com/

Today's disagreement is about nuclear energy and how much it should or should not be a part of our energy grid.We’re working through most of the major arguments for and against nuclear power – such as:Pragmatic concerns with nuclear energy: specifically, the cost and timingChina’s advantages over the United States when it comes to creating nuclear power plantsThe strengths and weaknesses of renewable energy sources The GuestsJoshua Goldstein is an emeritus professor of International Relations at American University and the co-writer of the documentary Nuclear Now with Oliver Stone. He also co-authored the book A Bright Future: How Some Countries Have Solved Climate Change and the Rest Can Follow. Stephanie Cooke is a journalist who specializes in reporting on nuclear energy. She has previously served as the editor of Nuclear Intelligence Weekly and is the author of In Mortal Hands: A Cautionary History of the Nuclear Age. Show NotesWhy nuclear energy? [02:37]Growing support for nuclear power [07:11]Reorganizing our energy grid [09:06]Nuclear as nonpartisan [11:02]History of nuclear power in the U.S. [11:27]How China approaches nuclear energy [14:47]What are the economics of building nuclear power plants? [17:34]Obstacles for renewables [21:45]Natural gas as replacement for nuclear [23:24]Small modular reactors [26:40]Downsides of wind and solar [24:54]Is nuclear safe? [30:44]Dealing with nuclear waste [36:04]Steelmanning [43:31]Hiding nuclear weapons production in nuclear energy programs [49:26] ResourcesOverview of what nuclear energy is according to the International Atomic Energy Agency if you need a primer/refresher.If you have any insights into new possible topics or guests, please reach out to producer Greg Woodward at greg@thedisagreement.com. Questions or comments about this episode? Email us at podcast@thedisagreement.com or find us on X and Instagram @thedisagreementhq. Subscribe to our newsletter: https://thedisagreement.substack.com/

Today’s disagreement is about ADHD and its meteoric rise in the United States.Specifically, what are the causes of ADHD? Is it biological or environmental or both? And given that, what is the right approach to medicating and treating our children?In today’s episode: two health experts with very different perspectives on ADHD. The GuestsMarilyn Wedge (Phd, LMFT) is a practicing Family Therapist in Westlake, CA and author of A Disease called Childhood: Why ADHD Became an American Epidemic. She holds a Phd in Social Psychology from the University of Chicago.Ryan Sultan (MD) is Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York State Psychiatric Institute. Ryan is a national expert on ADHD and cannabis use. Show NotesWhat is ADHD? [04:10]How does the home environment impact ADHD symptoms? [10:53]Use of medication when nothing else works [14:22]Does ADHD exist? [17:05]Skyrocketing U.S. rates of ADHD [19:07]Is ADHD a disease or a constellation of traits? [20:54]Conflation of ADHD and other mental health disorders [32:00]ADHD underdiagnosis pre-2000s? [34:26]The use of amphetamines in treating ADHD [36:45]Side effects of ADHD medication [39:16]How and why schools identify ADHD in children [45:15]Ryan’s personal story with ADHD [46:14]Gender differences in diagnosis rates [52:19]Steelmanning [54:03] ResourcesThe original 1937 article by Dr. Charles Bradley about the impact of benzedrine on children in the American Journal of PsychiatryADHD Nation: Children, Doctors, Big Pharma, and the Making of an American Epidemic by Alan SchwarzThe ADHD Advantage by Dale Archer Questions or comments about this episode? Email us at podcast@thedisagreement.com or find us on X and Instagram @thedisagreementhq. Subscribe to our newsletter: https://thedisagreement.substack.com/

Today's disagreement is on U .S. immigration. We're going to focus on two things.First, the border: how did we get here and what should we do now? Second, what is the right strategic approach to U.S. immigration?How do we weigh the costs and benefits? How do we balance national interests and humanitarian concerns?In today's episode: two immigration experts with two very different perspectives on this pressing issue. The GuestsMarielena Hincapié is a Distinguished Immigration Scholar at Cornell University and served as the Executive Director of the National Immigration Law Center for 14 years. She also served on the Biden-Sanders Unity Taskforce on Immigration.Philip Cafaro is a professor of Philosophy at the College of Liberal Arts at Colorado State University. He is the author of How Many Is Too Many?: The Progressive Argument for Reducing Immigration into the United States from the University of Chicago Press (2015). Show NotesWhy do people immigrate to the United States?  [04:15]Who bears the brunt of responsibility for the current crisis: Pres. Biden or Pres. Trump? [05:49]Did the Biden administration incentivize mass immigration? [07:24]The difference between asylum-seekers and refugees [16:12]The humanitarian crisis in Central America [17:11]U.S. culpability in the conditions in Latin American countries [25:45]Impact on domestic wages  [27:30]Enforcement of labor laws [32:29]Environmental impact of overpopulation [33:00]Is there a labor shortage? [35:17]Impact of immigration on African Americans [41:30]White working class identity [48:11]Steelmanning  [53:42] Questions or comments about this episode? Email us at podcast@thedisagreement.com or find us on X and Instagram @thedisagreementhq. Subscribe to our newsletter: https://thedisagreement.substack.com/

Introducing The Disagreement with Alex Grodd. Questions or comments about this episode? Email us at podcast@thedisagreement.com or find us on X and Instagram @thedisagreementhq. Subscribe to our newsletter: https://thedisagreement.substack.com/