Current Affairs

Chas Freeman, a retired Foreign Service officer and former Assistant Secretary of Defense, shares his extensive knowledge on U.S. diplomacy. He critiques America's approach to global conflicts, arguing against the 'China threat' narrative and emphasizing the complexities of U.S.-China relations. Freeman discusses how U.S. actions have worsened the Russia-Ukraine crisis and calls for a more balanced strategy in the Middle East, urging a shift away from enabling Israel's expansionist policies to foster true peace.

Ted Rall, an influential political cartoonist and author of "What’s Left: Radical Solutions for Radical Problems," discusses the shortcomings of the Democratic Party in representing true leftist ideals. He emphasizes the need for a cohesive left-wing movement that prioritizes healthcare, livable wages, and social justice. Rall critiques the disproportionate military spending while advocating for reallocated resources to combat homelessness. With humor and insight, he explores how simplifying complex ideas can broaden the appeal of leftist policies to Americans seeking meaningful change.

In this engaging discussion, journalist and lecturer Natasha Hakimi Zapata explores solutions to social and economic challenges facing the U.S. Drawing from her book, she highlights inspiring successes like the UK’s NHS for universal healthcare, Norway’s paid parental leave, and Singapore’s innovative public housing. Zapata also examines Estonia’s digital democracy and Uruguay’s green energy initiatives. Her insights prompt a thought-provoking question: are Americans ready to fight for the transformative changes already seen around the globe?

Dive into a critical analysis of the Israel-Palestine conflict as a prominent commentator's viewpoint is put under the microscope. Explore how misinformation shapes narratives, with misrepresentations of Palestinian leaders' stances being highlighted. The podcast emphasizes the importance of sourcing and evidence in geopolitical discussions, challenging the legitimacy of claims made by self-proclaimed experts. It's a thought-provoking exploration of truth, credibility, and the complexities of modern conflicts.

🦩 This episode originally aired on May 6, 2025. Get new episodes early at patreon.com/CurrentAffairsLorne Michaels might be the most powerful figure in American comedy — and yet, most people barely know who he is. In this episode, New Yorker editor Susan Morrison joins us to discuss her new book Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live, a deeply reported, wildly entertaining biography of the man behind SNL. We explore how Michaels built a cultural institution from scratch, reinvented the variety show format, and launched the careers of generations of comedy legends — all while staying deliberately out of the spotlight. Morrison explains how Michaels has shaped American humor and politics, maintained control over a live show for nearly 50 years, and earned a reputation as one of the most inscrutable and effective bosses in showbiz.0:00–1:55 Spy Magazine vs. Trump1:55–14:54 Why Lorne Michaels?14:54–28:50 Reinventing the Variety Show28:50–31:28 How SNL Shaped Comedy31:28–34:21 SNL and Politics34:21–38:01 Lorne’s Management Style38:01–43:20 Favorite Sketches🎭 Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/532520/lorne-by-susan-morrison/🦩SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE: https://www.currentaffairs.org/membership🦩 PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/CurrentAffairs🦩THE MYTH OF AMERICAN IDEALISM: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738224/the-myth-of-american-idealism-by-noam-chomsky-and-nathan-j-robinson/

🦩 This episode originally aired on April 29, 2025. Get new episodes early at patreon.com/CurrentAffairs!Liberalism and socialism are often treated as opposites — but what if they’re actually part of the same fight for freedom, equality, and democracy? We’re joined by political theorist Matt McManus, author of The Political Theory of Liberal Socialism, a new book that challenges conventional narratives about liberalism, socialism, and the history of political philosophy.McManus explains how thinkers from John Stuart Mill to John Rawls argued that true freedom requires not just political rights, but freedom from domination in the workplace and economy. He also addresses the deep confusion around the word "liberal" today — why many leftists recoil at liberalism after decades of association with hollow technocrats like Matt Yglesias — and why the older liberal tradition, rooted in egalitarian principles, is worth retrieving.0:00–6:45 Why Political Philosophy Matters6:45–23:34 Recovering the Radical Roots of Liberalism23:34–27:20 John Rawls Was More Radical Than You Think27:20–32:30 Can Liberalism Be Saved From Its Hypocrisy?32:30–38:42 What Separates Liberal Socialists From Other Socialists38:42–46:06 Why Understanding Liberalism and Socialism Still Matters Today🌹 The Political Theory of Liberal Socialism: https://www.routledge.com/The-Political-Theory-of-Liberal-Socialism/McManus/p/book/9781032647234🦩SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT AFFAIRS MAGAZINE: https://www.currentaffairs.org/membership🦩 PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/c/CurrentAffairs🦩THE MYTH OF AMERICAN IDEALISM: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/738224/the-myth-of-american-idealism-by-noam-chomsky-and-nathan-j-robinson/

🦩 This episode originally aired on April 22, 2025. Get new episodes early at patreon.com/CurrentAffairsMost people never think twice about shrimp. But as it turns out, these creatures make up the majority of animals alive on farms at any given time—hundreds of billions every year. And the conditions they endure are often horrifying: overcrowding, eye mutilation, and inhumane slaughter methods are all standard practice. So why don’t we care?We’re joined by Andrés Jiménez Zorrilla, chairman of the Shrimp Welfare Project. He walks us through the shocking scale of global shrimp farming, the mounting scientific evidence for shrimp sentience, and the practical reforms that can drastically reduce animal suffering.0:00–5:20 Why We Care About Pandas But Not Shrimp5:20–10:54 The Most Abused Animals on Earth10:54–17:18 Can Shrimp Feel Pain?17:18–22:36 Inside the Brutal World of Shrimp Farming22:36–31:32 How We Can Make Shrimp Suffer Less🦐 Yes, Shrimp Matter: https://asteriskmag.com/issues/09/yes-shrimp-matter🦐 Shrimp Welfare Project: https://www.shrimpwelfareproject.org/

A bit of a change of pace for the CA podcast today: We're going to be doing SCIENCE instead of politics. We're joined by one of the world's leading popular science writers, physics professor Sean Carroll, whose bestselling books include The Big Picture: On the Origins of Life, Meaning, and the Universe Itself and Something Deeply Hidden: Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Spacetime. His latest book is The Biggest Ideas in the Universe: Quanta and Fields.Sean is here today to discuss how our understanding of the world around us has developed over time, how much stranger the world is than our "common sense" perceptions of it would indicate, and how laypeople with no background in the physical sciences can begin to grasp and appreciate the deepest hidden truths about the Universe. Sean is an eloquent spokesperson for the view that a godless universe can still be a poetic and beautiful one, and there may be more connections between the political and the physical than it first appears...

🦩 This episode originally aired on April 4, 2025. Get new episodes early at patreon.com/CurrentAffairs!Sophia Rosenfeld is a distinguished historian and the author of Common Sense: A Political History. She joins Nathan to discuss how the idea of “common sense” has been used as a political weapon—from Thomas Paine to Donald Trump. Rosenfeld explains how appeals to common sense can both empower ordinary people and shut down dissent, why the term has become central to right-wing populism, and how it helps mask deeply ideological claims as obvious truths. She also reflects on her new book, The Age of Choice, and the hidden politics behind the freedoms we take for granted.0:00-6:04 How Trump uses "common sense" as a political weapon6:04-16:15 How "common sense" is used to make radical ideas normalized16:15-21:03 How "common sense" undermines expertise21:03-27:57 What are the origins of "common sense?"27:57-32:33 How "common sense" can be manipulated for good32:33-39:25 The politics of “choice” and why freedom of choice isn’t always liberating39:25-44:34 Is “common sense” real, or just a rhetorical tool?🧠 Common Sense: A Political History https://www.amazon.com/Common-Sense-Political-Sophia-Rosenfeld/dp/0674057813🧠 The Age of Choice: A History of Freedom in Modern Life https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691164717/the-age-of-choice?srsltid=AfmBOoqca43cL20XoW5ImlNs1_bkxT9eIkiK_I08g7sKYOv9yWo0yvE0

🦩 This episode originally aired on April 8, 2025. Get new episodes early at patreon.com/CurrentAffairs!Zohran Mamdani represents the 36th District in the New York State Assembly. A member of the Democratic Socialists of America, he is currently running for mayor of New York City, hoping to unseat the controversial Eric Adams, who recently escaped federal corruption charges after signaling a willingness to help the Trump administration crackdown on immigrants. Mamdani is running on a platform of lowering the cost of living for New Yorkers. He joined Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson to discuss his city and his campaign.0:00-6:12 What's the Deal With Eric Adams?6:12-11:55 The Real Challenges Facing New Yorkers11:55-14:43 The Rent is Too Damn High14:43-19:48 How Zohran Plans to Win19:48-21:59 Confronting Genocide from Local Office21:59-26:51 Responding to Right-Wing Talking Points26:51-29:56 Zohran's Vision for New York City🗽 Zohran Mamdani's Website: https://www.zohranfornyc.com/