
Current Affairs
A podcast of politics and culture, from the editors of Current Affairs magazine.
Latest episodes

Feb 20, 2020 • 2min
PREVIEW: Get to know...Sparky Abraham!
In this new series, Current Affairs interviewer-in-chief Eli Massey turns his razor-sharp interrogation methods on...his coworkers. First up: Sparky Abraham, Current Affairs' finance editor, who writes excellent explainers on debt and education, has strong opinions on the physical world, and grew up in a barn that was also a mosque. Also, tune in to find out why he's called Sparky.
This is a preview of an episode available in full exclusively to our Patreon subscribers. To gain full access to this episode, as well as lots of other brilliant bonus content, please consider becoming one of our subscribers at www.patreon.com/CurrentAffairs!

Feb 18, 2020 • 40min
In conversation: Alex Morse, Democrat for Congress (MA-01)
Pete Davis speaks to Alex Morse, who has been mayor of Holyoke, Massachusetts since the age of 22, and is currently running in Massachusetts' 1st district primary against veteran Democrat Richard Neal.
Alex Morse for Congress: https://alexmorseforcongress.com/
This episode was edited by Dan Thorn of Pink Noise Studios in Somerville, MA.

Feb 14, 2020 • 6min
PREVIEW: Josh Davis on Christian socialism
Pete Davis talks to Josh Davis of the newly-founded Institute for Christian Socialism. Together, they talk about the intertwined history of left movements and Christianity.
This is a preview of an episode available in full exclusively to our Patreon subscribers. To gain full access to this episode, as well as lots of other brilliant bonus content, please subscribe to our Patreon feed at www.patreon.com/CurrentAffairs!

Feb 12, 2020 • 1h 2min
#42: BUTTIGIEG!
The panel debates debate, pours their heart out about the Heartland, and gives each other teeny tiny spiels on teeny tiny policies. The panel debates debate, pours their heart out about the Heartland, and gives each other teeny tiny spiels on teeny tiny policies. Plus, tune in to hear about the hot new show claiming to be the number one musical in Iowa...
The panel this week was contributing editor Eli Massey, finance editor Sparky Abraham, amusements editor Lyta Gold, legal editor Oren Nimni, podmaster-general Aisling McCrea, and editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson. Your host is Pete Davis.
Music by Danny Bradley: https://dannybradleymusic.com/
This episode was edited by Dan Thorn of Pink Noise Studios in Somerville, MA.

Feb 5, 2020 • 46min
Iowa Emergency Broadcast
We had to convene suddenly and put this out fast, using the Current Affairs Emergency Broadcast System located in Basement Sector 11. The Corn Gods have been angered.
Tweet: https://twitter.com/ambientGillian/status/1170390242517487616?s=20

Feb 4, 2020 • 5min
PREVIEW: The Grifties!
Nathan and Lyta look back on the year 2019's best (and worst) con-artists, bullshitters and story-spinners.
This is an excerpt from a full one-hour episode available on our bonus feed. If you enjoyed this excerpt, please consider subscribing to our bonus feed at www.patreon.com/CurrentAffairs!

Jan 31, 2020 • 1h 7min
In conversation: Branko Marcetic on Joe Biden
Originally posted on the Patreon feed, we've made this episode available to everyone just in time for Iowa...
As we gear up for the first round of primaries, Eli and Nathan start calling in the shock troops. This week, Jacobin staff writer Branko Marcetic joins us to discuss the former favorite to win the Democrat nomination: Joe Biden.
If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing to our bonus feed at www.patreon.com/CurrentAffairs!
Yesterday's Man: The Case Against Joe Biden is available here: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/652731/yesterdays-man-by-branko-marcetic/
Read Branko's work here: https://www.jacobinmag.com/author/branko-marcetic
This episode was edited by Dan Thorn of Pink Noise Studios in Somerville, MA.

Jan 28, 2020 • 1h 15min
#41: The Old Man Hour
The panel shares their thoughts on antiwar movements, indulges in movie chat, and attempts to provoke the audience with scandalous opinions. Topics include Louisa May Alcott, bats dressed in human clothes, parades, concrete, folk music, and butter vats.
The panel this week was associate editor Vanessa A. Bee, senior editor Brianna Rennix, and legal editor Oren Nimni. Your host is Aisling McCrea.
This episode was edited by Dan Thorn of Pink Noise Studios in Somerville, MA.
Music: 'Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye' - The Irish Rovers
National Tweet: 'Ham'

Jan 23, 2020 • 6min
PREVIEW: Paul Waters-Smith on labor organizing
In this magnificently long episode, Nathan speaks to his friend Paul Waters-Smith, labor organizer and Current Affairs contributor. Together, they discuss their high school years, how they became politically aware, Paul's time unionizing the workers in Pomona College dining hall, and how to build power.
This is a preview of an episode available in full exclusively to our Patreon subscribers. To gain full access to this episode, as well as lots of other brilliant bonus content, please consider becoming one of our supporters at www.patreon.com/CurrentAffairs!

Jan 21, 2020 • 5min
PREVIEW: ALIENS? ?? ? ?
Nathan, Brianna, Lyta and Sparky come together to discuss the possibility of life on other planets, mysterious inventions, alien sex and other general oddities.
This is a preview of an episode available in full to our Patreon subscribers. To gain full access to this episode, as well as lots of other excellent bonus content, please consider becoming one of our subscribers at www.patreon.com/CurrentAffairs!