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

Jul 23, 2019 • 3min
PREVIEW: Chuck Marohn on Strong Towns
Current Affairs host Pete Davis sits down with engineer, land planner and founder of the Strong Towns movement, Chuck Marohn, to discuss how to create thriving towns and cities.
This is an excerpt from an exclusive Patreon episode. To gain full access to this episode, as well as lots of other delicious bonus content, consider becoming one of our patrons at www.patreon.com/CurrentAffairs.

Jul 19, 2019 • 51min
UNLOCKED! Ben Burgis on Logic and Arguments
Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson, financial editor Sparky Abraham and contributing editor Aisling McCrea sit down with philosophy professor Ben Burgis to discuss his new book Give Them An Argument: Logic for the Left.
Give Them An Argument: Logic for the Left is published by Zero Books. You can support and enjoy Ben Burgis' work by becoming a patron at https://www.patreon.com/benburgis, where he publishes short essays and videos, or catch him on The Michael Brooks Show on his regular segment, The Debunk.
This is a bonus episode that was released early for Patreon subscribers. To gain early access to episodes like these, as well as lots of delicious exclusive content, consider becoming one of our patrons at www.patreon.com/CurrentAffairs!
This episode was edited by Dan Thorn of Pink Noise Studios in Somerville, MA.

Jul 16, 2019 • 1h 9min
Voicemailbag VI
The Current Affairs team has stuck their hands into the mailbag once again, and pulled out a handful of your voicemails. Topics range from the likelihood of getting mangoes under socialism, to the frailty of velvet trousers.
The panel this time is: amusements and managing editor Lyta Gold, business manager Eli Massey, contributing editor and podcastrix Aisling McCrea, senior editor Brianna Rennix, finance editor Sparky Abraham, and your host is editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson.
The case we discuss towards the end of this episode is Adoptive Couple v Baby Girl, 570 U.S. 637 (2013). For more detailed analysis of the case, and other material relating to Indian law, consider reading Turtle Talk at https://turtletalk.blog/.
This episode was edited by Dan Thorn of Pink Noise Studios in Somerville, MA.

Jul 11, 2019 • 2min
PREVIEW: Student Debt Special (feat. Allie Conti, Marshall Steinbaum and Matt Bruenig)
Current Affairs finance editor Sparky Abraham sits down with Vice writer Allie Conti, economics professor Marshall Steinbaum and People's Policy Project founder Matt Bruenig to discuss the question of cancelling student debt, in light of Bernie Sanders' and Elizabeth Warren's recent plans for college debt forgiveness.
This episode will be unlocked in full soon, but is available now in full for Patreon subscribers. To receive early access to episodes like this, as well as exclusive bonus content, consider becoming one of our patrons at www.patreon.com/CurrentAffairs.

Jul 9, 2019 • 3min
PREVIEW: Ben Burgis on Logic and Arguments
Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson, financial editor Sparky Abraham and contributing editor Aisling McCrea sit down with philosophy professor Ben Burgis to discuss his new book Give Them An Argument: Logic for the Left.
This episode will be unlocked in ten days. To get early access to this episode, as well as other exclusive bonus content, consider becoming one of our patrons at Patreon.com/CurrentAffairs.

Jul 9, 2019 • 1h 8min
UNLOCKED: Pride Month Special (feat. Yasmin Nair, Conner Habib, and Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore)
Current Affairs business manager Eli Massey and contributing editor Aisling McCrea are joined by three radical queer writers for a raucous, thought-provoking discussion on Pride, rainbow capitalism, the meaning of queer culture, the politics of desire, and so much else.
You can find and support Yasmin Nair at yasminnair.net, Conner Habib at patreon.com/connerhabib, and Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore at mattildabernsteinsycamore.com.
This episode was edited by Dan Thorn of Pink Noise Studios in Somerville, MA.
To receive early access to episodes like these, as well as lots of other delicious exclusive content, consider becoming a Patron at patreon.com/CurrentAffairs.

Jul 5, 2019 • 1h 2min
#29: Another Excuse To Eat Tex-Mex
The Current Affairs panel discusses some of the controversies around Harvard University (cue booing sounds), creates a fabulous new post-utopia festival, and asks: how do we know when we're wrong?
The panel this week is senior editor Brianna Rennix, managing and amusements editor Lyta Gold, legal editor Oren Nimni, associate editor Vanessa A. Bee, and editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson.
This episode was edited by Dan Thorn of Pink Noise Studios in Somerville, MA. Many thanks to Josh Woodward for the music in the bit.

Jul 5, 2019 • 49min
UNLOCKED: Bhaskar Sunkara on Jacobin magazine and promoting socialism
Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson talks to Bhaskar Sunkara, the founder and publisher of Jacobin magazine and author of The Socialist Manifesto: The Case for Radical Politics in an Era of Extreme Inequality. In this episode, Bhaskar tells us his vision for the future of radical media, gives his thoughts on whether Bernie Sanders is a real socialist, and explains how he started a leftist magazine from scratch—all the way back in 2010. Truly, Bhaskar walked so that Nathan could run. (If you ever get a chance, we really would recommend watching Nathan run.)
You can find Bhaskar's book here, and Jacobin magazine here.
This episode was edited by Dan Thorn of Pink Noise Studios in Somerville, MA.
To receive early access to bonus episodes like this, as well as lots of other delicious premium content, consider becoming one of our patrons at Patreon.com/CurrentAffairs.

Jul 3, 2019 • 2min
PREVIEW - Meagan Day on why everyone should have the right to a sabbatical
Current Affairs editor-in-chief Nathan J. Robinson, senior editor Brianna Rennix and newsletter editor Nick Slater sit down with Jacobin staff writer Meagan Day to discuss why everyone should have the right to a year off work every seven years.
To hear this episode in full, and gain access to our exclusive 'Bird Feed', consider becoming a monthly patron at https://www.patreon.com/CurrentAffairs.

Jul 1, 2019 • 2min
PREVIEW - Pride Month Special
Current Affairs business manager Eli Massey and contributing editor Aisling McCrea are joined by three radical queer writers - Yasmin Nair, Conner Habib, and Mattilda Bernstein Sycamore - for a raucous, thought-provoking discussion on Pride, rainbow capitalism, the meaning of queer culture, the politics of desire, and so much else.
To hear this episode in full, and gain access to our exclusive 'Bird Feed', consider becoming a monthly patron at https://www.patreon.com/CurrentAffairs.