How Trump's Helping China Win on Clean Energy | It’s The Democracy, Stupid with Edwin Eisendrath & Volts' David Roberts
The podcast "It’s The Democracy, Stupid" features Edwin Eisendrath and journalist David Roberts warning that the Trump administration’s rollback of clean‑energy incentives is eroding U.S. progress and handing China a decisive advantage in renewable technology. Roberts argues the United States was already lagging behind Europe and China in decarbonization, and recent policy reversals have accelerated that gap. He highlights China’s rapid expansion of solar and wind manufacturing capacity, while U.S. projects stall due to reduced tax credits and regulatory uncertainty. The discussion frames the energy race as a geopolitical contest for future economic dominance.
Winners & Losers | Depression & Hope
A Dutch‑flagged Antarctic cruise ship carrying 146 passengers was forced to stop off Cape Verde after Spain refused it docking in Tenerife. While at sea, a 70‑year‑old Dutch passenger died from Andes virus, a rare hantavirus that can spread between...
Why CBS Evening News May Never Recover From Bari Weiss' Meddling
Seven months after Bari Weiss, a partisan newsletter editor, took over CBS News, the network’s flagship Evening News has slumped to record lows. Ratings data show April 2026 was the second‑lowest April ever and the worst ever in the key...
How Roger Wicker Enabled the Dismantling of the U.S. Military
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker has used his position to fast‑track the confirmation of former Fox News host Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, a move critics say undermines civilian oversight of the military. The blog argues Wicker’s...
Media Rights & Wrongs Under Trump | First Draft with Susan Demas & Media Critic Jennifer Schulze
The blog post argues that a free press is a cornerstone of democracy but faces mounting threats from corporate media consolidation and the Trump administration’s antagonistic stance toward journalists. It highlights how Trump’s frequent attacks on news outlets have eroded...
How Trump's Upending the International Order | It's The Democracy, Stupid with Edwin Eisendrath & Yale Professor Oona Hathaway
The blog examines how former President Donald Trump challenged the post‑World‑War II international order by questioning or abandoning key treaties such as NATO, the Paris climate accord, and the World Trade Organization. It outlines specific actions—withdrawals, tariff wars, and diplomatic threats—that...
Inside the Far-Right's Campaign to Ban Books From Your Library
Book bans in the United States remain near record levels, with the American Library Association reporting 4,235 unique titles challenged in 2025 and more than 5,600 removals. The surge is no longer driven by isolated parental complaints; organized far‑right groups...
How Do You Spell Hate? T-E-X-A-S.
Edwin Eisendrath’s recent post warns that Texas is institutionalizing hate through a new law requiring every state‑run college to erect an 8‑foot statue of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The same administration has issued a Chancellor memo that bans discussion of...
The Week in Stupid | First Draft with Susan J. Demas & Wonkette's Rebecca Schoenkopf
The Week in Stupid podcast episode featuring Susan J. Demas and Wonkette’s Rebecca Schoenkopf dissects a series of recent political blunders, from a satirical proposal to place Donald Trump’s image on U.S. passports to the ongoing mishandling of the Iran...
The Coming Oil Shock | Anchor Watch
Retired Navy Commander Bobby Jones warns that an oil shock is already unfolding, not a future threat. He blames the ongoing war in Iran—described as a needless venture without clear goals—and President Trump’s faltering diplomatic efforts for the imminent surge...
Can Violence Be an Epidemic? Sam Osterhout & Dr. Gary Slutkin, Epidemiologist and Author
In this episode, Dr. Gary Slutkin argues that violence functions like an infectious disease, spreading through social networks via mechanisms such as mirror‑neuron copying, shared pain pathways, and dopamine‑driven reward systems. He explains the "violence interrupter" model, where trusted community members...
Inside the Breakdown: Why Trump’s Nuclear Negotiations with Iran Failed
Over 20 hours of high‑level talks between the United States and Iran collapsed after President Trump insisted Iran must abandon any nuclear capability, even threatening strikes on power and missile sites. The negotiations, the most senior ever between the two...
We Can Still Do This
Artemis II returned to Earth after a 695,000‑mile lunar flyby, marking the first crewed mission beyond low Earth orbit since Apollo 13 in 1972. The four‑person crew—Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen—reentered the atmosphere at roughly 25,000 mph, showcasing NASA’s...
Are Young Men Ready to Be Automatically Registered for the Draft?
The Fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, signed by President Donald Trump on Dec. 18, 2025, amends the Military Selective Service Act to require automatic registration of all male U.S. citizens and residents aged 18 to 26. Under Section 535,...
Winners & Losers | Below Deck Bondi & the Audacity of Joy
The post critiques the Trump administration’s escalating rhetoric toward Iran, noting recent threats of large‑scale attacks and the broader climate of uncertainty. It highlights Pam Bondi’s abrupt dismissal as Florida Attorney General, framing her tenure as a political performance rather...