A recent poll finds that two-thirds of Americans often or occasionally get news from social media. But many consumers are highly skeptical of the information they see on Facebook and other sites, expecting it to be "largely inaccurate." Now a new company, Newsguard, uses journalism to fight the epidemic of false stories, misinformation and outright propaganda, helping readers to navigate through online news sites. Newsguard's web browser extension rates websites that appear in searches on their ...
Sep 27, 2018•24 min•Ep. 173
Are identity politics ruining democracy? National and global institutions are in a state of decay, and identity fuels much of today's debates in America and across the world. On the right, Donald Trump seized on the grievances and resentment of white working class voters and others who felt let down by the impact of globalism and technology. On the left, social and political movements based on gender, sexual identity, race and ethnicity play an increasingly large role. "The problem with our poli...
Sep 20, 2018•29 min•Ep. 172
In recent decades, business strategy has been built on the idea that we must compete to win. But what if the competitive model of business is now broken? In today’s interconnected, digital world, strategies to create competitive advantage may be holding us back— with a negative impact on the workplace and the economy. In his new book “ Collaborative Advantage: How Collaboration Beats Competition as a Strategy for Success ". British marketing and business consultant Paul Skinner presents Collabor...
Sep 14, 2018•25 min•Ep. 171
At the recent funeral for Republican Senator John McCain, former Presidents and leaders of both parties paid tribute to his belief that America "is a nation of ideals, not blood and soil." In the farewell statement to the country he loved, Senator McCain described our democracy as “325 million opinionated, vociferous individuals.” The funeral was a rare, and perhaps passing moment of bipartisan unity and friendship at a time of bitter partisan division. In this episode, we look at some of the ro...
Sep 04, 2018•35 min•Ep. 170
Tyson talks about the possibility of intelligent life on other planets, tackles science deniers on the right and left, and explains why we should invest more in pure science. Tyson also discusses his book, "Astrophysics for People in a Hurry.” "What's curious to me is you have the liberal community claiming the (moral) high road ...against the science deniers of the right with regard to global warming and evolution in the classrooms... as though they are somehow untainted by non-scientific think...
Sep 02, 2018•23 min•Ep. 169
Neil deGrasse Tyson , America’s most prominent spokesman for science and Director of New York City’s Hayden Planetarium , talks about the benefits of a cosmic perspective, the case for manned space flight and much more in this first part of our wide-ranging conversation. We also discussed Tyson's book, " Astrophysics for People in a Hurry ." Richard and Jim met Tyson at his offices at The American Museum of Natural History . While insisting he is not an advocate for manned space flight, Tyson sa...
Aug 30, 2018•23 min•Ep. 168
The national suicide rate rose 28% from 1999 to 2016, according to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2016, alone, 45,000 people took their own lives. This year's suicides of celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain and fashion designer, Kate Spade , focused new attention on the crisis. Why is the U.S. suicide rate as high as it was one hundred years ago? What are proven ways to save lives and reduce depression and chronic anxiety? Our guest is Dr. Richard Friedman , a professor of clinic...
Aug 23, 2018•25 min•Ep. 167
Was Donald Trump's election a one-off event, or did it represent a fundamental realignment of American politics? Washington-based political experts wrongly called the 2016 election, and our guest, Salena Zito , author of "The Great Revolt" , argues that they keep blowing it today. Democrats who ignore the concerns of those who went for Obama in 2012, but then backed Trump four years later, do so at their peril. We examine the spread of populism that is reshaping American politics on the right an...
Aug 13, 2018•28 min•Ep. 166
From ancient times to the present day, women and men have brought meaning to their lives through storytelling. Before the invention of the printing press, ancient societies passed on the knowledge and wisdom of one generation to the next through oral history. Today, no other medium is as intimate and personal as podcasting. We are the town criers of our time. In this "Quick Fix" episode, Richard and Jim discuss the future of podcasting-- an industry that faces both opportunities and challenges. ...
Aug 02, 2018•15 min•Ep. 165
Free speech on campus is under assault at many colleges and universities. From disinviting commencement speakers to shouting down professors and others they disagree with, some students demand "safe spaces" from controversial remarks and what they call micro-aggressions. So far, 1800 professors from the right, left, center and other political leanings have joined the effort to bridge the ideological divide. Heterodox Academy is part of a growing number of attempts to encourage greater civility a...
Jul 26, 2018•28 min•Ep. 164
President Trump has withdrawn from international agreements, criticized NATO, The European Union, and attacked the policies of Canada, Mexico, Britain, France and Germany-- all traditional allies. He praised President Putin, and continues to sow chaos in the international trading system, reportedly threatening to pull the U.S. out of the World Trade Organization-- W.T.O. This last step, above all, could have the most serious impact on the American economy, damaging businesses, destroying jobs, a...
Jul 19, 2018•29 min•Ep. 163
America's landscape of towns and cities is ever-changing. Countless Main Streets and small downtowns were eviscerated by big box stores, globalization, online commerce and poor planning. But today, many resilient communities are fighting back. Called "one of America's very best singer-songwriters " by The New Yorker, our guest, Dar Williams , tells us how towns and cities can turn themselves around. " What I Found in a Thousand Towns : A Traveling Musician's Guide to Rebuilding America's Communi...
Jul 13, 2018•31 min•Ep. 162
We discuss the American Revolution and the meaning of freedom with acclaimed historian and journalist, Russell Shorto , author of the 2018 book, " Revolution Song : A Story of American Freedom."Russell Shorto is also the writer of a fine new podcast series, " American History Tellers ." As the nation struggles with a political crisis and national discord, this episode-- released during the week of the July 4th vacation-- has special resonance. We look at fundamental ideas of democracy and foundi...
Jul 05, 2018•25 min•Ep. 161
Do a Google search of drones, and scary headlines pop up instantly. " Dangerous Drones Invade Protected Airspace Daily," says one. While others talk about "spooky, scary" drones that invade privacy ; get in the way of firefighters , or lead to new types of warfare. These concerns are real, but there are also many constructive use for drones that save lives , make cities safer and boost the economy. "Wherever there's a problem, I'm pretty sure you can find a use to overcome that problem utilizing...
Jun 28, 2018•21 min•Ep. 160
A trade war with China has dangerous implications for the global economy. What began more than a year ago with President Trump’s decision to impose tariffs has become an unpleasant economic reality for many businesses. Recently, the U.S. labeled China a “ currency manipulator. ” But an even larger long-term threat comes from China’s aggressive espionage offensive that is playing out in behind-the-scenes as of the U.S. and China struggle for global dominance. Our guest is Elizabeth Economy , a se...
Jun 21, 2018•24 min•Ep. 159
Despite bitter partisanship and political paralysis in Washington, local democracy is alive in well in many towns and cities across the country. That's the surprising finding in "Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey Into the Heart of America," by journalist James Fallows of The Atlantic magazine and his wife, writer and linguist Deborah Fallows. In this episode, part two of our conversation with James, we look at the ways many local business owners, city planners, educators and citizens have worked...
Jun 14, 2018•21 min•Ep. 158
Congress sank to a dismal 10% approval rating in a new poll . Most Americans believe the nation is heading in the wrong direction . But ask people about their own lives and local communities, and you are likely to get a very different answer. According to a Gallup poll , well over 80% of Americans are satisfied in general with the way their personal lives are going. Despite negative media coverage of "fly-over country" and the "rust belt", exciting things are happening in towns and cities across...
Jun 07, 2018•25 min•Ep. 157
"The debt will be as large as our entire economy by the end of the decade", says Maya MacGuineas , President of the bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget . "Every indicator that you could look for in terms of the numbers is on flashing red alert." The U.S. federal government debt is nearly $20 trillion and rising each year. Interest payments are the single fastest growing part of the federal budget, and higher interest rates in the near future will add to the enormous burden. A r...
May 31, 2018•26 min•Ep. 156
Far too often, politics and policy are portrayed as a battle between liberals and conservatives, or socialists vs. capitalists. But one of the most profound divides of modern times is between optimists and pessimists-- especially over how they view the environment. This episode looks at the debate between environmental optimists (wizards), who believe we can invent our way to a better, healthier future, and pessimists (prophets), who say we must impose limits on pollution, over-crowding other im...
May 24, 2018•33 min•Ep. 155
From the streets of Chicago and Los Angeles, to indictments this month targeting criminal networks in Savannah, Georgia and white supremacists in Grand Prairie, Texas, tens of thousands of gangs are responsible for drug crimes, brutal killings and other forms of violence. According to one recent estimate , nearly one-and-a-half million people are members of gangs in the United States. In this episode, we look at the lessons learned from the successful police and federal crackdown against Sex Mon...
May 17, 2018•27 min•Ep. 154
President Trump's rejection of the Iran nuclear agreement and Israeli military attacks on Iranian sites in Syria are among the latest signs of rising tensions in the Middle East. The threat of war is ever-present. Twenty five years after the signing of the Oslo Accords , relations between the Israeli government and Palestinian Authority are at a low point. There has been no significant peace process in many years. We speak with Israeli public opinion analyst, strategic consultant and peace resea...
May 10, 2018•34 min•Ep. 153
The growing #MeToo movement has exposed many cases of sexual harassment and retaliation in the workplace. Among the latest examples is an upheaval at Nike. Female employees, fed up with years of gender discrimination, insensitive behavior and crude comments by male colleagues, took action . Covertly, they surveyed female peers, asking about their experiences. The findings led to changes, with at least six top male executives resigning or announcing plans to leave the company . Despite widespread...
May 03, 2018•21 min•Ep. 152
When we focus on the future, we usually look at the big things: Will the current crisis with North Korea be resolved peacefully? Is President Trump likely to face a big setback in the midterm elections? When will the next recession hit? Our guest, political consultant Mark Penn , argues that the future is not shaped by broad forces, but by quiet changes-- Microtrends-- within narrow slices of the population. We hear about "Techno-Luddites", the rise of internet marriages, the huge increase in th...
Apr 26, 2018•23 min•Ep. 151
The National Week of Conversation is a bold attempt to reduce the yawning gap between Republicans and Democrats. More than 100 groups across the country are involved in online and in-person events from April 20th to April 28th. We look at how the project works and why it can make a difference. With American politics increasingly dominated by personal insults, name calling and dogma, a growing movement for greater civility is emerging. "The ever-widening gulf ..is one of the most significant tren...
Apr 19, 2018•22 min•Ep. 150
From internet giants Facebook, Amazon and Google to telecom titans AT&T, Verizon and Comcast, American capitalism is increasingly dominated by huge and politically well-connected business behemoths. We look at the case for reform, including stronger anti-trust regulations, innovative use of the Interstate Commerce Clause, better pay for government regulators, and reform of the tax code. Our guest, finance professor, Luigi Zingales of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, makes ...
Apr 12, 2018•27 min•Ep. 149
The facts are hard to deny. We live longer, infant mortality continues to fall, we are richer, less subject to violence-- and despite uneven progress, the world is more democratic than it was 50 years ago. And yet so many people are gripped by pessimism and fear. Donald Trump was elected President after repeatedly claiming "our country is going to hell." A recent poll found that just three-in-ten Americans think the country is headed in the right direction. The number of Americans who think the ...
Apr 05, 2018•28 min•Ep. 148
With turmoil and never-ending drama in the White House, and record numbers of departures from top levels of the Trump Administration, it is safe to say that America is facing a leadership crisis. According to recent polls, a solid majority of US voters disapproves of Trump's leadership. In corporate America, the once-celebrated Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, is facing growing criticism over his late and insufficient response to privacy concerns and the Cambridge Analytica data hijacking scandal....
Mar 29, 2018•27 min•Ep. 147
Whether it's Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, or Google; internet platforms are a huge force in our daily lives. The recent scandal over the Steven Bannon-affiliated Cambridge Analytica is the most recent example of the downside of data. This episode of "How Do We Fix It?" is about search, and how it can condemn former inmates to a life sentence without work. In their case, the internet is a "help not wanted" sign, preventing them from getting a job and putting their lives back on track. The cost to e...
Mar 22, 2018•27 min•Ep. 146
What do Mark Zuckerberg, hockey great Wayne Gretzky, and best-selling novelist Lee Child all have in common? They all worked to make luck happen for them. In this episode with award-winning author, editor and journalist, J anice Kaplan , we learn about the exciting ways you can grab opportunities and improve your life. There is a clear difference between random chance and luck. The case is made in the new book that she wrote with risk-taking expert Barnaby Marsh , " How Luck Happens : Using the ...
Mar 15, 2018•29 min•Ep. 145
The debate over gun violence is deeply polarized, but almost everyone agrees it's an urgent problem and that far too many people are being killed and injured by firearms in the United States. The toll is more than 100 deaths per day-- a much higher rate than in other wealthy nations. Unlike the appalling killings in Parkland, Florida, Newtown, Connecticut, and at other schools, most gun murders involve a single victim and don't get national media coverage. Mass shootings account for less than 2%...
Mar 09, 2018•35 min•Ep. 144
