Podcast Episodes

Autocracy Is in the Details

Episode 94

Autocrats often dare their followers to believe absurd claims, as a kind of loyalty test, because “humor and fear can be quite close together sometimes,” says Peter Pomerantsev, a Soviet-born British…

Published on 1 year, 2 months ago

It Could All Come Down to North Carolina

Episode 93

North Carolina has voted for a Democratic president only once since the 1970s. But the party’s dream to flip the state never dies—and in fact, could be realized this year. Polls show the presidential…

Published on 1 year, 2 months ago

The Fight to Be the Most “Pro-family”

Episode 92

The American family continuously evolves. People are marrying later, and having fewer children. Gay people get married. People can publicly swear off marriage altogether without being ostracized. But…

Published on 1 year, 3 months ago

The Modern Political Assassin

Episode 91

One prevailing stereotype of a political assassin is someone with strong convictions. Another stereotype conjures up James Bond, a professional with a silencer acting on higher orders. 

But Thomas Mat…

Published on 1 year, 3 months ago

A Campaign-Song Nightmare

Episode 90

Rachel had a hit song. Then it became inextricably linked with a failed presidential campaign.

Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer…

Published on 1 year, 3 months ago

Trump, Triggered

Episode 89

Kamala Harris expertly manipulated Trump. It won her the debate. Can it win her the White House? Staff writers Elaine Godfrey and Mark Leibovich to explore the potential long term effects of Tuesday'…

Published on 1 year, 3 months ago

The Neck Fans Are Coming

Episode 88

After successive heat waves across the country this summer, people finally found an unexpected source of relief: the neck fan. Consumer-product geniuses made the latest model look like Beats headphon…

Published on 1 year, 3 months ago

Laughing at Trump

Episode 87

Democrats are lately employing a strategy against Donald Trump that he has been using effectively against his opponents for years: mockery. Where did this strategy come from? Will it remain effective…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

Scripts | 3. A Special Drug

Episode 86

The patients had tried everything. Except ketamine.  

This is the third and final part of Scripts, a new three-part miniseries from Radio Atlantic about the pills we take for our brains and the storie…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago

Scripts | 2. The Mandala Effect

Episode 85

Cooper thought he understood how his psych meds were affecting him. There was a lot he didn’t know.

This is part two of a new three-part miniseries from Radio Atlantic—Scripts—about the pills we take…

Published on 1 year, 4 months ago