Banter: An AEI Podcast

In the latest episode of AEI’s Banter podcast, AEI research guru Jennifer Marsico sits down to talk about women in politics. Why aren’t there more women in political office? Do voters have a bias against women? Jen walks us through several recent studies, explores the history of the issue, and presents data from the two most recent national elections.  We also explore if there is a common female agenda and if women tend to vote for other women. Enjoy! Links The Past, Present, and Future of the Women’s Vote Regulating violent video games: It’s Tipper Gore versus Dee Snider all over again Subscribe on iTunes!

Drones have played a major role of the United States’ war on terrorism. Earlier this month Mullah Nazir, a top Taliban commander in Pakistan, was killed by a drone strike and AEI’s Reza Jan is here to discuss the importance of this particular strike. Reza, who is the Pakistan Team Lead for AEI’s Critical Threats department, is well versed in all things Pakistan. We discuss why drones are so important, why getting Nazir deals a huge blow to the Taliban, and whether or not the United States’ drone policy is working. Andrew and I also take a little time to discuss a blog post by Jim Pethokoukis on the Trillion Dollar Coin. Enjoy! Links Drone Kills Top Taliban Commander Maulvi Nazir Former Bush II economist: Trillion-dollar platinum coin ‘better than the alternatives’ if US reaches brink of default Subscribe on iTunes!

On the final episode of Banter before Christmas we sit down with AEI President Arthur Brooks. Arthur talks with us about some of the high-points for AEI this year and we look forward to what you can expect from AEI next year. He also details his background and tells us how he went from playing in the Barcelona Symphony to being a Free Market Warrior and college professor at Syracuse University. Finally we wrap with some comments on the passing of Judge Robert Bork. Enjoy! Show Notes: The Road to Freedom Judge Robert Bork, RIP The once and future conventional wisdom Subscribe on iTunes!  

In this week’s episode of Banter, Stu and Andrew set out an epic quest to understand the mystery of health care exchanges. To aid them on their journey of danger and adventure, they enlist the best guide in town – AEI’s own Tom Miller. Tom’s a loose cannon, but he’s the best there is. Tom explains the theory behind health care exchanges, how they are being implemented under the Affordable Care Act, and problems with the exchanges in both theory and practice. We also discuss the current legal challenges ACA is facing. Though faced with many trials and tribulations along the way, Stu and Andrew not only learn a lot about health care exchanges, but discover even more valuable lessons about friendship, about following your dreams, and about staying true to yourself. Enjoy! Show Notes: Tom Miller’s Scholar Page When Obamacare fails: The playbook for market-based reform Rugg: Polls push and pull on the fiscal cliff Subscribe on iTunes!

This week on Banter, we sit down with Editor-in-Chief of the Daily Caller, Tucker Carlson. Tucker talks to us about working in D.C., the media landscape, and some current event issues. He also gives us his take on the “fiscal cliff” (two words: Swan Dive) and we finish up discussing the worst job he’s ever had. Andrew and I also spend a little time discussing a blog post by Friend-of-the-Show Andrew Biggs about raising the retirement age. Hope you enjoy! Show Notes: The Daily Caller The Bearable Lightness of Being Tucker Carlson Is raising the retirement age really regressive?

The Editor-in-Chief of the Weekly Standard, Bill Kristol, takes time out of his busy schedule to sit down with us this week and discuss some current events. Kristol, who started the magazine with Fred Barnes and friend of show John Podhoretz back in 1995, is a seasoned political pundit who’s a regular on Fox News. We start off discussing the Benghazi backlash and what might eventually come of it. We also get to talk to Kristol about his life growing up with two well respected intellectuals and how that shaped his upbringing. Andrew and I also take a minute to discuss Charles Murray’s newest blog post on AEI Ideas blog. Enjoy! Show Notes: The Weekly Standard Podcast Bill Kristol’s Author Page Why aren’t Asians Republicans? Subscribe on iTunes!

On this week’s Banter we talk with Reihan Salam. Reihan, a contributing editor at National Review and a Policy Adviser for e21, talks to us about the fate of the Republican Party and what they need to do going forward to help win back the White House. Reihan, fresh off a panel at AEI, gives us some great insight into how Republicans can handle touchy issues, like same sex marriage, going forward. We also discuss what animals would vote Republican if given the chance. Show Notes: The Agenda Blog e21 Fusion or fissures: The future of a conservative governing coalition Subscribe on iTunes!

On this week’s Banter, Stu sits down one on one with the Deputy Editor of the AEI Ideas blog, Henrik Temp. Henrik blogged the last 100 days leading up to the 2012 Presidential election. He brings good insight into just how insane American politics can be. We also take time to discuss where the Republican party can go from here and what role social conservative will play going forward. Enjoy. Show Notes: Henrik’s Blog’s  Subscribe on iTunes!

On this week’s episode of Banter friend of the show Daniel Cox pays us to visit to discuss the updated findings on the Public Religion Research Institutes Millennials Survey. The survey, which focus on the 18-30 age group, gives us good insight into what the newest generation of voting Americans think and why they think it. We also discuss the results of PRRI’s newest work, The 2012 American Values Survey, and some of the results might actually surprise you. Enjoy! Show Notes: Millennial Values and Voter Engagement in the 2012 Election New Survey | The 2012 American Values Survey Subscribe on iTunes!  

In the latest episode of Banter, Gary Schmitt, the Co-Director the Marilyn Ware Center for Security Studies, discusses foreign policy and the presidential election with hosts Stu James and Andrew Rugg. Gary assesses not only how each candidate did during the third and final presidential debate, but what Romney and Obama revealed about their foreign policies. We also go region by region, examining what each candidate said (or didn’t say) about the Middle East, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. Enjoy! Show Notes: Gary Schmitt’s Scholar Page Schmitt: Defense Fact Check Subscribe on iTunes!

In this week’s episode of Banter we’re joined by AEI Tax Policy expert Alex Brill to talk about the differences in the two presidential candidate’s tax plans. Alex explains to us the details, or lack thereof, in each candidates plan and gives us some great insight into how each candidate thinks they can lower taxes and the deficit. We also take a few minutes to talk about PBS and Big Bird debacle. Andrew also takes a few minutes to talk to us about an article he wrote for American.com discussing polling and how people should be viewing and interpreting polls. Show Notes: The Romney Tax Plan: Not a Tax Hike on the Middle Class Alex Brill Scholar Page Partisan Polls? Subscribe on iTunes!

In the latest episode of the Banter Podcast, AEI Scholar Nick Eberstadt sits down to discuss his new book, Nation of Takers, and talk all things entitlements – how the government’s role has changed, how large entitlements have grown, and how entitlements have changed the American character. Some of his findings might surprise you. Nick marshals an incredibly detailed knowledge of the economic and moral issues surrounding the country’s welfare programs, while still keeping the issues clear. Even Andrew manages to keep up. Look for his book out at the end of the month. Show Notes: Pre-Order: A Nation of Takers: America’s Entitlement Epidemic WSJ Op Ed: Are entitlements corrupting us? Yes, American character is at stake Nicholas Eberstadt’s AEI Scholar Page

In the latest episode of AEI’s podcast Banter, hosts Stu James and Andrew Rugg sit down with AEI economics researcher Daniel Hanson to discuss the Federal Reserve’s latest round of quantitative easing. If you know nothing about it, you’re in good company. Andrew spends most of the podcast trying to understand what exactly QE3 is. Daniel carefully walks through the theory and practice of how the Fed is trying to kick start the US economy, providing his own hesitations about the effort. By the end, Andrew has a shadow of a hint of an idea about what QE3 is. Success! We hope you will as well. Stu and Andrew start the episode with a special round of Different Universes. Enjoy! Hanson: Bernanke goes to war armed with QE3 Subscribe on iTunes!

After a bit of a hiatus we’re back with a great guest and friend of the show Michael Auslin. Michael sits down to discuss his new piece in National Review about tensions mounting between Japan and China over a small group of islands call the Senkaku Islands. While Japan owns them China has not been helpful in stopping their fisherman and patrol boats from freely using the waters. While its not come to blows yet we discuss how bad it could get. Michael also talks with us about sequestration and what kind of effect that might have on Asia. How close are Japan and China to war? Michael Auslin’s Scholar Page Subscribe on iTunes!

With school bells ringing all over the country we asked the newest member of AEI’s education team, Michael McShane, to sit down with us this week on the podcast. We discuss Mike’s first thoughts on AEI and how his first TV appearance went. Mike also talks with us about a controversial new measure a Connecticut is taking to try and get kids to stay in school. We also move into the political sphere discuss both of the candidates for president and how their education records stack up and we cajole Mike into grading each. Finally we discuss Mike’s new book with is available for purchase today! Michael McShane’s Scholar Page President Obama and Education Reform: The Personal and the Political Subscribe on iTunes!