ReConsider

Now that we have a decent idea of the history of Chinese, East Asian, and US diplomacy and foreign policy, it's time to throw all of this into the crucible of the South China Sea. It's a powderkeg of epic proportions, but it's something most Americans know very little about. This is a really important issue and a big pivot point in the upcoming American presidential election. "We're gonna need a bigger boat." Claims in the South China Sea Outposts in South China Sea Claims and Facilities Oil and Gas in South China Sea Chinese Territorial Claims Naval Power in East Asia Images of Buildup Sources http://news.usni.org/2016/03/28/opinion-dont-miss-the-boat-on-australian-and-u-s-policy-in-the-south-china-sea ... Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There are tiny little rocks in the South China sea that have become a pretty big deal. China has claimed them as its own, putting air bases, missile batteries, and harbors on the islands to stake its claim. It's become a huge, but quiet, international struggle. Why are they suddenly so important, and what is the historical context behind it all? In this two-part episode, we let you in on it.  Spratly Islands Map Harbors Being Built on Spratlys Taiwanese Hotel Construction on Spratlys Chinese Deep-Defense Strategy Against Japanese Invasion in WWII Farthest Extent of Chinese Borders and Chinese Claims Sources Taylor Fravel, Strong Borders Secure Nation Carrier locations Taiwan pushing... Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hoo boy, we've got an exciting presidential nomination this year. More and more we're hearing rumblings that the GOP might go to a brokered convention. But... how the heck does that work? What'll happen if it gets there? How likely is it? Find out all that and more in our wackiest episode yet! This episode's a ton of fun. Listen before Tuesday, March 15th if you can!   UPDATE: Kasich takes the lead in Ohio according to 538's polls-only forecast. UPDATE: Rubio's team encouraging voters in Ohio to vote Kasich. ... Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The FBI wants Apple to write some code to unlock the phone of the San Bernardino shooter, and Apple has filed an appeal to make sure they're not compelled to do so. Is it a ravenous attack on privacy? Is it not a big deal? Xander and Erik have done a ton of research and take on both sides of the argument: should Apple be forced to write the code? What are the long-term implications? We break down the technical details, the precedents and legal cases being brought to bear, and the potential long-term consequences and precedents. This week's episode is a great example of political disagreement in the Considerate style! UPDATE: Edward Snowden weighs in on the FBI's claim that it needs Apple's help to get into Farook's phone, calling it "bullshit."  UPDATE 2: Apple claims that if the FBI... Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's hard to get a good sense of why the price of oil can vary between $150 and $30 per barrel. There are a lot of factors behind the price, but in the end it all comes down to supply and demand. In this episode we break down how supply and demand have changed to drive down the price... and discuss what might change in the future. The story gets complicated fast: shale, tar sands, Iran, Russia, the Arctic, China, and hippies all get some airtime. We don't tell you what to think, but we do help you break it down. Just note: we're not financial advisers and this isn't financial advice.  Sources: Brent spot price: https://ycharts.com/indicators/brent_crude_oil_spot_price World oil production: ... Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

We've made a nuclear deal with Iran, and everyone that hasn't read the darn thing has a very strong opinion on it. In addition to understanding the deal in detail, we need to understand the history of Iran and the Middle East to get a good sense of whether the deal is a good idea or not. And, given that it's locked in, where do we go next?   Sources (Book) Dr. Harasta, Jesse & Charles River Editors. "The History of the Sunni and Shia Split: Understanding the divisions within Islam." https://csis.org/publication/iran-after-implementation-day  IEAE Report on implementation day: Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You might be worried that in the US and Western Europe, there are some pretty scary folks that are getting pretty popular. Those folks--who appeal to our fears and hatred to get power--are called demagogues. We've seen them throughout history, from the very first Democracy--Athens--up through today. Xander and Erik give a brief history of demagogues throughout history to show that we've seen this story before... and then we have a good conversation about what to do when we see demagoguery creeping in.  Direct Sources The Peloponnesian War "Demagogue" Wikipedia Page Joshua Greene's Moral Tribes

In our first "meaty" episode, Xander and Erik tackle ISIS, with such awesome questions as: 1. What considerations should govern how we try to take down ISIS? 2. Why is current policy against ISIS not working? 3. What's different about ISIS from enemies past that means we need a new strategy? 4. What about human nature and western politics keeps us from taking on ISIS in the right way? Articles from the podcast: The Atlantic article, "What ISIS Really Wants" Samuel Huntington's Clash of Civilizations The really great Wikipedia page... Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

ReConsider will help you become a better democratic citizen in 10 minutes a day or less, (or your money back!) which is probably more than you spend on your abs, but not by much. We help provide new context and insight on tough issues citizens face, help you understand why this context and insight isn't currently part of the national dialogue, and help you to better find that context in the future on your own. In this ten-minute short, we get you excited about listening. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.