ReConsider

Now that ain't workin'--that's the way you do it! What the heck is fiat currency? Why are we on it? Can the US print money to pay its debts? Why do people want to return to the Gold Standard? Find out all of this and more as we kick off a series on economics that will include everything from inflation to interest rates to Bitcoin! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Do separatist movements in Catalonia, Basque, Lombardy & Venecia, and other places, constitute a larger threat to the nation-state? What drives people to move towards fixing a nation versus leaving it when they're fed up? Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Santa's workshop is underwater, and new shipping lanes emerge in an area once thought of as an insignificant edge on the global map. What happens when the Arctic starts getting wet in the summer? How does climate change affect the conflict between NATO and Russia, global shipping lanes, and habitation patterns? Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Catalonia declared independence. It didn't go well. But why did they? Why now? And what are the implications for the rest of Europe? Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ever wonder why the United States has a system with two parties and not more? Find out why the US system is the way it is, and why other countries are different. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

"Multiculturalism leads to parallel societies and therefore remains a ‘life lie,’ [or ‘sham’]... “ -- Angela Merkel, 2015 Just after enacting the "open door" migrant policy, Angela Merkel and all of Europe faced a political backlash, including rising nationalism and anti-immigrant sentiment. Europe took in a fairly small number of Middle Eastern refugees. Why has it been so painful? Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After the largest mass civilian shooting in history, can we come together as a nation to reduce violence? Yes, but it requires good problem solving skills. In this episode we dive into understanding why Vegas was so deadly and how that was allowed to happen. We also look into the broader data on gun violence in America and elsewhere in order to understand what may be the biggest factors in America's death/violence rate. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

You've heard of the Fracking Revolution. You may also know that your fuel bill is a little lower than it was in the 2000s. But man oh man, the picture is much bigger than that. The Middle East, Europe, Russia, and the foreign policy of the United States may be substantially different--for decades to come--than they would have been without the Revolution. So yeah. Big deal. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Zack Twamley of "When Diplomacy Fails" joins us to put realism to the test throughout history. The exciting thing for you? He's not a realist. Join us as we pick a war out of a hat and chat about how--and whether--realism can explain how it came to be. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Why do certain countries go to war, where others don't? How do the domestic policies and the personalities of leaders get involved? In this episode you'll learn the most widely-used lens for understanding the causes behind international affairs: realism. In one hour you'll be able to view the international order with greater structure than ever before. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Is Venezuela's government going to fall? Is North Korea going to fire nukes? Is the US going to fire nukes? Are Maduro and Kim just madmen? Is Trump? Two dictatorial regimes, both of which hate the US, both entering crises and both facing substantial constraints about how they can try to navigate them. And the US, attempting to deal with the North Korean crisis, has its own constraints as well. In this episode you'll understand the forces that are pushing Venezuela into a domestic crisis and North Korea into conflict with the US. You'll learn what options are available to everyone and why they're limited. And you'll learn a little more about how to analyze the global stage beyond the rhetoric. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

President Trump has had a lot of trouble getting a legislative win, and he's pressing Congress harder than ever to deliver one. The GOP has both the House and the Senate--what are the forces keeping them from getting things done? Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Politics gets emotional. However the emotional part of our brain was designed not for rational thought, but for knee-jerk survival mechanisms. How can we train our brain to think more clearly about politics in our daily lives? In this episode, Erik and Xander talk Stoicism, a philosophy and thought strategy that has been used for thousands of years by everyone from slaves to emperors to get a grip on the turbulent world around them. You'll learn why Stoicism is so powerful, and you can apply it in your life and conversations today. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

HEY! The sound quality on this is junk. Really sorry. Technical issue that we didn't realize was there until we were done. We've figured out how to keep it from happening again. The US and the world seem like they're in a really odd, perhaps dangerous place right now. Throughout history, people have felt like their own time defines the status quo, and all history going forward is either a path from that moment, or a departure from it. Getting a sense of the big picture from the perspective of the past--and the big trends that emerge--can give us a sense of where we really sit in history, and what we might be able to expect next. This episode is mostly answering a bunch of questions from our last ReConsider Cabinet meeting! For those of you who are higher-level Patreon patrons, remember you can send us questions to answer and we'll take 'em on! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

AKA, "The Bromance of the Bad Hombres" In this episode we interview Prof. Stephen Sestanovich, a Colombia professor, think tank big wig, and prolific writer. Formerly ambassador-at-large and special advisor to Madeleine Albright.  Prof. Stestanovich puts the Putin-Trump relationship in context by warming us up with understanding the evolving US/Russia Presidential relationship since the end of the Cold War. Strap in for this info-packed episode! Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/reconsiderpodcast.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.