BhTV (video)

On The DMZ: Matt argues that libertarian populism is not the right path for conservatism. Is the concept itself oxymoronic? What are the alternatives for the future of conservatism? Bill and Matt debate debates—should the GOP have fewer 2016 presidential debates with more ideologically friendly moderators? They read the tea leaves on Marco Rubio's latest maneuverings. Plus: Should we be happy that Jeff Bezos bought The Washington Post?

Background on the crisis in South Sudan ... Violence in the remote state of Jonglei ... South Sudan's young, fragile independence ... Why the US is so supportive of South Sudan ... Juba's hostile relationship with Khartoum ... Can the two Sudans cooperate on oil exports? ...

Reza's infamous Fox News interview ... Have Islamophobes jumped the shark? ... What it meant to say Jesus was the messiah ... How a lefty Jewish nationalist became the Christian savior ... Can a Christian accept Reza's arguments? A Muslim? ... Why Reza converted to Islam ...

On Foreign Entanglements, Rob and Bryan discuss concerns and myths about AirSea Battle. They consider whether ASB should be regarded as an anti-Army power play, whether it would increase the chances of war with China, whether it demands a particular strategic outlook, and whether the United States could afford ASB. They close by speaking about the dire impact of the sequester on the US defense community.

On The Glenn Show, the first topic is the fallout from the Zimmerman trial. Did activists err by making the case into a cause célèbre? Has Zimmerman himself been racially profiled by his critics? Glenn and Ann weigh the merits of stop-and-frisk policing. Turning to the travails of Anthony Weiner, Glenn doesn't know what's wrong with sexting. Wasn't Eliot Spitzer's behavior worse? Finally, they discuss the conservative backlash against the Supreme Court's DOMA ruling, which caused a major rift between Ann and her blog's commenters.

On The DMZ: How the 2016 GOP primary is like the NCAA's Final Four. What happens if Rand Paul and Ted Cruz both run? An interview with John McCain supports Bill's prediction that a Paul nomination would rend the GOP asunder, and Matt recalls some other eerily accurate McCain forecasting. Matt and Bill consider whether Republicans will really try to shut down the government in an attempt to defund Obamacare. Bill is baffled by this strategy, which Matt calls "delusional."

On Rational Actors, Kevin asks Ben to explain libertarian populism. How is it different from other kinds of reform conservatism? What does libertarian populism have to offer middle- and working-class voters? Ben points toward a number of areas ripe for reform: the payroll tax, farm and energy subsidies, and big banks. Would the GOP base accept a more progressive tax code? Kevin and Ben next discuss the changing media landscape, where ad-supported models are collapsing while paid subscriptions are on the rise. Plus: What Glenn Beck, Andrew Sullivan, and Netflix have in common.

NYC mayor's race: Is Bill Thompson the tortoise? ... Christine Quinn vs. a field of change candidates ... How Weiner could make a comeback… ... …but why he probably won't ... What the city will look like a year from now ... Bloomberg's unusual legacy ...

Meditation as pumping iron ... How to reduce useless pain and enrich pleasure ... How self-knowledge can lead to altruism ... How Shinzen found the Dharma before it was cool ... Synthesizing Buddhism and Western science ... Technologically enhanced enlightenment ...

On Critic Proof, Alyssa and Emily talk about why Sex and the City deserves to be considered part of the golden age of television. Is Carrie Bradshaw an antihero like Tony Soprano? Was the show glamorizing the wealthy Manhattan lifestyle, or satirizing it? Why has mocking SATC fans become a trope on HBO's The Newsroom and Girls? Did the show have to end with true love prevailing? Alyssa argues that the show is more generous to its male characters than many prestige dramas are to their female characters. Emily talks about how the show grew on her and encourages skeptics to give it a chance.

On The DMZ: Could a Tea Party challenger knock out Mitch McConnell? Is the GOP going to throw away easy 2014 Senate wins? Matt views the recent failed House vote to defund the NSA as a watershed moment for conservatives. Turning to Anthony Weiner's latest scandal, Matt objects to the idea that Weiner was abusing power to attract women. Bill sighs with relief that Obama is a good family man. Plus: Will the public react differently to Weiner's sexting antics than to a run-of-the-mill sex scandal?

On The Score, Michael and Travis begin by discussing MLB's suspension of Ryan Braun for the rest of the season. Do fans actually care if athletes use performance-enhancing drugs? Travis thinks economic incentives will cause steroids use to continue. So should professional sports just legalize steroids? They next discuss Travis's new beat covering sports from a progressive perspective. They discuss how sports can be both an agent of political change and a lens for viewing larger issues, but Michael sticks up for the escapism and joy that come from athletics.

On The Glenn Show, Glenn and Harold react to the Zimmerman trial. Harold describes attending a Justice For Trayvon rally. As an example of the unequal application of criminal justice, Glenn recounts his arrest for stealing a car when he was sixteen. Harold argues against racial profiling, but defends aggressive policing against gun violence. Harold praises President Obama's remarks on the verdict and finds conservative objections to them churlish. Glenn and Harold close by weighing the radical left critique of Obama offered by figures like Cornel West.

What Russians think of Snowden ... Anti-Americanism and Russia's Syria policy ... Alexey Navalny, icon of the Russian protest movement ... What does Navalny really stand for? ... The Kremlin's old media vs. the protesters' new media ... Putin's crackdown on gay rights ...

On The Posner Show, Sarah and Betsy talk abortion politics. Does Texas's passage of a twenty-week abortion ban spell a resurgence for pro-choice politics in the Lone Star State? Is the law a ploy to burnish Rick Perry's presidential ambitions? Moving on to another Texan, Betsy makes the case that Ted Cruz is not on the fringe of the Republican Party. They discuss Cruz's and Rand Paul's recent visit to Iowa to speak to evangelical pastors. Can Paul keep his libertarian base while pandering to the religious right?