Weekly Wonk Podcast

NPR's Michel Martin explains why she's optimistic that media won't become extinct. Later, Leila Hilal and Dina Sherif tell us what Westerners misunderstand - and miss - about women's struggles and successes in the Middle East.

New America Fellow Hao Wu explains why the Chinese government announced a recent slew of economic and social reforms. Later, Kevin Bankston and Rebecca MacKinnon unpack the latest bill aimed at curbing NSA overreach, and expose its surprising opponents.

As the Philippines rebuilds post-typhoon, Managing Editor Fuzz Hogan spoke with Helene Gayle and Holly Solberg of CARE USA. Also, Anne-Marie Slaughter and New Yorker Editor David Remnick discuss the imminent reversal of Russia's economic fortunes.

Violence is escalating in Iraq. Syria, next door, is mired in its own morass. Is there an end in sight? Don’t bet on it, says Tom Ricks. Later, Russell Shorto explains how Amsterdam became a global bastion of liberalism – and what we can learn from it.

Think inequality in America is bad today? Economist and author Tyler Cowen believes it will only get worse. Later, "Candyfreak" author Steve Almond and New America's Lina Khan discuss whether consumers should care about consolidation in the candy market.

This week, Slaughter follows the campaign money with Harvard Law School Professor Lawrence Lessig to understand why Washington is so dysfunctional. Later, a conversation about whether American media is overhyping Mexico's  current political moment.

Alec Ross joins Slaughter to navigate the latest global war frontier (online) and its modern weaponry (code). Afshin Molavi joins the conversation to consider how a thawing relationship between the U.S. and Iran could reverberate across the Middle East.

This week, Anne-Marie Slaughter talks with Atul Gawande about the future of healthcare in the U.S.. Later, our panelists explore why some countries are intent on " breaking" the Internet – and consider what a fractured Internet might look like.

Peter Bergen breaks down what the Al Qaeda affiliate attack in Nairobi really tells us about the terrorist group. Later, our panel discusses media’s unique power to inform Americans’ understanding of national security and intelligence issues.

Roger Cohen joins Anne-Marie Slaughter to discuss what Germany's election tells us of its future role on the world stage. Also, what does the Fed's decision not to taper tell us about the U.S. economy?

Francis Fukuyama joined Anne-Marie Slaught to talk about his favorite movie, Blade Runner, and what it means to be human. Later they chat with Charles Kenny and Andrés Martinez about why newly prosperous countries are rich in unrest.

Amanda Ripley, who recently wrote The Smartest Kids in the World, talks about how that group rocketed to the top of the global education charts. Later, our panel discusses Russia’s proposal to put Syria’s chemical weapons stockpile under U.N. control.

This week, Anne-Marie Slaughter is joined by General Wesley Clark about what the Balkans can teach us about Syria. Also, Slaughter talks with Michael Lind, Peter Beinart, and Andrés Martinez about the ever-evolving quest for the American Center.