Reflector podcast

43:56

On August 20th, 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez shot and killed their own parents. Until then, this Beverly Hills family had been a portrait of the American Dream. How did it go so wrong? To listen to all four episodes of 'The Menendez Brothers' right now and ad-free, go to IntoHistory.com . Subscribers enjoy uninterrupted listening, early releases, bonus content and more, only available at IntoHistory.com . If you or someone you know is in crisis, there is free help available at mhanational.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

Reflector

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Reflector is a documentary-style podcast that tells stories about how beliefs shape our world, the context behind the messy debates in our society, and on how deeply listening to one another can reveal a sense of shared humanity.

18 episodios

#Society #Documentaries

Reflector

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updated hace 16 días

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18 episodios

#Society #Documentaries

Todos los episodios

Reflector

1
Breaking USAID 51:10

hace 16 días51:10

51:10

Should the U.S. stop giving foreign aid? This is a question many have been asking long before Elon Musk and Donald Trump launched DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) and began dismantling USAID and its work around the globe. Critics of foreign aid, like Bill Easterly, author of The White Man’s Burden , and Dambisa Moyo, author of Dead Aid , argue that foreign aid often does more harm than good. They contend that the U.S. and other nations should radically rethink their approach. But this winter, Donald Trump did something no one expected: he halted nearly all foreign aid and operations worldwide. Today, we’re joined by long-time international correspondent and host of NPR’s Rough Translation , Gregory Warner, for a deep dive into why USAID was founded in the first place, how it expanded into the massive program it is today, the consequences of freezing its operations, and an examination of the claims that USAID is part of a U.S. deep-state operation. For the listener who’d like to hear more from Warner, he publishes a Substack newsletter called Rough Transition . And if you reach out to him mentioning you're coming from Reflector , he’s happy to offer a complimentary six-month subscription. Thank you to our sponsor Ground News. You can visit them here to learn more: GROUND.NEWS…

Reflector

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A Nation of Immigrants Votes for Deportations 1:15:54

hace 8 weeks1:15:54

1:15:54

Despite its reputation among many on the political left, the United States has welcomed more immigrants than any other nation in history. Today, the U.S. is home to more immigrants than any other country in the world. Even amid a heated political battle over the future of immigration, it’s undeniable that a core part of America’s national identity is its image as “a nation of immigrants.” Many Americans proudly trace their ancestry to those who migrated to the U.S. in pursuit of the American Dream. Most take pride in knowing that people around the world dream of building a life in the USA. But immigration in the U.S. has always been complicated. Today, the country is also home to the largest population of unlawful migrants on Earth. In recent years, the U.S. southern border with Mexico has been cited as one of the most porous and chaotic in the world. Additionally, the U.S. has the most backlogged immigration courts globally. Our episode today examines how the U.S. immigration system became so stubbornly, frustratingly, and dangerously chaotic—from legal loopholes exploited by cartels to the failed legislation of the 1990s aimed at curbing illegal migration, and from the enduring challenges of enforcement to the growing calls for building a wall and mass deportations. Our guests are David Leonhardt, Senior Writer for The New York Times and author of Ours Was a Shining Future , and John Sandweg, former head of ICE under President Barack Obama. As always, we’d love to hear from you. Send us an email at hello@reflector.show. Thank you to our sponsor Ground News. You can visit them here to learn more: GROUND.NEWS…

Reflector

1
Why Doesn't Anyone Trust The Media? 58:40

hace 15 weeks58:40

58:40

In the wake of the election results, many Democrats are doing some serious soul-searching (and a fair amount of blame-gaming) to understand why they lost. But it’s not just Democrats reckoning with their loss of trust from the American people. New polling from places like Gallup shows historically high levels of distrust in journalists. Meaning that a profession built on the delivery of trusted information is now in the midst of a full on crisis of mistrust. How did we get here? What are we doing wrong? And what, if anything, can we—or should we—do to regain that trust? For today’s episode, we take a frank look at the media’s role in this crisis with Ben Smith and Nayeema Raza. Ben Smith is the co-founder of Semafor , a news organization with ambitious goals to redefine global journalism. He’s the former media columnist for The New York Times and was the founding editor-in-chief of BuzzFeed News , leading it from a scrappy startup to a Pulitzer Prize-winning newsroom. Ben’s journalism roots trace back to the late 1990s and early 2000s, where he covered crime and New York politics for local papers. He was part of the early journalism blogging era online, reported on the 2008 Obama campaign for Politico, and embodies a no-nonsense ethos to journalism that I’ve come to admire over the years. Nayeema Raza is (alongside Ben) the co-host on Semafor’s media podcast Mixed Signals , which explores how money, culture, and politics shape everything we read, watch, and hear. She has worked as executive producer at The New York Times Opinion and frequently guest-hosts Open to Debate . With a background in film and documentary, Nayeema often draws fascinating parallels between newsroom trends and what’s happening in Hollywood and beyond. As you’ll hear, the three of us don’t always agree. In this episode, I’m a bit more open with my views than usual—we even scrutinize some of my past work. Together, we wrestle with the causes and context of the current trust crisis in journalism, explore historical parallels, discuss the disruption of the internet and influence of social media, and unpack lessons from the Trump era so far. Thank you to our sponsor Ground News. You can visit them here to learn more: GROUND.NEWS To support our work please consider becoming a paid subscriber .…

Reflector

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The Comeback of Donald Trump 1:07:44

hace 18 weeks1:07:44

1:07:44

Here comes the much-anticipated (maybe dreaded? Obnoxiously over-covered?) 2024 US presidential election, and no one knows who will emerge as the next President of the United States. Today’s episode was inspired by a conversation I had last week with a former colleague from The New York Times . She shared her concern that we in the media might have done it again. That just like in 2016, we may have failed to capture why Donald Trump, one of the least popular presidents in US history and an undeniable outlier, could be so close to winning another term in the White House. So with the election just days away, we’re diving in to unpack that story. Our guests are Mike Pesca, a veteran of NPR and host of The Gist , the longest-running daily news podcast. Mike has covered presidential campaigns and politics for over two decades. While he’s been a sharp critic of Trump, he’s done an excellent job of explaining why so many Americans see a vote for Trump as a vote for their own self-interest. We’re also joined by Emily Jashinsky, a Washington correspondent for Unherd, co-host of the Undercurrents podcast, and someone who reports from within the conservative media ecosystem. She does a fantastic job documenting the rise of the New Right and its split from the fading conservative establishment. No matter who you are planning on voting for - or even if you aren’t going to vote at all - we’d love to hear from you. You can always reach us at hello@reflector.show . Thank you to our sponsor Ground News. You can visit them here to learn more: GROUND.NEWS To support our work please consider becoming a paid subscriber .…

Reflector

1
Growing Support at American Universities for Violent Palestinian Resistance 50:02

hace 21 weeks50:02

50:02

Wars—like the one between Israel and Hamas—are not only fought on the battlefield, but they are also fought through stories. In today’s episode, I interview Eman Abdelhadi , an American academic, activist, and organizer in the Free Palestine movement. Abdelhadi shares a perspective on Israel that, while controversial, is gaining influence across the United States, particularly on college campuses. A recent Pew survey revealed that 34% of Americans under 30 find Hamas' reasons for fighting Israel to be valid, and only 16% of Americans support continued U.S. military aid to Israel. If you align with the Free Palestine movement, Eman’s story may resonate deeply. If you support Israel, it may be challenging and even frustrating to hear. But regardless of where you stand, I believe there is value in listening to a view that is shaping more and more of the American discourse on this issue. If you’d like to share your feedback on this or any episode, you can reach us at hello@reflector.show . Thank you to our sponsor Ground News. You can visit them here to learn more: GROUND.NEWS To support our work please consider becoming a paid subscriber .…

Reflector

1
The Whole World Is Watching 48:19

hace 22 weeks48:19

48:19

Today: Fears of another world war, a high stakes presidential election and the very divisive subject of American support for Israel. We speak with progressive voters who are considering staying home in November, even if it could lead to another Trump presidency. We unpack our reporting from the 2024 March on the DNC, examining the ways it compares—and doesn’t—to the 1968 March on the DNC. We also mention that a short video I took at the march went viral on Instagram, receiving millions of views and thousands of revealing comments about our divided country and how some Americans view the protesters. Andy’s viral instagram video from the DNC: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C-3pPrkMwTX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link Thank you to our sponsor Ground News. You can visit them here to learn more: GROUND.NEWS To support our work please consider becoming a paid subscriber .…

Reflector

1
Why Do Politicians Lie? 49:51

hace 24 weeks49:51

49:51

We are hard at work on several stories that we hope to share with you soon, but today we’re trying something a bit different. We're bringing you a roundtable discussion with Sarah Isgur and Mike Pesca on why politicians and world leaders lie—and what those lies reveal about the state of our society. Sarah Isgur is a lawyer, senior editor at The Dispatch, host of the legal podcast Advisory Opinions, and co-host of Left, Right & Center. She’s previously worked in all three branches of the federal government, including a few years in the Trump Administration, and has been involved with three different presidential campaigns. Mike Pesca, a veteran of NPR, is the host of The Gist, the longest-running daily news podcast, and has covered presidential campaigns and politics for over two decades. We dive deep into whether we’re living in an era of especially egregious lies, the incentives for politicians to lie, how we classify and fact-check lies, and much more. I’ll also add that by the end, we wind up in a place I didn’t expect. LINKS: Listen to Mike Pesca on The Gist Listen to Sarah Isgor on Advisory Opinions , Left, Right & Center and follow her writing at The Dispatch . Thank you to our sponsor Ground News. You can visit them here to learn more: GROUND.NEWS To support our work please consider becoming a paid subscriber .…

Reflector

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Hindsight: Emily Bazelon on Election Denial 2024 29:32

hace 27 weeks29:32

29:32

In today’s Hindsight we are looking back on our coverage of stolen election claims ( No, You Stole the Election! ) with journalist, lawyer, and podcast royalty, Emily Bazelon . We discuss gerrymandering, voter ID laws, growing distrust in institutions, and we debate the power of elites and whether we should be worried about Election Day 2024. We have a lot of new listeners here, and we’re very excited to have you with us! If you want to hear this episode in full, please become a paid subscriber (one of our Reflectors ). You can become a subscriber at reflector.show In addition to full access to our Hindsight episodes, you’ll get early access to new episodes and other perks. You’ll also be directly contributing to our ability to continue this journalism.…

Reflector

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No, You Stole the Election! (Part 3) 44:19

hace 29 weeks44:19

44:19

Today in our third and final installment of this series, we delve into what may be the most contested election in American history. We also take stock of the already historic and unprecedented 2024 presidential campaign season. What happens when both sides of our political divide increasingly view the other as an anti-democratic threat? Our aim with these episodes is to listen carefully to those who feel cheated, move beyond the daily political drama, and inspire deeper reflection on where our society stands and the challenges we face. Special thanks to Washington Post columnist, Megan McArdle and to Megan Phelps-Roper. Thank you to our sponsor Ground News. You can visit them here to learn more: GROUND.NEWS To become a paid subscriber, just click here…

Reflector

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No, You Stole the Election! (Part 2) 47:41

hace 30 weeks47:41

47:41

Here in our second installment into the recent history of stolen election claims, we’ve got angry voters, disappointed politicians, and a few tech-savvy democrats who see signs of hacking, fraud, and illegitimacy in three different elections. We’ll discuss the allegations about hacked voting machines in Ohio in 2004, claims that the 2016 election was stolen from Hillary Clinton, and how stolen election claims in the 2018 gubernatorial election in Georgia helped make Stacey Abrams a national star. Next time in Part 3, we’ll dive into the unprecedented 2020 election and the Stop the Steal movement. We’ll also share our thoughts on the 2024 presidential election and our expectations for what might happen on Election Day. Special thanks to Megan McArdle and Megan Phelps-Roper. To become a subscriber visit us at reflector.show Email us at: hello@reflector.show Thank you to our sponsor. You can visit them here to learn more: GROUND.NEWS…

Reflector

1
No, You Stole the Election! (Part 1) 47:38

hace 31 weeks47:38

47:38

Claims that a US election was rigged, fraudulent, illegitimate, or stolen are not new. But in recent years—despite the fact that our elections have grown increasingly secure—these claims have grown louder and more impassioned. Today, we begin our look back on past claims of stolen elections in American history, in the hopes that understanding them in their context will help shed light on our current political moment—and where we might be headed next. In this first installment, we speak to Megan McArdle , former writer for the Atlantic and current columnist at the Washington Post , about the stolen election claims in both the 1960 and 2000 elections. To become a subscriber visit us at reflector.show Email us at: hello@reflector.show Featuring Your Cheatin’ Heart by Patsy Cline and The Jordanaires Thank you to our sponsor. You can visit them here to learn more: GROUND.NEWS…

Reflector

1
Hindsight: Stagger Lee & Killer Mike 52:34

hace 33 weeks52:34

52:34

Today we’ve got a very special Hindsight episode that revisits the themes explored in our "Filthy Slime" episodes (Parts 1 & 2). We’re delighted to be joined by living legend and recent Grammy winner Killer Mike. He discusses his view of "rap on trial" and the complex relationship between art, crime, and life for young people in some of America’s toughest neighborhoods. We also explore the legend of Stack Lee – AKA Stagger Lee – and the hundreds of songs and performances inspired by his most infamous crime. Writer, poet, and Washburn University professor Eric McHenry explains why this story continues to resonate more than a century after the notorious saloon murder. As a new show, we’re still experimenting with different formats to tell stories and explore ideas. We’d love to hear your feedback! Please reach out to hello@reflector.show with your thoughts, questions, and story suggestions. Special thanks for this episode go to Killer Mike, Kmele Foster, Van Lathan, Megan Phelps-Roper, Claire Reynolds, and Eric McHenry. Links: Playlist of some of the music featured in this episode Listen to Killer Mike’s recent album Read more from Eric McHenry here or check out his essay on Stagger Lee , which he’s currently developing into a book called Original Gangster. Thank you to our sponsor. You can visit them here to learn more: GROUND.NEWS…

Reflector

1
You Can't Say That (Part 2) 1:05:55

hace 34 weeks1:05:55

1:05:55

Today, we continue our examination of difficult public debates, one year after concluding our series, The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling . In Part 1 , we provided updates on women's sports, women-only spaces, and transition medicine for minors. This week, we hear from three different trans individuals who share their perspectives on the state of the debate, J.K. Rowling in particular, and the larger idea that good-faith debates are necessary for progress in a pluralistic society. Our guests include Jacob Tobia, author of the book Sissy , and listener-favorite Noah, the teenager who shared his gender transition story with us in episode six of The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling . We also listen and respond to sharp criticisms from popular YouTuber and former Witch Trials guest, Natalie Wynn, aka Contrapoints. We do our best to engage in the kind of good-faith debating that we believe in. As always, we appreciate your time and attention and would be delighted if you shared this show and gave us a rating on Apple or Spotify. Thank you for your support, and please send us your thoughts, feedback, story ideas, or criticisms to our new email address: hello@reflector.show . Thank you to our sponsor. You can visit them here to learn more: GROUND.NEWS…

Reflector

1
You Can't Say That (Part 1) 1:04:50

hace 35 weeks1:04:50

1:04:50

About a year ago, the team that makes this show (Matt Boll and me, Andy Mills) along with our dear friend Megan Phelps-Roper (who also helps with each episode of Reflector ), put out the final installment of The Witch Trials of J.K. Rowling . The show was a big hit with millions of listeners, even as it split — and in some cases enraged — media critics. Our aim was to tell the story of Rowling’s two major public controversies — both the witchcraft accusations from the late 90’s and the current backlash around sex and gender — as a way to uncover deeper truths about human nature. Today, Megan again joins us to ask: Where do things stand now? For Rowling, for the debate around sex and gender, and for our society's willingness to have hard conversations in public. Here in Part 1, author and journalist Helen Lewis guides us through the latest developments in women-only sports, women-only spaces, and youth transition medicine. We explore the ways in which the United States is becoming more of an outlier, and how J.K. Rowling’s career has continued to thrive amidst the backlash against her. In Part 2, we dive into thoughts and criticism — of J.K. Rowling, of the series we made about her, and of our team itself — from three members of the trans community, each with a unique perspective. This includes two of listeners’ favorite guests from the original series: Natalie and Noah. For paid subscribers you can listen to that episode right away. To become a paid subscriber visit us at reflector.show As always we appreciate your time and attention, and would be delighted if you’d share this show and give us a rating on Apple or Spotify. If you have any feedback, story suggestions, or criticisms, feel free to shoot us an email at hello@reflector.show Thank you to our sponsors. You can visit them here to learn more: FIRE GROUND.NEWS…

Reflector

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Hindsight: The Sea Change 21:10

hace 38 weeks21:10