53 episodes

Join Spectacles editors Harry and Philip for Bird's Eye and Reflections as they sit to down to explore the news, current events, and big ideas in politics today through the lens of democratic theory. We won't just explain a headline to you, but we'll try to help you make the connections between today's stories and what they all mean for democracy.

Spectacles In Conversation Spectacles Media

    • News
    • 5.0 • 6 Ratings

Join Spectacles editors Harry and Philip for Bird's Eye and Reflections as they sit to down to explore the news, current events, and big ideas in politics today through the lens of democratic theory. We won't just explain a headline to you, but we'll try to help you make the connections between today's stories and what they all mean for democracy.

    Adam Gurri talks Constitutionality | Focus Interviews

    Adam Gurri talks Constitutionality | Focus Interviews

    -Important References-
    Adam's Article
    -Table of Contents-
    00:00— Getting started, a note on Uvalde
    02:00— What are "lawfulness" and "constitutionality"?
    05:04— How about "law and order"?
    13:11— Can we reform our way forward?
    23:42— What about the role of violence in order?
    35:12— Is bureaucracy a challenge to lawfulness?
    42:00— Wrapping up
    -Usual Links-
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    • 43 min
    Brent Giannotta talks Democracy Promotion | Focus Interviews

    Brent Giannotta talks Democracy Promotion | Focus Interviews

    We sit down to discuss how to effectively combat authoritarianism, assist the spread of democracy, and learn from our past foreign policy mistakes.
    -Table of Contents-
    00:00 — Getting started
    01:01 — How should we deal (or not deal) economically with authoritarian powers?
    06:46 — Are we comfortable being as sanguine about China as we are about Russia?
    12:32 — What should we do about crucial strategic partners who may be less-than-democratic (or worse)?
    18:55 — You said we could have done nation-building in Afghanistan successfully. How?
    28:33 — How can we formulate an attractive economic policy package to partners in Asia?
    33:52 — What motivates mass shootings? Is it ideology or something else?
    42:47 — Wrapping up
    -Important References-
    NYT Solar Article
    Germany/Russia explainer #1
    Explainer #2
    Anne Applebaum's article + our discussion of it
    Brent's post on Afghanistan
    Brent's LA Times on QAnon & ISIL
    Brent's Twitter
    -Share If You Care-
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    • 44 min
    Matthew Slaboch talks Progress | Focus Interviews

    Matthew Slaboch talks Progress | Focus Interviews

    Professor Slaboch joins us to discuss his book and the topic of "progress." Is it real? If not, what are we to do?
    -Important References-
    Professor Slaboch's book, A Road to Nowhere
    -Share If You Care-
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    • 47 min
    Author Daniel Aldrich | Focus Interviews

    Author Daniel Aldrich | Focus Interviews

    Professor Daniel Aldrich sits down with us to discuss his most recent book, Black Wave: How Networks and Governance Shaped Japan’s 3/11 Disasters.
    (Table of contents below.)
    -Important References-
    Check out Black Wave
    -Usual Links-
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    -Table of Contents-
    00:00 — Getting started
    01:08 — Summarizing the entire triple disaster, as it played out on 3/11/11
    05:42 — Why doesn't Aldrich say "natural disaster" & what do "Networks and Governance" have to do with all this?
    10:15 — Does Japan's one-party(-ish) democracy have a "clientelism" problem?
    18:10 — Is liberal democracy too individualistic to develop the strong communities necessary for disaster resilience?
    28:45 — Do democracy's strengths still apply to Covid? Have authoritarian regimes managed the pandemic better?
    38:40 — Nuclear energy: is it a matter of bad regulation or just bad technology?
    45:45 — Wrapping up

    • 47 min
    Mayor Sly James | Focus Interviews

    Mayor Sly James | Focus Interviews

    Former Mayor of Kansas City Sly James sits down with us to discuss political leadership, local government, and how to restore faith in American politics.
    -Important References-
    The Opportunity Agenda
    -Usual Links-
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    • 40 min
    Angelica Oung | Focus Interviews

    Angelica Oung | Focus Interviews

    -Important References-
    Angelica's blog, Taipology
    Listen to the article we're discussing
    -Usual Links-
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    • 36 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
6 Ratings

6 Ratings

gabriellei7 ,

Excellent

Philip and Harry provide a thoughtful, insightful and measured take on liberal democracy at large and the smaller issues of day to day politics. This refreshing and nuanced point of view is one I would suggest to anyone.

BallPointOfView ,

Fresh Takes

Spectacles provides a refreshing new way to look at and understand American politics, girded with expert knowledge and in-depth research. You won’t regret peering through these glasses

musicman218 ,

Excellent journalism!

Extremely well written and informative pieces. Harry and Philip are providing diverse and balanced perspectives in their pieces. Their focus on democracy and how to get us back to sanity in politics is refreshing!

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