Start Making Sense

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Start Making Sense is The Nation’s flagship weekly podcast, hosted by contributing editor Jon Wiener, featuring the magazine’s writers and editors as well as activists who shape the week in news. Subscribe at Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts, for new episodes each Wednesday.

Utopia

Why We Need the Utopian Imagination: Jeet Heer Why We Need the Utopian Imagination: Jeet Heer

Plus George Sanchez on LA’s Boyle Heights.

Jul 8, 2021 / Podcast / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

Critical Race Theory protest

The Attack on ‘Critical Race Theory’ The Attack on ‘Critical Race Theory’

Kimberlé Crenshaw on the term she helped create, plus David Talbot and Margaret Talbot on the 1960s.

Jul 1, 2021 / Podcast / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

Voting in San Francisco

It’s Time to Mobilize for Voting Rights It’s Time to Mobilize for Voting Rights

John Nichols on the franchise, plus David Kipen on a new Federal Writers Project.

Jun 24, 2021 / Podcast / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

Filibuster protest

It’s Not Just Joe Manchin It’s Not Just Joe Manchin

Joan Walsh on ‘moderate’ Democrats, plus Kai Bird on Jimmy Carter.

Jun 17, 2021 / Podcast / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

Joe Manchin

What Does Joe Manchin Want? What Does Joe Manchin Want?

John Nichols on filibuster reform, plus Amy Wilentz on Israeli politics.

Jun 10, 2021 / Podcast / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

Tulsa massacre

White Politics and Black History in Tulsa White Politics and Black History in Tulsa

David Perry on the Tulsa Race Massacre commemoration, plus Katha Pollitt on Jordan Peterson’s advice for men.

Jun 3, 2021 / Podcast / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

Democrats, Israel, and Palestine: John Nichols 

Democrats, Israel, and Palestine: John Nichols  Democrats, Israel, and Palestine: John Nichols 

Plus Robin D.G. Kelley on Exterminate All the Brutes.

May 27, 2021 / Podcast / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

Gaza damage

Palestinians’ ‘Second Front’—Inside Israel Palestinians’ ‘Second Front’—Inside Israel

Saree Makdisi on the Mideast plus Eric Foner on The Underground Railroad.

May 20, 2021 / Podcast / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

Palestinian Protests In London

Palestinian Lives—and Deaths Palestinian Lives—and Deaths

Rachel Kushner on refugees and Adam Shatz on Edward Said

May 13, 2021 / Podcast / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

Philip Roth biography

Rapists, Misogynists, Creeps, and Their Books Rapists, Misogynists, Creeps, and Their Books

Katha Pollitt on Blake Bailey, plus Louis Menand on Cold War culture.

May 6, 2021 / Podcast / Start Making Sense and Jon Wiener

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