Category Archives: Radio Show

A casual material history of the United States from Bill, Rachel, and guests. Recorded twice weekly in Newton, Massachusetts.

Nov 2, 2016 – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 157

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Posted by Bill on behalf of the team.

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Topics: Rachel updates us on voter suppression in 2016 and we discuss flaws in U.S. voting systems, including felon disenfranchisement. People: Bill, Rachel, and Greg. Produced: Oct 31st, 2016.

Episode 157 (53 min):
AFD 157

Discussion Points:

– What is the latest in U.S. voter suppression tactics in 2016?
– Should we campaign to get voting rights for felons and ex-felons restored?
– Why do Democrats focus on third party vote loss instead of voter disenfranchisement?

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Oct 19, 2016 – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 156

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Posted by Bill on behalf of the team.

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Topics: The Harvard strike and other campus organizing news. Plus, Bill goes viral. People: Bill, Persephone, Jonathan, and Greg. Produced: Oct 17th, 2016.

Episode 156 (56 min):
AFD 156

Discussion Points:

– Why are Harvard dining hall staff’s union on strike?
– What constitutes a living wage?
– What else is going on in campus organizing right now?

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Oct 12, 2016 – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 155

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Posted by Bill on behalf of the team.

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Topics: What broad lessons on direct democracy and foreign policy should be drawn from the Colombia peace deal referendum failure? People: Bill, Jonathan, Kelley, and Greg. Produced: Oct 10th, 2016.

Episode 155 (55 min):
AFD 155

Discussion Points:

– Why did Colombia’s peace deal referendum fall apart?
– When is it appropriate to use direct democracy referenda and when is it better to use representatives to make decisions?
– When achieving justice and reaching peace are conflicting goals, which gets sacrificed?

Related links:

– The Nation: “Did Human Rights Watch Sabotage Colombia’s Peace Agreement?”
– Chapo Trap House episode on Colombia
– July 2015 AFD report on Colombia negotiations

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Oct 5, 2016 – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 154

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Posted by Bill on behalf of the team.

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Topics: What is social democracy? Why is the Democratic Party writing off so-called “red states”? People: Bill, Jonathan, Rachel. Produced: Oct 3rd, 2016.

Episode 154 (56 min):
AFD 154

Discussion Points:

– The Democratic Party’s divide on universal public goods
– Can the Democratic Party’s left wing change the party platform to win in places like Idaho?

Related links:

– Sawbones episode on EpiPens

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Sept 28, 2016 – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 153

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Posted by Bill on behalf of the team.

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We are back on the air for the first time since December 2015!

Topics: Partial 2016 major themes recap. People: Bill, Kelley, Greg, Sarah. Produced: Sept 21st, 2016.

Episode 153 (56 min):
AFD 153

Discussion Points:

– Millennial voting patterns in 2016
– The return of Bush Administration officials
– Brexit and the failed response to right-wing populism

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December 2, 2015 – Arsenal For Democracy Ep. 152

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Posted by Bill on behalf of the team. End notes written by Kelley.

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Topics: Big Ideas for Reforming American Governance — Criminal Justice and Prison Reform. People: Bill, Kelley, Nate. Produced: November 29th, 2015.

NOTE: Our show is now officially on hiatus until September 2016; details at the end of the episode. Thank you all for listening.

Episode 152 (51 min):
AFD 152

Discussion Points:

– Overburdened courts and public defenders
– Systemic, compounding racial bias in the criminal justice system: Arrest, representation, pleas, juries, sentencing, parole
– Mandatory minimums: What went wrong?
– The purpose of prisons: Inmate storage or rehabilitation?
– The economics of prisons: Let’s build local economies not dependent on prisons
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