Category Archives: Radio Show

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

AFD 65 – Iran, Central Africa, DOMA

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Latest Episode:
“AFD 65 – Iran, Central Africa, DOMA”
Posted: Tues, 26 November 2013

Guest co-host Greg joins Bill to assess the Iranian nuclear deal, the chaos in Central African Republic, and recent developments on LGBT rights in America.

Relevant links:
Iran deal…
– http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/25/world/middleeast/with-iran-accord-obama-opens-mideast-door.html

– http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_world_/2013/11/25/iran_nuclear_deal_will_saudi_arabia_now_seek_a_nuclear_program_of_its_own.html

– http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-24823846

– http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_reckoning/2013/11/24/israeli_stock_market_reaches_record_high_share_prices_love_iranian_nuclear.html

– http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/11/24/israel_salls_iran_nuclear_deal_a_historic_failure.html

Central African Republic…
– http://thinkprogress.org/security/2013/11/19/2940251/central-african-republic-chaos/

– http://thinkprogress.org/security/2013/11/21/2981151/car-coup-tiring/

– http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24986275

LGBT Rights in America…
– http://thinkprogress.org/lgbt/2013/11/19/2970531/oklahoma-national-guard/

– http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/11/24/scott-walker-same-sex-marriage-ban-is-part-of-a-healthy-balance-of-lgbt-rights/

– http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/local/gov-jay-nixon-says-he-supports-legalizing-gay-marriage/article_6c271bde-4d72-11e3-92c7-001a4bcf6878.html

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AFD 64 – The Role of Finance

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Latest Episode:
“AFD 64 – The Role of Finance”
Posted: Tues, 19 November 2013

Bill asks what role the financial services sector should have in the U.S. economy. Sarah talks with Bill about Oklahoma’s abortion restrictions which the Supreme Court blocked. Then Bill assesses the UN Congo mission.

Additional:

I wrote this item in The Globalist after recording the finance segment, to expand upon a point I briefly passed over in the show.

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AFD 63 – Humanitarian Aid, Keystone, Guns

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Latest Episode:
“AFD 63 – Humanitarian Aid, Keystone, Guns”
Posted: Wed, 13 November 2013

Guest expert Abby Stoddard from Humanitarian Outcomes joins Bill to discuss a new report on violence against humanitarian aid workers. Then Bill looks at problems on the Keystone pipelines. Finally, why can’t we even have a debate on guns?

Additional links:

–http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-24764316

–http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/11/10/2921121/dallas-gun-advocates-protest-restaurant-gun-control-advocates/

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AFD 62 – Role of Government

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Latest Episode:
“AFD 62 – Role of Government”
Posted: Wed, 06 November 2013

Sasha discusses the Kentucky Health Insurance Exchange. Then Bill assesses the progress of implementing the rest of the exchange and discusses the role of government in 21st century America.

Additional links:

– www.slate.com/articles/business/billion_to_one/2013/10/sweden_s_billionaires_they_have_more_per_capita_than_the_united_states.html

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AFD 61 – Non-Functioning Democracy

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Latest Episode:
“AFD 61 – Non-Functioning Democracy”
Posted: Tues, 29 October 2013

What is a democracy? Bill and Sasha talk Texas voting laws, then Bill critiques the DC fiscal paralysis and comments on guns in America.

Additional links:

– http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/10/16/2788321/budget-crises-jobs/

– http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/10/17/2789931/threat-women-texas/

– http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/legacy/d/download_file_39242.pdf

– http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/ag-holder-number-of-mass-shootings-in-u-s-have-tripled

– http://www.theglobalist.com/social-cost-u-s-guns/

– http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2013/10/25/2835741/virginia-tech-cuccinelli-mcauliffe-guns/

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AFD 60 – Furlough

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Latest Episode:
“AFD 60 – Furlough”
Posted: Tues, 15 October 2013

Guest commentator Melanie joins Bill to talk about the impact of having most Federal workers on unpaid leave from their jobs during the shutdown. Then Bill looks at food inspection problems in the U.S. Guest commentator Sarah discusses a court decision in Nebraska. Bill examines political mirroring between France and a former African colony.

Additional links:

– http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/10/11/20926440-statue-of-liberty-mount-rushmore-other-national-parks-to-reopen-during-shutdown

– http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/10/shutdown-salmonella/

– http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/10/11/2770331/salmonella-usda-regulation-fail/

– http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/14/world/europe/france-to-send-more-troops-into-africa.html

– http://allafrica.com/stories/201310110610.html

– http://allafrica.com/stories/201310110463.html

– http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21913926

– http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/14/world/africa/michel-djotodia-leader-of-coup-in-central-african-republic-holds-on-to-power.html

– http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/oct/10/french-polls-surge-support-national-front

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AFD 59: Health Reform History, UN News

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Latest Episode:
“AFD 59 – Health Reform History, UN News”
Posted: Tues, 08 October 2013

Guest Luke Vargas reports from the United Nations. Then Bill examines the history of health reform in the U.S. and explains the Affordable Care Act and current shutdown.

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