The Explanation

China is arguably the most important other country in the world next to the United States and has now been a chief concern of three US Administrations. Yet, many Americans know little-to-nothing about China. So what actually is happening with the country, what are the issues that are most important, and what does the future hold? Today Sylvia and Ian discuss joined by Professor Sarwar Kashmeri.

https://kashmeri.com

Follow The ...

The Supreme Court recently handed down a unanimous ruling in favor of student athletes, bringing again to the front the issue of student athletes and their economic situation. The NCAA says that they are doing good for their students, but are they, or are they simply exploiting underprivileged young people for profit?

Follow The Explanation on Social Media

Twitter: https://twitter.com/explanation_pod

IG: https://www.instagram....

Voter suppression has quickly become one of the most high profile issues in American politics, and perhaps one of the most important challenges to the future of democracy. Today Ian and Sylvia are joined by Georgia activist Rachel Paule to discuss the history behind voter suppression, the contemporary movement, and the challenges it poses.

Follow The Explanation on Social Media

Twitter: https://twitter.com/explanation_pod

IG: ...

Donald Trump had a famously contentious relationship with allies, Canada being no exception. But with the rise of the Biden presidency many in the pundit class have predicted a new golden age of US-Canadian relations. Is this  a real possibility? Is Joe Biden actually changing anything or is this all just talk? Today Sylvia and Ian discuss joined by Canadian YouTuber and Washington Post columnist JJ McCullough.

Follow The...

Disinformation and misinformation have become ubiquitous in modern life, spreading across social media like wildfire and making it a hellscape to match, often egged on by powerful people and the very platforms it festers on. Today Sylvia and Ian examine the causes and characteristics of this, and how it can be overcome.

Follow The Explanation on Social Media

Twitter: https://twitter.com/explanation_pod

IG: https://www.instagra...

America has the largest prison population on earth, disproportionately falling on black and brown Americans. But what if the systems and structures that drive this begin at an earliest age and even in the place children are supposed to be safest? With all of the challenges children face at school, how does the School-to-Prison pipeline create more?

Follow The Explanation on Social Media

Twitter: https://twitter.com/explanation...

Andrew Cuomo went from American hero to condemned in the span of a single year. How did the conqueror of COVID become embroiled in scandal and did he ever deserve that title in the first place? Today Sylvia and Ian discuss, joined by New York journalist and author of "The Prince: Andrew Cuomo, Coronavirus, and the Fall of New York" Ross Barkan.

Follow The Explanation on Social Media

Twitter: https://twitter.com/explanation_pod

Education is one of the key determining factors of a country's future. But have we reckoned with the structures of our education system built around capitalism and white supremacy? Do we have solutions for the challenges facing it? Here Ian and Sylvia talk about the challenges facing American education and how to solve them, with a discussion with former Presidential Candidate Marianne Williamson.

Marianne Williamson Candidate...

The United States has the longest rail network in the world, but almost none of that is used for passenger rail. The United States in fact has one of the worst passenger rail networks of any developed country. So why is that the case? Why would it be goof to change that? And how would we? Today Ian and Sylvia answer these questions and talk to Rick Harnish, the Executive Director of the High Speed Rail Alliance.

Follow The Exp...

Despite The Civil Rights Act, the Fair Housing Act, and the end of Jim Crow, segregation in American cities persists, far beyond the South even. In this episode Sylvia and Ian discuss the history and causes of segregation in American cities and the lasting effects of that, joined by racial justice advocate Khafre Jay.

Follow The Explanation on Social Media

Twitter: https://twitter.com/explanation_pod

IG: https://www.instagram.com/t...