On this episode, guest host Rich Arenberg talks with Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island about some of the most pressing issues in American politics. Rich is the Interim Director of the Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy at Watson, and spent decades staffing some of the most influential Congress people of the 20th century. Senator Whitehouse is a leading voice on many issues in Congress, including climate change, campaign finance reform, and judicial appointments. In this conversation, they give an insider’s view on everything from the Supreme Court battle to the presidential election, to the newest evolution of dark money in our politics. You can learn more about the Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy here: [https://watson.brown.edu/taubman/] This conversation was recorded on October 7, 2020. We'll put a link here to the full version on YouTube as soon as it's available.

Trending Globally: Politics and Policy

RBG is Gone: Now What? (With Senator Sheldon Whitehouse)

On March 2, 2020, Watson Fellow and Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Kertzer was granted access to the Vatican Apostolic Archives -- formerly known as the Vatican’s ‘secret archives.’ David used the opportunity to explore the records of Pope Pius XII, who led the church during World War II, and whose role in that war is still a source of heated debate. In August, David published a piece in The Atlantic based on his research, about the Vatican’s behavior in the face of rising German power during World War II. It was groundbreaking, beautifully written -- and utterly disturbing. On this episode, Sarah talks with David about what he uncovered, and why it should be a lesson for us all. You can read David’s article in The Atlantic here: [https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/08/the-popes-jews/615736/]

The Pope, WWII, and the Vatican’s ‘Secret Archives’

On this episode Sarah talks with physician, public health expert, and Watson Faculty Fellow Adam Levine about a new study examining the effectiveness of convalescent plasma treatment for people with Covid-19. Depending on what Adam and his colleagues find, it could mark the beginning of a new phase in the fight against coronavirus. Adam’s team is looking for volunteers for this study, in Rhode Island and across the country. You can find out if you qualify and learn how to get involved by following the links below: Trial for people currently infected with Covid-19: [https://harims.egnyte.com/dl/gU0smp3Lph/] Trial for people who are at high risk of infection: [https://harims.egnyte.com/dl/012v7o3H57/]

The Promise of Plasma in the Fight Against Covid-19

In the US, we’ve grown accustomed to hearing about China’s transformation into a ‘global superpower’ in the 21st century. But according to journalist and author Michael Schuman, that’s not the only way to see China’s economic and political resurgence. On this episode, Watson’s Director Ed Steinfeld talks with Michael about his book 'Superpower Interrupted: The Chinese History of the World.' The book will be, to many, a fresh perspective on Chinese history. But it's more than a history lesson; it’s also a powerful example of how national narratives develop, and how they are used for political ends. You can learn more about and purchase 'Superpower Interrupted: A Chinese History of the World,' here: [https://www.publicaffairsbooks.com/titles/michael-schuman/superpower-interrupted/9781541788329/]

Chinese Power, Interrupted

This is the second part in a special series from Trending Globally exploring the housing crisis in the United States, and in Rhode Island in particular. The crisis has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, but as we’ll show, it’s a problem that has been with us for much, much longer. In Part II, we explore the role racism has played in this ongoing crisis, through policies and practices both unofficial and government sanctioned. We also look at how history is repeating itself today, as President Trump implies that white suburbs are facing an existential threat. But if the current inequalities are the result of deliberate actions, perhaps deliberate actions can also be used rectify them. (Photo credit: Steve Ahlquist) Contributors to this podcast include students from Brown University and the media collective Signs of Providence. You can learn more about their organization here: [evicted-in-ri.com/#/] *We'll be back in two weeks with another episode of Trending Globally, and soon thereafter with Part 3 of 'Less to Lean On.'

Less to Lean On, Part 2

After reading about how supply chains were disrupted by the pandemic, and how American farmers were suddenly left with food they couldn’t sell, Will Collier ‘20 (Architecture and Economics concentrator) and Aidan Reilly ‘21 (Political Science and Government concentrator) had an idea: maybe they could raise money to buy the food, and deliver it themselves to people that needed it. So in the midst of the pandemic they founded Farmlink, which to date has delivered over 10 million pounds of unsold produce to food banks across Southern California. And while their idea was borne out of this current crisis, it has grown into something far bigger than emergency relief. This episode is the third in our series on how Brown students are navigating the pandemic. Will and Aidan discuss how they came up with the idea for Farmlink, the underlying issues in our food system that have made Farmlink so impactful, and what it’s like learning to drive a semi-trailer. You can learn more about Farmlink here: [https://thefarmlinkproject.org/] Photo credit: Owen Dubeck

Connecting Farmers and Food (Even If They Have to Drive the Trucks Themselves)

A good documentary doesn’t just tell a story; it makes you question what you think you know, and helps you to understand lives that are different from your own. Rory Kennedy ‘91 is a celebrated documentary filmmaker; Randall Poster ‘81 is a film music supervisor, who has worked with filmmakers such as Wes Anderson and Martin Scorsese. Last year, they helped launch the John F. Kennedy Jr. Film Initiative, which is housed at Watson [https://www.brown.edu/news/2020-01-21/film]. Like John, they’re both Brown alums; John was Rory’s cousin, and Randy’s classmate. Through screenings, discussions, and workshops, this Initiative connects world-class documentarians with the Brown community, at a time when more and more students are looking to use narrative storytelling in their research and activism. On this episode, Watson’s Director Ed Steinfeld talks with Rory and Randall about their careers in film, the motivation behind the Initiative, and the power documentaries have to affect social change. You can sign up to for updates about the initiative here: [https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001tAx93SxsVPdIu0VdUKzGrI5l26fcYQCXzMIohbPEVcDI7_R5BmKHvSaASTST4iiMXJq5MU_zoqdr4GNPZ7gqSkHScQHfeVZpUO_sgEQQT-Fr7vpMrH5zUInF2EaK9CVlQseYI1RfQaGsYl-9ytBBjmLkXmv7hMCd] And you can learn more about the full slate of programming here (Fall Event announcements will be added in the coming days): https://watson.brown.edu/events/series/john-f-kennedy-jr-initiative-documentary-film-and-social-progress

How Good Documentaries Transcend Borders, and Why We Need Them Now More Than Ever

This is the second in our ongoing series of conversations with Brown students about life during the pandemic. On this episode: Aaron Gruen ‘22 is a double concentrator in chemistry and music, and he was preparing for the most important cello recital of his life when Brown’s campus closed in March. He flew back home to Germany, and finished his classes remotely. Between classes, he found a new extracurricular -- serving as a frontline healthcare worker.

How One Brown Undergrad Became a Frontline Health Worker

On this episode, the second part of our interview with writer and Taubman Center Visiting Fellow Dan Denvir about his book ‘All American Nativism: How The Bipartisan War on Immigrants Explains Politics as We Know It.’ In it, Denvir explores the long, disturbing history of nativism in the US, and the fundamental role it plays in our politics today. If you haven’t listened to Part I yet, you can find it on your favorite podcast app or listen to it here: [https://soundcloud.com/watsoninstitute/all-american-nativism-with-dan-denvir-part-1] You can learn more about and purchase Dan Denvir’s book here: [https://www.versobooks.com/books/2858-all-american-nativism]

'All-American Nativism' with Dan Denvir, Part II

On this episode guest-host Dan Richards talks with Dan Denvir, a journalist, host of the hit podcast ‘The Dig,’ and visiting Fellow at the Watson's Institute's Taubman Center for American Politics and Policy. His recent book, ‘All-American Nativism: How the Bipartisan War on Immigrants Explains Politics as We Know It,’ explores the foundational role nativism has played in American politics, and explains why the Trump Presidency is less of an aberration than many would like to believe. This will be the first in a two-part conversation with Denvir. You can learn more about and purchase his book here: [https://www.versobooks.com/books/2858-all-american-nativism]

'All-American Nativism' with Dan Denvir, Part I

What’s it like working for an American news outlet in China? The short answer: more complicated than you or I can imagine. On this episode Watson’s director Ed Steinfeld talks with CNBC’s Beijing Bureau Chief Eunice Yoon. Eunice has reported on some of the biggest stories in China’s recent past, from the Beijing Olympics in 2008 to the coronavirus today. They discuss what it’s like practicing journalism in a country not known for its openness to the press, covering coronavirus from the place where it all began, and why reporting on life in China is more important now than ever.

How to Cover China, with CNBC’s Beijing Bureau Chief

This is the first part in a special series from Trending Globally exploring the housing crisis in the United States, and in Rhode Island in particular. This crisis has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, but as we’ll show, it’s a problem that has been with us for much, much longer. In this series Sarah talks with tenants, landlords, housing advocates, academics, and government officials to illuminate the complexity of housing in this moment -- and its dire consequences for those suffering from illness, unemployment, and the threat of eviction. It's a story about economics, race, history and public health, and about a system that's been broken for about as long as it's existed. It's also a story about how, thanks to an unprecedented crisis and the tireless work of activists, things might just be starting to change. (Photo credit: Steve Ahlquist) Contributors to this podcast include students from Brown University and the media collective Signs of Providence. You can learn more about their organization here: [http://evicted-in-ri.com/#/] *We'll be back in two weeks with another episode of Trending Globally, and soon thereafter with Part II of 'Less to Lean On'

Less to Lean On: Housing Insecurity in Rhode Island, Part 1

In the last 5 months we have learned a lot about coronavirus and Covid-19. But sometimes it feels like we’re just as confused as we were back in February. What’s safe to do? What activities should we be avoiding? When will things go back to 'normal'? On this episode Sarah talks Watson economist Emily Oster about her newest project, which seeks to provide some much needed clarity to these questions and more. They discuss her new website 'Covid Explained,' and look at some of the most popular questions people are asking. They also explore why health recommendations can be so hard to navigate, and how average people can learn to start thinking a little more like economists. You can visit 'Covid-Explained' here: [https://explaincovid.org/]

Confused About How to Stay Safe in a Pandemic? Emily Oster is Here to Help

The supply chain that brings medical equipment to your local hospital, health clinic, or pharmacy is one of the world’s most important -- and most complex. On this episode Watson’s Director Ed Steinfeld talks with George Barrett '77, former chairman and CEO of Cardinal Health, Inc., which is one of the world’s largest distributors and manufacturers of medical products. They discuss how supply chains for these products normally function, and what’s changed during this pandemic-induced spike in demand. They also look at what private industry and government can learn from this unprecedented moment, and how industries can better prepare for multifaceted emergencies going forward.

Medical Equipment and Global Supply Chains During Coronavirus

On this episode Sarah talks with Dr. Ashish Jha, professor of global health at Harvard University and director of the Harvard Global Health Institute (and soon to be dean of the Brown School of Public Health). As the United States reels from the ongoing collision of systemic racism, coronavirus, and economic catastrophe, Sarah and Dr. Jha explore how these issues intersect. They also discuss the effects of absentee national leadership during this crisis, and how to bring science and data back into the center of our nation’s healthcare debate.

How Racism, Economic Inequality, and Coronavirus Intersect with Dr. Ashish Jha

Podcast by Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs

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Trending Globally: Politics and Policy

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