Nearly 1 in 6 Americans lives in a “distressed” community. Where these Americans live and what they experience could explain alot about the rise of Trump.
As the architect of the Economic Innovation Group’s DistressedCommunities Index, Senior Fellow Kenan Fikri has spent the better part of the last decade discovering who is prospering in America—and where. The maldistribution of American opportunity, he warns, has led to stark divides, economically, socially and politically. On the other hand, he argues, understanding the geography of opportunity could help to heal these rifts.
Host: Anne Kim
Guest: Kenan Fikri, Senior Fellow, Economic Innovation Group
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Distressed Communities Index
01:48 Understanding Economic Distress
04:10 Geographic Distribution of Distress
05:58 Demographics of Distressed Communities
09:33 Gender Disparities in Economic Opportunity
09:51 Impact of Education on Community Well-Being
14:25 Health Outcomes in Distressed Communities
16:58 Political Polarization and Economic Distress
20:58 Solutions for Regional Inequality
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ian Johnson discusses thelife of Liu Xiaobo, China’s sole laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize. Though Liu is hardly a household name in America, he is a pivotal figure for understanding modern China, Johnson argues. Johnson's recent review of I Have No Enemies, by Perry Link and Wu Dazhi (Columbia University Press), won the Washington Monthly’s 2025 Kukula Award for Excellencein Nonfiction Book Reviewing for large publications.Host: Anne KimGuest: Journalist Ian JohnsonChapters:00:00 Introduction to Liu Xiaobo and His Significance03:47 The Life and Legacy of Liu Xiaobo06:44 Understanding Chinese History Through Liu Xiaobo09:42 Grassroots Activism and the Role of the Internet12:55 The Decline of Civil Society in China15:21 Future of Chinese Dissidents and Liu Xiaobo's Impact18:28 Engagement vs. Containment: American Perspectives on China21:20 China's Approach to Global Challenges and Future TechnologiesSubscribe to the Washington Monthly's podcast:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLonp7h9esu5hYFpElBTi8uC8HT5bSqpFQ&si=VMM10M3WJpqDN3RqRead the Washington Monthly:www.washingtonmonthly.comSubscribe to the Washington Monthly's PolicyFix playlist:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLonp7h9esu5j_rTTHx-0Vv_T_AyQqoRaO&si=AANgMFJ6G2_cOUM4Subscribe to the Washington Monthly's Democracy 101 playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLonp7h9esu5hW58ZQq-q8JVvn5eHWL5PL
The pending sale of an historic federal building by Trump could mean the wrecking ball for the “Sistine Chapel of New Deal Art.”
Journalist Timothy Noah discusses the masterpieces of New Deal Art housed at the Wilbur Cohen Building in Washington, D.C. that Americans should fight to save.
Hosts: Anne Kim and Garrett Epps
Guest: Timothy Noah
Chapters
00:00 The Hidden Treasures of American Art
03:48 The Legacy of Public Art Programs
06:10 The Life and Work of Ben Shahn
11:50 The Significance of the Cohen Building's Murals
16:27 The Threat to Cultural Heritage
21:59 The Call to Action for Preservation
2025 Kukula Award winner Christoph Irmscher discusses hisreview of Arlie Russell Hochschild’s book, Stolen Pride: Loss, Shame, and the Rise of the Right, and the vital role of criticism in civil society.
Host: Anne Kim
Guest: Christoph Irmscher, Distinguished Professor of English, Indiana University
Chapters
04:56 Insights from 'Stolen Pride' and Empathy Bridge
09:43 The Concept of Stolen Pride and Polarization
14:51 The Role of Book Reviews in Today's Society
18:46 The Art of Book Reviewing
23:39 The Importance of Professional Critics
Virginia’s upcoming gubernatorial election will be a trialrun for next year’s midterms and an early referendum on Trump. Pollster Pete Brodnitz, founder of Expeditioin Strategies, critiques the strategies emerging from these campaigns.
Host: Anne Kim
Guest: Pete Brodnitz, Founder, Expedition Strategies
Chapters:
00:00 Virginia's Upcoming Elections: A Bellwether for the Nation?
06:08 Candidate Profiles: A New Era in Virginia Politics
11:26 Campaign Strategies: Culture Wars vs. Kitchen Table Issues
16:39 Turnout Dynamics: Northern Virginia's Influence
22:29 Down-Ballot Races: The GOP's Split Ticket Strategy
In what’s become increasingly common practice in recentmonths, the Supreme Court recently used its “emergency docket” to lift a lower court injunction barring the use of racial profiling by federal immigration officials. The Court’s order allows ICE officers in Los Angeles to continue aggressive “roving patrols” and detention practices based on a person’sappearance.
While the Court’s order was unsigned, it was accompanied by a rare concurring opinion by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who argued on both procedural and substantive grounds that the raids are legal.
In this episode, Washington Monthly Legal Affairs Editor Garrett Epps speaks with contributing writer Peter Shane about theflaws in Kavanaugh’s reasoning. Chapters
00:00 Supreme Court's Decision on Racial Profiling
06:55 Justice Kavanaugh's Opinion and Its Implications
14:02 The Concept of Standing in Legal Cases
20:18 The Broader Impact of ICE's Targeting Practices
24:52 Concluding Thoughts on Civil Liberties and the Court's Role
In comparison to its glitzy neighbor in Princeton, NewJersey’s Montclair State University cuts a relatively low profile. But its impact on the region is just as profound.Montclair is New Jersey’s second largest public university, with 21,000 students – the majority of whom are racial minorities and half of whom are the first in their families to go to college.
Montclair is also among the top-ranked colleges inWashington Monthly’s 2025 College Guide and Rankings as a “Best Bang for the Buck” institution in the Northeast. In this sponsored episode, Montclair’s president, Jonathan Koppell, describes his institution as both public and public serving.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Montclair State University
03:23 Affordability and Financial Aid Programs
06:13 Work-Based Learning Experiences
09:28 Student Success and Retention Programs
12:04 Community Engagement and Public Service
15:29 Advice for Prospective Students
Donald Trump recently declared on TruthSocial that he plans to “lead a movement to get rid of mail-in ballots.” He claimed that “ELECTIONS CAN NEVER BE HONEST WITH MAIL IN BALLOTS/VOTING, and everybody, IN PARTICULAR THE DEMOCRATS, KNOWS THIS.”
In truth, vote-by-mail is a bulwark of American democracy.
Trump’s efforts to end vote-by-mail are an extension of hisefforts to control the nation’s elections apparatus in advance of the 2026 midterms and to tilt the system in his favor. And if he succeeds, he could disenfranchise the millions of Americans – including seniors and people with disabilities – who depend on vote by mail to participate in elections.
In this episode of the Washington Monthly podcast, Anne Kim and Garrett Epps spoke with Phil Keisling, the former Oregon Secretary of State who pioneered modern systems of vote by mail and the founder of the National Vote at Home Institute.
Chapters
00:00 Understanding Vote by Mail
08:42 Debunking Myths: Fraud and Partisan Advantage
16:28 The Impact of Mail-in Voting on Turnout
24:47 Addressing Voter Suppression and Access
30:50 Empowering Citizens: Actions to Preserve Voting Access
President Donald Trump has condemned the District ofColumbia as a crime-ridden hellhole. He’s warned that “caravans of mass youth rampage through city streets,” and that the district’s murder rate is higher than “theworst places on Earth.”
More than 2,200 National Guard troops now rove the streets of the nation’s capital, at a cost of more than $1 million per day.
In truth, violent crime in D.C. is at a 30-year low, and Trump's real goal with his occupation of DC is to suppress resistance, not combat crime.
Washington Monthly Legal Affairs Editor spoke with Contributing Editor James Fallows about what life is really like in an occupied DC: Empty streets and an atmosphere. of fear. Chapters
00:00 The Current Mood in Washington, D.C.
11:42 Home Rule and Its Limits in D.C.
21:39 The Future of D.C. and Its Challenges
Higher education finance expert Sandy Baum explains what the“One Big Beautiful Act” means for student borrowers. Medical student and many middle-class parents could be in for a shock.
Guest: Sandy Baum, Senior Fellow, Urban Institute
Host: Anne Kim, Senior Editor, Washington Monthly
Unlike other college rankings that rate institutions for their “prestige” and selectivity, the Washington Monthly’s College Guide and Rankings scrutinizes schools for what really counts – their commitments to public service, research and social mobility for their students.
Founded by an abolitionist minister as the first inter-racial, coeducational college in the South, tiny Berea College in Kentucky – with about 1,550 students – is an exemplar of this ideal. That’s why it’s ranked number one in the Monthly’s 2025 College Guide. Fully 99 percent of its students are low- and moderate-income students eligible for Pell Grants. They pay no tuition and graduate nearly debt-free. The vast majority ofgraduates remain in the region, contributing to its economy and growth.
Monthly Editor in Chief Paul Glastris spoke with Berea President Cheryl Nixon about the college’s philosophy, approach and formula for student success.
Chapters
00:00 Celebrating Berea's Ranking
02:50 Understanding Berea College's Unique Model
06:17 Student Employment and Work College Model
08:32 Demographics and Community Impact
10:50 Academic Rigor and Career Preparation
13:20 Financial Accessibility and Student Debt
19:28 Berea's Endowment and Funding Model
22:09 Campus Life and Community Engagement
24:52 Admissions Process and Student Criteria
26:26 Dr. Nixon's Journey and Educational Philosophy
29:24 Berea's Lessons for Higher Education Today
The past president of Oregon Public Broadcasting says cuts to federal funding for public media could be catastrophic for rural communities in his state. Our guest is Steven Bass, who stepped down as president of Oregon Public Broadcasting in 2024 after 19 years. He calls public radio a “lifeline” for rural communities in his state.
Hosts: Anne Kim and Garrett Epps
Until about a decade ago, the Texas GOP epitomized traditionalsmall-government conservatism. It championed tort reform, deregulation, and a laissez-faire, business-friendly atmosphere that politicians would often contrast to the oppressive regime of California.
But the election of Donald Trump has led to a peculiarphenomenon: the “Californi-fication” of Texas and the adoption of California-style tactics to impose a right-wing agenda. In this episode , journalist Christopher Hooks speaks with host Anne Kim about his recent article for Texas Monthly chronicling this shift.
No school can stand against the government’s limitless resources forever, says higher education finance expert Robert Kelchen.
In this conversation with host Anne Kim, Robert discusses the current financial pressures facing universities, including threats to international student enrollment and the increase in the endowment tax included in the "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act.
Chapters
00:00 The Impact of Trump's Policies on Ivy League Institutions
04:01 Financial Pressures and Settlements in Higher Education
06:46 The Decline of International Student Enrollment
09:35 Cascading Effects on Smaller Colleges
12:20 The Changing Relationship Between Higher Education and Government
14:59 The Future of University Leadership
17:38 The Political Landscape of Higher Education
20:44 Advice for University Leaders in Turbulent Times
22:53 The Supreme Court's Recent Rulings
Donald Trump's destructive trade and tariff policies will leave America poorer and less competitive, argues trade policy expert William Reinsch, who speaks with host Anne Kim. And while the United States has shown itself to be an increasingly unreliable partner, the rest of the world is forming alliances without us, to our detriment. Reinsch also talks about the need for new US policies to address the economic discontent that has led to isolationist policies.
Guest: William Reinsch is senior adviser and Scholl Chair emeritus with the Economics Program and Scholl Chair in International Business at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
Hashtags: #TradePolicy #GlobalEconomy #WilliamReinsch
Donald Trump's disastrous economic policies on trade, immigration and the federal budget - along with his threats to the Fed - are a perfect recipe for economic disaster.
Economist Rob Shapiro joins host Anne Kim to explain exactly why the US economy could be headed for a hard landing.
He talks about the impact of high deficits on domestic savings and interest rates, the role of foreign investors in the U.S. economy, the influence of tariffs and immigration policies on inflation, and why it's so crucial to keep the Fed independent.
Robert Shapiro is a Washington Monthly contributing writer, chairman of the economic consulting firm Sonecon, and a senior fellow at Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business. He has served as Undersecretary of Commerce for Economic Affairs under President Bill Clinton and as an advisor to the Obama administration.
#Economy #Recession #USPolitics #RobertShapiro
Don't miss this insightful discussion on the future of the U.S. economy. Subscribe now to stay updated on our latest episodes!
After years of slavish fawning over Vladimir Putin, PresidentDonald Trump has apparently made an abrupt about-face in his views on the Russian President. In the last week, he has threatened huge tariffs on Russia’s trading partners if Putin didn’t agree to a ceasefire; he’s also restartedthe flow of arms to Ukraine via third-party transactions with European allies.
But will Trump's new resolve on Ukraine hold?
Washington Monthly Contributing Writer Tamar Jacoby, Director of the New Ukraine Project for the Progressive Policy Institute, joined Editor in Chief Paul Glastris, Politics Editor Bill Scher, Exective Editor for Digital Matt Cooper and moderator Anne Kim for this week’s episode of the Washington MonthlyPolitics Roundtable.
Anne Kim and Garrett Epps discuss the dangers of the SupremeCourt's increasing reliance on often unsigned emergency rulings – the so-called “shadow docket” - to rule in favor of President Trump's agenda. They also discuss the Court’s recent rulings limiting the rights of transgender minors and their parents and the erosion of the wall between church and state. Epps argues that the Court has forsaken its role as a co-equal branch of government and a check on executive power in favor of enabling Trump’s increasing authoritarianism.
This episode is sponsored by Montclair State University.
Located just 12 miles from New York City, Montclair State University is a public research university that’s helping students get from where they are now to where they want to be. Nationally ranked for social mobility and Washington Monthly’s Number 1 public institution in New Jersey, Montclair is the state’s premier public service institution. Learn more about what makes Montclair a university on the rise at Montclair.edu.
Now that Trump's signature domestic policy agenda - the "one big beautiful bill" - is law, what can Americans expect? Washington Monthly's Bill Scher, Matt Cooper and Anne Kim tell you what you need to know about how this bill will affect ordinary Americans. They also talk about the political risks Republicans face in passing this unpopular legislation and the backlash that is certian to begin. They also talk about the likely impact of tariffs, due to kick in this week, and the politics of immigration, where the Trump Administration's harsh tactics are beginning to backfire.