Mind of State

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cover art for Partisan Politics, Toxic Identities, Dangerous Divides

2/19/2019

Partisan Politics, Toxic Identities, Dangerous Divides

Season 1, Ep. 7

What do Duck Dynasty and The Family Guy have to do with US politics? And what happens when we so identify with a group that we want it to win, even when it's against our self-interest? Our guest, Dr. Lilliana Mason, explores the political impact of "in-group / out-group" dynamics in her book, Uncivil Politics: How Politics Became Our Identity. She uses social psychology to explain how both Republicans and Democrats have come to view politics through an emotional "us / them” lens, and how damaging this is to our political process that relies on negotiation, compromise, collaboration and cooperation -- not winning at all costs.

© Copyright Original Music "Royal Flush Gang" by Composer Joel Goodman; Published by Oovra Music

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Perfect Storm: Climate, Race and COVID

Season 2, Ep. 12

For too long, the adverse impacts of climate change have disproportionately burdened poor and underserved communities of color in the US. When COVID-19 hit, we were beset with not only a pandemic, but also an economic downturn, an historic uprising against racial injustice, and a series of massive wildfires and hurricanes. Dr. Adrienne Hollis, the Senior Climate Justice and Health Scientist at the Union of Concerned Scientists, contends these events are interconnected. She joins Mind of State to discuss this syndemic and how it has sparked an unprecedented public reckoning with environmental racism. She also describes the holistic approach it will take to better prepare us for the next perfect storm.

America's Economic Myth REVISITED

Season 2, Ep. 11.5

[Replay of Episode 4 (10/07/2020), with new introduction]A debate rages in the US over protecting our health versus preserving our wealth. Can our faith in the almighty dollar withstand a deadly pandemic and climate change? Join us, as we explore the roots of America’s economic myth, the natural forces challenging our long-held assumptions, and the possibilities for what’s next, with Dr. Betty Sue Flowers, an expert in societal myths.

Conspiracy Without Theory

Season 2, Ep. 11

Alien life? JFK’s murder? The Moon landing? These are classic topics for conspiracy theorists, who gather data, connect dots, and see where the evidence leads. But with more recent controversies, such as Birtherism, Pizzagate, QAnon, evidence is optional. For Trumpists, mere assertion is all that’s needed to draw outrageous conclusions and spread untruths. Dr. Nancy Rosenblum, author of A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy, joins Mind of State to discuss the danger behind this new, loose standard of proof.