Trending Globally: Politics and Policy

NOTE FOR LISTENERS: Mark and Carrie will be moving to their own podcast channel in the coming weeks. To subscribe to their new feed, search for 'Mark and Carrie' wherever you get your podcasts. Thanks! Mark Blyth, political economist at Brown's Watson Institute, and Carrie Nordlund, political scientist and associate director of Brown's Master of Public Affairs program, share their take on the news. Topics include: Explaining the Brexit Extended Universe, Hurricane Dorian, protests and political Turmoil in Hong Kong, the parallels between Germany and the US's politics, the Democrat's lukewarm affair with Joe Biden, and what Mark and Carrie learned this summer. You can read a transcript of this episode here: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QyMwWCTPl1U-OcVTRaPBSGkQtXGH7Zkl/view]

Immigration is an inherently interdisciplinary subject. On this episode, Sarah talks with three postdoctoral fellows at Watson doing work on immigration: Aileen Teague, Rawan Arar, and Almita Miranda. A historian, a sociologist, and an anthropologist, they’re the perfect guests to help connect the dots on such a pressing, multifaceted topic. You can read a transcript of this episode here: [https://watson.brown.edu/files/watson/imce/news/podcast/trending-globally/transcripts/E93_Immigartion%20PostDocs_mixdown.pdf]

Mark Blyth, political economist at Brown's Watson Institute, and Carrie Nordlund, political scientist and associate director of Brown's Master of Public Affairs program, share their take on the week's news. This week's topics: Boris Johnson's prospects as PM, Trump's newest racist tweets, Facebook's $5b privacy fine, the underpaid Women's US soccer team, and what to expect in the next ~120 Democratic debates. Mark and Carrie also invent 'Uber for Dogs'? You can read a transcript of this episode here: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ijljqsdfRO0V0c2n5zy8L8yTNEO7EJEH/view]

July 19, 2019 marks the 40th anniversary of the Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua. Leading up to the anniversary, the Watson Institute hosted a conference looking at the history of the Revolution and its legacy. We at Trending Globally asked many of the conference guests -- including former Sandinista fighters, diplomats, foreign correspondents, scholars, and activists -- to help us tell the story of this Revolution. Coming this Fall on Trending Globally, the story of the Sandinista Revolution from the people who lived it, and an exploration of how it brought Nicaragua to crisis today. Subscribe to Trending Globally to get the first episode when it comes out. You can find more information about Watson's conference, including links to all the lectures and panel discussions, here: https://watson.brown.edu/events/2019/conference-nicaragua-1979-2019-sandinista-revolution-after-40-years

Policy-makers and the media have a problem when it comes to talking about gender in many Muslim-majority nations: too often it’s discussed only in the context of religion or culture, and politics is left out of the equation. On this episode, Sarah Baldwin talks with Nadje Al-Ali [watson.brown.edu/people/faculty/Al-Ali], an anthropologist at Watson's Center for Middle East Studies [https://watson.brown.edu/cmes/], working to change that. They discuss the various ways gender and politics intersect in Muslim-majority countries, at scales both local and global. They also talk about Al-Ali’s forthcoming book Gender, Islam & Governance [https://edinburghuniversitypress.com/book-gender-governance-and-islam-hb.html], which she co-edited with Deniz Kandiyoti and Kathryn Spellman Poots. You can read a transcript of this episode here: [https://watson.brown.edu/files/watson/imce/news/podcast/trending-globally/transcripts/E92_Nadje%20Al-Ali_mixdown.pdf]

On this episode Sarah Baldwin talks with Charlotte Silverman, Sarah Campbell Tucker, and Carly Paul, three students at Brown who are doing fascinating work on gender and development. They discuss their work and research, explore how to better frame issues of gender equality and public health, and hear from Charlotte about what it’s like having your social justice work...win an Oscar [https://www.brown.edu/research/pembroke-center/news/2019-02/gnss-concentrator-charlotte-silverman-wins-oscar]. The film Charlotte co-produced, 'Period. End of Sentence.' is available streaming on Netflix. You can see the trailer here: [https://www.netflix.com/title/81074663] You can read a transcript of this episode here: [https://watson.brown.edu/files/watson/imce/news/podcast/trending-globally/transcripts/E91_Documentary_DS%20Students_REV_1.pdf]

On this episode of Trending Globally, Sarah Baldwin talks with Emily Oster, an economist at The Watson Institute and author of 'Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting, from Birth to Preschool' [https://www.amazon.com/Cribsheet-Data-Driven-Relaxed-Parenting-Preschool/dp/0525559256]. In the book, Oster uses the tools of an economist to challenge the conventional wisdom of early childhood parenting. Sarah and Emily discuss some of the most surprising findings from her research, and explore why the book has become such a hit among young parents today. You can read a transcript of this episode here: [https://watson.brown.edu/files/watson/imce/news/podcast/trending-globally/transcripts/E90_Emily%20Oster_mixdown.pdf]

How has globalization changed the way that borders operate? And how have these changes affected the US's already strained immigration system? On this episode, Sarah Baldwin talks with former U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin and Watson Professor Peter Andreas, both experts on the Mexico-US border. They discuss the current state of the border, the cynical genius of Trump’s chant to ‘build a wall,’ and how to fix our patchwork immigration system going forward.To see Alan Bersin's April presentation at Watson, follow this link: [https://watson.brown.edu/events/2019/alan-bersin-lines-and-flows-future-border-security-not-what-it-used-be]You can read a transcript of this episode here: [https://watson.brown.edu/files/watson/imce/news/podcast/trending-globally/transcripts/E89_Alan%20Bersin_Rev_2.pdf]

This episode of Trending Globally is the third in our 2019 Commencement-Student Spotlight series. As spring semester came to a close, host Sarah Baldwin spoke with a few of Watson’s graduating seniors about their research and work as undergrads. Be prepared to be inspired! Luna Floyd is a public policy concentrator at Watson. Sarah spoke with Luna about her work and research, which has focused on LGBTQ rights, homelessness, and fixing our country’s broken foster care system. It’s heavy stuff, but Luna approaches it with a clarity, intelligence, and passion that might actually give you hope. You can read a transcript of this episode here: [https://watson.brown.edu/files/watson/imce/news/podcast/trending-globally/transcripts/E87_3_Student%20Ep%201c_Luna_EDIT_1.pdf]

This episode of Trending Globally is the fourth and final part of our 2019 Commencement Student Spotlight series. As spring semester came to a close, host Sarah Baldwin spoke with a few of Watson’s graduating seniors about their research and work as undergrads. Sebastián Otero Oliveras concentrated in ethnomusicology and Latin American and Caribbean Studies. A musician and music lover, his passion and studies have taken him from Providence to Cuba to his home of Puerto Rico. Sarah and Sebastián talked about how he combined his musical and academic interests at Brown, and how he plans to continue this fusion of interests after graduating. To find Sebastián's music: On streaming services: search 'Sebastián .Oteros' Soundcloud: [https://soundcloud.com/sebadelmundo] Youtube: [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCycEQzz9nZrLXmedjuI8KpA] You can read a transcript of this episode here: [https://watson.brown.edu/files/watson/imce/news/podcast/trending-globally/transcripts/E87_4Student%20Ep%201d_Sebastian_FINAL.pdf]

Is war with Iran in the works? With tensions escalating, and U.S. allies skeptical about what the Trump administration calls an ‘imminent threat,’ the potential for armed conflict feels all too real. On this special episode of Trending Globally, Sarah Baldwin talks with Professor Jo-Anne Hart [https://watson.brown.edu/people/visiting/hart], an expert on security, Iran, and the Middle East, about the fact, fiction, and nuances of the US's relationship with Iran. You can read a transcript of this episode here: [https://watson.brown.edu/files/watson/imce/news/podcast/trending-globally/transcripts/E88_Jo-Anne_mixdown.pdf]

This episode of Trending Globally is the second in our 2019 Commencement-Student Spotlight series. As spring semester came to a close, host Sarah Baldwin spoke with a few of Watson’s graduating seniors about their research and work as undergrads. Be prepared to be inspired! Ethan Shire is a Political Science and Latin American & Caribbean Studies concentrator, and an active member of Brown’s political scene. But his Junior year he took Engineering 1010, a class on entrepreneurship taught by Professor Danny Warshay, and it started him on a path he did not expect. Sarah talked with Ethan about how he first got the entrepreneurial bug, and how his interests in policy, history, and business overlapped at Brown. You can read a transcript of this episode here: [https://watson.brown.edu/files/watson/imce/news/podcast/trending-globally/transcripts/https://watson.brown.edu/files/watson/imce/news/podcast/trending-globally/transcripts/E87_2_Student%20Ep%201b_Ethan_FINAL.pdf]

This episode of Trending Globally is the first in our 2019 Commencement-Student Spotlight series. As spring semester came to a close, host Sarah Baldwin spoke with a few of Watson’s graduating seniors about their research and work as undergrads. Be prepared to be inspired! Part 1: Drashti Brambhatt is originally from Queens, New York, and is concentrating in international relations. In her time at Watson she has studied and worked on human rights issues around the world. Back in Providence, she wrote a thesis exploring how museums retell and reframe national traumas. She talked with Sarah about how these experiences at Brown complimented each other, and how she hopes to continue connecting these interests in the future. Download episode transcript

Mark Blyth, political economist at Brown's Watson Institute, and Carrie Nordlund, political scientist and associate director of Brown's Master of Public Affairs program, share their take on the week's news. In today's last show of the semester, topics include, Julian Assange, Brexit in a post-Torre world, the Democratic primary, China tarrifs, Alabama's abortion law, warmongering with Iran and record setting CO2 emissions. We'll update this description with a link to the new, dedicated Mark & Carrie Soundcloud account once its ready to launch in the upcoming weeks. See you in the fall! You can read a transcript of this episode here: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tq5ZgMgiykl-9vJCuc3uvyAmRUNyj6o2/view]

On this episode of Trending Globally, Sarah Baldwin talks with Darrell M . West, Vice President of Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution and author of ‘The Future of Work: Robots, AI, and Automation’ [https://www.brookings.edu/book/the-automated-society/]. They dive deep into the changing nature of work, and into the impact A.I. and robots will have on our economy, society, and politics. West argues that these changes don’t have to be as damaging as our worst sci-fi nightmares; in fact, they could help create an economy that works better for everyone. But to make the best of these change we need to start planning for it. Now. You can read a transcript of this episode here: [https://watson.brown.edu/files/watson/imce/news/podcast/trending-globally/transcripts/E86_Darrell%20WestEdited_mixdown.pdf]

On this episode of Trending Globally, Watson Economics Professor Glenn Loury talks with writer Thomas Chatterton Williams. Williams’s 2010 memoir ‘Losing My Cool: Love, Literature, and a Black Man’s Escape from the Crowd,’ [https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/304246/losing-my-cool-by-thomas-chatterton-williams/9780143119623/] combined cultural criticism with his own personal story, of falling in (and out) of love with hip hop culture growing up. His forthcoming book ‘Self Portrait in Black and White: Unlearning Race,’ continues his exploration of issues at the intersection of race, culture, family, and his own story. Thomas visited Watson this Spring, and Glenn sat down with him for a wide-ranging conversation about race, literature, family, and life in Paris. You can read a transcript of this episode here: [https://watson.brown.edu/files/watson/imce/news/podcast/trending-globally/transcripts/E85_GlennThomasFinal.pdf]

Mark Blyth, political economist at Brown's Watson Institute, and Carrie Nordlund, political scientist and associate director of Brown's Master of Public Affairs program, share their take on the week's news. Today's topics include, the Notre Dame fire, Mueller Report, Bernie, Brexit (and the destruction of the Torre party), "Handsy" Joe, measles and vaccinations in a post-facts world, and Mark & Carrie's take on Coachella. You can read a transcript of this episode here: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/10tDrbszsVE4_rC8fp7NU5ftvOoiLTgYp/view]

On this episode of Trending Globally, Sarah Baldwin talks with James Green, a professor of Latin American History and Director of the Brazil Initiative at The Watson Institute [https://watson.brown.edu/brazil/]. His newest book, 'Exile within Exiles' [https://www.dukeupress.edu/exile-within-exiles], tells the story of Herbert Daniel, a gay Brazilian revolutionary and activist, who fought for wide-ranging social and political rights in Brazil from the 1960s until his death in 1992. **You can subscribe to James Green’s new Watson podcast ‘Brazil Unfiltered’ on any of your favorite podcast apps. You can find more information about the show https://soundcloud.com/brazilunfiltered ** You can read a transcript of this episode here: [https://watson.brown.edu/files/watson/imce/news/podcast/trending-globally/transcripts/E84_Jim%20Green_mixdownREV.pdf]

On this week's episode of Trending Globally, Sarah Baldwin talks with Nick Ziegler, an expert in European politics at the Watson Institute [https://watson.brown.edu/people/faculty/ziegler]. They discuss how Brexit might affect Britain, Europe, and the world, what exactly is making it so difficult to follow through on, and why the idea of the UK leaving Europe gained such momentum in the first place. You can read a transcript of this episode here: [https://watson.brown.edu/files/watson/imce/news/podcast/trending-globally/transcripts/E83_Nick%20Zeigler_mixdown.pdf]

Mark Blyth, political economist at Brown's Watson Institute, and Carrie Nordlund, political scientist and associate director of Brown's Master of Public Affairs program, share their take on the week's news. Today's topics include, the tragic mass-shooting in New Zealand, what's wrong with Boeing's airplanes, the college admission scandal, how Captain Marvel brings us hope, and the odd sensation of agreeing with President Trump. You can read a transcript of this episode here: [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DkQzcJtg1tRo_ICVxORwACXrnLsC_6SG/view]

On this episode of Trending Globally, Sarah Baldwin talks with Watson Fellow Nick Barnes about the formal and informal ways Rio de Janeiro’s favelas are governed. Much of his work focuses on Complexo Maré, a district in Rio de Janeiro made up of 16 interconnected favelas. In Complexo Maré, gangs have often done the work of governments, from social welfare programs to public safety. But when Rio was chosen to host the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics, that dynamic began to change. You can find more information about 'Maré de Dentro: Race, Gender, and Life amid the Militarization of Rio de Janeiro’s Favelas,' an art exhibit on view at The Watson Institute through May 3, here: [https://watson.brown.edu/events/2019/art-watson-presents-mar-de-dentro-race-gender-and-life-amid-militarization-rio-de] You can read a transcript of this episode here: [https://watson.brown.edu/files/watson/imce/news/podcast/trending-globally/transcripts/E82_Nick%20Barnes_REV.pdf]