Impolitic – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, we speak with John Chrastka, the founder and Executive Director of EveryLibrary. He explains the recent increase in the number of book challenges and bans in America. We explore the rationality and motivations behind book bans, and discuss various ways to protect libraries and intellectual thought for future generations.

EveryLibrary helps public schools and college libraries win funding at the ballot box and seeks to ensure stable funding and access to libraries for generations to come. They also support grassroot efforts across the country to defend and support local libraries against book banning, illicit political interference, and threats of closure. Please visit their website (https://www.everylibrary.org/) to learn more.

Dr. Patrick Hunnicutt and Dr. Geoffrey Henderson discuss their research that air pollution reduces the level of political participation in the United States. As they explain, this could have serious negative consequences for the future of American democracy — as air pollution increases, democracy will suffer. Despite their findings, Drs. Hunnicutt and Henderson offer clear policy solutions and suggestions to reverse this negative trend.

In this episode we speak with Rabbi Ron Fish, the Northeast Division Director of Antisemitism Advocacy and Education at the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Rabbi Fish describes the prevalence of white supremacy and racism in the United States today. We also discuss the various trends, world views, and manifestos of right-wing terrorists. Rabbi Fish concludes by offering thoughts on how local communities and faith-based religious organizations can come together to combat hate and extremism.

Be sure to check out the Anti-Defamation League (https://www.adl.org/) to learn more about antisemitism and racism, and the various ways the ADL seeks to combat hate and protect democracy.

In this episode we ask Stephanie Hegarty, an award winning journalist for the BBC, to provide an update on how QAnon has evolved over the years. She has covered QAnon extensively and released several mini-documentaries that attempt to understand the perspective of QAnon believers. We ask about the current status of QAnon today and whether individuals continue support the controversial "Q" movement.

In this special edition of Impolitic we speak with Kimberly Cutter, writer and host of The Control Variable - an investigative podcast about American propaganda and understanding the causes of the January 6 insurrection. For more information on The Control Variable podcast, please visit their website (https://atomicwhalestudios.com/thecontrolvariable/).

We explore ANTIFA and attempt to determine if it is an organization or simply an ideology, and assess whether it is a movement for social justice or terrorism. In this episode we are joined by Professor Anna Meier of the University of Nottingham to help us better understand ANTIFA.

In this episode we interview Professor Joseph Uscinski, an American political scientist who is considered one of the leading experts on conspiracy theories. We cover the basics of how individuals come to believe in conspiracy theories, the role of social media and whether conspiracies are expanding, and discuss whether to be optimistic or pessimistic about the future.

We interview Professor Thane Gustafson of Georgetown University who is widely regarded as one of the world's foremost experts on oil. Professor Gustafson provides a broad overview of how oil supply and prices are established, discusses the impact of the Ukrainian war on global oil markets, and offers his thoughts on the future of hydrocarbons as an energy resource.

We examine how refugees are being received in Poland as a humanitarian crisis now unfolds in Europe as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. We also discuss the current status of the Russian military and its ongoing operations.

We speak with journalists on the front lines in Kiev and get their perspective on the looming threat of a Russian invasion.