STORY IN THE PUBLIC SQUARE

#1201 Naomi Barron
Human writing has made possible the rise of philosophy, critical thinking, and civilization. Now, scholar Naomi Barron warns that artificial intelligence threatens to yield to the machine that makes us most human.

#1202 Daniel Golden
There was a time in the United States—not that long ago—when local newspapers played an undisputed positive role in holding people in authority to account. ProPublica editor and reporter Daniel Golden practices his craft in that great tradition.

#1203 Joanna Weiss
Most who write about politics focus on the horse-race of elections or the specifics of policies. But Politico Magazine writer Joanna Weiss says we should view American politics—especially current American politics—through a pop-culture lens where fame and celebrity explain more than the appeal of ideas.

#1204 Tara Isabella Burton
There is a crisis of loneliness in the United States—it began before the pandemic and it has only gotten worse. Author Tara Isabella Burton explores the risks people will take to find belonging, to find purpose, and to find love in her book, “Here in Avalon.”

#1205 Allie Funk
Disinformation isn't new, but Freedom House researcher Allie Funk warns that over the last year, 16 governments have deployed generative artificial intelligence to smear opponents, blur the truth, and shape political debate.

#1210 Pete Hammond
The Academy Awards is Hollywood’s annual night-of-nights. Pete Hammond, Deadline's Awards Columnist and Chief Film Critic, helps us take stock of the film industry and the films singled out for their powerful storytelling this year.

#1211 Margaret Spellings
Working together across party lines is anathema to much of Washington, but former Bush administration Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings says it’s the only way to create solutions that last.

#1212 Cornelia Griggs
Dr. Cornelia Griggs, a surgeon, was completing her fellowship at a New York City hospital when the COVID pandemic began. Her new book, “The Sky Was Falling,” chronicles that devastating time in 2020.

#1213 Daniel Schulman
In his new book “The Money Kings,” best-selling author Daniel Schulman tells the story of the Jewish immigrants who transformed Wall Street and shaped modern America.

#1214 Ellen Clegg and Dan Kennedy
Award-winning veteran journalists Ellen Clegg and Dan Kennedy discuss the way forward for the Fourth Estate and outline its role in preserving democracy in their book “What Works in Community News.”

#1215 Timothy Snyder
Scholars of 20th century authoritarianism have been sounding the alarm about disturbing trends in Western democracy. Yale University historian Timothy Snyder explains the threat of tyranny today.

#1216 Brian Turner
Army combat veteran Brian Turner's award-winning poetry explores war and non-military themes, most recently in his new collections, "The Goodbye World Poem," "The Dead Peasant's Handbook" and "The Wild Delight of Wild Things."

#1217 Vanessa Lillie
In her new book, "Blood Sisters," best-selling Native American author Vanessa Lillie explores missing and murdered Indigenous women.

#1218 Laura Pappano
Public education in the United States has a long and varied history. Author Laura Pappano says the challenges it faces now from parent-activists and partisan politics is unlike anything American schools have ever seen.

#1219 Jade Sasser
Over the years, young families have often struggled with the ethics of bringing a child into the world. Scholar Jade Sasser documents that question now as families struggle with the reality of climate change.

#1220 Rick Beyer
At the height of World War II, American military commanders created a unit dedicated to deception to give Allied forces an advantage on the battlefield. The artists, sound technicians, and radio operators of the so-called Ghost Army remained hidden for decades, but filmmaker Rick Beyer made sure their stories were told.

#1221 Tricia Rose
Racism isn’t just an individual failing, but too often it’s part of the structure of society and organizations. Brown University Professor Tricia Rose describes the impact of systemic racism on black lives—and what we all can do to break free.

Additional episode descriptions tba