S2 Ep48: Patrick Radden Keefe: Trump Broke Journalism’s Laws of Physics | How to Fix It
Investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe joins John Avlon to unpack what Northern Ireland’s “Troubles” can teach America about polarization, violence, and the fight for truth. From the lessons of Say Nothing to the perils of propaganda, they trace how societies unravel, and how we can stop it before it’s too late.
Keefe also dives into his craft, fact-checking at The New Yorker, writing like a novelist, and keeping faith in truth amid social media chaos.
The Bench Burner Article: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2001/12/10/the-bench-burner
Books Mentioned:
Say Nothing — by Patrick Radden Keefe
Empire of Pain — by Patrick Radden Keefe
A Secret History — by Donna Tartt
Presumed Innocent — by Scott Turow
Wingnuts — by John Avlon
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S2 Ep47: The Little State That Could Save Democracy ( with Larry Lessig)
Harvard law professor and democracy reformer Larry Lessig is taking on the big money machine. In Maine, he’s helping defend a ballot initiative that bans super PACs, backed by a stunning 75% of voters. If he wins, this case could crack Citizens United wide open and bring campaign finance reform to the entire country. This might just be the moment to end dark money’s grip on American politics.
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S2 Ep46: How to FIGHT Mob Boss Politics in America (w Sen. Andy Kim)
John Avlon talks with Senator Andy Kim about Trump’s “mob boss” politics, the rise of fear inside the GOP, and Kim’s plan to build an anti-corruption movement that takes on what he calls “the cowards and the crazies.”
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S2 Ep45: “Stop and Frisk” Didn’t Work. This Did.
Does “broken windows” policing actually work? John Avlon and John Miller dig into how a small idea changed New York City — and why it still sparks huge debates today. It’s a lesson in data, strategy, and how crime narratives get twisted for politics.
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S2 Ep44: Are We Really Headed for a Second Civil War?
Are we really close to a second civil war? John Avlon talks with Barbara F. Walter, author of How Civil Wars Start and How to Stop Them, about the dangerous warning signs in America today. From democratic decline to political violence and Trump’s authoritarian playbook. But it’s not just doom: Walter lays out real solutions, from regulating social media algorithms to empowering citizens through peaceful resistance and local reforms. This episode is a sobering look at the risks, and a hopeful roadmap for stopping the spiral before it’s too late.
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Politicians, pundits, and the media spend a lot of time talking about the problems our country faces but not enough time on how to solve them. Each week, John Avlon and his guests hash out sensible and attainable solutions for some of the most vexing issues confronting our democracy—solutions that will likely emerge from the political center.
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