Potstirrer Podcast is back! In the first regular episode of 2020, Jaye discusses the acquittal of Donald Trump in the US Senate removal trial, after being impeached by the House of Representatives. What does Trump’s acquittal mean for US democracy, the rule of law, and America’s future?
In the third annual Potstirrer Podcast War on Christmas Special, Jaye discusses the non-Christian origins of several Christmas traditions, including the twelve days of Christmas, Yule logs, Santa Claus and more. How did the Christmas holiday develop over time, and if Christmas isn’t purely “Christian,” what are evangelicals waging the “War on Christmas” truly fighting for?
In the final installment of America’s Drug War, Jaye discusses recent trends in the American drug landscape, including cannabis decriminalization and legalization in several US states, and the opioid epidemic sweeping suburbs and rural areas. How did the War on Drugs, particularly its focus on the “usual suspects,” lead to the opioid crisis? Will cannabis be legalized on a federal level, and should harder drugs also be legalized?
CONTENT WARNING – This episode includes discussion of mature themes, including illicit drug use, prescription drug abuse, and both legal and illicit drug addiction. Listener discretion is advised.
In the penultimate installment of America’s Drug War, President Ronald Reagan and his successors take the mantle of drug warrior in the 1980s and 1990s. Jaye discusses campaigns and programs designed to reduce drug use in children, such as Just Say No and DARE, as well as the crack epidemic of the 80s, and the shift to punitive measures that the federal government took to win the War on Drugs. Were these efforts successful – and what did “success” truly mean?
CONTENT WARNING – This episode discusses mature themes, including detailed discussion of illicit drug use. Listener discretion is advised.
As the myriad of Democratic presidential candidates with tons of ideas are hitting the debate circuit, Elle Riccardi from the podcast Short, Colorful + Loud joins Jaye to discuss political spectrums. What are the building blocks of political spectrums? Where did “left” and “right” come from? Are communism and fascism all that close to each other? Elle and Jaye discuss various kinds of political spectrums, including left-right, horseshoe theory, the political compass (including how they tested on it!) and more. They also discuss centrism, anarchy, and how the Overton Window can affect how we view what is “normal” in political discourse.
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In the 50th episode of Potstirrer Podcast, Jaye reacts to the Mueller report – or really, the Barr Letter summarizing the report filed by Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Are the conclusions Attorney General William Barr came to regarding the report and Donald Trump accurate? What do we know about Barr, and should he be trusted?
Jaye makes the argument that any finding from the Mueller report likely won’t matter in terms of repercussions for Donald Trump, but nevertheless, it is vital that the report be released to the public in full. Iran-Contra, the decline of the US as the leader of the free world, and the importance of truth in the latest from Potstirrer Podcast!
In light of the growing normalization of white supremacy and related forms of bigotry in the United States, Jaye focuses on the debate between unfettered free speech and the regulation of hate speech. What does “free speech” truly mean in the US context, and why does it matter? Should “dangerous” speech be made illegal? Jaye also discusses libertarian ideology – specifically how, despite its emphasis on individual rights, it may fall short in the realm of free speech. In a corporatocracy, should we consider ensuring free speech rights in relation not only to government, but also to businesses, especially in the Internet age?
