Trump’s Really Bad Week in Court—Plus, the New Film by China’s Top Director Trump’s Really Bad Week in Court—Plus, the New Film by China’s Top Director
On this episode of Start Making Sense, Erwin Chemerinsky on Trump losing four big cases, and John Powers on Caught by the Tides.
Sep 10, 2025 / Podcast / Jon Wiener
The Ghosts of Ingeborg Bachmann The Ghosts of Ingeborg Bachmann
Haunted by a dark past, the poet and novelist tried to explore the limits of language itself.
Sep 9, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Becca Rothfeld
The Catastrophe of Democratic Foreign Policy The Catastrophe of Democratic Foreign Policy
A new book on the Biden’s wars serves as a stark reminder that the Democrats need to formulate a new foreign policy—as well as reckon with the one they had.
Sep 9, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Matthew Duss
James Baldwin’s Radical Politics of Love James Baldwin’s Radical Politics of Love
While Baldwin was persecuted in part because of whom he loved, it was love that impelled him to bring about a more utopian future in which such persecution was not possible.
Sep 9, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Elias Rodriques
Rebecca Solnit on Trump, Books, and the Reincarnation of King George III Rebecca Solnit on Trump, Books, and the Reincarnation of King George III
A conversation with the writer and activist about living in a nation where those who lead are often disinclined to read—let alone write—meaningful books.
Sep 8, 2025 / Q&A / John Nichols
William F. Buckley Jr.’s Friends and Enemies William F. Buckley Jr.’s Friends and Enemies
What was it about Buckley that made him so attractive to liberals—and what was it about liberals that caused them to be attracted to conservative figures like Buckley in the first...
Sep 8, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Jeet Heer
The Enigma of Clint Eastwood The Enigma of Clint Eastwood
Is he merely a reactionary, or do his films paint a more complicated picture?
Sep 4, 2025 / Books & the Arts / Adam Nayman
Here Comes the Sun—Plus, “Our Fragile Freedoms” Here Comes the Sun—Plus, “Our Fragile Freedoms”
On this episode of Start Making Sense, Bill McKibben explains why solar power makes him optimistic, and Eric Foner talks about Trump and history.
Sep 3, 2025 / Podcast / Jon Wiener
Slavery Was Not Just Forced Labor but Sexual Violence Too Slavery Was Not Just Forced Labor but Sexual Violence Too
Calls to attenuate the brutality of slavery in museum depictions is absurd when our institutions already downplay one of its most horrific features.
Sep 3, 2025 / Channing Gerard Joseph