Political Philosophy Podcast

From the right's ultimate ethical appeal, to hardly mentioned.

Thinking about how electorates think politically

Why the parties are so different, & why that's changing

The American right's obsession with gender

Audio essay: reactionary centrists didn't listen, won't learn, & can't lead

Discussing the demographic that has been at the forefront of activism—and of warning of what is to come.

The strange historical reality behind the inspiration for so many political systems, & what we can learn from it.

Not being listened to was annoying, was it also unjust?

This history of, and modern threats to, this core American freedom

A recent article of mine generated significant engagement from all sides, including an extended critique from Silvaria, who argued I was wrong to try and separate conservatism and fascism. We sat down to discuss the debate.

The right is obsessed with declining birth rates, what, if anything, should be the liberal response?

My response to the latest round of NYTs articles

Breaking down Labour's lurch to the right, and what comes next?

What is bigotry, how should we think about it, and why a strategy of appeasement will never work.

My thoughts on the Manchester by-election

Greg & I have both recently argued that, as horrific as this moment is, it offer liberals an opportunity to push a different vision on immigration & reset the politics of the issue. We discuss what we're up against, the challenges facing us, what us winning might look like, and how we get there.

It's 1350 BC and the most powerful man on earth has lost his mind, closing the temples, moving the capital into the desert, and raving, terrifyingly, that there is only one god

Does the UK have Wine Moms? & other listener questions

What is academic tenure, what are the main arguments for or against it? Why has it gotten harder to get, and to what extent should public scholarship be a criteria for it? Deepa Das Acevedo discusses her book The War on Tenure.

Why are fascists so interested in fictional universes like Star Trek or Lord of the Rings? And is there a link between the rise of the far right and the decline in creativity in mainstream entertainment?

What is Fascism, what was its relationship to socialism historically, and what is it today?

What comes after the murder in Minneapolis.

Across the world mainline political parties have faced a challenge from the far-right. Across the world, they've struggled to offer a counter narrative on immigration. Why?

I recently published an article in The New Republic interviewing the American's who saw our democratic collapse coming -Cassandras, as I called them. I wanted to understand why some people got it, and others didn't. I'm joined by one of them, Irina (also my wife) who interviews me on the process of writing it and what I learn't.

Liberal Current's Editor in Chief Adam Gurri joins the podcast - How the centrist political media has enabled fascism, and what needs to be done differently. Support the Political Philosophy Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/c/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast Support Liberal Currents: https://www.gofundme.com/f/the-liberal-currents-startup-fund

An audio essay: Putting the UK's new anti-refugee policies in context, why they are both bad on their own terms, but also a big warning sign for our democracy. Where we're at, and why there is hope.

Tom & I debate if the current Labour Government is on the right track - are they right to give ground on cultural issues?

What is bioethics? Why do Black and white Americans experience such differential healthcare outcomes? And what are the drawbacks to social justice concepts from academia becoming mainstream?

I'm joined by the founder and director of The Good Law Project - the organisation fighting the UK's anti-trans bathroom ban in court. We cover rights and freedoms in the UK, the complex legal mess we find ourselves in, and how the rest of us should respond.

Measuring our anti-fascist preparedness vs the US, Video version: https://youtu.be/t8DEEUs-RFg?si=L8DDXCT5VTE82RTP

Originally a symbol of mobility, of escape and adventure, we have now built much of our world around the car. Has doing so liberated us? Moore & Kay argue that it has not.

Does my argument that the left should not threaten abstention survive Liam's case that we can't impose message discipline on online communities? An open free-form chat.

Liam Bright discusses his influential White Psychodrama paper & we give our takes on the various cultural products arising from white guilt. Is the era of 'high woke' over, and is there anything to be learn't from it?

James S. Fishkin, the Pioneer of deliberative polling joins the podcast. We discuss the nature of public opinion, how it can be changed, the positivities of consensus, 'activist disfunction' and can deliberation help cure our current democratic death spiral.

I recently wrote that liberalism must reject neutrality and instead embrace a comprehensive vision of what is good for people, one that takes the fight to fascism. I defend that view against concerns from Alec Crisman and we debate our very different visions about what liberals can - or should - try to achieve in the age of Trump.

The series continues, exploring the world the Bible was born into. Another genre of writing these texts existed within was the Ancient Near Eastern law code. We look at the most famous, focusing on sex, marriage, adultery, homosexuality, and offending cows.

From Ancient Egypt, to Ethiopia, to the Islamic tradition, Africa had a rich - & truly ancient - tradition of philosophy prior to European Colonization. Peter Adamson and Chike Jeffers join the podcast to discuss. Africana Philosophy from Ancient Egypt to the Nineteenth Century: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/africana-philosophy-from-ancient-egypt-to-the-nineteenth-century-9780198927174?cc=gb&lang=en& Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast

What is democracy and why is it failing? Natasha Piano joins the show to discuss her recent book, Democratic Elitism: The Founding Myth of American Political Science.

The first episode of my new, new format, history series - the Bible in its historic and literary context. We start in 1850 BC in ancient Babylon, with the epics that would evolve into the Genesis flood story.

A shot preview of a new series I'll be doing on the podcast

I take a range of questions on all things British politics.

Why Hillary vs Bernie still shapes our politics & how we can move past it.

Crime and criminality are central concepts in American political discourse - fears of crime, crime as code for race, or illegal immigration are all common issues. Now we have a movement running the country that is obsessed with crime, but also led by criminals, how do we make sense of that? Why is that so appealing to so many, and how do we talk them out of it? I'm joined by one of the best writers on the criminal justice system - Josie Duffy Rice - to discuss.

What the hell is up with Silicon Valley's lurch to the far-right? Dave Karpf joins to discuss

Why & how the Democratic Party needs to change. Samantha and I discuss our recent articles on what is going wrong for democrats, and what is going wrong for those who want to reform the party. The Crisis of Democratic Governance: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/the-crisis-of-democratic-governance/ Roadmap to American Reconstruction: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/roadmap-to-american-reconstruction/ Reforging America: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/reforging-america/ Why the Democratic Tea Party Failed (and How It Could Succeed): https://newrepublic.com/article/195300/democratic-tea-party-bernie-aoc-failed-succeed

The debate on if Trump is an existential fascist threat is now over. What, if anything, is to be learnt from it? Yes, It's Fascism https://www.liberalcurrents.com/yes-its-fascism/ Trump 'Alarmists' Were Right: https://www.liberalcurrents.com/trump-alarmists-were-right-we-should-say-so/ Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast

The EU from a political philosophy perspective - How do we justify it, is it legitimate, is there a 'democracy gap', & how will it weather the rising far-right?

Who was Rousseau? What is the 'general will'? What did he think was important when designing constitutions, and what does this tell us about freedom - and the possibility of freedom - today?

Moudhy Al-Rashid on the first kings in history - The origins of the institution, royal ideology & propaganda, & their use of violence & terror

How does the UK political system work, what role has immigration played in our politics, and are we at risk of a 'Trump moment' here?

What's wrong with the refugee debate in the UK? Does our process respect assylum seekers (or even attempt to)? Do refugees have an obligation to be grateful? And how do we even start to think ethically in such a warped informaiton environment?

I share a new political spectrum for the ati-trump coalition and use it to think through questions like: Why did the democtratic vote decline from 2020 to 2024, what's gone wrong for liberal messaging, how can the left win primaries, & what's (some) dems becoming much worse post-election?

A deep dive into all things Plato & The Republic with Dr Carol Atack. Particularly his description of tyranny and the tyrant, do they apply today, and how we might read Plato in the light of our current moment.

An in-depth look at the US-Israel relationship. What were the Biden administrations goals post October 7th, and how successful where they? How should we think about Trump's proposed plan, what is the thinking (or lack of) behind it, and why does it hold such appeal for some?

Everything Supreme Court - Theory and practice: How has the role of the court developed historically, how has it gained more power recently, how should we think about it, and what should we expect in Trump's second term?

In a patreon supporers only episode I take a range of audience questions on democratic messaging, my liberal currents articles, and how to make falafel that doesn't fall apart. This is a 10 minute preview of the episode - for the full thing, become a supporter on patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/politicalphilosophypodcast

Do we have an ethical obligation to vote? Chris Freiman joins the podcast to argue no, our time and energy is better spent elsewhere. I disagree, and through the conversation we pressure test many of the moral claims people make about this defining democratic act.

What is the minimum we can be asked to provide for others? I'm joined by Nicole Hassoun to discuss this, relationships, loneliness, and more.

How did realist thinkers like Machiavelli and Hobbes respond to people predicting the end of the world, and what lessons can we draw from that in our own day? Alison McQueen Joins the podcast to discuss.

What makes a political decision legitimate? That it tracks the popular will, that it's made with the right information, or something else? Fabienne Peter discusses both the theory, and the applied cases of COVID, Brexit, and Trump

What are the books that didn't get included in the New Testament? A big, fun, deep-dive into all things early Christianity and non-canon with Eric Vanden Eykel.

In a final election think piece I argue that the danger the US political system faces is not easily understood through the mechanical-newtonian visualisation we have of it. Instead, I see how things look using a much older metaphor - the body politic

Kristen Monroe discusses conservative opposition to Trump from the perspective of political phycology - why so many republicans have capitulated, what made the difference for those who didn't, and what should our moral evaluation of the MAGA movement be.

Part 2 of my conversation with Derek Guy - A broader look at pluralism in fashion, liberal freedom and its discontents, in which Derek challenges my Millite liberalism from a communitarian perspective.

I'm joined by Derek Guy (AKA Menswear Guy) to take on the intersection of fashion history & the history of political thought. Derek argues the suit is a creation of liberalism, but was also killed by liberalism, & we discuss what that means for how we see the tradition & ourselves.

Matt McManus is back on the podcast to discuss liberal socialism throughout history from early antecedents, to Mill, Thomas Paine, and Rawls, as well as the neoliberal critique of it by Hayek & others. Pre-order Liberal Socialism: https://t.co/0r9ZVpLF2i

The history of unions, including antecedent forms of worker organisation, the different justifications for them, and how these relate to values like equality, freedom, and democracy.

I develop an original account of the increasing gender voting gap & relate it to why some people are much more alive to the dangers of the populist right than others.

Rawls, religion, the reasonable & unreasonable, and what are our obligations when liberal democracy is under threat? Do we have a duty to try and persuade people out of the populist right?

Following a tumultuous month in American politics, I take a range of audience questions on all things USA.

Most Americans know the outsized influence big corporations and the wealthy can have on our democracy. What does it look like to build a theory of liberal democracy based on avoiding that? Samuel Bagg and I get into that, the ethics of voting, and the reality of activism.

How has equality been thought about throughout human history? Is there a final definition of the term? Does it have a potential dark side, and how does its history compare to that of freedom? Darrin McMahon joins the podcast to discuss.

What defines the modern American right? Matt McManus argues we should understand the movement as fundementally about hierarchy, we then get into a general conversation about the Biden administration and the direction of the US Left.

Kevin Vallier returns to the podcast to breakdown the lastest intelectual movement on the relgious right - intergralism. What is it, where did it come from, and what should liberals and conservatives make of it?

I'm joined by Amanda Podany, author of Weavers, Scribes, and Kings, to chat all things Ancient Near East. From her 'microhistory' method, to the culture, religion, gender norms, politics, and even food of the period. (After a longish pause in episodes I'm coming back with two at once!)

After a content creation sabbatical, the podcast is back! Friend of the Podcast Philip Pettit returns to discuss his latest book - the State - we discuss his genealogy of norms, laws, and nations.

I'm Joined by Jonathan Jowlands for an in-depth discussion of historical Jesus research. We cover the history of the 'quest' and the different worldviews we both bring to it. Jonathan lays out a view for including theological perspectives, and I defend a 'history only' approach.

Why did democrats exceed expectations in the midterms, and what does that mean for America's increasingly unstable democracy? I give some overall reactions and analysis in this solo episode.

I'm joined by Virginia Mantouvalou to discuss her upcoming book on worker's rights. We look at how state rules and regulations can make workers at risk of explotation, and the role of human rights in addressing these injustices.

An extended episode in which I take on one of the most significant historical mysteries of all time: What happened at, and after, the death of Jesus? What did Paul see, or claim to have seen? How and why the gospel accounts differ, and my best guess on the reality behind it all.

I'm joined by Alfred Mele to discuss his latest book - Free Will: An Opinionated guide. We cover how philosophers think about these issues and some common examples, then discuss our general thoughts on both compatibilism and libertarian free will.

A blockbuster all-in-one-take listener questions episode covering the queen, Mark's gospel, Liz Truss, reconciling individualism with social justice, & the midterms.

An in-depth deep dive into how we might deduce the time of writing of the anonymous, undated, genre-defying documents we call the four canonical gospels.

A deep dive into J S Mill's relationship with socialism with Helen McCabe. We cover Mill's moral foundations, pre-Marxian Socialism, the nature and history of liberalism and socialism, their interpretation today, and if Mill's vision is a realizable one. Website: https://www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast

A deep dive into the philosophy of reparations with Olúfẹmi O. Táíwò. We cover the context & questions asked, Rawls, Nozick, arguments for equality, & harm repair vs constructivst accounts of reparations. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKq83FUsCIM&t=3365s

I'm joined by Joel Baden to discuss the theological and moral system behind the sacrifice laws in Leviticus, as well the history and composition of the Pentateuch. Watch this interview on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmTP8SeQuco&t=2694s

An interview I did on the Elucidations Podcast. The episode is an introduction to J S Mil''s political philosophy; who he was, his place in the liberal tradition, the liberty principle, and utility vs rights based approaches to liberal pluralism.

A back and forth interview with Jack Symes of the Panpsycast Philosophy podcast on his new book Philosophers on Consciousness: Talking about the Mind. We start with our reflections on doing public philosophy and how we respond to criticism, the move on to the philosophy of consciousness. We end with a discussion of how we think about our minds might impact our thoughts on morality and I'm challenged with a trolley problem: One human being vs five Vulcans who think, but do not feel pleasure or pain. Audio version of this video interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UG3vf3OWcA&t=3197s

For the last episode of 2021 I take on audience questions on political elites, islamic terrorism, orthodox marxism, and the US left and Joe Biden.

I'm joined by Noah Feldman to discuss his latest book The Broken Constitution. We discuss how the American constitution was made in debates and compromises over slavery and remade by Lincoln.

Robert Talisse returns to the podcast to discuss his latest book - Sustaining democracy. We also discuss liberalism and the role of imagination in politics (and this time we agree!)

American technology policy expert Alec Ross joins the podcast the discuss the future of the world economy and the political risks of failing to address inequality and concentrations of corporate power.

Why do theories of the end of the political and economic order feel so intuitive to some people, and so unintuitive to others? I draw on early Christian history and dehumanization theory to create a novel account.

Magdi Semrau joins me to discuss the politics of covid. Are the many restrictions due to the pandemic philosophically justifiable? Why have the political left and political right interpreted the crisis so differently and what does this tell us about the nature of conservatism and the future of liberalism?

Is modern social justice activism a threat to free speech, or the project of liberal democracy more broadly? Thomas Prosser and I offer differing interpretations of this new ideological project.

A short promo episode for my first book- 'What is Freedom? conversations with Historians, Philosophers, & Activists' published with OUP, out November, and available to pre-order now.  Featuring a foreword by Cecile Fabre and an introduction by me, the book includes contributions from Elizabeth Anderson, Mary Frances Berry, Ian Dunt, Michael Freeden, Nancy Hirschmann, Omar Khan, Dale Martin, Orlando Patterson, Phillip Pettit, John Skorupski, Peter Tatchell, and Zephyr Teachout. Pre-order on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0197572227/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_DTPBVTGX5YJHMPE1ZBQ0 OUP:  https://global.oup.com/academic/product/what-is-freedom-9780197572221?lang=en&cc=us (Patreon's won't be charged for this, it's not a full episode)

Is J S Mill's liberty principle bad political philosophy because he fails to define harm? I try to give this 'conventional' read a fair shake while also giving you my own view that the principle is . . . good, actually. On Liberty by Aquarusa - https://aquarusa.wordpress.com/2021/08/02/on-liberty-1859/ Website - https://www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com Patreon -

A history of abortion law in America from Roe to the present with analysis of the key issues raised in legal and political philosophy. Website: https://www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com/ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast

Molly Ball joins the Podcast to discuss her new book, Pelosi. We cover the career of the first woman Speaker of the house, divisions on the left, and the skill of governance. Pelosi: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pelosi-Molly-Ball/dp/1250252865 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PoliticalPhilosophyPodcast Blog: https://www.politicalphilosophypodcast.com/blog