Reconsider

Originally broadcast on the Agora Podcast Network's "Agoraphobia" series, Erik and Xander recount the true story from 1983 of how the world was a single crazy decision away from nuclear annihilation.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

If you're in the US, odds are good you'll be voting for a judge or six this November. It's hard, and _really_ different from electing a representative or executive. So how the heck do you do it? How do you judge your potential judges? If you want to be a responsible citizen, you gotta give this one a listen.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Why are referendums ending up so different from how polls suggest? From Brexit to the FARC peace deal, there have been some shockers in referendums: the polls have very much gone one way, and the results another. So what the heck is going on? In this episode, Xander and Erik talk about how polling works, how it might be going so wrong, and what oddities are going on with direct democracy versus the representative stuff we're used to.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

A 55-year-old civil war may be about to come to an end. The government of Colombia and FARC have hammered out a big, complicated, icky peace deal, and it's going to referendum on October 2nd. The consequences for Colombia, the geopolitics of the Western Hemisphere, and other civil conflicts could be huge. It's something you should know about, and we'll give you the context to be up to speed.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What if you decided to immerse yourself in the opposite political narrative to what you know? That's just what Stephanie did. She lives surrounded by liberal news media and friends, and she decided to spend a few months reading and listening only to Fox News, to understand what's missing from her own narrative. The results are awesome.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Everything's falling apart! The breakdown of multilateral institutions! Anti-establishment candidates are popping up everywhere! Russia is escalating! China! Syria! Turkey! Terrorism! What's it all look like in the long-term?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Party Conventions have come and gone. Each of the two major parties has made their case to America that their candidate is fit to lead. What's the takeaway for the country? What are the underlying strategies of each party and what groups are they trying to win? What do each of them, and the convention system in general, mean for the future of the US?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

UNCLOS has ruled on China's claim to the South China Sea and China is totally on board with it. Just kidding! Now the fun begins. The Philippines sued China about its territorial claims in the South China Sea and won--basically, the UN said that China's claims to the territory are total BS because the rocks in the South China Sea aren't real islands. China has (not surprisingly) said that they're not going to follow the judgment (despite being a cosigner of UNCLOS). Now there's a bit of a crisis: how can the world enforce the ruling? Sanctions? Military? And what happens if major world powers begin openly flouting international law? What happens to those institutions and international world stability? It's a scary thought.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Anti-ISIS forces have scored a string of victories recently, and lots of people haven't heard about them. Why do we hear about the defeats, but not the victories? How can we get the full picture?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

After busting some myths about US education performance and its causes, we interview renowned SF Teacher of the Year Lana Corda to understand some of the challenges facing one of the toughest school districts in the country. We learn a lot about the on-the-ground details about some of the barriers to improving student performance.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How's the US education system performing relative to other countries? How can we improve our own performance? There are many opinions and narratives about what to do, and in this episode, Xander and Erik dive into the data to understand which hold water, and which are swept away by facts. Check out sources on the companion post page!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Welp: it happened! Britain had its referendum, and they're leaving the European Union. What the heck happens next? What are the short- and long-term consequences, and what is the UK going to do?  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Free speech protests have popped up in campuses across the United States over the past few years, and everyone is getting their word about it in, even President Obama. You may or may not yet feel strongly about this. No matter where you stand, now's the time to get yourself some context. What is "harm," and what kinds of speech should still be protected even if they are harmful? Time to ReConsider.   Sources and Links Atlantic, great summary of the issue on college campuses:http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/03/the-glaring-evidence-that-free-speech-is-threatened-on-campus/471825/ Diane Feinstein + Blum → UC Campus anti-semitic speech restrictions:

"Speak softly and carry a big stick." Or, "speak loudly and carry an even bigger stick!" There are different kinds of power and different ways to wield them... and it's not always clear what's our best kind of power to bring to bear in a given situation. In this "toolbox talk," we team up with Kelsey, who runs the Women in Diplomacy podcast, to work through the meanings of hard, soft, and smart power, and their benefits and drawbacks. Plugs Kelsey's Podcast, Women in Diplomacy Rex Factor! FoggofWar Errata: When discussing Russia and Ukraine, Erik says "Haidan Revolution" and meant "Maidan Revolution" Sources

David Cameron doesn't want the UK to leave the EU, but he set up the referendum for Brits to vote on it. Why the heck would he do that? How likely is Brexit to happen? Who wants it and who's against it? What are the stay/leave arguments? What will be the implications for the UK, Europe, the US, and the globe as a whole if the UK leaves or stays? This is hugely complex and hugely important, and the vote is coming up soon: June 23. So time to get yourself some context.  Bonus: Kelsey's Podcast, "Women in Diplomacy." Go check it out. She gets some amazing interviews and we've learned a ton. And she interviews us, as well! Reasonable Summary of In & Out Arguments Polls and Migration #'s European Institutions: Cheat Sheet Sources The Economist summarizing Brexit:

Now that we have a decent idea of the history of Chinese, East Asian, and US diplomacy and foreign policy, it's time to throw all of this into the crucible of the South China Sea. It's a powderkeg of epic proportions, but it's something most Americans know very little about. This is a really important issue and a big pivot point in the upcoming American presidential election. "We're gonna need a bigger boat." Claims in the South China Sea Outposts in South China Sea Claims and Facilities Oil and Gas in South China Sea Chinese Territorial Claims Naval Power in East Asia Images of Buildup Sources http://news.usni.org/2016/03/28/opinion-dont-miss-the-boat-on-australian-and-u-s-policy-in-the-south-china-sea ...  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

There are tiny little rocks in the South China sea that have become a pretty big deal. China has claimed them as its own, putting air bases, missile batteries, and harbors on the islands to stake its claim. It's become a huge, but quiet, international struggle. Why are they suddenly so important, and what is the historical context behind it all? In this two-part episode, we let you in on it.  Spratly Islands Map Harbors Being Built on Spratlys Taiwanese Hotel Construction on Spratlys Chinese Deep-Defense Strategy Against Japanese Invasion in WWII Farthest Extent of Chinese Borders and Chinese Claims Sources Taylor Fravel, Strong Borders Secure Nation Carrier locations Taiwan pushing...  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Hoo boy, we've got an exciting presidential nomination this year. More and more we're hearing rumblings that the GOP might go to a brokered convention. But... how the heck does that work? What'll happen if it gets there? How likely is it? Find out all that and more in our wackiest episode yet! This episode's a ton of fun. Listen before Tuesday, March 15th if you can!   UPDATE: Kasich takes the lead in Ohio according to 538's polls-only forecast. UPDATE: Rubio's team encouraging voters in Ohio to vote Kasich. ...  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The FBI wants Apple to write some code to unlock the phone of the San Bernardino shooter, and Apple has filed an appeal to make sure they're not compelled to do so. Is it a ravenous attack on privacy? Is it not a big deal? Xander and Erik have done a ton of research and take on both sides of the argument: should Apple be forced to write the code? What are the long-term implications? We break down the technical details, the precedents and legal cases being brought to bear, and the potential long-term consequences and precedents. This week's episode is a great example of political disagreement in the Considerate style! UPDATE: Edward Snowden weighs in on the FBI's claim that it needs Apple's help to get into Farook's phone, calling it "bullshit."  UPDATE 2: Apple claims that if the FBI...  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

It's hard to get a good sense of why the price of oil can vary between $150 and $30 per barrel. There are a lot of factors behind the price, but in the end it all comes down to supply and demand. In this episode we break down how supply and demand have changed to drive down the price... and discuss what might change in the future. The story gets complicated fast: shale, tar sands, Iran, Russia, the Arctic, China, and hippies all get some airtime. We don't tell you what to think, but we do help you break it down. Just note: we're not financial advisers and this isn't financial advice.  Sources: Brent spot price: https://ycharts.com/indicators/brent_crude_oil_spot_price World oil production: ...  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.