Charles Lane, host of the American Purpose podcast "Times Like These with Charles Lane," is a Washington Post editorial writer and a weekly columnist. Previously, Lane served as the paper's Supreme Court reporter. He was editor and a senior editor of The New Republic from 1993 to 1999 and a foreign correspondent for Newsweek from 1987 to 1993. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and author of three books on U.S. history and constitutional law.
Anna Lembke on Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence
Is pain necessary to appreciate the good in life? Has unfettered access to pleasurable stimuli–from drugs and alcohol to internet and streaming TV–dulled our ability to experience true pleasure? Dr. Anna Lembke uses neuroscience and narrative to explore these questions and more in her book Dopamine Nation: Finding
Jorge Castañeda on the Challenges Facing Latin America’s Young Democracies
Do democracies offer progress or only the promise of progress? NYU professor and former foreign minister of Mexico Jorge Castañeda breaks down some of the challenges currently facing the western hemisphere’s youngest democracies, those of Latin America. From Mexico to Peru and Brazil, a centrist vacuum in the region
Jon Grinspan on American Political Wildness
Americans have a penchant for telling themselves the darkest version of their history. But John Grinspan looks to the wild campaigns of the 1800's to show how the lived drama of the American political experience offers lessons of hope for political participation and civility.
Jonathan Zimmerman on America's Public Schools and Parents' Rights
Are modern ideologies infecting how we educate students about history? Education historian Jonathan Zimmerman joins Charles for a discussion on the politics and history of teaching controversial topics in American schools.
Amanda Ripley on why we're avoiding the news
New York Times journalist Amanda Ripley discusses the psychology behind why nearly half of Americans no longer want to follow the news — and what we can do about it.
Kori Schake on Confederate Names and Military Bases
AEI's Kori Schake discusses the Jim Crow-era naming of military bases after Confederate leaders and the Congressional Naming Commission's inclusive approach to renaming federal entities.
Jeh Johnson on public safety
[https://open.spotify.com/show/5yYX2xPSoGmKq1ymL1dcHz] [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/times-like-these-with-charles-lane/id1625150320?itsct=podcast_box_badge&itscg=30200&ls=1] Former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson discusses public safety and border security, and the importance of these issues for political candidates.
Michael J. Abramowitz on the future of democracy
[https://open.spotify.com/show/5yYX2xPSoGmKq1ymL1dcHz] [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/times-like-these-with-charles-lane/id1625150320?itsct=podcast_box_badge&itscg=30200&ls=1] Michael Abramowitz joins Charles Lane to reflect on the disappointed expectations for democratic transition after 1989, and our complacent forgetfulness that democracy is something that must be struggled
