Episode 864
Dire Education
Aug 29 2015
The Miami New Times sort of drudges it up now and again. But it's really not something that people talk about in the context of Marco Rubio. And I think this is just a classic mainstream media mistake. I think that where a person comes from… who their family is… how they grew up… and most importantly, how they bankrolled their political career is extremely relevant for knowing the type of policies they're going to pursue. And having done a little bit of research, the Miami lobby, is something that sort of mirrors and is also very much aligned with the Israel lobby, right? Kind of known for its wealth and influence. It punches way above its weight. When it comes to getting what it wants in foreign policy, they have successfully rendered American foreign policy toward Latin America as sort of absolutist, neoliberalism. We really don't tolerate a whole lot of social welfare spending in Latin America.
Maureen Tkacik makes her debut on This Is Hell! to talk about her new investigative piece for American Prospect, “The Narco Terrorist Elite”, which goes into how narco terrorists have historically operated with right wing Latin American dictatorships and US imperialism and how Marco Rubio’s recent actions within the Trump administration might become a new version of Iran-Contra.
We will have new installments of Rotten History and Hangover Cure. We will also be sharing your answers to this week's Question from Hell! from Patreon.
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Terence Keel
Dec 10 2025
Coroners Complicit in Obscuring Violent Deaths in State Custody / Terence Keel
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Aug 28 2015
Posted by Matthew Boedy
9:10AM - Historian Joyce Mao explores China's role in shaping modern American conservatism.
Joyce is author of Asia First: China and the Making of Modern American Conservatism from University of Chicago Press.
10:05AM - Lawpagandist Brian Foley explains the importance of narrative and storytelling in the courtroom.
Brian will be talking about the Legal Writing Institute.
10:35AM - Writer Eve Ewing remembers the ghosts of closed public schools in Bronzeville and beyond.
Eve wrote the letter Phantoms Playing Double-Dutch: Why the Fight for Dyett is Bigger than One Chicago School Closing at Seven Scribes.
11:05AM - Author William Deresiewicz surveys the cost of a neoliberal university education.
William is author of the September Harper's cover story The Neoliberal Arts: How college sold its soul to the market.
12:05PM - Activist Alberto Roque Guerra contrasts LGBT life in Cuba and the United States.
Dr. Roque Guerra will be speaking at the LGBTs in Cuba event on September 1st.
12:45PM - Jeff Dorchen pokes the turd of nationalist paranoia.
Don't worry, Jeff will be using a stick in this metaphorical situation.
Aug 27 2015
Posted by Matthew Boedy
Here's what Chuck is reading this week to prepare for Saturday's show:
Joyce Mao - Asia First: China and the Making of Modern American Conservatism
Eve Ewing - Phantoms Playing Double-Dutch: Why the Fight for Dyett is Bigger than One Chicago School Closing
William Deresiewicz - The Neoliberal Arts: How college sold its soul to the market [subscription required]
Aug 21 2015
Posted by Matthew Boedy
9:10AM - Journalist Gary Rivlin revisits the first days and bad decisions of the Katrina disaster.
Gary is author of the new book Katrina: After the Flood from Simon & Schuster.
10:05AM - Live from Kabul, Matthieu Aikins profiles the gangster-politicians of Karachi.
Matthieu's latest writing is The Gangs of Karachi for Harper's and Yemen's Hidden War for Rolling Stone.
10:35AM - The Radical Pessimist, Kevan Harris examines China's influence in South Africa.
Kevan just returned from South Africa and will be in-studio tomorrow.
11:05AM - Writer Alyssa Katz explores the US Chamber of Commerce's influence on American politics.
12:05PM - Psychology researcher Rael Dawtry points out the blind spots in the minds of wealthy people.
Rael is co-author of the study Why wealthier people think people are wealthier, and why it matters.
12:35PM - The Hopleaf's Michael Roper looks ahead to the inevitable craft brew bubble pop.
Michael will be in-studio with a couple beer choices and the chance to support a local public school by getting day drunk.
Aug 20 2015
Posted by Matthew Boedy
Here's what Chuck is reading this week to prepare for Saturday's show:
Gary Rivlin - Katrina: After the Flood
Matthieu Aikins - The Gangs of Karachi [subscription required] / Yemen's Hidden War
Kevan Harris - The Spectre of Global China by Ching Kwan Lee
Alyssa Katz - The Influence Machine
Rael Dawtry - Why wealthier people think people are wealthier, and why it matters.
Aug 10 2015
Posted by Matthew Boedy
Chuck is on vacation in Michigan's poorest county and we're trying to switch podcast URLs. See you soon!