Podcast
Washington Monthly
Hosted by Washington Monthly · EN
Bold ideas. Honest journalism. Smart analysis.
Since 1969, the Washington Monthly has brought a sharp eye to politics, policy and the business of government. Our mission: Champion democracy, support good governance, and promote American opportunity for all.
Join co-hosts Anne Kim and Garrett Epps each week for expert analysis on both the biggest issues driving Washington - and the issues you may not know about but should.
10episodes
Episodes
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The Myth of the "Independent Creator" | Matt Robison
2w ago00:30:52Tap to summarizeMuch like the economy at large, the system favors big players over independent creators.Online sensations like Mr. Beast—the YouTuber with nearly 500 million subscribers—have spurred countless imitators with dreams of online fame. Yet a vanishing few reach the stratospheric heights of Mr. Beast, who reportedly earns $700 million a year. Accordingto a 2025 survey by NeoReach, 70 percent of creators report earning less than $49,000 a year, and more than half earn less than $15,000 annually. (YouTube, meanwhile, reported $60 billion in revenues in 2025.)As veteran podcaster Matt Robison argues, media has become a “superstar economy” where a small number of players dominatethe market. Their incumbency is secured by platforms like YouTube and Substack, which have every incentive to promote their superstars as a way to compete against each other. Algorithms that favor popularity make things worse forsmaller creators trying to break in. The result is that no one who isn’t already big can make it big because the big guys are insulated from competition. Host: Anne Kim, Washington MonthlyGuest: Matt Robison, author of the Substack, “Worth Knowing,” and the host of the podcast, “Beyond Politics.”
Transcribe →Real Men Teach - We Need More of Them | Curtis Valentine
Jun 300:34:29Tap to summarizeFor several decades now, girls have been outperforming boysacademically. They earn higher grades, are less likely to drop out, and are significantly more likely to attend college. Women now earn themajority of professional degrees, according to the Hechinger Report, including 60 percent of master’s and doctorates. More male teachers can help close gender gaps inachievement, argues Curtis Valentine, president of the newly launched Male Educator Network, an initiative of the American Institute for Boys and Men. Host: Anne Kim, Senior Editor, Washington MonthlyGuest: Curtis Valentine, president of the Male Educator Network and Policy InstituteChapters00:00 Introduction to the Male Educator Network02:38 Curtis Valentine’s Teaching Journey05:30 Impact of Male Educators on Students08:52 Gender Disparity in Education11:27 Challenges in Attracting Men to Teaching14:47 Policy Recommendations for Increasing Male Educators17:40 Addressing the Prestige of Teaching20:29 Cultural Perceptions of Masculinity and Teaching23:34 Conclusion and Call to Action
Transcribe →Can capitalism be saved? | Nick Hanauer and Eric Beinhocker
May 2000:32:28Tap to summarizeBillionaires are the apex predators of the modern economy. They tear up governments, buy politicians, and wreck the planet with carbon-spewing yachts. They control the news and what’s in our feeds. They spend $55 million on lavish weddings while the rest of us struggle to buy groceries and gas.That's why entrepreneur Nick Hanauer and Professor Eric Beinhocker argue for a new economic paradigm they call "market humanism." It's not the end of capitalism, nor the end of markets. Instead, what Hanauer and Beinhocker would like to see is the better organization of markets so they produce the outcomes that benefit humanity (i.e., not the production of more billionaires).In this episode, Hanauer and Beinhocker discuss their new treatise, "Markets Built for Humans," and their critique of the current neoliberal paradigm. Host: Anne Kim, Washington MonthlyGuests: Nick Hanauer and Eric Beinhocker
Transcribe →Get ready for the AI crash | Asad Ramzanali
May 600:32:19Tap to summarizeRisky financial maneuvers and mountains of debt mean the AI economy is in trouble, says Vanderbilt's Asad Ramzanali. America needs to get ready. Host: Anne Kim, Senior Editor, Washington MonthlyGuest: Asad Ramzanali, Director of AI and Technology Policy, Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator, Vanderbilt University
Transcribe →Trump’s Not-So-Great Health Care Plan | Edwin Park
Mar 2400:23:01Tap to summarizePresident Donald Trump recently unveiled his “Great Healthcare Plan,” vowing to bring down soaring premiums and “fix” the Affordable Care Act. But Trump’s single-page plan is likely to fall far short of his promises, says Edwin Park, a research professor at Georgetown University and a former health policy advisor to the National Economic Council under President Joe Biden. Host: Anne Kim, Senior Editor, Washington MonthlyGuest: Edwin Park, Georgetown UniversityChapters00:00 Introduction to Trump's Health Care Plan02:23 Analyzing Drug Pricing Proposals05:20 Cash Payments vs. Insurance Premiums10:24 Transparency and Cost Sharing in Health Care15:34 Republican Proposals and Medicaid Cuts18:48 Bipartisan Efforts and Future PrioritiesFind us on Substack: https://washingtonmonthly.substack.comRead the Washington Monthly:www.washingtonmonthly.com
Transcribe →The Republicans Who Could Save Democracy | Andrew Seligsohn and Sarah Bryner
Mar 1100:30:06Tap to summarizeSo-called “Constitution-First” Republicans are uncomfortable with Trump’s abuses of power. They could be the key to a pro-democracy coalition that cuts across party and ideology. President Donald Trump’s grip on the Republican party hasseemed absolute. But his consistent disregard for constitutional and societalnorms might be leading to genuine fissures within the GOP. A new report by the nonprofit Public Agenda and the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University, based on focus groups and surveys involving more than 4,500 Americans, identifiesan emerging three-part typology within the Republican party: · “Trump First” Republicans who are the core of the MAGA base; · “Party First” Republicans, whose partisan loyalties outweigh their personal devotion to Trump; and · “Constitution First” Republicans, conservativeswho are increasingly uncomfortable with Trump’s behavior in office. These Constitution First Republicans—who make up 34 percent of the party—have the potential to be an effective counterweight to extremism within their party. Host: Anne Kim, Senior Editor, Washington MonthlyGuests: Andrew Seligsohn, President, Public Agenda; Sarah Bryner, Director, Public AgendaChapters00:00 Introduction to the Research and Its Purpose02:55 Understanding the GOP Typology06:39 Contrasting Republican Groups: Trump-First vs. Constitution-First10:26 Media Consumption and Its Impact on Political Views14:16 Engagement Strategies for a Healthy Democracy19:44 Hope for American Democracy: Insights from the ResearchRead the Washington Monthly: www.washingtonmonthly.comSubscribe to our Substack: https://washingtonmonthly.substack.com
Transcribe →How New Orleans Fixed Its Schools | David Osborne
Feb 2500:37:38Tap to summarizeIn 2003, New Orleans public schools were among the worst in the country.Seventy percent of eighth-graders were not proficient in math, 74 percent weren’t proficient in English, and the graduation rate was barely over 50 percent. Moreover, the district was as corrupt as it was incompetent. FBI investigations led to the indictment of two dozen school officials; nearly $70 million in federal funding was missing. New Orleans schools have since achieved a remarkable transformation. In 2023, the high school graduation rate was 79 percent, and 65 percent enrolled in college—nearly double what it was in 2004 and higher than the state average.This success, one expert argues, was powered by the city’s commitment to charter schools. In a new documentary, Turnaround, which premiered at the New Orleans Film Festival last fall, author David Osborne chronicles the rise of New Orleans public schools through its use of charters and argues for the expansion of this model. Osborne is the author of six books, including the 1992 bestseller, Reinventing Government. Host: Anne Kim, Senior Editor, Washington MonthlyGuest: David Osborne, Director, TurnaroundChapters00:00 Introduction to the Documentary and Its Purpose03:18 The State of New Orleans Public Schools Before the Turnaround05:40 The Role of Charter Schools in Education Reform10:18 Leslie Jacobs: A Key Figure in the Reform Movement17:10 Success Stories from Charter Operators21:40 Criticism and Challenges Facing Charter Schools25:42 Differentiating Vouchers from Charter Schools32:33 The Future of Public Education and Charter SchoolsRead the Washington Monthly:www.washingtonmonthly.comSubscribe to the Washington Monthly's PolicyFix playlist:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLonp7h9esu5j_rTTHx-0Vv_T_AyQqoRaO&si=AANgMFJ6G2_cOUM4
Transcribe →Gen Z's Problem with "Fake" News | Chuck Salter
Feb 1100:23:48Tap to summarizeIn the eyes of today’s teens, journalism and the media are doomed. In two major surveys of US teens conducted over the last two years, the nonprofit News Literacy Project found deep levels of mistrust and misunderstanding of the news: Only about half ofteens know that “branded content” is a form of advertising;Only 52 percent of teens understand that articleslabeled “commentary” are opinions; ·Teens have overwhelmingly negative impressionsof news, calling it “fake,” “crazy,” “biased,” “boring,” and “bad”; Just 15 percent of teens actively seek out news,and many hold low opinions of journalists’ truthfulness and ethics. Half of teens, for instance, believe that journalists make up quotes. The root of this distrust is the lack of “newsliteracy,” argues Charles ("Chuck") Salter, the News Literacy Project’s President and CEO. Host: Anne Kim, Senior Editor, Washington MonthlyGuest, Charles Salter, President and CEO, News Literacy ProjectChapters00:00 Introduction to News Literacy and Its Importance03:37 The Disturbing Findings of the Studies06:01 Understanding Teenagers' News Literacy Levels08:47 The Negative Perception of Journalism Among Teens11:20 The Role of Popular Culture in Shaping Attitudes14:01 The Risks of Low News Literacy16:40 The Societal Impact of Mistrust in Journalism19:30 Advice for Journalists and Conclusion
Transcribe →Why Democrats need to win back rural voters | Suzanne Mettler and Trevor Brown
Jan 2800:29:36Tap to summarizePresident Donald Trump won 93 percent of rural counties in 2024. Rural voters also made up 36 percent of the Trump vote, according to the Pew Research Center, compared to just 16 percent of voters for Harris. Political scientists Suzanne Mettler of Cornell University and Trevor Brown of Johns Hopkins argue that Democrats must work to bridge this urban-rural chasm, both for the sake of Democrats’ political fortunes but for the sake of preserving democracy. Mettler and Brown are the authors of the new book, Rural versus Urban: The Growing Divide That Threatens Democracy, in which they argue for robust investments in rural America to rebuild the Democratic Party. They also lay out a surprising analysis of why Democrats lost rural voters. The blame lies not with major policy differences between rural and urban voters, but Democratic neglect and disdain of the rural vote. Hosts: Anne Kim and Garrett EppsGuests: Suzanne Mettler, Interim Chair & John L. Senior Professor of American Institutions, Cornell University; Trevor Brown, Postdoctoral Fellow in Moral and Political Economy, Johns Hopkins University. Chapters00:00 Introduction to Rural vs Urban Divide02:55 Defining Rural Voters and Their Political Impact05:39 Exploring the Myths of Rural and Urban Voter Differences10:20 Historical Context: The New Deal and Rural Politics14:17 Current Challenges for Democrats in Rural Areas16:38 The Role of Race and Ethnicity in the Divide19:55 The Importance of Competition in Rural Politics25:25 Strategies for Democrats to Reconnect with Rural Voters
Transcribe →A promising new strategy to end super PACs and dark money in politics | Lawrence Lessig
Jan 1400:32:23Tap to summarizeIn 2010, the Supreme Court opened the floodgates to money in politics with its decision in Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission. The Court struck down longstanding federal restrictions on “independent” political spending by corporations and outside groups, ruling that such expenditures were protected “speech” under the First Amendment. Since then, according to the Brennan Center, super PACs have spent more than $10 billion on federal elections.For many campaign finance reform advocates, reversing Citizens United is the holy grail. Some nonprofits, for instance,have called for a constitutional amendment to overturn the Supreme Court’s decision—an effort Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders has endorsed as well.But with the passage of such an amendment is unlikely,, a group of prominent legal scholars is arguing for an alternative path. The Supreme Court could choose to end super PACs, they say,and without overturning Citizens United. Among these advocates is Lawrence Lessig, the Roy L. FurmanProfessor of Law and Leadership at Harvard Law School and the founder of Equal Citizens.org, a new nonprofit leading the legal campaign against super PACs. Lessig says a critical test willcome this spring, when the First Circuit Court of Appeals hears a case involving a voter initiative passed in Maine last fall to limit super PAC contributions. Super PACs have challenged the restrictions as unconstitutional—an argument that’slikely to end up in front of the Supreme Court. Hosts: Anne Kim and Garrett EppsGuest: Lawrence Lessig, Harvard Law SchoolChapters00:00 The Rise of Super PACs and Their Impact on Democracy06:35 Legal Challenges Against Super PACs: The Maine Initiative12:07 The Argument for Regulating Contributions to Super PACs17:37 The Role of Amicus Briefs and Evidence of Corruption22:37 Future Steps: Reviving Campaign Finance Reform28:48 Engaging Citizens in the Fight Against Super PACs
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