Mark Blyth, political economist at Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, and Carrie Nordlund, political scientist and Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Programs at Brown University, share their take on the news.

On this episode:

• Is there any way to reduce mass shootings in the US?
• ‘Atmospheric rivers’ and California’s weather woes
• The debt ceiling showdown in Congress, Kevin McCarthy’s shameful job hunt: life with a divided Congress is back. 
• Mark’s invite to Davos was clearly lost in the mail. 
• Can the UK’s political leadership go a week without a bone-headed scandal? (No.) 
• Understanding Germany’s reluctance to send tanks to Ukraine. 
• New currencies: the ‘bike lanes’ of international economic policy. 
• The Royal Family is weird. 

Learn more about the Watson Institute's other podcasts.