Call It Like I See It

The 1619 Project looks at the history of the United States from perspectives that have often been missing, and James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss how this approach can help Americans better understand (1:13) and deal with the complexities of our modern society and why the backlash is both predictable and unfounded (25:01). 

The 1619 Project (NY Times)

Listen to ‘1619,’ a Podcast From The New York Times (NY Times)

The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story (1619books.com)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss how Biden’s Supreme Court nominee pledge and Brian Flores’ lawsuit against the NFL illustrate in different ways on the struggle that America’s largest institutions, and really American society in general, continue to have in dealing with racial discrepancies in access, opportunity and outcomes (01:12).  The guys also take a look at the science behind why it is harder for people to build muscle as they age (43:35). 

Here's the story behind Black History Month — and why it's celebrated in February (WOSU - NPR)

Biden Expected to Nominate a Black Woman to the Supreme Court (NY Times)

A Black woman Supreme Court nominee could push corporate America into a new age of diversity (Insider)

Why are US rightwingers so opposed to a Black woman supreme court nominee? (The Guardian)

Brian Flores’s Lawsuit Has Brought the NFL’s Black Coaching Crisis to Its Boiling Point (The Ringer)

Brian Flores will use NFL’s past words, practices against it (NBC Sports)

50-year-old muscles just can’t grow big like they used to – the biology of how muscles change with age (The Conversation)

With 2021 going down as the best year in decades as far as GDP growth in the U.S., James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider the extent to which such a performance is surprising and the extent to which we should fear what comes next (01:19).  The guys also discuss some of the interesting things coming from NASA about the exoplanets that have recently been discovered and are being studied (45:06).

Believe it or not, the economy grew last year at the fastest pace since 1984 (NPR)

U.S. Economy Grows as Fourth-Quarter GDP Shows Strongest Year in Decades (WSJ) (Apple Link)

NASA Has Found Over 5,000 Potential Alien Worlds—Here Are Some of the Weirdest (Newsweek)

The Past, Present, and Future of Faraway Worlds (The Ringer)

James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss the origin of conservative philosophical tradition and its value in managing large societies, diving into a recent piece by the conservative political and cultural commentator David Brooks which questions whether the modern Republican party has abandoned conservatism (01:11).  The guys also take a look a recent report that Elon Musk’s Neuralink venture is about to start testing the use of implanted microchips in people’s brains (40:00).

What Happened To American Conservatism? (The Atlantic)

Elon Musk’s Neuralink prepares to test microchips in human brains (The Times - UK) (Apple Link)

Even in a global pandemic, fighting misinformation in an open society will always be an uphill battle, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at the effort by hundreds of doctors, professors, scientists and health care to pressure Spotify into addressing covid-19 misinformation in The Joe Rogan Experience, its hugely popular podcast, and on its platform in general (01:40).  The guys also take a look at how it may be possible to can take control over and harness stress to one’s benefit (38:23). 

‘A Menace to Public Health’: Doctors Demand Spotify Puts an End to Covid Lies on ‘Joe Rogan Experience’ (Rolling Stone)

Joe Rogan admits broadcaster Josh Zepps made him ‘look dumb’ during vaccine debate (The Independent)

270 health experts to Spotify: Joe Rogan’s Covid misinformation is ‘a sociological issue of devastating proportions’ (CNBC)

Governments try shame to boost vaccine use. Does it work? (Christian Science Monitor)

How to Turn Off Harmful Stress Like a Switch (Pocket)

Reports of overly aggressive or abusive behavior in response to relatively minor slights appear to be increasing, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider the extent to which the Covid-19 pandemic, along with other societal factors, have contributed to this (01:14).  The guys also discuss research which suggests that money can buy happiness, if it is spent correctly in the right circumstances (31:19). 

The pandemic has caused nearly two years of collective trauma. Many people are near a breaking point. (WaPo)

Want to be happier? Science says buying a little time leads to significantly greater life satisfaction (Fast Company)

The January 6th Insurrection at the U.S. Capitol was not just a historic incident but also the culmination of several trends in politics and media, so now with a year’s worth of perspective, James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss some of the key factors that set the stage for the incident and consider whether enough has been done to identify (01:22) and reverse the trends that led some Americans to try to attack and overthrow their government of the people (38:21).

Four Hours at the Capitol (HBO)

The January 6 committee formed 6 months ago. Here's what it's uncovered. (CNN)

Congressman Eric Swalwell Outs 'Radicalized' Man Who Allegedly Threatened Him and His Family (Newsweek)

Trump’s Next Coup Has Already Begun (The Atlantic)

Millions of Angry, Armed Americans Stand Ready to Seize Power If Trump Loses in 2024 (Newsweek)

The idea that a government would rank its citizens based on their moral conduct is probably jarring to most Americans, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana discuss how China’s social credit system appears to be a very foreign concept in some ways while also being very familiar in others (01:36).  The guys also consider the concern that has been raised that the scientific breakthroughs which may allow cancer to be diagnosed extremely early could possibly be too much to handle for our psyches (35:16).

China's 'social credit' system ranks citizens and punishes them with throttled internet speeds and flight bans if the Communist Party deems them untrustworthy (Business Insider)

China’s Social Credit System: Speculation vs. Reality (The Diplomat)

Social Credit System (Wikipedia)

Will We All Soon Live in Cancerland? (WSJ)

Science Surgery: ‘Do we all have potentially cancerous cells in our bodies?’ (Cancer Research UK)

The belief that the Earth is flat persists in the 21st century, so James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana take a look at Behind the Curve, the 2018 documentary by Daniel J. Clark on Netflix and discuss what stands out about those who believe it, how the scientific community has responded, and the way certain aspects our humanity are illustrated through the topic in another installment of their Streaming Between the Lines series.

Behind the Curve (Netflix)

Seeing reports from public health officials about the declining physical and mental health of children, James Keys and Tunde Ogunlana consider how society may be failing he younger generations and what type of approach can turn things around (01:13).  The guys also discuss why Americans in general appear to worry more about money than people from other places (29:55). 

Surgeon general warns of emerging youth mental health crisis in rare public advisory (LA Times)

CDC says childhood obesity is a serious problem in the United States (MSN)

What You’re Really Worried About When You’re Worried About Money (The Atlantic)