The Marvel Cinematic ​Universe (MCU) features compelling characters and intertwined storylines. Think Captain America, Iron Man, X-Men, Thor, the Hulk, The Fantastic Four, Ant-Man, Wolverine, Black Panther, the Avengers and more.

Today's guests argue that in addition to being exciting stories to watch, the MCU features lots of messages about government, public policy, and society — and they've collaborated with more than two dozen leading scholars to explore these themes in a new book.

Guests: Lilly Goren is professor of political science at Carroll University, and Nicholas Carnes is professor of public policy at Duke. Their book is The Politics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Kansas University Press, 2022).

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