News In Context

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Stanford political scientist Dr. Kathryn Stoner… on the context of Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Stoner is the Mosbacher Director of the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law; Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies; Political Scientist at Stanford; and Senior Fellow (by courtesy) at the Hoover Institution.

Stoner is also the author of Russia Resurrected. Its Power and Purpose in a New Global Order.

This is Part Two of my interview with Dr. Stoner… You can hear Part One at Newsincontext.net.

In this episode, we continue exploring the context of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine - or as our guest, political scientist Dr. Kathryn Stoner, clarifies – Putin’s invasion.

Stoner is the Mosbacher Director of the Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law; Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies; Political Scientist at Stanford; and Senior Fellow (by courtesy) at the Hoover Institution.

Stoner is also the author of Russia Resurrected. Its Power and Purpose in a New Global Order.

My interview with Dr. Stoner will be presented in two parts. This is part one… which focuses on Putin’s version of a global order… and his goals with regard to Ukraine… as well as an exploration of the balancing acts both Putin and NATO are engaging in… as this conflict proceeds. Part 2 will air next week.

In this episode, we explore the historical and geo-political context of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as the role and actions of NATO.

As we watch and read about Putin’s brutal actions in Ukraine and how they are affecting the people who live there, many of us find ourselves wondering why this is happening at all.

Discussing this with me today is Dr. Amir Weiner, Director of the Center for Russian, East European, & Eurasian Studies at Stanford University.

In this episode, we discuss the realities of COVID-19 and other diseases on our health and well being - and how vaccines have both saved us from the grim realities, and led us to forget just how bad diseases can get without vaccines to keep them at bay.

My guest is Meredith Wadman, senior reporter with Science Magazine in Washington, D.C., and author of The Vaccine Race: Science, Politics, and the Human Costs of Defeating Disease.

In this episode, we discuss vaccines – the science that has brought us such an incredible solution to public health crises; the human response to vaccines, mandates, and scientific information; and how misinformation has derailed clear communication.

My guest is Greta Keenan, program specialist for science & society at the World Economic Forum.

Photo Credit: Wellcome Images

In this episode, we explore elections issues that make it harder for us to participate in democracy, the consequences of that, and how we can address these issues and improve our civic health.

This includes redistricting, campaign finance, voter suppression, weaponizing the recall, and other issues.

My guest is Jonathan Mehta Stein, executive director of California Common Cause.

In this episode, we discuss California’s redistricting process, and the maps recently certified after the latest round of map drawing in the state. This is only the second time California’s non-partisan redistricting commission has convened.

My guest is Sameea Kamal, reporter for CalMatters who covers redistricting.

In this episode, we discuss local journalism, and the important role it continues to play - both in the health of our democracy - and in holding powerful organizations, companies, and government officials to account.

In this episode, we explore mental health throughout the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic… including the mental health challenges exacerbated by the pandemic… as well as what all of us can learn to cope from coping methods taught by mental professionals.

My guest is Jeff Bell, Bay Area broadcast journalist, and co-founder & president of the Adversity to Advocacy Alliance (A2A). Jeff is also author of two books on OCD: Rewind, Replay, Repeat and When in Doubt, Make Belief.

Find out more at A2AAlliance.org and HEAR and SHARE messages of hope at ProjectHopeExchange.com.

If you’re facing mental health challenges, connect with a professional, get emotional support from friends and mental health support organizations, and take care of yourself - including getting sleep and exercise.

For more resources, check out The National Institute of Mental Health… Mental Health America, The National Alliance on Mental Illness, and the International OCD Foundation.

In this episode, we explore the power of language, and the importance of using humanizing language in journalism.

My guest is Aubrey Nagle, editor of Reframe at Resolve Philly  – “an initiative that aims to help journalists more fairly and accurately report on misrepresented and excluded communities.”

In our conversation, we focus on the importance of recognizing the humanity in the sources and stories journalists cover, and we discuss how we all can elevate humanity, connect with fellow community members, and de-prioritize misinformation and false equivalencies by using humanizing language.

Find out more about Reframe @ReframeNews