Probably About Politics Podcast

Sometimes talking about politics feels like you're watching a future movie play out, and this month Alex and Kaleigh are sharing three stories that could make fascinating political dramas. Spain's election is going down to the wire in the scorching summer heat. Fanfiction site Ao3 is at the center of Russian information warfare strategies. And researchers are asking if AI chatbots can replace humans in experiments, including unethical ones for human participation.

Got any questions you'd like us to answer? Or want us to pitch you a movie? Get in touch!

Instagram: @probpolitics
Twitter: @probpolitics
Email: [email protected]

Happy Mother's Day! Alex and Kaleigh are celebrating moms this year by exploring the history of activism and the political origins of Mother's Day. The hosts discover motherhood has long been intertwined with the biggest peace and social justice movements, and they consider how our circumstances and identities shape our activism.

Got any questions you'd like us to answer? Or want to tell us how great your mom is? Get in touch!

Instagram: @probpolitics
Twitter: @probpolitics
Email: [email protected]

We haven't covered an election in a couple of episodes, and to make up for it, we've got three in this one to prepare you for a busy May! Chile is electing officials to take on the process of building its new constitution. Thailand's opposition hopes they have a window for electoral victory against all the odds in a junta government. And finally, Turkey's upcoming presidential election is in the shadow of an economic crisis and devastating earthquakes.

Got any questions you'd like us to answer? Or just come to say hi!

Instagram: @probpolitics
Twitter: @probpolitics
Email: [email protected]

For 2023 Alex and Kaleigh are kicking off with a brand new interview series exploring communication and sharing complex ideas that go on to inform our policy, and practices and shape our elections. To help us get started, we're talking with Marc Bragdon, Head of the Harriet Irving Library Research Commons at the University of New Brunswick, to learn from his experience about the role of media literacy in education. Marc also makes a case for why our hosts, as researchers, should think about knowledge mobilizations and consider the audience for research and ways to communicate it.

Got anyone you think we should talk to? Questions you'd like us to answer? Or just come to say hi!

Instagram: @probpolitics

This month Alex and Kaleigh, as two football/soccer enthusiasts, are exploring some of the many ways that the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the Federation Internationale de Football Association are probably about politics, and they've brought on Corey Ganong, fellow soccer enthusiast and former sports podcast host to help break it down. Together they discuss the important role of international tournaments for nation-building, the increasing cost of running a world cup, and the value of sports washing for authoritarian regimes.

Got any questions you'd like us to answer? Topic ideas? Or just come to say hi!

Instagram: @probpolitics

Probably About Politics is in Southeast Asia this month for Malaysia's upcoming general election. Since the last election in 2018, the coalition parties forming a government have changed a few times... Alex and Kaleigh take a look at the events that keep shaking up the government and explore how coalition building could play out after this election. With COP27 happening in Egypt this month, Kaleigh has an extra special look at where in the world UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is that spotlights the work being done by Global South countries to get Loss and Damages on the international climate agenda.

Got any questions you'd like us to answer? Or just come to say hi!

Instagram: @probpolitics

This month Alex and Kaleigh are back in Brazil for the second round of presidential elections! After a tight first round of voting, all eyes are on the election between an incumbent and a former president and what it means for the future of Brazil's democracy. With major issues focusing on wealth disparity, the amazon and climate change, and the peaceful governance transition, this is also an election for the world to watch.

Instagram: @probpolitics

In this month's summer school, we are discussing the Cold War and the US' Operation Condor's effect on democracies across South and Central America. Alex and Kaleigh are zooming in on Chile and how their upcoming referendum on a new constitution is part of the country's ongoing efforts to build a democracy from the effects of the Cold War and decades of military dictatorship.

Got any questions you'd like us to answer? Or just come to say hi!

Instagram: @probpolitics

This month Japan's off-year election proves every election matters! Alex and Kaleigh dive into what a super-majority means for Japan's future with issues from military funding and nuclear power to inflation and constitutional change on the table this election. Alex shares with us the long history of human and lice relations and Kaleigh looks into the UN and FAO's role in providing technical support.

Got any questions you'd like us to answer? Or just come to say hi!

Instagram: @probpolitics

Alex and Kaleigh are heading to Papua New Guinea's election for the first time to explore the diverse and ever-shifting democracy of the island nation. PNG's 13-day election offers the hosts a great opportunity to explore voting on local vs. national issues, and creating laws to increase electoral and governing stability. Other topics include global hunger and conflict and skydiving salamanders!

Got any questions you'd like us to answer? Or just come to say hi!

Instagram: @probpolitics