Probably About Politics Podcast

Schools are in for the summer and Probably About Politics is here to explain interesting terms in democracy and governance. As a bonus episode this month Alex and Kaleigh are taking a look at the growing use of sanctions in international diplomacy. Together they discover just what a sanction is, who can sanction and be sanctioned, and ask when sanctions are the best tool for the job.

What summer school episodes would you like to hear? Let us know about any and all topics in democracy you'd like us to learn about!

Instagram: @probpolitics

Colombia's upcoming presidential election indicates voters are ever looking for alternatives to the traditional political elite for the first time. The road to Presidential election day in a country navigating post-conflict democracy and elections after the 2016 Peace Agreement is bumpy with corruption charges, threats to candidates and polling day violence. But while it remains to be seen the upcoming election may also be opening doors for new candidates and new options for voters.

Want to hear the whole history of the Cold War in South America? Let us know:

Instagram: @probpolitics

After Costa Rica's presidential election reminded them that they're not in the predictions game, Alex and Kaleigh are heading to Slovenia this month. Slovenia's election, with the pressures of the conflict in Ukraine, and multiple political parties still in the race, is difficult to call and has the attention of all of Europe for what it means for the future of the EU and Slovenia's democracy.

Got elections or topics you want us to cover in 2022? Share them with us here:

Instagram: @probpolitics

Kaleigh and Alex are excited to be launching their 5th season of Probably About Politics!  This exciting season five kick-off has 2x elections, 2x Guterres, and some brain-growing science news. More specifically your hosts are revisiting South Korea for the first time since season one and diving into a democracy they've never covered before and one of the newest countries in the world — East Timor! So tune in this month to learn everything you need to know about what the hosts have planned for the season ahead.

Got elections or topics you want us to cover in 2022? Share them with us here:

Instagram: @probpolitics

2022 is here and elections are already happening! To get the year started Alex and Kaleigh are diving into elections on two different island states at very different places in their present experience of democracy. Barbados and Costa Rica are both facing important questions and uncertainties about the post-pandemic future and the hosts take a look at how their elections will be a major step in what direction the countries want their leaders to take. Plus Alex's Space News this episode is also bringing you breaking news in the science of personal space!

Got elections or topics you want us to cover in 2022? Share them with us here:

Instagram: @probpolitics

To close out our look at elections in 2021 Kaleigh and Alex are heading to Chile for the first time with the pod to cover a very close run presidential election. Chileans have a choice between two candidates on totally opposing ends of the political perspective. But as the hosts discover the choice voters are making is one deeply rooted in the history of the country leading back to the authoritarian regime of Pinochet and influenced by ongoing protests and the re-writing of the constitution. 

Got elections or topics you want us to cover in 2022? Share them with us here:

Instagram: @probpolitics

Kaleigh and Alex have been hearing a lot about COP26 and the crucial role of the Glasglow-based COP in achieving crucial global climate objectives. But what does a Conference of the Parties have to do with addressing climate change, and what did over 200 countries agree to in Paris that COP26 is continuing? The hosts dive into the work of international agreements on climate change to try and understand and ask if COP26 is going to save the planet.

Got elections or topics you want us to cover? Share them with us here:

Instagram: @probpolitics

Kaleigh and Alex are back on home turf again and diving in with an insider's perspective from the advance poll voting, and the issues of climate change, housing, and health care have dominated debates and of course exploring election hijinks new and old from the campaign trail.

Instagram: @probpolitics

Kaleigh and Alex are together again for the first time in 18+ months (with a guest dog!) to talk about a pretty regular Norwegian election. There are still a number of big questions like economic disparity, climate change and rural-urban divide that come up even in a normal election. Other very regular topics covered include kiwi birds, the UN's role in global crisis, and magnets!

Sometimes a country's constitution needs a refresh or leaders want to make changes to it. But successful constitutional reforms are hard to make! Kaleigh and Alex dive into some of the challenges demonstrated by the now delayed Haitian constitutional referendum and also explore how countries around the world make constitutional changes.

Instagram: @probpolitics