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A few weeks ago, I got an email from somebody I admire tremendously: Elizabeth Anderson, one of the most interesting contemporary political philosophers. Anderson, she wrote, has long been an avid listener to The Good Fight. But she strongly disagrees with the episode I did with Edward Irizarry, in part because she thought that my characterization of Robin diAngelo’s work was overly dismissive. So we decided to have an on-air conversation about the question.

In this conversation, we discuss the merits of contemporary anti-racism. But we also talk about whether we should aim for the ideal of colorblindness, how to build a more integrated society, and what philosophical liberals can do to stand up to the threat of right-wing populism.

Please do listen, and spread the word about The Good Fight.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @Yascha_Mounk

Website: http://www.persuasion.community

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Michael Sandel, one of the most influential political philosophers of our time, makes a provocative argument: Meritocracy allows successful people to feel good about themselves, and doesn’t do anything to address the plight of those who are less fortunate. It is time to abandon the ideal.

In this conversation about Sandel’s new book, The Tyranny of Merit: What’s Become of the Common Good?, I debate these themes with him. Should we really throw the pursuit of meritocracy on the trash heap of history? Or would it be better to ensure that our society actually lives up to the meritocratic ideal (while ensuring that everyone can have a decent life)?

Please do take the time to listen to our conversation.

If you have not yet signed up for our podcast, please do so now by following this link on your phone.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @Yascha_Mounk

Website: http://www.persuasion.community

Podcast production by John T. Williams

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If you have not yet signed up for our podcast, please do so now by following this link on your phone.

For the past years, Frank Dobbin, a Professor of Sociology at Harvard University, has been researching diversity initiatives at big corporations and academic institutions. He has consistently come to the same, sobering conclusion: They don’t tend to work. And in many cases, they actually backfire.

In this nuts-and-bolts conversation with Yascha Mounk, Dobbin explains why diversity programs so often fail: Especially if they are mandatory, they tend to portray decision-makers as part of the problem, and to threaten them with adverse consequences if they do something wrong.

Instead, he suggests, diversity programs should invite decision-makers to become active advocates for change by making initiatives voluntary and empowering managers to make their own decisions about how to recruit more members of underrepresented groups.

Please do take the time to listen to our conversation.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @Yascha_Mounk

Website: http://www.persuasion.community

Podcast production by John T. Williams

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Please sign up to become a member of Persuasion, the new community Yascha has founded for those who believe that a free society is worth fighting for. Just go to www.persuasion.community

A few days ago, a rather strange exchange caught my attention on Twitter. At a public meeting of a local New York City school board, one member accused another of perpetrating racism by holding his girlfriend’s nephew.

“It hurts people when they see a white man bouncing a brown baby on their lap,” she said. Asked for an explanation as to how this might be racist, she suggested that the man “read a book. Read White Fragility.”

When I delved deeper into this strange story, I discovered that another member of the board had spoken up against this twisted view of the world with lucid rage; to be honest, it was one of the most compelling speeches I have heard in months.

Edward Irizzary is, himself, a product of the New York City public school system. He grew up under difficult circumstances, and joined the local board of education to fight for students just like him. In conversation with me, he explains why the ideas of people like Robin diAngelo, or reforms that are focused on what he calls “cosmetic diversity,” make it harder to improve a deeply flawed educational system.

Please do take the time to listen to our conversation.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @Yascha_Mounk

Website: http://www.persuasion.community

Podcast production by John T. Williams

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Yascha is starting a new platform for citizens who are committed to the defense of a free society. Please go to http://www.persuasion.community to sign up.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @Yascha_Mounk

Website: https://www.yaschamounk.com/

Podcast production by John T. Williams

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Yascha Mounk speaks with Thomas Rid, Professor of Strategic Studies at John Hopkins University SAIS about the operations of secret services around the world and the misinformation campaigns that shape international competition. 

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @Yascha_Mounk

Website: https://www.yaschamounk.com/

Podcast production by John T. Williams

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Yascha Mounk talks to Omar Wasow, a professor of political science at Princeton University, about the case for non-violent protest, and how best to bring about greater racial equality in the United States.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @Yascha_Mounk

Website: https://www.yaschamounk.com/

Podcast production by John T. Williams

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Yascha Mounk talks to Francis Fukuyama about the changes that COVID-19 will (and will not) bring about.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @Yascha_Mounk

Website: https://www.yaschamounk.com/

Podcast production by John T. Williams

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Yascha Mounk talks to Ron Daniels, President of Johns Hopkins University, about the impact the coronavirus will have on higher eduction and the role universities can play in defending liberal democracy against the rise of populism.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @Yascha_Mounk

Website: https://www.yaschamounk.com/

Podcast production by John T. Williams

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Yascha Mounk talks to Sarah Longwell, the Publisher of The Bulwark, about how to persuade those who have voted for populists in the past to change their minds.

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @Yascha_Mounk

Website: https://www.yaschamounk.com/

Podcast production by John T. Williams

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