Aimee and Benjamin trace the careers of Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren over the past few decades. They look at how each responded to the crises of the 1970s, Reaganism in the 1980s, and the political triangulation of the 1990s. Despite appearing very different now, it turns out they have much more in common.

| Reading |

https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/world/americas/30iht-letter.1.6894357.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/30/opinion/joe-biden-a-plan-for-central-america.html

https://fpif.org/continuing-the-crackdown-on-kids/

https://www.weeklystandard.com/christopher-caldwell/elizabeth-warren-closet-conservative

Aimee and Benjamin discuss the policies of Pete Buttigieg during his time as mayor of South Bend, IN. They examine his inhumane approach to the homeless population, the "makeover" of the city, and his 1,000 Houses in 1,000 Days initiative.

| Further Reading|

https://www.southbendtribune.com/.../south-bend...buttigieg...homeless.../article_baec63

https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/south-bend-will-stop-short-of-banning-homeless-encampments/article_8c21a2e6-32b1-11e8-aa91-3bf14deb6e7d.htm

https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/south-bend-considers-legal-options-with-homeless-under-main-street/article_fec3cef8-1585-570e-911a-21f834f073f0.html

https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/advocates-decry-south-bend-s-viaduct-policy-as-council-hears/article_43fa2900-c8e6-11e7-81d9-c3074901bed1.html

https://www.southbendtribune.com/south-bend-crews-clear-homeless-encampment/article_e36248ba-d8f9-11e7-9c43-ffe79f4cadac.html

https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/south-bend-again-tries-to-vacate-homeless-people-camped-under/article_f42b9509-7900-5551-ae50-a14b1977889e.html

http://media.graytvinc.com/documents/Working+Group+Report+on+Chronic+Homelessness.pdf

https://medium.com/@hugh_w_forrest/sxsw-moments-pete-buttigieg-25805817b2da

https://www.citylab.com/life/2018/01/what-millennial-mayors-are-doing-for-city-hall/552005/

https://www.nevadacurrent.com/2019/04/09/buttigieg-touts-youth-as-a-strength-in-first-las-vegas-campaign-visit/

Aimee and Benjamin examine the political implications of different proposals described as "open borders." They talk amnesty, the nation-state, the effect of free movement on the labor market, and why focusing on the border often overlooks America's role in creating conditions that give rise to immigration in the first place.

Aimee and Benjamin examine the relevance of character in politics. They talk Bernie's income, Joe Biden's #metoo moment, and two articles questioning whether Pete Buttigieg is "gay enough" to be president.

| Reading |

Christina Cauterucci, "In a Diverse Candidate Field, How Is Pete Buttigieg’s Sexuality Factoring Into His Appeal?" | https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/03/pete-buttigieg-gay-diversity-white-male-candidate.html

Jacob Bacharach, "Why Pete Buttigieg is bad for gays." | https://theoutline.com/post/7288/why-pete-buttigieg-is-bad-for-gays?zd=1&zi=2coob7vk

Aimee and Benjamin tackle the fallout from the Russia investigation. They discuss the media and the blob, the way these institutions "collude," and the anti-democratic implications that result: manufacturing consent for a securitized and anxious body politic.

| Further Reading |

https://benjaminstudebaker.com/2017/05/10/trussiagate-is-a-neo-mccarthyite-distraction/

https://benjaminstudebaker.com/2018/07/20/why-every-president-tries-to-make-nice-with-russia-and-why-it-never-works/

https://taibbi.substack.com/p/russiagate-is-wmd-times-a-million

Aimee and Benjamin examine the history of the electoral college in US politics and the political motives of those demanding it be abolished. They talk rural voters, proportional representation, and why the electoral college forces presidential candidates to engage with populations they would otherwise ignore.

Aimee and Benjamin examine the various ways liberalism attempts to explain lone wolf terrorism. They discuss the power of dangerous ideas, freedom of speech and civil liberties, and the acceptance of state overreach for protection.