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Left, Right & Center

KCRW

Left Right & Center is for listeners who feel like people on the other side of the political divide are on Mars. David Greene pieces together the big picture by inviting people from the left and the right to unpack their ideological differences, not to smooth them over, and look at what’s truly at stake. The show offers a rare kind of clarity. It doesn’t ask you to agree. It asks you to look more closely at what’s happening and to challenge your assumptions. 

You might not always agree – you might even get angry – but you’ll know why you feel the way you do. No knee-jerk reactions or name calling. This show doesn’t promise easy answers or warm fuzzies; it promises more clarity for the chaotic political era we’re all living through.

KCRW 2020, 498771

Left Right & Center is for listeners who feel like people on the other side of the political divide are on Mars. David Greene pieces together the big picture by inviting people from the left and the right to unpack their ideological differences, not to smooth them over, and look at what’s truly at stake. The show offers a rare kind of clarity. It doesn’t ask you to agree. It asks you to look more closely at what’s happening and to challenge your assumptions. 

You might not always agree – you might even get angry – but you’ll know why you feel the way you do. No knee-jerk reactions or name calling. This show doesn’t promise easy answers or warm fuzzies; it promises more clarity for the chaotic political era we’re all living through.

KCRW 2020, 498771
20hr 17min
Thumbnail for "Market Madness: Do the best-laid plans sometimes get reversed?".
The president reversed course on his tariff plan hours after it took effect. Can he bring back the nostalgic economic prosperity voters desire?
Thumbnail for "America is in a dark era of political violence".
KCRW reflects on the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Can Democrats carve out a clear foreign policy vision?
Thumbnail for "Can Congress work its way back to relevance?".
Congress struggles for the authority to do its job. Churches are getting more political leeway. Plus, Democrats reignite a war over words.
Thumbnail for "Trump bargains between power, safety, freedom".
President Trump has put safety at the heart of his policies on crime, immigration, and gender. Will safety come at the cost of Americans’ freedom?
Thumbnail for "Trump pursues control of voting, teases a third term".
Can President Trump eliminate mail-in voting? And how far is he willing to go to consolidate federal powers?
Thumbnail for "Trump calls on National Guard to patrol D.C.".
President Trump takes on crime in DC and negotiations with Russia. Plus, KCRW discusses whether presidential power can drive a cultural shift?
Thumbnail for "Was there any good reason to fire BLS chief?".
Trump’s reaction to July’s jobs report created a whole new controversy. Can Congress’ new normal be disrupted? Plus, KCRW discusses journalistic accountability.
Thumbnail for "Will MAGA fractures push Trump to pressure Israel?".
Israel faces criticism over the famine in Gaza. Why is everyone talking about redistricting? Plus, the new “Superman” film and blue jeans reignite the culture war.
Thumbnail for "Trump vs. the media".
Donald Trump fires up another legal case with legacy media. Lawmakers are calling out ICE agents for hiding their identities. Plus, what’s in a team name?
Thumbnail for "When you become the news".
Thumbnail for "Is the MAGA crowd losing faith in its leader?".
Donald Trump’s newest beef is with the MAGA movement. Could the honeymoon be ending? Plus, is tourism to the United States in trouble?
Thumbnail for "Democrats sought accountability after deadly Texas floods. Was it too soon?".
Republicans accuse Democrats of playing partisan games following deadly floods in Texas. How soon is too soon to ask difficult policy questions after a tragedy?
Thumbnail for "Did the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ kill compromise in Washington?".
Is there a major shift on Capitol Hill, or are things working the way they always have? Plus, a SCOTUS ruling raises questions about parents’ rights.
Thumbnail for "Shouldn’t Congress have a say in US military action?".
Is it time to revisit Congress’ war powers authority? NATO makes a new commitment to defense spending. Plus, a democratic socialist could end up as NYC’s new mayor.
Thumbnail for "Trump keeps US and Europe in the dark on Iran plans".
What does “America First” mean when it comes to U.S. plans for Iran? The business community puts pressure on immigration policy. Plus, June marks 10 years since the Charleston church shooting.
Thumbnail for "Could ICE protests sink Trump’s immigration policy?".
Will the protests over the National Guard hurt Trump politically? Plus, will the “Big, Beautiful Bill’s” unpopularity on Wall Street keep it from passing?
Thumbnail for "Breaking up is hard to do".
Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s whirlwind bromance comes to an end. Plus, why are Israel and the UN at odds over a new humanitarian aid group in Gaza?
Thumbnail for "The Court Tester".
The White House calls a wave of lawsuits a threat to the will of the people. Is Trump welcoming those challenges? Plus, campuses tackle a new diversity problem.
Thumbnail for "Corruption, Putin… Burritos?".
President Trump invites a few high rolling guests to dinner. Will there be political costs for Trump’s handling of Ukraine? Plus, should we regulate temptation?
Thumbnail for "GOP infighting creates a big, beautiful nightmare".
Cracks within the GOP turn the “Big, Beautiful Bill” into a mess. President Trump visits the Middle East. Plus, Democrats’ past and future collide.
Thumbnail for "Is the White House budget an attempt to test presidential power?".
Is the White House budget proposal an attempt to fight with Congress? Is America’s birth rate a policy problem? Plus, KCRW examines ChatGPT’s impact on campuses.
Thumbnail for "Voters push back on Trump … in Canada".
Donald Trump influenced an election in Canada — could it happen elsewhere? Plus, what’s driving Trump’s approach to Ukraine?
Thumbnail for "Chaos, conclaves and other concerns".
Can the “chaos” at the Department of Defense be resolved, or is it just how this White House operates? Plus, KCRW examines the political legacy of Pope Francis.
Thumbnail for "For the White House, when you’re wrong, you’re right".
A federal judge ordered the return of a wrongfully deported man — will the White House comply? What’s the likelihood of Harvard University losing $2 billion over antisemitism laws?
Thumbnail for "Is the economy about to have a degrowth spurt?".
Were the April special elections a win for Democrats? How will Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs affect American consumers? Plus, KCRW discusses the feasibility of a third Trump term.

Market Madness: Do the best-laid plans sometimes get reversed?

Thumbnail for "Market Madness: Do the best-laid plans sometimes get reversed?".
April 11, 202550min 34sec

March Madness may have ended, but Market Madness went into effect shortly after Trump announced “reciprocal tariffs” — some over 100% — on imported goods from dozens of countries. Stocks plummeted. Republican figureheads like Ted Cruz spoke out against the sweeping plan. According to Trump, his move became a success once global leaders started offering new trade deals. Then, just hours after the tariffs went into effect, Trump declared a 90-day pause on most of them, excluding China. While the market is still on shaky ground, Trump says it bounced back due to his “master negotiations.” Is the everyday American feeling the relief he claims? 

Meanwhile, prices are still rising. Voters yearn for the days when households could survive on a single income and eggs didn’t cost an arm and a leg. Even with an unfavorable economy, Trump framed his initial tariff plan as a path back to the old American Dream. Is that still possible? Or are we blinded by nostalgia? 

However, it makes sense for voters to cling to the past when facing the political and economic uncertainty of the future. But how should we go about it? America’s got a complicated past. According to the culture wars, the right believes the “greatness” of the past focuses on economic prosperity, and the left says the “greatness” of the past came at the cost of certain minority groups. Do we need to resolve a definition of American greatness?

Thumbnail for "Market Madness: Do the best-laid plans sometimes get reversed?".
Market Madness: Do the best-laid plans sometimes get reversed?
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