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Today we welcome back Jen Thompson, one of our favorite guests and the author of Wild Pivot: Notes from a Political Life Rewritten.  Jen talks to us about the recent Ramaswamy attack ad that used his opponent's estranged mother to attack her character. 

Jen has written an open letter to Megan Kelly condemning her comments regarding the Cornell 7

https://jenthompsonwritesthings.substack.com/p/megyn-kelly-heres-my-phone-number 

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 Trevor from Scranton, Pennsylvania, writes:  

Please help me understand.  

To boost his dismal poll numbers and avoid a full-blown shellacking in November, Trump has apparently struck a deal with the devil: the U.S. will buy diesel from Russia.  From everything I’ve read, the deal is flawed from the start. 

The amount of fuel involved wouldn’t meaningfully ease shortages at home, so voters wo...

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Teshie from Washington, DC writes:  

Well, here we go again. After the Gilfoyle fiasco, we now have another entry in the ever‑growing chapter of “let’s hire the incompetent.” Anthony Scaramucci is no longer the shortest‑serving press secretary in American history; Katie Zachariah, the former Newsmax personality and maybe‑lawyer, has claimed the title. Her performance was so disastrous that even Donald Trump, the self‑proclaimed master of perso...

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Isaac from Haifa, Israel writes:

Yesterday, President Trump finally issued a full-throated endorsement of Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s upcoming elections. I know the panel isn’t exactly enthusiastic about our prime minister, and to be honest, neither am I, but this endorsement could still shape the political landscape. I’m hoping for an American perspective on what’s going on here.

First, why did Trump ma...

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Tyrone from Manchester, New Hampshire, writes:

The Houthis launched another attack on Saudi Arabia this week, striking a major airport and, according to early reports, killing at least 13 civilians. 

Riyadh has responded, but so far the retaliation appears limited. That raises several big questions for us today.

First, should the United States step in and assist the Saudis, or does deeper involvement risk widening a...

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Sonnie from the University of Georgia writes: 

So, another Trump pseudo-family scandal with Kimberly Gilfoyle.  In my opinion, the questions extend beyond how this looks.  

What does it say about U.S. diplomatic integrity when an ambassador is accused of soliciting a $100,000 payment from a political donor in exchange for access to senior administration officials?  

If the allegations are true, does Guilfoyle’s conduct repres...

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Todd, from Texas Christian University, writes:

What does it mean for American justice, and American society, that the Pentagon will publicly livestream the first U.S. military firing squad execution since World War II?” 

Does livestreaming an execution serve transparency, or does it risk turning capital punishment into a public spectacle? 

Could broadcasting Hasan’s execution create unintended risks, such as martyrdom or radicalization, despit...

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Today we again welcome back one of our favorite guests Eva Posner.

Eva Posner is a sought-after podcast guest known for her insightful, direct, and often humorous takes on Democratic politics, campaigns, and ideology. She fearlessly pulls back the curtain on the political industrial complex, offering a candid perspective on its implications for the future of democracy.

In 2026, Eva marks ten years of powerful movement building...

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Today we again welcome back one of our favorite guests Eva Posner.

Eva Posner is a sought-after podcast guest known for her insightful, direct, and often humorous takes on Democratic politics, campaigns, and ideology. She fearlessly pulls back the curtain on the political industrial complex, offering a candid perspective on its implications for the future of democracy.

In 2026, Eva marks ten years of powerful movement building...

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James from SUNY Albany writes:

I’m studying Political Science, and I fully admit I’m a political nerd. I can’t get enough of polling, and I love watching the electoral map shift almost daily. 

From what I’m seeing, it’s not just looking rough for Republicans; it’s starting to resemble a potential electoral disaster. It's remarkable that states like Kansas, Texas, Iowa, Ohio, North C...

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Terry from the University of Georgia writes:

I’m sure this will spark debate, and Dr. Mark will probably roll his eyes reading it, but I need to ask the question anyway. 

Trump has repeatedly declined to rule out declaring a national emergency if a Blue wave materializes next month. That kind of refusal to affirm a commitment to free and fair elections is deeply troubling. 

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Sierra, from THE Ohio State University, writes:

As a law student who also minors in Political Science, I watched the Senate hearings with Jack Smith knowing full well they were designed more for spectacle than for any meaningful insight into the investigations. Even with that expectation, I was stunned. The Republicans managed to embarrass themselves at nearly every turn.

Missouri’s Eric Schmitt couldn’t get the...

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Sydney from Las Vegas, Nevada writes:

I’m a student from UA studying Political Science.

Last week, President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu addressed the UN General Assembly. Trump’s remarks, particularly his threat to “annihilate” Iran, were met with scattered laughter in the chamber, while Netanyahu faced a largely empty hall as many delegates walked out before he began. These moments are symbolic, of course, but symb...

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Mike from Houston, Texas, writes:

I found it striking that during President Xi’s visit last week, most of the coverage circulating in the U.S. came from Chinese media. American news outlets, for the most part, are still absent from the White House press pool after President Trump’s ban on CNN, ProPublica, and MS Now. Some commentators argue that denying the administration airtime deprives Trump of the...

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Kelly, from Marquette University, writes:

I’m a history student at Marquette University, and my thesis examines the recurring patterns that precede major global conflicts. 

In the 1920s, Germany became a pariah state under the punitive terms of the Treaty of Versailles. The resulting national humiliation, economic collapse, and political fragmentation created fertile ground for the rise of Hitler, whose regime sought to reclaim status and red...

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Today we welcome Markham Hilsop to the show. Markham is a Canadian journalist and CEO of Energi Media, one of Canada's leading independent news organizations. Our journalism currently averages over 6 million views/reads per month. We also have a sizable and growing US audience. Energi Media is celebrating its 18th year. 

This was an enjoyable episode for all of us here at the Nova Society.

We w...

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Today we welcome Wesley Warshawer to the show.

Wesley Warshawer is a business analyst in Silicon Valley’s semiconductor industry, a Fulbright Scholar to South Korea, essayist, podcast host, and speaker. 

He loves his work. For a living, he analyzes situations with data and communicates about it. 

But outside of semiconductors, he is passionate about exiting the safety of his “bubble” to learn. After a profou...

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Today, Dr. Don Kettl agreed to stay around and help answer some listener questions.

Tam from Boulder, Colorado, writes:

 Trump recently announced that if Republicans win both the House and Senate in the midterms, he will issue a $5,000 check to every American. Speaker Johnson has hinted that the House might be willing to work with him on something like this, though he added, “no promises.”

To...

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Today, we’re delighted to welcome back Jen Thompson as she joins us on the eve of her forthcoming book, Wild Pivot: Notes from a Political Life Rewritten.

A former high‑powered Republican strategist and congressional lawyer, Jen built her career at the center of national politics before a near‑fatal car accident forced her to step away from Washington and rethink everyt...

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Today, Dr. Don Kettl agreed to stay around and help answer some listener questions.

Raymond from Albany, New York, writes:  

I know the panel would love to see a major shift in party control in the midterm elections, and honestly, I would too. But I’m also realistic. Even if Democrats were to retake both the House and the Senate, they still wouldn’t have the numbe...

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Today we welcome Dr. Don Kettl to the show. 

Donald Kettl specializes in public management and public policy. He previously served as dean of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy and is a nonresident senior fellow at the Volcker Alliance, the Brookings Institution, and the Partnership for Public Service. He has authored numerous books.

He has received three lifetime achievement awards: the American Political S...

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Adam from Magdeburg, Germany, writes:  Maybe it’s time for the world to wake up to the political shifts happening across democracies. Here in Saxony‑Anhalt, the far‑right AfD just won 39 seats in the state parliament, thankfully still short of the 42 needed for a majority. But this party openly embraces ideas that echo white nationalism and, in some cases, the rhetoric of historical fascism. It’s unsettling, and yet people vo...

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Today we get an update on the digital democracy project from its CEO, Ramon Perez.

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The Nova Society Podcast 

In season 5, we will transition to 3 episodes per week and expand episode lengths for more in-depth conversations.

Stay tuned for more information about our proposed weekly second channel, The Nova Society-Side Projects

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Tim from Santa Fe, New Mexico, writes:

I sometimes find myself wondering just how gullible the American electorate can be.

 First, we got the Gulf of America. Then came Lake America. And now, apparently, “dumb Donny” wants to rename my state, New Mexico, as New America.

 If you’re an ultranationalist, maybe this all sounds perfectly reasonable. After all, putting “America first” seems to require litt...

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Today we had the pleasure of interviewing James G Ellis, former businessman and entrepreneur, and Dean Emeritus of the Marshall School of Business at the University of California. He gave insights into his new book, A Journey of Insights: Lessons in Leadership and Legacy.  Available wherever books are sold. 

Learn about Jim www.jamesgellisauthor.com 

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