No Politics at the Dinner Table - Podcast

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony needed some informed perspective on the war in Gaza, so they spoke with historian Seth Anziska of University College of London. His book Preventing Palestine: A Political History from Camp David to Oslo offers what might be the best diplomatic history of the period and sheds light on present crisis.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony are back after a...half a year break! They dedicate their comeback episode to the war in Gaza and try to figure out how to figure out what to believe.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony discuss the latest from the highest court in the land and try to assess just how terrible the rulings this year were (Spoiler: they were pretty terrible).

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony bring on a true friend of the show to discuss policing in France: Amit! The police murder of Nahel Merzouk last week is the spark for this discussion. Also, check out Amit's book and or piece in The Nation on this very topic. Book: https://global.oup.com/academic/product/empire-on-the-seine-9780192898876?cc=us&lang=en& Article: https://www.thenation.com/article/world/france-racist-policing-history/

Brothers-in-law (or are we just all robots?) Amit and Tony discuss what comes next for the GOP presidential primary race and the looming figure of the Terminator.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony talk confidentiality, secrets, and top secrets...and whatever other superlatives that somehow beat out top secrets with historian Matthew Connelly. Matt comes on to talk about his new book The Declassification Engine: What History Reveals about America's Top Secrets, and it's a must-listen and must-read.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony talk Trump indictment and its relative meaning--good, bad, and probably definitely ugly. The main event, however, is the recent scrutiny of TikTok at the Capitol and social media in general in Utah.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony think about the 20th anniversary of the American invasion of Iraq. We will never understand why George W, Bush, Dick Cheney, and crew are not locked up as war criminals, but we do have our differences on American power in the world.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony take stock of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' pro-school and pro-children policies: more guns, less books. Do you like it or do you LOVE it? Also, Biden on the border and stick around for Party Favors.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony consider what a year of the Russo-Ukrainian war has meant for the world order, how much and how long America will continue to back Ukraine, and what endorsing Zelensky's war aims might mean. Spoiler: all of it is not good.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony discuss Amit's new obsession--a certain freshman Congressman from New York and all of his tales.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony mull over Warnock's win and Sinema's official defection, and then flip the script by starting with Party Favors! After that, stay tuned for Amit's interview with historian and MSNBC contributor Ruth Ben-Ghiat about fascism and what's going on in Italian and global politics these days.

In this special episode, Amit has a solo interview with renowned border control journalist Todd Miller about his latest book, Empire of Borders. Among other things, they discuss how border journalism has become a thing and what we can learn about rethinking borders from indigenous people.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony break down the outcome of the midterms and do some forecasting. Fo example: Ron DeSanctimonious? Not going to stick.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony reboot the reboot after a looong summer break. And it's just time to talk mid-term elections in PA and OH and, unfortunately, anti-Semitism from pop culture icons.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony discuss their takes on the January 6th Commission and Amit gives the kiss off to SCOTUS.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony discuss just how and why the Biden administration has not departed from Trump's border policy. Along the way, we get to Johnny Depp v. Amber Heard and Elon Musk's latest app purchase.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony discuss what makes Sufis, neo-fascists, and Russian imperialists get hyped up: a weird theory called Traditionalism. We speak with the guy who wrote the book on it, Benjamin Teitelbaum, and learn about how maybe Limp Bizkit's "Break Stuff" could be a Traditionalist anthem.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony rank the Republic Senators on the Judiciary Committee we love to hate the most. Along the way, we discuss Judge Jackson's performance during the confirmation hearings and remember Anita Hill and Christine Blasey Ford.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony ponder why Putin never learned that to assume makes an ass out of u and me. Also, what does de-escalation look like and when is it coming??

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony talk over Biden's State of the Union Address--what he said and didn't say--the war in Ukraine, and why the NY Times is both essential and awful.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony tackle Putin's stress test of the liberal order in eastern Europe: his aggressive war on Ukraine. One thing to remember: he's an imperialist.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony get educated by Roosevelt Montás on why reading some old books--very old books--might be just what our society needs right now. He's got a great new book about Great Books and a lot of people are upset about it.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony mull over the early weeks of the Eric Adams' administration in New York City. He's appointing family members to high positions and advocating for workers in not-so-great terms. Which do you think the mainstream liberal press focuses on more?

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony discuss the causes and consequences of the storming of the Capitol on its first anniversary. Upshot: America is polarized but maybe not as polarized as Amit and Tony on Don't Look Up.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony have on one of the most accomplished national security reporters, Spencer Ackerman, to discuss his new book Reign of Terror. This is a must-read, must-listen if you want to get a full account of the war on terror since 9/11 and its main features (hint: they predate 9/11).

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony celebrate their 100th (!!!) episode with some highlights from the past--from shows going back to early 2016 to all the way through 2021. Featuring, as always, the amazing music of Jeet Baidyaroy!

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony welcome back historian and law professor Sam Moyn to discuss his new must-read book -- Humane: How the US Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War. Spoiler alert: lots of unexpected consequences to humanitarianism.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony are back from a summer hiatus to discuss 9/11 and its aftermaths in American society and globally. Also, we discuss one way to stop the forever war: reinstate the draft.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony discuss your favorite soon-to-be former governor Andrew Cuomo, his serial harassment, and also think about slogans to get rid of ICE.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony ponder why the hell billionaires are trying to outdo each other in achieving space flight, something that's been done since 1961 many times over. Besides the shape of the rockets, what else is this a phenomena a metaphor for?

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony speak with the brilliant Mike Clune about how we all need to acknowledge the fact that we are all judgy and that's ok. In fact, it's better than ok and Mike's got a powerful argument for it. Read his book: https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/D/bo41988264.html Subscribe to our weekly newsletter: https://npdt.substack.com/

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony contemplate the passing of that other horrible Donald (Rumsfeld) and the legacy of the US response to 9/11. Also, did Kamala Harris think Veep! was a how-to documentary?

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony discuss their ranked choices for New York's mayoral Democratic primary. Yang? Adams? Nah. We've got much better choices.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony fulfill every woman's dream: two men talking about abortion. We also ponder why the Dems are in power yet so weak.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony talk about the ongoing Israeli attack on Gaza why the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is covered in the way it is in the US.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony get an education on soccer/football, the 48-hour history of the Super League, and why all soccer fans are really Eagles fans from soccer savant Michael Davies of the Men in Blazers podcast (https://meninblazers.com/). Sign up for the No Politics newsletter: npdt.substack.com

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony discuss yet another police killing in Minnesota just a few miles away from the Derek Chauvin trial. They also tackle the return of Samantha Power to D.C. Conclusion: not good.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony talk about Amazon's anti-union tactics in Alabama and the Derek Chauvin trial. Literal and figurative shittiness is the general theme.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony discuss the Atlanta massacre, anti-Asian ideology, and culture in the plural with historian, museum curator, and archivist Jack Tchen. Amongst many things, we learn that George Washington was really into Chinese dinnerware.

A No Politics first! Just Amit this time interviewing the distinguished historian Rashid Khalidi about the question of Palestine and his new book. One of the many takeaways: David is Goliath.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony talk about Biden's retreats and the number one danger in America right now: cancel culture.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony commune over the universal hatred of Ted Cruz and the wonderful memes that are the byproduct. Along the way, they talk the Texas energy grid and the Republican monopoly on freedom.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony talk impeachment 2.0--good idea or great idea?--and what Biden should be doing with these early days of setting priorities.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony get schooled on a certain type of church with journalist Katherine Stewart who has followed the religious right for over a decade.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony talk over what Biden and should do straight out of the gate. Hint: aim high and be ruthless.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony contemplate how such a stupid coup could be nearly successful. Along the way, they discuss the Vietnam War, the Klan, and Chief Justice John Roberts--they're all related.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony keep it a family affair this week with a very special guest: Princeton historian, authority on Indian history and politics, and Amit's dad--Gyan Prakash. We talk India, Hindu nationalism, neoliberalism, and the new "love jihad" conspiracy.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony have on historian and legal scholar Sam Moyn to discuss the dangers of the Never Trumpers, the coming Biden administration, and what needs to be next for the Democrats. We also get to war and peace, Jeff Bezos, and why we all need to celebrate AOC's 35th birthday.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony mull over the fact that pieces of paper, barbed wire, and harsh environments all decide where we get to walk around the world. Along the way, Amit's eating habits, creepy uncles, and criminal doctors are all tackled.

Brothers-in-law Amit and Tony follow a story from Tony's ancestral homeland, Bucks County, PA, about a strike of 800 nurses. We are lucky enough to have on one of them, Bill Engle, who has heroically worked throughout the COVID crisis, and in addition to taking on a global pandemic is also taking on a massive hospital conglomerate to get what nurses deserve.