Tilting at Windmills

An Insightful Journey through Law, History, and Society with Professor Richard AbelIn this episode, host Mike Donahue engages with the esteemed Professor Richard Abel, Emeritus and Distinguished Research Professor at UCLA, exploring his impressive academic journey and profound contributions to law and social science.Abel recounts his initial intention to be a civil rights lawyer, his impactful work in Mississippi, and his academic pursuit at Harvard, Columbia Law School, and the University of London. He discusses his significant role in developing the field of law and social science, his critical research on professional responsibility within the legal profession, and his shift in focus towards social issues in the U.S. and the UK due to familial responsibilities. Abel also delves into his inspiring research on the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa, sharing personal anecdotes about Nelson Mandela and the role of law in social change. The conversation transitions to Abel's concern over the U.S. response to 9/11, the war on terror, and the subsequent legal and moral ramifications under the Bush and Trump administrations. Abel highlights the erosion of democratic institutions, the polarization within the judiciary, and the pressing need for electoral reform in the U.S. to protect democracy. Despite concluding on concerns for democracy's future and the challenges ahead, Abel shares his passion for music as a source of transcendence and peace, reflecting on the therapeutic role it played for him, especially during difficult times such as 9/11.00:00 Welcome to Tilting at Windmills: Introducing Professor Richard Abel00:34 A Distinguished Career: From Civil Rights to UCLA01:31 Journey Through Law: Civil Rights, London, and Beyond02:27 Exploring Law and Social Science: A Shift in Focus04:59 The South African Adventure: Law Against Apartheid11:50 From South Africa to the War on Terror: Legal Battles24:26 The Trump Era: Autocracy and the Rule of Law30:27 Exploring Resistance and Democracy in the Trump Era31:12 The Decline of Book Reading and Political Polarization32:55 The Impact of Social Media on Political Echo Chambers33:28 The Role of Presidential Debates in Political Discourse35:17 The Decline of Journalism and Its Long-term Effects36:42 Judiciary's Role and Political Bias in Court Decisions42:40 The Importance of the Rule of Law and Democratic Institutions46:13 The Potential Threats to American Democracy and Optimism for the Future48:30 Improving Democracy: Election Laws and Political Polarization49:53 The Role of Media and Public Perception in Political Issues58:50 Personal Reflections and Recommendations01:02:12 Final Thoughts and Future Projects

Exploring the Psychology of Political BeliefsIn this episode titled 'Exploring the Psychology of Political Beliefs', Mike Donoghue hosts Keegan Tatum, a creator specializing in political psychology, for an in-depth conversation on diverse topics. They begin by discussing Keegan's channel, Alien Perspective, which aims to understand and critique conservative ideologies from a political psychology perspective. Keegan shares insights on his educational background, his fascination with political psychology, and his critical stance on conservative politics, emphasizing a desire to maximize human well-being and freedom.The conversation delves into the complexities of convincing individuals with differing political views through empathy and compassion, drawing on examples from history and current politics to illustrate the psychological differences between conservatives and liberals. Keegan, openly autistic, reflects on how his condition influences his detached, analytical approach to politics.The discussion also covers proposals for improving American democracy, the psychology behind transphobia and the impact of media on public perception of political and social issues. Keegan recommends Democracy Now! as a news source and shares his admiration for a Lo-Fi remix of the Evenstar song from Lord of the Rings as a form of relaxation.00:00 Introduction to Alien Perspective: A Unique Take on Political Psychology01:05 Meet Keegan Tatum: A Political Psychology Expert02:19 Exploring the Mindset of Conservatism vs. Liberalism08:57 The Impact of Autism on Political Views10:52 Debunking Myths: Healthcare, Capitalism, and Conservatism14:12 Media Influence and Public Perception16:43 Conservatism: A Psychological Analysis31:20 Religion, Authoritarianism, and Political Ideologies34:29 Bernie Sanders: A Personal Political Journey36:07 The Political Landscape: Voting, Democracy, and Bernie Sanders36:29 Addressing the Bernie Bro Trope and Electoral Participation36:53 The Threat of Trump's Presidency and Authoritarianism38:14 Improving American Democracy: Proportional Representation and Mandatory Voting39:37 The Impact of Mandatory Voting and Political Engagement40:31 The Role of Empathy and Open-mindedness in Politics44:20 The Future of American Politics: Polarization and Progressivism47:46 Addressing Climate Change and Global Empathy51:38 The Evolution of Political Polarization and Authoritarianism01:02:11 Understanding Transphobia and Gender Identity01:08:44 Concluding Thoughts and Recommendations

Exploring American Inheritance: A Tale of Oppression and Continued Harm to our Native Americans.In this episode of 'Tilting at Windmills,' host Mike Donahue interviews award-winning journalist and author Rebecca Claren about her latest book, 'The Cost of Free Land: Jews, Lakota, and an American Inheritance.' The book delves into the intertwined histories of Jews and Native Americans in the context of American colonialism and explores the complex legacy of escaping oppression only to become part of an oppressive system in America.They discuss the ongoing harm to Native Americans, the responsibility of current generations to rectify past and present injustices, and the concept of being a 'good ancestor' by acknowledging and working to remedy the benefits derived from the harm done to Native peoples. The conversation also addresses the challenges of grappling with America's colonial past, the need for a more truthful telling of American history, and suggests ways for individuals to contribute to repairing the harms caused. Additionally, the episode explores cultural sensitivity, assimilation, and offers tangible steps for personal remediation towards Native nations.00:00 Exploring the American Story of Oppression and Inheritance01:07 Introducing 'The Cost of Freeland' with Rebecca Claren01:33 The Interwoven Histories of Jews and Native Americans05:57 The Ongoing Harm and the Quest for Reparation14:42 Cultural Sensitivity, Empathy, and Learning from History35:26 Personal Remediation and Steps Towards Healing37:27 Drawing Parallels: From Native American Lands to Global Conflicts40:28 Media Recommendations and Closing Thoughts

In this episode, Mike learns about Countermobilization from Eric Patashnik, author of Countermobilization: Policy Feedback and Backlash in a Polarized Age. Eric is the professor and Department Chair of Political Science for the Watson Institute, Brown University. Eric

And women in general, apparently. Frequent contributors Shanna and Meghna let Mike know where he's mistaken.

In this episode, Mike interviews lawyer-cum-farmer Nicolette Hahn Niman, a rancher advocating for the ethical treatment of livestock. Nicolette is the author of Righteous Porkchop and Defending Beef.

In this episode, Mitsu Hadeishi, definitely not a bon vivant but definitely someone who knows better than Mike about the ins and outs of software development, Silicon Valley, and the art world, and physics, and... I'm gonna run out of room... lets Mike know why Mike is wrong about Elon Musk.

Mike takes a pretty good beating as his guest, noted political commentator Roifield Brown, disabuses Michael as to his notions regarding UK and US politics. To break the bitterness of discussing politics, they move on to discuss the bitterness of last year's F1 finale, and the bitterness of the rest of the world not to accept the American usage of the word Football.

This was actually originally broadcasted live. I'm including it because Meghna turns out to be right, and Mike turns out to be wrong. We were discussing the RBG SCOTUS seat, and who might fill it.

This episode's guest is Dr. Dallasheh, a professor of Middle East history at Humboldt State. They explain why Mike is wrong about the history of middle east tensions, of the creation of the Israeli and Palestinian states, and the incursion of BDS laws into American legal codes.

What does feminism mean in today’s society, and how can we improve everyone’s view on it?  Today on the show Mike is talking with Dr. Martha Rampton, professor at Pacific University about what feminism is and the many nuances that come with that topic. Mike and Dr. Rampton talk about the history of feminism and how it’s changed throughout time, and where she thinks it is heading. They talk about societal equity, what we can do about the wage gap, and the roles women have played in society.  Dr. Rampton also discusses transgenderism and how it relates to feminism. She also touches on how it might feel to be treated poorly because you are transgender, and how we can all be a little more accepting towards the movement.  TIMESTAMPS  1:26 - Elevator Pitch on Feminism 3:05 - The Four Waves of Feminism 7:57 - Examples of Feminism Throughout History 9:31 - Examples of Matriarchal Societies Throughout History 10:58 Defining Equity 13:59 - Are We All the Same, and Should We Be Treated as Such? 17:07 - Equality of Results vs Equality of Opportunity 18:48 - Equity Being a Threat to Middle Aged White Men 22:16 - Thought Policing 25:20 - What is Hate Speech and What is a Difference in Opinion? 30:13 - How to Define Hate Speech 33:27 - What Should We Be Focusing on? 36:31 - Not Calling Someone By Their Preferred Pronoun 38:40 - Thoughts on TERF 40:39 - Difference Between Sex and Gender 47:49 - Straight Privilege 52:52 - Explaining Privilege Without Being Offensive 56:37 - Gender Pay Wage Gap 1:05:32 - What to do About the Wage Gap 1:12:31 - The Tradition of Women in Society 1:17:41 - Allowing Transgender People to Compete in Sports 1:24:11 - Gender vs Sex in Relation to Sports

Will there be a moment in time that artificial intelligence takes over, and the human race as we know it ceases to exist? What impact would that have on the economy, the governments, or the mindsets of the population? Today on the show Mike is talking with Nikola Danaylov, #1 Bestselling Author of Conversations with the Future, Keynote Speaker, Strategic Advisor, and popular blogger and podcast host about the possible future that we may face. Mike and Nikola discuss the tough questions that come with the stories we all tell ourselves and how that plays such a big role in everything we experience. What makes a human, human? How do we differentiate consciousness from sentseience? Nikola postulates that we are all living in a life of illusion, that everything we experience is going through some sort of filter that never allows us to fully understand what the world’s reality is vs our individual reality.  If you’re looking for a philosophical discussion about the future of humanity, look no further, Nikola has some of the best insights of anyone. TIMESTAMPS 1:09 - What is the Singularity? 9:04 - Uploading Human Consciousness to Hardware 10:00 - If Computers Take Over Before We’re Able to Be Uploaded 15:00 - Definition of Sentience vs Consciousness 16:39 - What Makes a Human, Human? 19:48 - Is the Mind a Biological Computer? 27:56 - A Life of Illusion 30:48 - The Implications of the Next Revolution 33:20 - Disruptive Impact of Automation on the Workforce 43:00 - Governments Taxation of Artificial Intelligence 50:01 - The Impact Stories Have on Humans 58:06 - Effects on the United States Economy 1:00:55 - People Who Will Lose Their Job Because of Automation 1:04:38 - Your Reality vs the World’s Reality 1:11:31 - Using Your Taxes for UBI 1:15:56 - Philosophy Is Not For the Poor 1:17:39 - Replacing Happiness with Money 1:21:21 - Give a Man a Strong Enough “Why”, He’ll Endure Any “How” 1:29:42 - Experiencing Different Perspectives Behind Happiness 1:36:57 - The Tangible vs the Ethereal 1:39:23 - Will the Singularity Create Utopia or Dystopia 1:43:40 - Parting Thought About the Interaction Between Technology and Mankind

Are we living an objective truth, or are we just telling ourselves a story that we want to hear? Today on the show Mike is talking with Ron Kasdorf, a professor at the College of the Canyons. Mike and Ron discuss what the term “facts” actually means, is there objectivity in the world or is it all just subjective storytelling? It is not possible for us to take in the meaning of the world around us without adding our own filter onto it. Culture plays a huge role in how we interpret the world. We decide what words mean, we decide that math and science binds the rules of the world together, and each culture is going to do that slightly differently. Ron and Mike also discuss the education system and how school systems need to teach more critical thinking, so children can start to make up their own minds about what’s happening around them. Also, they discuss why Ron thinks that the government shouldn’t be involved in our education system. Taking in the world around you is inherently subjective, we all agree on a set of rules that we call facts, that is the argument of Ron Kasdorf, do you agree?

Words are powerful, watching what we say and evolving our vocabulary over time is an important step in inclusivity! Today on the show Mike is talking with Callie Wright, host and producer of Queersplaining, a podcast telling the stories of trans and queer people that don’t get a chance to share their stories. Mike and Callie discuss why our society has such an obsession with the “boxes” that need to be checked, the idea of having trans gender athletes compete on all levels, when someone should think about getting a reassignment surgery, and much more! Listen in for tips on how to better handle the awkward conversations you might have with trans gender people, and how to avoid any discomfort felt by either party. For a masterclass in the trans, and queer community, be sure to tune in to today’s episode

Video Game Addiction Video games are almost ubiquitous in today’s society, especially among the younger generation. Most people play games to relax and get away for a bit but just like any other activity, there can be downsides. If you are finding yourself unable to disconnect from games at the cost of your real life, friends or health, you could be experiencing a video game addiction. Today on the show, Michael talks with Dr. Alok Kanojia and Kruti Kanojia to discuss the problems with playing too many video games. Michael tries to figure out if he is addicted to video games, and run through ways to solve issues you might run into with a parent-child relationship. You don’t need to completely cut off your child from video games, that will only cause resentment. Instead find out what they love about playing video games so much, and trouble-shoot what might be missing from their real life. It’s clear that developers want you to play the game as much as possible, but is that contributing directly to video game addictions? Well the answer is a little more tricky than you might think, while developers do contribute to the problem, it’s a lot more nuanced than just shiny loot boxes getting you to play more. It’s easy to confuse spending a lot of money on a game, with playing the game more, but just because someone is paying more, doesn’t mean they are playing more. Whether you’re playing to get away from reality for a little bit, or playing to compete and win against 99 other people in an arena, there are healthy habits to form while gaming, and unhealthy habits. Make sure you are keeping an eye on the rest of your life and take a break, step outside, and form healthy habits to live by. Healthy Gamer | Tilting at Windmills

In this episode, Laura (longtime Vegan) and Staycie (1-year Vegan) tell Mike why he’s wrong about Veganism.

In this episode, Dr. Peter Ditto from UCI tells Mike how wrong he is about liberal vs. conservative bias.

Physicist Lamar Glover (star? star! of Netflix’s Behind the Curve) tells Mike why he’s wrong about how he reaches out to Trump supporters.

Mike’s eighth-favorite Englishman, Neil Garratt, returns to tell Mike exactly why he’s wrong about Brexit.

Mike talks to Mr. X, a firm believer in the wall.

Mike talks to a 2A advocate about Gun Control.  And gets depressed.

Mike interviews Our Revolution SoCal OC’s Tim Johnson.

Coach Jobb whiteboards out to Mike just how wrong Mike is.

Staycie visits Mike in jail and argues about Judge Kavanaugh.

Neil swims across the pond to tell Mike how wrong he is about Trump.  He’s wrong. This is the slimmed down version – if you want to hear the full discussion, it is here: MP3

Laura pops into Mike’s B&B to tell him why he’s wrong about Serena Williams and the response to her behavior at the US Open.

Meghna drops in to discuss John McCain and the reaction to his passing.  Shanna tells Mike where to eat this week.