02/29/2024 - Let’s close up shop and go home

02/29/2024 - Let’s close up shop and go home

Author: Mark and Carrie February 29, 2024 Duration: 34:17

Mark Blyth, political economist at Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, and Carrie Nordlund, political scientist and Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Programs at Brown University, share their take on the news.

On this episode:

  • Democrats' and pundits' concern over the growing realization that President Biden is old
  • Why, despite Biden’s weaknesses and the tough map for Democrats in 2024, control of Congress will likely still be up for grabs in November
  • The Alabama Supreme Court rules that frozen embryos are people, and the Republican Party's toxic politics of reproductive rights
  • Why Trump’s legal troubles might not be as financially damaging as they seem…
  • The continued tragedy and impossible politics of the War in Gaza
  • Sanctions, military expenditures, global isolationism, and the forces shaping the Ukraine War two years in
  • The UK’S dysfunctional economic agenda, part 78

Learn more about the Watson Institute's other podcasts


Every week, Mark and Carrie brings together the distinct perspectives of Mark Blyth, a political economist at Brown University’s Watson Institute, and Carrie Nordlund, a political scientist who helps run Brown’s Master of Public Affairs program. Instead of rehashing headlines, they dig into the forces shaping them, offering a blend of academic insight and straight-talking analysis that clarifies more than it confuses. What you’ll hear is a real conversation-one that can pivot from a deep dive into economic policy to a sharp, witty observation about the day’s political theater, often within the same segment. The result is a refreshing break from the predictable rhythms of news commentary. This podcast thrives on the chemistry between its hosts, making complex topics accessible without oversimplifying them. Tuning in feels less like a lecture and more like sitting in on a lively discussion between two experts who aren’t afraid to challenge each other, or to find the humor in even the most serious subjects. For anyone weary of the media haze, Mark and Carrie provides a thoughtful, topical, and genuinely engaging way to understand the stories that define our world.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 87

Mark and Carrie
Podcast Episodes
9/24/24 - Mark and Carrie make an announcement [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:43
An announcement from Mark and CarrieLearn more about and follow the Rhodes Center PodcastLearn more about the Watson Institute’s other podcasts
05/17/24 - A galactic implosion of incompetence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:14
Mark Blyth, political economist at Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, and Carrie Nordlund, political scientist and Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Programs at Brown University, sha…
04/11/24 - Light banter and philosophical malaise [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:04
Mark Blyth, political economist at Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, and Carrie Nordlund, political scientist and Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Programs at Brown University, sha…
01/31/2024 - The Taylor Swift Marshall Plan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:56
Mark Blyth, political economist at Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, and Carrie Nordlund, political scientist and Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Programs at Brown University, sha…
11/17/2023 - Is the world worse because of Mark and Carrie? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:57
Mark Blyth, political economist at Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, and Carrie Nordlund, political scientist and Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Programs at Brown University, sha…
05/06/2023 - Debts Coming Due [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:07
Mark Blyth, political economist at Brown University's Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, and Carrie Nordlund, political scientist and Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Programs at Brown University, sha…