06/01/2023 - Rogue AI, predicting the Supremes, and debt-ceiling dumbskullery: Mark and Carrie go all-in for summer

06/01/2023 - Rogue AI, predicting the Supremes, and debt-ceiling dumbskullery: Mark and Carrie go all-in for summer

Author: Mark and Carrie June 1, 2023 Duration: 39:04

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, share their take on the news.

On this episode:

  • The US debt ceiling deal: nobody won, and it was all based on a deep ignorance of how the economy actually works
  • DeSantis goes peak geek and launches his presidential candidacy with on a glitchy Twitter Spaces™
  • Will Trump’s future criminal charges help or hurt him at the polls?
  • Predictions on the Supreme Court’s final cases of the term, including decisions on environmental protection, affirmative action, and student loans
  • Where does the US-China relationship go from here?
  • Mark and Carrie wonder what AI is thinking
  • The next demoralizing phase in the War in Ukraine. 
  • A surprise twist: good news!

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: 50

Mark and Carrie
Podcast Episodes
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Mark Blyth, political economist at Brown's Watson Institute, and political scientist Carrie Nordlund share their take on the news. On this episode: A lingering pandemic and slow-moving 'coup'; making sense of Trump's ele…
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Mark Blyth, political economist at Brown's Watson Institute, and political scientist Carrie Nordlund share their take on the news. On this episode: rising Covid cases in the US and Europe; the state of the presidential r…
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Mark Blyth, political economist at Brown's Watson Institute, and political scientist Carrie Nordlund share their take on the news. On this episode: Trump and Melania have coronavirus; the electoral insignificance of Trum…