Today's guest is writer and journalist Adam Harris, author of The State Must Provide: Why America's Colleges Have Always Been Unequal―and How to Set Them Right – The Definitive History of Racial Discrimination and a Daring Solution. 

Daniel and Adam talk about Adam's work as a journalist focused on higher education, his time as an Air Force brat, and going back to school season.  Other links:  Dolly Parton corn mazes. 

Daniel's Vanity Fair article on The Midnight Boys. 

Andrew is still trying to get Daniel to read Red Rising. Daniel remains skeptical. Andrew shares why he should be cast in the new Baywatch reboot.

Today's guest is Harvard history professor Sven Beckert. Beckert talks about capitalism, his book Capitalism, and what to make of Americans' sudden interest in socialism and democratic socialism.

Episode notes:

Capitalism: A Global History by Sven Beckert.

"Abdul El-Sayed Lost in 2018. It Set Him Up for 2026." (The American Prospect) by Daniel Strauss.

"How The Midnight Boys Became Your Favorite Nerd’s Favorite Podcast" (Vanity Fair) by Daniel Strauss.

Daniel and Ray then trade questions. Ray asks Daniel if Mitch McConnell is still with us? Daniel asks Ray if Inde Navarrette is about to be the next cinema superstar. 

Guest: Author Kelsey James, author of:

The Colony of Lost Souls

The Woman in the Costello

Secrets of Rose Briar Hall

Other links:

That On Brand Brides episode. 

Guest: Historian Manisha Sinha. Her most recent book is The Rise and Fall of the Second American Republic: Reconstruction, 1860-1920 (2024).

Guest: McKay Coppins and Daniel talk about civic engagement and the good ol' days of blogging. 

Links:

The Obama reelection campaign focused on Mitt Romney, Tim Pawlenty, and Jon Huntsman (The Hill)

McKay's book Romney: A Reckoning 

The Senegal away jersey (Footy Headlines)

Daniel and Thorne talk all things sports: The Knicks! The World Cup! Daniel unloads about the worst show AppleTV is giving a season two. Then, Fonda Lee comes on to talk about her fantastic new book, the Last Contract of Isako. 

Plus Daniel and Thorne talk about parenting and Lee gives her own Mom Flex. 

Take a listen. 

Today's interview is one you don't want to miss. Democratic strategist Max Glass, the longtime adviser behind Abdul El-Sayed, joins the show. Glass talks about growing up in Danville, Virginia, his years in a band, and Glass's rise in Democratic politics. 

Here's a link to that song by The Strugglers, The Cascade Range. 

Today's guest is Theo Baker, the author of How To Rule The World: An Education in Power at Stanford University. The book is a fascinating look into the exclusive world within Stanford University told by Baker during his years as a student there. 

You can buy Baker's book here. 

But there's more! This week is the debut of Winter is Podcasting contributor Andrew Thorne. Take a listen. 

Daniel sat down with Ritter during his visit to the John F. Kennedy School of Government. Ritter talked about his experiences as a political aide and strategist, how he did a stint in college as a comedian for beer money, and his more unusual adventures as an advance man. 

Doherty's bio can be found here. 

This interview was taped well in advance of publishing the episode -even before the podcast had a name.