The McGill International Review

MIR Meets: Dominik Leusder

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:29:15 -0400

Host Theo Shouse interviews economist Dominik Leusder about European political economy. They discuss European economic growth and stagnation, the Eurozone crisis, and the energy shocks from the Ukraine and Iran wars.

MIR Meets: P. Sainath

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 10:56:36 -0400

Host Kai Samuel-Szablowski speaks with P. Sainath, founder of the People’s Archive of Rural India (PARI) and author of the acclaimed Everybody Loves a Good Drought. Sainath won the Ramon Magsaysay Award, Asia’s most prestigious prize, for his journalism advocating for India's rural poor.

They discuss his mission at PARI, India’s agrarian crisis and increasing inequality, and the state of journalism and media in India.

MIR Meets: Karen Cocq

Wed, 18 Mar 2026 23:22:32 -0400

Host Devina Briggs-Hammoud speaks with Karen Cocq, co-executive director of the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change, about Bill C-12 and what it could mean for immigration in Canada.

MIR Meets: Shachi Kurl

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 15:55:45 -0400

Host Kai Samuel-Szablowski speaks with Shachi Kurl, president of the Angus Reid Institute, to discuss the latest trends in Canadian public opinion.

Review Radio: Les Barrières Linguistiques en Santé au Canada

Fri, 13 Mar 2026 11:39:04 -0400

La présentatrice Adèle Doat explore les recommandations du nouveau rapport du Comité sénatorial permanent des langues officielles pour faciliter l'accès aux services de santé dans la langue officielle de son choix, afin de garantir l’équité des soins au Canada.

Elle s’est entretenue avec le sénateur René Cormier du Nouveau-Brunswick, ainsi qu’Antoine Désilets, directeur général de la Société Santé en français.

Review Radio: The Challenges Facing Journalism in the Digital Age

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 12:19:29 -0500

Host Adèle Doat explores the pressures shaping journalism in the digital age, from the news trust crisis to the rise of news influencers on social media. She is joined by Gina M. Masullo, an Associate Professor in the School of Journalism and Associate Director of the Center for Media Engagement in the Moody College of Communication at UT Austin, and by David Marchese, a journalist at The New York Times and co-host of The Interview.

MIR Meets: Teresa Marshall

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:23:01 -0500

Host Lauren Archibald speaks with Teresa Marshall, a multimedia artist, labour and social justice organizer, and independent filmmaker. They discuss how she has used communications and art to advocate for change over the course of her career.

MIR Meets: Liam Olsen

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 18:03:51 -0500

Host Lauren Archibald sits down with Liam Olsen, National Chair of the Young Liberals of Canada, to discuss youth engagement in politics.

Valdez Onanina sur les Désinformations Russes au Sahel

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 18:08:09 -0500

Camille Tavitian parle avec Valdez Onanina, journaliste et directeur du bureau francophone de Africa Check, une organisation à but non lucratif spécialisée dans la vérification des faits en Afrique. Ils discutent de comment l’organisme répond à la désinformation russe au Sahel.

MIR Meets: Alanna Smith

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 11:17:45 -0500

Sydney Murray speaks with The Globe and Mail reporter Alanna Smith – one of the first journalists to break the news that Canada lost its measles elimination status – to discuss the work of a health reporter in today's politically charged environment, vaccinations, how to build trust with your readership, and the recent measles crisis in Canada.

MIR Meets: Sonia Kgomo

Sat, 22 Nov 2025 15:13:50 -0500

Host Ava Francin sits down with Sonia Kgomo, a former Facebook content moderator and now organizer with African Tech Workers Rising. They discuss her work in union advocacy for fair labour conditions for digital supply chain workers.

MIR Meets: Kevin Page

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 13:33:06 -0500

Host Theodore Yohalem Shouse sits down with economist Kevin Page, Canada’s inaugural parliamentary budget officer and current director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies and Democracy, to discuss the 2025 federal budget.

Review Radio: How Finland Prepares for Invasion Through Comprehensive Security

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 10:50:22 -0500

Host Adèle Doat investigates the Finnish concept of comprehensive security, Finland’s new membership in NATO, and how the fear of a Russian invasion shapes the country’s foreign policy.

She is joined by Iro Särkkä, a Senior Research Fellow at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, and Emma Godmere, a CBC producer who received the 2025 R. James Travers fellowship to travel to Finland and report on their approach to defence and security.

MIR Meets: Tracey Maulfair

Sat, 08 Nov 2025 17:04:25 -0500

Host Haya Abdelmeguid sits down with Tracey Maulfair, the UNCHR Representative in Canada, to discuss UNCHR’s mission and her experience working with refugees in Canada and abroad.

MIR Meets: Connor Echols

Thu, 17 Jul 2025 09:47:32 -0400

Host Theo Shouse sits down with foreign policy journalist Connor Echols to discuss tensions between Iran, Israel, and the US. This episode was recorded on July 2, 2025.

MIR Meets: Tim Evans

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 15:24:10 -0400

Host Sydney Murray sits down with global health expert Tim Evans to discuss what get Tim out of bed in the morning, who is the next Bill Gates, population views tied with public health issues and communication, the power in exploring the unknown, the speed of scientific advancement, and the Canadian medical education system.

Entrevue avec Boris Proulx sur l'Élection Fédérale

Wed, 07 May 2025 22:34:56 -0400

L'animateur Theo Shouse s'entretient avec Boris Proulx, correspondant parlementaire pour Le Devoir à Ottawa, pour discuter de l'élection fédérale.

Spotlight: The Mohawk Mothers

Thu, 24 Apr 2025 12:03:02 -0400

In this opinion piece, Noa Wittenberg-Ross investigates the Mohawk Mothers' efforts to delay excavation at the Royal Victoria Hospital construction site due to the suspected presence of unmarked graves. She sits down with Kahentinetha, a Mohawk activist, and Phillippe Blouin, a Canadian anthropologist, to better understand their perspective and struggle.

MIR Meets: Dean Baker

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 19:29:05 -0400

Host Theo Shouse sits down with economist Dean Baker to discuss tariffs, industrial policy, inequality, and relations between the United States and China.

MIR Meets: Sridhar Venkatapuram Part 2

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 12:51:37 -0400

Part 2: Host Sydney Murray sits down with Sridhar Venkatapuram, Senior Lecturer in Global Health and Philosophy at King’s College, to explore the ethical dimensions of global health. They discuss how ethical frameworks are both integrated and overlooked in today’s global health landscape, examining critical issues such as the Human Right to Health and Health Justice within our current global context. Venkatapuram also reflects on the far-reaching implications of the past five years of global events and how they have shaped public health policies and priorities worldwide.

MIR Meets: Sridhar Venkatapuram Part 1

Sun, 30 Mar 2025 12:28:49 -0400

Part 1: Host Sydney Murray sits down with Sridhar Venkatapuram, Senior Lecturer in Global Health and Philosophy at King’s College, to explore the ethical dimensions of global health. They discuss how ethical frameworks are both integrated and overlooked in today’s global health landscape, examining critical issues such as the Human Right to Health and Health Justice within our current global context. Venkatapuram also reflects on the far-reaching implications of the past five years of global events and how they have shaped public health policies and priorities worldwide.

MIR Meets: Christopher Miller

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 21:32:25 -0400

Host Sabrina Nelson sits down with Christopher Miller, the Financial Times’ Chief Ukraine Correspondent, to discuss the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and its potential evolution. They also delve into his experience reporting from Ukraine since 2010 and discuss his book “The War Came To Us: Life And Death In Ukraine.”

MIR Meets: Andrew Day

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 00:54:47 -0400

Host Theo Shouse sits down with Andrew Day, the senior editor of The American Conservative, to discuss the Ukraine War and US foreign policy regarding Russia, China, and Iran.

MIR Meets: Anatol Lieven

Sun, 09 Mar 2025 14:52:01 -0400

Host Theo Shouse sits down with journalist and author Anatol Lieven of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft to discuss the West's relationship to Russia since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the Ukraine War.

MIR Meets: James K. Galbraith

Sun, 02 Mar 2025 19:55:25 -0500

Host Theo Shouse sits down with economist James K. Galbraith to discuss his latest book, Entropy Economics, which rethinks and rejects orthodox economic concepts like equilibrium by introducing the second law of thermodynamics to the dismal science.

MIR Meets: Gerald Butts

Sat, 15 Feb 2025 19:08:58 -0500

Host Theo Shouse sits down with Gerald Butts, former Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to discuss populism and democracy in North America and what it means to be a liberal.

MIR Meets: Declan Walsh

Sun, 26 Jan 2025 20:53:40 -0500

Host Sabrina Nelson sits down with Declan Walsh, Chief Africa Correspondent for The New York Times, to discuss his frontline reporting on Sudan’s conflict and across Africa, as well as his unexpected expulsion from Pakistan. Walsh reflects on some of the lessons he’s learned throughout his career as a foreign correspondent, especially in politically sensitive environments.

MIR Meets: Hugh Kinsella Cunningham

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 13:45:41 -0500

Host Sabrina Nelson sits down with sits down with Hugh Kinsella Cunningham, an award-winning photojournalist and Pulitzer Center grantee, to discuss his work documenting health, conflict, and society in the Democratic Republic of Congo. They delve into his recent award-winning projects, his experiences on the ground, and his perspective on the current challenges facing the region.

MIR Meets: Vincent Rigby

Fri, 20 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Host Kai Samuel-Szablowski sits down with Prof. Vincent Rigby, former national security and intelligence advisor to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to discuss the threats posed by foreign interference in Canada.

MIR Meets: Ujjal Dosanjh

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 19:10:19 -0500

Host Kai Samuel-Szablowski sits down with Ujjal Dosanjh, a former premier of British Columbia and federal minister of health, to discuss the Khalistan movement in Canada, Trudeau's leadership, and the breakdown of Indo-Canadian relations.

MIR Meets: Francesca Albanese

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 09:00:00 -0500

Host Sabrina Nelson sits down with Francesca Albanese, UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories, to discuss her findings in her most recent report “Genocide as Colonial Erasure” and her analysis, from an international law perspective, of the current Israel-Gaza war.

Review Radio: Canada in Afghanistan, NATO and International Security

Mon, 11 Nov 2024 09:12:13 -0500

Host Sabrina Nelson is joined by Stephen Saideman, a prominent political scientist currently holding the Paterson Chair in International Affairs at Carleton University, to examine Canada’s involvement in Afghanistan, and discuss Canada’s place and role in international security and NATO.

MIR Meets: Clarissa Ward

Wed, 30 Oct 2024 10:00:00 -0400

Host Sabrina Nelson sits down with Clarissa Ward, award-winning journalist and Chief International Correspondent for CNN, to discuss her international reporting career across the Middle East, Asia and Eastern Europe, her views on journalism and some of the main lessons she has learnt from her career so far.

MIR Meets: Bob Rae

Tue, 29 Oct 2024 10:00:00 -0400

Host Sabrina Nelson sits down with Bob Rae, ambassador and permanent representative of Canada to the United Nations, to discuss Canada’s role in the UN and multilateralism, the future and challenges of international governance, his domestic and federal career and Canada’s foreign policy.

MIR Meets: Kelley Vlahos

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 16:00:00 -0400

Host Theo Shouse sits down with Kelley Vlahos, editorial director of Responsible Statecraft and former executive editor of The American Conservative, to discuss US foreign policy and the emergence of the restraint movement, which opposes military intervention.

US Election 2024: Evangelicals and Trump with Melissa Deckman

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 09:00:00 -0400

Host Alex Ritch sits down with political scientist Melissa Deckman, CEO of the Public Religion Research Institute, to discuss how religion, particularly evangelical Christianity, could affect the 2024 presidential election.

MIR Meets: Matt McManus

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 11:18:19 -0400

Host Theo Shouse sits down with Matt McManus, author and political science lecturer at the University of Michigan, to talk about his book on liberal socialism, the history of conservatism in the United States, and egalitarianism.

MIR Meets: Bryan Caplan

Fri, 20 Sep 2024 20:00:00 -0400

Host Patrick Nelson sits down with economist and blogger Bryan Caplan to discuss the economics and ethics of housing deregulating, immigration, and adjacent topics.

Review Radio: Covering China as a Foreign Correspondent

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 10:00:00 -0400

In his final episode as host, Andrew Xu sits down once again with Vivian Wang, a China correspondent for The New York Times. They discuss the difficulties of covering the nuances of Chinese politics as a foreign correspondent, the true extent of the Chinese government's surveillance state, and the insularity within the Chinese government's decision-making.

References

"Xi Jinping’s Recipe for Total Control: An Army of Eyes and Ears" by Vivian Wang, The New York Times

"Xi and Blinken Trade Small Nods Over a Large Gap" by Ana Swanson and Vivian Wang, The New York Times

Intro/Outro music: Synapse by Shane Ivers

Andrew's New Podcast

US Election 2024: Foreign and Labour Policy with Jeet Heer

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 21:06:32 -0400

Host Theo Shouse sits down with Jeet Heer, a political correspondent for The Nation, to discuss the Democrats’ and Republicans’ foreign and labour policies.

MIR Meets: Pamela Paul

Wed, 15 May 2024 18:07:05 -0400

Host Theo Shouse sits down with Pamela Paul, a columnist for the New York Times. They talk about free speech on university campuses, pro-Palestinian protests, and the books they're going to read this summer.

MIR Meets: Richard Reeves

Wed, 01 May 2024 14:31:36 -0400

Host Andrew Xu sits down with Richard Reeves, the President of the American Institute for Boys and Men. They discuss the underrepresentation of male students on college campuses, the significance of biological differences between boys and girls, and changes in the perception of feminism over time.

References

"Stop Pretending You're Not Rich" by Richard Reeves, The New York Times

"Of Boys and Men: Why the Modern Male Is Struggling, Why It Matters, and What to Do about It" by Richard Reeves

"How to Solve the Education Crisis for Boys and Men | Richard Reeves" from TED

"The Men — and Boys — Are Not Alright" from The Ezra Klein Show

"There Was Definitely a Thumb on the Scale to Get Boys" by Susan Dominus, The New York Times Magazine

"Less than a third of American women identify as feminists" by Catherine Morris, Ipsos

MIR Meets: Ben Burgis

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 19:39:01 -0400

Host Theo Shouse sits down with Substack writer and Jacobin columnist Ben Burgis to discuss the morality of war and democratic socialism.

Dig Deeper: Gender, Masculinity, and Human Nature

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 09:44:28 -0400

Host Andrew Xu sits down once again with David French, a columnist for The New York Times. They discuss gender polarization, the ways that men are falling behind in society, and roles that religious institutions have traditionally played in cultivating cultural norms.

MIR Meets: Kyle Matthews

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 18:12:15 -0400

Host Alex Ritch sits down with Kyle Matthews, the Executive Director of the Montreal Institute for Genocide and Human Rights Studies. They discuss digital concerns surrounding online extremism and speculate on the future trajectory of the issue.

Dig Deeper: Gender Divisions Within Gen Z

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 10:46:23 -0400

Host Ines Fahmi sits down with Rose Horowitch, an assistant editor for the Atlantic. They discuss the phenomenon of Gen Z men and women drifting apart politically, and some of the potential causes and correlations for this sentiment.

Review Radio: How Our Attention Spans Work

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 09:47:41 -0400

Host Ines Fahmi sits down with Dr. Gloria Mark, the Chancellor’s Professor of Informatics at the University of California, Irvine. They discuss her research on the decline of our attention spans, and the impact that new technologies have had on our productivity.

Femininity Through the Ages: Anti-Aging Tweens and Coquette Women?

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 15:18:29 -0400

This episode explores a few current trends around femininity on social media and beyond. Senior Editor Clare and Staff Writer Charlotte join hosts Alison and Teodor in discussing Sephora tweens and coquette “tradwives” and what kinds of femininity are valued and what this may say about the state of patriarchy today.

MIR Meets: Claudia Sahm

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 09:32:31 -0400

Host Theo Shouse sits down with Substack writer, former Federal Reserve economist, and Bloomberg opinion columnist Claudia Sahm, to discuss inflation, consumer sentiment, Biden's stimulus package, and the Federal Reserve.

References

"Decomposing Supply and Demand Driven Inflation" by Adam Shapiro, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

"Is the Landing Soft? Will It Stay That Way?" by Paul Krugman, The New York Times

"The Quasi-Inflation of 2021-2022: A Case of Bad Analysis and Worse Response" by James K. Galbraith, Institute for New Economic Thinking

Review Radio: IFAD's East and Southern Africa Division

Fri, 15 Mar 2024 15:01:10 -0400

Host Anzhu Wei sits down with Sara Mbago-Bhunu, the Regional Director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)'s East and Southern Africa Division. They discuss smallholder farmers, and the role of agricultural investment in adapting to climate change.

MIR Meets: Melissa Kearney

Wed, 13 Mar 2024 09:26:21 -0400

Host Andrew Xu sits down with Melissa Kearney, the Neil Moskowitz Professor of Economics at the University of Maryland. They discuss her recent book The Two-Parent Privilege, which examines the economic advantages that two-parent households have over one-parent households.

References

"The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind" by Melissa Kearney

"‘The Two-Parent Privilege’ gets caught in the trap of convention" by Becca Rothfeld, The Washington Post

"What Relationships Would You Want if You Believed They Were Possible?" from The Ezra Klein Show

Review Radio: The Politics of the International Film Oscar

Fri, 08 Mar 2024 09:22:50 -0500

The Best International Feature Film Oscar has a strange set of nomination rules that have resulted in intrigue, controversies, and international soft power plays. To unpack this awards season enigma, host Anzhu Wei sits down with Professor Laura Isabel Serna of the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. Correction: Totem was shortlisted for the 2024 Best International Feature Film Award.

References

"The Oscars’ International Feature Film Category Needs a Total Overhaul. Here’s a Simple Fix" by Peter Debruge, Variety

MIR Meets: Matthew Rosenberg

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 11:28:48 -0500

Host Theo Shouse sits down with Matthew Rosenberg, a Pulitzer Prize–winning correspondent at the New York Times. They discuss the Afghanistan war, which Rosenberg reported on for many years, and the conflict between US forces and Iranian proxies in the Middle East. Finally, they discuss political violence in the United States and the upcoming presidential election.

MIR Meets: Will Stancil

Wed, 28 Feb 2024 09:31:37 -0500

Host Andrew Xu sits down with Will Stancil, a research fellow on the Institute on Metropolitan Opportunity. They discuss the state of the US economy, concerns surrounding Biden's age, and the incentives of mainstream journalism.

MIR Meets: Nadim Houry

Wed, 21 Feb 2024 09:22:06 -0500

Host Theo Shouse sits down with Nadim Houry, the executive director of the Arab Reform Initiative, a think tank advocating for social justice and democracy in the Middle East. They discuss Israel's offensive in Gaza, tensions between Iranian proxies and US forces, and American military interventionism.

Review Radio: McGill Students on Strike

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:54:47 -0500

From January 31st to February 2nd, 500 McGill students went on strike to oppose the Québec tuition hike. In this episode, host Anzhu Wei talks with striking students on the picket line and student leaders, to understand the situation.

Spotlight: Grève des United Automobile Workers

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 17:50:46 -0500

Le 15 septembre, les dirigeants du United Automobile Workers (UAW) ont annoncé le début d’une grève syndicale. Le 20 octobre, 34,000 membres du syndicat étaient en grève et environ 5,000 employés avaient été mis à pied par le big three automobile américain. Vincent Guillotte revient sur cette grève syndicale avec Joseph Abounohra, éditeur principal.

Dig Deeper: Teacher Supply in the US

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 16:36:47 -0500

Host Andrew Xu sits down once again with Jessica Grose, an opinion writer for The New York Times. They discuss the negative effects of pandemic-induced school closures, the increased prominence of grade inflation in schools, and other contributors to teacher demoralization in the United States.

References

"The Rise and Fall of the Teaching Profession" from The Annenberg Institute

"Has School Become Optional?" by Alec MacGillis, The New Yorker

"People Don’t Want to Be Teachers Anymore. Can You Blame Them?" by Jessica Grose, The New York Times

"The pandemic's lesson on teacher licensure" by Matt Yglesias, Slow Boring

"Don’t Ditch Standardized Tests. Fix Them." by Jessica Grose, The New York Times

"Congress Isn’t a Schoolyard. Time to Deal With Toxic Immaturity." by Jessica Grose, The New York Times

MIR Meets: Yascha Mounk

Wed, 17 Jan 2024 18:03:01 -0500

Host Andrew Xu sits down with Yascha Mounk, the head of Persuasion and a contributing writer for The Atlantic. They discuss his new book The Identity Trap: A Story of Ideas and Power in Our Time, and the set of ideas, ideologies, and cultural attitudes which he dubs "the identity synthesis" in his book.

References

"The Identity Trap: A Story of Ideas and Power in Our Time" by Yascha Mounk

"Yascha Mounk: The Identity Trap - Why New Group Identity & Social Justice Ideas Failed to Transform America" from The Realignment

Review Radio: US-China Student Exchanges

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 08:48:19 -0500

Host Andrew Xu sits down once again with Vivian Wang, a China correspondent for The New York Times. They discuss the decline in student exchange programs between China and the US, the way that Chinese citizens feel about potentially living in the US, and the extent to which this issue serves as a useful barometer for understanding US-China relations.

References

"Can U.S.-China Student Exchanges Survive Geopolitics?" by Vivian Wang, The New York Times

Intro/Outro music: Synapse by Shane Ivers

MIR Meets: David French

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 08:34:04 -0500

Host Andrew Xu sits down with David French, a columnist for The New York Times. They discuss the potential dangers of a second Trump presidency, the internal politics of the pro-life movement in America, and how to frame rhetoric to persuade people of differing political dispositions.

References

"What the Next Generation of Christians Needs (with David French)" from Good Faith

"Donald Trump Tests Pro-Life America" by David French, The New York Times

"Shiny, Not-So-Happy People (with David and Nancy French)" from Good Faith

"Shiny Happy People: The Rise and Fall of the Duggar Family" by Frances Parish, The McGill International Review

The Editors’ Desk: Miss and Mr Americana

Fri, 24 Nov 2023 14:04:05 -0500

Why have our favourite pop star and football player taken over the headlines with their relationship? Hosts Alison and Teodor, and guests Zach and Anya share their takes on Taylor Swift’s and Travis Kelce’s relationship in the very first episode of The Editors’ Desk podcast.

MIR Meets: Robert Wright

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 13:47:51 -0500

Host Blaise Brosnan sits down with Substack writer and podcast host Robert Wright, to discuss the concept of non-zero-sumness, the origins of early Christianity, and the evolution in the perception of the Abrahamic God as described in his book The Evolution of God.

References

"The Evolution of God" by Robert Wright

"The ‘River to the Sea’ Rorschach test" by Robert Wright, Nonzero Newsletter

MIR Meets: Katherine Dee

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 15:19:08 -0400

Host Blaise Brosnan sits down with Substack writer and internet culture reporter Katherine Dee, to discuss the causes of sex negativity, the cultural landscapes of the digital ecosphere, and the underlying motivations of right-wing subcultures online.

References

"The coming wave of sex negativity" by Katherine Dee, Default Wisdom

"Among the Spiritual Psychotics" by Katherine Dee, Tablet

"Self-Made: Creating Our Identities from Da Vinci to the Kardashians" by Tara Isabella Burton

"Mass Shootings and the World Liberalism Made" by Katherine Dee, Contra

"Who Does Saudi Better: Google or Reddit?" by Katherine Dee, Tablet

Review Radio: Poles at the Polls

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 17:51:08 -0400

Host Zalan Teodor Gaspar sits down with Wojciech Przybylski and Agnieszka Homańska of Visegrad Insight to discuss the results of the 2023 Polish elections, the issues that defined the election, and what the results mean for the European Union.

Dig Deeper: Conservative Factions in the US and Canada

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 14:08:16 -0400

Host Zalan Teodor Gaspar sits down with Henry Olsen, a columnist for The Washington Post and a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. They discuss the winners and losers of the first 2024 Republican presidential primary debate, the influences of Pierre Poilievre's brand of conservatism, and the sources of the rise in conservative support in Canada more broadly.

Special thanks to CKUT for helping with the production of this episode.

Dig Deeper: Secularization

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 09:55:55 -0400

Host Andrew Xu sits down with Jessica Grose, an opinion writer for The New York Times. They discuss modern society's lower participation rates in religious institutions, how that relates to a group that social scientists refer to as "nones," and how people are finding a sense of community outside of organized religion.

References

"Lots of Americans Are Losing Their Religion. Have You?" by Jessica Grose, The New York Times

"What Churches Offer That ‘Nones’ Still Long For" by Jessica Grose, The New York Times

"MIR Meets: Elizabeth Bruenig" by Blaise Brosnan, The McGill International Review

"The Church of Group Fitness" by Jessica Grose, The New York Times

"Why Americans Care About Work So Much" by Derek Thompson, The Atlantic

The War for Ukraine: Putin’s Federal Assembly Address

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 13:14:38 -0400

Host Marion-Inès Le Pape presents an analysis of Russian President Putin's Federal Assembly address of February 2023, focusing on the parallels he draws between the war in Ukraine and World War II. In particular, she examines Putin's use and abuse of history and his rhetoric of "de-Nazification", questioning what renders it critical to the his narrative.

MIR Meets: Darrell Owens

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 09:15:58 -0400

Host Andrew Xu sits down with Substack writer and housing policy analyst Darrell Owens, to discuss the causes of San Francisco's homelessness crisis, the non-partisan nature of NIMBYism, and the debate surrounding affirmative action.

References

"Seeking clarity in Cali’s homelessness crisis, with Darrell Owens" from Time to Say Goodbye

"Unhoused and Unwell on Transit" by Darrell Owens, The Discourse Lounge

"Black and Asian Hate in San Francisco" by Darrell Owens, The Discourse Lounge

"The Look of Gentrification" by Darrell Owens, The Discourse Lounge

"Fixing the police will take more funding, not less" by Matt Yglesias, Slow Boring

"The Distraction & Distortion of Affirmative Action" by Darrell Owens, The Discourse Lounge

"The Power of Race" by Scott Jaschik, Inside Higher Ed

"MIR Meets: William Deresiewicz" by Blaise Brosnan, The McGill International Review

MIR Meets: Tomiwa Owolade

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 11:40:40 -0400

Host Andrew Xu sits down with Tomiwa Owolade, the author of This is Not America: Why Black Lives in Britain Matter. They discuss the ways in which discourse surrounding race relations in the US is often inaccurately transposed onto that of the UK, and how this often leads to an overly reductionist view of the situation.

References

"The narcissism of America’s race politics" by Tomiwa Owolade, Unherd

"Please Stop Imposing American Views about Race on Us" by Tomiwa Owolade, Persuasion

"Tomiwa Owolade on What We Get Wrong About Race" from The Good Fight with Yascha Mounk

"Racism in Britain is not a black and white issue. It’s far more complicated" by Tomiwa Owolade, The Observer

"The problem with white saviours" by Tomiwa Owolade, Unherd

MIR Meets: Dylan Matthews

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 08:18:02 -0400

Host Andrew Xu sits down with Dylan Matthews, a senior correspondent for Vox and head writer for Future Perfect. They discuss Biden's resolution to the debt ceiling crisis, the intricacies of the US's tax system, and various aspects of the effective altruism movement.

References

"It’s Great to Have a President Who Knows When to Shut Up" by Matt Yglesias, The New York Times

"What doing other people’s taxes taught me about our broken tax code" by Dylan Matthews, Vox

"How effective altruism let Sam Bankman-Fried happen" by Dylan Matthews, Vox

"Effective Altruism Has a Novelty Problem" by Freddie deBoer

MIR Meets: Elizabeth Bruenig

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 11:01:40 -0400

Host Blaise Brosnan sits down with Elizabeth Bruenig, a staff writer at The Atlantic. They discuss the philosophical underpinnings of the Christian left, the increasing secularization of the modern world, and the normalization of fear and violence in American society.

References

"Christianity’s Got a Branding Problem" by Jessica Grose, The New York Times

"A Country Governed By Fear" by Elizabeth Bruenig, The Atlantic

Review Radio: The Power of Social Interaction

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 12:25:45 -0400

Host Andrew Xu sits down with Sheila Liming, an associate professor at Champlain College and the author of Hanging Out: The Radical Power of Killing Time. They discuss the inherent benefits that come with social interaction, the importance of awkwardness in conversation, and what it would mean for society to expand its definition of family.

References

"Hanging Out: The Radical Power of Killing Time" by Sheila Liming

"Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation" from The U.S. Surgeon General

"The 'Quiet Catastrophe' Brewing in Our Social Lives" from The Ezra Klein Show

"The Nuclear Family Was a Mistake" by David Brooks, The Atlantic

MIR Meets: Karmina Constantino

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 11:02:17 -0400

Host Ines Fahmi sits down with journalist Karmina Constantino, the incumbent Marshall McLuhan Fellow awarded by the Embassy of Canada in the Philippines in 2022. They discuss the importance of the free press, and the relationship and impact that media and politics have on each other.

MIR Meets: William Deresiewicz

Wed, 17 May 2023 13:03:25 -0400

Host Blaise Brosnan sits down with William Deresiewicz, the author of Excellent Sheep and The Death of the Artist. They discuss the degree of intellectual engagement of the American elite, the postmodern turn in post-war American literature, and the increased proliferation of different forms of art over time.

Une discussion avec Sara El-Yafi: Le Point sur le Liban

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 21:08:09 -0400

Compte tenu de la grave crise économique et politique au Liban, Marilou el Mabsout et Joseph Abounohra ont rencontré Sara El-Yafi, politologue libanaise de la Harvard Kennedy School. Sara retourne sur les causes de l’explosion du port de Beyrouth du 4 août 2020 et nous fournit une analyse de la situation actuelle.

Un grand merci à CKUT pour son aide dans la production de cet épisode.

MIR Meets: David Sax

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 17:49:44 -0400

Host Andrew Xu sits down with David Sax, a Canadian freelance journalist and the author of The Future Is Analog: How to Create a More Human World. They discuss what it would take for humanity to opt into a more human future, and how that future would run counter to the increased prevalence of digital technology in our everyday lives.

Episode Notes

"The Future Is Analog: How to Create a More Human World" by David Sax

"David Sax | The Future is Analog" from The Unmistakeable Creative Podcast

"Keep Baking That Sourdough, and Change the World" by Alexandra Jacobs, The New York Times

Dig Deeper: The Future of the Democratic Party and its Brand

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 16:48:43 -0500

Host Andrew Xu sits down once again with Greg Sargent, a columnist for The Washington Post. They discuss the US's midterm election results from last year, the legislative standstill on immigration, and the CHIPS and Science Act. References "Kevin Forbid" from Positively Dreadful "One of MAGA’s biggest fantasies faces a brutal reality check" by Greg Sargent, The Washington Post "Greg Sargent Is Chronicling The Culture Wars" from On Democracy with FPWellman "Biden’s devious plan to break the MAGA fever just might work" by Greg Sargent, The Washington Post

Dig Deeper: Building Climate Utopias

Wed, 11 Jan 2023 13:37:17 -0500

Host Anzhu Wei sits down with Alizé Carrère to discuss how cities have adapted to climate change. Alizé is a researcher, filmmaker, National Geographic Explorer, and PhD candidate at the University of Miami. In this episode, they discuss how architects, urban planners, and policymakers have responded to environmental concerns.

This episode also covers the rise of aspirational city-making plans, or 'climatopias', as Alizé has termed in her research.

Review Radio: Abortion

Wed, 04 Jan 2023 18:23:29 -0500

Host Ines Fahmi sits down with Josie Luetke, Director of Education and Advocacy for Life Coalition and member of the National March for Life organizing committee to discuss abortion rights in the United States. They are joined by Anya Narang, a writer at The McGill International Review, to debate the state of access to abortion.

MIR Meets: Christian Esguerra

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 17:34:34 -0500

Host Marion-Ines Le Pape sits down with Christian Esguerra, Filipino journalist and recipient of the Marshall McLuhan Fellowship, to discuss the dangers of disinformation, and how the media can help minimize its threats and spread in a time when truth and historical facts are compromised.

MIR Meets: Chloe Valdary

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 17:56:54 -0400

Host Andrew Xu sits down with Chloe Valdary, the head of Theory of Enchantment. They discuss the way that her program differs from other comparable initiatives, what it hopes to achieve, and how it uses pop culture to better encapsulate its themes. References Chloé Valdary on How to be a (True) Antiracist from The Good Fight with Yascha Mounk Can Chloé Valdary Sell Skeptics on DEI? by Conor Friedersdorf, The Atlantic

Review Radio: Tracing Legault’s Rise to Premiership

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 17:02:33 -0400

The 2022 Quebec general election saw the CAQ affirm its sweeping success from 2018, with François Legault doubling down on his controversial policies and broad, populist platform. Surging from seemingly nowhere, the CAQ has established itself as a serious long-term party for Quebec, with Legault cementing his place as the definitive figure of Quebec for the coming years.

Host Skyler Bohnert delves into the winding tale of Legault's party, answering the question: how did we get here?

Edited by Andrew Wei

Review Radio: Immigration to the US

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 14:02:00 -0400

Host Andrew Xu sits down with Leah Boustan, an economics professor at Princeton University. They discuss the performance of immigrant families relative to their peers in the US, the way geographical factors play an extremely large role in economic performance, and what causes public opinion on immigration to shift over time. References Streets of Gold by Leah Boustan and Ran Abramitzky Slow Boring Book Club: Streets of Gold by Matt Yglesias Backlash: The Unintended Effects of Language Prohibition in U.S. Schools after World War I

MIR Meets: Nate Hochman

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 01:10:00 -0400

Host Blaise Brosnan sits down with Nate Hochman, an ISI fellow at National Review. They discuss the New Right’s presence as an emergent cultural phenomenon, its distinct differences from paleo conservatism, and the movement’s attempts to use state power in favor of their goals.

Mask Hysteria: Hygiene Theater and COVID Safety Precautions

Sun, 31 Jul 2022 22:15:08 -0400

Host Andrew Xu sits down with science writer and editor Yasmin Tayag, to discuss hygiene theater and the helpfulness of various COVID-related safety precautions.

References

How Are We Possibly Still Disinfecting Things? by Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic

America Is Running Out of ‘COVID Virgins’ by Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic

Hygiene Theater Is a Huge Waste of Time by Derek Thompson, The Atlantic

Why More Americans Are Saying They’re ‘Vaxxed and Done’ by Derek Thompson, The Atlantic

MIR Meets: Henry Olsen

Mon, 27 Jun 2022 22:37:09 -0400

Host Andrew Xu sits down with Henry Olsen, a columnist for The Washington Post and a senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center. They discuss Doug Ford's recent re-election win in Ontario, the center of opinion in the Republican Party, and Mike Pence's desire to run for President. References Doug Ford’s sweeping win in Ontario is a model for populist Republicans by Henry Olsen, The Washington Post Tuesday Morning Politics: Primaries in Progress from The Brian Lehrer Show Georgia governor signs into law sweeping voting bill by Amy Gardner and Amy B Wang, The Washington Post

Review Radio: Public Education Policy in Quebec

Thu, 23 Jun 2022 21:23:57 -0400

Host Ali Shabani sits down with Cindy Finn, the director-general of the Lester B. Pearson School Board. They discuss the evolving use of technology in schools, the implicit expectations that school policies place on marginalized students, and the importance of consulting a wide array voices before implementing large-scale education policy.

Special thanks to CKUT for helping with the production of this episode.

MIR Meets: Moshe Lander

Mon, 23 May 2022 13:22:13 -0400

Host Andrew Xu sits down with Moshe Lander, an economics professor at McGill University. They discuss Lander's journey as an economics professor, the misconceptions surrounding our current inflation crisis, and whether or not an economics degree should be subsidized for the sake of positive externalities.

MIR Meets: Alyssa Rosenberg

Mon, 16 May 2022 20:10:33 -0400

Host Andrew Xu sits down with Alyssa Rosenberg, a columnist for The Washington Post. They discuss the Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra, the ephemerality of political performance, and Scarlet Witch's arc in "Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness." References Two questions to ask before joining the culture war on Russia by Alyssa Rosenberg, The Washington Post Netflix’s comedown was inevitable. In fact, it’s a relief. by Alyssa Rosenberg, The Washington Post ‘Dr. Strange’ offers a portrait of fierce maternal longing by Alyssa Rosenberg, The Washington Post

MIR Meets: Greg Sargent

Thu, 12 May 2022 16:01:24 -0400

Host Andrew Xu sits down with Greg Sargent, a columnist for The Washington Post. They discuss the state of the U.S. economy, the New Right, popularism, and the extent to which we can disentangle the cause and effect of either party's electoral success. References Bad news about views of the economy gets worse for Democrats by Paul Waldman and Greg Sargent, The Washington Post Behind Tucker Carlson and J.D. Vance, a revolt against the GOP unfolds by Greg Sargent, The Washington Post MIR Meets: David Shor by Blaise Brosnan, The McGill International Review A young Democrat’s viral takedown demands a ‘wokeness’ rethink by Greg Sargent, The Washington Post

The Aftermath: China’s Dynamic Zero COVID Strategy

Mon, 09 May 2022 14:18:16 -0400

Host Andrew Xu sits down once again with Vivian Wang, a China correspondent for The New York Times. They discuss the draconian pandemic restrictions China has instilled in Shanghai and Beijing, as well as the propaganda campaign that's being used to supplement it. References Shanghai Residents Face Food Shortages Amid Strict Covid Lockdowns from The Wall Street Journal Shanghai residents bristle as a lockdown enters a second week with more testing by Vivian Wang, The New York Times China’s Covid Lockdown Outrage Tests Limits of Triumphant Propaganda by Vivian Wang, Paul Mozur, and Isabelle Qian, The New York Times Intro/Outro music: Synapse by Shane Ivers

The War for Ukraine: Why Can’t the UN Intervene?

Sun, 10 Apr 2022 23:44:45 -0400

On April 5, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a stirring address to the UN Security Council, pleading for them to act in the face of the mass atrocities Russian troops were committing throughout the country. The UN proceeded to do very little. Why has the UN refrained from serious intervention throughout this war?

In this episode, host Victoria Aponte sits down with Simon Bertrand, a political science professor at McGill University. They discuss the origins of the UN Security Council, veto power, and what it says about the gap between theory and practice.

This series aims aims to cover anything pertaining to the Russia-Ukraine war, in particular its wider-reaching ramifications for the world at large.

Review Radio: A Ukrainian Citizen Shares His Thoughts

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 23:59:55 -0500

Danylo Rybchynski is a Ukrainian citizen.

He lives in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. For this episode, I’ve invited him onto the podcast to discuss how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has impacted him.

Review Radio: The Golden Globes Controversy

Tue, 01 Mar 2022 11:15:31 -0500

Host Andrew Wei sits down with Los Angeles Times reporters Stacy Perman and Josh Rottenberg. They discuss the downfall of the Golden Globe Awards, and what it means for the future of entertainment awards ceremonies.

Review Radio: Russia, Ukraine, NATO, and the US

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 16:35:38 -0500

Host Marion-Ines Le Pape sits down with Thomas Graham, former Senior Director for Russia in the National Security Council Staff. They discuss the rising tension between Russia and the Western block, the possibility of a Russian invasion in Ukraine, and the likelihood of an international war.

MIR Meets: Richard Hanania

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 16:46:47 -0500

Host Blaise Brosnan sits down with Richard Hanania, founder of the Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology. They discuss the unitary actor model, state capacity, and the developing situation along the Russia-Ukraine border.

MIR Meets: Freddie deBoer

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 16:00:05 -0500

Host Blaise Brosnan sits down with Substack writer and Marxist Freddie deBoer, to discuss the merits of meritocracy, the polarization in our present-day culture war, and America's education system.

Content warning: The following episode contains strong language.

The Aftermath: Hong Kong’s ’Patriots Only’ Election

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 17:26:26 -0500

Host Andrew Xu sits down with Vivian Wang, a China correspondent for The New York Times. They discuss Hong Kong's legislative election last December, and how it plays into the larger degradation of Hong Kong's freedom and autonomy. References Record low turnout in controversial Hong Kong election from ABC News How Hong Kong’s ‘Patriots Only’ Elections Bolster Beijing’s Grip by Austin Ramzy, The New York Times Intro/Outro music: Synapse by Shane Ivers

The Making of an MIR Article

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 23:30:42 -0500

Host Andrew Wei explores writing and creativity with MIR writer Annisa Burgos. Over the course of an MIR publication cycle, Andrew follows the creative journey of Annisa as she conducts her investigative reporting and composes her MIR article.