US Centre staff in Ballpark podcast discussion

The Ballpark

Podcasts and video explainers


The Ballpark is the LSE Phelan US Centre’s media centre encompassing our podcast and video explainers.

I recently visited the US and 'vox-popped' some of the ideas I'd taken from show with people I met. Very gratifying to feel so well informed on my travels, for once!
Thanks for making these available. I live in a small town in Australia and would never get exposure to these ideas without free-to-access resources like these.

The Ballpark is your chance to go beyond the headlines and get the facts, figures, quotes, and context to form a more informed view on the United States.

We also post Ballpark Extra Innings podcasts where we spend some more time on an interview, topic or discussion that we cover in regular episodes of The Ballpark.

The Politics of Race in American Film podcast

 

The Politics of Race in American Film is a limited podcast series from the LSE Phelan US Centre, hosted by Dr Clive James Nwonka, and released in the spring of 2021. Over five episodes this podcast explores what makes film such a powerful lens for understanding race, politics & society.

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Preview of The Politics of Race in American Film

In this special episode of The Ballpark we’re giving you a preview of our new podcast series, The Politics of Race in American Film. Chris Gilson interviews the podcast’s host, Dr. Clive James Nwonka, about what you can expect from the series, why film is such a useful lens for understanding race and society, and why taking a close look at film is especially relevant today.

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Episode 1 - The Politics of Race in American Film

What can film teach us about the evolution of racial politics and depictions of race in the United States?

In Episode 1 of The Politics of Race in American FilmDr Clive Nwonka outlines the history and research that has shaped this series – from his own love of cinema as a child growing up in London to his career as an academic at the LSE. Dr Nwonka then welcomes our first guest, Dr Sam Mejias, to discuss the films that shaped their early ideas about race, how film influences people’s perceptions about the Black experience in America, and how depictions of Black life in America have changed over time.

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Episode 2, Race, Space, and The City

In this episode of The Politics of Race in American Film podcast, Dr. Clive James Nwonka discusses the films Paterson and The Last Black Man in San Francisco with Dr. Suzanne Hall (LSE Sociology) and Dr. Austin Zeiderman (LSE Geography and the Environment). Both films examine the relationships their main characters have with the cities in which they live, work, and create, but the protagonists of each film, Paterson and Jimmie, have radically different experiences of urban life. 

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Episode 3, Class, Gender, and Freedom at the Edges of America

In this episode of The Politics of Race in American Film, Dr. Clive James Nwonka hosts a conversation with Melanie Hoyes (British Film Institute), Dr. Luisa Heredia (Sarah Lawrence College), and Dr. Shelley Cobb (University of Southampton) about the films American Honey and The Florida Project.This conversation explores the films’ themes of economic precarity, the absence and ineptitude of the state as a site of assistance, and the communities that form outside of that system. The discussion also explores depictions of Latinidad, biracial identity, gender and white femininity.

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Episode 4, Hollywood Representations of Blackness

In this episode of The Politics of Race in American Film, Dr. Clive James Nwonka hosts a conversation with Cheryl Bedford (Women of Color Unite), Lanre Bakare (The Guardian), and Sam Mejias (The New School) which looks at films which engage with questions of blackness and race in America during the Obama and Trump eras. These films include Moonlight, Get Out, Us, Queen and Slim, Waves, Harriet, and more recently, Judas and the Black Messiah. What do these films tell us about the politics of race, both within the industry and more broadly in American society, and how we see African American films (or African Americans within film) shaping and influencing the racial politics of the US? What might be next for African American cinema in the era of Joe Biden?

The Ballpark Season 4 - The State of the States

Episode 4.3: New York: Education Inequality in the Empire State
2 March 2022

We head to New York to learn more about the Empire State. We look at the ‘city that never sleeps’, and the rest of the state, which is one that many of us may actually know very little about. We explore how the City and the rest of the state interact, as well as how they differ on some key issues, and in one important area, education, that rift is a big one.

Contributors:  David Little (Rural Schools Association of New York State and Rural Schools Program at Cornell University) and Marisa Lago (New York City Department of City Planning and City Planning Commission).

Episode 4.2: California: Environmental Policy in the Golden State
25 January 2020

We head to California to take an in-depth look at the Golden State’s considerable economic power and what that means for its ability to influence environmental policy nationwide. We also discuss the state’s worsening wildfires, and what actions the state and federal government can take to mitigate them.

Contributors: Professor Renee Van Vechten (University of Redlands) and Professor Leah Stokes (University of California, Santa Barbara).

Episode 4.1: Kentucky: Realigning, Republican, Religious, and Rural
16 March 2020

For our Season 4 premiere, we’re heading to the Bluegrass State – Kentucky – to talk about the state’s geography, state politics, and political realignment with Professor Anne Cizmar, Associate Professor of Government at Eastern Kentucky University.

Contributors: Professor Anne Cizmar, Associate Professor of Government at Eastern Kentucky University.

The Ballpark Season 3  

Episode 3.7: Politics and Policing in New Jersey
23 January 2019

For this episode of the Ballpark, we head to New Jersey and take an in-depth look at the state’s recent politics and controversial former Governor, Chris Christie. We also discuss the state of policing in New Jersey with the chief of the Camden County Police Department, and we find out just why New Jersey is known as the Garden State.

Contributors: Ashley Koning (Rutgers University), Joe Miller (LSE General Course), Scott Thompson(Camden County Police)

Episode 3.6: Polarization and deindustrialization in the Badger State
23 January 2019

We take a look at the state of Wisconsin through the lens of deindustrialization. Together with our contributors, we examine how the Badger state’s politics have become more polarized in the past decade and what happened to its people when the factories began to close.

Contributors: Wendy Scattergood (St. Norbert College), Amy Goldstein (Washington Post)

Episode 3.5: Missouri
7 January 2019

In this episode, we head to Missouri to investigate the state’s political landscape and why its Senate race was so heated in this midterm cycle. We also talk to experts about 2018 as the Year of the Woman, explore some fascinating research on political ideology, and talk about what we can expect from this record-setting number of women in Congress.

Contributors: Robynn Kuhlmann (University of Central Missouri), Samantha Pettey (Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts)

Episode 3.4: The Lone Star State You Don’t Know
6 November 2018

As the midterms draw nearer, we’re zooming in on some of the most interesting races in the US. This week, we’re headed to Texas to learn about its uniquely individualist culture, what’s happening in its Senate race, and how the Lone Star State is poised to become an even more important player in national politics.

Contributors: Peter Trubowitz, Director of LSE’s US Centre and Head of the International Relations Department at LSE, Lawrence Wright of the New Yorker, Heather Evans, Associate Professor of Political Science and Sam Houston State University, and Sarah Scaffidi, of LSE’s US Centre.

Episode 3.3: Healthcare politics and policy in Tennessee

24 September 2018

In this episode, we’re going to Tennessee, the volunteer state, to see how healthcare is impacting one of the most competitive Senate races in the country.

Contributors: LSE Alumni Jason Burchard of RootNoteAmanda Wintersieck of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Andy Schneider of the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute Center for Children and Families and Sarah Scaffidi, LSE US Centre.

Episode 3.2: Arizona: Immigration politics in the Grand Canyon State
9 July 2018

As a part of our State of the States season, we’re diving deep into the political landscape of Arizona, the Grand Canyon State, and taking a close look at how immigration is playing out in the US Senate race of this border state.

Contributors: Susannah Crockford of Ghent University and Antonia Farzan (@antoniafarzan), Staff Writer at the Phoenix New Times.

Episode 3.1: Textbooks in Texas and Cars in California
July 2018

This season, we’re taking a look at how the states influence and shape America’s politics and policy. The stories, the elections, the policies, the political ecosystems, the people of these places are what drives the national narrative. And so, this season, “The State of the States” will take us to some of the most interesting and divided places in the United States.

Contributors: Chris Bonneau (@Bonneau_Says) and Kris Kanthak (@kramtrak), associate professors of political science at the University of Pittsburgh and co-editors of State Politics and Policy Quarterly.

The Ballpark Season 2

Episode 2.9: What can be done about fake news?
8 January 2018

Fake news has taken the world and especially America by storm, and in this episode, we talk with two academics who are part of LSE’s effort to define and address this threat to society. We talk with Charlie Beckett and Sonia Livingstone about fake news: what it is and what we can do about it.

Contributors: Professor Charlie Beckett, Director of Polis, the Media Policy Project and the LSE Truth, Trust & Technology Commission; Professor Sonia Livingstone OBE, Professor of Social Psychology in the Department of Media and Communications at LSE

Episode 2.8: Where did the opioid epidemic come from?
20 November 2017

With the skyrocketing rates of opioid abuse and overdose deaths in the US, John Collins and Alex Soderholm of the International Drugs Policy Unit join us to dissect the key questions behind this epidemic: what’s at the root of this opioid crisis? Where are these drugs coming from? And what can the US do about it?

Contributors: Dr John Collins, Executive Director of the International Drug Policy Unit; Alexander Soderholm, Policy Coordinator of the IDPU

Episode 2.7: The Rural-Urban Divide
12 October 2017

The distance between America’s rural and urban communities have become a pivotal element of politics and elections. Professor Kathy Cramer has spent the last decade investigating the attitudes and identities that have contributed to this divide, and in this episode, we dive into that work with her and PhD candidate Tory Mallett.

Contributors: Kathy Kramer, Director of the Morgridge Center for Public Service and Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Tory Mallett, PhD Student in LSE's Department of Sociology

Episode 2.6: Racism towards Latinos: Past, present, and future 
11 September 2017

The current US president is not the first American leader to use inflammatory rhetoric  about Latinos and push anti-immigration policies, but Donald Trump’s presidency has certainly brought these issue to the forefront of American politics. This episode we’re diving into the fear, resentment, and history behind racism towards Latinos, and in doing so, we’ll see that this is far from a recent phenomenon.

Contributors: Neil Foley, Robert and Nancy Dedman Professor of History at Southern Methodist University; Susannah Crockford, Research Officer for Inform

Episode 2.5: The future of American progressivism
7 August 2017

After a number of disappointing elections, many people have been left asking “Who is the Democratic Party?” In this episode, we’ll not only take on that question, but we’ll take a step further. Who will the Democratic Party be going forward? Will there even be a Democratic Party going forward?

Contributors: Thomas Frank, author and former columnist for The Wall Street Journal and Harper’s, founding editor of The Baffler; Inge Kjemtrup, chair of Democrats Abroad UK.

Episode 2.4: The Changing Face of American Conservatism
4 July 2017

From the party of Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump, the Republican Party is changing, but what caused these changes and where is American conservatism headed? This episode, we dive into these and other questions about the changing face of Republicans, the GOP, and American conservatism.

Contributors: Yuval Levin, Editor of National Affairs; Alex Sundstrom, Republicans Overseas UK. 

Episode 2.3: Trumpian Foreign policy
2 June 2017

This episode, we're taking a look at how President Trump's prioritisation of "America First" will impact foreign policy. What will America's presence and actions in the world look like during the Trump era?

Contributors: Charles Kupchan, Professor of International Affairs at Georgetown University; Emmanuelle Blanc, PhD Student in the International Relations Department at LSE.

Episode 2.2: Do state governments even matter?
2 May 2017

This episode, we’re looking into an often overlooked level of American policy-making: state governments. While the federal government is gripped by gridlock, the states surprisingly continue to pump out public policy. What makes these smaller governments work so efficiently? And do these laboratories of democracy really work for everyone?

Contributors: Jamie Monogan, Assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Georgia; Chris Gilson, Managing Editor of USAPP.

Episode 2.1: Populism and the new political spectrum
31 March 2017

While populism isn’t a new phenomenon in the United States, it has produced a new political spectrum in American politics and elections. In this episode, we explore why populism is so influential in US politics right now, what impact it is having on the political landscape, and where the government or politicians should go from here.

Contributors: Eric Kaufmann, Professor of Politics at Birkbeck College, University of London; Brian Klaas, Fellow in Comparative Politics at the LSE’s Department of Government

The Ballpark Season 1

Episode 1.9: The LSE and USA
10 January 2017

The LSE and United States have a long, intertwined history, and in this episode, we dive into the special relationship between Americans, London, and the LSE. 

Contributors: Mick Cox, Professor of International Relations at LSE; Marcia Balisciano, Director of the Benjamin Franklin House in London; and Gavin Baird, recipient of the Marshall Scholarship at LSE

Episode 1.8: America’s contentious and complicated criminal justice system
20 September 2016

This episode takes us beyond the headlines to investigate what societal structures makes America’s criminal justice system so different from those of other countries, and we take a look at what role the Black Lives Matter movement plays in this contemporary debate.

Contributors: Nicola Lacey of LSE’s Law Department and Michael McQuarrie of LSE Sociology.

Episode 1.7: Federalism, the longest lasting debate in America
26 July 2016

We dive into one of the oldest and longest lasting debates in American history: federalism vs. states’ rights. Even though it’s centuries old, this issue keeps popping up, and we walk you through the implications of this debate.

Contributors: Waltraud Schelkle of the LSE’s European Institute, Sierra Smucker, PhD student at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, and Visiting Student at the LSE US Centre, and Chris Parkes, Post-Doctoral Fellow at the LSE.

Episode 1.6: Place Matters
23 June 2016

We take a look at the role geography plays in politics, inequality, and more.

Contributors: Jonathan Rodden, Professor in the Department of Political Science at Stanford University and Margaret Weir, Professor of Political Science and International and Public Affairs at Brown University.

Episode 1.5: What’s a political poll got to do with it?
3 June 2016

We look at what political polling can tell us about democratic participation, public policy, and political priorities.

Contributors: Daniel Laurison, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the LSE’s Sociology Department, Larry Jacobs, Walter F. and Joan Mondale Chair for Political Studies at the University of Minnesota, and Jamie Weinstein, Senior Editor of The Daily Caller.

Episode 1.4: The Almighty Dollar
13 May 2016

We look at the almighty dollar and decipher US monetary policy, central banking, and exchange rates.

Contributors: Contributors: Jeff Frieden, Professor of Government at Harvard University, Gianluca Benigno, Professor of Economics at the LSE, and Chris Parkes, Post-Doctoral Fellow at the LSE.

Episode 1.3: Power, Person, People: US Foreign Policy
25 April 2016

We take a look at contemporary theories around American power and the factors that influence US foreign policy. 

Contributors: Nick Kitchen, Assistant Professorial Research Fellow at the LSE US Centre, Xenia Wickett, head of the US and the Americas Programme at Chatham House, and Lloyd Gruber, Lecturer in Political Economy of Development at the LSE's Department of  International Development.

Episode 1.2: This is not a hot take
18 March 2016

We dive into the current state of American politics, but instead of giving you a "hot take," we present you with a historical perspective from 1920 and a political theory on polarisation.

Contributors: Mona Morgan-Collins, Fellow, LSE Government Department, and James Snyder, Leroy B. Williams Professor of History and Political Science at Harvard University.

Episode 1.1: The strongest economy for who?
3 March 2016

We take a look at the US’ economic recovery and how its benefits might not have been felt by everyone equally.

Contributors: Jeff Clemens, Assistant Professor at UC San Diego, and Michael Amior, Research Officer at the LSE's Centre for Economic Performance.

Ballpark Extra Innings

Dr Fiona Hill on Putin, the War in Ukraine, and European Security
17 August 2022

On 15 June 2022, The Phelan US Centre’s Chris Gilson and Mohid Malik spoke to Dr Fiona Hill of the Brookings Institution in Washington D.C. about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and the ramifications for the future of NATO and the European security framework. They also discuss future possibilities of engaging with Russia and the role that non-European states may play in this process.

Fiona Hill is a senior fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe at the Brookings Institution. She served as national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia from 2006 to 2009 and senior director for Europe and Russia at the National Security Council from 2017 to 2019. She is author of There Is Nothing for You Here: Finding Opportunity in the 21st Century and co-author of Mr Putin: Operative in the Kremlin.

Contributors: Dr Fiona Hill (Brookings Institiution)

How UK Think Tanks influence US policymaking, with Professor Michael Cox
15 October May 2021

On 21 July 21 2021, The Phelan US Centre’s Chris Gilson spoke to Professor Michael Cox of LSE IDEAS about his new article in the journal, International Politics, “What do Think Tanks do? Chatham House in search of the United States” and how think tanks affect policymaking in the UK and the US. They also discuss his upcoming book of essays Agonies of Empire, which outlines the ways in which five very different American Presidents have addressed the complex legacies left them by their predecessors while dealing with the longer-term problems of running a modern-day empire under increasing stress.

Professor Michael Cox is the Founding Director of LSE IDEAS. He was appointed to a Chair at the LSE in 2002, having previously held positions in the UK at The Queen’s University of Belfast and the Department of International Politics, Aberystwyth. He helped establish the Cold War Studies Centre at the LSE in 2004 and later co-founded LSE IDEAS in 2008 with Arne Westad.

Contributors: Professor Michael Cox (LSE IDEAS)

Four Threats to American Democracy with Professor Robert Lieberman and Professor Suzanne Mettler
19 May 2021

On 15 February 2021, the Phelan US Centre’s Blog Editor, Chris Gilson, spoke to Professor Robert Lieberman and Professor Suzanne Mettler about their recent book, Four Threats: The Recurring Crises of American Democracy. In this podcast, they discuss some of the unique features of American democracy and how its four pillars may be under threat, and what needs to be done to secure democracy in the US.

Robert Lieberman is Krieger-Eisenhower Professor of Political Science at Johns Hopkins University. He studies American political development, race and American politics, and public policy. He has also written extensively about the development of American democracy and the links between American and comparative politics. His most recent book is Four Threats: The Recurring Crises of American Democracy (St. Martin’s Press, 2020), co-authored with Suzanne Mettler. In 2021, he will be the John G. Winant Visiting Professor of Government at the University of Oxford.

Suzanne Mettler is the John L. Senior Professor of American Institutions in the Government Department at Cornell University. Her research and teaching interests include American political development, inequality, public policy, political behavior, and democracy. She is the author of six books, including, most recently, Four Threats: The Recurring Crises of American Democracy (St. Martin’s Press, 2020), co-authored with Robert C. Lieberman. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the recipient of Guggenheim and Radcliffe Fellowships, and serves on the boards of the Scholars Strategy Network and the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences.

Contributors: Professor Robert Lieberman (Johns Hopkins University); Professor Suzanne Mettler (Cornell University)

James Baldwin vs. William F. Buckley: The Great Debate Over Race in America
23 September 2020

On the 30th of January 2020, Professor Nicholas Buccola joined the LSE US Centre for the event, “James Baldwin vs. William F. Buckley: The Great Debate over Race in America”. The event was chaired by Dr. Clive James Nwonka, an LSE Fellow in Film Studies within the Department of Sociology and affiliate of the US Centre. At the event, Professor Buccola spoke about his new book The Fire Is upon Us: James Baldwin, William F. Buckley Jr., and the Debate over Race in America. He revisited the historic debate between these two thinkers, the controversies that followed their meeting, and how their clash continues to illuminate America’s racial divide today.

Professor Nicholas Buccola is the Elizabeth and Morris Glicksman Chair in Political Science at Linfield College, McMinnville, Oregon. He is a is a writer, lecturer, and teacher who specializes in the area of American political thought. He is the author of The Fire Is upon Us: James Baldwin, William F. Buckley Jr., and the Debate over Race in America (Princeton University, 2019) and The Political Thought of Frederick Douglass: In Pursuit of American Liberty (New York University Press, 2012).

Contributors: Professor Nicholas Buccola (Elizabeth and Morris Glicksman Chair in Political Science at Linfield College); Dr. Clive James Nwonka (LSE Fellow in Film Studies, Department of Sociology)

Russian Trolls and the 2016 Election: interview with Professor Kathleen Jamieson
28 July 2020

In this interview, Professor Kathleen Jamieson talks about the impact of Russian interference on the 2016 US Presidential election, the tactics used to influence voters, and what we should be thinking about ahead of the 2020 Presidential election.

Professor Kathleen Jamieson is the Elizabeth Ware Packard Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication of the University of Pennsylvania and Director of its Annenberg Public Policy Center. She is also the author of ‘Cyberwar: How Russian Hackers and Trolls Helped Elect a President – What We Don’t, Can’t, and Do Know‘.

Contributors: Professor Kathleen Jamieson, Elizabeth Ware Packard Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, and Chris Gilson, US Centre

"African Americans in a White House": An event with Professor Leah Wright Rigueur
3 July 2020

On the 5th of March 2020, Professor Leah Wright Rigueur joined the LSE US Centre for the event “African Americans in a ‘White’ House: Presidential Politics, Race, and The Pursuit of Power.” At the event Professor Leah Wright Rigueur told the complex story of the transformation of Black politics and the astonishing racial politics of presidential administrations that have paved the way for patterns of political misconduct that have continued into the present.

Contributors: Professor Leah Wright Rigueur, Associate Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Harry S. Truman Associate Professor of American History, Brandeis University, and  Professor Imaobong Umoren, Assistant Professor, Department of International History, LSE.

"Black Republicans, Power and the Reagan Administration": Interview with Professor Leah Wright Rigueur
23 June 2020

Ballpark co-host Michaela Herrmann is joined by Professor Leah Wright Rigueur, who discusses the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) scandal of the 1980s, the experiences of Black Republicans in the last 50 years, the racial politics of the Reagan administration, and how #BlackLivesMatter protests can be linked back to long-standing trends like inequality and policing practices.

Contributors: Professor Leah Wright Rigueur, Associate Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Harry S. Truman Associate Professor of American History, Brandeis University, and Michaela Herrmann, US Centre 

"Russian Hackers, Trolls and #DemocracyRIP": an event with Professor Kathleen Jamieson
23 June 2020

On the 27th of February 2020, the LSE US Centre hosted Professor Kathleen Jamieson for the event Russian Hackers, Trolls and #DemocracyRIP. In this lecture, Professor Jamieson brought together what is known about the impact of the Russian interventions in the 2016 US presidential election, outlined the contours of the #DemocracyRIP Russian plans to undercut the presidency of Hillary Clinton, and asked what’s next and what can we do about it.

Contributors: Professor Kathleen Jamieson, Elizabeth Ware Packard Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Pennsylvania, and Peter Trubowitz, US Centre Director

“How Millennial Economics Will Shake Up US Politics” – an event with Joseph Sternberg
22 February 2020

On the 9th of October 2019, the US Centre hosted Joseph Sternberg of The Wall Street Journal at the US Centre’s public event, “How Millennial Economics Will Shake Up US Politics”. At the event, he presented an overview of Millennial economics in America and outlined how the Great Recession affected Millennials in particular. He also discussed the continuing effects of the recession even as economic conditions have improved, and some of the political issues that will continue to challenge Americans across the Boomer-Millennial divide.

Contributors: Joseph Sternberg, Wall Street Journal, and Peter Trubowitz, US Centre Director

The Theft of a Decade: How the Baby Boomers Stole the Millennials’ Economic Future – an interview with Joseph Sternberg
22 February 2020

In this Extra Inning from the LSE US Centre, Ballpark host Chris Gilson talks with The Wall Street Journal’s Joseph Sternberg about his new book, The Theft of a Decade: How the Baby Boomers Stole the Millennials’ Economic Future. In the interview, Joseph Sternberg outlines the effects of the Great Recession on Millennials and talks about Millennials’ economic and political future.
They also discuss the policy issues that will continue to challenge Boomers and Millennials as the former ages out of the working population and puts economic pressure on the latter.

Contributors: Joseph Sternberg, Wall Street Journal, Chris Gilson, LSE US Centre.

“Donald Trump and the Roots of Republican Extremism in the US”, an event with Professor Theda Skocpol
22 February 2020

On 14 October 2019, the US Centre hosted Professor Theda Skocpol for the event “Donald Trump and the Roots of Republican Extremism in the US.” At the event, Professor Skocpol discussed her recent research explaining how sets of organizations expressing two separate currents of right-wing extremism – billionaire ultra-free-market fundamentalism and popularly rooted ethno-nationalist resentment – have worked in tandem to remake the Republican Party.

Contributors: Professor Theda Skocpol. Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology at Harvard University, and Peter Trubowitz, US Centre Director

Why American foreign policy since the Cold War has been a failure with Stephen Walt
24 January 2020

Your host Chris Gilson of the LSE US Centre is joined by Professor Stephen Walt. In this interview, Chris and Professor Walt discuss the differences in US foreign policy between Presidents Trump and Obama.

They also discuss Professor Walt’s new book, The Hell of Good Intentions, and why he thinks American foreign policy since the Cold War has been a failure.

Contributors: Professor Stephen Walt (Robert and Renée Belfer Professor of International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government), Chris Gilson (LSE US Centre).

New York City’s Planning Challenges for 2020 and Beyond with Marisa Lago
24 January 2020

In this Extra Inning of the Ballpark, we are joined by Marisa Lago, the Director of the New York City Department of City Planning and Chair of the City Planning Commission. Chris Gilson of the LSE US Centre spoke with Marisa Lago about what it’s like to work across three New York mayoral administrations, the big planning issues facing the city right now, and how city planning can help address inequality. 

Contributors: Marisa Lago (Director of the New York City Department of City Planning and Chair of the City Planning Commission.), Chris Gilson (LSE US Centre).

Donald Trump and the Roots of Republican Extremism in the US, an interview with Professor Theda Skocpol
13 December 2019

In this Extra Inning of the Ballpark, your host Chris Gilson of the LSE US Centre talks with Professor Theda Skocpol about her recent research on the Republican Party. Professor Skocpol outlines the shift that the Republican Party has undergone in the last decade, driven by two distinct currents of right-wing extremism: ethno-nationalist resentment, and ultra-free-market fundamentalism. They also discuss her upcoming book, which traces the growing grassroots movement of suburban white women in left-wing politics.

Contributors: Professor Theda Skocpol. Victor S. Thomas Professor of Government and Sociology at Harvard University, Chris Gilson. LSE US Centre

The Dangers of Brexit for the Special Relationship with Senator Chris Murphy
5 April 2019

On March 20th 2019, the US Centre hosted Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut for his talk, “The Dangers of Brexit for the Special Relationship”. Senator Murphy, who is a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, spoke to US Centre Director, Professor Peter Trubowitz, on the future of the US’s relationship with one of its oldest allies in the context of the UK’s looming exit from the European Union.

Contributors: Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut and Peter Trubowitz, US Centre Director

Lessons from History and the Future of International Trade with Jeff Frieden and Doug Irwin
22 February 2019

In this Extra Inning of the Ballpark Chris Gilson hosts a conversation between Jeff Frieden and Doug Irwin as they discuss one of the most important parts of the economy: international trade. They talk about the changing consensus on trade in the US under Trump, what the growth of populism across the world means for trade and the international economy, Brexit, the growing trade war between the US and China, and give their policy recommendations for Donald Trump.

Contributors: Jeff Frieden, University of Harvard and Doug Irwin, Dartmouth College

What the US-North Korea summit may have in store with Stephan Haggard
21 February 2019

For this Extra Inning from the US Centre’s Ballpark podcast, host Chris Gilson speaks to North Korea expert Professor Stephan Haggard about the upcoming summit between the US and North Korea. We explore what’s at stake and what the summit may be able to achieve.

Contributors: Stephan Haggard, Krause Distinguished Professor at the School of Global Policy and Strategy at the University of California San Diego

Conspiracy Theories in the Age of Trump with Joe Uscinski
7 January 2019

This Extra Inning of the Ballpark features audio from the US Centre’s event “Conspiracy Theories in the Age of Trump” which took place on 25 July 2018. Joseph Uscinski, associate professor of political science at University of Miami, speaks about his book American Conspiracy Theories and why President Trump might be America’s first conspiratorial president.

Using an analysis of more than a hundred years of data taken from newspapers, surveys, and the internet, Professor Uscinski demonstrates that conspiracy theories follow a strategic logic: they are tools used by the powerless to attack and defend against the powerful.

Contributors: Joseph Uscinski, associate professor of political science at University of Miami, and Ros Taylor, Research Manager for the LSE Truth, Trust & Technology Commission

How Great Powers Transition: A Conversation with Dr. Kori Schake
23 November 2018

Host Chris Gilson talks with Dr. Kori Schake, the Deputy Director-General of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, about her new book Safe Passage. Dr. Schake discusses how and when power can peacefully shift from one hegemon to another, the impact of Trump’s foreign policy on America’s standing in the world, and the future of the Republican party.

Contributors:  Dr. Kori Schake, Deputy Director-General of the International Institute for Strategic Studies

Summer Lecture from Professor Kathy Cramer “The Politics of Resentment in the 2016 US Presidential Election”
29 August 2017

The 2016 election revealed stark divisions along the rural-urban divide in America. Professor Katherine J. Cramer’s research explored that division and investigated how rural American resentment toward cities and the urban elite provided fertile ground for right-leaning candidates to win elections. This is the third lecture of this series, and it features Professor Kathy Cramer on “The Politics of Resentment in the 2016 US Presidential Election”.

Contributors: Kathy Cramer, Director of the Morgridge Center for Public Service and Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Summer Lecture from Professor Tali Mendelberg “The Affluence Effect: College Socialization and Inequality in America”
21 August 2017

Do American universities promote income inequality? That’s the question Professor Tali Mendelberg takes on in this lecture. This second lecture of the series is from Professor Tali Mendelberg, entitled “The Affluence Effect: College Socialization and Inequality in America”.

Contributors: Tali Mendelberg, Professor of Politics at Princeton University

Anxiety, Fear, and National Identity, a public lecture from Professor Neil Foley
14 August 2017

You usually have to be in London to catch the public lectures sponsored by the US Centre, but this August, we’re bringing them to you. This podcast lecture series features the research of leading American academics. This first lecture is from Professor Neil Foley, “Anxiety, Fear, and National Identity: anti-immigration politics and the rise of Latino power in the US.”

Contributors: Neil Foley, Robert and Nancy Dedman Endowed Chair in History at Southern Methodist University

The Yanks Are Coming! A lecture from Professor Mick Cox
12 December 2016

We dive into the history of Americans at LSE. As we’ll hear from Professor Mick Cox, the LSE has helped shape the United States, and Americans have helped define the LSE since its foundation in 1895.

Contributors: Mick Cox, Professor of International Relations at LSE

Conspiracy Theories and Donald Trump
28 September 2016

Donald Trump has brought conspiracy theories into the mainstream political debate. We spoke with political scientist Joe Uscinski, author of American Conspiracy Theories, about what impact this has had on American politics and elections.

Contributors: Joe Uscinski, University of Miami

Has Obama been a transformative president?
25 August 2015

In this installment of Extra Innings, we bring you behind the scenes of the US Centre and present a full lecture from University of Texas Austin Professor Jeffrey Tulis. Jeffrey examined Obama’s presidency and asked whether or not Barack Obama has been a transformative president. This event was held in collaboration with the Dahrendorf Forum.

Contributors: Jeffrey Tulis, University of Texas at Austin

Everything you wanted to know about Brexit but were too afraid to ask
1 August 2016

It’s clear that the UK has voted to leave the EU, but there are still many questions surrounding Brexit. We want to provide some answers for our listeners on the other side of the pond to all of the questions Americans have about Brexit but were afraid to ask. We’ve gathered some of the LSE’s top experts on the EU, the UK, and Brexit to hear about what’s going on here, the repercussions for the rest of the world, and what the US can learn from this historic vote.

Contributors: Chris Gilson and Denise Baron of the LSE US Centre talk to Tony Travers, Professor of Government, Tim Oliver of LSE IDEAS, and Sara Hagemann, Assistant Professor at the European Institute.

Gun Violence and Politics in the US
1 July 2016

Following the recent horrific shooting in Orlando, Florida, we gathered three Americans to discuss their research and direct experience with the politics of gun violence. We contextualise the recent news with a statistical and research frame and then took a specific look at the gun safety policy and political fights that took place in Colorado in 2013.

Contributors: Chris Gilson of the LSE US Centre talks to Sierra Smucker, PhD student at Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy, and Visiting Student at the LSE US Centre, Sasha Milonova, Communications Associate for the Dahrendorf Forum at LSE IDEAS, and MSc student in political economy, and Denise Baron, Ballpark Producer and LSE MSc student in social psychology.

Monetary policy and more with Jeff Frieden
18 May 2016

We featured Jeff Frieden in our podcast on the Almighty Dollar, but our interview with him covered so much more. So we decided to share the full interview on the past, present, and future of monetary policy.

Contributors: Jeff Frieden, Professor of Government at Harvard University

Why the Ballpark?
5 May 2016

You might be wondering, "Why is this podcast called 'The Ballpark'?" We invited another baseball fan and political economist, Derek Valles, to chat about the overlaps and intersections of baseball and politics.

Contributors: Derek Valles, LSE Government

Erich McElroy’s Imperfect Guide to the US Presidential Debates
24 March 2016

In this Ballpark Extra Innings segment co-hosts Denise Baron and Chris Gilson head down to Erich McElroy’s Imperfect Guide to the US Presidential Debates show, and hear some comedy and commentary on the Republican presidential debate, and the US election.

Contributors: Erich McElroy, Josie Long, Robyn Perkins, Ola

Video Explainers

  • The Nomination Process
    Derek Valles of the LSE Government Department discusses how the American political primary and presidential nomination systems work, and their history.

    Watch on Youtube
  • The Two-Party System
    Dr Nick Anstead of the LSE Department of Media and Communications discusses the history, evolution and the potential future of the two party system in American politics.

    Watch on Youtube
  • Voter Eligibility
    Dr Daniel Laurison of LSE Sociology looks at the history of voter eligibility in America and recent trends and changes to voting laws and voting rights.

    Watch on Youtube
  • Lobbying 
    Dr Jordi Blanes i Vidal of the LSE Department of Management discusses what lobbying is and how it works in Washington DC, including the ‘revolving door’ between lobbyists and public sector workers.

    Watch on Youtube
  • Trade Policy
    Dr Julia Gray of LSE’s International Relations Department discusses what trade deals are, their recent history, and who benefits and who loses from them in the economy. 

    Watch on Youtube
  • Criminal Justice 
    Professor Nicola Lacey looks at the fragmented nature of the US criminal justice system and how judicial elections and ‘appeals to toughness’ have influenced the incarceration rate at the state level.

    Watch on Youtube
  • The Transition of Power
    Dr Derek Valles from the US Centre looks at power transitions between presidents of the United States. He also considers the challenges facing the president-elect in the coming months.

    Watch on Youtube

There are lots of ways to catch-up with upcoming episodes of The Ballpark podcast: this website, our SoundCloud page, subscribe on iTunes or iTunesU, or add this RSS feed to your podcast app.

We’d love to hear what you think of our podcasts and videos – you can send us a message on Twitter @LSE_Ballpark, or email us at uscentre@lse.ac.uk.

The Ballpark is produced with help from the LSE’S Annual Fund and the US Embassy in the UK.  Our theme tune is by Ranger and the “Re-Arrangers”, a Seattle based gypsy jazz band.

Header photo: The Ballpark podcast team record a discussion segment with a guest speaker in our recording studio.

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