Coverage of sequester stories and sequester jokes is shifting to wacky European antics and the annual springtime North Korean crisis, but the problems posed by the government policy are still relevant.
WPRB’s own John Weingart wrote a fabulous piece for the NJ Spolight on the sequester about a month ago. Using his radio show as an analogy, he explained why the sequester is so frustratingly, mind-boggling problematic… and designed to be that way.
I’m a semi-obsessive podcast devotee, so figured I would suggest some great podcasts just floating around on the internet. I practiced restraint and avoided all the main NPR suspects but tried to avoid going too esoteric. So here is a mix of very different sorts of things:
Dan Carlin’s Hardcore History
Non-fiction – History – Avg. Length ~2 hours – Updates sporadically
Dan Carlin’s brand of history is a mix of sweeping overviews of cause and effect, detailed backstories, and lots of gory tid-bits. He covers everything from Ancient Rome to the Mongol Empire to the 1950s, and does a fantastic job of suggesting historical parallels to present day situations. The show is worth it if only for his quotations—he likes to read out sources in a dramatic and booming voice before lapsing into a more gruff analytical tone.
Decode DC
Non-Fiction – Politics – Avg. Length 15-20m – Updates sporadically
In Decode DC, Andrea Seabrook tries to give us the stories no one is covering—more in depth, behind-the-scenes pieces that explore the backdrop and backstory of any given headline. She helps put events and decisions into context, and avoids the distracting daily theatrical details.