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Two philosophers—or what comedian Mel Brooks fondly refers to as "bullshit artists"—from different generations join in deep yet casual conversation covering a wide range of topics, including especially politics and the human condition. Jack Crittenden—professor emeritus of political theory at Arizona State University—and Rory Varrato—PhD candidate in the Philosophy and Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University—have known each other for more than ten years, first as teacher-student and later as friends. During that time, they have had countless conversations together (usually over coffee), and some of those chats have even been interesting. The purposes of this biweekly podcast, then, are to provide a new venue for these conversations (especially now, during the pandemic) and to enable these dialogues to reach an audience of more than two. Both interlocutors hope that—at their best—they can offer to each other and to their listeners something like the lighthearted verbal jousting of 'Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee' crossed with the stimulating pleasures of a 'My Dinner with Andre'-caliber conversation: organic, cerebral, funny, unguarded, and chock-full of bullshit.
Episodes
Thursday Jun 10, 2021
Thursday Jun 10, 2021
In this episode, Rory begins the conversation by mentioning to Jack what he says is the most terrifying political news he’s heard in some time: the possibility that Donald Trump may run for Congress in Florida in 2022 with the intent of becoming Speaker of the House of Representatives. Rory sees this as a plausible path to catastrophic constitutional crisis and an overt neofascist takeover, with a Speaker Trump leading his minions to battle against the Biden presidency, but Jack is unconvinced that Trump will even bother to run for any office lower than that of President.
Next, the discussion turns to the Middle East, and specifically to the ongoing and escalating conflict between Israel and Palestine. Although both Rory and Jack are opposed to any and all crimes against humanity, regardless of who perpetrates them, the two disagree slightly over whether or not Hamas is justified in attacking the occupying Israelis.
Finally, the pair pivot to a long-simmering debate about ‘Russiagate,’ the media narrative regarding Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election as well as the connections between the Trump camp and various Russian figures, including Vladimir Putin. Whereas Jack is firmly convinced of collusion, or even conspiracy, between Trump and these Russians based on evidence from the Mueller report, Rory is highly skeptical of any meaningful collaboration between the two groups. Instead, while acknowledging some minimal Russian interference in the 2016 election, Rory nevertheless considers the ‘Russiagate’ narrative to have been a propagandistic creation of the Democratic establishment, the espionage agencies, and their allies in the corporate media meant to undermine the Trump presidency. The lively debate does not reach a conclusion before time runs out, and it will surely be continued in the next episode.
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