WEIRD: the podcast

Oct 06 2024 4 ep. 51 mins 2

WEIRD: the podcast artwork

This podcast offers a global, unconventional perspective on the US election and is hosted by anthropologists Vito Laterza & Louis Römer. Engaging commentary on what Kamala Harris, Tim Walz, Donald Trump, JD Vance and other political players say, but also how they say it - the vibes, the emotions, the drama.

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The Walz-Vance debate unpacked: consensus and conflict in middle America

Oct 06 2024 41 mins

Behind the veneer of civility that cloaked the 2 October US vice presidential debate, there are radical differences that can't be reconciled. Key topics:- Fact-checking and post-truth: the CBS News debate moderators couldn't fact-check the vice presidential candidates, but, weirdly enough, candidates were encouraged to fact-check each other.- JD Vance, like Trump, blames all Americ

The Harris-Trump debate unpacked: empathy vs hate

Sep 21 2024 59 mins

We compare two radically different visions for America in the 10 September presidential debate. We talk about the ideas, the emotions and the communication tactics.Key topics:- Harris’ opportunity economy is aimed at a broad coalition of middle classes, workers and small business owners. Republicans identify as “working class” even when they are not.- Trump is obsessed with s

From Russia with love: Putin's interference in the US election

Sep 16 2024 54 mins

In this episode:- Russian interference and Tenet Media: paying American right-wing influencers to do what they already do; pro-Trump commentator Dave Rubin’s journey from left to right, or why libertarians ally with the far right.- Operation Doppelganger: impersonating mainstream media and mixing fact and fiction to sow division in US domestic politics.- JD Vance: from darling of

Democrats vs Republicans: two styles of populism compared

Aug 25 2024 50 mins

We discuss two different styles and visions of populism - the Democrats vs the Republicans. Kamala Harris accepts the nomination as presidential candidate at the Democratic National Convention, Tim Walz is a "man of the people", Trump and Vance's weird politics focuses on doom and gloom and how to save Americans from catastrophe. Lack of engagement with the Gaza protesters is a mis