Reflector

Everyone agrees that street homelessness is a problem to solve. But that’s where the agreement ends. Today, we explore the two camps that think they’ve found an answer — one that argues for more resources and the other that argues for more rule of law. THIS EPISODE FEATURES: Iain De Jong, Stephen Eide, Estela Lopez, Mark Horvath, Traci Park LINKS: Louis C.K. bit Iain De Jong's company Iain De Jong’s book, The Book on Ending Homelessness A few studies on Housing First The Daily Show segment on Housing First Stephen Eide’s critique of Housing First 2019 progress report on Proposition HHH Audit on CA homelessness spending Oral argument in City of Grants Pass v. Johnson City of Grants Pass v. Johnson Supreme Court opinion Spencer Pratt’s X account Los Angeles mayoral primary debate, May 6, 2026 Donald Trump 2023 video about the homeless Mark Horvath’s organization Invisible People YouTube channel Traci Park’s website Los Angeles City Council meeting, August 18, 2026 For this series we also read, and recommend, the following books: ⁠Homelessness in America: The History and Tragedy of an Intractable Social Problem⁠ by Stephen Eide, ⁠Reckoning with Homelessness⁠ by Kim Hopper, ⁠The Hobo: The Sociology of the Homeless Man⁠ by Nels Anderson, and ⁠Down and Out, on the Road: The Homeless in American History⁠ by Kenneth L. Kusmer. CREDITS: This story was reported by Emma Pettit and produced by Andy Mills, Ethan Mannello, Matthew Boll, and Simon Adler. It was mixed by Emma Munger. Music for this episod was composed by Cobey Bienert and Simon Adler. Artwork for this episode is by ⁠Jacob Boll⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Homelessness today looks very different than it did in the 1980s, when American cities first woke up to this crisis. Today, we explore the legal battles that turned survival outside into a constitutional question. You can hear the full series right now when you become a Longview subscriber by visiting us⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠here⁠ THIS EPISODE FEATURES: Estela Lopez, Kevin Cope LINKS: ⁠Estela Lopez’s organization Los Angeles magazine article that features Lopez Jones v. City of Los Angeles settlement Martin v. City of Boise initial opinion Martin v. City of Boise amended opinion NPR story that quotes Pam Hawkes and her lawyer Kevin Cope of the University of Virginia School of Law Kevin Cope’s paper Skid Row 2016 survey on violence against women For this series we also read, and recommend, the following books: Homelessness in America: The History and Tragedy of an Intractable Social Problem by Stephen Eide, Reckoning with Homelessness by Kim Hopper, The Hobo: The Sociology of the Homeless Man by Nels Anderson, and Down and Out, on the Road: The Homeless in American History by Kenneth L. Kusmer. CREDITS: This story was reported by Emma Pettit and produced by Andy Mills, Ethan Mannello, Matthew Boll, and Simon Adler. It was mixed by Emma Munger. Music for this episode was composed by Cobey Bienert and Simon Adler. Artwork for this episode is by Jacob Boll. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What we call “homelessness” is a relatively modern phenomenon. Today, we tell the story of its emergence and why, in the 1980s, one woman fought so fervently for her right to live on a New York City street corner. You can hear the full series right now when you become a Longview subscriber by visiting us⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠here THIS EPISODE FEATURES: Stephen Eide LINKS: 60 Minutes segment on Joyce Brown Stephen Eide at the Manhattan Institute The New York Civil Liberties Union  Jack London’s memoir of his hobo years, The Road Joyce Brown’s obituary New York magazine story on Brown Retro Report piece featuring Brown’s niece Study on homelessness mortality HUD’s 2024 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (Part 1) For this series we also read, and recommend, the following books: Homelessness in America: The History and Tragedy of an Intractable Social Problem by Stephen Eide, Reckoning with Homelessness by Kim Hopper, The Hobo: The Sociology of the Homeless Man by Nels Anderson, and Down and Out, on the Road: The Homeless in American History by Kenneth L. Kusmer. CREDITS: This story was reported by Emma Pettit and produced by Andy Mills, Ethan Mannello, Matthew Boll, and Simon Adler. It was mixed by Emma Munger. Music for this episode was composed by Cobey Bienert and Simon Adler. Artwork for this episode is by Jacob Boll. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Reflector we are bringing you a very special episode from a new series that found its beginnings right here.  It is called Book Keeper.  Last year we released the episode Hallelujah, where Megan Phelps-Roper revisited the Bible to ask what still endures when belief is gone.  That episode inspired us to continue telling these stories. In our first episode of this series Megan, more than 10 years after leaving the Westboro Baptist Church, returns to the Bible again. Even though she is no longer what most would consider a “believer,” she wants to explore what ancient wisdom still lives in these stories. And she begins with a tale of profound betrayal and reconciliation. RESOURCES: The Book of Genesis — Chapters 37 to 45 CREDITS: This episode of Book Keeper was produced by Matthew Boll, with editing by Andy Mills and Sarah Hepola. It is hosted by Megan Phelps-Roper. Music for this episode was composed by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Cobey Bienert⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Peter Lalish⁠⁠⁠⁠ Artwork by ⁠Jacob Boll⁠ WAKING UP OFFER: Thank you to our partner Waking Up. You can find their 14-day free trial ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ This is an affiliate link. We earn a commission on new subscriptions purchased through this link. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

⁠Visit the Longview website to learn more and support our reporting Prediction markets have exploded from a niche financial concept into a multibillion-dollar industry — one that's reshaping how we understand information, trust, and the future. But as these markets promise to make us wiser — cutting through noise, humbling the pollsters, giving us a cleaner read on what's actually going to happen — they're also raising a darker question: what happens to public trust when every event becomes a potential inside job? Reporter Ethan Mannello investigates the fascinating, unsettling world where the casino has swallowed everything else. THIS EPISODE FEATURES: PMT PMT YouTube CREDITS: This episode of Reflector was reported and produced by Ethan Mannello. Produced by Simon Adler. Music for this episode was composed by Simon Adler Reflector artwork by Jacob Boll Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices