Politicon: How The Heck Are We Gonna Get Along with Clay Aiken

Clay is joined by Pulitzer Prize winning columnist and author of “Profit and Punishment” Tony Messenger to look at the ways our criminal justice system has prioritized money, punishment and power over lives during a time when we are finally reevaluating the way our country pursues justice.  How does the system impact the poor?  Is it something that we should all be concerned about?  And what can we do to fight inequity and restore a belief in true fairness and common sense? Get more from Tony Messenger Twitter | STL Today Articles | Pulitzer.org |  Author of “Profit and Punishment” Host: Clay Aiken has sold 6 million albums, authored a New York Times bestseller, and ran for Congress in North Carolina in 2014.  Follow Clay Aiken further on:  Twitter Email your questions to podcast@politicon.com. Follow @politicon and go to Politicon.com

In this special Thanksgiving episode, Clay is joined by his good friend and frequent political sparring partner Meghan McCain for a deep conversation about the factors dividing the country.  They discuss the importance of speaking your mind and staying true to your values, avoiding the extremes of both parties, and talking to the other side and making sure they have a seat at the table.  Would that be enough to reunite us as a country once again? Get more from Meghan McCain Twitter | Instagram |Daily Mail |  Author of “Bad Republican” | Meghan’s Other Books Host: Clay Aiken has sold 6 million albums, authored a New York Times bestseller, and ran for Congress in North Carolina in 2014.  Follow Clay Aiken further on:  Twitter Email your questions to podcast@politicon.com. Follow @politicon and go to Politicon.com

Clay is joined by author of “The Broken Constitution”, Harvard Law Professor Noah Feldman, for a discussion about the legacy of President Lincoln and the salience of race in contemporary debates about schooling and CRT.  Did his leadership represent an overcoming of the original sin of slavery during the Revolutionary era, or are we doomed to politicians leveraging our differences for gain until the nation and our constitution are pushed to the brink once again?     Get more from Professor Noah Feldman Twitter | Bloomberg | Host of Deep Background | Author of “The Broken Constitution” & Other Books Host: Clay Aiken has sold 6 million albums, authored a New York Times bestseller, and ran for Congress in North Carolina in 2014.  Follow Clay Aiken further on:  Twitter Email your questions to podcast@politicon.com. Follow @politicon and go to Politicon.com

With the Virginia Governor’s race decided next Tuesday, Clay is joined by WaPo’s data expert David Byler for a deep dive into the mechanics of the race, what is driving the electorate, and how it relates to national politics.  Does either candidate have a lock on things?  What messaging are they using in pursuit of victory?  And looking at the election, have we become a country of ideological down ballot voters or do local issues and personal politics still win the day? Get more from David Byler Twitter | WaPo  Host: Clay Aiken has sold 6 million albums, authored a New York Times bestseller, and ran for Congress in North Carolina in 2014.  Follow Clay Aiken further on:  Twitter Email your questions to podcast@politicon.com. Follow @politicon and go to Politicon.com

Clay is joined by author of the book “Her Honor”, Judge LaDorris Cordell for an insider's look at the state of our country’s legal system, the hurdles it places in the way of so many of us, and the reforms it needs to truly serve the nation as a whole.  How can we stop the politicization and special interest influence of the judiciary so judges can remain impartial?  And what other reforms and activism are needed to restore a sense of justice to our laws?     Get more from Judge Cordell Twitter | Website | Author of “Her Honor” Host: Clay Aiken has sold 6 million albums, authored a New York Times bestseller, and ran for Congress in North Carolina in 2014.  Follow Clay Aiken further on:  Twitter Email your questions to podcast@politicon.com. Follow @politicon and go to Politicon.com

Clay is joined by Harvard philosopher, Professor Michael Sandel, for an in depth discussion about the forces in our country that create its winners and its losers, and how that  tyranny of meritocracy divides us.  Have modern democracies fallen prey to credentialism and a financial system that enriches individuals instead of the common good?  And can we fix our discourse and create systems of inclusion to make us all feel like valued stakeholders in our society? Get more from Michael Sandel Harvard | Justice w/ Michael Sandel | TED Talks | Author of “Tyranny of Merit” and Other Books Host: Clay Aiken has sold 6 million albums, authored a New York Times bestseller, and ran for Congress in North Carolina in 2014.  Follow Clay Aiken further on:  Twitter Email your questions to podcast@politicon.com. Follow @politicon and go to Politicon.com

Clay is joined by atmospheric scientist and author of "Saving Us: A Climate Scientist's Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World", Katharine Hayhoe, for a intensive look at the climate risk facing the planet and the difficulty scientists, policy makers, and even our fellow citizens face in building coalitions for effective action.  What does it take to change minds?  And will we be able to build bi-partisan majorities to do enough in time? Get more from Katharine Hayhoe Website |Twitter | Author of “Saving Us” and Other Books Host: Clay Aiken has sold 6 million albums, authored a New York Times bestseller, and ran for Congress in North Carolina in 2014.  Follow Clay Aiken further on:  Twitter Email your questions to podcast@politicon.com. Follow @politicon and go to Politicon.com

Clay is joined by the Congressional challenger in NJ-9, Republican Billy Prempeh for a wide ranging discussion about what it takes to win a House seat, the challenges candidates face running in a district historically controlled by the opposing party, and how to appeal to disenchanted independents.  What policies will it take to win over those skeptical of both parties?  And does Billy have the solutions that will bring voters from both sides together to support him? Get more from Billy Prempehr Campaign Website |Twitter | Instagram  Host: Clay Aiken has sold 6 million albums, authored a New York Times bestseller, and ran for Congress in North Carolina in 2014.  Follow Clay Aiken further on:  Twitter Email your questions to podcast@politicon.com. Follow @politicon and go to Politicon.com

Clay welcomes author and journalist Joshua Prager to look at the impact of Roe vs. Wade and the woman who drove the case, Norma McCorvey (aka Jane Roe).  They discuss how her life and the Supreme Court decision still affect the people involved and our country to this day.  What led her to go all the way to the highest court in the land and then identify with the other side?  And how can we reconcile the toughest challenges of human life with our laws? Get more from Joshua Prager Website |Author of “The Family Roe” & “The Echoing Green” Host: Clay Aiken has sold 6 million albums, authored a New York Times bestseller, and ran for Congress in North Carolina in 2014.  Follow Clay Aiken further on:  Twitter Email your questions to podcast@politicon.com. Follow @politicon and go to Politicon.com

Clay welcomes founder of the Millennial Action Project and 2022 Wisconsin Senate candidate Steven Olikara for a discussion about the process of running for national office and how he would tackle the critical issues facing his state and our country.  With a focus on bi-partisanship and solutions that move us towards a better country for all, is it still possible to break through the media gauntlet with a positive message?  Steven is betting that he can. Get more from Steven Olikara Campaign Website |Twitter | Millennial Action Project Clay Aiken has sold 6 million albums, authored a New York Times bestseller, and ran for Congress in North Carolina in 2014.  Follow Clay Aiken further on:  Twitter Email your questions to podcast@politicon.com. Follow @politicon and go to Politicon.com

Clay welcomes author of “Recall Elections: From Alexander Hamilton to Gavin Newsom” and founder of the Recall Elections Blog, Joshua Spivak, for a deep dive into the recall election process and find out how things are playing out in California.  Will Gavin Newsom triumph over the recall vote and over his challengers?  Or will Larry Elder or another one of the dozens of challengers be the one to unseat him?  And perhaps most importantly, does the process improve our democracy or just divide us further? Get more from Joshua Spivak Twitter |Recall Elections Blog | Author of “Recall Elections: From Alexander Hamilton to Gavin Newsom”  Host: Clay Aiken has sold 6 million albums, authored a New York Times bestseller, and ran for Congress in North Carolina in 2014.  Follow Clay Aiken further on: Twitter Email your questions to podcast@politicon.com. Follow @politicon and go to Politicon.com

Clay welcomes the Executive Director of the Arab Institute for Women at the Lebanese American University, human rights activist Dr. Lina AbiRafeh for a discussion about the situation on the ground in Afghanistan and what it means for women.  Did they make gains while we were there?  Was there more, and is there more we can do to help strengthen their rights in the region?  And what will life be like for them under the Taliban now that we’ve left? Get more from Dr. Lina AbiRafeh Twitter | Arab Institute for Women | Ted Talk | Author of “Gender and International Aid In Afghanistan”  Host: Clay Aiken has sold 6 million albums, authored a New York Times bestseller, and ran for Congress in North Carolina in 2014.  Follow Clay Aiken further on: Twitter Email your questions to podcast@politicon.com. Follow @politicon and go to Politicon.com

Clay welcomes  Director of the Center for Governance and Markets at the University of Pittsburgh, Professor Jen Murtazashvili for an in depth look at the history of Afghanistan and why Western culture has had so much difficulty relating to its people.  Did we do enough while we were there and did we leave the right way?  And is the transition of power from the U.S. backed government the first step towards enduring calm in the region or is it the beginning of a renewed era of chaos and strife?  Get more from Professor Murtazashvili Twitter | University of Pittsburgh  Host: Clay Aiken has sold 6 million albums, authored a New York Times bestseller, and ran for Congress in North Carolina in 2014.  Follow Clay Aiken further on: Twitter Email your questions to podcast@politicon.com. Follow @politicon and go to Politicon.com

Clay welcomes  Dr. Mary Trump, niece of the former President, to look at the trauma our nation still has to reckon with from its history-- starting with the pandemic, a contested election and race relations-- and that’s only from the last few years.  What were the forces and personality traits that drove Donald Trump to the White House?  And why was his presidency so effective at bringing out our divisions?  Now that they’re out in the open-- how do we move on? Get more from Mary Trump Twitter | Author of “The Reckoning” | Author of “Too Much & Never Enough” Host: Clay Aiken has sold 6 million albums, authored a New York Times bestseller, and ran for Congress in North Carolina in 2014.  Follow Clay Aiken further on: Twitter Email your questions to podcast@politicon.com Follow @politicon and go to Politicon.com

Clay is joined by Professor of History, African American Studies, and Gender Studies at East Tennessee State University, Elwood Watson, for a look at the divisions that have engulfed our country over recent years.  Why does it seem like recent gains have been reversed?  And what can we do to reignite our passion for civil rights and continue building on the generational gains our country has enjoyed on issues of diversity, inclusion, and giving people a voice?  Get more from Professor Elwood Watson Twitter https://twitter.com/bleachbred Substack https://elwoodwatson.substack.com/ East Tennessee State https://www.etsu.edu/cas/history/faculty_staff/watsone.php Books from Professor Watson https://www.amazon.com/Books-Elwood-Watson/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3AElwood+Watson

Message from Clay

Clay speaks with Audrey Cavenecia, the business maven, storyteller, and co-host of the podcast Amplify voices with NFL Coach Pete Carroll to look at the ways we can unite as a country in 2021 and beyond.  After breaking down why things have gotten so divisive, Audrey and Clay explore how we can create the future we all deserve.  Are we able to put people above politics and work through our differences?  And more importantly, can we align our politics with a philosophy of love and mutual respect when we try to find where our true center lies? Get more from Audrey Cavenecia Amplify Voices https://www.amplifyvoices.io/ Twitter https://twitter.com/AudreyCavenecia Website https://www.audreystory.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/audreylovesyoutoo/ Host: Clay Aiken has sold 6 million albums, authored a New York Times bestseller, and ran for Congress in North Carolina in 2014 almost unseating a popular Republican incumbent. Follow Clay Aiken further on: Twitter https://twitter.com/clayaiken Email your questions to podcasts@politicon.com Follow @POLITICON and go to POLITICON.COM Show notes on the website:  https://politicon.com/podcasts/audrey-cavenecia/