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Behind the News with Doug Henwood

Doug Henwood
United States
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Behind the News with Doug Henwood

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes28Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Behind the News

Latest Episodes

Behind the News, 3/26/26 - guests: Mouin Rabbani on the Iran war, Helen Yaffe on Cuba - Doug Henwood

Behind the News, 3/19/26 - guests: Nancy Fraser on class/identity • Natalie Y. Moore on federal layoffs & black women - Doug Henwood

Behind The News [untitled] - - Doug Henwood

Behind the News, 3/12/26 - guest: Nikhil Pal Singh on Trump’s homeland empire, merging foreign and domestic policy into a single domain of impunity - Doug Henwood

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Nancy Fraser
Emerita professor of philosophy at the New School
New School
Episode: Behind The News [untitled]
Natalie Y. Moore
Journalist
Episode: Behind The News [untitled]
Nikhil Pal Singh
Professor of Social and Cultural Analysis and History at NYU, and author of Homeland Empire
New York University
Episode: Behind the News, 3/12/26
Behrooz Ghamari
Historian and author of The Long War in Iran; fellow at the CUNY Graduate Center; former Director of Iranian Studies at Princeton
CUNY Graduate Center; Princeton University
Episode: Behind the News, 3/5/26
Tessa West
Professor of Psychology at NYU, specializes in interpersonal and group dynamics
New York University
Episode: Behind the News, 2/26/26
Nick Srnicek
Senior Lecturer in Digital Economy at King's College London, author of Silicon Empires
King's College London
Episode: Behind the News, 2/26/26
Wanda Bertram
Old friend of the show, involved with the Prison Policy Initiative
Prison Policy Initiative
Episode: Behind the News, 2/26/26
Stuart Schrader
Associate Professor of History at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
Episode: Behind the News, 2/19/26
Stacy Horn
Author of The Killing Fields of East New York
Gillian Flynn Books
Episode: Behind the News, 2/12/26

Host

Doug Henwood
Host of insightful discussions focused on current affairs, economics, and social issues, with a knack for making complex themes accessible to listeners.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 666 ratings
  • ST. LOUIS MENTIONED!!!

    Episode 1/22/2026, 9 minutes 41 seconds in.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Flora Racine
    United States2 months ago
  • Thank you, Doug!

    I’ve been listening to Behind the News for years and it has profoundly deepened my knowledge and understanding of world events. I am always amazed at how Doug is able to speak with a wide range of extremely knowledgeable guests and distill complex topics into accessible segments. Not to mention some awesome music interludes. Thank you for all you do, Doug!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kchen510
    United States3 months ago
  • Weekly pair of 25 minute interviews, w great music

    This podcast is like a dispatch, with meal-sized discussions fit for a lunch break - musical refreshments included. The host is very experienced and keeps the energy crisp and moving, even when the topics are quite sophisticated or high-intensity. Rarely is the content “too much to handle”, but almost always the guests nurture my intelligence. The material may be kept to a 25-minute se’ment, with a wizened interviewer, but I never feel I am being fed simplified or boring material.

    If someone l... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    *never too late
    United States6 months ago
  • Great interviews. Love the music interludes.

    Let's go out with this.

    Bye!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    dirt mcgirt
    8 months ago
  • One of the best

    This podcast is an oasis from the anti-intellectualism rampant in the U.S. today. Great guests, and Doug doesn’t waste my time with mindless chit-chat, which I appreciate. Lots packed into these conversations and I always learn a lot.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AmeliaInTheForest
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners appreciate the depth and complexity of discussions, often describing the host as insightful and knowledgeable.
Many enjoy the blend of music and commentary throughout episodes, which provides a refreshing format.
Feedback indicates a strong admiration for the guests' expertise, and some listeners express a desire for even more grassroots voices to be included.
Critiques do arise, however, especially regarding certain guests who may not align with listeners' progressive views, reflecting a demand for consistency in thematic focus.
Overall, the podcast is seen as a vital resource for those seeking intelligent political and economic discourse.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Behind the News, 3/12/26
Q: What does the historian see as a possible positive way forward for left politics in this context?
A hopeful pathway involves building a coherent opposition that centers the needs of ordinary people—economic and social—while rejecting imperialistic dominion, mass deportation, and coercive state power, and instead emphasizes cooperative internationalism and accountable, transparent governance.
Behind the News, 3/12/26
Q: How should we think about Trump and the implications of his presidency?
Trump represents a destabilizing accelerant that leverages coercive state power and a collapsing liberal order, but there is also a deeper, structural unraveling of the US empire and ruling class that predates him, suggesting a need for a different political framework rooted in universal human flourishing and democratic accountability.
Behind The News [untitled]
Q: I'm curious, how would that be a kind of Leninism?
Fraser discusses the concern that centering class could resemble an authoritarian hegemonic project, but suggests a reimagined, inclusive working-class identity that integrates race and gender without reproducing old hierarchies.
Behind the News, 2/26/26
Q: What do you think of the appeal of the rich to academics who don't have much money?
It's a fascinating tangle of intellectualism and finances, with wealthy individuals eager to collect smart people, making them feel important while offering crucial funding for research.
Behind the News, 2/26/26
Q: So what were the young women or the girls even to such a group? Were they entertainment, collateral damage, decorations not worth thinking about?
The women were likely dehumanized and viewed as mere objects, similar to accessories or possessions, devoid of any real humanity in discussions among Epstein and his associates.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Behind the News

What is Behind the News about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content centers around incisive commentary on contemporary political and social issues, often delving into complex topics such as immigration, criminal justice reform, and the intricate workings of international relations. Through engaging dialogue with notable academics and experts, the discussions emphasize critical analysis of capitalism, culture, and systemic power structures. Noteworthy is the host's skill in distilling dense subjects into accessible insights, paired with interludes of diverse music that enhance the listening experience. This podcast is particularly appealing to listeners interested in a leftist perspective on current events, economics, and historical contexts, enhancing their understanding of pressing global matte... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Behind the News?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Behind the News:

1. The Dig
2. Jacobin Radio
3. American Prestige
4. Know Your Enemy
5. What's Left of Philosophy

How many episodes of Behind the News are there?

Behind the News launched 21 years ago and published 28 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Behind the News?

Recent guests on Behind the News include:

1. Nancy Fraser
2. Natalie Y. Moore
3. Nikhil Pal Singh
4. Behrooz Ghamari
5. Tessa West
6. Nick Srnicek
7. Wanda Bertram
8. Stuart Schrader

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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