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Behind the News with Doug Henwood

Doug Henwood
Donald Trump
Israel
United States
Iran
Private Equity
Neoliberalism
Trump Administration
Silicon Valley
Republican Party
Capitalism
China
Gaza
Socialism
European Union
Democratic Party
Political Economy
Venezuela
Artificial Intelligence
Right-Wing Populism
Sudan

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 [untitled] - - Doug Henwood

Behind the News, 11/12/26 - Emily Jashinsky on the GOP after the drubbing • Shireen Al-Adeimi on who the Houthis are - Doug Henwood

Behind the News, 11/5/26 - guests: David Griscom on Texas turning blue • Djene Bajalan on Saudi Arabia's problems - Doug Henwood

Behind the News, 10/29/26 - guests: Alfredo Saad-Filho on Brazil • Raj Patel on foundations & food - Doug Henwood

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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]
David Griscom
Austin-based journalist and author of The Myth of Red Texas
Episode: Behind the News, 11/5/26
Djene Bajalan
Associate professor of history at Missouri State University
Missouri State University
Episode: Behind the News, 11/5/26
Alfredo Saad-Filho
Political economist and professor at Queen's University Belfast
Queen's University Belfast
Episode: Behind the News, 10/29/26
Raj Patel
Writer, filmmaker and professor specializing in agriculture
University of Texas
Episode: Behind the News, 10/29/26
Mike Beggs
Senior lecturer in political economy at the University of Sydney and contributor to Jacobin
University of Sydney
Episode: Behind the News, 10/22/26
Rodrigo Nunes
Associate professor of philosophy at PUC Rio and author of Anatomy of Disintegration
PUC Rio
Episode: Behind the News, 10/15/26
Shawn Gude
Author of American Socialist: The Life and Legacy of Eugene V. Debs
Episode: Behind the News, 10/15/26

Host

Doug Henwood
Journalist and economic analyst

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 681 ratings
  • Worth your time

    Accessible, smart, funny, to the point, and oh so needed these days. Plus great music. I’m a grateful and regular listener

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    La bella nica
    United States21 days ago
  • ST. LOUIS MENTIONED!!!

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

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Flora Racine
    United States10 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 Statesa year 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 Statesa year ago
  • Great interviews. Love the music interludes.

    Let's go out with this.

    Bye!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    dirt mcgirt
    a year ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise Henwood's probing questions, experience, and ability to keep conversations moving without wasting time.
Reviews describe the interviews as intelligent, accessible, informative, and engaging, with complex topics presented without excessive jargon.
Some listeners would like more organizers and on-the-ground voices alongside academic and policy experts.
Listeners value the range of knowledgeable guests and the historical context brought to current political and economic issues.
Music interludes and theme music are recurring favorites and add a distinctive touch to the format.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Behind the News, 10/29/26
Q: How has [the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa] worked out?
Patel says AGRA expanded fertilizer use but did not improve staple-crop yield growth or reduce the share of people who are undernourished, while encouraging costly fertilizer subsidies and influencing agricultural policy.
Behind the News, 10/29/26
Q: I've seen several pundits from various points along the political spectrum saying this was less of a vote for Lula than a repudiation of the alternative. What do you think of that?
Saad-Filho says Lula's political skills and reformist appeal mattered alongside opposition to his party and working-class background, which have provoked enduring resistance among Brazil's privileged classes.
Behind the News, 11/5/26
Q: So why do they have so little to show for all that shiny weaponry?
Bajalan says the Saudi military is structured to protect the monarchy from internal threats, with appointments often based on political reliability rather than military ability. Weapons purchases also serve as prestige and a way to secure foreign support, rather than being shaped solely by military needs.
Behind the News, 11/5/26
Q: How did these cowboy reactionaries retain power for so long? In a state with a large sophisticated cosmopolitan urban population?
Griscom says Republicans built a durable coalition by attracting new conservative voters and drawing on the state's existing conservative politics, while Democrats under Bill Clinton turned away from working-class voters and lost a clear purpose beyond opposing Republicans.
Behind the News, 10/15/26
Q: What can we learn from his example, his career, his legacy today with Socialist politics on something of an upswing?
Gude says socialism should be made human and tangible by offering people a better life through services and economic security, while building a strong alternative culture that creates community and joy.

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?

Weekly episodes pair Doug Henwood's interviews with specialists on current politics, economics, labor, and international affairs. Typically, two focused conversations connect the news to historical context and broader questions about power, class, and public policy. Guests include academics, journalists, authors, economists, and policy analysts, who discuss subjects ranging from elections and foreign relations to technology, agriculture, climate policy, and social movements. Henwood's approach is probing and direct, keeping complex subjects accessible without stripping away their political or economic detail. Music interludes distinguish the format, while the wide range of subjects gives listeners both timely analysis and deeper background.... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Behind the News?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Behind the News:

1. Jacobin Radio
2. Politics Theory Other
3. Know Your Enemy
4. Confronting Capitalism with Vivek Chibber
5. Drop Site Livestream

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. David Griscom
4. Djene Bajalan
5. Alfredo Saad-Filho
6. Raj Patel
7. Mike Beggs
8. Rodrigo Nunes

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