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Reasonably Optimistic

The Washington Post
Donald Trump
Mental Health
Trump Administration
Social Media
Washington Post
Democratic Party
Kamala Harris
Tim Walz
Immigration
Artificial Intelligence
Supreme Court
Masculinity
Iran
Republican Party
Biden Administration
Gender Equality
Education
Ukraine
Technology
American Politics

Enough with the doom and gloom — we’re ready to talk about how America can thrive. Hosted by Washington Post Opinion columnist Megan McArdle, “Reasonably Optimistic” is your weekly conversation about how America can get unstuck and build a better future. Stop feeding your rage and start embracing our possibilities. Episodes drop Wednesdays.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes137Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
News CommentaryNewsPolitics

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Latest Episodes

From overdone plastic surgery to open-concept floor plans, we’re designing our lives to look good on camera instead of optimizing for what we need. Influencer culture — and our constant exposure to curated, edited and optimized images — has reshaped ... more

The Supreme Court is supposed to be above politics. But these days, it doesn’t feel that way. From high-stakes rulings to increasingly bitter confirmation hearings, the court has become one of the most divisive institutions in American government. So... more

Anxiety around artificial intelligence is reaching a fever pitch and sparking real-world consequences. Recent violent incidents tied to opposition against data centers highlight growing public backlash, while Anthropic’s new model, Mythos, raises ala... more

Host Megan McArdle breaks down why the corporate tax system is so complex, costly and potentially inefficient — and explores a bold idea: What if we eliminated it altogether? From hidden economic trade-offs to who really pays corporate taxes, this ep... more

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Recent Guests

Sarah Isgur
Longtime Supreme Court Analyst
Episode: How Americans developed an unhealthy relationship with the Supreme Court
Damir Marusic
Episode: The temperature is rising on AI. What comes next?
Leah Libresco Sargeant
Senior Policy Analyst at the Niskanen Center; author of The Dignity of Dependence, A Feminist Manifesto
Niskanen Center
Episode: What a Catholic feminist dares to say
Dean Ball
Senior Fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation; former Senior Policy Advisor for AI and Emerging Technology at the White House OSTP
Foundation for American Innovation
Episode: Where AI will be in a year — and in a decade
Ashish Jha
Physician, public health expert, former White House COVID-19 response coordinator
Episode: Health care is life or death. How can Americans be rational about it?
Daniel Diermeier
Chancellor of Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Episode: Universities charged into the culture wars. Now they’re fighting to get out.
Christian Keil
Investor with the American Dynamism Team at A16Z
A16Z (Andreessen Horowitz)
Episode: How America keeps reinventing itself
David Ignatius
Colleague and longtime columnist on US intelligence and foreign policy
The Washington Post
Episode: What comes next in Iran
Jake Auchincloss
Democratic Congressman from Massachusetts
U.S. House of Representatives
Episode: AI is coming. Is there enough power to run it?

Host

Megan McArdle
Host and columnist exploring topics related to optimism, economics, and societal issues through insightful conversations with diverse guests.

Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars from 295 ratings
  • Stop the greed agenda

    Unfollowing because of casino ads.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Mbr1819
    United States13 days ago
  • Love the show, but…

    deserves much better production quality on the YouTube side! Did all the video people get fired too??

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    1st-time-caller
    Canada14 days ago
  • False Premise, Poorly Masked Bad Centrist Argurments

    This show was first presented as a positive spin on news of today. However, after listening to a few episodes, it is quite clear that this show is just conservative talk points being repackaged centrist view. Most of the guests are using bad data, as well as lack of data to Boyster their point of use and really should have no place in the public form or the market of ideas. It is quite clear that this is very much part of the continuum of death spiral of the Washington Post.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    SpaceLobsterLove
    United States17 days ago
  • Jeff bezos

    It sounded like what I could use… Except one star it’s owned by Jeff Bezos… See you later

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    JacksonsDisturbed
    United Statesa month ago
  • Bring back the center

    I hope this is a real actual attempt at center politics and it would help if the host didn’t use the regular dog whistles to undermine the current admin. You can just say for example trump held schools accountable for becoming racist and politicized in a post 10/7 world based on our countrys civil rights laws. Instead of “ he attacked. Or went after.” It’s just not helpful and doesn’t educate the audience on what actually happened. Kudos for this endeavor I hope the host can actually be center f... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Truth2Light24
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners appreciate the focus on optimism and innovative ideas for societal improvement.
The host's analytical approach receives praise for engaging discussions that challenge conventional narratives.
A mix of opinions exists, with some expressing discomfort regarding perceived biases or the presentation style.
Some feedback highlights concerns over sound quality but largely complements the content's thoughtfulness.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Americans developed an unhealthy relationship with the Supreme Court
Q: Tell me about the 333 court.
The guest explains the breakdown of the court's dynamics, noting the consistency in 6-3 outcomes and the shifting coalitions among justices, which helps predict results beyond ideological labels and highlights the importance of institutional factors.
Health care is life or death. How can Americans be rational about it?
Q: If you could make only one tweak to the system, what would it be to bring down prices while preserving access and value?
Increase competition across the health care marketplace, including enabling pharmacists and other professionals to take on more roles, and reduce barriers like restrictive scope-of-practice laws and market protections that limit entry and keep prices high.
Health care is life or death. How can Americans be rational about it?
Q: Before we talk about frustration or cost, can you just help us level set? How would you compare the American health care system right now to the rest of the world in terms of innovation, cost, or access?
The U.S. leads in innovation, with advanced care delivery models and new treatments, but it spends far more and has gaps in access, leaving about 10% uninsured and another 20-30% under financial strain despite coverage. The system excels in innovation but lags in cost control and universal access.
Universities charged into the culture wars. Now they’re fighting to get out.
Q: So Daniel, the first question I'm going to ask you is just tell me why I'm wrong.
The host challenges the premise, and Daniel responds that politicization has grown over years, that trust erosion is real, but the crisis is not solely a recent development and requires a multi-pronged approach including clear purpose, neutral standards, and active cultivation of a culture that welcomes diverse viewpoints.
How America keeps reinventing itself
Q: What are the biggest gaps to enable reinvention in the U.S.?
The guest cites a mix of supply chain, labor, permitting, and infrastructure bottlenecks, plus the need for a coordinated but not overly centralized approach to mobilize capabilities across defense, energy, and manufacturing.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About Reasonably Optimistic

What is Reasonably Optimistic about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast focuses on contrasting narratives surrounding current events and societal progress, often challenging pessimistic views prevalent in media. With engaging discussions spanning a variety of topics from economics and American history to personal growth and the influence of technology, listeners are invited to explore how innovative ideas can lead to a more optimistic outlook on the future of America. The host, known for her perspective and insights, often interviews a range of guests including politicians, economists, and cultural commentators, making for diverse and thought-provoking episodes that aim to inspire hope rather than despair, while addressing significant issues affecting society.

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How many subscribers and views does Reasonably Optimistic have?

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Which podcasts are similar to Reasonably Optimistic?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Reasonably Optimistic:

1. The Opinions
2. The Ezra Klein Show
3. Interesting Times with Ross Douthat
4. Central Air
5. Radio Atlantic

How many episodes of Reasonably Optimistic are there?

Reasonably Optimistic launched 2 years ago and published 137 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Reasonably Optimistic?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Reasonably Optimistic?

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What guests have appeared on Reasonably Optimistic?

Recent guests on Reasonably Optimistic include:

1. Sarah Isgur
2. Damir Marusic
3. Leah Libresco Sargeant
4. Dean Ball
5. Ashish Jha
6. Daniel Diermeier
7. Christian Keil
8. David Ignatius

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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