About Theory of Change
Lots of people want to change the world. But how does change happen? History is filled with stories of people and institutions that spent big and devoted many resources to effect change but have little to show for it. By contrast, many societal developments have happened without forethought from anyone. And of course, change can be negative as well as positive.
In each episode of this weekly program, Theory of Change host Matthew Sheffield delves deep with guests to discuss larger trends in politics, religion, media, and technology.
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Obsolete ‘both sides’ journalism has enabled far-right radicalism and enabled ‘faux left’ grifting
Media critic Eric Boehlert discusses how the mainstream press refuses to acknowledge that the Republican Party has turned against democracy
Misinformation epidemic: How conspiracy theorists and wannabe doctors confuse the public
#12: Richard Carpiano on medical misinformation and unqualified Covid-19 punditry
Pat Bagley on the conservative takeover of Mormonism and the GOP he once knew
Salt Lake Tribune editorial cartoonist Pat Bagley talks about his 43-year career observing politics, Utah, and Mormonism
How internet trolls from the late 90s and early 2000s created the ethos of American conservatism
Journalist Robyn Pennacchia discusses the rise of sexist trolling and how it merged with Christian nationalism to create today’s right-wing extremism
America’s for-profit media system has harmed our politics
Veteran media critic Parker Molloy discusses how media sensationalism and desire for access prevents ‘mainstream’ journalists from fully reporting what they know
Editorial cartooning is under threat in the age of the meme
Nationally syndicated cartoonists Nick Anderson and Nate Beeler discuss how the rise of the web has the nation’s editorial artists banding together
Can we trust opinion polls? The Pew Research Center is trying to make sure
Election polls nationally were fairly accurate in 2016, but big errors at the state level indicate that conducting surveys is becoming more difficult in the future
Trump hasn’t really changed the GOP all that much, former Republican presidential adviser says
After decades in the heart of Republican economic policy and decades after leaving it, economist Bruce Bartlett says his former party hasn’t changed all that much
Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren and the battle for change
Democratic socialists say liberals aren’t working toward the radical change America needs
Public opinion on impeachment is complicated
Marist College pollster Lee Miringoff shows that impeachment for President Trump isn’t a sure thing with the public
No one wants to cut spending, including Republican voters
Political scientist Matt Grossman discusses how state-level Republicans keep failing to cut government to the bone