This week our panel delves into the social and political context surrounding the selection of the new Pope, Leo XIV, who is being celebrated by both Americans and Peruvians as their own -- even as the Catholic Church has lost significant ground throughout the Americas. We also look at how the Pope's world view clashes with the dominant political forces shaping the U.S. today, with one prominent voice calling him the worst pick for Maga Catholics.
We also put the spotlight on Saturday Night Live's amazing 50th season and discuss how the cast has leveraged laughter to call out what the 47th president and his Administration are really doing.
We discuss whether the media is more limited in its ability to call out clear examples of racism, and the pressures media companies are facing from the current Administration. Looking towards the left, we also consider whether SNL's example can help Democrats find ways to connect with voters other than a daily barrage of outrage.
In this conversation, our panelists also describe the factors in their lives that led them to the center of the political spectrum, and their concern that both the right and left are disengaging from the principles of liberal democracy that are vital for our system of government to survive and our country to thrive. We promised an honest conversation, and we deliver on that with a discussion on identity politics you won't hear anywhere else, including why the up-and-coming generation is not going to patiently wait their turn.
Finally, we step away from politics to a look at what one of our panelists thinks is absolutely the best ad on television right now...maybe ever! State Farm's "Batman vs Bateman" ad, produced by Highdive for the insurance giant, features Jason Bateman as a charismatic if ill-equipped hero whose misadventures paint a very clear picture: when something happens and you need your insurance to kick in, imitations just won't cut it. We break down the highlights. You can see the extended cut of the ad at the link below.
Thank you for listening, subscribing, and supporting CenterD! Our panelists are former Obama White House communications advisor and former DHS spokesman Luis Miranda, former Clinton Administration appointee and former senior Republican staffer on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Carl Meacham, and former CBS executive, author and publicist Jeremy Murphy. In addition to the weekly podcast, keep an eye out for our other commentary and analysis we’ll be posting soon.
-Luis
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