The Current Podcast
1) Is DC’s economy stalling? Insights from the DMV Monitor
The Washington, D.C., metropolitan region, known as the DMV — District, Maryland, and Virginia — is home to the U.S. federal government, 6.4 million people, and hundreds of thousands of private sector...Show More
2) Is this government shutdown different?
As of October 1, 2025, non-essential U.S. government operations ceased due to the failure of Congress to pass legislation that funds government agencies. The latest shutdown follows others that have o...Show More
3) The United Nations at 80: Does multilateralism still matter?
The 80th UN General Assembly is underway in New York City, in session from just after Labor Day into December. The annual High-Level Week, when world leaders gather, ended in September. To share their...Show More
4) What’s the FCC’s role in regulating broadcast content in an era of media consolidation?
On this episode — a look at the shifting landscape of media regulation, consolidation, and the ongoing debate over free speech in the wake of Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension from his late-night talk show an...Show More
5) Is the credibility of US government data at risk? Why it matters to everyone.
The credibility of U.S. federal government data may seem an arcane topic, but it is critical for a well-functioning economy. To explore the importance of reliable economic data and potential challenge...Show More
6) What’s the president’s legal basis for sending National Guard troops to DC streets?
On August 11, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that put the federal government in charge of the local police force. A second executive order directed members of the D.C. National Guard...Show More
7) How resilient is New Orleans today?
20 years after Hurricane Katrina made landfall along the Gulf Coast, researchers from New Orleans, Brookings, and The Data Center are examining how the city has recovered and the challenges it still ...Show More
8) How do we know if US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities were successful?
Mara Karlin, a visiting fellow at Brookings and former U.S. assistant secretary of defense for strategy, plans, and capabilities, discusses the recent U.S. attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, the Is...Show More
9) The moral dimension of AI for work and workers
Molly Kinder, fellow in Brookings Metro, reflects on the moral and ethical dimensions of artificial intelligence, work, and workers, as she lays out in her recent paper, “The unexpected visionary: Pop...Show More
10) What Medicaid and other safety net cuts could mean for US poverty
House Republicans are currently negotiating a budget reconciliation bill that packages extensive tax breaks with deep spending cuts to anti-poverty programs like Medicaid and SNAP. Robert Greenstein e...Show More