This week, we’re replaying the inaugural episode of More Perfect (first aired in 2016) we explore three little words embedded in the 8th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: “cruel and unusual.” America has long wrestled with this concept in the context of our strongest punishment, the death penalty. A majority of “we the people” (61 percent, to be exact) are in favor of having it, but inside the Supreme Court, opinions have evolved over time in surprising ways.And outside of the court, the debate drove one woman in the UK to take on the U.S. death penalty system from Europe. It also caused states to resuscitate old methods used for executing prisoners on death row. And perhaps more than anything, it forced a conversation on what constitutes cruel and unusual punishment.In this episode, we also include a new conversation with Harvard law professor Carol Steiker and former death-row inmate Damien Nichols about the moment the death penalty finds itself in now. After the botched execution of Christa Pike, and with the government considering livestreaming a firing squad execution, how do we understand the death penalty in 2026?Special thanks to Claire Phillips, Nina Perry, Stephanie Jenkins, Ralph Dellapiana, Byrd Pinkerton, Elisabeth Semel, Christina Spaulding, Carol Steiker, Damien Nichols, and The Marshall Project Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Stephen Dubner recently served on a criminal jury. Twelve strangers — selected randomly and barely paid — took the job seriously. Afterward, he wondered: why can’t our politics work that way? A growing movement, inspired by Athenian democracy, says it can. SOURCES:Terry Bouricius, author and former Vermont state representative.Dj Hairston, public-defense lawyer.Kathy Hochul, governor of New York.Hélène Landemore, professor of political science at Yale University. RESOURCES:Democracy Without Politicians: Government by the People, by Terry Bouricius (2026).Politics Without Politicians: The Case for Citizen Rule, by Hélène Landemore (2026).The Principles of Representative Government, by Bernard Manin (1997). EXTRAS:"Has America Lost the Plot?" by Freakonomics Radio (2026). Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
SNL writer and Weekend Update anchor Michael Che joins Trevor and Eugene in this episode preview. Watch What Now? with Trevor Noah on Youtube or tune-in anywhere you listen to podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Most of us have ideas about what we’re looking for in a romantic partner. But psychologist Paul Eastwick says these preferences are surprisingly poor guides for finding love. He explains why attraction is so difficult to predict, and what the research suggests is the best way to meet someone with whom you'll connect. Then, in a new installment of “Your Questions Answered,” psychologist Ed Lemay responds to your questions about how we project our own thoughts and feelings onto other people, and how these projections shape our relationships.In our companion conversation for Hidden Brain+ subscribers, we talk with Paul Eastwick about online dating apps. He says apps can powerfully shape our experience of meeting potential romantic partners — often not for the better. If you're a subscriber, that episode is called “The Online Dating Trap.” If you're not yet a subscriber, you can listen to that conversation with a free seven-day trial to Hidden Brain+ by going to support.hiddenbrain.org. If you use an Apple device, you can subscribe via Apple Podcasts at apple.co/hidden brain. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
This is an abbreviated version of Checkup's segment on getting a good night's sleep. Whether or not you experienced daylight savings time this weekend, many Canadians struggle to get a good night's sleep. From mounting stress, to screen time, and sleep devices, Dr. Charles Samuels to share his best advice on getting some shut eye.
Ahead of of the U.S. midterm elections this week, we hear from political commentators on both sides of the border about how these election results could affect Trump's agenda, U.S.-Canada relations, and how election deniers are spreading misinformation ahead of the vote. Plus, a former U.S. Ambassador to Canada takes stock of the current relationship between the two countries and callers weigh in on why Tuesday's vote matters to them.
Whether you experienced daylight savings time this weekend, many Canadians struggle to get a good night's sleep. From mounting stress, to screen time, and sleep devices, Checkup connected with a sleep expert Dr. Charles Samuels to share his best advice on getting some shut eye.
