Episodes
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In this episode we talk about AI, its effects on society and how it’s changing the world. We cover what exactly counts as "AI", how AI is being used today, and the things you may not have known about AI that we think you should be aware of.
The Ugly Truth Behind ChatGPT
How Can We Trust AI
AI's Impact on Climate
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In this episode, we talk about youth activism and how young people are making their voices heard. We talk about who exactly is considered a "youth", the history of student protests, how and why young people engage in political discourse, and why it's important to pay attention.
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Missing episodes?
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In this episode, Mahdi & Alex take on the "stan" phenomena. We discuss some of the biggest online fandoms, the characteristics of modern-day internet stans, the psychology behind parasocial relationships, and the very real effects these communities have on our society and the way we talk to each other.
Follow us on instagram @thetakedownpod
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In today's episode, Alex joins me to dissect the bizzare (and sometimes dangerous) culture that surrounds incels and the mens-rights movement. We discuss the origins of the word "incel", the societal factors that make this phenomena so prevalent amongst young men, and what people can do to help others who have fallen prey to the manosphere.
Follow us on instagram @thetakedownpod
Sudan Relief Fund
HomeTax Sudan Relief
Sudan Humanitarian Fund
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In this mini-episode, I dive into media bias and the ways it manifests in the news. I cover some of the reasons the news is reported in its current form, and share some surprising facts about how news organizations operate. I also give some tips that can hopefully help you decide whether to trust a news source and how to detect bias in a story.
Is The New York Times’ newsroom just a bunch of Ivy Leaguers? (Kinda, sorta.) - Joshua Benton
(Pay)Walled Gardens: Status and Racialized Discourse Among Authors of Student Loan News Articles - Dominique J. Baker, Jaime Ramirez-Mendoza, Lauren Mena Shook, Christopher T. Bennett
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A new year, and a new episode of the podcast. We are now The Takedown! In this episode I was joined by fellow amateur podcaster Alex to talk about the Hustle Culture phenomenon. We break down what hustle culture means to us, discuss some surprising statistics about the workplace, talk about how hustle culture affects women and minorities differently and how all that you see on social media may not be all that real.
Please take a moment to like and follow the show. Also, consider leaving us some feedback and episode suggestions about what you would like the podcast to cover next.
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In today's episode, I am joined again by Alex to break one of the most controversial topics in politics today: immigration. We talk about the shifting views on immigrants, go into some of the absurdities of the legal immigration process, and dissect the moralities and practicalities of the various immigration policies today.
Articles referenced in episode:
Why Legal Immigration Is Nearly Impossible by David J. Bier - CATO Institute U.S. Army Is Discharging Immigrant Recruits Who Were Promised Citizenship by Vanessa Romo - NPR The West’s Obsession With Border Security Is Breeding Instability by Ruben Andersson and David Keen - Foreign Policy MagazineFollow us on instagram @thetakedownpod
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This week, I did something different and hit the streets of NYC to ask people about some of the recent headlines in the news. I asked people about issues they care about, recent political developments, and the things they feel media should be covering.
Follow the podcast on instagram @breakingthenet1 to get the latest news and see episode snippets & outtakes.
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Mahdi is joined by Fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Asia Expert, Charles Dunst, to talk about US-China tensions, elections in South Korea and the Philippines, the coup in Myanmar, investor woes in Saudi Arabia, an attack on a synagogue in Texas, and this year’s less-than-glamorous Golden Globe Awards.
Guest: Charles Dunst (@charlesdunst)
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Mahdi is joined by Director of the Middle East Treaty Organization and author of A Middle East Free of Weapons of Mass Destruction: A New Approach to Nonproliferation, Emad Kiyaei to discuss the latest developments in the Iran nuclear talks, President Biden’s Democracy Summit, the state of democracy in India, and a private Israeli firm that sells spy software.
Guest: Emad Kiyaei (@ekiyaei)
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Mahdi is joined by staff reporter for The Wall Street Journal Cam McWhirter as they discuss the latest developments on the Omicorn variant, The Ahmaud Arbery murder trial, the Supreme Court fight over gun control, Georgia's crazy political scene, and the state of Muslim American relations in the US.
Guest: Cameron McWhirter (@cammcwhirter)
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Mahdi is joined by fellow amateur pundit, Chris Lewis, to talk US foreign policy, inflation, and Justin Timberlake of all things. They also discuss the outcome of the Rittenhouse trial & problems with the US criminal justice system, and why Goldman Sachs is seemingly blaming Reddit for unemployment.
Guest: Chris Lewis (@Christopher Lewis)
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Mahdi is joined by Live Team reporter for The New York Times Daniel Slotnik as they discuss the aftermath of the Astroworld Tragedy, Aaron Rodger's Covid controversy and the current toll of the pandemic, the fight over a new shelter in the middle of Billionaire's Row, charges of hypocrisy at COP26, and how a flood of failing grades drove some school districts to take a novel approach to grading.
Guest: Daniel Slotnik (@DSlotnik)
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Mahdi is joined by White House Reporter for The Daily Beast Scott Bixby, as they discuss the meaning of the phrase "Let's Go Brandon", the Senate's gridlock over diplomatic nominations, a mysterious hedge fund that is gutting America's newspapers, a billionaire's strange gift to the University of California, the situation in Ethiopia, and why Marvel's latest movie, Eternals, was "review bombed".
Guest: Scott Bixby (@Scottbix)
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Mahdi is joined by Washington Post media critic Erik Wemple, as they discuss Democrats' efforts to pass President Biden’s agenda, the Virginia governor's race, the coup in Sudan, and the results from a new poll that show how people’s attitudes towards the media have shifted.
Guest: Erik Wemple (@ErikWemple)
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