Alex Chambers

1 week ago | indianapublicmedia.org | Alex Chambers

I’ve been thinking about borders for a few months now. The last time we had our current president, he talked a lot about building a wall between Mexico and the U.S. There’s been less talk of a wall this time around. Turns out, in the 21st century, a wall isn’t the most effective way to stop people coming into your country. It’s bureaucracy. Visas, passports, customs, resident status. You can stop a lot more people by changing rules than building a wall, and that’s what Trump has done this time.

1 week ago | ifre.com | Alex Chambers

All websites use cookies to improve your online experience. They were placed on your computer when you launched this website. You can change your cookie settings through your browser.

3 weeks ago | indianapublicmedia.org | Alex Chambers

There’s been a lot of talk in the past few months about a range of important issues: the rule of law, checks and balances, free speech on campuses, whether people’s jobs will continue to exist. You know what I haven’t heard people talk about much? Oranges. I’ve heard precious little consideration of what you might whisper to an orange before you peel it. Admittedly, I wasn’t thinking about that either when the basis of this episode got started.

1 month ago | indianapublicmedia.org | Alex Chambers

Even if you’re skeptical that 1950s suburbia was actually great for most people, it’s easy to dream of a simpler, easier life. Wouldn’t it be nice to escape the complexities of the 21st century, our addiction to the internet, the changing climate, the near-impossibility of owning a house if you’re under the age of 40? Why not join a society for creative anachronism, especially if the anachronism is not medieval, but 1950s suburbia? The latest Constellation play dives that question.

1 month ago | indianapublicmedia.org | Alex Chambers

Local newspapers are disappearing left and right. Even when they still exist, they’re increasingly owned by private equity firms or subject to corporate consolidation, making them local in name only. This is a problem. It's a problem for democracy. Research has found that after private equity takes over local papers, voter turnout drops. People are more likely to vote straight ticket for the party they like, instead of voting based on local issues. Political polarization goes up.