What's The Res?

Josh and Ethan welcome Dr. Ben Voth to the show. Dr. Voth directs the Southern Methodist University debate program, and he teaches in their communications department. Dr. Voth is a longtime leader in the debate community, and he is a partner with the Calvin Coolidge Presidential Foundation in running the Coolidge Cup tournament. He is also a scholar of the Civil Rights Movement (here is a link to his Amazon Author page). In this episode, Dr. Voth weighs in with his thoughts about policing, race riots, the 2020-2021 policy resolution, and a comparison between two different frameworks: Afro-pessimism and Afro-idealism. Let us know what you think! Email - Whatstheres@gmail.com Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres

Dr. Nick Higgins, associate professor and department chair of the department of politics, government, and criminal justice at North Greenville University, joins Josh and Ethan for a discussion about justice, rule of law, and what Aristotle and Plato contribute to our current cultural moment. Along the way, Josh is reminded that Dr. Higgins is a former policy debater, and Dr. Higgins provides his thoughts on the 2020-2021 Policy resolution (Resolved: The United States federal government should enact substantial criminal justice reform in the United States in one or more of the following: forensic science, policing, sentencing).   Email - Whatstheres@gmail.com Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres

Josh and Ethan discuss the death of George Floyd, the protests and their relationship to riots, and Martin Luther King Jr.'s approach to nonviolent protest contrasted with Malcolm X's desire for radical revolution. We also outline the summer series of episodes focusing on race riots, rule of law, and prison reform as related to the 2020-2021 Policy Debate resolution, "Resolved: The United States federal government should enact substantial criminal justice reform in the United States in one or more of the following: forensic science, policing, sentencing."  Enjoy the summer, and use the time well to prep for next season! Email - Whatstheres@gmail.com Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres  

Ethan attended an Institute for Speech and Debate (ISD) webinar with Crawford Leavoy on the NSDA Nats 2020 LD resolution, Resolved: The intergenerational accumulation of wealth is antithetical to democracy. This episode is the high points from that webinar. Good luck to everyone who is competing! Email - Whatstheres@gmail.com Twitter, Reddit, Instagram - @Whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres

Josh and Ethan continue their discussion of the LD NSDA Nationals resolution, "Resolved: The intergenerational accumulation of wealth is antithetical to democracy." They cover Aff and Neg arguments, and Josh goes on a rant defending traditional property rights (with shout outs to Russell Kirk, Richard Weaver, and Alex de Toqueville).We also answer a question one debater wrote in to us - feel free to send your thoughts and questions, and we'll respond on a future episode! Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Instagram, Reddit, Twitter - @whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres

Josh interviews Adam Jacobi about his work with Wisconsin Speech and Debate, the NSDA, and the Harvard Debate Council. Their conversation roams across Adam's career, work in Congressional Debate, and contains equal parts advice, event distinctions, and resolution analysis. Enjoy! And let us know what you think! Email - WhatsThe Res@gmail.com Instagram/Twitter/Reddit - @Whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres

Josh and Ethan discuss the 2020 NSDA Nationals LD resolution, "Resolved: The intergenerational accumulation of wealth is antithetical to democracy." They cover terms, values, and the big ideas behind this resolution with reference to several articles on the topic. Next time, they'll cover aff and neg arguments. Enjoy! And let us know if this is helpful for your preparation! Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Reddit/Instagram/Twitter - @Whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres  

On January 12, 2020, a giant in contemporary philosophy passed into eternity. This episode is a memorial to the work of Sir Roger Scruton. Josh is a student in the Faulkner University Great Books Honors College doctoral program, and he is joined by two friends in that program, Nick Kennicott and Landon Loftin, as they discuss the philosophy, writings, and significance of Sir Roger Scruton. Nick is a regular co-host on the Wrath and Grace podcast - if you what he says, be sure to check them out here. Enjoy! Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres

A few months ago, Josh suggested to Ethan and Patrick that we three read Kierkegaard's Fear and Trembling, and then have a discussion about it. Here is that conversation! We describe the book, and then launch into a running conversation on thoughts inspired by reading the Danish father of existentialism. Fun times ahead - enjoy! Patrick runs the philosophy memes page Philosophy.Memes on Instagram, and always provides good conversation! Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Instagram/Reddit/Twitter - @whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres 

Josh interviews Crawford Leavoy, director of debate for Durham Academy, about his speech and debate journey, his role in directing DA's program, and the various organizations that make up competitive Speech and Debate nationwide. Along the way, they discuss the Wording Committee of the NSDA, responses to COVID19, and advice for novice and varsity competitors. Check it out, and let us know what you think! Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres

Josh interviews Dr. Paul Mueller, assistant economics professor at The King's College in New York City, about the effects of the CARES Act (stimulus bill) on the United States and global economy, how COVID19 effects to the workforce, and the ways in which human dignity is impacted by shutting down work for a time. Check it out, and let us know what you think! Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres

How do ethics relate to real life? Nothing brings out real ethical convictions like a global pandemic. Josh Herring and Blake Faulkner discuss this article in The Atlantic, and then discuss how Aristotle, Aquinas, Kant, Mill, and Nietzsche provide ethical paradigms that may (or may not) be helpful in making life or death decisions. Enjoy! And let us know what you think! Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres

Josh and Ethan rehash the DNC presidential nominee debate between Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders. They talk about the coronavirus, the economic recession, political maneuvering of CNN through manipulating questions, and the core processes of capitalism. Check it out, and let us know what you think! Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Instagram/Reddit/Twitter - @Whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres

With tournaments on hold for the time being, Josh and Ethan discuss their recent readings in Friedrich Nietzsche's Genealogy of Morals and the relevance Nietzsche has for modernity and debate. Check it out, and let us know what you think! Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres

Josh interviews Dr. Andrew "Spence" Spencer about the nuances of commercial nuclear power. Dr. Spencer's career path combines several years in US Navy (nuclear submarines), a PhD focused on theological ethics, and current work as a nuclear engineering supervisor. He is a great voice to help the non-expert understand the world of commercial nuclear power; several of his analysis points lend themselves to climate change impacts of commercial nuclear power. Let us know what you think of the episode! Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/WhatsTheRes

Josh and Ethan think through their experiences at Harvard, and what they learned. We encountered NatCirc debating in LD and PF, and we're learning how to be more competitive next year! Let us know what you think!   Email - Whatstheres@gmail.com Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @Whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres

Josh and Ethan discuss the March/April NSDA LD resolution, "Predictive policing is unjust." They discuss this Rand Corporation article (which summarizes the findings of this much longer report), the philosophy behind just policing, the obvious racial argument against predictive policing, and the insights Foucault's Panopticon offers to the Aff framework. Enjoy, and let us know what you think! Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Instagram/Twitter/Reddit - @Whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/whatstheres  

Ethan and Josh discuss kritiks, a debate tactic they've been working in preparation for competing at the 46th Annual Harvard National Forensics Tournament (@harvardhsdebate). The Kritik is a divisive strategy, but common in national Lincoln-Douglas competition. Josh and Ethan provide a loose overview, discussion of the philosophical problems inherent n employing the K, and their attempts to break Ks. Enjoy - and wish us luck at Harvard! Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres

Josh interviews Elliot Gaiser to build a well rounded perspective on means-tested welfare for the February 2020 PF resolution, "The United States should replace means-tested welfare programs with a universal basic income." They discuss the foundations of welfare, the effectiveness of current programs, and the feasibility of a universal basic income. Elliot debated for the NCFCA and an Ohio-specific debate league in high school, as well as being a Hale Scholar on the Hillsdale College debate team. Since Hillsdale, Elliot has spent time in the think-tank world and has now embarked on a career as a lawyer. Let us know what you think of this conversation! Email - WhatsTheRes@gmail.com Twitter/Instagram/Reddit - @whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/Whatstheres

Josh and Ethan analyze the Coolidge Foundation's March 7 resolution, "Resolved: The United States should adopt Medicare For All, thus instituting a single-payer system of healthcare." This resolution will be debated at Thales Academy Rolesville on March 7. The Coolidge Foundation has prepared a research brief for this resolution (located here), and if you want to learn more, click here to learn more about the Coolidge Debate League! This episode goes over terminology, affirmative and negative arguments, and weighs advantages and disadvantages of putting this policy change into effect. Let us know what you think! Email - Whatstheres@gmail.com Instagram/Twitter/Youtube - @whatstheres_ Facebook - Facebook.com/whatstheres