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Moving Beyond the Norm

Alex Jones built his Infowars brand on conspiratorial thinking and table-pounding rage. This week, we look at the three lawsuits testing whether Jones can sustain his business on lies alone. After the LGBT-rights advocate David Buckel committed suicide in Brooklyn's Prospect Park this past weekend, we review the difficult history of self-immolation and we zoom in on one such incident, in Texas in 2014. Plus, an LSD retrospective, featuring never-before-heard audio from author Ken Kesey's acid-fueled hijinks.  1. Lyrissa Lidsky [@LidskyLidsky], professor at University of Missouri's School of Law, on the legal threats to Alex Jones' conspiratorial media business. Listen. 
  1. Andrew Poe, professor of political science at Amherst College, on the history of self-immolation. Listen. 

  2. Michael Hall [@mikehalltexas], executive editor at Texas Monthly, on the life and death of pastor Charles Moore. Listen. 

4. River Donaghey and Tom Wolfe, Continue reading "Moving Beyond the Norm"

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Jared of Arabia?: Kushner Visits Iraq with Joint Chiefs Chairman

Jared Kushner is in Iraq. News emerged Sunday evening that the presidential son-in-law was visiting the country along with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford. The news was first reported by the New York Times. It is unclear what exactly Kushner is doing in the country. A senior administration official who insisted on anonymity told CBS that the real estate scion was visiting to evaluate the situation and express his support for the Iraqi government. The trip underscores Kushner’s rapidly expanding portfolio inside the White House. In addition to whatever he is doing in Iraq, Kushner also currently leads the newly created Office of American Innovation and has been tasked with managing White House efforts to solve the Israeli-Palestinian crisis. In addition, through his extensive business connections, Kushner has Continue reading "Jared of Arabia?: Kushner Visits Iraq with Joint Chiefs Chairman"