President Biden’s Americans Jobs Plan has caused a lot ruckus in its first couple of weeks in the public discourse. There are questions about what counts as infrastructure, what does a modern society and economy require, and if and how social services should be included in an infrastructure plan.

That is the point of policy discussions. Understanding these disagreements in policy is the whole point of critical thinking and nuance.

What is less clear is the fact that very few news organizations have done their own independent fiscal analysis. Journalists seem to be extra quiet on providing any kind of meaningful fact check about the costs of the proposal.

On today’s episode, we also discuss the extended introduction of Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the frustration of vague language, and the human being component of human stories.

Shows discussed 

• State of the Union on CNN

• Fox News Sunday on FOX

• This Week on ABC

• Meet the Press on NBC

• Face the Nation on CBS

Resources

• “The GOP claim that only 5 to 7 percent of Biden’s plan is for ‘real infrastructure’” (WaPo)

• “A former top Trump official started a lie about Biden's infrastructure bill. Two Sunday shows ran with it.” (Media Matters)

• “When Children Say They’re Trans” (Atlantic)

• Transgender Identity and Experiences of Violence Victimization, Substance Use, Suicide Risk, and Sexual Risk Behaviors Among High School Students — 19 States and Large Urban School Districts, 2017 (CDC)

Contact us

Email us at [email protected] or you can send us your feedback @PolilogueCast. You can also follow us at @sotonaomi_ and @bsteidle.

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Check out some of our other work: 

Brendan’s website: www.armisticedesigns.com  

Naomi's website: www.startwithaquestion.org