Is Climate Change a Reason to Avoid Having Children? and Other Listener Questions Answered
It\u2019s that time of year, when we invite listeners to send in questions, and I answer them on the air. And as usual, you delivered. I\u2019m joined by my producer Annie Galvin, who asks me some of the most intriguing questions of the many we received: Is climate change a reason to forgo having kids? What would happen if Trump were allowed to return to Twitter, in the event of an Elon Musk acquisition? Should Biden run again in 2024? Is wokeness killing the Democratic Party?\n\nWe also discuss the recent congressional hearing about U.F.O. sightings; whether it\u2019s a good thing that so many talented young people are going to work in consulting, finance and corporate law; the worrisome anti-institutional direction of the Republican Party; why government is failing to deliver on liberals\u2019 policies and promises \u2014 and how to start fixing that problem; whether Americans\u2019 distrust in institutions is warranted; why I could use some recommendations for a good reading chair; and more.\n\nMentioned:\n\nWe're hiring a researcher! You can apply here or by visiting nytimes.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/News\n\n\u201cYour Kids Are Not Doomed\u201d by Ezra Klein\n\n\u201cEmpirically Grounded Technology Forecasts and the Energy Transition\u201d by Rupert Way, Matthew Ives, Penny Mealy and J. Doyne Farmer\n\n\u201cIbram X. Kendi on What Conservatives \u2014 and Liberals \u2014 Get Wrong About Antiracism\u201d by The Ezra Klein Show\n\n\u201cA Different Way of Thinking About Cancel Culture\u201d by Ezra Klein\n\nPublic Citizens by Paul Sabin\n\n\u201cThis Is Why Your Holiday Travel Is Awful\u201d by Marc J. Dunkelman\n\n\u201cAre We More Polarized? Or Just Weirder?\u201d by The Ezra Klein Show\n\n\u201cDonald Trump Didn\u2019t Hijack the G.O.P. He Understood It.\u201d by The Ezra Klein Show\n\n\u201cRobert Sapolsky on the Toxic Intersection of Poverty and Stress\u201d by Vox Conversations\n\nBook Recommendations:\n\nAmusing Ourselves to Death by Neil Postman\n\nThe Invention of Nature by Andrea Wulf\n\nBeautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney\n\nMusic Recommendations:\n\n\u201cSpring 1\u201d by Max Richter\n\nChristian L\xf6ffler\n\nThoughts? Guest suggestions? Email us at ezrakleinshow@nytimes.com.\n\nYou can find transcripts (posted midday) and more episodes of \u201cThe Ezra Klein Show\u201d at nytimes.com/ezra-klein-podcast, and you can find Ezra on Twitter @ezraklein. Book recommendations from all our guests are listed at https://www.nytimes.com/article/ezra-klein-show-book-recs.\n\n\u201cThe Ezra Klein Show\u201d is produced by Annie Galvin, Jeff Geld and Rog\xe9 Karma; fact-checking by Michelle Harris; original music by Isaac Jones; mixing by Jeff Geld; audience strategy by Shannon Busta. Our executive producer is Irene Noguchi. Special thanks to Kristin Lin and Kristina Samulewski.