A weekly podcast with Jeevun and Michael - two young academics analysing politics, talking to guests and listening to jams.
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Best of the Left - Progressive Politics and Culture, Curated by a Human


An award-winning, expertly-curated podcast of progressive politics and culture. Diving deeply on a wide range of topics, we draw from more than 100 sources of progressive news and commentary. Est. 2006.
Podcast by Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University
Welcome to the Indian politics podcast, where bitter truth can be heard.
Echoes of India is the story of India like you've never heard it before. Host Anirudh Kanisetti takes you on a journey through its wonders, from the Greek art of Afghanistan to the to the thriving ports of Tamil Nadu. Along the way, monks debate, queens boast, and armies roar. From philosophy to politics to economics, the past comes back to life - noisy, breathing, as thriving as the Indian subcontinent is today.
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Diaspora Politics and Transnational Political Violence


A critical but mostly overlooked aspect of both contemporary and historical political violence is the role diaspora communities have played in the planning, organization, financing, and execution of acts of terror. Members of the American Irish, Canadian Sikh, Swiss Tamil and Australian Croat diasporas—to provide just a sample—have all been powerful agents in the terrorist activities perpetrated in the name of their national and religious communities. The Diaspora Politics and Transnational ...
Over four days in June 2012, our speakers – philosophers and theologians, historians and writers, believers and non-believers – will consider what it can mean to be religious, and what role the voice of faith may legitimately have in the conversations of citizens in a multicultural, democratic state and in the community of nations.
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Trending Globally: Politics and Policy


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India and the US in a Time of Democratic Erosion
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India and the US have both struggled with anti-democratic forces the last few years. What lessons do these countries' struggles have for each other -- and for us? There’s no better person to talk with about these issues than Ashutosh Varshney, Professor of International Studies at Watson and the Director of Watson’s Center for Contemporary South As…
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Best of the Left - Progressive Politics and Culture, Curated by a Human


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#1400 Fighting Neoliberalism from the Fields of India to the Fight for 15
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Air Date 2/20/2021 Today we take a look at the fight to create and maintain workable and humane economic and social floors, beneath which people are not allowed to fall. The fetishization of market forces embraced by decades of neoliberals and weaponized by authoritarians have left millions desperate for basic standards. To draw the connection, we …
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Best of the Left - Progressive Politics and Culture, Curated by a Human


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#1402 Racism or Classism? Caste Explains that it is Both
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Air Date 3/6/2021 Today we take a look at the origins of race and the building of a caste system in the US based largely on the lessons from Isabel Wilkerson, author of "Caste: The Origins of our Discontent" Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Transcript MEMBERSHIP, Gift Memberships and Donations! …
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Politics JaM


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The Princess and The Patriarchy
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This week, we covered Princess Latifa's abduction and what this tells us about women's rights and the political settlement of the UAE as well as the Middle East The Jam of the Week was DNA by Kendrick Lamar All of our Jams of the Week can also now be found on our Spotify playlist here Please get in touch with us via Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. …
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Best of the Left - Progressive Politics and Culture, Curated by a Human


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#1283 Native (Mis)Representation
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Air Date 6/21/2019 Today we take a look at the ways that Native Peoples are represented in white society and pop culture, how some are working to take back their own narratives and some insight into the profound effects, both positive and negative, of how peoples are represented. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@…
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Trending Globally: Politics and Policy


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How the US and China Cooperate (and Compete) on Climate, Covid, and More
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On this episode Watson’s Director Ed Steinfeld talks with Deborah Seligsohn as part of Trending Globally’s ongoing series on contemporary China. Deborah’s an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Villanova University, where she focuses on the relationship between business interests and environmental issues in China. Ed and Deborah explore how…
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Best of the Left - Progressive Politics and Culture, Curated by a Human


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#1401 That is a Texas-Sized Climate Disaster You Got There
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Air Date 2/27/2021 Today we take a look at the climate-fueled disaster in Texas from almost every angle; from the strictly scientific to the purely political and all of the disaster capitalism in between. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Transcript MEMBERSHIP, Gift Memberships and Donations! (Ge…
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Best of the Left - Progressive Politics and Culture, Curated by a Human


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#1285 Naked Capitalism has a Fig Leaf (Repost)
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Air Date 6/28/2019 Today we take a look at the ways that extreme inequality and many of the worst instincts and repercussions of capitalism are being upheld and perpetuated by our culture of philanthropy. It turns out that what we see as the rich giving back is really more of a purchase on their part, a purchase of our acceptance of inequality and …
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Politics JaM


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The Ethnic Roots of Myanmar's Coup
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This week, we covered: The recent military coup in Myanmar The role ethnicity/ethnic cleansing has played in Myanmar And the political settlement in post-colonial states The Jam of the Week was Wizkid ft. Damian Marley - Blessed All of our Jams of the Week can also now be found on our Spotify playlist here Please get in touch with us via Twitter, I…
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Best of the Left - Progressive Politics and Culture, Curated by a Human


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#1399 Myths are written by the victors, history by the scholars
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Air Date 2/16/2021 Today we take a look at the competing histories fighting for dominance in the minds of Americans; the mythologized and romanticized history as represented by the "patriotic" framing of history from the 1776 Commission report and the much more fact-based approach that doesn't skirt the issue of race from the 1619 Project. Be part …
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Trending Globally: Politics and Policy


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What One State Can Teach Us About American Politics in 2021
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What can one of America’s smallest states teach us about US politics? A lot, it turns out. On this episode Sarah talks with the Boston Globe’s Dan McGowan, a political reporter who covers Rhode Island. Sarah and Dan discuss the pandemic response in Rhode Island, the leftward tilt of the Rhode Island State House in the 2020 elections, and what Ameri…
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Best of the Left - Progressive Politics and Culture, Curated by a Human


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#1398 The Road to Justice Runs Through Accountability
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Air Date 2/13/2021 Today we take a look at the fallout from the January 6th insurrection, the case for impeachment and/or punishment for every single person involved and discussions for why this process is so important to the stability of the country. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Transcript …
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Best of the Left - Progressive Politics and Culture, Curated by a Human


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#1397 Vaccine Rollout Once Again Exposes the Divide in Our Global Medical Apartheid
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Air Date 2/10/2021 Today we take a look at the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines in the US and around the world. Between White and Black in the US, Israeli and Palestinian in Israel and the Global North and Global South broadly, the legacies of colonialism and racism predictably play themselves out. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-399…
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Trending Globally: Politics and Policy


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What Is Methane, and Why Is It So Bad for the Climate?
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On this episode Sarah talks with Watson Senior Fellow and member of Watson’s Climate Solutions Lab Deborah Gordon. Deborah is an expert on one of the most destructive greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere: methane. Thanks to the work of people like Deborah, the Biden Administration recently made methane reduction one of its top climate priorities. Bu…
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Best of the Left - Progressive Politics and Culture, Curated by a Human


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#1396 The Platforms of Our Discontent (Social Media, Social Destruction)
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Air Date 2/5/2021 Today we take a look at the role that social media plays in the radicalization of discontented communities and engage in the debate over content moderation and de-platforming of individuals. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Transcript MEMBERSHIP, Gift Memberships and Donations!…
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Best of the Left - Progressive Politics and Culture, Curated by a Human


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#1318 Why We Cannot Have Nice Things (How Racism Hurts Everyone, Including White People) (Repost)
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Air Date 11/12/2019 Today we take a look at some of the ways that conservative policies, willed into existence almost exclusively by white people, measurably hurt people and shorten life expectancies, including those who most fervently support the self-destructive policies. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOf…
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Trending Globally: Politics and Policy


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War and Drugs: The History of a Toxic Relationship
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On this episode, the shocking history of one of history’s most toxic relationships. Sarah talks with Peter Andreas about his book ‘Killer High: A History of War in Six Drugs.’ In it, he explores the role drugs have played in human warfare - not just as vices, but as commodities, and even as weapons. After hearing this conversation you'll see drugs,…
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Politics JaM


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The Cold Winter of Farmer Discontent in India
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Why are Indian farmers protesting, why have they been so successful, and what does this tell us about India's political settlement? The Jam of the Week was Bad Karma by Alex Thelseff All of our Jams of the Week can also now be found on our Spotify playlist here Please get in touch with us via Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. If you're old-school, th…
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Best of the Left - Progressive Politics and Culture, Curated by a Human


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#1395 The Arab Spring, Bin Laden Killed, Giffords Shot, Occupy Wall St. and Birtherism (A Look Back at 2011)
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Air Date 1/31/2021 Today we take a look back at the year 2011 in our annual 10-years-past retrospective to see what we may learn. 2010 was an enormous year of news which included the death of Osama Bin Laden, the manufactured budget crisis in Wisconsin, the shooting of Gabby Giffords, Occupy Wall Street, the birth of Trump's Birtherism and much mor…
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Best of the Left - Progressive Politics and Culture, Curated by a Human


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#1394 White Terrorism and Willful Ignorance
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Air Date 1/26/2021 Today we take a look at our long history of ignoring domestic, right-wing terrorism from the Oklahoma City bombing through to the predictable actions of militia groups in 2020 and beyond. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Transcript MEMBERSHIP, Gift Memberships and Donations! (…
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Trending Globally: Politics and Policy


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What a Biden Administration Means for America’s ‘Forever Wars’
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The Biden Administration has rejoined the Paris Climate Agreement, paused deportation of immigrants, and mandated the wearing of masks on Federal property. But there’s one arena that the administration has avoided putting in the spotlight: the future of US military intervention. On this episode Sarah talks with anthropologist and Watson Professor C…
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Best of the Left - Progressive Politics and Culture, Curated by a Human


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#1261 Profitable Extremism (How Social Media Propagates Hate) (Repost)
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Air Date 4/2/2019 Today we take a look at the so-called "Algorithms of Oppression." Not that they're made to be that way on purpose but that it is a natural outcome of a profit-based system that incentivizes people to post the most click-baity content while the system learns the viewer's weaknesses to ruthlessly feed them whatever will keep them en…
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Politics JaM


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Uganda's No Country for Young Men (African Politics: Part 4)
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What happened with Uganda’s election? Why does African have so many ageing autocrats? Why and how is Africa’s youth challenging political regimes in sub-Saharan Africa? The Jam of the Week was Hey Jude by The Beatles All of our Jams of the Week can also now be found on our Spotify playlist here Please get in touch with us via Twitter, Instagram or …
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Best of the Left - Progressive Politics and Culture, Curated by a Human


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#1393 Opportunists, Enablers and Seditionists, the Rot at the Heart of the GOP
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MEMBERSHIP, Gift Memberships and Donations! (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) MERCHANDISE! REFER-O-MATIC! Sign up, share widely, get rewards. It's that easy! Air Date 1/19/2021 Today we take a look at the historical roots and modern manifestations of how white supremacy has turned the GOP base into Frankenstein's monster which cannot be controlle…
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Trending Globally: Politics and Policy


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China’s Mission to the Moon, and the New Politics of Space Exploration
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Between the presidential election, spikes in the coronavirus pandemic, and the beginning of mass vaccination, you might have missed this other world-historical event: China landed on the moon. On this episode, Watson’s Director Ed Steinfeld talks about China’s lunar mission with Watson Faculty Fellow Jim Head. Jim is a Professor of Geological Scien…
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Politics JaM


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Things Can Only Get Better? The Year Ahead
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What will happen in American and British Politics in the year ahead, and how will democracies confront a rising China? The Jam of the Week was XXX ft. U2 by Kendrick Lamar All of our Jams of the Week can also now be found on our Spotify playlist here Please get in touch with us via Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. If you're old-school, the e-mail is…
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Best of the Left - Progressive Politics and Culture, Curated by a Human


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#1392 The Coup Klux Klan and the January 6 Insurrection
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Air Date 1/16/2021 Today we take a look at the underlying fears and motivations for the insurrection that go beyond the Big Lie™ of a stolen election to the bedrock of white supremacy that has driven white riots for more than 100 years. Be part of the show! Leave us a message at 202-999-3991 or email Jay@BestOfTheLeft.com Transcript MEMBERSHIP, Gif…
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Politics JaM


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More Work, Less Pay: Gender Inequality and COVID-19 with Rosie Campbell
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This week, we were joined by Rosie Campbell, Professor of Politics and director of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London, to discuss COVID-19 and gender inequality The Jam of the Week was If You Tolerate This Your Children Will Be Next by Manic Street Preachers All of our Jams of the Week can also now be found on our …
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Best of the Left - Progressive Politics and Culture, Curated by a Human


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#1391 The Road to Sedition
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Air Date 1/10/2021 Today, in our 15th-anniversary episode, we take a look at the the years and years of warning signs we having been highlighting since 2006 that collectively predict the armed insurrection against the government as the natural end point for a radicalized, conspiratorial, White/Christian-supremacist, permanently-minoritarian politic…
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Politics JaM


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American Democracy, Interrupted
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How have Donald Trump & the Republican Party undermined democracy, and what can Biden to do rebuild American democracy? The Jam of the Week was Blinded by Your Grace Pt.2 by Stormzy All of our Jams of the Week can also now be found on our Spotify playlist here Please get in touch with us via Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. If you're old-school, the…
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Best of the Left - Progressive Politics and Culture, Curated by a Human


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#1390 Tell Stories, Not Myths: Our Second Founding (Reconstruction)
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MEMBERSHIP, Gift Memberships and Donations! (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) MERCHANDISE! REFER-O-MATIC! Sign up, share widely, get rewards. It's that easy! Want to advertise/sponsor the show? Details -> advertisecast.com/BestoftheLeft Air Date 1/5/2021 Today we take a look at the often-overlooked decade of Reconstruction in the wake of the Civi…
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Trending Globally: Politics and Policy


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Terrorist Group, Armed Militia, or Public Health Provider? In a Pandemic, the Lines Get Blurred.
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On this episode Sarah talks with Jori Breslawski, a Postdoctoral Fellow at Watson and expert on one type of organization that’s been on the front lines in the fight against Covid-19: armed non-governmental groups. That means groups like Boko Haram, Hezbollah, and the Islamic State, as well as gangs in countries like Brazil, El Salvador, and South A…
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Best of the Left - Progressive Politics and Culture, Curated by a Human


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#1355 I Can't Breathe, The Three Words That Define an Era (Repost)
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MEMBERSHIP and Gift Memberships! (Get AD FREE Shows & Bonus Content) MERCHANDISE! REFER-O-MATIC! Sign up, share widely, get rewards. It's that easy! Air Date 6/29/2020 Today we take a look deeper at the concept of "I can't breathe," going beyond the literal utterances by victims of police brutality and COVID-19 sufferers to the metaphorical epidemi…