Reasonably Optimistic

From the housing shortage to rising electricity costs, many of America’s biggest affordability problems come back to the same question: Why can’t we build more?

Host Megan McArdle is joined by political commentator Josh Barro to talk about the “abundance” agenda and what it could mean for the cost of living, housing and energy prices, and economic growth. They discuss how both Democrats and Republicans stand in the way of building, whether increasing the supply of housing and energy can make everyday life more affordable, and whether Democrats can turn a wonky policy agenda into a compelling message on affordability.

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

As students head back to school, families and educators are facing a growing question: What should they do about smartphones?

Host Megan McArdle is joined by social psychologist and author of “The Anxious Generation,” Jonathan Haidt, to talk about how TikTok, social media and constant digital stimulation may be changing the way children pay attention, stay motivated and cope emotionally. They discuss how childhood shifted from play-based to phone-based, how strong the evidence really is that social media is harming kids and whether phone-free schools, age limits and new family norms can help turn things around.

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Dinner shouldn’t be stressful. But after a long day, even deciding what to cook can feel like one more exhausting task. Add the pressure to make meals healthy, affordable, interesting and Instagram-worthy, and home cooking can start to feel more like performance than pleasure.

Host Megan McArdle talks with Caroline Chambers, author of "What to Cook When You Don’t Feel Like Cooking: Make It Fast," about how she turned a cookbook idea rejected by publishers into a cooking empire, why dinner has become such a source of stress and what we gain when we stop trying to cook the “right” way.

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Public confidence in higher education has been eroding for years. Rising costs, uncertain job prospects and political conflict have led many people to question whether colleges still serve the public. But trying to fix that by slashing research funding or putting campuses under tighter government control could destroy a lot of what makes them valuable.

Host Megan McArdle argues that universities must confront their credibility crisis by recruiting a wider range of viewpoints, stepping back from institutional politics and recommitting to open debate. Meanwhile, conservatives must decide whether they want to reform higher education or merely punish it.

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

Relationships have always required compromise and patience. But dating apps, social media and therapy-speak can make ordinary human flaws feel like reasons to walk away. So, when is it right to leave and when are we giving up on people too quickly?

Host Megan McArdle talks with psychotherapist, author and New York Times “Ask the Therapist” columnist Lori Gottlieb about ghosting, going no-contact, unrealistic dating standards and what actually makes relationships last. They also discuss how to tell the difference between settling and choosing wisely, why the perfect partner does not exist and how giving people grace can make us less lonely.

Subscribe to The Washington Post here.