A turn for the dire and the worse after Jim Lindsay’s departure
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
“I really hate having to write this review because I have been listening to The World Next Week weekly since 2015. It was my favorite podcast for a very long time and I widely recommended it to others. However, the podcast has taken a significant turn for the worse after Carla Robbins replaced Jim Lindsay as a weekly co-host.
Jim did his best to present an academic and factual portrayal of the things that were going on in the world. It’s impossible for anyone to truly be free of bias, particularly in politics or international relations, but Jim Lindsay came darn pretty close. If he provided any bias in his analysis, it was only from the perspective of what he believed would happen next - not a subjective judgement on whether something was “good” or “bad”. He might say that something was troubling (because it would generate more international or political entropy) but he rarely rendered a moral judgement on world events; only to remark on their net impact.
Conversely, it seems that Carla Robbins is unaware of the bias implicit in her analysis or does not care to temper her personal feelings on a subject when giving any type of analysis. She also tends to speak in hyperbole making everything seem far more drastic and/or dire. Essentially, Jim Lindsay’s measured analysis has been completely replaced with an opinionated and bombastic news analyst - akin to a talking head on a cable news outlet.
I loved The World Next Week because it was different from the contemporary media space. It wasn’t trying to sell you on any particular perspective and just gave you the news with some additional academic context. Now when I listen to the World Next Week with Carla Robbins, I feel exactly the way I do when I happen across any cable news outlet - depressed over the state of the world and depressed that people feel like they have to impress their opinion/perspective on you; and that if you don’t agree with them that you’re a terrible person.
Because of that, I have to unfollow The World Next Week and leave this review in my wake. I truly hope that Carla goes back to being a (very sporadic) guest host, but I cannot continue to follow The World Next Week in its current form.”
Schlag150 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
02/18/23
More reviews of The World Next Week
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
“This is a remarkable 30 minute shot in the arm for those who have an interest in world affairs and want an informed overview which does not get too technical. The format is friendly, in the form of a dialogue between two people who know their stuff. I am European but I do not find the North...”Read full review »
RikkiBrij via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
01/03/15
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
“Be aware that this podcast is meant to be introductory rather than a deep dive and I do think that it hits the mark for that niche.
These are pretty short, which is why I suppose that they wind up being a little too one-sided in the presentation of arguments for or against whatever is being...”Read full review »
RJG179 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
01/01/20
☆
☆
☆
☆
☆
“The show is great if you want to hear about stuff the news doesn’t normally cover, but the left leaning slant that comes out is annoying given the fact CFR claims it is a non-partisan organization. I have listened for a long time and it has gotten worse over time. At the beginning, the hosts at...”Read full review »
The Original Snowman Bob via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
04/02/20
Do you host a podcast?
Track your ranks and reviews from Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more.
Listen now
Links
Genres
Artwork or description wrong?
Request an update »
Updates may take a few minutes.
Do you host a podcast?
Track your ranks and reviews from Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more.
