This week: Tyler Austin Harper returns to Central Air to discuss the ignominious end of Graham Platner’s campaign for U.S. Senate. Free subscribers hear part of that conversation, and paying subscribers hear the whole thing, plus our discussion about the legacy of Lindsey Graham — even the respectful remembrances treat him as a chameleon who was whatever he needed to be in order to further his foreign policy agenda — weird lawmaker absences on the Hill, and some lessons from Josh's trip to Yellowstone National Park for July 4, and the helpful ways that nature can put us in our place (ideally not by launching us into the air).

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This week: Jason Furman joins the show this week for an economy-focused discussion. We start by looking at why public views about the economy have gotten so negative, the persistent economic problems people are so mad about, the obvious solution (it's fiscal consolidation — that is, tax increases and spending cuts), and what it could take to get us there. We also discuss Kevin Warsh's first actions as chair of the Fed.

For paying subscribers, we talk with Jason — who co-teaches Harvard’s largest undergraduate course — about the university’s efforts to unwind the rampant grade inflation that led to two-thirds of undergraduate grades being straight A’s. And we have another edition of cocktail hour, in which Megan, Ben and I reflect on our experiences of skipping grades in elementary school, we rank the best six New England states, I offer provocations about grilling, and we share our plans for celebrating America’s 250th birthday.

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This week: the case for AI regulation and what it would look like, with Dean Ball, who helped to shape AI policy in the Trump White House and is soon to join OpenAI. Is bank regulation a good model for AI regulation, where companies follow rules about making their own rules? We discuss that, and whether we have other choices.

Then: for paying subscribers, this week’s episode ends with the very first (but not the last) Central Air cocktail hour, where Ben, Megan and I pour ourselves some drinks, unpack what we’ve heard from our guest, and try to get comfortable with what the future holds for us. To hear the whole episode, upgrade at www.centralairpodcast.com.