Political tribes and their chiefs now seem to believe they are saving civilisation. One side is fighting fascism. The other is fighting socialism. Alas, once disagreement becomes proof of evil, politics stops being a contest of ideas and becomes a vicious divorce, and the kids caught in the middle are the whole country.

This week, Mark and I rummage through the Greek philosophy on love for three ideas we may have mislaid. Philia, fellowship between citizens; pragma, the grudging compromises that stop society falling over; and xenia, extending dignity to strangers, even the irritating ones with podcasts. We also consider Mandela's admission that he was no saint, merely "a sinner who keeps on trying".

The good news is that democracy does not require us to love our opponents. Only to stop treating them as enemies. Listen in. Love may be the most radical idea in politics.

California has the wealth and talent of a superpower. It also has some of America's worst housing costs, highest wealth and income inequality, eye-watering energy prices, stubborn homelessness, weak infrastructure and awful school outcomes. Yet after years of Democratic dominance, voters still seem reluctant to change the management. This week on In Search of Sanity, California newspaper editor Joe Tarica joins us to ask why. Britain, meanwhile, is seeing voters scatter across Labour, Conservatives, Reform, Greens and Liberal Democrats. So why does America's richest state remain so stubbornly locked into a two-party choice?

A slightly lighter 15 Minutes In Search of Sanity this week, yet with a serious question underneath.

Prince Harry was once Britain's most popular royal. Now he and Meghan Markle are planning to spend more time back in Britain just as support for the monarchy hits historic lows.

So we look beyond the Sussex soap opera and ask what a constitutional monarchy actually means. Is the King really just ceremonial? Who pays for the institution and how much constitutional power still sits behind the crowns, carriages and bearskins?

Fifteen minutes of monarchy, money and mild mockery.

You already know the algorithm is playing you. What nobody tells you is you can play it right back.

This week on iSoS, we dig into the actual science of why outrage spreads faster than good news online. Then we discuss some concrete moves that flip the script and start feeding you content that makes you feel like a person again, not a gladiator.

Discussed: Media Literacy, Social Media, Politics, Bipartisanship, Online Discourse.

Mark and Clive dive into two local issues - redistricting (aka gerrymandering) and allowing voters to choose vacant elected positions. It seems that more and more the body politic want to adjudicate issues in the courts or in the chamber and view the idea of voting as inconvenient and unnecessary. Their commentary wont surprise you as they advocate for the supremacy of voters, but the origin of the term 'gerrymandering' might!

Mark & Clive are scratching their heads that Neil Young, an icon of freedom and anti-establishment protests, appears to have become infected with cancel culture complex and a victim of the outrage industrial complex. This is not the behavior of sane or reasonable people. At least let's hope not because we love Neil and respect Joe even if we don't always agree with everything they sing or say.

Mark & Clive take a brief look at the recent Cato Institute annual report: 'Freedom in the 50 States' and how California fares. No prizes for guessing where it ranks, although the 'most free' State might surprise you. It's hard not to be partisan when those adjudged to be 'most free' are all governed by Republicans, while those 'least free' by Democrats. Perhaps it all depends on what freedom means to you!

While President Biden & President Trump continue their slanging match, Mark & Clive look forward and ponder what we can learn from the seismic events of 6/1/21. Whatever your political leanings there is something in this podcast for everyone. Unless you are a member of the body politic, in which case there are some questions to be asked and opportunities to be grasped. It's time to move on. Can someone tell the politicians that?