How are you feeling about the prospects for the survival of humanity?

Oh, I think they're pretty good.

You know, I was reading a paper some time ago about nuclear winter,

and the conclusion was that if you live in New Zealand or Australia,

and they avoid direct hits, you know, like saturation

bombing during the nuclear exchange, you know, you probably would get a genetically viable

population of people that would survive, you know, a couple hundred thousand maybe.

All right. So we're here for the long haul as a species.

Yeah. All right, so we're here for the long haul as a species. Welcome to Current Affairs. My name is Nathan Robinson. I'm the editor-in-chief of Current Affairs Magazine.

I am here with Ryan Cooper.

He is the managing editor of the American prospect,

former columnist for the week.

He is the co-host and producer of the Left Anchor podcast,

and he is the author of the new book.

How are you going to pay for that smart answers to the dumbest question in politics available from St. Martin's Press?

Ryan Cooper, thank you so much for joining me.

My pleasure. Thanks for having me.

I should say that this book comes with high praise.

I read with the blurb on the back here says that you are one of the most reliably well-informed and thoughtful political commentators in the

country combining analytical rigor with a deep commitment to progressive values and that you write

clear and accessible commentary that is a delight to read.

And that's from the editor of Current Affairs Magazine.

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