In this special edition of the podcast, Bill Finan—director of the Brookings Institution Press—talks with two of the authors of a new Brookings press book that explores America’s current political division from demographic and geographic perspectives. David Damore, Robert Lang, and Karen Danielsen, all professors at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, are co-authors of Blue Metros, Red States: The Shifting Urban-Rural Divide in America’s Swing States. Damore and Lang join Finan for this episode in which they address some of the factors that tend to make large metropolitan areas lean Democratic while existing in a sea of rural areas that are largely Republican. And, how do states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Texas—with both large urban areas and widespread rural areas—express this red-blue divide between rural and metropolitan areas? Listen also to find out which two counties in America could indicate which way the election is going on November 3.

In this special edition of the podcast, Bill Finan—director of the Brookings Institution Press—talks with two of the authors of a new Brookings press book that explores America’s current political division from demographic and geographic perspectives. David Damore, Robert Lang, and Karen Danielsen, all professors at the University of Nevada Las Vegas, are co-authors of Blue Metros, Red States: The Shifting Urban-Rural Divide in America’s Swing States. Damore and Lang join Finan for this episode in which they address some of the factors that tend to make large metropolitan areas lean Democratic while existing in a sea of rural areas that are largely Republican. And, how do states like Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Texas—with both large urban areas and widespread rural areas—express this red-blue divide between rural and metropolitan areas? Listen also to find out which two counties in America could indicate which way the election is going on November 3.

Thanks to its fine dining, clubs and luxury hotels, Las Vegas has been known to attract A-list celebrities.

Thanks to its fine dining, clubs and luxury hotels, Las Vegas has been known to attract A-list celebrities.

The historic Pasadena Playhouse is empty. No ticket holders gossiping and rubbing elbows in the Spanish revival-style courtyard. No line at the bar.

The historic Pasadena Playhouse is empty. No ticket holders gossiping and rubbing elbows in the Spanish revival-style courtyard. No line at the bar.

Of all the many reasons to vote this year, for some people one seat is all they need. That seat happens to be on the United States Supreme Court.

Dr. William Ramsey is an established philosopher currently working at UNLV, he is also one of the most experienced rock climbers on the planet. Bill has recently sent the 5.14a Jumbo Pumping Hate at the age of 59. We were so fortunate to have the opportunity to chat with Bill on our latest episode of theDIHEDRAL Podcast which can be found here (as well as your favorite podcast hosts including iTunes, Amazon and Spotify). We are also lucky enough to share the following motivational tool/piece written by Dr. Ramsey.

The passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg made me reflect on her quote, “Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.”

An Alabama man killed by a K-9 officer was one of thousands of Americans bitten by police dogs every year. Few ever get justice.

The tiny pink house was pretty much empty. Nevertheless, someone was trying to burglarize it, a caller told 911 well after midnight on a Sunday in Montgomery, Alabama.

Candidates for the upcoming election are vying for every vote available, and there may be no voter group more coveted than the Latinos and Hispanics.