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Jérémie Lumbroso's avatar

Mona was one of my favorite contributors. I thought Beg to Differ was about civil disagreement. So I am really shocked by the lack of disagreement in the discussions she oversees.

Mona has a good instinct but she needs to rebalance her contributors a bit.

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Sheri Smith's avatar

I think people self-select into her discussions. I don’t listen to her podcast or read her pieces, for the most part.

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Jérémie Lumbroso's avatar

They do, but, if you flagship podcast is "Beg to Differ" and you realize that everybody thinks the same thing (i.e., you've picked people from the same echo bubble), then I expect that someone who really cares to "Beg to Differ" to try to renew the roster or expand it.

The point is that "Beg to Differ" made me think that she loves productive disagreement as much as I do, but the lack of shade between any of the people's positions is disappointing. Someone who earnestly understands the importance of disagreement would do a better job of rebalancing the slates.

She knows how to do it! She is the one who made me discover Noah Smith of Noahpinion, because he disagrees with people in a really interesting and valuable way.

Mona Charren can do what she says she's good at, but she needs to wake up and go back to her basics.

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Sheri Smith's avatar

I agree if she’s good at it, she should do it.

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Migs's avatar

Yeah beg to differ has become always agree. It’s just people reaffirming their opinions

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