NEW name. NEW art. NEW season. NEW events. NEW mailing list. Listen for all the updates and a preview of what's to come.  --- A few links to share: Sign up for our mailing list at: wgbh.org/thebigdig Email us at: thebigdig@wgbh.org *LIVE EVENT* in Seattle, WA: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-big-dig-and-booming-podcasts-where-our-roads-go-next-tickets-1665207834459 *LIVE EVENT* in Portland, OR: https://literary-arts.org/event/opb-the-big-dig/

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;NEW name. NEW art. NEW season. NEW events. NEW mailing list. Listen for all the updates and a preview of what's to come. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;---&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A few links to share:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sign up for our mailing list at: wgbh.org/thebigdig&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Email us at: thebigdig@wgbh.org&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;*LIVE EVENT* in Seattle, WA: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-big-dig-and-booming-podcasts-where-our-roads-go-next-tickets-1665207834459&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;*LIVE EVENT* in Portland, OR: https://literary-arts.org/event/opb-the-big-dig/&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
 </description>


        NEW name. NEW art. NEW season. NEW events. NEW mailing list. Listen for all the updates and a preview of what's to come. 



---



A few links to share:



Sign up for our mailing list at: wgbh.org/thebigdig



Email us at: thebigdig@wgbh.org



*LIVE EVENT* in Seattle, WA: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-big-dig-and-booming-podcasts-where-our-roads-go-next-tickets-1665207834459



*LIVE EVENT* in Portland, OR: https://literary-arts.org/event/opb-the-big-dig/
      

The Big Dig Returns

American Experience Presents stops by to share the fascinating story of Joseph McCarthy. From humble beginnings on a Wisconsin farm, to leveraging his military service after World War II to launch a successful Senate bid, McCarthy's story is one of ambition and opportunity. As Cold War tensions escalate, McCarthy masterfully taps into America's deepest fears about communism, positioning himself as the nation's defender against an invisible enemy. Discover how his rise coincides with a national climate of paranoia, setting the stage for the demagoguery that would define McCarthy's career—all against the backdrop of a nation grappling with its identity and values.You can find all episodes of American Experience Presents wherever you listen. Learn more about <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/">American Experience</a> Follow the show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/americanexperiencepbs?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://x.com/AmExperiencePBS">X</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanExperiencePBS">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.threads.net/@americanexperiencepbs">Threads</a>

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;American Experience Presents stops by to share the fascinating story of Joseph McCarthy. From humble beginnings on a Wisconsin farm, to leveraging his military service after World War II to launch a successful Senate bid, McCarthy's story is one of ambition and opportunity. As Cold War tensions escalate, McCarthy masterfully taps into America's deepest fears about communism, positioning himself as the nation's defender against an invisible enemy. Discover how his rise coincides with a national climate of paranoia, setting the stage for the demagoguery that would define McCarthy's career—all against the backdrop of a nation grappling with its identity and values.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;You can find all episodes of American Experience Presents wherever you listen. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Learn more about &lt;a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;American Experience&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;strong&gt; &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Follow the show on &lt;a href="https://www.instagram.com/americanexperiencepbs?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;amp;igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw=="&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Instagram&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="https://x.com/AmExperiencePBS"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;X&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanExperiencePBS"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Facebook&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;, &lt;a href="https://www.threads.net/@americanexperiencepbs"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Threads&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
 </description>

Fueled by his humble Wisconsin farm roots and wartime service, Senator Joseph McCarthy rises to power by stoking America's Cold War fears of communism, transforming from a military veteran into a polarizing demagogue whose name would become synonymous with political paranoia and persecution.

American Experience Presents stops by to share the fascinating story of Joseph McCarthy. From humble beginnings on a Wisconsin farm, to leveraging his military service after World War II to launch a successful Senate bid, McCarthy's story is one of ambition and opportunity. As Cold War tensions escalate, McCarthy masterfully taps into America's deepest fears about communism, positioning himself as the nation's defender against an invisible enemy. Discover how his rise coincides with a national climate of paranoia, setting the stage for the demagoguery that would define McCarthy's career—all against the backdrop of a nation grappling with its identity and values.

You can find all episodes of American Experience Presents wherever you listen. 

Learn more about <a href="https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/">American Experience</a> 

Follow the show on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/americanexperiencepbs?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&amp;igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://x.com/AmExperiencePBS">X</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AmericanExperiencePBS">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.threads.net/@americanexperiencepbs">Threads</a>

The Birth of McCarthyism from American Experience Presents

The team from Antiques Roadshow Detours stops by to share a historical fact that they just can’t seem to get right. This is one for the architecture and urban design enthusiasts. You can find all episodes of Antiques Roadshow Detours wherever you listen.

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;The team from Antiques Roadshow Detours stops by to share a historical fact that they just can’t seem to get right. This is one for the architecture and urban design enthusiasts. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;You can find all episodes of Antiques Roadshow Detours wherever you listen. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
 </description>


        The team from Antiques Roadshow Detours stops by to share a historical fact that they just can’t seem to get right. This is one for the architecture and urban design enthusiasts. 

You can find all episodes of Antiques Roadshow Detours wherever you listen. 
      

An architecture mystery from Antiques Roadshow Detours

Last week, we heard about a movement to challenge the authority of government agencies and push power down to the people. This week, the story of a central figure in that movement: Ralph Nader. This episode comes from NPR’s <a href="https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510333/throughline?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=ppc&amp;utm_campaign=15940124366&amp;utm_content=136960674927&amp;utm_term=&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw782_BhDjARIsABTv_JDkYttJTslqFUobLJJ078CpvrmjEukDukxQW75sCuGUZWUMRMzNARwaAm_PEALw_wcB">Throughline,</a> co-hosted by Rund Abdelfatah and Ramtin Arablouei.

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;Last week, we heard about a movement to challenge the authority of government agencies and push power down to the people. This week, the story of a central figure in that movement: Ralph Nader. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;This episode comes from NPR’s &lt;a href="https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510333/throughline?utm_source=google&amp;amp;utm_medium=ppc&amp;amp;utm_campaign=15940124366&amp;amp;utm_content=136960674927&amp;amp;utm_term=&amp;amp;gad_source=1&amp;amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw782_BhDjARIsABTv_JDkYttJTslqFUobLJJ078CpvrmjEukDukxQW75sCuGUZWUMRMzNARwaAm_PEALw_wcB"&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Throughline,&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/a&gt; co-hosted by Rund Abdelfatah and Ramtin Arablouei. &lt;/p&gt;
 </description>

Last week, we heard about a movement to challenge the authority of government agencies and push power down to the people. This week, the story of a central figure in that movement: Ralph Nader. 

This episode comes from NPR’s <a href="https://www.npr.org/podcasts/510333/throughline?utm_source=google&amp;utm_medium=ppc&amp;utm_campaign=15940124366&amp;utm_content=136960674927&amp;utm_term=&amp;gad_source=1&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw782_BhDjARIsABTv_JDkYttJTslqFUobLJJ078CpvrmjEukDukxQW75sCuGUZWUMRMzNARwaAm_PEALw_wcB">Throughline,</a> co-hosted by Rund Abdelfatah and Ramtin Arablouei.

BONUS: How to sue the government, and win

This podcast has featured two stories about government endeavors: the much-criticized infrastructure project known as ‘The Big Dig,’ and of course the wildly successful state lottery. So why do these two stories play out so differently?In the final interview episode for this season, host Ian Coss speaks with Marc Dunkelman, a research fellow at Brown University, about why some parts of government draw intense scrutiny while others run quietly in the background. Dunkelman’s new book is "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress -- and How to Bring It Back."

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;This podcast has featured two stories about government endeavors: the much-criticized infrastructure project known as ‘The Big Dig,’ and of course the wildly successful state lottery. So why do these two stories play out so differently?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In the final interview episode for this season, host Ian Coss speaks with Marc Dunkelman, a research fellow at Brown University, about why some parts of government draw intense scrutiny while others run quietly in the background. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dunkelman’s new book is "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress -- and How to Bring It Back."&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;/p&gt;
 </description>


        This podcast has featured two stories about government endeavors: the much-criticized infrastructure project known as ‘The Big Dig,’ and of course the wildly successful state lottery. So why do these two stories play out so differently?

In the final interview episode for this season, host Ian Coss speaks with Marc Dunkelman, a research fellow at Brown University, about why some parts of government draw intense scrutiny while others run quietly in the background. 

Dunkelman’s new book is "Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress -- and How to Bring It Back."
      

BONUS: Why do some parts of government work better than others?

“This is a town where there are three pastimes: politics, sports and revenge.”  Seemingly dry topics become gripping political dramas in this Peabody Award winning show from creator Ian Coss and GBH News. Each season of “The Big Dig” uncovers a different facet of society – infrastructure, gambling, food, healthcare – together the pieces connect to tell the story of modern America.  Season One: "The Big Dig" The highway project known as “The Big Dig” is infamous – a shorthand for government failure – but it all started as one engineer’s dream to correct the wrongs of the past, and its legacy is far from simple. Season Two: "Scratch &amp; Win" America’s most successful state lottery – and its greatest innovation, the scratch ticket – all starts with mafia bookmakers and state bureaucrats going toe to toe in a battle to own the future of gambling.  --- CREDITS Producer: Isabel HibbardStory Editor: Lacy RobertsHost &amp; Creator: Ian CossExecutive Producer: Devin Maverick Robins  Contact us as <a href="mailto:thebigdig@wgbh.org">thebigdig@wgbh.org</a>

The Big Dig

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