The Vital Center
The Niskanen Center

The Vital Center

No. of episodes
97
Latest episode
2026-08-17

Where can you listen?

Both the Republican and Democratic parties are struggling to defend the political center against illiberal extremes. America must put forward policies that can reverse our political and governmental dysfunction, advance the social welfare of all citizens, combat climate change, and confront the other forces that threaten our common interests.

The podcast focuses on current politics seen in the context of our nation’s history and the personal biographies of the participants. It will highlight the policy initiatives of non-partisan think tanks and institutions, while drawing upon current academic scholarship and political literature from years past — including Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr.’s 1949 classic “The Vital Center.”

We welcome your thoughts on this episode and the podcast as a whole. Please send feedback or suggestions to [email protected]

Episodes

Questions & Answers

How many episodes are there of The Vital Center?

There are 97 episodes avaiable of The Vital Center.

What is The Vital Center about?

We have categorized The Vital Center as:

  • News
  • Government
  • Politics

Where can you listen to The Vital Center?

The Vital Center is available, among others places, on:

  • Spotify
  • Apple Podcasts
  • Podtail
  • Google Podcasts

When did The Vital Center start?

The first episode of The Vital Center that we have available was released 17 February 2021.

Who creates the podcast The Vital Center?

The Vital Center is produced and created by The Niskanen Center.