Left, Right & Center is KCRW’s weekly civilized yet provocative confrontation over politics, policy and pop culture.

Why are executions on the rise in the US?

November 28, 2025 50:30 9.15 MB ( 39.32 MB less) Downloads: 0

President Trump has been a vocal supporter of capital punishment, even before his foray into politics. Now in his second term, he’s instructed the Department of Justice to help states facilitate more executions, and death row executions have reached the highest number in over a decade. Does Trump see  political value in capital punishment? What can we glean about our own values from the push for more executions?


America’s youngest voters are going through hard times, facing an uncertain job market and high costs of living. Throw in a lack of faith in democracy and you’ve got a generation of voters who are less engaged than any other age group. We’ll discuss the political trends defining Gen Z, and ask how political leaders can ignite their political spark.


Presidential pardon power has often been scrutinized - on the Left, Right & Center. One listener has an idea about how to fix it.