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Radio Free Acton: Jim McGann on the world of think tanks; Upstream on Spiderman: Homecoming
Radio Free Acton: Jim McGann on the world of think tanks; Upstream on Spiderman: Homecoming
Jan 3, 2026 4:02 PM

This week on Radio Free Acton, we talk with Jim McGann (senior lecturer of International Studies at the Lauder Institute, director of the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program and senior fellow, Fels Institute of Government at the University of Pennsylvania) about the world of think tanks – what they are, what they do well, and where they can improve their effectiveness.

Then RFA Chief Cultural Correspondent Bruce Edward Walker joins the show to lead a discussion on the latest entry into the Marvel cinematic universe, Spiderman: ing. The discussion features Walker, producer Daniel Menjivar, and Elizabeth Yeh, who expands a bit on her analysis of the film in an earlier PowerBlog essay. In the end, we blend Peter Parker, Thomas Aquinas, and economics into a rather fascinating discussion of your friendly neighborhood Spider-man.

You can subscribe to Radio Free Acton on iTunes and Google Play. The podcast is also available via the audio player below.

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