Twenty-five years ago, Carl Sagan worried that America was sliding into idiocracy. Joshua Holland kicks off this week's show with a look at whether he was prescient. 

Then we're joined by journalist Rachel Cohen to talk about the spike in homicides and gun violence that America has seen in recent years, and look at some good and not-so-good explanations for why it's happening. 

Finally, we speak with anthropologist and filmmaker Sarah Riccardi-Swarz on her study of the growing fascist threat in rural America.

Playlist

• Rolling Stones: "Gimme Shelter"
• The Civil Wars: "Billie Jean" (Michael Jackson Cover)
• Melanie Durrant: "Bang Bang"