Episode Introduction
Breaking Battlegrounds Podcast 85 brings together three guests from very different worlds. Robert Knight is a Washington Times columnist and longtime conservative writer whose work includes a documentary on abortion. Bill Scher is a liberal political analyst who writes about politics through a pragmatist lens. Andrew Mack is a former World Bank project manager who founded Agromovil, a startup connecting small farmers with markets.
The episode was recorded in mid-2022, as the country debated the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Hosts Chuck Warren and Sam Stone explored abortion and political polarization with commentators from opposite sides, then turned to how technology is changing agriculture in developing economies.
Quick Answer
In Breaking Battlegrounds Podcast 85, recorded in mid-2022, conservative columnist Robert Knight and liberal analyst Bill Scher joined Chuck Warren and Sam Stone to discuss abortion and political polarization. The episode was recorded during the national debate over the Supreme Court’s Dobbs case. Agromovil founder Andrew Mack also discussed technology for small farmers in emerging markets.
Episode Overview
The episode has three segments. Robert Knight, a former Los Angeles Times editor turned conservative columnist and author, opens the show.
Bill Scher, a returning guest, joins next. Scher writes about politics and history from a pragmatist perspective and co-hosts The DMZ with conservative writer Matt Lewis, a show built on debate across party lines.
The show closes with Andrew Mack. He spent his career on economic development in emerging markets, and in this segment he explains how his company Agromovil uses software to connect small farmers with buyers.
About Robert Knight
Robert Knight is a conservative columnist and author. He spent 15 years in journalism, including seven at the Los Angeles Times, and was a Media Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He writes a weekly column for The Washington Times and American Family News.
Knight has held senior positions at the American Civil Rights Union, the Family Research Council, the Heritage Foundation, the Media Research Center, and the Culture & Family Institute at Concerned Women for America. He wrote and directed the documentaries “The Children of Table 34,” about sex researcher Alfred Kinsey, and “Hidden Truth: What You Deserve to Know about Abortion.” His books include “The Age of Consent” and, in 2020, “Liberty on the Brink” and “The Coming Communist Wave.” He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in political science from American University.
Positions as described in 2022. Confirm his current affiliations before publishing.
About Bill Scher
Bill Scher is a liberal political analyst and writer. The Washington Monthly promoted him to politics editor in February 2023. He hosts the history podcast “When America Worked” and co-hosts the bipartisan online show and podcast “The DMZ” with conservative writer Matt Lewis. He has been a contributing editor at Politico Magazine and a contributor to RealClearPolitics.
His 2006 book, “Wait! Don’t Move to Canada!: A Stay-and-Fight Strategy to Win Back America,” later became an answer on “Jeopardy!”
Scher had appeared on the show before this episode, joining Kaylee McGhee White for a discussion of Kamala Harris, the midterms and abortion.
About Andrew Mack
Andrew Mack is the founder and CEO of Agromovil, an agtech company that connects farmers with markets and gives businesses analytics on agricultural production. He was previously principal of AMGlobal Consulting, a Washington, D.C. firm advising companies and NGOs on emerging markets. Earlier, he was a World Bank project manager and banker, and he has worked in more than 80 countries.
His clients have included Chevron, Oracle, Motorola, the United Nations, the African Union and USAID. He has also advised ICANN on expanding Internet access and participation in developing countries. He holds a B.A. magna cum laude from Amherst College and a master’s in international relations and international economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.
Roles as of 2022. Confirm Agromovil’s current status before publishing.
Key Topics Discussed
- Abortion politics in the period around the Dobbs decision
- Political polarization and whether Americans can still debate across party lines
- Robert Knight’s conservative perspective on culture and politics
- Bill Scher’s pragmatist, center-left perspective
- Agricultural technology and small farmers in emerging markets
Abortion After the Dobbs Leak
On May 2, 2022, Politico published a leaked draft opinion indicating the Supreme Court was prepared to overturn Roe v. Wade. On June 24, 2022, the Court issued its decision in Dobbs, returning abortion policy to the states. This episode was recorded during that window.
Knight has worked on the issue for decades, including directing an abortion documentary. Scher has written about abortion politics from the center-left.
Polarization and the Space for Debate
Scher’s work is built on cross-partisan conversation. The DMZ pairs a liberal and a conservative for regular debate, which makes him a natural guest for a discussion about whether polarization can be reduced.
Connecting Small Farmers to Markets
Andrew Mack’s segment moves from Washington politics to global development. Agromovil uses software to link small-scale farmers with buyers and to give companies visibility into agricultural supply chains. Mack’s company describes the small-farm sector it serves as a $1 trillion global industry.
Key Takeaways From the Conversation
- The episode was recorded at a turning point for abortion policy, between the Dobbs leak and the final decision.
- Breaking Battlegrounds brought a conservative columnist and a liberal analyst into the same episode, consistent with the show’s interest in debate across party lines.
- Andrew Mack’s segment adds a development-economics angle: technology that connects small farmers to markets.
Related Breaking Battlegrounds Episodes
Bill Scher first appeared on the show with Kaylee McGhee White in an episode on Kamala Harris, the midterms and abortion. For more on polarization, Jeremy Hunt’s conversation on reconnecting and bridging the political divide is a natural companion. From the same stretch of 2022, Elijah Norton discussed his challenge to Rep. David Schweikert in Arizona. Erick Erickson later broke down how the 2022 midterms turned out, an election in which abortion played a major role.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bill Scher?
Bill Scher is a liberal political analyst and the politics editor of the Washington Monthly. He hosts the history podcast “When America Worked,” co-hosts the bipartisan show “The DMZ” with conservative writer Matt Lewis, and has contributed to Politico Magazine and RealClearPolitics. He wrote the 2006 book “Wait! Don’t Move to Canada!”
Who is Robert Knight?
Robert Knight is a conservative columnist and author who writes a weekly column for The Washington Times. A former Los Angeles Times editor, he has held senior roles at the Family Research Council, the Heritage Foundation and the Media Research Center, and has written 10 books and directed documentaries on Alfred Kinsey and abortion.
What is Agromovil?
Agromovil is an agricultural technology company founded by Andrew Mack. It provides software that connects farmers with markets and gives businesses analytics on agricultural production, with a focus on small-scale farming in emerging markets.
What did Bill Scher and Robert Knight discuss on Breaking Battlegrounds?
In Podcast 85, recorded in mid-2022, Robert Knight and Bill Scher joined Chuck Warren and Sam Stone during the national debate over the Supreme Court’s Dobbs case. The episode covers abortion and political polarization from conservative and liberal perspectives.
Has Bill Scher appeared on Breaking Battlegrounds before?
Yes. Before Podcast 85, Scher joined Washington Examiner writer Kaylee McGhee White for an episode on Kamala Harris, the 2022 midterms and abortion.
Conclusion
Podcast 85 captured the abortion debate at an unusual moment: the draft opinion had leaked, but the final ruling hadn’t arrived. Instead of one perspective, Breaking Battlegrounds put a longtime conservative voice and a pragmatist liberal in the same hour. Andrew Mack’s segment on technology for small farmers added a global, nonpartisan angle. Taken together, the episode is an example of the cross-party conversation that has become harder to find.
Related Reads
- Bill Scher on Kamala Harris, the Midterms and Abortion
- Jeremy Hunt on Reconnecting and Bridging the Political Divide
- Elijah Norton on Putting Congress to Work for You
Sources
- Washington Monthly, Bill Scher author page
- Talking Biz News, “Washington Monthly promotes Scher to politics editor” (February 2, 2023)
- Supreme Court of the United States, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, 597 U.S. 215 (2022): https://www.supremecourt.gov (recommended primary source)
- The Washington Times, Robert Knight columnist page (recommended; verify current affiliation)
Editorial Note: This article is intended for informational and analytical purposes. Political developments, policies, polling, and public statements can change over time. Readers should consult primary sources and official government information for the latest details.
