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On 30 August, the U.S. completed its withdrawal from Afghanistan, marking the end of an occupation that lasted for 20 years. Despite two decades of military involvement, the country fell to the Taliban in a matter of weeks, signalling a major tactical failure by the U.S. and a dangerous new era for Afghanistan. Many thanks to this episode's guest: Michael Butler, professor of political science at Clark University.

The Looking Glass is a new upcoming podcast series by The Locus, examining African-American history through the lens of the presidency. This is the first chapter, instead of a regular episode of Silhouette. Many thanks to Brenda Stevenson, historian and professor at the University of California, Los Angeles. Our intro and outro music is 'Bleu' by Komiku, with presidential speeches provided by The Miller Center.

Advertising plays an incalculable role in U.S. election cycles, often making or breaking campaigns. In this episode: a deep dive into the world of U.S. political advertising, starting with its history, before looking at what might change in years to come. Guest: Frank Sesno, former CNN journalist and director of the George Washington University School of Media and Public Affairs.

In this special episode, we deviate from U.S. politics to focus on Hong Kong. After decades of rising tensions, the Chinese government has implemented a law that threatens to put an end to Hong Kong’s hopes for freedom. Guest: Margaret Lewis, professor of law at Seton Hall University.

In a surprising move, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled last Thursday to block the Trump administration's attempt to end DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals legislation that protects hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children. Guest: Iliana Pech Cruz, a DACA recipient.

Michael Flynn, president Trump's former national security advisor, is just one piece in a vast puzzle that leads all the way to 'Obamagate', a conspiracy theory that could threaten the American political system. Guest: Howard Schweber, professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.