Podcasts by Open to Debate

Open to Debate

America is more divided than ever—but it doesn’t have to be. Open to Debate offers an antidote to the chaos. We bring multiple perspectives together for real, nonpartisan debates. Debates that are structured, respectful, clever, provocative, and driven by the facts. Open to Debate is on a mission to restore balance to the public square through expert moderation, good-faith arguments, and reasoned analysis. We examine the issues of the day with the world’s most influential thinkers spanning science, technology, politics, culture, and global affairs. It’s time to build a stronger, more united democracy with the civil exchange of ideas. Be open-minded. Be curious. Be ready to listen. Join us in being Open to Debate. (Formerly Intelligence Squared U.S.)

Further podcasts by IQ2US Debates

Podcast on the topic Bildung

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Open to Debate
Long Live The British Monarchy? from 2022-09-16T09:00

For nearly three-quarters of a century, Queen Elizabeth II sat on high as Britain’s monarch. With her death, however, new momentum is building that questions the future of the British Crown. Severa...

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Open to Debate
Should We Search for Extraterrestrial Life? from 2022-09-09T09:00

For decades, scientists around the world have dedicated their lives — and research dollars — to one question: Is there anyone else out there? In the early 1970s, NASA joined the hunt with its own p...

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Will AI Do More Harm Than Good? from 2022-09-02T09:00

Is it true that artificial intelligence will do more harm than good? Proponents say it will help us solve problems like climate change and world hunger, while eliminating dangerous and mundane jobs...

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Should The SAT Be Erased? from 2022-08-26T09:00

Last year, only 1.5 million high school students took the SAT, down from 2.2 million in the class of 2020. Covid-19 played a big role in the decision among many schools not to move forward with at-...

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Should Trump Be Indicted? from 2022-08-12T09:00

After a series of prime-time hearings from the January 6th Committee and hundreds of charges against individuals who a participated in the events of that day, the Department of Justice faces a comp...

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Should We Eat More Processed Foods? from 2022-08-05T09:00

Processed food is bad for you, right? Well, there’s more to this story. As new technologies create foods that can’t be made in home kitchens, such as plant-based meats and dairy products made with ...

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Open to Debate
#199 - Should We Use Gene Editing to Make Better Babies? from 2022-02-18T10:00

A genetic disease runs in your family. Your doctor tells you that, should you wish to have a child, that child is likely to also carry the disease. But a new gene-editing technology could change yo...

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Agree-to-Disagree: Is True Love a Myth? from 2022-02-04T10:00

If you are an old-fashioned romantic, true love has a nice ring to it. Our films, novels, poems, and music are all steeped in the notion, with characteristics that include unwavering fondness and e...

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#198 - Is America Retreating from Global Leadership? from 2022-01-28T10:00

It’s been a year of the Biden administration. And for many around the world, the question is simple: Can America still lead like it used to? President Biden, following his predecessor's “America Fi...

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Open to Debate
IQ2 Conversation: A New University Offers "Forbidden" Courses from 2022-01-07T10:00

They say that colleges have become too censorious. That our most prestigious institutions have abandoned their mission of fostering critical minds and sparking thoughtful dissent. And that a genera...

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The Pandemic: Year-In-Review from 2021-12-22T10:00

Two years ago in January, the Covid-19 virus made its way to American shores. And so … as we wrap up 2021, we thought we’d bring you an amalgam of our best Covid content. Our host John Donvan guide...

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Open to Debate
#197 - Is Amazon Good for Small Business? from 2021-12-10T10:00

Amazon has come a long way since online book sales. In fact, when it comes to revenue, Jeff Bezos’ creation is the world’s biggest internet-based company. But what makes the "everything store" so u...

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Agree to Disagree: Meritocracy from 2021-11-26T10:00

The hereditary lottery, in many democracies, has effectively been replaced by a system in which talent, grit, and ability are meant to determine success. Yet, amidst income inequality and legacy of...

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Is Cancel Culture Toxic? from 2021-11-12T10:00

You know the drill. Someone does, or says, something offensive. A public backlash -- typically on Twitter -- ensues. Then come the calls to "cancel" that person, brand, or institution. That usually...

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Open to Debate
#196 - Is Cancel Culture Toxic? from 2021-11-12T10:00

You know the drill. Someone does, or says, something offensive. A public backlash -- typically on Twitter -- ensues. Then come the calls to "cancel" that person, brand, or institution. That usually...

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Open to Debate
Agree to Disagree: Are Booster Shots Unethical? from 2021-10-29T09:00

The boosters are rolling out. In places likes the U.S., Britain, and Israel, authorities are providing additional Covid-19 vaccines with the goal of bolstering immune systems and shoring up their e...

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Open to Debate
Agree to Disagree: Booster Shots from 2021-10-29T09:00

The boosters are rolling out. In places likes the U.S., Britain, and Israel, authorities are providing additional Covid-19 vaccines with the goal of bolstering immune systems and shoring up their e...

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Open to Debate
Agree to Disagree: Cyber War from 2021-10-15T09:00

With cyber threats and ransomware on the rise globally, the Biden administration has enlisted America’s tech titans to help blunt their effects. Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, are all in discussion...

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Open to Debate
Agree to Disagree: Cyber War and Hacker Ransoms from 2021-10-15T09:00

With cyber threats and ransomware on the rise globally, the Biden administration has enlisted America’s tech titans to help blunt their effects. Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, are all in discussion...

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We Should Expand the Supreme Court from 2021-10-01T09:00

Nine justices hold tremendous power. Advocates on the left see a Supreme Court out of touch with the electorate, obstructed by partisan interests, and rendered illegitimate by years of controversia...

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Open to Debate
#195 - Should We Expand the Supreme Court? from 2021-10-01T09:00

Nine justices hold tremendous power. Advocates on the left see a Supreme Court out of touch with the electorate, obstructed by partisan interests, and rendered illegitimate by years of controversia...

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Open to Debate
The United Nations is Obsolete from 2021-09-18T00:00

As world attention descends on the United Nations General Assembly, Intelligence Squared U.S. casts a critical lens on this nearly 76-year-old global organization. In light of recent controversies ...

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Agree to Disagree: Should Congress spend trillions to Build Back Better? from 2021-09-03T09:00

The Biden administration wants to spend big. Its $4.5 trillion "Build Back Better" plan includes hefty investments in infrastructure, unprecedented spending on the labor force, and funding for a ho...

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Open to Debate
Agree to Disagree: Build Back Better from 2021-09-03T09:00

The Biden administration wants to spend big. Its $4.5 trillion "Build Back Better" plan includes hefty investments in infrastructure, unprecedented spending on the labor force, and funding for a ho...

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Open to Debate
Can Employers and Schools Require Vaccines? from 2021-08-27T09:00

As more and more Americans become vaccinated, schools, employers, and health care facilities are facing a tough decision: Will they require students, employees, and care givers to get the jab? Thos...

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Open to Debate
Agree to Disagree COVID Series: Vaccine Mandates (Updated) from 2021-08-27T09:00

As more and more Americans become vaccinated, schools, employers, and health care facilities are facing a tough decision: Will they require students, employees, and care givers to get the jab? Thos...

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Agree to Disagree: Leaving Afghanistan from 2021-08-21T09:00

The Taliban have won. Twenty years after the 2001 invasion, the U.S.-backed government in Kabul has fallen. The Afghan president has fled. Taliban leadership, which ran the country in the late 1990...

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Debate Roundup: America's Guns from 2021-08-13T09:00

Gun violence is surging. Despite lockdowns and social distancing, 2020 ended up as one of America’s most violent years in decades. 2021 is following a similar path. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden h...

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Open to Debate
America's Guns from 2021-08-13T09:00

Gun violence is surging. Despite lockdowns and social distancing, 2020 ended up as one of America’s most violent years in decades. 2021 is following a similar path. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden h...

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Open to Debate
#193 - Has the New York Times Lost Its Way? from 2021-07-30T09:00

What's happening at The New York Times? The paper of record is under fire. Critics argue it has sacrificed journalistic and intellectual balance in favor of correcting historic inequalities. In the...

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Open to Debate
The New York Times Has Lost Its Way from 2021-07-30T09:00

What's happening at The New York Times? The paper of record is under fire. Critics argue it has sacrificed journalistic and intellectual balance in favor of correcting historic inequalities. In the...

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Open to Debate
Is It Time to Redistribute the Wealth? from 2021-07-16T09:00

Economic inequality has become a linchpin of modern politics. As nations around the world face a reckoning on racial and social justice and work to combat the economic impacts of the pandemic, we a...

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Open to Debate
It's Time to Redistribute the Wealth from 2021-07-16T09:00

Economic inequality has become a linchpin of modern politics. As nations around the world face a reckoning on racial and social justice and work to combat the economic impacts of the pandemic, we a...

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Open to Debate
Agree to Disagree COVID Series: Vaccine Mandates from 2021-07-02T09:00

As more and more Americans become vaccinated, schools, employers, and health care facilities are facing a tough decision: Will they require students, employees, and care givers to get the jab? Thos...

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Open to Debate
Agree to Disagree COVID Series: Can Employers and Schools Require Vaccines? from 2021-07-02T09:00

As more and more Americans become vaccinated, schools, employers, and health care facilities are facing a tough decision: Will they require students, employees, and care givers to get the jab? Thos...

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Open to Debate
Ray Dalio on How To Change Your Mind from 2021-06-18T09:00

How do you know that you’re right? Modern business, politics, and even culture, tend to favor strident opinions and decisive action. To “flip flop” may then be construed as ineptitude, or even weak...

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Open to Debate
Changing Your Mind from 2021-06-18T09:00

How do you know that you’re right? Modern business, politics, and even culture, tend to favor strident opinions and decisive action. To “flip flop” may then be construed as ineptitude, or even weak...

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Open to Debate
#192 - Is Taiwan Indefensible? from 2021-05-21T09:00

The fate of Taiwan is uncertain. As a revanchist China builds up forces near the island, the Biden administration is warning Beijing against an invasion, bolstering its defense with the sale of mil...

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Open to Debate
Taiwan is Indefensible from 2021-05-21T09:00

The fate of Taiwan is uncertain. As a revanchist China builds up forces near the island, the Biden administration is warning Beijing against an invasion, bolstering its defense with the sale of mil...

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Agree to Disagree COVID Series: Vaccine Passports from 2021-05-12T16:00

Will you need a digital passport to prove you’ve been vaccinated the next time you try to board a flight or get into a concert? The idea is already being tested in Israel and governments around the...

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Open to Debate
Agree to Disagree COVID Series: Do We Need Vaccine Passports? from 2021-05-12T16:00

Will you need a digital passport to prove you’ve been vaccinated the next time you try to board a flight or get into a concert? The idea is already being tested in Israel and governments around the...

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#191 - Should We Legalize Psychedelics? from 2021-04-23T09:00

Psychedelics, in medical terms, is an inexact category of drugs that affect perceptions and cognition. Their proponents say 1960s-era associations have undermined exciting research in the field of ...

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Legalize Psychedelics from 2021-04-23T09:00

Psychedelics, in medical terms, is an inexact category of drugs that affect perceptions and cognition. Their proponents say 1960s-era associations have undermined exciting research in the field of ...

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Agree to Disagree COVID Series: Vaccine Patents from 2021-04-09T09:00

India and South Africa have petitioned the World Trade Organization to suspend intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines. These nations – along with a coalition of scholars, activists...

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Agree to Disagree COVID Series: Who Owns the Vaccine? from 2021-04-09T09:00

India and South Africa have petitioned the World Trade Organization to suspend intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines. These nations – along with a coalition of scholars, activists...

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Open to Debate
#190 - Should We Forgive Student Debt? from 2021-03-26T09:00

In the year since the pandemic forced us to cancel, the federal student loan debt has grown $100 billion. The stakes have risen for student borrowers, making it high time we rescheduled our debate ...

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Forgive Student Debt from 2021-03-26T09:00

In the year since the pandemic forced us to cancel, the federal student loan debt has grown $100 billion. The stakes have risen for student borrowers, making it high time we rescheduled our debate ...

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Open to Debate
Agree to Disagree: The Filibuster from 2021-03-19T09:00

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Agree to Disagree: Kill the Filibuster from 2021-03-19T09:00

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Agree to Disagree: Slavery Reparations from 2021-03-12T10:00

Between 1525 and 1866, more than 12 million Africans were shipped to the New World as slaves. After some 200 years, slavery was abolished, and yet another century of Jim Crow, coupled with discrimi...

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#189 - Has the GOP Lost Its Way? from 2021-02-26T10:00

What should the Republican party look like after Donald Trump? For many prominent establishment figures, including those behind The Lincoln Project, the GOP has lost its way. The only way back, the...

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The GOP Has Lost Its Way from 2021-02-26T10:00

What should the Republican party look like after Donald Trump? For many prominent establishment figures, including those behind The Lincoln Project, the GOP has lost its way. The only way back, the...

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Agree to Disagree: Sex with Robots (Valentine's Day Special) from 2021-02-12T10:00

As robots and artificial intelligence reached new heights, the relationship between humans and machines is getting closer. The sex tech industry is worth $30 billion annually and growing, as sex wi...

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Open to Debate
Agree to Disagree: Sex with Robots from 2021-02-12T10:00

As robots and artificial intelligence reached new heights, the relationship between humans and machines is getting closer. The sex tech industry is worth $30 billion annually and growing, as sex wi...

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Does The President Have Constitutional Power To Target And Kill U.S. Citizens Abroad? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With the drone strike on accused terrorist and New Mexico-born Anwar al-Awlaki in Yemen, President Obama has tested the limits of the executive branch’s powers. Does the president have constitution...

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Open to Debate
Was Snowden Justified? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Has Edward Snowden done the U.S. a great service? There is no doubt that his release of highly classified stolen documents has sparked an important public debate, even forcing what could be a major...

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Is Obamacare Beyond Rescue? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With the disastrous launch of the HealthCare.gov website, critics of the Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare,” were given more fuel for the fire. Is this political hot potato's inevitability once ag...

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Reconsidering The Minimum Wage from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Although widespread retail-worker strikes failed to enact a rise of the federal minimum wage in 2013, on the state level, the tide is turning. Last week 13 states started the New Year by raised the...

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Don't Eat Anything With A Face from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

According to a 2009 poll, around 1% of American adults reported eating no animal products. In 2011 that number rose to 2.5%--more than double, but still dwarfed by the 48% who reported eating meat,...

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Does Spying Keep Us Safe? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The NSA collects data on billions of phone calls and internet communications per day. Are these surveillance programs legal? Do they keep us safe? If not for the former NSA contractor Edward Snowde...

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Has The Constitutional Right To Bear Arms Outlived Its Usefulness? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Recent mass shooting tragedies have renewed the national debate over the 2nd Amendment. Gun ownership and homicide rates are higher in the U.S. than in any other developed nation, but gun violence ...

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Let Anyone Take A Job Anywhere from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

If we value a free market in goods and free movement of capital, should we embrace the free movement of labor? Reciprocal treaties would allow citizens of the U.S. and other countries to work legal...

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For A Better Future, Live In A Red State from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

While gridlock and division in Washington make it difficult for either party or ideology to set the policy agenda, single-party government prevails in three-quarters of the states. In 24 states Rep...

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Should We Break Up The Big Banks? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

To prevent the collapse of the global financial system in 2008, The Treasury committed 245 billion in taxpayer dollars to stabilize America’s banking institutions. Today, banks that were once “too ...

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Is The Two-Party System Making America Ungovernable? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The government shutdown is a dramatic display of the growing strife not only between the Republican and Democratic parties, but also, among the GOP itself. For some, the shut down has even called i...

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Healthcare Retrospective from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Although President Obama signed it into law in March of 2010, the Affordable Care Act remains one of the nation’s most divisive issues. Over the past nearly four years, House Republicans  have vote...

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Is The U.S. Drone Program Fatally Flawed? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Remotely piloted aircraft, or drones, have been the centerpiece of America’s counterterrorism toolkit since the start of the Obama presidency, and the benefits have been clear.  Their use has signi...

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Does The U.S. Have A Dog In The Fight In Syria? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Is there a clear course of action the U.S. could take to help the Syrian people that would lead to a better outcome for the country? Or is greater U.S. involvement likely to do little good in the e...

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Is Cutting The Pentagon's Budget A Gift To Our Enemies? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Political gridlock in Washington triggered across-the-board spending cuts, known as the sequester, in March. As a result, the Pentagon was given six months to eliminate $41 billion from the current...

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The FDA's Caution Is Hazardous To Our Health from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Food and Drug Administration, the oldest comprehensive consumer protection agency in the U.S. federal government, is charged with protecting the public health.  Under this mandate, it regulates...

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The GOP Must Seize The Center Or Die from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

2012 was a disappointing year for Republicans. The failure to win key swing states in the presidential election and surprising losses in the House and Senate have prompted some reflection. Was thei...

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Should The U.S. Abolish The Minimum Wage? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The first attempt at establishing a national minimum wage, a part of 1933’s sweeping National Industrial Recovery Act, was struck down by the Supreme Court in 1935. But in 1938, under the Fair Labo...

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Does America Need A Strong Dollar Policy? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It’s often taken for granted that America needs a strong dollar.  When the value of the U.S. dollar is strong relative to other currencies, it becomes attractive to investors and allows Americans t...

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Should We Prohibit Genetically Enginereed Babies? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Imagine a world free of genetic diseases, where parents control their offspring’s height, eye color and intelligence.  The science may be closer than you think.  Genes interact in ways that we don’...

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Can Israel Live With A Nuclear Iran? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Over the summer of 2012, despite increased international pressure and economic sanctions, Iran doubled the number of nuclear centrifuges installed in its underground Fordow site, stopping just shor...

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Science Refutes God from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

On the fundamental question--evolution or creation?--Americans are on the fence. According to one survey, while 61% of Americans believe we have evolved over time, 22% believe this evolution was gu...

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Legalize Drugs from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It was 1971 when President Richard Nixon declared a "war on drugs." $2.5 trillion dollars later, drug use is half of what it was 30 years ago, and thousands of offenders are successfully diverted t...

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Are The Rich Taxed Enough? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

How do we fix the economy? The U.S. government's budget deficit is nearing a trillion dollars for the fourth straight year and unemployment remains high. With the Bush-era tax cuts set to expire at...

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Should The Government Ration End Of Life Care? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Just because we can extend life, should we? Two teams of debaters are arguing for and against this motion. The U.S. is expected to spend $2.8 trillion on health care in 2012. If health care is a sc...

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Are Elected Islamists Better Than Dictators? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The popular uprisings of the Arab Spring have left a leadership void that Islamist parties have been quick to fill. A longtime supporter of former strongmen like Egypt's Mubarak and Tunisia's Ben A...

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Are Super PACs Good For Democracy? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Money has been flowing through this election season like never before. Some say unfettered political spending is a necessary part of free speech; others argue that approach drowns out many voices. ...

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The Natural Gas Boom: Doing More Harm Than Good? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Some people are embracing the wave of increased natural gas extraction in the United States. Others, concerned about the risks, are saying no fracking way. A panel of experts weighs the pros and co...

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Should College Football Be Banned? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In recent years, college football programs have been hit by a series of scandals. And observers have long raised questions about the risks of head injuries. A panel of experts looks at the state of...

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Is The Internet Closing Our Minds Politically? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

On the Internet, it's easy to find like-minded people and to frequent sites where you agree with the content. And algorithms are serving up more personalized search content. Are we running the risk...

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Does China Do Capitalism Better Than America? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As China experiments with its own form of state-run capitalism, the country has managed to maintain a strong economy while many Western countries are faltering. A team of experts faces off in the l...

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Is Obesity The Government's Business? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In the U.S., more than 78 million adults and 12 million children are obese, prompting some to argue that it's in the government's interest to combat the problem. But others say the government shoul...

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Should The U.N. Grant Palestine Full Membership? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In the Intelligence Squared U.S. debate held Jan. 10, four experts on the Middle East face off on the motion "The U.N. Should Admit Palestine As A Full Member State." Could this approach help resol...

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#57 - Would The World Be Better Off Without Religion? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A rabbi, a descendant of Charles Darwin, a philosopher and a scholar face off over religion in the latest Intelligence Squared U.S. debate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch...

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Should Congress Pass Obama's Jobs Bill In Pieces? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Supporters say if lawmakers do nothing, the U.S. economy may fall into another recession. But critics say the jobs package just recycles policies that have failed in the past. A group of experts ar...

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Do Too Many Kids Go To College? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Getting a college degree is often touted as a way to increase your income and your ability to compete in the job market. But are too many unprepared students being pushed into taking on large amoun...

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Do Grandma's Benefits Imperil Junior's Future? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The debate over entitlement programs has a generational component that can't be overlooked: Is helping seniors make ends meet only generating mountains of debt that will hamper future generations? ...

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Are Men Finished? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Last year, women made up the majority of the U.S. workforce for the first time ever. There are more women earning college degrees than men. Are women taking over the position of power in society, o...

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Is It Time To End The War On Terror? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Ten years after the Sept. 11 attacks and months after the death of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, is it time to move on? Or is it important to maintain the open-ended conflict? Experts take on th...

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Does Freedom Of The Press Extend To State Secrets? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Does the public's right to know interfere with the government's ability to protect citizens? Four experts go head to head on the issue in the latest Intelligence Squared U.S. debate. Learn more abo...

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Should We Stop Taking The World's Huddled Masses? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The U.S. is often referred to as a nation built by immigrants. But in recent years, the debate over the country's immigration laws has reached a boiling point. Do immigrants help the economy? Or do...

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Is It Time To Clip America's Global Wings? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As the United States grapples with a struggling economy and continuing wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, some argue that it's time to scale back its role in the world. A team of experts discusses the p...

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Can Clean Energy Drive The Economic Recovery? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

President Obama and other leaders have called for investment in cleaner energy sources as a way to create jobs and spur U.S. economic recovery. But can it really work? A team of experts takes on th...

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Is The Two-Party System Making The U.S. Ungovernable? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Some argue that Americans have been locked into evaluating every issue through a prism of left and right. A team of experts tackles the topic in the latest Intelligence Squared U.S. debate. Learn m...

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Should The Obama Health Care Law Be Repealed? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As Republicans now in control of the House move to repeal the new health care law, a team of experts takes on the question in the latest Intelligence Squared U.S. debate Learn more about your ad ch...

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Should Airports Use Racial And Religious Profiling? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The recent furor over screenings and pat-downs has catapulted airport security back into the spotlight. Should airports be targeting their limited resources differently? A team of experts examines ...

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Is Afghanistan A Lost Cause? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

After nearly a decade of fighting, Americans are still debating the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, its toll on the military and its financial cost. A team of experts goes head-to-head on the topi...

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Is Big Government Stifling The American Spirit? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

On Oct. 26, a team of experts argued the issue "Big Government is Stifling the American Spirit" during the Intelligence Squared U.S. debate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adc...

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Is Islam A Religion Of Peace? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

That's how former President George W. Bush characterized it, but some take a different view. A panel of experts takes on the question in the latest Intelligence Squared U.S. debate. Learn more abou...

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Are Terrorists Criminals Or Enemy Combatants? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Some view a law enforcement approach to terrorism as dangerous, while others argue that denying suspects the ability to defend themselves in court runs counter to American values. Four experts rece...

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Has The Cyberwar Threat Been Exaggerated? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As succeeding presidential administrations and leaders in the Pentagon devote increasing resources to cybersecurity, some observers are questioning whether the threat of cyberwar has been overstate...

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Does Obama's Foreign Policy Spell America's Decline? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

When it comes to foreign policy, some argue that President Obama is alienating the United States' allies as he seeks to make accommodations for nations with whom America has more uncertain relation...

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Is Organic Food Stuffed Full Of Marketing Hype? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Is paying extra money for organic food worth it? Some argue that the label confers real value, while others claim that organic food has not been proven healthier and that it comes with its own envi...

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Are Teachers Unions To Blame For Failing Schools? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In the quest to remake America's public schools, teachers unions have frequently been blasted as an obstacle to improvement. But do unions really deserve more of the blame than shrinking budgets an...

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Should The U.S. Scale Back Relations With Israel? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Does the United States' special relationship with Israel come at too high a cost in the Middle East? A panel of experts takes on the question in the latest Intelligence Squared U.S. debate. Learn m...

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Is California The First Failed State? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

California is in the midst of a budget nightmare. Will the Golden State find a bailout, or has it become the first failed state of the union? A group of experts takes on the topic in an Intelligenc...

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Is America To Blame For Mexico's Drug War? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In Mexico, thousands of people have died in drug-related violence in the past three years as the government has ramped up its war on drug cartels. But is the United States — with its market for ill...

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Are Obama's Economic Policies Working Effectively? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As the economy slowly begins to recover from the financial meltdown, should the Obama administration get credit for turning things around? Or has the administration failed to do what it takes to re...

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Good Riddance To Mainstream Media? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As newspapers go under, the network newscasts lose viewers and the mainstream media in general see more and more of their audience shift online, are we as a society better or worse off? A panel of ...

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Will 'Buy American' Policies Backfire? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

"Buy American" provisions included in legislation such as President Obama's stimulus package have touched off a heated debate. A panel of experts argues whether they help or hurt the United States ...

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Do Genes Affect Your Vote? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Were you an adventurous baby? Or were you risk averse? According to Dr. Helen Fisher, a biological anthropologist who studies genopolitics, your answers to those questions might also inform your po...

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Intelligence Squared Year-Ender from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Looking back at 2020, it’s been interesting. Intelligence Squared, like the rest of the world, went virtual as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic that upended business models and accelerated trends ...

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Essential Workers or Elderly? Larry Brilliant on the Vaccine Debate from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As the first rounds of the Covid-19 vaccines become available, a growing debate has emerged as to who should get it first. CDC guidance prioritizes essential workers and those in long-term care, bu...

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Agree to Disagree: Are Identity Politics a Way to Win? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The public and pundits alike are still processing the most recent election, but this much we know: 2020 marks the most diverse Congress in American history, and President Trump garnered more minori...

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Agree to Disagree: Are Election Lawsuits Good For Democracy? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Joe Biden delivered a victory speech. His team is planning to take power. But rather than concede, President Trump has instead turned to the courts, with election lawsuits in states like Pennsylvan...

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#186 - Is a U.S.-China Space Race Good for Humanity? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

China is ramping up its national space industry with huge investments in next-generation technologies that promise to transform military, economic, and political realities. Against this backdrop, w...

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Election Special: A Historian and Futurist Debate 2020 from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In this special post-election podcast – amidst record mail-in voting, lawsuits, social unrest, and partisan polarization – we’re asking a simple question: Was the 2020 run for the White House as un...

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Agree to Disagree: Should Washington Break Up Big Tech? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Is Big Tech having its own "big tobacco moment"? As Apple, Facebook, Google, and Amazon face antitrust probes from state and federal investigators alike, we dive into the debate that will shape the...

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How to Fight an Infodemic from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As the coronavirus pandemic sweeps the globe, the World Health Organization is warning of the spread of something else – an information epidemic or “infodemic.” And while diligent consumers of the ...

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Ezra Klein on Why We're Polarized from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Is the American political system broken? In his new book, Ezra Klein argues that the system isn't malfunctioning, it's doing exactly what it was designed to accomplish. In this special episode of D...

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Bonus Episode: Can Progressives Save Capitalism? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Does capitalism need saving? In this special episode, Intelligence Squared partners with Foreign Affairs to take a nuanced look at the state of the capitalism debate in America, and the potential p...

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Bonus Episode: How Do We Make Our Debates Happen? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In this special episode of Intelligence Squared U.S., host and moderator John Donvan sits down with our newly appointed CEO Clea Conner to pull back the curtain on how we make our debates, choose d...

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#171 - Should We Replace Private Insurance With Medicare For All? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As the nation gears up for the 2020 election, Democrats are promising bold new changes to the American health care system, including scrapping private health insurance and adopting “Medicare for Al...

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#170 - Unresolved: Shifting Power in the Middle East from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Saudi Arabia and Iran are vying for regional dominance. Turkey is cozying up to Russia and China. And instability, conflict, and proxy wars have engulfed Syria, Yemen, and beyond. How should the Un...

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Bonus Episode: Are We In a New Authoritarian Era? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In this special episode, host John Donvan sits down with two of America's leading thinkers on politics and foreign policy: Susan Glasser and Yascha Mounk. They discuss the rise of authoritarian lea...

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Chris Anderson on Ideas & Inspiration from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

How do good ideas and persuasive arguments change the world? In this episode, host John Donvan speaks with TED curator Chris Anderson about how bringing people together to share new and innovative ...

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#169 - Is U.S. Policy Toward China Productive? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Are recent U.S. policies toward China tough and focused enough to achieve key economic and strategic objectives? Or will U.S. policy escalate tensions too much, ultimately reducing the chances that...

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Simon Johnson on Science & the Economy from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Can focusing on science and technology transform how Americans think about the economy and the future of the nation's working class? In this episode of Discourse Disrupters, former IMF chief econom...

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Allison Schrager on Risk and Reason In Everyday Life from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

What happens when an economist walks into a brothel? In this episode, economist and author Allison Schrager talks with host John Donvan about her new book, “An Economist Walks Into a Brothel,” and ...

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Nadine Strossen & Thane Rosenbaum on Hate Speech in America from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In this episode of Discourse Disrupters, two of America’s top legal minds tackles one of the most pressing questions of the day: what should we do about "hate speech." Learn more about your ad choi...

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#168 - Has the Transatlantic Relationship Been Irreparably Damaged? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Populism is on the rise. Relations between American and European leaders are often tense. Is the transatlantic relationship beyond repair? Four of the brightest foreign policy minds gather in Bruss...

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Bonus Episode: How Europe Is Answering to "America First" from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Team IQ2US is busy in Brussels, getting ready to bring you our next debate, “The Transatlantic Relationship Has Been Irreparably Damaged.” This one will be presented in partnership with the German ...

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#153 - Is Social Media Good for Democracy? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

MOTION: Social Media Is Good for Democracy By connecting people across the world for free, platforms like Twitter and Facebook set the stage for a promising digital revolution, providing tools that...

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#126 - Should the U.S. Give Undocumented Immigrants a Path to Citizenship? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

There are an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States today. In a divided and contentious political climate where immigration is a key issue for voters across the id...

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#134 - Is Universal Basic Income the Safety Net of the Future? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Imagine getting a check from the government every month. $600 guaranteed. It's happening in Finland, where a pilot program is being launched to test what's known as a "universal basic income". As t...

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#167 - Should Scientists Dim the Sun? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Right now, climate engineers are working on new technologies that would reflect the sun’s rays away from earth. For some, it’s a bold new plan to combat climate change. For others, it's a dangerous...

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#166 - All Hail the Driverless Car? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

What if the next car you buy or taxi you hail drives itself? Join four leaders in autonomous vehicles for a timely debate on whether society should embrace driverless cars or approach these new, co...

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#165 - Should the Republican Party Re-Nominate Trump? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Former Senator Jeff Flake and the New York Times’ Bret Stephens team up to argue the motion, “The Republican Party Should Not Re-Nominate Trump.” They face Kris Kobach, a former Trump advisor and f...

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IQ2 Interview: Should You Love Your Enemies? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In this special episode of Intelligence Squared U.S., John Donvan sits down with one of America's leading political thinkers to discuss a bold premise: loving your enemies. Arthur Brooks is a best-...

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#164 - Can Constitutional Free Speech Principles Save Social Media Companies From Themselves? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With David French, Corynne McSherry, Nathaniel Persily, and Marietje Schaake How should the world's largest social media companies respond to a pernicious online climate, including hate speech and ...

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#163 - Unresolved: The Techonomic Cold War With China from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With Ian Bremmer, Michèle Flournoy, Yasheng Huang, Parag Khanna, and Susan Thornton President Xi Jinping has made it clear: When it comes to big data, advanced weaponry, and other innovations in te...

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#185 - Is It Time to Redistribute the Wealth? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Robert Reich, Yanis Varoufakis, Lawrence Summers and Allison Schrager join us for a debate on economic inequality in the premiere episode of “That’s Debatable," our new series presented in partners...

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Special Release: Can AI Change Your Mind? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In this special episode of Intelligence Squared U.S., we partner with IBM for a historic debate that brings AI to the stage. IBM Project Debater is the first AI system designed to debate humans on ...

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#161 - Should We Bring Extinct Creatures Back To Life? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: Don't Bring Extinct Creatures back to Life Once a sci-fi fantasy explored in films like “Jurassic Park,” recent biological and technological breakthroughs indicate that reviving extinct cre...

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#160 - Ten Years After the Global Financial Crisis, Is the System Safer? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: Ten Years After the Global Financial Crisis, the System Is Safer More than 10 years ago, Lehman Brothers collapsed, and the world witnessed one of the worst financial crises in global hist...

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Season Preview: New Year, New Debates from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Announcing our new season! This winter, we’re taking on new issues, including the state of the global financial system, whether we should try to bring extinct creatures back to life, and whether we...

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#83 - Should We Avoid Eating Anything With A Face? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

MOTION: Don't Eat Anything with a Face From the Archive: Are humans meant to be carnivores? Revisit our debate featuring “21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart” author Neal Barnard, Farm Sanctuary co-founde...

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#105 - Is Smart Technology Making Us Dumb? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Smart technology grants us unprecedented, immediate access to knowledge and to each other -- a ubiquitous and seamless presence in everyday life. But is there a downside to all of this connectivity...

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#159 - Has Silicon Valley Lost Its Soul? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: Silicon Valley Has Lost Its Soul. Silicon Valley once promised to solve many of the world's problems with a technological revolution. But now, the tech hub is the center of much scrutiny, a...

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An IQ2US Thanksgiving Tradition from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Last year, our host John Donvan sat down with Ken Stern, the former National Public Radio CEO, to discuss his book "Republican Like Me: How I Left the Liberal Bubble and Learned to Love the Right, ...

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#158 - Is Trump Bad for Comedy? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: Trump is Bad for Comedy From the opening skit on “Saturday Night Live” to “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” to the pages of The Onion, President Trump has become the face of comedy. Some...

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#157 - Will Progressive Populism Save The Democratic Party? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: Progressive Populism Will Save The Democratic Party As Democratic leaders and strategists gear up for the 2018 and 2020 elections, the party stands at a crossroads. For progressive populist...

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#156 - Will Retail Alliances Fix the U.S. Health Care System? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: Retail Alliances – Not Washington – Will Save the U.S. Health Care System Last year, Intelligence Squared U.S. and the Mayo Clinic brought to the stage a bold inquiry about whether health c...

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#155 - Unresolved: U.S. National Security from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Three Motions: Is NATO No Longer Fit for Purpose? Is the Russia Threat Overblown? Is It Time to Take a Hard Line on Iran? For the United States, tensions are rising with both allies and adversa...

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Join IQ2US Live in New York from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

This Thursday, September 20th, we’re launching our fall series with an evening of debate on the state and future of American national security.  Set in our “unresolved” format, five debaters will ...

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#154 - Has Globalization Undermined the American Working Class? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

MOTION: Globalization Has Undermined America's Working Class Globalization ushered in an era of free trade, fluid borders, and unparalleled corporate profits. For its proponents, the global integra...

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#152 - Trigger Warning: Are Safe Spaces Dangerous? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Debate: Trigger Warning: Safe Spaces are Dangerous Long hailed as bastions of intellectual development and ground zero for the free and spirited exchange of ideas, today's universities have come un...

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#151 - Will Automation Crash Democracy? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

MOTION: Automation Will Crash Democracy Around the world, technology is disrupting the workforce, with automation poised to displace humans in the fields of medicine, agriculture, and beyond. Will ...

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#150 - Can Negotiations Denuclearize North Korea? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: Negotiations Can Denuclearize North Korea Will all of the recent goodwill gestures between North and South Korea lead to the one thing Washington wants most? Can a deal be struck that denu...

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#149 - Is Bitcoin More Than A Bubble? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: Bitcoin is More Than a Bubble and Here to Stay. Is Bitcoin here to stay, or is it a bubble waiting to pop? Less than a decade old, Bitcoin is worth billions. The cryptocurrency promises to ...

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#148 - Should Net Neutrality Be Saved? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: Preserve Net Neutrality: All Data is Created Equal. What if a single policy could impact American democracy, culture, and competitiveness?  What if that policy might either empower citizens...

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#147 - As We Evolve, Do We Need God Less? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: The More We Evolve The Less We Need God. Does God have a place in 21st century human affairs? Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine, and cognitive neuroscientist Heather Berlin tea...

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#146 - Does Humanitarian Intervention Do More Harm Than Good? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: Humanitarian Intervention Does More Harm than Good. The international community currently faces a global refugee crisis and mass atrocities in Iraq, Myanmar, Syria, Yemen, and beyond. How s...

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#145 - Have Dating Apps Killed Romance? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: Swipe Left: Dating Apps Have Killed Romance Every day millions of people turn to dating apps to find love. To date, more than 49 million Americans have given digital dating a try and the co...

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#144 - Unresolved: America's Economic Outlook from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Three Motions: Is deregulation driving the booming economy? Can the Republican tax bill spur economic growth? And is the stock market too high? By most accounts, the American economy is boomin...

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#143 - Do Liberals Hold the Moral High Ground? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: Liberals hold the moral high ground. Do conservative or liberal philosophies lead to more just outcomes? Opposing moral philosophies have long fueled debate about America’s policy goals and...

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Guns, Bibles, & Breaking Bread: A Thanksgiving Podcast from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

John Donvan sits down with Ken Stern, the former CEO of NPR, to discuss America's partisan politics and how to talk across the aisle -- and your Thanksgiving table. Learn more about your ad choice...

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#142 - Should College Athletes Be Paid? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: Pay College Athletes College sports is a big-money business, with football and basketball programs generating millions of dollars in revenue every year. While coaches and athletic directors...

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#141 - Is Western Democracy In Danger? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: Western Democracy is Threatening Suicide Do populist and nationalist uprisings signal Western democracy’s certain decline? Or can recent events be seen as part of a healthy and regenerativ...

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#140 - Is the U.S. Healthcare System Terminally Broken? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

MOTION: The U.S. Healthcare System is Terminally Broken Criticized by patients, providers, and politicians alike, the United States healthcare system is hardly a crowd-pleaser. Is the most expensiv...

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#139 - Face-Off with China: Foreign Policy in the Trump Era from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Special: "Unresolved" Debate Format Against the backdrop of North Korea's nuclear advances and escalating regional tensions, we ask: How should the U.S. respond to its most urgent national security...

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How to Debate... Yourself. from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Think about your most strongly held political belief. How did you arrive at your position?  What experiences, information, or opinions influenced you? In the final installment of our summer podcas...

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A Summer Challenge: Radical Rethinking from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Here at Intelligence Squared U.S., we love a good argument – almost as much as we love an audience willing to change its mind. So when the New York Times’ David Leonhardt challenged Americans to do...

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The State of Debate on Capitol Hill: The American Health Care Act from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Mickey Edwards, former member of Congress for 16 years, and vice president and program director at the Aspen Institute, recalls a more civil time in American politics, when both Democrats and Repub...

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#138 - Your Private Data: Can Tech Companies Keep it from the Law? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: Tech Companies Should Be Required To Help Law Enforcement Execute Search Warrants To Access Customer Data Do you have a secret that no one else knows?  What about Apple, Google, Facebook, V...

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#137 - Will Video Games Make Us Smarter? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

MOTION: Video Games Will Make Us Smarter.As video games gain prominence, some game creators are turning to global issues, such as poverty alleviation, international diplomacy, and combating climate...

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#136 - Unresolved: Trump's First 100 Days from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The first 100 days of the Trump administration have been filled with a whirlwind of new policies and challenges to Washington orthodoxies, and the country is sharply divided.  But if we are open to...

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#135 - Has Walmart Been Good For America? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Walmart has long been a target for critics of corporate expansion, but does the company really deserve the scrutiny?  Some say that the big-box retailer devastates small communities by pushing out ...

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#133 - Are Charter Schools Overrated? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: Charter Schools Are Overrated In the 25 years since Minnesota passed the first charter school law, these publicly funded but privately operated schools have become a highly sought-after alt...

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#132 - Has the U.S.-Saudi "Special Relationship" Outlived its Usefulness? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: The Special U.S.-Saudi Relationship Has Outlived Its Usefulness In 1945, U.S. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and King Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia met onboard the USS Quincy.  A close re...

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#131 - Should We Give Trump a Chance? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: Give Trump a Chance Donald Trump assumes office having won the Electoral College, but having lost the popular vote. His opponents argue that he gave voice and legitimacy to extremists, and...

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#130 - Is Policing Racially Biased? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

MOTION: Policing Is Racially Biased In 2014, the shooting of Michael Brown by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri, set off a wave of protests and sparked a movement targeting racial ...

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#129 - Should States Call a Convention to Amend the Constitution? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion; Call a Convention to Amend the Constitution Almost everyone can think of something they would like to change in the U.S. Constitution. Some would like to update it to fit new technologies a...

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#128 - Is Obama's Foreign Policy a Failure? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

MOTION: Obama's Foreign Policy is a Failure For many, Obama’s presidency will be defined by its accomplishments. Taking out Osama bin Laden, disengaging from fights in the Middle East that America ...

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#127 - Has Gerrymandering Destroyed the Political Center? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

MOTION: Gerrymandering is destroying the political center. It is alleged that the practice of gerrymandering—dividing election districts into units to favor a particular group—subverts democracy b...

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#126 - Should We Give Undocumented Immigrants a Path to Citizenship? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: Give Undocumented Immigrants a Path to Citizenship There are an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, and the question of what to do with them has sparked years...

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#125 - Is "Big Pharma" to Blame for Rising Health Care Costs? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: Blame Big Pharma for Out-of-Control Health Care Costs. Health care costs in the U.S. are some 18 percent of GNP, nearly double what other rich countries spend. We read of drug therapies tha...

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#124 - Are the Elites to Blame for the Trump Phenomenon? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: Blame the Elites for the Trump Phenomenon. The elites of both parties have expressed contempt for Donald Trump, and Trump has succeeded in part by channeling his voters’ contempt for the el...

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#123 - Climate Change: Has the EPA Gone Overboard? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Reducing carbon emissions is clearly good for the environment but often imposes substantial costs. The costs are most obvious when coal companies go bankrupt, but can affect everyone indirectly thr...

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Bonus Podcast: The GOP Must Seize The Center Or Die from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In April of 2013 we held a debate on the motion: The GOP Must Seize the Center or Die. At the time, the debaters could not have predicted Donald Trump’s candidacy or imagined the force of its impac...

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Bonus Podcast: The Supreme Court Considers Racial Preferences In State University Admissions from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With the Supreme Court ruling on Fisher v. University of Texas being handed down on Thursday, June 23, 2016, We consider both sides of the issue of race-conscious university admissions. We listen b...

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#122 - Has The President Usurped The Constitutional Power Of Congress? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Motion: The president has usurped the constitutional power of congress. The Supreme Court is currently poised to decide whether President Obama’s unilateral immigration actions usurped Congress’s p...

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#121 - Do Hunters Conserve Wildlife? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Do Hunters Conserve Wildlife? In 2014, a permit to hunt a single endangered black rhino was sold for $350,000 as part of a program to support its conservation in Namibia. Counter intuitive? Through...

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#120 - Eliminate Corporate Subsidies from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The auto industry, agriculture, the energy sector. What do they have in common? These industries benefit from government subsidies in the form of loans, tax breaks, regulation, and other preference...

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#119 - Should We Trust The Promise Of Artificial Intelligence? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

As technology rapidly progresses, some proponents of artificial intelligence believe that it will help solve complex social challenges and offer immortality via virtual humans. But AI’s critics say...

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#118 - Is Free Speech Threatened On Campus? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Protests have erupted on university campuses across the country. To many, these students are speaking out against racial injustice that has long been manifested in unwelcoming, sometimes hostile en...

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#117 - Are Lifespans Long Enough? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

What if we didn’t have to grow old and die? The average American can expect to live for 78.8 years, an improvement over the days before clean water and vaccines, but it's still not long enough for ...

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#116 - Should The U.S. Let In 100,000 Syrian Refugees? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Since the Syrian Civil War began in 2011, more than 4 million Syrians have fled the country, creating the greatest refugee crisis since World War II. The United States has taken in just over 2,000 ...

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#115 - Does The Equal Protection Clause Forbid Racial Preferences In State University Admissions? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides that: "No State shall … deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” Yet many state universities give sub...

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#114 - Can Central Banks Print Prosperity? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Central banks all around the world have been printing money. This policy, known as quantitative easing in banker jargon, has driven up the price of stocks and bonds. But will it lead to real and su...

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#113 - Do U.S. Prosecutors Have Too Much Power? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Autonomy and secrecy, complex criminal code and mandatory minimums -- in combination, these factors have given prosecutors enormous leverage, and the opportunity to wield it relentlessly and select...

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#112 - Should College Students Be Allowed To Take Smart Drugs? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

If you could take a pill that would help you study and get better grades, would you? Off-label use of “smart drugs” – pharmaceuticals meant to treat disorders like ADHD, narcolepsy, and Alzheimer’s...

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#111 - Should We Raise The Federal Gas Tax To Fund Infrastructure? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Highway Trust Fund provides funding for road, bridge, and mass transit projects across the country – and it’s running out of money. Its revenue source, the federal gas tax, has not been raised ...

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Bonus Podcast: Is Death Final? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

If consciousness is just the workings of neurons and synapses, how do we explain the phenomenon of near-death experience? By some accounts, about 3% of the U.S. population has had one: an out-of-bo...

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#110 - Are China And The U.S. Long-Term Enemies? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Is China’s ascendancy a threat to the U.S.? China’s rise as an economic and military power, coupled with its aggression in the South China Sea, have led some to call for a major re-balancing of U.S...

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#109 - Should Courts Or Campuses Decide Sexual Assault Cases? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

High-profile cases have recently put campus sexual assault in the spotlight. One question that has repeatedly come up: why are these cases being handled by campuses at all? Campus investigations ma...

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Bonus Podcast: Should We Abolish the Minimum Wage? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

This is a special podcast for Labor Day. The first attempt at establishing a national minimum wage, a part of 1933’s sweeping National Industrial Recovery Act, was struck down by the Supreme Court ...

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#108 - Does The U.S. Need To Defeat ISIS, Or Is Containment Enough? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The region under the control of ISIS continues to expand, despite airstrikes and the deployment of U.S. military advisers. Should the U.S. goal be containment, or can ISIS be defeated? Learn more a...

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Bonus Podcast: Israel Can Live With A Nuclear Iran from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The U.S., Iran, and other world powers have reached a final deal to limit Iran's ability to build a nuclear weapon.  According to President Obama, "every pathway to a nuclear weapon is cut off." Bu...

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Bonus Podcast: Obamacare Is Now Beyond Rescue from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With the recent Supreme Court ruling that upholds the Affordable Health Care Act, President Obama seems to have secured the legislative cornerstone of his Presidential legacy. But is Obamacare now ...

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Bonus Podcast: Men Are Finished from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

More women than men are enrolling and graduating from college and their participation in the labor force has grown. So on this Father's Day, alongside the many deserving gestures of love and apprec...

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#107 - Should States Be Required To License Same-Sex Marriages? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment provides: “No State shall … deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” And now, the Supreme Court is poise...

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#106 - Is Obama's Iran Deal Good For America? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In April 2015, the P5+1, the 5 permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany, negotiated an interim nuclear accord with Iran. Among the key parameters: Iran’s enrichment capacity, enric...

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Bonus Podcast: Too Many Kids Go To College from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

It's graduation season, a time for high school seniors to look backand celebrate their formative years before embarking on the next stepon their academic journey: college. But not every graduating ...

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#104 - Should We Abolish the Death Penalty? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

A recent Gallup poll found that Americans are still largely supportive of the death penalty, with 6 in 10 in favor as punishment for murder. At the heart of the debate are many complicated question...

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#103 - Has The President Exceeded His Authority By Waging War Without Congress? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The President has launched a sustained, long-term military campaign against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. But did he have constitutional power to do so? The Constitution carefully divid...

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#102 - Should The U.S. Adopt The Right To Be Forgotten Online? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In 2014, the European Union’s Court of Justice determined that individuals have a right to be forgotten, “the right—under certain conditions—to ask search engines to remove links with personal info...

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#101 - Are Liberals Stifling Intellectual Diversity? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

What is college for? For many, it’s a time for personal and intellectual growth, to meet new people, and to explore ideas and philosophies that challenge their beliefs. Or is it? Recent cancellatio...

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Tribute To David Carr from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Upon hearing the news of the sudden passing of The New York Times's David Carr on February 12th, 2015, we assembled this rememberance. David appeared on our stage on October 27, 2009 arguing agains...

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#99 - Is Amazon The Reader's Friend? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

In late 2014, Amazon and the publishing house Hachette settled a months-long dispute over who should set the price for e-books. In Amazon’s view, lower prices mean more sales and more readers, and ...

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Retrospective On The Freedom Of Speech from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

With the world outraged by the attacks on satirical newspaper, Charlie Hebdo, last week in Paris, we think back to our debate from 2006 on the motion: Freedom of Expression Must Include the License...

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#98 - Should We Genetically Modify Food? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Genetically modified (GM) foods have been around for decades, and they are developed for a number of different reasons—to fight disease, enhance flavor, resist pests, improve nutrition, survive dro...

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#96 - Does Income Inequality Impair The American Dream? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Income inequality has been on the rise for decades. In the last 30 years, the wages of the top 1% have grown by 154%, while the bottom 90% has seen growth of only 17%. As the rungs of the economic ...

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#95 - Mass Collection Of U.S. Phone Records Violates The Fourth Amendment from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Some say that the mass collection of U.S. phone records is a gross invasion of privacy. Others say that it is necessary to keep us safe. But what does the U.S. Constitution say? "The right of the p...

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#94 - Will Flexing America's Muscles In The Middle East Make Things Worse? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

The disintegration of Iraq, Syria’s ongoing civil war, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the promise and peril of the Arab Spring... What role should America play in the Middle East? For some Ameri...

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#93 - Should We Embrace The Common Core? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

  In K-12 education, there is nothing more controversial than the Common Core State Standards, national academic standards in English and math. Adopted by more than 40 states, they were developed, ...

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Retrospective On Hamas And Israel from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Rising tensions between Israel and Hamas have come to a head this week with a dramatic eruption of conflict along the Gaza strip, making a debate we held back in 2006, less than a year after Hamas ...

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#92 - Is There A Constitutional Right To Unlimited Spending On Political Speech? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Is independent political speech the linchpin of our democracy or its Achilles' heel? For democracy to work, some say, citizens (and corporations, and unions, and media outlets, and other voluntary ...

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A Supreme special episode: Amy Coney Barrett & The State of SCOTUS from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

What would a Justice Amy Coney Barrett mean for American law and politics? Should Democrats try to reform the Court? Two of the nation's top constitutional minds weigh-in, with John Donvan as your ...

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#91 - Is Death Final? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

If consciousness is just the workings of neurons and synapses, how do we explain the phenomenon of near-death experience? Is the prospect of an existence after death “real” and provable by science,...

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#90 - Do Millennials Stand A Chance? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Millennials—growing up with revolutionary technology and entering adulthood in a time of recession—have recently been much maligned. Are their critics right? Is this generation uniquely coddled, na...

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The Controversy Over Ayaan Hirsi Ali At Brandeis University from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

  Women's rights activist, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, became the center a media firestorm last week, when Brandies University reversed its decision to grant her an honorary degree. While they commend her for...

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#89 - More Clicks, Fewer Bricks: Is The Lecture Hall Obsolete? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Is the college of the future online? With the popularity of MOOCs (massive open online courses) and the availability of online degree programs at a fraction of their on-campus price, we are experie...

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Does Affirmative Action On Campus Do More Harm Than Good? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Affirmative action, when used as a factor in college admissions, is meant to foster diversity and provide equal opportunities in education for underrepresented minorities. But is it achieving its s...

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#88 - Is Russia A Marginal Power? from 2021-01-31T22:10:42.023393

Disarming Syria. Asylum for Edward Snowden. Arming Iran. Deploying troops to Crimea. Is Vladimir Putin flexing his muscles, while our own president fades into the background of world politics, or i...

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For the Last Four Years, America Got The Middle East Right from 2021-01-29T10:00

Joe Biden’s approach to the Middle East will likely be very different than Donald Trump’s. But should it be? For some, the Trump legacy was the right approach: A transactional style that resulted i...

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Is America Still A Model for the World? from 2021-01-16T01:10

When Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol and halted the Electoral College certification, European leaders decried the violence and called on the president to allow the peaceful transfer of po...

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Is America Still A Model for the World? from 2021-01-16T01:10

When Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol and halted the Electoral College certification, European leaders decried the violence and called on the president to allow the peaceful transfer of po...

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Is America Still A Model for the World? from 2021-01-16T01:10

When Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol and halted the Electoral College certification, European leaders decried the violence and called on the president to allow the peaceful transfer of po...

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#187 - Should We Stop Worrying About National Deficits? from 2020-12-05T13:42

Governments around the world have spent unprecedented sums — trillions of dollars — to combat the economic impacts of coronavirus. But just what does rising government debt mean for our future? A n...

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Discourse Disruptors: A Divided Nation – One Perspective from 2020-10-30T16:00

In these final days of the race for the White House, some nations are paying especially close attention. Two men with competing visions of America’s place in the world are vying for the nation’s to...

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Discourse Disruptors: A Divided Nation – One Perspective from 2020-10-30T16:00

In these final days of the race for the White House, some nations are paying especially close attention. Two men with competing visions of America’s place in the world are vying for the nation’s to...

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#184 - Unresolved: American Policing from 2020-10-02T09:00

Historic protests calling for police reform have erupted across the nation. But just what could these reforms mean? And how should we see the criminal justice system today? Staged in our “Unresolve...

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Agree to Disagree: Broadband for All? from 2020-07-25T00:45

Introducing "Agree to Disagree," a new series from Intelligence Squared U.S. In this episode, two guests join John Donvan to debate Broadband for All, the internet as a public utility, and just who...

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#183 - Is Nationalism a Force for Good? from 2020-07-10T09:00

From Brexit to “America First,” Modi in India, Erdoğan in Turkey, and Bolsonaro in Brazil, nationalism – or allegiance to a nation-state over other group affiliations – has been on the rise. Now, b...

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#164 - Should Social Media Companies Honor the First Amendment? from 2020-06-26T09:00

MOTION: Constitutional Free Speech Principles Can Save Social Media Companies from Themselves President Trump posted similar content on Facebook and Twitter. Twitter flagged it. Facebook did not. B...

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#182 - Will Coronavirus Reshape the World Order in China's Favor? from 2020-06-12T09:00

How might coronavirus reshape geopolitics? For some, the answer is clear: China is on the rise. While Washington embraces “America First” and abdicates its global leadership role, they argue, Beiji...

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#181 - Has The Electoral College Outlived Its Usefulness? from 2020-05-29T09:00

DEBATE: Has The Electoral College Outlived Its Usefulness? Five American presidents — two in the last 20 years — have assumed office without winning the popular vote. As the nation gears up for ano...

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#180 - Was the Global Financial System Better Prepared for the Pandemic Than 2008? from 2020-05-15T09:00

More than a decade ago, Lehman Brothers collapsed, and the world witnessed one of the worst financial crises in global history. In January 2019, Intelligence Squared U.S. hosted a debate on the mot...

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#179 - Is the Defense Production Act Being Underutilized? from 2020-04-24T11:54:02

As health professionals and leaders around the nation rush to procure the supplies Americans need to combat coronavirus, we ask: Is the Defense Production Act being underutilized? This little-known...

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#178 - Does Maximum Pressure Against Iran Work? from 2020-03-20T09:00

The targeted killing of General Qassim Suleimani sent shockwaves around the world and sparked staunch debate about the Trump administration's "maximum pressure" campaign. Supporters argue that this...

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#177 - Is Anti-Zionism the New Anti-Semitism? from 2020-03-06T10:00

Zionism, or the belief in the Jewish right to self-determination in the land of Israel, has been the topic of contentious global debate for decades. And while the United States government is making...

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#176 - Is the Two-Party System Good for Democracy? from 2020-02-21T10:00

As the nation gears up for the 2020 presidential election, we ask: Is the two-party system good for democracy? Does relying on two hugely powerful political bodies drive division and push voters to...

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#175 - Is it Time to Expand Nuclear Power? from 2020-02-07T10:00

For decades, the development of nuclear power has sparked staunch debate among scientists, politicians, and activists alike. Proponents claim that nuclear energy is the most effective way to combat...

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#97 - Should We Legalize Assisted Suicide? from 2019-12-27T10:00

Now legal in nine U.S. states and the District of Columbia, physician-assisted suicide has a growing contingency that want to legalize the practice. Will these laws lead to a slippery slope, where ...

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#174 - Is Capitalism a Blessing? from 2019-11-29T10:00

Capitalism has always had its critics. But now, a new generation of political leaders, scholars, and activists are calling the free-market system into question. Has capitalism been a force for good...

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#173 - Is Parenting Overrated? from 2019-11-15T10:00

How much does our DNA shape who we become? Four experts in science and psychology debate the classic "nature versus nurture" question with a eye toward recent breakthroughs in genetic science and D...

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#172 - Has Europe Declared War on American Tech Companies? from 2019-11-02T23:00

Should we look to Europe for the future of big tech regulations? Four leading thinkers in tech, governance, and law debate the state and future of big tech, and whether it's time to impose greater ...

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#115 - Is Affirmative Action in College Admissions Constitutional? from 2019-10-18T09:00

Students for Fair Admissions just challenged Harvard's affirmative action guidelines in federal court, and lost. But the advocacy group is gearing up to make their case again – this time, in the Su...

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Will 'Buy American' Policies Backfire? from 2009-09-30T14:29

"Buy American" provisions included in legislation such as President Obama's stimulus package have touched off a heated debate. A panel of experts argues whether they help or hurt the United States ...

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Will 'Buy American' Policies Backfire? from 2009-09-30T14:29

"Buy American" provisions included in legislation such as President Obama's stimulus package have touched off a heated debate. A panel of experts argues whether they help or hurt the United States ...

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