At a moment of political division and policy uncertainty, many believe American democracy is in serious danger. Inequality, polarization, the stoking of anger, the exploitation of weaknesses in our political system – all are threatening the representative government we […]
Polarization is tearing Americans apart. Can it be fixed? The leaders of these organizations are working in different ways to build bridges of understanding. How is this done? How is this working? Let’s find out! To RSVP for the Zoom […]
In the wake of Russia's invasion, Ukraine's fate has become tightly linked to the future of democracy and a liberal world order. How did Ukraine become a champion for democracy? What are the prospects for an end to the war? […]
In this session, we will take a look at the challenges facing our elections, particularly at the structures the country has used for many generations that in an era of hyperpartisanship have become sources of national vulnerability. To […]
The economy is in the news constantly. Unemployment is at the lowest rate in decades, yet, inflation is rearing its ugly head and the Fed has stepped in to increase rates. How did we get to this point? What […]
A successful Democracy is messy. People are diverse in countless ways and have individual, cultural, and group identities and points of view. That people came together through most of US history to bridge differences has been America’s achievement since its […]
Although Harvard cognitive psychologist Steven Pinker enjoyed teaching his students about the interesting puzzles that cause humans to behave irrationally, he realized that as interesting as those puzzles were, they did not explain some of the deeper and more destructive […]
A Message from Christopher Beem about the upcoming October 13th program: Americans are frustrated and deeply concerned about the condition of our democracy. Our divisions are so deep and complete that we don’t see how they can be overcome; […]
Much has evolved in Ukraine since our program in May. While much has changed, much has not changed. Russia continues to be a wild card, but Ukraine has surprised experts with its successes and determination. Where is this going, and […]
Throughout US history, judges, scholars, and citizens have argued about how to go about interpreting the US Constitution. The current Supreme Court has embraced a methodology called “originalism” or “original public meaning.” But what exactly is “originalism”? What is its […]
Antisemitism has again reared its ugliness. Jews have experienced antisemitism throughout history on a spectrum from everyday slights to genocide. Today, old misconceptions are propelled by social media and controversies over Israel. A small minority, Jews have been an easy […]
We are overwhelmed with diverse perspectives and approaches to fiscal policies that can be confusing. Are we in a fiscal crisis over debt, entitlements, and the federal budget? Such a complex issue, focusing on debt/debt ceiling and entitlements, will be […]