The Munk Debates Podcast

For almost a century now the international sporting community has grappled with the question of how to determine who gets to compete in the female sports category.  Fifty years ago the question was answered with humiliating physical exams, but in more recent decades most international sporting federations have embraced a science focused approach. The International Olympic Committee, for example, uses testosterone levels considerably above the female range, not gender, as the main determinant of who gets to compete in the women’s elite sport. But last October, World Rugby made international headlines when it announced a very different approach. The governing body’s new guidelines prohibit transgender athletes from playing elite women’s rugby because of concerns about the safety of players. Advocates for trans athletes say that these guidelines are discriminatory not least because they underestimate the extent to which hormone therapy and surgery diminish the biological advantages of being born male. They also argue that it’s dangerous for international sporting bodies to try and regulate the factors that go into superior performance - a complex matter that cannot be reduced to a gender binary. Advocates for women’s sport say that for reasons of basic fairness and safety more governing bodies should develop guidelines that bar biological males from participating in female sport. They argue that trans women who are born male enjoy immense physical advantages that are not eliminated through testosterone therapy or surgery. Female athletes argue that the increasing participation of trans women in their division is pushing them off of the podium and undermining the whole reason behind creating a women’s sports category in the first place. Arguing for the motion is Linda Blade, former track and field champion, professional track and field coach, and President of Alberta Athletics. Arguing against the motion is Joanna Harper, a trans athlete, adviser to the International Olympic Committee on gender and sport, and author of Sporting Gender: The History, Science, and Stories of Transgender and Intersex Athletes. Sources: 60 Minutes Australia, CBC, The Economist, World Rugby, Sky News, WTNH News 8, Fox News, CTV News, KTMF/SWX, Daily Blast Live The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.   For detailed show notes on the episode, head to https://munkdebates.com/podcast. Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/ To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to [email protected].   To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership Members receive access to our 10+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/ The Munk Debates podcast is produced by Antica, Canada’s largest private audio production company - https://www.anticaproductions.com/   Executive Producer: Stuart Coxe, CEO Antica Productions Senior Producer: Christina Campbell Editor: Kieran Lynch Producer: Marilyn Mazurek Associate Producer: Abhi Raheja

This is a sample of the Munk Members-Only Podcast. To access the full length episode consider becoming a Munk Member. Membership is free. Simply log on to www.munkdebates.com/membership to register. Under your membership profile page you will find a link to listen to the full length editions of Munk Members Podcast. The Munk Members Podcast provides a focused, half-hour masterclass on current events with Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author. Rudyard Griffiths, Chair of the Munk Debates, is the podcast moderator. Janice and Rudyard unpack the big issues in the news and drill down into the people, events and trends that are shaping our lives in this extraordinary moment. The full length episode digs into three big stories in the news this week — President Biden’s Inauguration address; will his calls for national unity have any effect on America’s polarized political institutions and discourse? — Biden’s Keystone XL pipeline cancellation; what are the implications for Canada’s energy dependent economy? Is a new national unity crisis in the making? — Canada’s Governor General resigns; are governments appointing people for their own communications proposes as opposed what important institutions actually need in terms of executive leadership? We debate. If you like what the Munk Debates is all about consider becoming a Supporting Member. For as little as $9.99 monthly you receive unlimited access to our 10+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, monthly newsletter, ticketing privileges at our live events and a charitable tax receipt (for Canadian residents). To explore you Munk Membership options visit www.munkdebates.com/membership. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue. More information at www.munkdebates.com.

The Matrix, The Truman Show, and now more recently Westworld. Popular culture has long been captivated by the notion that our lives and the world we inhabit in are nothing more than an advanced computer simulation. But it’s also an argument that is being given more credence by world renowned philosophers and scientists. The leading proponents of the “simulation hypothesis” believe that the mathematical nature of the universe is itself the strongest proof we exist in an artificial reality. They point to human DNA and string theory in particle physics as but two of a growing number of so-called naturally occurring phenomena that behave remarkably similar to computer code - too close to be an accident. The mainstream scientific community is taking exception to these claims. They say the simulation hypothesis is based on overly complicated hypotheses that verge on circular reasoning. They argue the universe can be beautiful, even harmonious, mathematically and empirically down to the smallest atom or strand of DNA. Occam's Razor or the maxim that the simplest explanation is usually the right one, is all the proof we need that the universe is real and not a computer program. Arguing for the motion is Rich Terrile, Director of the Center for Evolutionary Computation and Automated Design at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He is a voyager scientist and has discovered moons on Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Arguing against the motion is David Kipping, Assistant Professor of Astronomy at Columbia University where he leads the Cool Worlds Lab. His research focuses on extrasolar planets, the search for life in the universe, and astrostatistics. Sources: HBO, Space.com, The New York Academy of Sciences, Google Zeitgeist, IGN Entertainment Inc., Gave Dev Guide, FragHero The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.   For detailed show notes on the episode, head to https://munkdebates.com/podcast. Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/ To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to [email protected].   To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership Members receive access to our 10+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/ The Munk Debates podcast is produced by Antica, Canada’s largest private audio production company - https://www.anticaproductions.com/   Executive Producer: Stuart Coxe, CEO Antica Productions Senior Producer: Christina Campbell Editor: Kieran Lynch Associate Producer: Abhi Raheja

This is a sample of the Munk Members-Only Podcast. To access the full length episode consider becoming a Munk Member. Membership is free. Simply log on to www.munkdebates.com/membership to register. Under your membership profile page you will find a link to listen to the full length editions of Munk Members Podcast. The Munk Members Podcast provides a focused, half-hour masterclass on current events with Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author. Rudyard Griffiths, Chair of the Munk Debates, is the podcast moderator. Janice and Rudyard unpack the big issues in the news and drill down into the people, events and trends that are shaping our lives in this extraordinary moment. The full length episode digs into three big stories in the news this week — the impeachment of Donald Trump; is this in the interest of Biden Administration or will it present a possibly fatal distraction for the new administration in its first 100 days — the China-Germany investment agreement; why did Merkel do a trade deal with Xi Jinping? Is the transatlantic relationship dead?— the latest round of lockdowns and what happens next; who is to blame? Governments for their poor handling of the crisis? Citizens for simply not following basic rules? We debate. If you like what the Munk Debates is all about consider becoming a Supporting Member. For as little as $9.99 monthly you receive unlimited access to our 10+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, monthly newsletter, ticketing privileges at our live events and a charitable tax receipt (for Canadian residents). To explore Munk Membership options visit www.munkdebates.com/membership. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue. More information at www.munkdebates.com.

Refusing to concede his loss to Joe Biden in November’s Presidential election. Pressuring the Secretary of State to invalidate Georgia’s votes. The President’s supporters storming the Capitol during the certification of electoral college votes. You can’t say that he didn’t warn us but the lengths to which President Donald Trump has been prepared to go to prevent a peaceful, post-election handover to the Joe Biden administration has convulsed the final days of his presidency and deepened the already profound divisions in America and also within the Republican party. But despite the profoundly anti-democratic events of the past two weeks supporters of Donald Trump say that it’s futile for the Republican Party to divorce itself from the man who last November enabled it to capture the most votes in the party’s history. They say that Trumpism is the Republican Party’s future, and that its populist rejection of elites and embrace of the concerns of disenfranchised middle-class voters its path to reelection in 2024. Republican critics of Donald Trump respond that the disastrous events of the past weeks are the culmination of four years of leadership that have been consistently at odds with the principles of Republicanism, at enormous cost to the party and the country. They say that it’s not too late to rescue the GOP. The Republican Party can claim a bright political future if it rebuilds itself as an inclusive and culturally modern party of the centre-right that focuses on healing, not exacerbating, America’s divides.  Arguing for the motion is David Frum, senior editor at The Atlantic, former speech writer for George W. Bush, and author of Trumpocalypse: Restoring American Democracy. Arguing against the motion is Stephen Moore, senior economic contributor at FreedomWorks, author of Trumponomics: Inside the America First Plan to Revive our Economy, and former Senior Economic Advisor to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. Sources: ABC, Washington Post, Vice News, WESH 2 News, Fox Business, NBC, Fivethirtyeight, Balitang America, Spectrum News, Global News, Euronews, CNN The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.   For detailed show notes on the episode, head to https://munkdebates.com/podcast. Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/ To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to [email protected].   To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership Members receive access to our 10+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/ The Munk Debates podcast is produced by Antica, Canada’s largest private audio production company - https://www.anticaproductions.com/   Executive Producer: Stuart Coxe, CEO Antica Productions Senior Producer: Christina Campbell Editor: Kieran Lynch Producer: Marilyn Mazurek Associate Producer: Abhi Raheja

This is a sample of the Munk Members-Only Podcast. The Munk Members Pod provides a focused, half-hour masterclass on current events with Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author. Rudyard Griffiths, Chair of the Munk Debates, is the podcast moderator. Janice and Rudyard unpack the big issues in the news and drill down into the people, events and trends that are shaping our lives in this extraordinary moment. The inaugural episode of the Munk Members pod digs into three big stories in the news this week: the storming of U.S. capitol buildings by Trump supporters and what this says about the future of U.S. democracy; the fate of Hong Kong after the latest round of arrests under China’s new national security law and what if anything Canada should do about it; and the slow place of the vaccine rollout in Canada and much of the rest of developed world. Is government up to the challenge? Should we have given the job to the private sector? To access the full length episode consider becoming a Munk Member. Membership is free. Simply log on to www.munkdebates.com/membership to register. Under your membership profile page you will find a link to listen to the Munk Members Pod. If you like what the Munk Debates is all about consider becoming a Supporting Member. For as little as $9.99 monthly you receive unlimited access to our 10+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, monthly newsletter, ticketing privileges at our live events and a charitable tax receipt (for Canadian residents). For those of you who are already Munk Members thank for being part of our community and supporting our mission to restore the art of public debate. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue. More info at www.munkdebates.com.

It was a nail-biter, but just days before the UK formally severed its forty-seven-year long membership with the European Union, negotiators finally landed a trade deal that takes some of the sting out of Brexit. But critics of Prime Minister Boris Johnson say that Britain will never recover from its decision to go it alone, even with an EU trade deal to soften the impact. The loss of seamless access to the world’s single largest trading bloc is bound to lead to declining exports and foreign investment in the UK and a brain drain of human talent that will impact every aspect of British life. They argue that the isolationary Brexit mindset and uncertainty around the terms of the new relationship with the European Common Market is the opposite of what the UK and world need to tackle the challenges of the post COVID global reality. Brexit supporters are much more optimistic. They argue that regaining control of British sovereignty, including national laws and regulations, trade, and international borders, will lead to a surge in economic activity in the post Brexit era. Freed of stifling bureaucracy and the sclerotic economic realities of present day Europe, Britain can and will return to its roots of being one of the world's great trading nations.  Arguing for the motion is Patrick Minford, professor of Applied Economics at Cardiff University in Wales and chair of Economists for Free Trade. He is a former adviser to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and the author of After Brexit, What Next? Trade, Regulation and Economic Growth.  Arguing against the motion is Ian Goldin, former Vice-President of the World Bank, advisor to Nelson Mandela, and a professor at Oxford University. He is the author of many books about globalisation, most recently Terra Incognita: One hundred maps to survive the next 100 years. Sources: ABC, France 24, BBC, Sky News, KPIX CBS, Bloomberg The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.   For detailed show notes on the episode, head to https://munkdebates.com/podcast. Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/ To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to [email protected].   To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership Members receive access to our 10+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/ The Munk Debates podcast is produced by Antica, Canada’s largest private audio production company - https://www.anticaproductions.com/   Executive Producer: Stuart Coxe, CEO Antica Productions Senior Producer: Christina Campbell Editor: Kieran Lynch Producer: Marilyn Mazurek Associate Producer: Abhi Raheja

Anne Applebaum, Pulitzer-prize winning author and staff writer at The Atlantic, on the future of democracy in an era of populist politics and rising authoritarianism. The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.   For detailed show notes on the episode, head to https://munkdebates.com/podcast. Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/ To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to [email protected]. To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership Members receive access to our 10+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/ The Munk Debates podcast is produced by Antica, Canada’s largest private audio production company - https://www.anticaproductions.com/   Executive Producer: Stuart Coxe, CEO Antica Productions Senior Producer: Christina Campbell Editor: Kieran Lynch Associate Producer: Abhi Raheja

Ian Morris, archaeologist, historian, bestselling author and big thinker, joins us to discuss the past and future of human civilization in an era of rapid social and technological change.  The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.   For detailed show notes on the episode, head to https://munkdebates.com/podcast. Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/ To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to [email protected].   To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership Members receive access to our 10+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/ The Munk Debates podcast is produced by Antica, Canada’s largest private audio production company - https://www.anticaproductions.com/   Executive Producer: Stuart Coxe, CEO Antica Productions Senior Producer: Christina Campbell Editor: Kieran Lynch Associate Producer: Abhi Raheja

Tough talk on China helped Trump win the presidency in 2016 and over the last four years the US has taken a markedly more assertive approach to confronting the rise of its first major geopolitical competitor since the Soviet Union. Critics of Trump’s approach say his China policy is based on flawed assumptions - the key one being the jingoistic assumption that China aspires to be an expansionist power rather than a regional broker primarily focused on protecting its sphere of influence. These same critics argue that American’s decline, relative to China’s rise, is inevitable and America should be preparing now for an era of increased cooperation with Beijing to tackle the world’s big problems from climate to the next pandemic. China hawks respond that a naive American policy prior to Trump paved the way for China to become the world’s second largest economy and chief geopolitical rival. Trump deserves credit for reversing this complacency. China skeptics argue that America must continue to be vigilant and suspicious of Chinese intentions in Asia and beyond. To ensure the preservation of the liberal international order in the 21st century, the US must confront and contain China across a spectrum of flash points including the South China Sea, Taiwan, trade, space, high tech, and human rights. Arguing for the motion is Michael Pillsbury, Director of the Center on Chinese Strategy at the Hudson Institute in Washington D.C. and the newly appointed Chairman of the US Department of Defence policy advisory board. He’s the author of The Hundred-Year Marathon: China’s Secret Strategy to Replace America as the Global Superpower. Arguing against the motion is Kishore Mahbubani, Distinguished Fellow at the Asia Research Institute at the National University of Singapore. He is the author of Has China Won? The Chinese Challenge to American Primacy. Sources: ABC, Bloomberg, PBS, CGTN, Fox News, NBC, CBC The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.   For detailed show notes on the episode, head to https://munkdebates.com/podcast. Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/ To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to [email protected].   To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership Members receive access to our 10+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/ The Munk Debates podcast is produced by Antica, Canada’s largest private audio production company - https://www.anticaproductions.com/   Executive Producer: Stuart Coxe, CEO Antica Productions Senior Producer: Christina Campbell Editor: Kieran Lynch Associate Producer: Abhi Raheja

When COVID-19 shut down schools around the world last March, it launched an unprecedented experiment in education with a billion students as participants. At the heart of this experiment is the home computer, the new conduit to teachers, classmates and learning. Supporters of digital education say that the pandemic offers a much-needed opportunity to rethink our approach to learning for the first time in over a century. They argue that digital learning is the wave of the future and that students in virtual classrooms connected through a computer and the internet will learn more quickly, retain more information, connect to an extraordinary library of resources, and arm themselves with the knowledge and skills needed to solve the problems of the 21st century. By contrast, critics of distant learning believe we should be concerned not only about the inequitable access to the digital tools that support online learning -  the real threat to education is the computer itself. Screen-based learning doesn’t place the same cognitive demands on students as the physical classroom and negatively impacts the reading and reasoning abilities that foster lifelong critical thinking skills. They argue that if the global experiment in distant learning continues, we are going to witness a steep decline in the educational attainment of hundreds of millions of children the world over. Arguing for the motion is Mark Bauerlein, Emeritus Professor of English at Emory University and author of The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes our Future. Arguing against the motion is Caitlin Fisher, Department Chair of Cinema and Media Arts at York University where she is also the Director of the Immersive Storytelling Lab and the Augmented Reality Lab. Sources: BBC, Arirang News, WJZ, NBC, CNBC, CBS, Ruby Rube The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.   For detailed show notes on the episode, head to https://munkdebates.com/podcast. Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/ To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to [email protected].   To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership Members receive access to our 10+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/ The Munk Debates podcast is produced by Antica, Canada’s largest private audio production company - https://www.anticaproductions.com/   Executive Producer: Stuart Coxe, CEO Antica Productions Senior Producer: Christina Campbell Editor: Kieran Lynch Producer: Marilyn Mazurek Associate Producer: Abhi Raheja

The lowest oil prices in history thanks to stalled economies in lockdown. A President Elect and a Green New Deal that promises a carbon neutral America in a decade. Governments pledging to make the internal combustion engines illegal within a decade. It seems like the way we have powered our civilization for two plus centuries, using hydrocarbons, is on the way out as we welcome an energy revolution to combat climate change and environmental degradation. Fossil fuel proponents say that this is wildly wishful thinking that doesn’t take into account renewable energy’s infinitesimal contribution to current global demand. Moreover, most green energy is incredibly difficult to store and transit in the ways modern economies need, raising questions about whether hype has replaced common sense about replacing hydrocarbons as our dominant energy source.  Arguing for the motion is Ramez Naam, energy innovation advocate, and Co-chair for Energy and Environment at the Singularity University. He’s also the author of the award winning sci-fi Nexus Trilogy. Arguing against the motion is Mark Mills, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and co-founding partner of Cottonwood Venture Partners, an energy-tech venture fund. He served in the White House Science Office under President Reagan. Sources: Global, BBC, NBC, MSNBC, AP Archive, CBC, CNBC International, Global Warming Policy Forum The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.   For detailed show notes on the episode, head to https://munkdebates.com/podcast. Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/ To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to [email protected].   To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership Members receive access to our 10+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/ The Munk Debates podcast is produced by Antica, Canada’s largest private audio production company - https://www.anticaproductions.com/   Executive Producer: Stuart Coxe, CEO Antica Productions Senior Producer: Christina Campbell Editor: Kieran Lynch Producer: Marilyn Mazurek Associate Producer: Abhi Raheja

Some proponents of liberal democracy are interpreting the US election results - and Donald Trump’s near win - as a warning sign that the pulse of populist politics still beats strong in the American body politic, an ill tiding for other liberal democracies currently trying to fend off populist insurgencies. Critics of populism say it is not inconceivable, if action isn’t taken to strengthen liberal democratic institutions and values, that the politics of Spain, France, the UK, and the US could end up looking a lot like those in Hungary, Turkey, Russia, and Brazil today. Defenders of populist politics say the recent US election is proof that the rough and tumble spirit of democracy is alive and well. They credit populism with turning out historic numbers of voters on both sides of the ballot. Thanks to populist politics, citizens have the power to articulate their interests and anxieties during a period of massive demographic and social upheaval. They argue that populist politics - both right-wing and left-wing - is key to renewing democracy and giving its values and institutions a new lease on life in the 21st century.  Arguing for the motion is Donald Critchlow, Katzin Family Professor at Arizona State University’s Faculty of History. He has recently published In Defense of Populism: Protest and American Democracy.  Arguing against the motion is Timothy Garton Ash, Professor of European Studies at Oxford University. He is the author of The Magic Lantern: The Revolution of ‘89 witnessed in Warsaw, Budapest, Berlin & Prague. Sources: MLive, Sky News, ITV News, WLKY Louisville, CBC, ABC, Al Jazeera, Daily Mail, Regan Library, Bedros Keuilen The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.   For detailed show notes on the episode, head to https://munkdebates.com/podcast. Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/ To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to [email protected].   To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership Members receive access to our 10+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/ The Munk Debates podcast is produced by Antica, Canada’s largest private audio production company - https://www.anticaproductions.com/   Executive Producer: Stuart Coxe, CEO Antica Productions Senior Producer: Christina Campbell Editor: Kieran Lynch Associate Producer: Abhi Raheja

We’re heading into the twelfth month of a global pandemic and in many places the spread of COVID-19 shows no signs of slowing down. As infections continue to surge, countries in the northern hemisphere have started to reimpose lockdowns restricting people's movement and social interactions and closing portions of their economies. Many political leaders and their public health advisors argue that these kinds of restrictions are necessary as a crisis measure when infections spiral out of control, threatening a collapse of hospitals and devastating health consequences. They also advocate a strategy of suppression to keep infections low once the crisis is brought under control. But some politicians and public health experts are criticizing what they believe is an overly draconian approach. They say that it makes no sense to prevent the healthy and young from going about their normal lives when their risk of dying from the virus is less than the flu and they suffer considerable collateral damage from lockdowns. They argue that countries should adopt a focused approach to fighting the pandemic that zeroes in on protecting elderly and vulnerable. Arguing for the motion is Martin Kulldorff, Professor of Medicine at Harvard University. He is one of the authors of the recently released Great Barrington Declaration which advocates an alternative, risk-based approach to combating the COVID-19 pandemic. Arguing against the motion is Stephen Reicher, Professor of Psychology at the University of St. Andrew’s in Scotland. He sits on a subgroup of SAGE, the official scientific body advising the UK government on its COViD 19 response. Sources: Global, ABC, NBC, City TV, CBC, NDTV, CBS 6 The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.   For detailed show notes on the episode, head to https://munkdebates.com/podcast. Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/ To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to [email protected].   To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership Members receive access to our 10+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events.This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/ The Munk Debates podcast is produced by Antica, Canada’s largest private audio production company - https://www.anticaproductions.com/   Executive Producer: Stuart Coxe, CEO Antica Productions Senior Producer: Christina Campbell Editor: Kieran Lynch Associate Producer: Abhi Raheja

The election wasn’t supposed to turn out this way, according to months of American election polling. Survey after survey and breathless media commentary predicted that Joe Biden would beat Donald Trump in popular vote by upwards of 6, 8, even 10 percent. The same polls and media commentators projected the Democrats with winning margins in the key battleground states of Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Idaho. Bullish predictions included a Democratic sweep of Senate, more Democratic seats in the House of Representatives, and Biden flipping the traditional Republican strongholds of Georgia and Texas. So far none of these predictions came to pass and, instead, a Democratic cakewalk into the White House has morphed into a contested election with possibly weeks if not months to go before a winner is officially declared. How did this happen? Why, after 2016, is much of the media, and seemingly the majority of pollsters, so clueless when it comes to fathoming voter’s intentions on election day? Is it time, once and for all, to give up on public opinion polling as predictive tool? What is the effect on democracies of faulty polling and a media only too happy to widely publicize survey results that 2020 would suggest have little real bearing on what voters actually think? Sources: DW News, MSNBC, NBC, NBC Local 33

On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, James Carville, U.S. Democratic Party political strategist and bestselling author, on the likely outcomes of the November 3rd U.S. Presidential election.

On this episode of the Munk Debates podcast, former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and best selling author, Newt Gingrich, joins us to discuss the legacy of Trump’s first term as president and where U.S. politics might be headed after November 3.

On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, former U.S. labour secretary, Robert Reich, joins us to discuss the once in a generation societal challenges presented by COVID-19.

On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, Michael Eric Dyson, best-selling author joins us to discuss the future of the politics of race in the shadow of the most consequential U.S. election in a generation.

On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast Maggie Haberman, Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times’ White House correspondent, joins us for a behind the scenes look at President Trump’s re-election bid.

Flouting mask wearing as means to help control the pandemic. Forcing states to secure critical medical supplies and bootstrap their own testing capacity. Touting hydroxychloroquine as a key COVID therapy. These are some of the more memorable features of the national pandemic response of the United States to date. A response that has led the US to have the largest number of COVID deaths globally – 200,000 and counting. But millions of Americans believe that President Trump’s approach to the pandemic has been realistic, if not visionary. They say that stabilizing COVID cases and a declining death rate prove that President Trump was right not to panic, that the virus is not an existential threat. Joe Biden, his Democratic challenger, believes otherwise. He supports nation-wide mask wearing, targeted lockdowns, and a go-slow approach that privileges public health over the economy. In this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, Andy Slavitt, former Obama Chief of Medicare and Medicaid, and New York University law professor, Richard Epstein,  debate the essence of these two competing arguments. Sources: ABC News, Washington Post, CNN, The Telegraph, BBC, The Sun, Fox Business, NBC News

Weeks to go to one of the most consequential elections in a generation and the incumbent, President Donald Trump, is facing an increasingly challenging political environment. His Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, has enjoyed a consistent lead in the national polls as well in many key swing states. Add in a pandemic that has killed over two hundred thousand Americans and the conditions are ripe for political sea change on November 3. But seasoned election watchers say it’s far too early for the Biden’s campaign to be measuring curtains for the White House. They argue that Trump has an enthusiastic and loyal base and a highly sophisticated digital campaign tailor made for getting out the vote. Throw in a late October surprise vaccine announcement and more good job numbers and Joe Biden could find himself joining Hilary Clinton as a defeated democratic nominee. Sources: AZ Family, MSNBC, CBS News, MSN, Fox News, ABC News, NBC, Yahoo News

A wall that stretches 300 miles along the US-Mexico border. The suspension of the Dreamers program that shielded 800,000 children born to undocumented immigrants from deportation. The launch of a zero-tolerance policy that separates unauthorized migrants from their children. These are some of the hallmarks of the immigration policy of President Donald Trump’s administration. Tackling the growing number of unauthorized migrants was central to Trump’s election in 2016 and will be key to a second term. Supporters of Trump’s immigration policies argue that mass illegal migration is destabilizing the border, costing billions in social services, and driving down wages for struggling blue collar workers. Critics of President Trump’s immigration policies take issue with the very concept of a migrant being “illegal.” They argue that a realistic and humane immigration policy needs to recognize that undocumented immigrants are part of the fabric of America, with more than two-thirds having lived in the U.S. for over ten years. In this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast Rev. Sam Rodriguez, who leads the world’s largest Hispanic Christian organization, and Allen Orr, President Elect of the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association debate the essence of these two competing arguments. Sources: KPIX, Financial Times, Fox Business, News Max TV, PBS Newshour, KPRC, Al Jazeera, Bloomber

Six months into the pandemic researchers continue to be perplexed by COVID-19. There are many unknowns with the virus, and one of the most controversial is its deadliness. Leading health institutions have warned that COVID-19 is much more dangerous than the seasonal flu and that without expansive public health measures millions of people could die from the virus. But there are some in the scientific community who disagree.  Antibody testing of large population groups indicates that we could be underestimating the number of people who have been infected – which means we are overestimating the death rate. Given these findings they question whether lockdowns are the way to approach a possible second wave of COVID-19 this autumn. In this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast medical experts Jay Bhattacharya and Sten Vermund debate the essence of these two competing arguments. Sources: Associated Press, TIME, BBC, TRT World, Bloomberg, CNBC, Unherd.com, Yahoo Finance, AZ Family, MSNBC, The Sun, RTE News

In a world where shutdowns and quarantines have become the norm, Sweden stands out for choosing a pandemic strategy that is markedly different than its peer nations.  In Sweden, bars, restaurants, public spaces, and most significantly, elementary schools have continued to operate since COVID-19 began its spread through the country last March. Supporters of the Swedish model argue that its strength lies in being sustainable over the long haul. Critics say this strategy has come at way too high a price. Almost 6,000 citizens have died from the virus, one of the highest per capita death rates in the world. In this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast leading Swedish medical experts Dr. Jonas F. Ludviggson and Lena Einhorn debate the essence of these two competing arguments.Sources: Reuters, CBC, BBC, Sky News, PBS, WION, CNN, MSN, ITN

Since the beginning of human civilization, men have been the dominant sex. But now, for the first time, a host of indicators suggest that women are not only achieving equality with men but are fast emerging as the more successful sex of the species. Critics of the argument that men are in decline argue that the age-old power structures associated with “maleness” remain as entrenched as ever. They say men still retain significant control over the workplace, the family, and society at large. The Munk Debates shares an abridged version of the 2013 debate about gender in the 21st century featuring four female public intellectuals: Hanna Rosin, senior editor at The Atlantic, Pulitzer prize-winning journalist, Maureen Dowd, world famous academic on gender and culture, Camille Paglia, and Caitlin Moran, author of the global best seller “How to be a Woman”. Sources: CTV, CBS, CNBC, MSNBC

Throughout the Western world, politics is undergoing a sea-change. Long-held notions of the role of government, trade and economic policy, foreign policy and immigration are being challenged by populist thinkers and movements. Does this surging populist agenda in Western nations signal a permanent shift in our politics? Or, is it a passing phenomenon that will remain at the fringes of society and political power? On the eve of a contentious US election, the Munk Debates shares an abridged version of the 2018 stage debate about the rise of populism as an ideology between Steve Bannon, former chief strategist for President Donald Trump, and David Frum, senior editor at The Atlantic and former speechwriter for George W. Bush.Sources: City TV, CBC, Canadian Press, Garry Bakuniec

Over five million cases. More than 160,000 deaths and counting. The US currently leads the global tally for the highest number of COVID-19 cases. Meanwhile some countries, originally devastated by the coronavirus, are reopening successfully after driving new infections down to manageable levels. Some say the only way to prevent tens of thousands of more deaths in the U.S. is a second wave of shutdowns targeting the hardest hit areas. Critics argue that with shutdowns the supposed “cure” is worse than the disease. Millions will be denied essential medical treatment, including mental health. Jobs and businesses will be permanently lost. And, closed schools will prevent a much-needed return to normalcy for children and parents alike.  In this episode of the Munk Debates podcast leading epidemiologists, John Ioannidis and Andrew Noymer, debate the essence of these two competing arguments.Sources: MSN.com, NBC News, ABC, MSNBC, CNBC, WHAS11.com, 11Alive, Reuters, Fox News

To address the devastating economic impacts of COVID-19 Western governments have unleashed an unprecedented wave of monetary and fiscal stimulus. The US stimulus package includes trillions of dollars of liquidity for financial markets, the direct purchase of billions in corporate debt by central banks, and billions more in low interest loans and wage supports for big businesses. Supporters of these measures believe they are vital to preventing a severe recession from turning into a Great Depression. Critics charge that we are repeating the mistakes of the Great Financial Crisis by once again bailing out big business on the backs of taxpayers.  In this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, Nomi Prins, a former senior Wall Street insider, and Douglas Holtz-Eakin, former Director of the Congressional Budget Office, debate the essence of these two competing arguments.Sources: CTV News, Global News, MSNBC, MSN, Bloomberg Politics, Quick News, CBS, WNCT-TV9, CNBC, Universal

The economic fallout from COVID-19 has compelled governments around the world to launch the largest fiscal and monetary aid programs in living memory, incurring massive deficits in the process. This is happening at the same time as a radical, new approach to economic policy making is gaining momentum: Modern Monetary Theory (MMT). Its proponents believe that governments that issue their own currencies are not limited by revenues when it comes to spending. What governments choose to spend money on is a political, not an economic decision. Opponents of MMT and deficit spending argue that there are no free lunches in modern economics. Too much government spending leads to slow growth, devalued currencies and wasteful, politicized public expenditures. On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, Stephanie Kelton, author of the new bestseller, The Deficit Myth, and Jacob Funk Kirkegaard, from the Peterson Institute, debate the essence of these two competing arguments.SOURCES: CBC, ABC, CNN, Bloomberg, CNBC, Yahoo Finance, Fox Business

COVID-19: Have we seen the last of the big city boom?On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, renowned urbanists Richard Florida and Joel Kotkin argue the motion Be it resolved COVID-19 spells the end of the big city boom.SOURCES: KHOU 11, CBS Miami, New York State, WGN News, Fox Business, CTV News, BBC News

Has #MeToo gone too far?On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, Harvey Weinstein’s attorney, Donna Rotunno, and Jane Manning, a former sex crimes prosecutor, argue the motion Be it resolved the #MeToo movement has gone too far.SOURCES:MSNBC, Global News, thedailybeast, ABC News, CBSN

Is it time to defund police?On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, Minneapolis City Council Member Alondra Cano and Retired Deputy Chief Wayne Harris argue the motion Be it resolved it is time to defund police and reimagine public safety in our communities. SOURCES:Lexington Herald Leader, ABC News, Reuters, CBC Television, ABC10, Global News, CBSN

COVID-19: Is globalization a failed experiment?On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, former World Bank VP, Ian Goldin, and economics commentator Marshall Auerback argue the motion Be it resolved the COVID-19 pandemic proves that globalization is a failed experiment.SOURCES:Sky News, Global News, Politico, The Whitehouse, Yahoo Finance, Deutsche Welle, France 24, RT America

COVID-19: Is China’s system of governance better than liberal democracy?On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, Chinese scholar Zhang Weiwei and Oxford professor Timothy Garton Ash argue the motion Be it resolved, China’s ability to defeat Covid-19 proves its system of governance is a better model than liberal democracy.SOURCES: CNBC, CNN, PBS Newshour, Fox News, Bloomberg News, BBC, NDT Television.

On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, VP of the Center for China and Globalization, Victor Gao on China’s role in global affairs post pandemic.

On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, political scientist Ian Bremmer on rising U.S.-China tensions, the global economy, and growing civil unrest in the U.S. and around the world.

On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, NYT columnist David Brooks on political and social changes post pandemic.

On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb on the future of pandemics, public health, and their effects on the economy.

On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, technology journalist Kara Swisher joins us for a conversation on the fate and role of Big Tech and Silicon Valley post pandemic.

On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, best-selling author and historian Niall Ferguson joins us for a conversation on how history can help us understand what our world will look like after the pandemic.

On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, former US ambassador to the UN Samantha Power joins us for a conversation about the fate and future of global institutions in a post-pandemic world.

On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, famed economist Mohamed El-Erian joins us for an in-depth discussion about how COVID-19 will reshape the global economy.

On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, acclaimed journalist, author, and CNN host Fareed Zakaria joins us for a wide-reaching and in-depth conversation about the coronavirus pandemic and its long term impact on geopolitics and international affairs.

On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, renowned author and thinker Malcolm Gladwell joins us for an in-depth conversation about the coronavirus pandemic and its long term impact on health care, refugees, and the economy.

Is the end of capitalism the answer to climate change?On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, environmental activist and Guardian columnist George Monbiot debates MIT scientist and bestselling author Andrew McAfee on the motion Be it resolved, ending climate change requires the end of capitalism as we know it.SOURCES: PBS, NBC News, Whitehouse.gov

Can we reopen the economy and keep people safe during COVID-19? On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, economists Stephen Roach and Stephen Moore debate the motion Be it resolved, there is no scenario for reopening the economy that prioritizes economic growth over public health. Sources: MSNBC

COVID-19: Are we making decisions without reliable data? On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, epidemiologists John Ioannidis and Sten Vermund debate the motion Be it resolved, we are making high-stakes decisions about the COVID-19 pandemic without reliable data. SOURCES: ABC News

Is university a waste of time and money? On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, Bryan Caplan, author of The Case Against Education, debates Professor Nicholas Dirks, the former Chancellor of UC Berkeley, on the motion Be it resolved, cut public spending for universities. It's a waste of time and money. SOURCES: CNN, Newsweek, EWTN, Global News.

Can Joe Biden win the White House? On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, US President Barack Obama's former Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel debates The Intercept's Mehdi Hasan on the motion Be it resolved, Joe Biden is the Democratic Party's best hope of winning in 2020. SOURCES: NBC, MSNBC