The Munk Debates Podcast

Western societies have never been more divided. As the election race heats up in the US, both parties are accusing the other of being a threat to democracy. Meanwhile, years of mass migration into Europe is giving far right parties more power than they have had in decades, and mass riots in the UK have exposed a deep-seated anger that is dividing the nation.

Our guest on this Munk Dialogue has a unique insight into these unfolding conflicts.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali was born in Somalia where, as a young girl, she grew up in a strict Islamist society that relegated women to second class citizens. At 23, she fled to the Netherlands and claimed asylum to escape a forced marriage. Once there, she worked her way up from being a janitor to earning a Master’s degree in Political Science and serving as an elected member of the Dutch Parliament, where she campaigned to raise awareness of violence against women. She has since become a fierce champion of Western values, especially on issues relating to liberty for women and free speech.

Ayaan worries that the authoritarian principles which governed the Somalia of her childhood are showing up in popular leftist movements across the US. She also blames those same leftwing movements in Europe for mass migration and what she calls “the clash of civilizations”.

The host of the Munk Debates podcast is Rudyard Griffiths

Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/

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 15+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, 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/

Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.

The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus.

Rudyard and Janice start off the show with news out of the Middle East, specifically Israel's incursion into the West Bank to thwart planned terror attacks. How will its aggressive approach to external threats further harm its relationship with western allies? Next Rudyard and Janice discuss what Kamala Harris's foreign policy agenda will look like if she were to win November's election. Without a lot of experience abroad, they are predicting something close to Obama and Biden's doctrine: American power blended with prudence. In the back half of the show Rudyard and Janice anticipate the Liberal Party's next steps as Parliament is set to resume. Will a drop in inflation and a likely interest rate cut improve their low polling numbers?

To access full-length editions of the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt.

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.

While the war between Russia and Ukraine drags into its third year and out of the front pages of newspapers, some surprising developments in recent months are giving experts new cause for concern. The US, which has already supplied over fifty billion dollars worth of military aid and weapons to Kiev, has signaled that it is open to sending long-range cruise missiles to enhance the capabilities of Ukraine’s newly acquired F-16 fighter jets. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s army caught Russia off guard this summer with a surprise incursion into the western Russian territory of Kursk. Putin’s response so far has been more muted than expected.

Our guest on this Munk Dialogue is sounding the alarm. Dmitri Trenin, a member of Russia’s Foreign and Defense Policy Council, is warning western leaders not to confuse Putin’s silence with tolerance. On the contrary, he argues: we are on a path of direct collision between two superpowers who are unwilling to back down. Once two many Russian red lines are crossed, the use of nuclear weapons will be inevitable.

The host of the Munk Debates podcast is Rudyard Griffiths

Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/

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 15+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, 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/

Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.

The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus.

Janice and Rudyard start the show by reflecting on the DNC convention and Kamala Harris's ability to speak to a generation of voters via social media. While she might be light on policy she's heavy on "vibes" - will this help her in a race that is a lot tighter than people might realize? In the second half of the show Janice and Rudyard address the ongoing ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas and why much of Secretary of State Antony Blinken's efforts over the past week have been a performative diplomatic relations exercise with the objective of getting through the DNC without any major strikes. Whether a deal is finally agreed upon will likely come down to the personal calculations of two men: Yahya Sinwar and Benjamin Netanyahu.

To access full-length editions of the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt.

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.

Israel is facing an existential crisis on all fronts. A devastating war in Gaza. Nonstop rocket attacks from Hezbollah in Lebanon. Drone attacks from the Houthis in Yemen. And the very real possibility of a full scale war with Iran that could break out at any moment. And yet, the man who has led Israel through one of its most tumultuous periods in its 76 year existence, Benjamin Netanyahu, maintains that he alone is the person who can keep the country safe. Bibi’s supporters argue that Israel’s longest serving Prime Minister is the best leader for Israel at this moment. His political and wartime experience coupled with a diplomatic savviness gives him the tools necessary to navigate both the physical wars on Israel’s borders and the increasingly tense relationship with allies and adversaries abroad. To his detractors, Bibi’s failure in leadership created the conditions for the Hamas attack, and in his desperation to stay in office he has pandered to the extremists in his coalition, harming world opinion and undermining Israel’s security and its relationship with its most important ally, the United States. For the sake of Israel’s survival, safety, and security, they argue, Bibi must go.

Arguing in favour of the resolution is Ruthie Blum. Ruthie is a columnist at Jewish News Syndicate and most recently she served as an adviser in the Israeli Prime Minister's Office.

Arguing against the resolution is Avraham Burg. Avraham has served in a variety of high profile public positions in Israel, including as member of the Labor Party, Speaker of the Knesset, and Chairman of the Jewish Agency.

The host of this Munk Debates podcast episode is Ricki Gurwitz.

Become a free member and vote on who you think won this debate at www.munkdebates.com

To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership

This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.

The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus.

On this week's Friday Focus, Janice and Rudyard talk about resumed negotiations for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas with pressure on both sides to finally come to an agreement, or risk an all out war in the Middle East. If a deal is reached, Iran will claim victory and use it to gain support throughout the Arab world. Why is Netanyahu going against the advice of his military leaders and the will of Israelis by continuing the war in Gaza? In the second half of the show, Janice and Rudyard discuss Russia scrambling to contain the Ukrainian military incursion into their territory. Janice believes Putin's response is more muted than we would have expected in large part because he is afraid to acknowledge this embarrassing miscalculation. There are two likely scenarios moving forward: either both sides are getting ready for negotiations, or one side will push the other too far, the consequences of which could be catastrophic.

To access full-length editions of the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt.

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.

Within hours of Joe Biden’s announcement that he was bowing out of the presidential race Kamala Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee. With the full weight of the Democratic party behind her and no opposition to speak of, VP Harris has been awarded the top ticket that proved so elusive to her four years ago. To her supporters, she is uniquely qualified to beat President Trump in November. Her prosecutorial debate skills, experience in the White House, and diverse background has excited voters and attracted moderates who were growing tired of Joe Biden. To her detractors, she is the same Kamala who flamed out early in the 2020 Democratic primaries, was a deeply unpopular Vice President, has an awkward stage presence, no real policy platform, and is too liberal to appeal to swing voters. In anointing Kamala Harris without any real contest, they argue, the DNC has hitched their wagon to an untested candidate who will all but guarantee a Donald Trump victory in November.

Arguing in favour of the resolution is Cheri Jacobus, a nationally-recognized political strategist, pundit and writer whose podcast, Politics with Cheri Jacobus, covers all the news coming out of Washington.

Arguing against the resolution is Elizabeth Nolan Brown, the Senior Editor of Reason Magazine.

The host of this Munk Debates podcast episode is Rudyard Griffiths.

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 15+ 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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.

The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus.

As Israel waits for a response from Tehran following the assisination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Rudyard and Janice discuss the possibility of a last minute ceasefire deal and whether a Haris/Waltz win in the US would deter Iran's nuclear ambitions and bring more stability to the region. In the second half of the show Rudyard and Janice talk about the surprising Ukrainian incursion into Russia. Can this morale booster for a beleaguered Ukrainian army turn the tide of this war?The final topic of today's show addresses a tale of two dictators: Bangladesh's autocratic leader Sheikh Hasina Wazed has been forced out, while Venezuela's Nicholas Maduro cracks down on dissent after fraudulent elections. How was one dictator able to hold on to power, while the other was forced to flee?

To access full-length editions of the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt.

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.

If you're a new parent, you've probably heard the term 'gentle parenting'. It's the latest trend that has taken hold among millennials who reject the authoritative principles under which they themselves were raised. This new, softer approach discourages consequences and punishments for bad behaviour in favour of positive reinforcement and a focus on the feelings and emotions which are driving bad behaviour. Proponents of gentle parenting argue that this approach is the most effective way to raise kids: emotionally-focused parenting raises calmer, happier children with increased self-esteem, emotional regulation, more empathy, and stronger parent-child relationships. Furthermore, research shows that kids who are frequently punished don't end up being better behaved. Gentle Parenting’s critics argue that this approach relies on emotion as a substitute for authority and does not prepare kids for the real world where actions have consequences. Too much emotional self-awareness in childhood has resulted in high rates of anxiety and depression in young adults who cannot put aside emotions in order to carry out basic daily tasks. 

Arguing in favour of the resolution is Sarah Ockwell Smith. Sarah is a well known parenting expert and popular childcare author, who is widely recognized as being the founder of the gentle parenting movement.

Arguing against the resolution is Anna Lussenburg, a professional child care and family intervention specialist.

The host of this Munk Debates podcast episode is Ricki Gurwitz.

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 15+ 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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

“We will continue to support Ukraine on its irreversible path to NATO membership”. It was this statement by NATO members at a recent summit in Washington that sent shockwaves through the foreign policy community and elicited strong reactions from both sides of this foreign policy debate. Those in favour argue that bringing Ukraine into NATO would solidify the West’s long-term commitment to Ukraine’s security, force Putin’s hand to end this war, and deter Russia from invading Ukraine in the future. Critics argue that admitting Ukraine to NATO would be a huge mistake. The US and its allies would be signalling a commitment to fight Russia should they invade Ukraine again which would lead to a showdown between the world’s two leading nuclear powers. And allowing Ukraine to join the alliance only at the conclusion of this war will motivate Putin continue the war indefinitely, the prospect from which Ukraine will never recover.

Arguing in favour of the resolution is John Herbst, a former US ambassador to Ukraine and the Senior Director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center.

Arguing against the resolution is Benjamin Friedman, the policy director at Defense Priorities, a foreign policy think tank.

SOURCES:

Al Jazeera, New York Post

The host of this Munk Debates podcast episode is Rudyard Griffiths.

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 15+ 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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Joe Biden’s decision to drop out of the presidential race sent shockwaves across the US - and indeed much of the world - as the Democrats are scrambling to figure out their next move just three months away from the general election. And while it looks like Kamala Harris will be the nominee for the Democrats, there is still a lot of uncertainty around her candidacy and how she will fare on the national stage.

To help us make sense of this unprecedented political moment, we’re joined by Jeff Weaver. Jeff has a deep understanding of how Washington politics works. He was Bernie Sanders’s campaign manager in 2016, and a senior advisor to Dean Phillips’s campaign for the Democratic presidential nominee earlier this year. He knows just about everyone in Washington, and the ins and outs of how campaigns are run - and won.

SOURCE: The Hill

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths

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 15+ 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/

Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Senior Producer: Daniel Kitts

Editor: Kieran Lynch

We have never been more polarized. Echo chambers promote information that confirms people’s preconceived notions, regardless of whether the facts presented are true. Which is why journalists are so important to a functioning democracy: we need them to cut through rampant misinformation and deliver fact-based reporting.  

But do you need journalism schools to do that? Some writers consider j-schools a waste of time: they argue that four years of expensive education would be better used learning on the job, or gaining expertise in a particular subject that you could then report on with some authority. 

Others argue the opposite: They say shrinking revenue makes resource-starved media outlets poorly equipped to mentor young journalists the way they used to. If you want a new generation of reporters whose work is rigorous, professional, and trusted by the public, journalism schools are essential. 

Arguing in favour of the resolution is Kevin D. Williamson, national correspondent at The Dispatch.

Arguing against the resolution is Christina Bellantoni, Professor of Professional Practice of Journalism at the USC Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths 

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 15+ 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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Producer: Daniel Kitts

Editor: Kieran Lynch

**Munk Debate members can vote on who they think won the debate at www.munkdebates.com**

Joe Biden’s disastrous performance in his debate against Donald Trump has convinced leading Democrats that Biden cannot be their nominee in November. There are now too many voters concerned about Biden’s age and mental fitness for him to win. A younger, more dynamic candidate would redirect the conversation towards central policy questions and offer a viable alternative to Trump. Furthermore, even if by some miracle Joe Biden did win in November, he has proven himself to be incapable and unfit for office.

But there are others who argue replacing Biden would be a huge mistake that Democrats would soon come to regret. They say polling still shows Biden to be the party’s strongest candidate. The messy process of choosing a new nominee would take precious time and resources away from the campaign. And there’s always the risk that a new, untested nominee would stumble on the national stage. A ticket without Joe Biden will all but guarantee a Trump victory.

Arguing in favour of the resolution is Mona Charen. Mona is a syndicated columnist and policy editor at The Bulwark and the host of the podcast Beg to Differ.

Arguing against the resolution is Allan Lichtman. Allan is a Distinguished Professor of History at American University and the author of Predicting the Next President: The Keys to the White House.

SOURCES: CNN, BLUX

The host of this Munk Debates podcast episode is Ricki Gurwitz

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 15+ 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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Producer: Daniel Kitts

Editor: Kieran Lynch

On this Munk Dialogue we are speaking with one of the most successful and well known entrepreneurs of the past 50 years. John Mackey was a 24 year old self described hippie in 1980 when he opened up a small natural foods store in Austin, Texas. But what started off as a niche, counterculture company transformed into one of the most popular and profitable grocery chains in North America with annual sales exceeding $22 billion. Whole Foods transformed the natural and organic food market and made its CEO - John Mackey - a very wealthy businessman. But despite his financial success, John has stayed true to his counterculture roots and the conscious capitalism that still fuels his entrepreneurial endeavors. In his most recent book, The Whole Story: Adventures in Love, Life, and Capitalism, John takes readers on the adventure of building Whole Foods Market from the ground up, And he joins us on the podcast for a wide ranging conversation about Whole Foods, conscious capitalism, income inequality, and what role the government has - and should - play in shaping the economy.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths

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 15+ 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/

Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Senior Producer: Daniel Kitts

Editor: Kieran Lynch

On this special edition of the Munk Debates podcast we are sharing the opening statements from the Munk Debate on anti-Zionism, which took place on June 17th in front of a sold out crowd of 3,000 people at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall.

The debate resolution was: Be it resolved, anti-Zionism is antisemitism

Arguing for the motion was award winning journalist, best-selling author, and former Munk Debater Douglas Murray. His debate partner was Natasha Hausdorff. She’s an attorney, international law expert, and legal director for the UK Lawyer for Israel Charitable Trust.

Opposing the resolution was Mehdi Hasan. Mehdi is a best-selling author, former MSNBC anchor, and the CEO and editor-in-chief of the new media company Zeteo. He was joined on stage by the award winning Israeli journalist and Haaretz columnist Gideon Levy.

As with all our live Munk Debates, the audience voted on this resolution prior to hearing the debate. Initially, 61% of attendees were in favour of the debate motion, and 39% were opposed.

We did another poll after the debate to find out how many people had changed their minds once they listened to arguments from both sides. 

The full 90 minute debate is available exclusively to Munk Donors. Find out how to become a Munk Donor here.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths 

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 15+ 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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Producer: Daniel Kitts

Editor: Kieran Lynch

One could be forgiven for thinking reality, these days, is stranger than fiction. 

Fears of civil war in the United States if Donald Trump doesn’t get his way in the presidential election; a major armed conflict in Europe for the first time since the 1940s; and talk that the Russians were actually thinking of launching a nuclear missile into space to destroy all of the world’s satellites. All of it sounds like it was lifted off the pages of a Hollywood script. 

One can therefore forgive veteran Washington Post journalist David Ignatius for turning to fiction to try and help us understand our current reality. Having covered international affairs and the CIA for decades, Ignatius has written a new novel called Phantom Orbit. The book is a work of imagination that aims to educate readers about a very real possibility: warfare in outer space. 

Ignatius also shares his views on how the Biden Administration is handling the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. 

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths.

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 15+ 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/

Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Senior Producer: Daniel Kitts

Editor: Kieran Lynch

On June 17th four debaters will take to the stage at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall for a sold out debate on Anti-Zionism.

The motion up for debate: Be it Resolved, anti-Zionism is antisemitism

On this special Munk Dialogue, we speak with each of the debaters to get a sense of their arguments heading into the debate, and what it is about this particular topic that made them want to participate.

Arguing for the resolution is award-winning journalist, best-selling author, and former Munk Debater Douglas Murray. His debate partner is Natasha Hausdorff, an international law expert and legal commentator on antisemitism.

Opposing the resolution is Mehdi Hasan. Mehdi is a best-selling author, former MSNBC anchor, and the CEO and editor-in-chief of the new media company Zeteo. He will be joined by the award-winning Israeli broadcaster and Haaretz columnist Gideon Levy.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths

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 15+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, 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/

Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Senior Producer: Daniel Kitts

Editor: Kieran Lynch

About thirty years ago, the world seemed to be entering what President George H.W. Bush called “a new world order” – a world where capitalism was victorious, global trade would discourage countries from going to war, and authoritarianism would slowly give way to liberal democracy. 

It hasn’t worked out that way. 

How did such a hopeful moment in history slip through our fingers? That’s the subject of the book New Cold Wars: China's Rise, Russia's Invasion, and America's Struggle to Defend the West, by David E. Sanger, our guest on this Munk Dialogue. Sanger is the White House and National Security Correspondent for The New York Times, where he has worked as a reporter for more than four decades. 

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths.

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 15+ 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/

Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Senior Producer: Daniel Kitts

Editor: Kieran Lynch

The world “genocide” was first coined in the 1940s to describe the Nazi slaughter of millions of Jews. 

So it is in a sense surreal that the country created in the shadow of the Holocaust, Israel, is now accused of that same horrible crime. 

Those who argue that Israel is guilty of genocide in Gaza point to three of the five acts listed under the UN Genocide Convention: killing members of a group; causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of that group; and deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part. 

Israel and its allies strongly reject the accusation. They say the civilian casualties in Gaza are not an intentional act of genocide, but are an inevitable, if tragic, byproduct of war. And they stress that the war is the result of the Oct. 7 massacre by Hamas, an organization that has often expressed a desire to exterminate Jews and expel them from the Holy Land – which itself would constitute genocide.

Arguing in favour of the resolution is Penny Green. She is the Director of the International State Crime Initiative at Queen Mary University of London. 

Arguing against the resolution is Arsen Ostrovsky. He’s a human rights attorney and CEO of The International Legal Forum. He is also a Senior Fellow at Misgav Institute.

SOURCES: KLKNTV, PBS NewsHour, Sky News Australia

To vote on who you think won this debate, go to our website www.munkdebates.com

The host of this Munk Debates podcast episode is Ricki Gurwitz

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 15+ 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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Producer: Daniel Kitts

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Long-held notions of the role of government, trade and economic policy, foreign policy and immigration are being challenged by populist thinkers and movements. They argue that the government has been captured by an elite, college-educated class, and their policies benefit a privileged few while ignoring the needs of the middle and working class. Populist’s critics argue that the rising tide in anti-establishment thinking ignores the incredible progress in health care, education, and tech that has been realized under the governance of these intellectual elites. Populist anger, they warn, represents a grave threat to western democracy and the trusted institutions that paved the post-war path to peace and prosperity.

Arguing in favour of the resolution is Batya Ungar-Sargon, opinion editor of Newsweek and author of the new book Second Class: How the Elites Betrayed America's Working Men and Women.

Arguing against the resolution is Joel Stein, journalist and author of In Defense of Elites.

SOURCES: radiowv, Charlie Rose

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths 

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 15+ 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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Producer: Daniel Kitts

Editor: Kieran Lynch

For the protesters and their supporters, the pro-Palestinian campus demonstrations across the globe are part of a proud tradition of student activism that includes the anti-Vietnam War protests in the 1960s, and the calls to end South African Apartheid in the 1980s. And just as those past protests are now widely accepted to have been on the right side of history, today’s campus protesters are confident that history will prove their cause was just. 

Critics disagree. They say the protesters have often downplayed or made excuses for Hamas’ murderous attack on Oct. 7; that the demonstrators fail to consider the complexity of a conflict that cannot be simplified into simple binary terms; and that some of the protesters have indulged in violent and hateful rhetoric towards Israelis and Jews. 

Arguing in favour of the resolution is Ben Burgis. He’s a columnist with Jacobin and an adjunct philosophy professor at Rutgers University.

Arguing against the resolution is James Kirchick. He is the New York Times bestselling author of Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington. He’s also a columnist for Tablet magazine, and a writer at large for Air Mail.

SOURCES:

Columbia Jewish & Israeli Students, WPA Film Library, Getty Images, ABC 7 New York, The Hill. 

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths.

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 15+ 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/

Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Senior Producer: Daniel Kitts

Editor: Kieran Lynch

University students across North America have set up encampments to protest Israel's war in Gaza. These demonstrations are well organized and supplied, with tents, signs, banners, meals, and educational workshops/ So how exactly are these demonstrations being funded?

One think tank has made it their mission to “follow the money” - so to speak. ISGAP, The Institute for the Study of Global Antisemitism and Policy - has uncovered that Qatar,  which is currently housing the senior leaders of Hamas, is the single largest foreign donor to American universities and is also sending money to Student for Justice in Palestine, the organization supporting pro-Palestinian protests on campus. Qatar has more than $500 billion dollars of assets in the United States.

Charles Asher Small, our guest on this Munk Dialogue, is the Executive Director of ISGAP and argues that Qatar - a small country which adheres to the ideology of the Muslim Brothers - is using soft power to influence western society, and especially our youth. 

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths

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 15+ 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/

Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Senior Producer: Daniel Kitts

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Iran’s missile and drone barrage at Israel earlier this month was the most brazen attack the Islamic Republic has ever conducted against the Jewish state. While Israel did respond with a limited strike, some say Israel should go further and destroy all of Iran’s nuclear facilities. The Islamic Republic doesn’t have nuclear weapons, but it has the material and know-how to put some together in a matter of weeks.

But attacking Iran’s nuclear installations comes with enormous risks: It would likely result in significant military retaliation by the Iranian government – something that could lead to a wider regional war that could draw in Israel’s allies in the west.

Arguing in favour of the resolution is Gadi Taub. He’s an Israeli historian, author, political commentator, and co-host of the popular Tablet Magazine podcast, Israel Update.

Arguing against the resolution is Trita Parsi. He’s the executive vice-president of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft. 

SOURCES:

Al Jazeera English, Times Radio, BBC News

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths.

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 15+ 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/

Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Senior Producer: Daniel Kitts

Editor: Kieran Lynch

One of the most volatile regions in the world seems to be sitting on a tinder box. How can the international community avoid tensions between Israel and Iran from escalating further? Is it possible for Israel to achieve its war aims in Gaza without further inflaming the Middle East or jeopardizing the prospect of an enduring peace?

It’s hard to find someone more qualified to delve into these questions than our guest on this week's podcast. Ambassador Dennis Ross played a leading role in shaping U.S. involvement in the Middle East peace process in the George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama administrations. He also served as a special advisor on Iran to former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths

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 15+ 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/

Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Senior Producer: Daniel Kitts

Editor: Kieran Lynch

The Middle East, a region already mired in conflict due to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, just got a lot more dangerous. In response to a recent Israeli strike on an Iranian consulate building in Damascus, Iran sent hundreds of drones and missiles to attack Israel, setting the stage for a potential military escalation. The world is now watching closely as the long shadow war between Israel and Iran - which has played out with proxies in Gaza, Lebanon, and Yemen for years - threatens to turn into a full blown war between the two regional enemies that could draw in the surrounding Arab States, the US, and even Russia. 

To unpack this unfolding crisis we are joined by Gregg Carlstrom. Greg is a Middle East correspondent for The Economist, and has covered the region for more than a decade, with stints in Cairo, Beirut and Tel Aviv.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths

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 15+ 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/

Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Senior Producer: Daniel Kitts

Editor: Kieran Lynch

We are in the midst of one of the most dangerous and unstable geopolitical moments in recent history. Wars are intensifying in Ukraine and the Middle East, the rise of China as a superpower is threatening the entire Asia-Pacific region, and an unprecedented migrant crisis in the US and Europe is paving the way for right wing populists who threaten to destabilize and destroy the international rules based order that has given us eight decades of relative peace and prosperity. And in the backdrop of this chaos is a United States that is deeply divided and unable - and sometimes unwilling - to provide leadership at a moment of global instability.

Our guest on this Munk Dialogue is uniquely qualified to speak on these conflicts, and offer prescriptions for how the US should navigate these dangerous waters and steady the ship, so to speak. Richard Haass is widely considered to be the embodiment of America’s foreign policy establishment. He was president of the Council on Foreign Relations for 20 years and served in multiple presidential administrations. He’s also the editor of a new weekly newsletter called Home and Away, which is published on substack. 

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths
 
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 15+ 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/
 
Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz
Senior Producer: Daniel Kitts
Editor: Kieran Lynch

TikTok is one of the most popular social media sites on the planet. But concerns have been growing over TikTok’s ability to collect massive amounts of information about its users, and its suspected ties to the Chinese Communist Party. Those fears recently prompted the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a bill that would force the Chinese company that controls TikTok to sell it to American interests. If not, TikTok would be blocked on the app stores that an estimated 170 million Americans have used to download the app. But there are many critics of the bill who argue it should never become law. They say the evidence China is using TikTok for nefarious purposes is scant. They also question why the U.S. is targeting one social media app, while others who similarly collect large swaths of data get a free pass. And they accuse Congress of using the pretense of national security to target a rival of American owned-social media giants, setting a dangerous precedent for future international business relationships.

Arguing in favour of the resolution is Scott Galloway, He’s a Professor of Marketing at NYU Stern School of Business and host of the Prof G and Pivot Podcasts.

Arguing against the resolution is Julia Angwin. She is an investigative journalist, author, and contributing Opinion writer for the New York Times who writes about the impacts of technology on societies. 

SOURCES: CNN, FOX News, NBC News, Tucker Carlson 

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths 

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 50+ 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/

Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Senior Producer: Daniel Kitts

Editor: Kieran Lynch

The US economy is booming. Public investments in infrastructure, education, clean energy, and more is accelerating labour productivity, growing wages, and spurring employment. Recent economic data shows that “Bidenomics” is working and just as a rising tide lifts all boats, the average American worker hasn’t had it so good in a generation or more. But critics are pointing to the high cost of living – from expensive groceries to housing to health care – to the rise of precarious work to exploding levels of economic inequality as proof points that the president’s economic policies are in fact debt fuelled chimera and achieving the American dream is fast becoming an impossibility for millions of workers.

Arguing in favour of the resolution is Steven Rattner. He’s the former head of Obama’s Auto Task Force, an Economic Analyst on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, and a contributing writer to The New York Times Op Ed page

Arguing against the resolution is Michael R. Strain,  the Director of Economic Policy Studies and the at the American Enterprise Institute.

SOURCE: MSNBC

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths 

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 50+ 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/

Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Senior Producer: Daniel Kitts

Editor: Kieran Lynch

If recent polls are to be believed, Donald Trump is poised to become the President, for the second time, of the United States of America. Yet some observers think most swing voters who end up deciding American elections will ultimately turn away from Trump 2.0. For proof, they point to the difficulty Trump has had winning over many voters in his own party during the Republican primaries.  

But other analysts insist the former president remains a formidable political force: He has a large and loyal base, he motivates people who don’t typically don’t vote, and he’s consistently beating Democrat Joe Biden in polls of key battleground states. 2016 should serve as an important lesson, they argue: don’t underestimate Donald Trump.

Arguing in favour of the resolution is Sarah Longwell. She is the publisher of the political analysis and opinion website The Bulwark, and host of The Focus Group Podcast. 

Arguing against the resolution is Patrick Ruffini. He is a pollster and founding partner of the firm Echelon Insights. He is also the author of the book Party of the People: Inside the Multiracial Populist Coalition Remaking the GOP.

SOURCES: The Times and Sunday Times, MSNBC

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths 

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 50+ 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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Producer: Daniel Kitts

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Following the Cold War, the US and Russia entered into a series of arms control treaties that gave the world hope that, one day, nuclear weapons may be a thing of the past. But as tensions have risen between the two nuclear powers over Ukraine and other irritants, Russia has been abandoning these agreements. Most recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow would walk away from the last major arms treaty with the US, New START, in 2026. 

What does all this mean for the prospect of nuclear war, and what can the United States and its allies do to get arms control back on track? 

On this Munk Dialogue, we’re joined by someone who has been at the very centre of international arms control efforts. Rose Gottemoeller was the Deputy Secretary General of NATO from 2016 to 2019. In 2009 and 2010, she was the chief U.S. negotiator of New START, and she is now a lecturer at Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths

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 15+ 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/

Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Senior Producer: Daniel Kitts

Editor: Kieran Lynch

For decades, the two-state solution has been held up as the best chance for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. But in the aftermath of October 7th, and the security risks posed by a potential Palestinian state in the West Bank, most Israelis are souring on the two-state vision.

A few Israeli leaders, however, still believe it is the only viable path forward.

On this Munk Dialogue, we’re joined by one of the country’s biggest proponents for peace. Gilead Sher was Chief of Staff to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and served as a senior negotiator at the Camp David summit in 2000, which ultimately failed in its objective to lay the groundwork for a sovereign Palestinian State. Now, he is acting as a representative for the families of the hostages in Gaza as they desperately seek the return of their loved ones after more than 150 days in captivity. Gilead argues that in spite of everything that has unfolded over the past five months, a two-state solution remains the best - and indeed only - way to achieve safety, security, and prosperity for both Israelis and Palestinians.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths.

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 15+ 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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

“An elderly man with a poor memory”. That is how a special counsel report described Joe Biden, president of the United States. Public appearances of the President looking confused and forgetting important dates and names seem to support this finding. Some Democrats believe Biden’s cognitive decline is a major liability that can no longer be ignored. With so much at stake in the 2024 election, and polls that are favouring Trump to win, it’s time for Biden to step aside for a candidate that can take on Trump with the energy and mental vigour such a contest requires. Biden’s supporters argue that his record as one of America’s most effective presidents renders his age irrelevant. Unlike previous candidates, Biden has proven that he can form a winning coalition. The risk of replacing him this close to the election would all but guarantee his defeat and the ruin of American democracy at the hands of a President Trump.

Arguing in favour of the resolution is Jeff Weaver. He was a senior advisor on Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign and he is currently serving as an advisor to Representative Dean Phillip’s campaign to be the Democratic nominee.

Arguing against the resolution is Jim Kessler. He’s the Executive Vice President of Policy at Third Way, a Washington DC Democratic think tank.

SOURCES: 

MSNBC, NBC News

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths 

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 50+ 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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Most geopolitical experts agree that we have entered into a new cold war. The rise of the China-Russia axis and its threat to the international rules-based order is of growing concern to western powers. On this Munk Dialogue, we’re speaking with Sarah Paine, University Professor of History and Grand Strategy at the US Naval War College. Sarah explains what is motivating leaders like Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin to act aggressively towards their neighbours, and how western powers should respond to these acts of aggression. In short: what can we learn about the wars of the 20th century to prevent a devastating global war in the 21st?

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths

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 15+ 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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

14 countries, including Canada and the US, suspended funding to the U.N.’s Palestinian Refugee Agency in response to Israeli allegations that 12 employees were involved in the attack on Israel on October 7th, and roughly 10% of their employees in Gaza have links to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Human rights workers argue that this is a form of collective punishment that will have dire consequences on a population already suffering from widespread hunger, displacement, and disease. Furthermore, cutting off payments to Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria could destabilize an already volatile region. UNRWA’s critics argue that by keeping Palestinians in a perpetual state of refugee status, the organization prevents them from setting down roots elsewhere in the region and thus acts as an obstacle to peace. Given the irrefutable evidence of its ties to Hamas and support of terror against Israel, they argue, there is no reason to continue to fund an agency openly committed to the right of return for Palestinian refugees and the elimination of the Jewish State. 

Arguing in favour of the resolution is Kenneth Roth, the former Executive Director of Human Rights Watch

Arguing against the resolution is Einat Wilf, former member of the Israeli Knesset and the author of The War of Return: How Western Indulgence of the Palestinian Dream Has Obstructed the Path to Peace

Vote on who you think won the debate at https://munkdebates.com/podcasts/unwra-debate/

SOURCES: ABC News, UN WATCH

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths 

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 15+ 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/

Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

In May 2022, just a few months into the war between Russia and Ukraine, we convened a public debate in Toronto about whether the West needed to acknowledge Russia’s legitimate legitimate security interests in order to bring the conflict to a resolution.

John Mearsheimer, one of the world’s leading realist scholars in international relations, argued on stage that the West deserves some blame for Russian aggression. 

After almost two years of fighting, the war, as John predicted at that debate, is nowhere near its conclusion. Mass casualties, a country in ruin, and billions of dollars in western aid has done little to advance the goals of either side.

On this Munk Dialogue, John offers his thoughts on how to resolve this conflict as soon as possible, the threat of a growing alliance between Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, and why military power has its limits in a multipolar world.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths

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 15+ 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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Despite international pressure and the threat of a wider regional conflict, Israel has made clear their intention to keep fighting until Hamas has been eradicated and no longer poses a security threat on their southern border. So how does the government’s military aim square up against growing civilian pressure to free the hostages? And what does this all mean for the future of Gaza?

On this Munk Dialogue, we’re joined by David Horovitz, the founding editor of The Times of Israel, which since October 7th has become the fastest-growing English-language news website in the world. David shares his thoughts on the unfolding conflict and provides unique insights into what Israel wants - and doesn’t want - at this critical moment.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths

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 15+ 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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

US airstrikes don’t appear to be deterring Houthi rebels in the Red Sea. The Yemen-based militant group has continued their attacks on commercial ships in retaliation to the Israeli offensive against Hamas in Gaza. These violent clashes risk escalating an already tense situation in the Middle East, which in recent weeks has moved beyond Gaza into southern Lebanon, Pakistan, and parts of Iran and Iraq. So what, exactly, do the Houthis want? And how can the US and its allies successfully defend against Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea?

For this we are joined by Michael Knights, one of the most sought after experts on the Gulf States, Yemen, and Iraq. As Michael explains, this battle of the Red Sea is much bigger than a few violent skirmishes, and if not managed properly has the potential to drag the whole region into war.

SOURCES: AP, ABC News

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.  

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 15+ year library of great debates in HD video, access to our Friday Focus podcast, a free Munk Debates book, 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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Teenagers are facing a mental health epidemic. The numbers are staggering: 30% of teenage girls and 10% of teenage boys are suffering from depression, reflecting a 150% increase since 2010. Rates of anxiety and ADHD are equally alarming.

On this Munk Dialogue we’re joined by Lenore Skenazy, the founder of the Free-Range Kids and Let Grow movements. Since 2008 she has been sounding the alarm about helicopter parenting and overly-supervised play, which, she claims, is robbing children of their independence, creativity and resiliency. Without these important skills, they are likely to become depressed, anxious, and unable to resolve conflict without adult intervention. Furthermore, there is a case to be made, Lenore argues, that the threat to academic freedom on university campuses can be traced back to a lack of unsupervised play in childhood.

The host of this Munk Debates podcast is Ricki Gurwitz

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 15+ year library of great debates in HD video, access to our Friday Focus podcast, a free Munk Debates book, 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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Claudine Gay, the first black female president of Harvard, faced intense scrutiny since her widely criticized congressional testimony on campus antisemitism in early December. Last week, President Gay resigned from her post after mounting allegations of plagiarism in her published articles.  In an op-ed in the New York Times, Gay argued that she was a victim of a right-wing political attack on academia and the diversity initiatives that she both championed and represented.

On this Munk Dialogue were joined by Greg Lukianoff, the president and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. FIRE is America’s leading defender of fundamental rights on college campuses and it should come as no surprise that these past few years have been the organizations busiest on record. Greg talks to us about how universities can - and must - turn things around to save higher education and our children’s futures.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.  

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 15+ year library of great debates in HD video, access to our Friday Focus podcast, a free Munk Debates book, 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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

On this Munk Dialogue we are speaking to one of China’s leading experts on military strategy and security. Zhou Bo is a retired senior colonel of China's People's Liberation Army and a senior fellow of the Centre for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University. He was also a director at the Ministry of National Defence of China. In this wide-reaching conversation, Bo talks about why Taiwan is the biggest national security concern for China, regional disputes over the South China Sea, and lessons that Chinese leaders are taking away from the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths 

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 15+ year library of great debates in HD video, access to our Friday Focus podcast, a free Munk Debates book, 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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

On this special edition of the Munk Debates podcast, host Rudyard Griffiths is joined by senior content producer, Ricki Gurwitz, to discuss some of their favourite debates and dialogues from the over 50 podcast episodes published this year.

They also peel back the curtain to give listeners a glimpse into how these debates come together. How do they decide what debates to convene? What makes for a successful debate? And which debate topics are the hardest to book?  The answers may surprise you.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths 

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 15+ year library of great debates in HD video, access to our Friday Focus podcast, a free Munk Debates book, 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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Amid years of decline in news ad revenue and a rapidly changing media landscape, the Canadian government introduced Bill C-18, the Online News Act. This controversial piece of legislation requires Google and Meta - the company behind Facebook and Instagram – to pay Canadian news outlets for linking their content to these social media sites. Meta responded by blocking all Canadian news content from Facebook and Instagram, while Google has recently agreed to pay $100 million to Canadian publishers, indexed for inflation.

Our guest on this Munk Dialogue is Michael Geist, one of the legislation’s fiercest critics. Michael is an expert in Canadian technology law and the Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-Commerce Law at the University of Ottawa, and argues that far from helping Canadian news outlets, media organizations – unable to drive users from social media – will not only suffer from a loss of revenue, but they will become more reliant on government subsidies to stay afloat and thus become less objective in their reporting.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths

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 15+ year library of great debates in HD video, access to our Friday Focus podcast, a free Munk Debates book, 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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Henry Kissinger, the former US Secretary of State who helped shape Cold War history, is a man both revered and reviled.  To his supporters, he was a brilliant statesman whose realpolitik approach to foreign affairs helped maintain international world order and contain Soviet aggression. Kissinger’s skilled diplomacy produced an opening to Beijing, a détente with the Soviet Union, and the eventual peace agreement between Israel and Egypt. As present-day conflict threatens to engulf the Middle East and Eastern Europe, and a new and dangerous alliance is forming between China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, a statesman with Kissinger’s strategic acumen is badly needed. To his detractors, however, Kissinger was a war criminal whose pursuit of power resulted in the carpet bombing of Cambodia, a prolonged Vietnam war, a military coup in Chile, and many other such atrocities. Few Americans have been responsible for as many deaths in America and abroad as he. Henry Kissinger, his critics argue, did not make the world more secure; rather, his ruthless brand of realism and callous disregard for human life sowed a deep hatred of US foreign policy overseas that has manifested into the violent conflicts unfolding in the present day.

Arguing in favour of the resolution is Niall Ferguson. He’s a world famous historian, a Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, and the author of Kissinger 1923-1968: The Idealist

Arguing against the resolution is Patrick Porter, Professor of International Security and Strategy at the University of Birmingham

SOURCES: AP, ABC News, CNA

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths  
 
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/
 
Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz
Editor: Kieran Lynch

It’s been two months since Hamas’s surprise attack on Israel that killed 1200 people, took 240 hostage, and shook the country to its core. October 7th was a day that not only altered the course of Israeli history, but also has forced Israelis to re-examine their relationship to their Palestinian neighbours, and their ability to rebuild a thriving democracy in one of the most hostile regions in the world.

To understand the story of Israel post October 7th, we’re joined by Yossi Klein Halevi. Yossi is a best-selling author, a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, and a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths 
  
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 15+ 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/
 
Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz
Editor: Kieran Lynch

Within one week of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, the BBC received more than 1,500 complaints relating to its coverage of the Israel-Hamas conflict. Criticisms were split almost evenly between those claiming its reporting had been biased against Israel and those saying it was biased in favour of Israel. These disparate interpretations of the media’s coverage of the war are not limited to the BBC. Other mainstream media outlets like the New York Times, CNN, and the CBC have faced similar accusations in recent weeks. Israel’s supporters argue that activists have infiltrated newsrooms, leading to journalism that is increasingly biased against the party whom many young progressives have deemed the villain in this conflict: Israel. From falsely and prematurely blaming Israel for an attack on a Gaza hospital, to refusing to use the word terrorists to describe Hamas, to trusting information provided to them by Hamas under the pretext of the Gaza Health Ministry, the international press has shown its true colours and cannot be relied upon to deliver unbiased, factual reporting. Others argue that the opposite is true. For decades the western press has ignored the suffering of Palestinians and deemed them less deserving of attention or sympathy due to a colonial, white supremacist way of thinking. Whereas Ukrainians who use violence to resist occupation are depicted as heroes, Palestinians are derided as attackers and terrorists. This dehumanization has made violence towards them more acceptable and has made western media outlets complicit in the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians.

Arguing in favour of the resolution is James Kirchick. He’s a columnist for Tablet magazine and a writer at large for Air Mail.

Arguing against the resolution is Arwa Damon, a former CNN Senior International Correspondent.

SOURCES: Sky News, BBC, Fox News

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.  

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

On this episode of the Munk Debate podcast we’re talking about one of the biggest challenges facing the Israeli army in Gaza: Hamas tunnels. These tunnels, some of which stretch for miles and reach depths as low as 230 feet underground, offer Hamas fighters protection and allow them to launch attacks against the IDF before returning underground to safety. How can Israel hope to dismantle this underground web of labyrinths, while trying to rescue over 200 hostages that are suspected of being held there? For this, and more, we turn to one of the world’s leading experts on urban warfare, John Spencer. John is a combat veteran, national security and military analyst, and chair of urban warfare studies at the Modern War Institute.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.  

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

This is the podcast version of our public debate on the Crisis of Liberalism that took place in front of an audience of 3,000 people in Toronto on November 3rd, 2023.

For the better part of three centuries, through wars, revolutions, and sweeping social change, liberalism has endured as the defining ideology of the West. Its championing of individual rights, free trade and capitalism, and liberal democracy has long been equated with the West’s economic development, social tolerance, personal freedoms, and the rule of law. But, more recently, powerful criticisms of liberalism have arisen on the right (populism) and left (socialism). Liberalism is increasingly blamed for everything from growing inequality, environmental degradation, political polarization, and cultural fragmentation. For its critics, liberalism has become an impediment to the goal of progress, and humanity urgently needs a new animating ideology.

Arguing for the motion is the controversial British M.P. and former cabinet minister, Jacob Rees-Mogg. He is joined by the American writer and columnist who has shaped a generation’s thinking on the important issues of our time: George F. Will.

Opposing the motion is U.K. journalist, self-avowed communist and popular leftist thinker, Ash Sarkar. Her debating partner is the disruptive and thought-provoking American social conservative, Sohrab Ahmari, author of the bestseller Tyranny Inc.: How Private Power Crushed American Liberty.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.  

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

The last two decades have seen the world economy cascade from crisis to crisis: from the global financial crisis of 2008, to increasing economic inequality and the devastating effects of climate change, to the COVID supply chain crisis and rise in inflation, we are living in a period of heightened instability. It is this economic unpredictability which is the subject of a new book by world famous investor Mohamed El Erian. Permacrisis: A Plan to Fix a Fractured World, written together with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Nobel Prize winning economist Michael Spence, identifies the common causes behind these crises, and offers a sensible plan for reform to create a fairer, more equitable and more stable world.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.  

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

On this Munk Dialogue we’re speaking to American billionaire investor Leon Cooperman. Leon is as famous for his candid conversations as his success on the stock market, and in this dialogue he doesn’t hold back. Leon tells us why he welcomes the recent rise in interest rates, why he thinks Bidenomics has been a disaster for the US economy, and what stocks he’s investing in right now. We also get his response to the current war between Israel and Hamas, the rise of anti-semitism on campus, and why he has vowed to stop donating to his alma mater, Columbia University.  

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.  

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

On November 3rd four debaters will take to the stage at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall to debate the crisis of liberalism.

The motion is Be it Resolved, liberalism gets the big questions right. 

On this Munk Dialogue, we are speaking with each of the debaters who are taking part in this important and timely debate, to get a sense of their arguments and what we can expect from them on stage at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall on November 3rd.

Arguing for the motion is the controversial British M.P. and former cabinet minister, Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg. He will be joined by the American writer and columnist who has shaped a generation’s thinking on the important issues of our time: George F. Will.

Opposing the motion is U.K. journalist, self-avowed communist and popular leftist thinker, Ash Sarkar. Her debating partner is the disruptive and thought-provoking American social conservative, Sohrab Ahmari, author of the bestseller Tyranny Inc.: How Private Power Crushed American Liberty.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Israel has launched intense strikes on Gaza and shut off water and electricity to the territory as they prepare for a ground invasion in response to Hamas’s terror attacks on October 7th. Thousands of Gazans have been killed in the bombardment, with hundreds of thousands displaced and millions going without basic supplies like fuel and medicine. Human rights groups and left-wing politicians are highly critical of Israel’s response. They argue that a human catastrophe is unfolding in real time as Palestinians in Gaza are being subjected to collective punishment by Israel despite having nothing to do with the attacks on October 7th. Protesters argue that in the name of self-defense, and with the backing of western governments, Israel is violating international law and engaging in ethnic cleansing on a mass scale. The only solution is an immediate and unequivocal ceasefire on all sides. Western leaders, however, have thrown their support behind Israel, providing the country with the time, resources, and diplomatic cover it needs to destroy Hamas and free the hostages. Supporters of Israel argue that the death of innocent civilians, while tragic, is an unintended consequence of defeating a militant group embedded in densely populated areas. Furthermore, there is no such thing as proportionality in a war such as this; body count does not dictate moral high ground. Israel is under attack, and anything short of the complete annihilation of Hamas is a threat to the country’s security and very existence. 

Arguing in favour of the resolution is Sarah Leah Whitson. She’s the Executive Director of Democracy for the Arab World Now, and she previously served as Director of the Middle East and North Africa division of Human Rights Watch.

Arguing against the resolution is Stephen Rademaker. He served as an Assistant Secretary of State in the George W. Bush administration

SOURCES: NBC News, Guardian News

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.  

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Israel is facing a wartime challenge unlike anything we have witnessed in modern history. The IDF is planning to invade Gaza in order to - in the words of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - “crush and destroy” Hamas after their devastating terrorist attack on Israel last week. This type of dense urban warfare, where the targets are insurgents hiding behind civilians and residential buildings, has rarely been successful for the invading armies. One need no look further than the Battle of Fallujah in Iraq in 2004 to see what Israel will be up against.

On this Munk Dialogue by celebrated author Robert D. Kaplan who was embedded up close and personal with the U.S. Marines as they stormed Fallujah and faced intense close quarter combat against thousands of insurgents inside a large Middle Eastern city. 

Robert shares with us his experience of the siege of Fallujah and the lessons it holds for Israel as its military prepares for a ground assault on Gaza, along with thoughts on the risks of current war escalating region-wide. 

Robert D. Kaplan is the internationally renowned author of over a dozen books including classic texts on geopolitics such as Balkan Ghosts and The Coming Anarchy. His latest work of nonfiction is The Loom of Time: Between Empire and Anarchy, from the Mediterranean to China

For information on how to purchase Robert's latest book, The Loom of Time: Between Empire and Anarchy, from the Mediterranean to China, click here

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

On Saturday morning, Israelis woke up to their world forever changed. The numbers are staggering: over 1000 civilians killed by Hamas and 150 taken hostage, including children and the elderly. The brutality of these crimes are even more shocking - dead bodies desecrated and paraded down the streets of Gaza to the applause of onlookers.

This was Israel’s 9/11, and its response will be severe. So, what comes next? How many more countries could be pulled into this war? And how should the US and the West respond?

To answer these questions and more, we’re joined by Bret Stephens. He’s a New York Times columnist, the former Editor-in-Chief of The Jerusalem Post, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and a past Munk Debater.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

In the wake of George Floyd’s murder and the protests that followed in the summer of 2020, offices across North America began introducing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training programs with the objective of reducing racial bias and discrimination in the workplace. Lately, however, this multi-billion dollar industry is facing scrutiny by critics who believe these are unproven and expensive programs which are not only ineffective, but counterproductive. DEI training, they argue, often reinforces biases or introduces new stereotypes where they didn’t previously exist. Furthermore, if people from marginalized groups perceive themselves to be surrounded by others who are biased against them, they are more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression and antisocial behaviour, which will impede their professional success and overall happiness. Supporters of DEI programs argue that these initiatives are required to correct inequities that have long existed within organizations. This training helps people of different races, sexual orientations and diverse backgrounds to feel more comfortable in the workplace, which fosters creativity and collaboration and increases employee retention. By correcting power and privilege imbalances, DEI programs help create more equitable and productive work environments for all employees.

Arguing in favor of the resolution is Rebekah Wanic. She’s a social psychologist, leadership coach and author

Arguing against the resolution is Diya Khanna. She’s a Diversity Equity Inclusion Strategist, consultant, and facilitator.

The host of this podcast is Rudyard Griffiths

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Author, journalist, and popular Substack writer Fredrik DeBoer is a self described marxist with a long standing commitment to left-wing activism. However, his new book, How the Elites At the Social Justice Movement, takes aim at his former political allies. Fredrik criticizes the current social justice movement for taking a hyper emotional approach to politics, engaging in character assassination against anyone perceived to be on the wrong side of history. In Fredrik’s words, we are living in a moment of political bloodlust dressed up in the language of anti-racism, damaging free speech, societal cohesion, and any chance of affecting real progressive change long term.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.  

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.

The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus.

On this week’s edition of Friday Focus Janice and Rudyard dedicate the show to discussing the fallout in Canada-India relations precipitated by Prime Minister Trudeau’s revelations that there are “credible allegations” Indian security services murdered a Canadian citizen in Canada who supported an independent homeland for Sikhs in Punjab. What are Canadians to make of this latest example of direct foreign interference in Canada which in its seriousness far exceeds recent Chinese election meddling? Why have Canada-India relations come to this impasse and who is to blame? And finally, what are Canadians to make of their traditional allies’ response to Canada’s allegation of an extra judicial killing on Canadian soil directed by the Indian government?  Janice and Rudyard debate it all!

To access full-length editions of the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt.

This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue.

The women’s liberation movement of the 1970's has long been championed as breaking down the barriers for women in the workplace. As women began to enter the workforce in droves, traditional gender roles in the home – one which saw the husband as the breadwinner and the wife as the homemaker – were torn down and replaced with a new, egalitarian vision for a modern day partnership defined by a two income household and an equal division of labour. And yet, there are some women who believe this transformation has yielded unhappy results. They argue that in order to be in a happy marriage, one must admit that men and women are not equal; they are different. When we deny our biological DNA and inherent gendered desires and capabilities we create mass confusion in the home, the resentful record keeping of household tasks, and a decrease in sexual desire. Men and women may be capable of doing many of the same things, but that doesn’t mean they want to. Modern feminists say the opposite is true: couples who share childcare responsibilities report greater relationship and sexual satisfaction. Women who find satisfaction and productivity through their work are better partners and parents. And spousal abuse is 300 percent higher in traditional marriages than in egalitarian ones. Marriage is not about prescribed roles for women and men. It’s about love, equality, and personal choice, and embracing these qualities will make everyone happier.

Arguing for the motion is  Suzanne Venker, radio host and author of The Flipside of Feminism: What Conservative Women Know – and Men Can't Say 

Arguing against the motion is Ellen Lamont, Assistant Professor of Sociology at Appalachian State University and author of The Mating Game: How Gender Still Shapes How We Date

The host of this podcast is Ricki Gurwitz

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.

The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus.

On this edition of the Friday Focus podcast, Janice and Rudyard spend the first half of the show talking about two concepts that have emerged that help explain some of the West’s aspirations and fears about the Ukraine War. Some analysts are now arguing that an end game to the war requires turning Ukraine into a “big” Israel similarly protected by American security guarantees. Others worry that, in response, Russia is turning into a “big” Iran which will operate permanently outside Western institutions and norms and actively thwart the West and its agenda. The remainder of the program focuses on the Trudeau government’s plunging poll numbers and what this says about the state and future of progressive politics as a group of prominent progressive leaders gather in Montreal.

To access full-length editions of the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt.

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.

New York Times columnist and bestselling author David Brooks is a cultural commentator and astute observer of social trends and behaviour. He believes that our society is fractured, and the number of people who report feeling isolated, alone, and invisible is higher than at any time in recent memory. David joins us to talk about his new book coming out this fall, How to Talk to Strangers, which offers a practical guide to help people truly get to know each other  in order to foster deeper connections at home, at work, and in their communities.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.  

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus.  

On this edition of the Friday Focus podcast, Janice and Rudyard dedicate the show to talking about the upcoming G20 meeting in India. How should we understand the G20 meeting of the world’s largest economies in a world that is more divided than ever along regional lines? What is the relevance of the BRICs alliance to the future of the G20? Could a BRICs +, as is being orchestrated currently by China, displace the G20 in the near term? And finally, how do we preserve a rules-based international order in an era where the United States is no longer the global policeperson? Is there a different style of leadership needed for our more divided world? If so, what does this look like?

Enjoy! To access full-length editions of the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt.

Bare-Minimum Mondays. Quiet Quitting. Lazy Girl Job. Ask a Boomer or Gen Xer about their younger employee, and they might point to these viral tik tok slogans as how they see their new coworkers. Born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z is the latest cohort to enter the workforce. They are criticized for wanting it all - work-life balance, high pay, great benefits - and wanting it right away. They expect their work assignments to align with their ideological goals, they aren’t afraid to call out senior coworkers for creating a toxic workplace, they complain constantly about burnout, and if their demands aren’t met, they are happy to quit (sometimes very publicly). Exasperated employers argue that seniority and pay is earned through years of hard work, long hours, and loyalty to the company. In their view, Gen Z are entitled, lazy, and in for a rude awakening. Zoomers, on the other hand, paint a different story. They are entering the workforce in a period of crushing student loan debt, growing wealth inequality, and wage stagnation. The traditional labor market that benefited boomers does not work for them. Unlike their parents, they want to enjoy a home life instead of bragging about 80-hour work weeks. And they want to feel passionate and engaged about how they spend the majority of their waking hours. To Gen Z, it is the older generation that have been living - nay, existing - in an unhealthy and unequal capitalist market place, and it's high time things change, lest companies will be left without young workers and the ability to adapt and flourish in a rapidly changing economy.

Arguing for the motion is Craig Sneesby, Managing Director at u&u Recruitment Partners

Arguing against the motion is Jake Bjorseth, Founder & CEO at Trndsttrs, a Gen Z agency helping brands understand and reach Gen Z

The host of this podcast is Ricki Gurwitz

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.

The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus.

On this edition of the Friday Focus podcast, Janice and Rudyard spend the show talking about housing and how it has become the “theory of everything” in advanced economies around the world from China to Canada. What are the opportunity costs for nations that are making housing an outsized driver of economic growth? How do high housing costs play into social inequality and intergenerational unfairness? And, what are the implications of trying to curb the now multi-decade “financialization” of housing as an asset? Housing is no longer an issue we can afford not to address, but are we prepared for the costs?

To access full-length editions of the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt.

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.

It’s no secret that relations between China and the US are at an all time low. And at the centre of this fraught relationship is the question of Taiwan: China is moving closer to asserting its territorial rights over the island, while US President Joe Biden has pledged to defend Taiwan, even going so far as sending defensive weapons to protect the country against a Chinese invasion. How should a superpower like the US respond to a rising power like China? Foreign policy expert Graham Allison joins us for a wide reaching conversation about this important moment in history, and how shared interests in the climate, technology, finance, and health could force these powerful rivals to become unwilling partners.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.  

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.

The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus.

On this edition of the Friday Focus podcast, Janice and Rudyard open the show with a discussion of the reports of the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin in a fiery plane crash outside Moscow. What does the latest and seemingly last act in the Prigozhin-Putin drama say about elite power in Russia? Is Putin’s position further secured by Prigozhin’s exit or is intra-regime strife entering a new and more dangerous phase? The second half of the program explores a wild week in US conservative politics with the first GOP debate, all-time record-high broadcast audience numbers for Trump’s interview with Tucker Carlson, and the arraignment of the former president in Georgia on felony state charges. What does it all say about the state of US politics as the country soon starts the one-year countdown to the 2024 presidential vote?

To access full-length editions of the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt.

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.

In 1933, at the height of the British Empire, a small island off the north east coast of Europe controlled 25% of the world’s population and land mass. India, Canada, Australia, the British West Indies, parts of South America and Africa were all under British sway to one degree or another for the better part of the preceding century or longer. In its heyday, this mighty colonial power was admired for the innovation and enlightened principles it brought to newly conquered lands. Now, however, some modern historians want to set the record straight and reconsider British colonialism by its true nature: one defined by mass torture, rape, censorship, and starvation. The British so-called commitment to virtue and social progress, they argue, was a fallacy used to hide the cruelty with which they dominated their underlings.  For these historians, the Brits were no less violent or savage than Russia’s Stalin or Japan’s Hideki Tojo. Other historians see the vilification of Britain by modern historians as lacking in context; Britain was no better or worse than all the other empires that preceded it. The British Empire is being unfairly blamed for the current economic and political woes of the global south, while the positive attributes they introduced to their colonies - such as free markets, the rule of law, and public transport - fail to receive the acknowledgement they deserve. Lest we are prepared to demand apologies from every colonial power that sought to grow their empire over the last two thousand years, Britain should be left well enough alone.

Arguing for the motion is James Heartfield, he’s a historian and author of Britain's Empires: A History, 1600–2020

Arguing against the motion is Nigel Biggar, theologian, ethicist, and author of Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning

SOURCES: Oxford Union, British Pathe, CNN

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.  

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.

The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus.

On this edition of the Friday Focus podcast, Janice and Rudyard open the show with a debate on the two-year anniversary of the Taliban rule in Afghanistan. Is now the time to consider some normalization of relations with Kabul? Or, are there aspects of this regime, most notably its gender apartheid, that preclude legitimatizing the Taliban? The second half of the program takes up the big summit this weekend that will see President Biden host the leaders of Korea and Japan to formalize a new security partnership meant to oppose China and the perceived threat it represents in the region. Why are Japan and Korea drawing closer? And, how is China likely to react to a strengthened US block in Asia?

To access full-length editions of the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt.

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.

Ukraine is in ruins. Casualties are piling up on both sides. And western sanctions don’t seem to be working. As the war between Russia and Ukraine enters its 20th month, experts fear that a negotiated settlement will not be reached anytime soon. On this Munk Dialogue, we’re joined by one of the world’s leading realist thinkers in international relations, Stephen Walt, to talk about some surprising developments that have emerged from this conflict, and why it could drag on for much longer than anyone had anticipated.

SOURCES: PBS, ABC News

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.  

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.

The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus.

On this edition of the Friday Focus podcast, Janice and Rudyard take on three topics in rapid fire to wrap up a busy week of news and events. First up, the Maui fires and images of destruction and chaos. How are these reoccurring events affecting us? Is there a coping strategy for climate-induced anxiety? Next, the coup in Niger sees another African democracy taken over by its military. Do the billions the West is spending on democracy promotion in Africa make any sense? And finally, Large Language Learning models, which have created all the hype around AI this year, seem to be getting more error-prone and unpredictable. Are we starting to see hard limits on the utility of machine learning?

To access full-length editions of the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt.

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.

We’ve come a long way since DNA was first discovered in the mid 19th century. Today’s scientists are using powerful engineering techniques to edit genes in human eggs and sperm, curing diseases and repairing defective genes before a child is even born. Some scientists are excited about these therapies, championing them as an exciting opportunity to create immunity to viruses, eliminate serious illnesses like AIDS, Alzheimer’s, and cancer, and possibly reverse aging. Like prior innovations in medicine and technology, why wouldn’t we embrace a science that allows people to live longer, healthier, and happier lives? Others are alarmed. They are worried that these new techniques raise a host of profound ethical issues. While eliminating genetic diseases is a worthwhile endeavor, many parents might be inclined to use this science to create designer babies: children who are smarter, taller, or have other supposedly desirable traits. And these tools aren’t cheap. They will surely be available to the rich first, creating a terrifying new dimension to the growing economic inequality crisis. Scientists also point out that ‘playing god’ and editing genes will alter our DNA code forever, and one mistake could inadvertently introduce new diseases into the human gene pool. While the desire to cure genetic diseases is a noble one, the manipulation of our DNA is more likely than not to push humanity towards a dangerous and dystopian future no one wants. 

Arguing for the motion is George Church, Professor of Genetics at Harvard Medical School, Professor of Health Sciences and Technology at Harvard and MIT

Arguing against the motion is Joyce Harper, Professor of Reproductive Science at the Institute for Women's Health, University College London.

Sources: 

ABC News, France24, Today Show, NBC News, VICE, PBS, Gattaca, Critical Past

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.  

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Reza Dahya

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.

The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus.  

On this edition of the Friday Focus podcast, Janice and Rudyard take advantage of the so-called Dog Days of Summer and a break in hectic international news to provide a master class on the concept of deterrence in international affairs. What is it? How does it function? How has it changed over time? And, what do the latest theories of deterrence say about how the next phase of the Ukraine War? To access a copy of Janice’s recent paper on deterrence and the Ukraine War click here. Send us your feedback on this program to [email protected].

To access full-length editions of the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt.

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.

It’s a $97 billion global industry that has made its way into mobile phones, video games and laptops. Never before has porn been more accessible, and offered more variety, than the present day. And yet, some feminists want to revisit the question of whether it should exist at all. They say pornography exploits young women and creates unrealistic expectations in the bedroom. So many of society’s worst problems – from pedophilia, to sexual assault, to gender inequality – are amplified by porn use. And with the advent of the internet and video streaming, children are able to access hardcore porn with few guardrails, leading to a generation of young men who are getting their sex education from unrealistic and exploitative sexual relationships portrayed onscreen. On the other side of the debate are those who see value in porn: research shows that men who watch porn value female pleasure more, couples who watch porn together have better sexual relationships, and LGBT folk report a greater sense of community acceptance. Porn, its defenders argue, is being used as a distraction when many of the problems related to the industry are already systemic in our everyday lives. And finally, attempting to ban porn would only drive it underground and increase the risk of exploitation. In their view, it’s time to put the decades long debate over porn to bed, once and for all.

Arguing for the motion is Meghan Murphy, she’s a writer, journalist, and founder of Feminist Current, a feminist website and podcast

Arguing against the motion is David Ley, clinical psychologist and sex therapist, and author of The Myth of Sex Addiction

SOURCES:  3 GIRLS 1 KITCHEN

The host of this Munk Debates podcast is Ricki Gurwitz

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.

The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus.

On this edition of the Friday Focus podcast, Janice and Rudyard start the show with a discussion of the week’s remarkable events in Israel. After months of protests, the government of Benjamin Netanyahu passed the first in a series of sweeping “judicial reform” laws aimed at curbing the power of Israel’s supreme court. Is this the beginning of the end of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state? On the back half of the program, Janice shares her suggestion for a great summer read in the form of the new book Radical Uncertainty: Decision Making Beyond Numbers. Enjoy!

To access full-length editions of the Friday Focus podcast consider becoming a donor to the Munk Debates for as little as $25 annually, or $.50 per episode. Canadian donors receive a charitable tax receipt.

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.

Chaos is unfolding on the streets of Israel as protesters face off against riot police and water cannons. Millions of Israelis are expressing their anger and frustration at the right wing coalition government - led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu - for a series of judicial reforms that they argue will dismantle the country’s liberal institutions and its ability to function as a thriving democracy.

On this Munk Dialogue, we’re joined by one of the government’s fiercest and most outspoken critics. Yossi Klein Halevi is a best-selling author, a senior fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute in Jerusalem, and a contributing opinion writer for The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.

The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus.  

On this week’s edition of the Friday Focus podcast, Janice and Rudyard start the show with a discussion of the heatwaves affecting China, the Middle East, Europe and the Southern U.S. What do these events tell us about the future of climate change? And, what is China’s role in curbing global emissions going forward as the U.S. continues to pressure Beijing on Taiwan, technology transfers and military supremacy in Asia Pacific? The back half of the program explores Trump’s ever-expanding federal and state felony charges. How will U.S. democracy cope with not only the extreme partisan rancour of the 2024 election cycle but multiple criminal trials of the presumptive Republican nominee for President?

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.

On this Munk Debate podcast, we're talking about the clash of generations: Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z.  How are these age groups - with vastly different life experiences and upbringings - interacting and competing with each other at home, at school, and in the workforce? Author and psychologist Jean Twenge, often referred to as the “reigning expert on generational change”, argues that evolving technology, more so than major historical events like the great recession of 2008 or the terrorist attacks of September 11th, has had a greater impact on how generations have come to see themselves, and what they want for the future. She joins us for a wide ranging discussion to dispel common misconceptions about certain generations (IE/ millennials aren’t as doomed as they believe to be) and why the young are postponing adult milestones for longer than any previous generation.

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.  

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.

The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus.  

On this week’s edition of the Friday Focus podcast, Janice and Rudyard start the show with a discussion of what we learned from this week’s big NATO summit. Why was Ukraine not given a timeline for NATO membership? What are the new weapon systems the Biden Administration is promising, and what is the risk they will cross a Russian “red line”? The second half of the program debates Google’s ominous decision to include Canada with the likes of Russia and Afghanistan as one of the few countries worldwide who currently don’t have access to the company’s powerful new AI chatbot. What exactly is Google doing, and why? How should the Canadian government respond? And what does this bizarre development forewarn about a world where powerful AI is controlled by Big Tech companies seemingly willing to use it to reward their friends and punish their enemies?

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.

In a landmark ruling, The United States Supreme Court rejected affirmative action at US colleges, determining that race should not be a factor in achieving educational diversity. The controversial decision is expected to lower the admission rates of black and hispanic students at elite universities. Many supporters of the court's decision believe that affirmative action - that is, policies that aim to increase opportunities provided to underrepresented members of society - should be based on class, not race. Focusing on the disadvantaged of all races would create a more fair environment that is based on real need. Furthermore, they argue, affirmative action in its current form lowers standards for black students applying to universities, promoting different criterions based on race and therefore perpetuating a system of racism and inequality on campus. Others argue that replacing race-based affirmative action with economic need will hurt black students more as they will now be judged against a much bigger population percentage of poor whites and asians. Affirmative action was introduced in the 1960’s in order to address the country’s history of systemic racism towards black Americans that victims of class-based inequalities did not face. The decision by SCOTUS reverses years of racial progress and ignores the reality of racism in modern America, because, as Justice Ketanji Jackson wrote in her descent, “deeming race irrelevant in law does not make it so in life.”

Arguing for the motion is John McWhorter, Associate Professor of English at Columbia University, and the author of Woke Racism: How a New Religion Has Betrayed Black America

Arguing against the motion is Randall Kennedy, Harvard Law Professor and the author of For Discrimination: Race, Affirmative Action, and the Law

SOURCES: Associated Press

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.  

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This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.

The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus.  

On this week’s edition of the Friday Focus podcast, Janice and Rudyard start the show with a discussion of the riots in France and what they say about the state of Europe as it heads into a key NATO meeting next week. How racially divided is France and other major European states? How do domestic divisions play into Europe’s ability to sustain Ukraine in its fight with Russia? The second half of the program explores the growing battle between Big Tech and the Government of Canada, who wants to see the former subsidize news and journalism in Canada through new legislation. Can Canada go on its own in its fight against two of the world’s most powerful companies? What is at stake for our democracy when the distribution of news is increasingly dependent on large technology platforms?

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.

On June 22nd we gathered at Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall for a live, sold out debate on Artificial Intelligence. We were joined on stage by four AI experts and pioneers to debate the resolution Be it Resolved, AI research and development poses an existential threat. MIT’s Max Tegmark and Mila’s Yoshua Bengion argued in favour of the resolution, while Meta’s Yann Lecun and the Santa Fe Institute's Melanie Mitchelll argued against it. In this episode of the Munk Dialogues, we bring you the pre-interviews our host Rudyard Griffiths conducted with each debater prior to the debate. How did they intend to argue their case? What made them want to take part in this event? And what is it about AI that has them most worried, or alternatively, most excited?

The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.  

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/

Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

Editor: Kieran Lynch

Friday Focus provides listeners with a focused, half-hour masterclass on the big issues, events and trends driving the news and current events. The show features Janice Gross Stein, the founding director of the Munk School of Global Affairs and bestselling author, in conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Chair and moderator of the Munk Debates.

The following is a sample of the Munk Debates’ weekly current affairs podcast, Friday Focus.  

On this week’s edition of the Friday Focus podcast, Janice and Rudyard start the show with a recap of the last week of events in Russia. What exactly happened? How will Putin respond to the biggest domestic crisis in his twenty-year-plus rule? And what should Ukraine and its Western allies take away from it all? On the back half of the show, exclusively for Munk donors, the conversation turns to the U.S. Supreme Court decision on ending affirmative action policies based on race at American universities. What are the implications of the ruling? Is there a better way for universities to select for the vast human potential in society today and not on the basis of race, class or test score performance?

Janice's Article in the Texas National Security Review: https://tnsr.org/2023/06/escalation-management-in-ukraine-learning-by-doing-in-response-to-the-threat-that-leaves-something-to-chance/

Rudyard's Article in The Hub: https://thehub.ca/2023-06-26/rudyard-griffiths-what-did-we-learn-from-russias-borat-coup/

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.