In his ambitious climate plan , President-elect Biden p romises that by 2050 the United States will reach net-zero carbon emissions. A groundbreaking new study from energy experts at Princeton University outlines five different pathways for how to reach net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases, using existing technology, and at costs aligned with historical average spending on energy. The research is the first to quantify and map in specific detail the infrastructure that would be needed to achiev...
Dec 18, 2020•31 min•Ep. 284
Despite the tragedy, suffering and economic losses of COVID, there are silver linings for many families in the current crisis. Recent lockdowns have a bright side for teens . A new survey says they're spending more time with their parents, getting extra sleep, and suffering from lower levels of clinical depression. Our guest, New York psychoanalyst, parent coach, and author Erica Komisar, wrote in The Wall Street Journal "it has taken a pandemic to prove that it's possible to integrate work into...
Dec 11, 2020•28 min•Ep. 283
We live in a remarkable time for science. Vaccines to fight COVID-19 have been developed with surprising speed and are reported to be more than 90% effective against the virus. Dramatic progress has also been made in the quest to overhaul and improve America's space program. Recent innovations and reusable rockets have dramatically cut the cost of space launches. Vaccine research and space innovation are examples of public-private partnerships between government and businesses. Neil deGrasse Tys...
Dec 04, 2020•24 min•Ep. 282
More than ever, we need to fight fake news and misinformation by getting out of our filter bubbles. A bitterly contested election at a time of political paralysis and partisan bickering makes the case for change even more urgent. In this episode, we look at the groundbreaking work of AllSides.com , which shines a light on media bias by offering readers a selection of daily news stories from publications that tilt left, right or center. Our guests are AllSides founder and CEO John Gable, and the ...
Nov 20, 2020•29 min•Ep. 281
In the days since the 2020 election, political distrust and anxiety have only deepened. But divided government and very narrow majorities for both parties in Congress might present an opportunity for bipartisan solutions on several major issues. President-elect Biden has talked about his vision of an America that is "unified, strengthened, and healed." In this episode we discuss the case for compromise with two Members of Congress, one Republican and one Democrat. Both are members of Problem Sol...
Nov 13, 2020•31 min•Ep. 280
Days after the historic 2020 election, final results are still coming in. But some lessons of the vote are becoming clear. On this episode, our hosts, Richard and Jim, discuss the five lessons they learned. 1. The system is working - so far. Despite the slow pace of counting, election day was met with massive enthusiasm by voters from all sides. 2. Reform opinion polls - They were wrong again. Polls in Florida, Texas and Wisconsin are among the worst examples. Many polls under-counted Trump vote...
Nov 06, 2020•24 min•Ep. 279
One of the biggest surprises of the 2020 election may turn out to be turnout. Traditionally, a smaller percentage of American voters participate in elections than in many other democracies around the world. But this year, early voting hit a record high, with tens of millions of mail-in ballots, and very long lines at many polling places. In this episode, we look at a highly innovative, successful initiative to use the internet to boost the number of voters in elections. "Our mission" says the no...
Oct 30, 2020•28 min•Ep. 278
If the Covid pandemic has taught us anything, it is that the government's response to a global health emergency can mean the difference between living and dying. America's woeful performance in recent months has exposed how far we have fallen behind public health systems in much of Asia. While China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore combined have recorded fewer than 1,000 cases per day since September, the U.S. is reporting over 60,000 daily cases. Our guest is Adrian Wooldridge of The E...
Oct 23, 2020•30 min•Ep. 277
More than half of American voters expect to see a rise in violence after election day, according to a recent poll . Only 49% said Americans will largely accept the results. These findings and others suggest that American democracy is facing intense stress. President Trump has repeatedly refused to say whether he would accept the official results. "Trump and Biden supporters have deep disagreements over several aspects of the election and voting process – including whether it will be clear which ...
Oct 16, 2020•31 min•Ep. 276
How do you get supporters of Donald Trump and Joe Biden in the same room at the same time working together on something political? It sounds almost impossible, but even at a time of hyper-partisan division, progress and trust can be achieved on a local level. In this episode, we look at the groundbreaking work of CivicLex , a non-profit civic education and solutions journalism group based in Lexington, a Kentucky city of nearly 400,000 people. Civic Lex has three main goals: Improve access to in...
Oct 09, 2020•30 min•Ep. 275
How does your career stay on track at a time of very high unemployment, great technological change and enormous uncertainty? We explore these questions and much more with one of the advertising industry's most successful commercial directors. When he was 23, Bruce Van Dusen was desperate for a job. For the next 40 years, he thought that every commercial that he made would be his last. With a mix of audacity, determination, and hard work, plus a dash of deep personal insecurity, Bruce developed a...
Oct 02, 2020•28 min•Ep. 274
Anger, fear and loathing cut across our deeply divided, hyper-partisan political divide. From The White House and the streets of cities, to furious posts on social media, many of us objectify others. Those belong to the wrong tribe are often the objects of personal scorn. In a recent Twitter post, our guest, Chloé Valdary , says: "if you do not possess the power to love, and especially love your enemies, then you don't really have the power." In this episode, Chloé talks about her antiracism pro...
Sep 25, 2020•25 min•Ep. 273
Massive wildfires in the west have burned through more than five million acres, forced tens of thousands of people from their homes, and spread smoke and air pollution across many states. This year's historic wildfire season prompted calls for reforms of the nation's fire management policies, and are a clear sign that the impacts of climate change are now being felt. Changes in the weather leading to temperature extremes and drought are no longer a theory. We discuss the causes of raging wildfir...
Sep 18, 2020•30 min•Ep. 272
“Tech For The Public Good” is supported by a grant from Solutions Journalism Network . Technology is a double-edged sword, especially during the coronavirus pandemic. Despite well-publicized threats from bots, hackers, government spooks and huge online firms, tech is often a force for public good. In this special episode on civic tech, we report on a local effort to promote better healthcare for those who need it most: the residents of America's poorest Congressional District : New York's 15th C...
Sep 11, 2020•25 min•Ep. 271
Fears about COVID-19 can take an emotional toll, leading to a growing sense of worry and panic. We ask: How can philosophy help us cope with adversity in a pandemic? We go in pursuit of wisdom and discovery with journalist and author Eric Weiner , author of the new book, " The Socrates Express : In Search of Life Lessons From Dead Philosophers". This episode is a rollicking ride, as we follow in the footsteps of history’s greatest thinkers—from Epicurus to Nietzsche, Thoreau to Gandhi— who show ...
Sep 04, 2020•26 min•Ep. 270
The American worker is in crisis and faces a very uncertain future. The COVID-19 pandemic led to a deep recession and millions of layoffs. Even before coronavirus— despite a decade of continuous economic growth— the percentage of Americans with jobs was well below normal levels. Many people had dropped out of the labor force, and gave up looking for work. For the first time in modern memory, life expectancy started to fall as substance abuse and obesity rates rose. Our guest, conservative author...
Aug 28, 2020•26 min•Ep. 269
Most people reject facts that cause them discomfort or don't line up with their view of the world. All too often emotion, not reason, informs our beliefs. Despite social media claims that #factsmatter, it's surprisingly difficult to use rational arguments to change minds. "It's surprising how much we still put faith in rational argument," says our guest, Australian writer and philosopher, Eleanor Gordon-Smith . In this summer re-run episode from November, 2019, we take a fun, fascinating journey...
Aug 21, 2020•28 min•Ep. 268
Joe Biden's selection of Kamala Harris to be his vice-presidential running mate is a reminder that the fall election season is about to start in earnest. In this episode, we discuss solutions for America's voting crisis. People of all political persuasions have expressed concerns about holding an election in the COVID pandemic. President Trump made unsubstantiated claims about voter fraud. Many have protested the barriers faced by voters who find it difficult or nearly impossible to have their s...
Aug 14, 2020•24 min•Ep. 267
At a time of social distancing, limited travel and other restrictions to protect public health, we get a nostalgic reminder of the joy of journeys, and infinite variety of America's small cities and towns. This episode was first published in 2018. Our guest, Dar Williams , has been called "one of America's very best singer-songwriters " by The New Yorker. A remarkably well-traveled musician, she tells us how towns and cities can turn themselves around. " What I Found in a Thousand Towns : A Trav...
Aug 07, 2020•26 min•Ep. 266
Climate change is real, but it's not the end of the world, says our guest, science writer, Michael Shellenberger . He argues in the controversial new book, " Apocalypse Never ", that activists use alarmism to describe threats posed by rising levels of carbon in the atmosphere, and are harming the cause of environmentalism. His proposed solutions include support for carbon-free nuclear power, agricultural industrialization, urbanization, and technological innovation. This episode provoked a livel...
Jul 31, 2020•27 min•Ep. 265
One of the many impacts of COVID-19 is a sharp decline in travel. In many parts of the world, the virus led to a temporary hold on one of the greatest trends of the modern age: the mass movement of people— from tourists to migrants, expats, asylum seekers, refugees, and IDP’s, internally displaced people. An estimated 244 million people , or about 3.3% of the world’s population, were born in one country and now live in another. Even before COVID hit, The Trump Administration reversed decades of ...
Jul 24, 2020•26 min•Ep. 264
We’ve all canceled something. Whether it’s a subscription, a vacation, or a date, cancelling or erasing a person? It seems so brutal. So unforgiving and final. It’s no surprise that cancel culture began on social media. Supporters say they are targeting people, companies and institutions for endorsing systems of racism, inequality, and bigotry. Opponents of cancel culture argue that this form of shaming causes personal injury, stifles debate and is a chilling threat to free speech. In this episo...
Jul 17, 2020•36 min•Ep. 263
Gerrymandering, the partisan process of redrawing political maps to favor one political party over the opposition, is often used unfairly to take power away from many voters. Voters Not Politicians is a highly successful grassroots campaign against gerrymandering in Michigan that began with a simple Facebook post by its young founder, Katie Fahey. The group took on party bosses, won a ballot initiative, and changed state law. This episode discusses how this campaign could be a model for others. ...
Jul 10, 2020•26 min•Ep. 262
America's four most powerful political leaders--President Trump, former Vice President Joe Biden, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell-- are all in their mid-to-late seventies. In this episode, we hear from four 16 to 18 year-olds about the future of American democracy, and why they're committed to working for positive change. Zoë Jenkins, Emmy Cho, Thanasi Dilos, and Noor Mryan are among the 200 inaugural fellows of the new non-partisan, youth-led movement, Civics Unp...
Jul 03, 2020•29 min•Ep. 261
The U.S. spends far more money on healthcare than any other nation, but has the most confirmed COVID-19 cases . The lax response to the coronavirus crisis exposed many weaknesses in the system , which was less prepared for a pandemic than other nations. In this episode, we look at what can be learned from other systems around the world. Our guest is the well-known oncologist, bioethicist, and healthcare expert, Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel , author of the new book, " Which Country Has the World's Best He...
Jun 26, 2020•25 min•Ep. 260
"The Covid-19 pandemic reveals that far from living in an age of incessant technological change, we have been neglecting innovation in exactly the areas where we most need it." So writes our podcast guest, best-selling author Matt Ridley . We discuss the urgent concept raised in his latest book, " How Innovation Works , And Why It Flourishes in Freedom." As Viscount Ridley, Matt was elected to the UK House of Lords in 2013. His TED Talk, "When Ideas Have Sex" has been viewed more than two millio...
Jun 19, 2020•28 min•Ep. 259
The massive wave of protests in hundreds of towns and cities across America and in many other countries were sparked by outrage, pain and grief over the killing of George Floyd, and countless incidents of racism against African-Americans. We've all been surprised by the events of the past few weeks. They've forced many of us to question our core beliefs about the political system, public morality, and the distribution of power. For this episode, we looked for someone who could talk about race fr...
Jun 12, 2020•39 min•Ep. 258
The nation is again facing the deep pain of racial injustice. The recent killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery , and Breonna Taylor reverberated across the country, sparking widespread protests in many cities. These cases were only the latest on a very long list of attacks and murders of African-American men and women. They resulted in public outrage, some violent incidents, and many calls for police reforms. In this special episode, we share the latest podcast of " Let's Find Common Ground ,"...
Jun 05, 2020•35 min•Ep. 257
The coronavirus crisis has reminded everyone that major reforms are needed to fix the flaws of the U.S. healthcare system. Beyond the huge expense and vast amount of waste, the quality of care varies wildly, and millions of Americans can't get care when they need it. Physician and health care CEO Dr. Vivian Lee draws on her deep experience of the public and private sector to call for a pragmatic and sweeping set of reforms. They include ending the current fee-for-service model and improving pric...
May 29, 2020•31 min•Ep. 256
We look at scientists who learned to manipulate common materials such as steel, glass and silicon, and how their inventions shaped the human experience. Our guest is scientist, storyteller and science writer, Ainissa Ramirez, author of the new book, " The Alchemy of Us , How Humans and Matter Transformed One Another." We discuss the wonder of science, especially material science: What it is and why it’s a crucial part of all that is in us and around us. Ainissa shares her love of science and tel...
May 21, 2020•25 min•Ep. 255
