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How Will America Reopen? A Bioethicist Weighs In. Apr 21, 2020

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Zeke Emanuel was an architect of the Affordable Care Act, which turned 10-years-old this spring. With 22 million people unemployed in America because of the coronavirus pandemic, is universal coverage needed now more than ever? Emanuel says in such an uncertain environment, people are craving security. He thinks the pandemic will lead the Federal Government to rethink the importance of safety net programs like universal coverage. Emanuel, a bioethicist and oncologist, shares his thoughts on what needs to happen for America to reopen. He speaks with Perri Peltz, a documentary filmmaker, journalist, and public health advocate. The views and opinions of the speakers in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.

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Lincoln's Leadership in a Time of Crisis Apr 14, 2020

Show notes

Humility, loyalty, rhetorical mastery — these were the leadership traits of President Abraham Lincoln, says historian John Stauffer. When Lincoln entered office in 1861, the situation in America was dire. States were seceding and America was on the brink of war. How did he utilize his strengths in the face of great crisis? Should today’s leaders, who are challenged by the cataclysm of the coronavirus pandemic, look to Lincoln’s leadership? Stauffer, a professor at Harvard, speaks with Colleen Shogan, director of the David Rubenstein Center for White House History at the White House Historical Association. The views and opinions of the speakers in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.

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A Coronavirus Stress Test for the World Apr 08, 2020

Show notes

Journalist and New York Times op-ed writer Thomas Friedman says countries around the world are undergoing a stress test thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. This test, he says, is revealing the quality of nations’ governance, their health care systems, and the strength of their communities. Perhaps surprisingly, some autocratic regimes have fared well, he says, while some democracies – like the United States – have not. Friedman speaks with Elliot Gerson, an executive vice president at the Aspen Institute. Their conversation was held by the Society of Fellows at the Institute. The views and opinions of the speakers in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.

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China, Technology, and the Coronavirus Apr 01, 2020

Show notes

China was the first country in the world to experience effects from COVID-19. Now the epidemic there is slowing. How did the country of more than 1 billion people make it through? Technology played a big role. In this episode, Lydia Lee, Gary Liu, and Andrew McLaughlin join Vivian Schiller, executive director of the Aspen Digital program at the Aspen Institute, to talk over the kinds of technology that were launched or re-purposed to address aspects of the crisis. How did technology help keep the virus from spreading? How was misinformation handled online? Are there lessons that the United States can draw from? The views and opinions of the speakers in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.

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Highs and Lows: Unpacking Teen Emotions Mar 25, 2020

Show notes

During the coronavirus epidemic, many families are spending lots of time together. Families with teenagers may notice extreme highs and lows – and it’s not just because of the global crisis. Once they reach adolescence, kids land on an emotional rollercoaster and even question their own extreme reactions. As parents, teachers, coaches, and mentors, how can we help teens communicate and navigate the intensity of their emotions? Leading experts on girls, boys, and the neuroscience of the adolescent brain shed light on this perplexing – and exciting – decade of development. Hear from Lisa Damour, Leah Sommerville, Michael Reichert, and Lori Gottlieb. The views and opinions of the speakers in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.

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How to Be Less Fearful in Turbulent Times (Rebroadcast) Mar 17, 2020

Show notes

What are the best tools for dealing with fear, particularly in an uncertain period? “Human beings wrestle with fear. We are living in anxious times,” says Kansas pastor Adam Hamilton. Hamilton, who founded the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection, created five sermons to help people feel less fearful. In this episode, he explains what he wrote in the sermons and later in a book, Unafraid: Living with Courage and Hope in Uncertain Times. “People felt like these [sermons] were really helpful to them. They felt like they had a bit more of a handle on what was happening in the world around them,” he says. Whether it’s fear about politics, disappointment and failure, or problems out of our control (like the coronavirus outbreak), Hamilton’s advice is useful in turbulent times. The views and opinions of the speakers in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.

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Reporting the News in a Fractured America Mar 10, 2020

Show notes

Two major news stories are dominating headlines: the novel coronavirus and the 2020 presidential contest. Both are vulnerable to disinformation campaigns, so what are newsrooms and technology companies doing to combat false news? What did journalists learn in 2016 that they can apply to political coverage in 2020? Local news is the most trusted news source but many newspapers are folding. How can small town newspapers find their footing and continue to offer trusted information? The conversation includes Richard Gingras, senior director of news and social products at Google, Brian Stelter, host of CNN’s “Reliable Sources,” Joanne Lipman, former editor-in-chief of USA Today, and Vivian Schiller, former NPR president and executive director of a program at the Aspen Institute that examines the role of media and technology in society. The views and opinions of the speakers in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.

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Straight from the Source: Experts Discuss Novel Coronavirus Mar 03, 2020

Show notes

More than 100 cases of the novel coronavirus have been reported in the United States, as of March 3, 2020. Nine people in the country have died from the disease. That’s far less than in countries like China, Iran, and Italy. What’s being done to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in America and beyond? How quickly can a vaccine be developed? What can individuals do to stay safe? A panel of health experts including Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Nancy Messonnier, director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at the CDC, and Ron Klain, former White House Ebola Response Coordinator, sit down together discuss what’s being done. Their conversation is led by Helen Branswell who reports on infectious diseases and public health for STAT News. The views and opinions of the speakers in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.

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What Will We Eat in a Hotter, Drier World? Feb 25, 2020

Show notes

Unpredictable weather is threatening crop production and a swelling population is increasing the demand for food. How will we eat in a hotter, more crowded world? The race to reinvent the global food system is on, and innovative solutions are already being served up. Meat produced from animal cells is one solution, says CEO of Memphis Meats Uma Valeti. "Can we start thinking about evolving our food system in a transformative way to feed 10 billion people and beyond?" He joins Amanda Little, author of The Fate of Food: What We'll Eat in a Bigger, Hotter, Smarter World, and Susan Goldberg, editor-in-chief of National Geographic to discuss new methods of food production. The views and opinions of the speakers in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.

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How to Talk About Race and Racism (Rebroadcast) Feb 19, 2020

Show notes

When Americans elected their first black president more than a decade ago, some questioned whether the country had transitioned into a post-racial era. But today race is a more prominent and intransigent problem than ever. As the US grapples with issues like identity politics, the Travel Ban, a wall on the southern border, and Black Lives Matter, writers Jelani Cobb and Wajahat Ali question the likelihood of a post-racial America. Cobb, a staff writer at The New Yorker and journalism professor at Columbia, says America needs to closely examine its imperfections and reflect on its history of slavery. He speaks with Ali, a New York Times op-ed contributor. This episode originally dropped in February of 2019. The views and opinions of the speakers in the podcast do not necessarily reflect those of the Aspen Institute.

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