Deep Dive with Laura Arnold

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Latest Episodes:

'A Firestorm of Polarization' Nov 02, 2021

Laura Arnold sits down with former presidential candidate Andrew Yang and Stanford professor Larry Diamond, a leading scholar in democracy reform, to discuss the crisis eating away at American democracy and potential solutions, including ranked-choice voting.

A Lifetime Sentence to Poverty Jul 15, 2021

America’s criminal justice system has exploded in scope over recent decades and the punishment for these individuals does not always end when they leave prison or jail. In this episode of Deep Dive, Laura Arnold sits down with three guests to examine the vast and complex web of legal barriers and exclusions that people with criminal records face, the way these barriers reinforce racial inequity and the implications for society writ large.

The accountability crisis in higher education May 03, 2021

Nearly two out of every five students who start a full-time, four-year undergraduate program drop out. This is especially true for part-time students, low-income students and students of color. The U.S. higher education system is clearly broken, yet solutions have remained elusive because of a lack of data needed to answer basic questions about a school’s performance.

Has the Gun Reform Debate Reached a Tipping Point? Apr 15, 2021

Recent mass shootings in Georgia and Colorado have spurred cries for change, including President Biden's effort to ban assault rifles. But will this moment be any different? In this episode, Laura Arnold sits down with four experts on gun violence prevention to discuss the evidence about the causes of gun violence and effective approaches to prevention. Together, they dissect the political dynamics that continue to stand in the way of action.

Confronting racism in policing Mar 31, 2021

The video of police officer Derek Chauvin pressing his knee into George Floyd’s neck for approximately 9 minutes served as the spark that ignited a tinder box of demonstrations calling for police reform. We examine the root causes of the accountability crisis in policing and the impacts on communities of color; outline the various policies that have been proposed and the evidence on their effectiveness; and explore what’s next in this movement to effect change in policing.

Democracy in Crisis Jan 28, 2021

Systemic failures in the nation’s electoral and legislative systems have led to extreme polarization and partisan rancor, raising questions about whether American democracy is still working. This episode examines three possible improvements: ranked-choice voting, open primaries, and changes in legislative rulemaking.

Money Bail in California Oct 26, 2020

Voters in California have a historic issue in front of them on election day: whether to become the first state to abolish money bail and replace it with a system centered on safety, not money, or stick with the status quo. This episode, which includes interviews with California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Alliance for Safety and Justice President Lenore Anderson, examines ballot measure Prop. 25 and explores how California's decision could have a dramatic impact on the national movement for bail reform.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Reform Apr 30, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic is having a devastating impact on families, individuals, and organizations around the world. The global health crisis has touched virtually every aspect of our lives, from the way we interact with one another to the manner in which we work and travel. In this episode, we take a closer look at how the work at Arnold Ventures is adjusting to the "new normal" in two critical areas, criminal justice and health care.

Your Money or Your Freedom Mar 03, 2020

Right now in the United States, there are almost 500,000 people being held behind bars who have yet to receive their day in court. In the vast majority of those cases, the defendant is being held simply because they cannot meet the financial demands imposed by a money bail system. In short, they do not have enough money to buy their freedom. Now, in the midst of a reform movement, the fundamental fairness of that system is being questioned. But reform is also giving rise to a new question, "what should the new system look like?"

The Dire State of America's Organ Donation System Feb 05, 2020

There are 115,000 Americans on an organ transplant waiting list, and their future health hangs on several different factors — age, blood type, condition — that play a key role in determining who gets placed next in a potentially life-saving line. But another key factor is the answer to one simple question: How good is the government contractor where you live?

"Dollar Signs in Uniform" Jan 08, 2020

For 75 years, the GI Bill has provided military service members with invaluable educational opportunities. And for just as long, for-profit colleges and universities have sought to gain and maintain access to that funding stream. In this episode, we examine some of the questionable recruiting tactics being employed by the institutions and discuss ways in which the system can be improved for the brave men and women who have proudly served.

The Fight for $15 Dec 09, 2019

It's a heated debate that's unfolding at the federal, state, and local levels. What is the appropriate minimum wage that employers must pay their workers in the United States? On the latest episode of the podcast Deep Dive with Laura Arnold: a closer look at "the fight for $15," and whether mandatory wage increases are a benefit to workers or a jobs killer.

The Hidden Costs of Fines & Fees Nov 06, 2019

Criminalizing poverty in America. For too many, it starts with a traffic ticket and can end with lost jobs, homes, and even dignity. On the latest episode of the podcast Deep Dive with Laura Arnold: a closer look at the hidden price tag behind our outdated system of courthouse fines and fees.

A Conversation in Cambridge Oct 04, 2019

Even though it's been around for almost 400 years, most Americans know very little about the inner workings of Harvard University. But with University President Lawrence Bacow at the helm, that trend is beginning to change. In this episode, Laura Arnold covers a wide range of topics, from immigration to the skyrocketing cost of tuition and beyond.

Cheating Between the Lines Aug 29, 2019

The practice of gerrymandering is more than 200 years old in the United States, and yet its impact on our nation's politics is likely stronger today than at any other time in our American history. Drawing voting maps with pure political partisanship in mind may seem inherently wrong, but the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that it's not necessarily illegal. In this episode, hear from the attorney at the heart of the most recent case, and from a twenty-something activist in Michigan who used social media channels to spark a state-level movement against the practice of gerrymandering.

Bootleggers and Baptists Jul 31, 2019

In today's toxic political environment, reaching any type of bipartisan agreement can seem like an impossible goal. But criminal justice reform is one issue area where the left and the right routinely manage to form coalitions with one another. So, exactly how does that happen, and how can we replicate the results in other important issue areas? In this episode, we bring together leaders from the left-leaning ACLU and the conservative campaign Right on Crime, and we ask them, "How do you find middle ground with one another when the rest of the country appears to be headed in opposite directions?"

The High Cost of Higher Education Jun 27, 2019

It's one of the larger investments that most people will make during their lifetime, and yet, making sure that a college degree leads to a solid return on the original investment isn't always easy. A lack of transparency and accountability within the higher education system often leads to confusion for the very students who are looking to mark a clear path for their future. In this episode of "Deep Dive with Laura Arnold," we speak with education experts in order to identify exactly where the system is failing, and what steps might trigger improvement.

Probation and Parole in America May 29, 2019

Each year in America, almost 350,000 people are incarcerated for some sort of violation of their probation or parole conditions. Often, these violations involve technical infractions that are as commonplace as a traffic violation but can result in multi-year prison sentences. Rap artist and activist Meek Mill is someone who knows all about the pitfalls of this particular area of the criminal justice system. Fourteen years after a questionable arrest in his hometown of Philadelphia, Mill is still trying to navigate a system that he feels places unreasonable requirements on those who are conditionally released from prison. In this episode, Mill discusses his personal experiences and what it was like to be at the center of a reform movement, and offers insight on how the current system may be improved.

Drug Pricing in America Apr 16, 2019

How do you set a price on staying alive? In this episode of “Deep Dive,” Arnold Ventures Co-Chair Laura Arnold sits down with David Mitchell, founder of Patients for Affordable Drugs, who began his fight for drug pricing reform after a devastating diagnosis of an incurable blood cancer. The cost to keep him alive each year: $325,000. They discuss a broken system built to serve those who profit—rather than patients who depend on it for their health—and bust myths perpetuated by pharma to justify high prices.

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