How to Fix It with John Avlon

Latest Episodes:

S2 Ep1: A Civics Deficit in the Classroom Jan 05, 2025

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As schools have continued to emphasize STEM courses and other subjects, civics has largely fallen off the curriculum calendar in most states—and we’re now living in a country roiled by political divisions and fears of violence. Richard Haass joins John to discuss the need for teaching what it means to be an American, the challenges of implementing a national civics curriculum, and how more nonprofit foundations should step up to support a new generation of Schoolhouse Rock-like projects, especially as the 250th anniversary of the U. S. approaches. Amb. Richard Haass joins John Avlon.
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S1 Ep5: Ancient Lessons for Defeating a Demagogue Nov 03, 2024

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The Founding Fathers studied the fall of the Roman Republic, and tried to create a democracy that could withstand someone like Donald Trump. On a special pre-election show, Daily Stoic’s Ryan Holiday talks with John about how history’s lessons can guide us through this perilous time.
Ryan Holiday joins John Avlon.
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Ryan's website, "Daily Stoic"
Ryan's coversation with Mike Duncan

S1 Ep4: The Keys to Solving the Immigration Problem Oct 27, 2024

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The law of supply and demand also applies at the border: We can’t really stop all illegal immigration—in part because of the lure of a better life here, but also because of our own labor needs. And Americans are just too educated for a lot of ordinary but necessary jobs. But a number of fixes could help, including changing asylum rules—a key part of the border bill that Trump had killed.
Linda Chavez joins John Avlon to break it all down.
show notes:
Linda's book, "Out of the Barrio"
Other sources of information on border security and immigration:
https://immigrationforum.org/
https://www.brookings.edu/
https://www.pewresearch.org/

S1 Ep3: Getting Back to the People’s Business Oct 20, 2024

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Former Oklahoma congressman Mickey Edwards sees a way out of our polarizing and divisive politics. He explains to John what voters can do, what Congress can do—and how the schools can help by teaching kids critical thinking skills. Plus, Mickey shares his insights on Kamala from her district attorney days, when she had the makings of a rising star. Mickey Edwards joins John Avlon.
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Books by Mickey Edwards
Book mentioned by Mickey: "The Big Sort," by Bill Bishop
Book mentioned by John: "Burning Down the House," by Julian Zelizer

S1 Ep2: Rolling Back the Phone-Based Childhood Oct 13, 2024

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Rates of depression and anxiety among adolescents shot up around the same time kids were switching from flip phones to smartphones. And as teens were moving more of their social lives online, loneliness and friendlessness surged as well. Jonathan Haidt joins John Avlon to discuss how to restore a play-based childhood—including his prescriptions for parents, schools, and members of Congress.
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Haidt's book, "The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness"
More info on Haidt's "Let Grow" play club
Time article John referenced about uniting America

S1 Ep1: A Poisoning in the Land Oct 03, 2024

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The United States is in the midst of one of the worst drug epidemics it has ever faced, with nearly 80,000 Americans dying every year from fentanyl poisoning. John speaks with Kamal Bherwani, whose 22-year-old son, Ethan, was a victim of the crisis. Bherwani is now on the front lines, fighting for solutions to limit supply, increase enforcement, improve education about the lethal drug, and save lives.Kamal Bherwani joins John Avlon.