The Brookings Cafeteria

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Defending truth from the war on facts Jun 25, 2021

Show notes

Truth is contested ground. Facts are under attack. From disinformation to conspiracy theories, from social media pile-ons to campus intolerance, Americans are facing an epistemic crisis in their ability to distinguish fact from fiction and truth from falsehood. This episode features the author of a pathbreaking book on this crisis and how we get out of it. Jonathan Rauch, senior fellow in Governance Studies at Brookings, is the author of The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth, just published by the Brookings Institution Press. Rauch is interviewed by Brookings Press Director Bill Finan. Also on this episode, Senior Fellow David Wessel asks six questions about how the U.S. economy and workers will look in a couple of years, after the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/3gS9BaL Follow Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. The Brookings Cafeteria is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

A public reckoning on racial injustice and inequality Jun 18, 2021

Show notes

As the nation observes Juneteenth, we are still grappling with serious issues around civil rights, economic and political inequality, and unfairness in the criminal justice system. Now, a year after widespread protests in the wake of the murder of George Floyd by a police officer once again brought these issues to the top of the national conversation, Makada Henry-Nickie, a fellow in Governance Studies at Brookings and an expert on policies that advance inclusive economic opportunities for disadvantaged families and low-income communities, joins the podcast. In the discussion, she talks about where we've made progress on these issues, but also how much remains to be done. Also on this episode, in a new Sustainable Development Spotlight, Homi Kharas and Amar Bhattacharya from Global Economy and Development at Brookings share their thoughts on the needed reawakening of international cooperation to tackle development and sustainability challenges around the world, especially in emerging markets so badly hurt by the coronavirus pandemic. Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/2UcVpAr Follow Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. The Brookings Cafeteria is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

The race gap in multigenerational poverty; Census 2020 findings Jun 11, 2021

Show notes

On this two-part episode, Senior Fellow William Frey from the Metropolitan Policy Program answers a few questions about recent and upcoming 2020 Census data. Also, Brookings scholar Richard Reeves and AEI scholar Scott Winship discuss the new AEI-Brookings report, "Long shadows: The Black-white gap in multigenerational poverty." 01:30 = Discussion on the Census with William Frey 16:00 = Interview with Richard Reeves and Scott Winship. Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/3x9DGrK Follow Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. The Brookings Cafeteria is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

The art of war in an age of peace Jun 04, 2021

Show notes

The world is in an age of peace, relatively speaking. Great powers are not fighting each other and haven't for a long time. But, the expert guest on this episode says, the United States must stay good at the art of war. Senior Fellow Michael O'Hanlon talks about his new book, "The Art of War in an Age of Peace: U.S. Grand Strategy and Resolute Restraint," published in May by Yale University Press. In it, O'Hanlon presents a national security policy that contends with current challenges like Russia, China, North Korea, and Middle East turmoil, but also calls for attention to new dangers, including biological, nuclear, digital, climatic, and domestic cohesion. In this era, O'Hanlon argues for continued American engagement, military deterrence, and working with allies. Also on this episode, Senior Fellow Molly Reynolds offers her thoughts on what's happening in Congress, especially how the filibuster has shaped recent events in the Senate—including failure to establish a bipartisan commission to investigate the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol—and also how the filibuster will play out in upcoming debates on election reform, lobbying rules, and more. Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/3vy9KoJ Follow Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. The Brookings Cafeteria is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Regulating markets most efficiently May 28, 2021

Show notes

On this episode, an interview with Sanjay Patnaik, director of the Center on Regulation and Markets at Brookings and the Bernard L. Schwartz Chair in Economic Policy Development. He discusses the mission of the center, and also talks about his own research on topics like climate resilience and carbon pricing. Also on this episode, David Wessel, director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, offers his views on why inflation expectations are extremely important. Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/3f2fcKN Follow Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. The Brookings Cafeteria is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

China's middle class in dynamic Shanghai May 21, 2021

Show notes

In his new book, "Middle Class Shanghai: Reshaping U.S.-China Engagement," Brookings expert Cheng Li, who directs the John L. Thornton China Center at Brookings, argues that American policymakers should not overlook the dynamism and diversity in present-day China, exemplified by the city of Shanghai and its expansive and cosmopolitan middle-class culture. Moreover, Li argues, Washington should neither underestimate the role or the strength of the Chinese middle class, nor alienate this force with policies that push it toward nationalism to the detriment of both countries and the global community. On this episode, Brookings Institution Press director Bill Finan talks with Li about his book, a conversation in which Li takes us from his growing up in Shanghai during the Red Terror of the Cultural Revolution; to a Chinese middle class today that enjoys the markers of a middle-class lifestyle; and even to the avant-garde art scene in that city. Also on this episode, Senior Fellow John McArthur, director of the Center for Sustainable Development, explains the "17 Rooms" initiative, an experiment launched by Brookings and The Rockefeller Foundation to stimulate new forms of discussion and action for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/3tZcTfH Follow Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. The Brookings Cafeteria is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Bipartisan criminal justice reform May 14, 2021

Show notes

A discussion on criminal justice reform with Rashawn Ray, a David M. Rubenstein Fellow in Governance Studies at Brookings, and Brent Orrell, a resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, who led the Brookings-AEI Working Group on Criminal Justice Reform. The working group issued the report "A better path forward for criminal justice," featuring essays by more than a dozen experts offering a range of research-grounded policy analysis and ideas to move the criminal justice system toward a more humane and effective footing. Also, Mark Muro, senior fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program, offers his perspective on why the American Rescue Plan's funding for state and local governments supports both innovative recovery solutions but also local discretion, as the case of Indiana demonstrates. Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/3w2v9pR Follow Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. The Brookings Cafeteria is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

How mothers spend their time May 07, 2021

Show notes

More than one in ten mothers of young children left their jobs due to child-care responsibilities at some point in 2020. That's one of ten facts in a new report from The Hamilton Project at Brookings titled, "Ten economic facts on how mothers spend their time," which is the theme of this Mother's Day weekend episode of the Brookings Cafeteria. Lauren Bauer, a fellow in Economic Studies and The Hamilton Project, and one of the report's authors, discusses some of the ways that work, time use, and caregiving have changed for mothers with young children over the last year. Also on this episode, Senior Fellow Sarah Binder discusses what's happening in Congress as President Biden looks ahead to his next 100 days in office. While the first 100 days were largely a legislative and political success for the president and congressional Democrats, Binder says the next 100 days look murkier. Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/33fMuiU Follow Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. The Brookings Cafeteria is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Girls' education is key to climate change solutions Apr 30, 2021

Show notes

Three people involved in addressing climate change through girls' and gender-equal education share their insights and policy ideas about how a green learning agenda can help address the climate crisis through education. Christina Kwauk is a nonresident fellow in the Center for Universal Education at Brookings; Lucia Fry is director of research and policy at Malala Fund; and Raju Narzary is a Malala Fund Education Champion and executive director of North East Research and Social Work Networking in India's Assam State. Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/3xvqZZp Follow Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. The Brookings Cafeteria is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Can Taiwan have security AND the good life? Apr 23, 2021

Show notes

Richard Bush, whose experience with Taiwan spans decades, discusses his new book, "Difficult Choices: Taiwan's quest for security and the good life," just published by the Brookings Institution Press. Also, David Wessel offers his thoughts on the Federal Reserve's approach to inflation, calling it a "big deal." Show notes and transcript: https://brook.gs/32DtgmT Follow Brookings podcasts on Apple or Google podcasts, or on Spotify. Send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. The Brookings Cafeteria is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

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