You Might Be Right - Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs at University of Tennessee

2024 Election – What Did We Learn? Nov 21, 2024

Following an unprecedented presidential campaign, Andy Busch, Associate Director of the Institute of American Civics at the Baker School, and Lindsay Chervinsky, a presidential historian and executive director of the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to debrief the election. What have we learned and what can history tell us about what might be next?

Can the Supreme Court be impartial? Oct 31, 2024

Steve Vladeck, law professor at Georgetown and CNN Supreme Court analyst, and John McGinnis, law professor at Northwestern, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss the impact of polarization and declining public trust on the Supreme Court. Is the Supreme Court as partisan as Americans think it is? Are reforms needed to help rebuild trust?

Can the Constitution help fight polarization? Oct 22, 2024

While constitutional issues are at the heart of many of our disagreements, it may also be the solution to our increasing political polarization. Yuval Levin, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and author of a new book “American Covenant”, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to explore how the Constitution can guide us to disagree constructively and resolve problems.

How has polarization changed governing? – with Anthony Foxx and Margaret Spellings Oct 08, 2024

Anthony Foxx, Secretary of Transportation in the Obama Administration and Margaret Spellings, Secretary of Education in the Bush Administration, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam for a wide-ranging conversation, reflecting on experiences navigating divisions then and the changes they see today. They also share lessons learned while in office, from navigating relationships with the White House and Congress to memorable encounters with Dick Cheney and Grover Norquist. This episode was recorded live at Davidson College in September 2024.

Is the Political Left and Right a Myth? – with Hyrum Lewis and Verlan Lewis Sep 24, 2024

Brothers, professors, and authors Hyrum Lewis and Verlan Lewis join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss their new book “The Myth of Left and Right”, and its premise that the “left” and “right” are social groups united by tribal loyalty rather than consistent philosophies. Could a more multidimensional view of politics improve our civic discourse? This episode was recorded live at the Chattanooga Rotary Club in August 2024.

What does the research say about polarization? Sep 10, 2024

Are Americans as divided as we think we are? To kick off Season Five, Rachel Kleinfeld, Rachel Kleinfeld, an international relations scholar and senior fellow in the Democracy, Conflict and Governance program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, joins Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss what the research says about the roots and repercussions of polarization in American politics.

Phil & Bill Answer Your Questions Aug 20, 2024

Two years and over 200,000 downloads later, "You Might Be Righ"t has inspired listeners nationwide. To mark this milestone, we invited our most avid listeners to ask Governors Bredesen and Haslam questions about the podcast, their time in office, and current hot topics.

What’s Happening with AI Right Now? Aug 06, 2024

Nearly a year after the first You Might Be Right episode on AI, Michael Kratsios, former U.S. Chief Technology Officer, joins Governors Bredesen and Haslam to revisit this rapidly evolving topic. They discuss recent AI developments, its societal impact, and America's role in global tech leadership.

What is the history and future of presidential debates? Jun 24, 2024

Frank Fahrenkopf, co-chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates, joins Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss the history of televised presidential debates, his reaction to two major party campaigns agreeing to debates this year without the Commission’s involvement, and the future of these essential civic events.

How can we disagree better? Mar 26, 2024

Two Governors from adjacent states and opposing parties, Utah’s Spencer Cox (R) and Colorado’s Jared Polis (D), join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to share their “Disagree Better” initiative. They affirm the need to "disagree without hating each other" and explore practical ways to disagree better in everyday life.

Is the Electoral College the best way to elect a president? Mar 12, 2024

Historian Allen Guelzo of Princeton University and political scientist Daniel Ziblatt of Harvard join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to delve into our presidential election process, its history, and arguments for (and against) reform.

What is the Role of Traditional Media in a Presidential Election? Feb 27, 2024

Natalie Allison, national political reporter for Politico, and Dan Balz, Chief Correspondent for The Washington Post, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to examine the evolving role of traditional media in a modern presidential campaign.

Can a Third-Party Candidate Succeed? Feb 13, 2024

Dan DiSalvo, a political scientist and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and Bill Galston, a senior fellow at Brookings and Wall Street Journal columnist, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss our two-party system and if a third-party candidate for president can be successful.

Is Our Primary System Working? Jan 30, 2024

Galen Druke, host and producer of the FiveThirtyEight Politics podcast and Jonah Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief of The Dispatch and host of The Remnant podcast, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to explore the modern presidential primary system – how it evolved, how it works, how it has changed politics, and if it ultimately reflects the will of the people.

Phil and Bill Discuss Their Political Parties Jan 16, 2024

To kick off Season Four, former Tennessee Governors Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam reveal why they chose to be part of their respective political parties and how they are squaring their own values with America’s evolving political landscape. Their conversation was moderated by Marianne Wanamaker, Dean of the Baker School. Season Four of "You Might Be Right" will focus on election-related topics, including partisan primaries, the two-party system and the role of third parties, and the electoral college vs. popular vote.

Phil & Bill Talk Immigration Policy Dec 19, 2023

In this bonus episode, former Tennessee Governors Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam share their own perspectives on immigration, modeling the type of civil debate that “You Might Be Right” seeks to foster. From controlling the border to dealing with illegal immigrants already in the country, work visas, and humanitarian borders, the hosts discuss one of the most divisive – and nuanced – challenges facing the country today.

Carly Fiorina: On Running for President and Staying Engaged in our Democracy Nov 07, 2023

As we approach the 2024 election, 2016 presidential candidate and fmr. HP CEO Carly Fiorina joins Governors Bredesen and Haslam for a wide-ranging discussion about democratic engagement, running for office, and her advice for business leaders.

Our Kids are Struggling. Who Can Help Them? – with Melissa Kearney and Richard Reeves Oct 31, 2023

Recorded live at the Baker School in October 2023, economist Melissa Kearney, author of "The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind," and Brookings Sr. Fellow Richard Reeves, president of the American Institute for Boys and Men, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss the challenges facing America’s youth.

Entrepreneurship: What it takes to be successful, and should government have a role? - with Sarah Bellos and Brad Smith Oct 17, 2023

Recorded live at Launch Tennessee’s 3686 Festival, founders Sarah Bellos of Stony Creek Colors and Brad Smith of Russell Street Ventures join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to explore the interaction between entrepreneurship and public policy.

Affirmative Action and College Admissions: What Happens Now? - with Sarah Isgur and Marie Bigham Oct 03, 2023

Legal analyst Sarah Isgur and fmr. college admissions official Marie Bigham join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss the Supreme Court ruling banning race-conscious admission policies in higher education, responses to the ruling, and what’s next.

How will AI Affect Democracy? - with Sarah Kreps and Bruce Schneier Sep 19, 2023

Dr. Sarah Kreps, a political scientist and director of the Cornell Tech Policy Institute, and Bruce Schneier, a technologist and Harvard Kennedy School lecturer, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to dig into the good, the bad, and the unknown about how AI will impact democracy.

How Secure is Your Vote? – with Brad Raffensperger and Jocelyn Benson Sep 05, 2023

Two Secretaries of State, Brad Raffensperger (R) of Georgia and Jocelyn Benson (D) of Michigan, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam for a conversation about their efforts to safeguard elections and combat misinformation.

Why are there no more Walter Cronkites? - with Judy Woodruff and Chris Stirewalt Jul 18, 2023

Longtime CNN and PBS anchor Judy Woodruff and fmr. Fox News political editor Chris Stirewalt join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss the role the media plays in our democracy and the future of local news.

Do we need a democracy renovation? – with Danielle Allen Jul 04, 2023

Harvard University professor, author, Washington Post columnist, and democracy scholar Danielle Allen joins Governors Bredesen and Haslam to share her vision for shoring up democracy. Allen discusses her work on civics education as the founding director of the Democratic Knowledge Project, specific proposals for a democracy “renovation” such as increasing the size of the U.S. House of Representatives, and how AI might help – or harm – those efforts.

Are Term Limits a Good Idea? - with Lindsay Chervinsky, Lee Drutman and Jerry Seib Jun 20, 2023

Presidential historian Lindsay Chervinsky, New America Foundation senior fellow Lee Drutman, and fmr. WSJ Washington Editor Jerry Seib join Governors Bredesen and Haslam live at George Washington's Mount Vernon to explore the merits and drawbacks of term limits for public officials.

Do we need a new strategy to address disparities in public education? - with Robert Pondiscio and Dr. Carol Johnson-Dean Jun 07, 2023

Robert Pondiscio, American Enterprise Institute sr. fellow, and Dr. Carol Johnson-Dean, fmr. school superintendent in Memphis, Boston, and Minneapolis, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam live at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis to assess the evidence on education reform and explore solutions to persistent achievement gaps.

What are the Best Ways to Address Crime? – with Jennifer Doleac and Ja’Ron Smith May 23, 2023

Economist and Arnold Ventures' incoming Exec. Vice President of Criminal Justice Policy, Jennifer Doleac, and Ja'Ron Smith, Partner with Dentons Global Advisors and fmr. Deputy Asst. to the President for Domestic Policy, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to explore strategies to reduce and deter crime.

Why is it so controversial to teach American history today? – with Jon Meacham and Robert Woodson May 10, 2023

Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian Jon Meacham and Robert Woodson, civil rights activist and Founder and President of the Woodson Center, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss the controversy over teaching United States history.

Introducing season 2 of “You Might Be Right” May 10, 2023

In Season 2, hosts and former Tennessee Governors Bill Haslam and Phil Bredesen hit the road, recording live episodes from the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, and from Mount Vernon outside of Washington D.C. Taking on topics including term limits, teaching history, crime, the media, and education disparities, the Governors and their guests demonstrate that thoughtful civil discourse is possible.

Am I using my morals as a weapon or a gift? - with Arthur Brooks Dec 20, 2022

Dr. Arthur Brooks joins Governors Bredesen and Haslam to offer practical strategies for navigating disagreements in everyday life. Recorded live at the Baker Center, Brooks, a renowned author, Harvard professor, and happiness expert, notes that no one is ever insulted into agreement and discusses how we can disagree better.

What is the future of global trade? - with Fred Smith and Tim Fitzgerald Nov 22, 2022

FedEx Founder/Executive Chairman Frederick Smith and Texas Tech economics professor Tim Fitzgerald join Governors Bredesen and Haslam for a conversation about how the US can balance global trade and competing national priorities. Smith contends that automation has had a greater impact on US manufacturing than offshoring personnel. Fitzgerald suggests that while it is valuable to have sufficient production capacity at home for national defense, geographic diversification of production is also a benefit.

What is the Senate filibuster and why should we care? – with Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker Nov 15, 2022

Former Tennessee Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss the filibuster for a special episode, recorded live at the Baker Center in Knoxville in September 2022. Use of the filibuster, a rule that prevents key nominations and legislation from advancing without the support of 60 senators, is a long-standing practice of the United States Senate and Senators Corker and Alexander discuss how the filibuster works in practice, what they would change, and why it matters.

What still ails us a decade after the Affordable Care Act? – with Nancy-Ann DeParle and Larry Van Horn Oct 26, 2022

Senior Obama official Nancy-Ann DeParle and Vanderbilt professor Larry Van Horn join Governors Bredesen and Haslam for a lookback on the decade after the passage of the Affordable Care Act and offer perspectives on lowering costs and improving outcomes. DeParle, one of the primary architects of the ACA, recounts how the law came together and regrets that the legislation did not receive bipartisan support. Van Horn, a longtime critic of the measure, laments passage of the ACA as a “lost opportunity” and says it did little to address healthcare costs.

What can be done about the affordable housing crisis? – with Laurie Goodman and Erskine Bowles Oct 19, 2022

Erskine Bowles, former White House Chief of Staff, and Laurie Goodman, an Institute fellow and founder of the Housing Finance Policy Center at the Urban Institute, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss the affordable housing crisis. Goodman walks the Governors through a range of zoning and financing policy considerations, while Bowles discusses his work to develop naturally occurring affordable housing – known as NOAHs – in his hometown of Charlotte and how their unique model could be replicated in other cities.

How important is it to address our national debt? – with Paul Ryan and Barry Eichengreen Oct 05, 2022

Former US House Speaker Paul Ryan and Professor Barry Eichengreen join Governors Bredesen and Haslam for an informative conversation about our $31 Trillion national debt. Ryan, now a guest lecturer at Notre Dame and Visiting Fellow with the American Enterprise Institute, says our debt burden is a serious risk, both to our currency and ability to provide for future needs. UC Berkeley’s Eichengreen suggests that some debt is “good” and may be a necessity in times of war or pandemics.

Where do charter schools fit in public education? – with Nina Rees and Kaya Henderson Sep 28, 2022

Nina Rees, President & CEO of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, and Kaya Henderson, CEO of Reconstruction US, co-host of Crooked Media’s “Pod Save the People”, and former Chancellor of DC Public Schools, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss improving student outcomes and the role of public charter schools.

Are we moving fast enough to address climate change? - with Al Gore and Jeff Lyash Sep 21, 2022

Former Vice President Al Gore, Founder & Chairman of the Climate Reality Project, recounts the bipartisan history of environmental legislation including Howard Baker’s decisive support for the Clean Air and Clean Water Acts. TVA’s Jeff Lyash, President & CEO of the nation’s largest public utility, discusses the future of energy in light of climate change and the need to reduce carbon emissions, including the use of new and existing nuclear power plants.

What can we do about gun violence? - with Arne Duncan and David French Sep 14, 2022

From red flag laws to gun idolatry and the impact of the new bipartisan gun bill, Arne Duncan, former U.S. Secretary of Education, and David French, Senior Editor of The Dispatch, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss ways to address gun violence. Duncan, founder of Chicago CRED, discusses his nonprofit’s work to reduce gun violence in his hometown. French, a constitutional lawyer and conservative commentator, shares his views on the “deep responsibility” he has as a gun owner and how he came to support red flag laws.

Introducing “You Might Be Right” Aug 29, 2022

Introducing “You Might Be Right,” a new podcast from the Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy at the University of Tennessee that seeks to facilitate civil conversations about tough topics like gun violence, climate change and the national debt.

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