Should Extinct Animals Stay Extinct? (Encore)
Once a sci-fi fantasy explored in films like “Jurassic Park,” some biological and technological breakthroughs indicate that reviving extinct...
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News & Politics
Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates
Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates bring Oxford-style debate to America – one motion, one moderator, two panelists for the motion and two against. From clean energy and the financial crisis,...
Episodes
20 of 484 episodes
Think Twice: Navigating the Election Cycle & Civic Power with Eric Liu
Amid deep political division and ahead of the midterms, what does good citizenship require? In his new book, “Live Like a Citizen,” Citizen...
Should We Phase Out Social Security?
Social Security has long been a cornerstone of American retirement, but as the trust fund grows closer to depletion by 2032, should the syst...
Does the U.S.-Saudi Civil Nuclear Agreement Serve America's Interests?
The U.S. and Saudi Arabia have signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement that supporters say could strengthen ties, advance normalization...
Is the United Nations Obsolete? (Encore)
As world attention descends on the United Nations General Assembly, Open to Debate is once again casting a critical lens on this over 80-yea...
Is Parenting Overrated? (Encore)
What shapes us more: our DNA or the way we’re raised? The “nature” camp points to genetic research and studies of twins raised apart, arguin...
Is America Ready for a Four-Day Work Week?
A century after Henry Ford helped popularize the five-day, 40-hour week, could working 32 hours be next? Supporters say shorter weeks can im...
Is Capitalism Broken?
Capitalism has long been credited with driving innovation and prosperity, yet many Americans increasingly believe the system is no longer wo...
Can Humans Adapt to Climate Change? (Encore)
The dangers of climate change are “no longer over the horizon.” Humanity may soon pass the “point of no return.” These are the phrases U.N....
Is Death Final? (Encore)
Near-death experiences have long challenged our understanding of consciousness and mortality. Some who come close to death report leaving th...
Are Primary Elections Ruining Democracy? (Encore)
The midterms are coming up this fall, and right now we are in the middle of a contentious primary season, with a lot of new faces challengin...
America 250: Is It Time To Stop Idolizing the Founders?
As America celebrates 250 years since the Declaration of Independence, the legacy of the Founders is under renewed scrutiny. Were they visio...
Should the Death Penalty Be Abolished?
Fifty years after the Supreme Court reinstated capital punishment, the death penalty remains one of America's most divisive issues. Supporte...
Generational Divides with Nick Gillespie: Are We Overcomplicating Love and Sex?
Forget "happily ever after." As marriage and birth rates fall, young adults have less sex, and assumptions about love and commitment are bei...
Who Is Winning the Iran War: Tehran or Trump?
After signing a Memorandum of Understanding in June, the U.S. and Iran entered a delicate peace. As negotiators worked toward a permanent de...
BONUS: The Blessings of Liberty: Jeffrey Rosen & Ken Burns on America’s 250th
As a bonus, today we’re sharing a special episode of The Blessings of Liberty, a new podcast from Open to Debate debater Jeffrey Rosen and o...
Is the American Dream in Decline?
The American Dream – the idea that anyone can achieve success in the U.S. through hard work and determination – is under scrutiny, and some...
The Pursuit of Happiness: Virtue or Pleasure?
Happiness is a complex emotion and mental state that can be achieved through virtue or pleasure. But should it be for the good of the indivi...
World on the Brink?
As the Iran war reshapes the Middle East and raises new questions about America’s role in the world, Danielle Pletka and Julia Ioffe join mo...
Is It Ethical To Cooperate With Chinese State Institutions To Secure Incremental Change?
As democratic governments, universities, and civil society organizations grapple with how to engage China, an ethical question persists: sho...