In the flush of youth, some of us are prone to great bouts of certainty, seriousness, and risk-taking. Others are more cautious. And some just want to have fun—sometimes at all costs. Tara Isabella Burton is an author whose recent novel explores the timelessness of coming-of-age stories with a very modern tale of her own.  

Burton’s debut novel “Social Creature,” was named book of the year by The Guardian, New York’s Vulture and The New York Times in 2018. In 2022, she published her second novel with Simon & Schuster, titled “The World Cannot Give.” In 2020, she released her first nonfiction book, “Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World,” which prominent disability rights activist Tim Shriver celebrated as “the most thoughtful analysis of our current spiritual crisis anywhere.”. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal, Granta, The Washington Post, and much more. In June 2023 her fourth book, Self-Made: Curating Our Image from Da Vinci to the Kardashians” will be published by Public Affairs. 

In the flush of youth, some of us are prone to great bouts of certainty, seriousness, and risk-taking. Others are more cautious. And some just want to have fun—sometimes at all costs. Tara Isabella Burton is an author whose recent novel explores the timelessness of coming-of-age stories with a very modern tale of her own.  
Burton’s debut novel “Social Creature,” was named book of the year by The Guardian, New York’s Vulture and The New York Times in 2018. In 2022, she published her second novel with Simon &amp; Schuster, titled “The World Cannot Give.” In 2020, she released her first nonfiction book, “Strange Rites: New Religions for a Godless World,” which prominent disability rights activist Tim Shriver celebrated as “the most thoughtful analysis of our current spiritual crisis anywhere.”. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, National Geographic, The Wall Street Journal, Granta, The Washington Post, and much more. In June 2023 her fourth book, Self-Made: Curating Our Image from Da Vinci to the Kardashians” will be published by Public Affairs.

Story in the Public Square is a weekly, 30-minute series that brings audiences to the intersection of storytelling and public affairs. Hosted by Jim Ludes and G. Wayne Miller, Story in the Public Square offers a spirited but respectful dialogue. Often funny, always provocative, each episode of Story in the Public Square
moves beyond traditional public affairs programming to consider the impact of narrative and storytelling on public life today.

Story in the Public Square is a weekly, 30-minute series that brings audiences to the intersection of storytelling and public affairs. Hosted by Jim Ludes and G. Wayne Miller, Story in the Public Square offers a spirited but respectful dialogue. Often funny, always provocative, each episode of Story in the Public Square moves beyond traditional public affairs programming to consider the impact of narrative and storytelling on public life today.

Season 13

Story in the Public Square

Exploring our Hunger for Meaning and Experience with Tara Isabella Burton

Throughout the campaign of 2024, President Donald Trump promised to use tariffs to reset America’s global trade relationships, revitalize American manufacturing, and increase government revenues—and in the first months of his second administration, the president has used tariffs and the threat of tariffs to drive concessions even while raising antagonism and roiling markets. Kimberly Clausing helps us distinguish between the rhetoric and the reality of these tariffs.  

Clausing is an expert on the taxation of multinational firms. She served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tax Analysis in the U.S. Department of the Treasury, serving as the lead economist in the Office of Tax Policy during the Biden administration. She is a nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Clausing has worked on economic policy research with the International Monetary Fund, the Hamilton Project, the Brookings Institution, the Tax Policy Center, and the Center for American Progress. She has testified before the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Committee on Finance, the Senate Committee on the Budget, and the Joint Economic Committee. Her research examines how government decisions and corporate behavior interplay in the global economy. She has published numerous articles on the taxation of multinational firms, and she is the author of “Open: The Progressive Case for Free Trade, Immigration, and Global Capital.”  

Throughout the campaign of 2024, President Donald Trump promised to use tariffs to reset America&rsquo;s global trade relationships, revitalize American manufacturing, and increase government revenues&mdash;and in the first months of his second administration, the president has used tariffs and the threat of tariffs to drive concessions even while raising antagonism and roiling markets. Kimberly Clausing helps us distinguish between the rhetoric and the reality of these tariffs. &nbsp;
Clausing is an expert on the taxation of multinational firms. She served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Tax Analysis in the U.S. Department of the Treasury, serving as the lead economist in the Office of Tax Policy during the Biden administration. She is a nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. Clausing has worked on economic policy research with the International Monetary Fund, the Hamilton Project, the Brookings Institution, the Tax Policy Center, and the Center for American Progress. She has testified before the House Ways and Means Committee, the Senate Committee on Finance, the Senate Committee on the Budget, and the Joint Economic Committee. Her research examines how government decisions and corporate behavior interplay in the global economy. She has published numerous articles on the taxation of multinational firms, and she is the author of &ldquo;Open: The Progressive Case for Free Trade, Immigration, and Global Capital.&rdquo; &nbsp;

May 5, 2025: Kimberly Clausing

Eighty years ago, mothers with sons and husbands at war in Europe could celebrate the end of the war there, even as they worried about the possibility their loved ones might be heading to the invasion of Japan. Tim Gray has made his life’s work about telling the stories of those heroes, their sacrifices, and their legacy.   

Gray is a documentary filmmaker and founder and president of The World War II Foundation. He has won 5 Regional Emmy Awards in the documentary film writing and outstanding documentary film categories. He has also received four Indie Film Fest Awards in that international competition and two Impact Doc Awards. Gray has completed 38 documentaries to date. Tim Gray Media films consistently rank nationally in the top 5 of most requested programs by PBS and Public Television affiliates. Gray also hosts the “From the Front to the Films” podcast, which features well-known actors, authors, filmmakers, veterans, and others connected to World War II. He has also been a frequent guest on FOX News’ national program, “The Story with Martha MacCallum,” where he contributes to the network’s coverage of WWII events, issues, and stories. Gray sits on the Advisory Board of Patriots’ Hall of Dripping Springs, a foundation established by Emmy Award-winning actor Kyle Chandler and his wife Kathryn. Patriots’ Hall is a permanent retreat and resource base for veterans of all ages and military branches to connect and find support. 

Eighty years ago, mothers with sons and husbands at war in Europe could celebrate the end of the war there, even as they worried about the possibility their loved ones might be heading to the invasion of Japan.&nbsp;Tim Gray has made his life&rsquo;s work about telling the stories of those heroes, their sacrifices, and their legacy.&nbsp; &nbsp;
Gray is a documentary filmmaker and founder and president of The World War II Foundation. He has won 5 Regional Emmy Awards in the documentary film writing and outstanding documentary film categories. He has also received four Indie Film Fest Awards in that international competition and two Impact Doc Awards. Gray has completed 38 documentaries to date. Tim Gray Media films consistently rank nationally in the top 5 of most requested programs by PBS and Public Television affiliates. Gray also hosts the &ldquo;From the Front to the Films&rdquo; podcast, which features well-known actors, authors, filmmakers, veterans, and others connected to World War II. He has also been a frequent guest on FOX News&rsquo; national program, &ldquo;The Story with Martha MacCallum,&rdquo; where he contributes to the network&rsquo;s coverage of WWII events, issues, and stories. Gray sits on the Advisory Board of Patriots&rsquo; Hall of Dripping Springs, a foundation established by Emmy Award-winning actor Kyle Chandler and his wife Kathryn. Patriots&rsquo; Hall is a permanent retreat and resource base for veterans of all ages and military branches to connect and find support.&nbsp;

Reflecting on World War II 80 years later with Tim Gray

Most of us can probably point to examples of people who suffered from racism, or who overcame racism.  But Keon West reminds us all that “the plural of anecdote is not data” and that science actually has a lot to say about the reality of racism today—if we take the time to consider it and really understand.   

West is a social psychologist and an Associate Professor at Goldsmiths, University of London. He has also worked at the University of Leeds and the University of Roehampton, both in the U.K. His research interests include stigma, bias and perceptions of people from other groups. Much of his prior research specifically investigated the contact hypothesis and its derivatives. Recently, however, his recent research has developed a stronger focus on gender identity, perceptions of sexuality and sexual orientation, sexism and anti-LGBT prejudice. As well as publishing a number of scientific papers each year, West has disseminated his findings in the broader media. He has appeared multiple times in various national and international outlets including the Guardian and the BBC. Though he currently lives in London, he grew up in Jamaica and has also lived in the United States and France.  He received a B.A. in Psychology from Macalester College, St. Paul, MN, and a doctorate in Experimental Psychology from Oxford University. 

Most of us can probably point to examples of people who suffered from racism, or who overcame racism.&nbsp; But Keon West reminds us all that &ldquo;the plural of anecdote is not data&rdquo; and that science actually has a lot to say about the reality of racism today&mdash;if we take the time to consider it and really understand.&nbsp; &nbsp;
West is a social psychologist and an Associate Professor at Goldsmiths, University of London. He has also worked at the University of Leeds and the University of Roehampton, both in the U.K. His research interests include stigma, bias and perceptions of people from other groups. Much of his prior research specifically investigated the contact hypothesis and its derivatives. Recently, however, his recent research has developed a stronger focus on gender identity, perceptions of sexuality and sexual orientation, sexism and anti-LGBT prejudice. As well as publishing a number of scientific papers each year, West has disseminated his findings in the broader media. He has appeared multiple times in various national and international outlets including the Guardian and the BBC. Though he currently lives in London, he grew up in Jamaica and has also lived in the United States and France. &nbsp;He received a B.A. in Psychology from Macalester College, St. Paul, MN, and a doctorate in Experimental Psychology from Oxford University.&nbsp;

Exploring our Hunger for Meaning and Experience with Tara Isabella Burton

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