Jeffrey Rosen on Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton and America's enduring questions

Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton stand astride the core debates in American history from neutrality to civil rights and beyond. New York Times bestselling author and constitutional scholar Jeffrey Rosen traces that history, the rise and falls of each man’s reputation, and the enduring questi…

Ambassador David McKean and M. Todd Bennett on the enduring challenges and promise of the American republic

Two-hundred and fifty years ago, patriots gathered in Philadelphia declared America’s independence from England. Former U.S. ambassador David McKean and historian M. Todd Bennett explore the celebrations that have followed every 50 years since, revealing the enduring challenges and promise of the A…

Jamie Metzl on the intersection of AI and our common moral code

Scholars of religion and philosophy, and even some spiritual leaders, have long identified key similarities in the world’s different moral codes. Author and futurist Jamie Metzl asks whether artificial intelligence can distill a compelling moral code that synthesizes the greatest thinking from acro…

Exploring the new age of journalism with Matthew Watkins

The prognosticators of doom for traditional newspapers are everywhere and it’s hard to argue with them. But for more than a decade, Matthew Watkins has been part of a new model of non-profit journalism at The Texas Tribune as editor in chief.

Exploring Soccer's Rich History in the Context of Today's World Cup with Nick Greene

To Americans, it’s soccer. To most of the rest of the world, it’s football. Author and journalist Nick Greene traces the evolution of the game played with our feet from a 19th century British past-time to today’s glittering World Cup. 

Exploring the Past Through Historical Fiction with Dolen Perkins-Valdez

For all the pages and documents in libraries and archives around the world, there are some stories that remain veiled in mystery. Through her historical fiction, award-winning author Dolen Perkins-Valdez helps us understand events and people largely lost to the passage of time. 

Exploring the complex history of American-Iranian relations with Scott Anderson

The history of American-Iranian relations is complex, sometimes contradictory, and repeatedly violent. Author Scott Anderson explains that history with a special focus on the Islamic revolution in Iran, the fracture that followed, and its continued relevance today.

Exploring the concept of stupidity with Stuart Jeffries

Journalist Stuart Jeffries explores the concept of stupidity from the ideas of ancient philosophers to today’s age of AI, examining how it has been defined throughout history and how it is monetized and exploited in contemporary culture.

Increasing arts accessibility with Pam Breaux and Todd Trebour

Democratic societies can choose to either let the arts remain the domain of elite society—or a shared expression of community accessible to all. Pam Breaux and Todd Trebour are champions of the arts, on a mission to make them accessible to the largest number of Americans.

Diving into the literary world of Megha Majumdar

Literature’s power comes from its ability to see not just from the eyes of the hero, but the villain, too. Author Megha Majumdar brings us into that literary world with a tale of scarcity and desperation set in the not-too-distant future of her native Kolkata, India.