Videos

Jacob Mchangama, founder and executive director of the Danish think tank Justitia and the host of the podcast “Clear and Present Danger,” discussed the history of free speech from Socrates…

Columbia University’s Roosevelt Montas, who immigrated to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic in 1985, discussed how books by St. Augustine, Socrates, Freud, and Gandhi changed his life.…

Bowling Green State University Philosophy Professor Hrishikesh Joshi talked about free speech and the free exchange of ideas. This virtual event was hosted by the Manhattan Institute.

Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin discussed truth, misinformation, and the future of democracy with RAND Corporation Strategy Director Jennifer Kavanaugh, the author of the book…

Philosophy professor Teodros Kiros looked at the life and work of author Cornel West. This virtual program was hosted by the Harvard Book Store in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Political Science Professor Ryan Patrick Hanley explained why he believes economist Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments contains advice on how to live well. This virtual event was…

Authors Thomas Ricks (First Principles), Carl Richard (The Founders and the Classics), and Caroline Winterer (The Culture of Classicism), discussed the impact that Greek and Roman philosophers…

Humanities Professor Andrew Curran discussed the life, works, and influence of 18th century French philosopher and writer Denis Diderot. This virtual event was hosted by the Boston Book…

New York University Philosophy Professor Michael Strevens discussed the evolution of scientific thought and how it is applied to modern issues, including COVID-19 and climate change. This…

Bloomberg View columnist Pankaj Mishra offered his critique of liberalism in the West through a collection of essays he wrote between 2008 and 2020. This virtual program was hosted by The New…

University of California, Berkeley professor Judith Butler discussed nonviolence and its power to affect political and social change. This virtual event was hosted by the Bay Area Book…

Steve Davis, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation senior strategy adviser and China country office interim director, shared his thoughts on how leaders and citizens can bring about change…

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg talked about her life and career during the annual “Rathbun Lecture on a Meaningful Life.” After her speech, she was interviewed by Dean Shaw and…

Christopher Hitchens was interviewed about his life, his career, and his body of writing. Topics included his religious and political opinions. He responded to viewer telephone calls and…

Author and commentator William F. Buckley, Jr. talked about his compendium titled Happy Days Were Here Again, published by Random House. The book was a collection of more than 120 articles…

In 1793, President George Washington selected architect William Thornton’s design for the U.S. Capitol. In this program, historian Michael Brown argued that events from the French and Scottish…

Steven Pinker discussed his book, Enlightenment Now: The Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress.

The Atlantic media company held its Ideas Festival in Washington, D.C., featuring Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Kamala Harris (D-CA), former Secretary of State John Kerry, and Federal…

McGill University Professor Jacob Levy talked about how the concept of liberty in Western civilization changed during the 18th and 19th centuries. This session is part of a symposium on…

Author and philosopher A.C. Grayling spoke about the influences on war and democracy. He discussed contemporary threats to democracies relating to populism and authoritarianism, including…