Chris Riback's Conversations - Engaging conversations with thinkers

Fintan O’Toole: Brexit and The Politics of Pain

November 12, 2019 admin International Affairs

If you’re feeling lousy about the state of politics in America, now might be the time to surround yourself with some Brits. As they surely must ask about us: What in the world is going on over there?

For this podcast, I read the opening statement of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander S. Vindman to the US House Impeachment Investigators on October 29.

LTC Alexander S. Vindman: Opening Statement to US House Impeachment Investigators

October 31, 2019 admin International Affairs, Public Policy

For this podcast, I read the opening statement of Lieutenant Colonel Alexander S. Vindman to the US House Impeachment Investigators on October 29.

For this podcast, I read the opening statement of Amb. William B. Taylor, the senior U.S. diplomat in Ukraine, who testified behind closed doors before the U.S. House Impeachment Investigators on Oct. 22.

Amb. William B. Taylor: Opening Statement to US House Impeachment Investigators

October 29, 2019 admin International Affairs, Public Policy

For this podcast, I read the opening statement of Amb. William B. Taylor, the senior US diplomat in Ukraine, who testified behind closed doors before the US House Impeachment Investigators on Oct. 22.

When considering Trump’s immigration policy, it's hard to get past the headlines. But Hirschfeld Davis & Shear's story offers an incredibly useful way to consider the entire Trump presidency and address central questions: Who are we, and what is America?

Julie Hirschfeld Davis & Michael D. Shear: Inside Trump’s Assault on Immigration

October 18, 2019 admin Politics, Public Policy

When considering Trump’s immigration policy, it’s hard to get past the headlines. But Hirschfeld Davis & Shear’s story offers an incredibly useful way to consider the entire Trump presidency and address central questions: Who are we, and what is America?

Is our best hope to stop global warming and save the planet the exact formula that created the mess in the first place? Andrew McAfee argues for capitalism & technology in “More From Less”

Andrew McAfee: Why Capitalism & Technology Will Save the Planet

October 11, 2019 admin Business & Economics, Culture, Public Policy, Science

Is our best hope to stop global warming and save the planet the exact formula that created the mess in the first place? Andrew McAfee argues for capitalism & technology in “More From Less”

Isaac Stone Fish: Where Do US-China Relations Go Next?

October 4, 2019 admin Business & Economics, International Affairs

As the 2020 campaign heats up, several key questions will be asked and debated, including: How did we get here – and where do China and Chinese-U.S. relations go next?

Poniewozik explains how Trump merged with televsion to become president -- and what happened to us: How, as TV & media changed over the last decades, so did we.

James Poniewozik: How the Trump Show Happened

September 27, 2019 admin Culture, Politics

Poniewozik explains how “a volcanic, camera-hogging antihero merged with America’s most powerful medium to become our 45th president.” He also explains what happened to us – how, as TV & media changed over the last decades, so did we. And you might not like what we’ve become.

Philip Mudd explains the state of our national intelligence and law enforcement agencies -- and revisits the CIA's Black Sites, where our national debates on torture, waterboarding, counterterrorism, and the deep responsibility to prevent another attack were born.

Philip Mudd: Trump & the Attack on U.S. Intelligence + Discussion of “Black Site”

August 2, 2019 admin International Affairs, Public Policy

Philip Mudd explains the state of our national intelligence and law enforcement agencies — and revisits the CIA’s Black Sites, where our debates on torture, counterterrorism & the responsibility to prevent another attack were born

The GOP change has been swift, stark, and you might be led to believe, all because of one person: Donald Trump. But is that true? Was Trump the cause or the most logical outcome? Perhaps more importantly, is there any going back? Is the GOP now the POT – the Party of Trump? Most simply: Is the Republican Party dead?

Tim Alberta: How Trump Filled the GOP Leadership Vacuum

July 26, 2019 admin Politics

The GOP change has been swift, stark, and you might be led to believe, all because of one person: Donald Trump. But is that true? Was Trump the cause or the most logical outcome? And is there any going back?

Tsai explains how legal ideas that aren’t necessarily about equality at all — ensuring fair play, acting reasonably, avoiding cruelty, and protecting free speech — have been used to overcome inequality in the past and can serve as potent alternative tools to promote equality today.

Robert Tsai: Is Justice Possible? Your Supreme Court Questions Answered

July 19, 2019 admin Public Policy

Robert Tsai explains how legal ideas that aren’t necessarily about equality at all — ensuring fair play, acting reasonably, avoiding cruelty, and protecting free speech — have been used to overcome inequality in the past and can serve as potent alternative tools to promote equality today.

It was the Supreme Court session Democrats feared and Republicans had waited a generation for – a solidly conservative 5-4 majority. So how’d it go? Adam Liptak explains.

Adam Liptak: How Far Did Trump Tip the Supreme Court Balance?

July 12, 2019 admin Public Policy

It was the Supreme Court session Democrats feared and Republicans had waited a generation for – a solidly conservative 5-4 majority. So how’d it go?

How is today’s polarized, disrupted world one in which Russia can thrive? That’s what Angela Stent explains through history and analysis in her remarkable new book, "Putin's World: Russia Against the West and with the Rest."

Angela Stent: Explaining Putin’s World

July 5, 2019 admin International Affairs, Public Policy

How is today’s polarized, disrupted world one in which Russia can thrive? That’s what Angela Stent explains through history and analysis in her remarkable new book, “Putin’s World: Russia Against the West and with the Rest.”

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