Ideas in Action with Jim Glassman
By Ideas in Action
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Description
Ideas in Action with Jim Glassman is a new half-hour weekly series on ideas and their consequences. Each edition of the new series, hosted by veteran journalist, scholar and diplomat Jim Glassman, will present a discussion of trends, conditions, and ideas at the heart of the important issues of the day. Viewers engage with a diverse group of economists, historians, anthropologists, political scientists, demographers, and social philosophers, as well as authorities from many other disciplines. Andrew Walworth is Executive Producer. Ideas in Action is a coproduction of Grace Creek Media and The George W. Bush Institute and is distributed to public television by Executive Program Services.
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1 |
CleanAutomation Nation: Will Robots Take Our Jobs? | A debate on the future of the American economy and the role of intelligent computers and robots. Will rapid technological innovations aid American workers, or will it render large numbers of American workers obsolete? | 12/8/2014 | Free | View In iTunes |
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2 |
CleanInterview with World Bank President Robert Zoellick: Prospects for Economic Development, Part 1 | Is investing in women 'smart economics?' World Bank President Robert Zoellick thinks so. The Bank has programs in Afghanistan, the Middle East and elsewhere that help women become educated, gain better access to health care, and start small businesses. In this one on one interview, Jim asks Zoellick why the empowerment of women is crucial to the overall wellbeing of these regions. Will the turmoil in the Arab World help or hinder women? And how can the World Bank - and the U.S. - ensure women's rights are protected? | 10/30/2013 | Free | View In iTunes |
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3 |
CleanAcademically Adrift: How College Students and Professors Aren't Making the Grade | A college education is still considered key to the American dream. But is that dream hollow? “Academically Adrift” a new book by two college professors contends that a surprising number of today’s college students show little-to-no improvement in critical thinking or written communication throughout their time at college. So why aren’t our college students learning more – and are any schools getting it right? | 10/10/2013 | Free | View In iTunes |
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4 |
CleanAmy Chua's "Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother" | Amy Chua is the author of the best selling book “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother” – a memoir relating her experience raising two daughters using strict parenting techniques similar to the ones used by her Chinese immigrant parents. Amy Chua is the John M. Duff Professor of Law at Yale Law School. She specializes in the study of international business transactions, law and development, ethnic conflict, and globalization and the law. She is the author of two other books: “World on Fire: How exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability” and “Day of Empire: How Hyperpowers Rise to Global Dominance – and Why They Fall.” | 10/4/2013 | Free | View In iTunes |
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5 |
CleanThe Next Digital Decade: How Will the Internet Change by 2020? | A new book of essays, "The Next Digital Decade: Essays on the Future of the Internet," by some of the most insightful observers of the internet age, asks what the next decade will bring in technological innovation, cultural change, regulation and the role of the government in the next phase of the evolving internet. Two guests who contributed essays to the book discuss their views about the effect of innovation and the role government will play in the evolution of the internet. | 9/12/2013 | Free | View In iTunes |
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6 |
CleanHow Should the United States Wield Power in a Changing World? | In his new book, Nye writes, "It is currently fashionable to predict a decline in the United States' power. But the United States is not in absolute decline, and in relative terms, there is reasonable probability that it will remain more powerful than any other state in the coming decades." Forty years ago Nye formulated the term "soft power" to describe diplomacy, communications and cultural influence as a force equal to and at times more desirable than the hard power of military dominance. Given the economic changes and the threat of terrorism in the world today, two eminent scholars debate the best way for the United States to wield its power now. | 8/8/2013 | Free | View In iTunes |
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7 |
CleanPension Armageddon: Can Cities Save Public Employee Pensions? | State and municipal government leaders across the country are coming face-to-face with a reality they - and the public employees they work with - have long sought to delay. Public pension obligations - for teachers, police officers, firefighters and other civil servants are beginning to break the bank. Pension plans that provide unlimited health care, set benefits for life and the option to retire at an early age are no longer sustainable as the work force shrinks along with budgets. How can local and state government leaders provide benefits that were promised to current retirees while cutting pension promises to current workers? | 6/27/2013 | Free | View In iTunes |
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8 |
CleanNet Neutrality: Who Should Control the Internet? | Over the past decade, the Internet has expanded enormously, changing the lives of Americans. Unlike other forms of communication, like telephones and television, the Internet has expanded largely without regulation. But that may be changing. As the use videos increases, the companies that provide the pipelines for Internet access may be running out of space. Many people and businesses worry that these companies will begin to limit their access to the Internet in a way it’s never been limited before. How to resolve this issue is a high-stakes Washington question, with billions of dollars and some very important principles – like free speech and free enterprise – at stake. | 6/12/2013 | Free | View In iTunes |
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9 |
CleanFrom Egypt to Iran? | With uprisings in Egypt, Tunisia and Yemen, the political landscape of the Middle East has seemingly changed overnight. Millions are marching for freedom and democratic government: some leaders are fleeing, others are fighting to stay in power. Can this unrest be traced to Iran's Green Movement of 2009 that was so violently suppressed, and will the spark of democracy find its way back to Iran? | 4/26/2013 | Free | View In iTunes |
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10 |
CleanMexico: Taming the Drug Cartels | Opinions vary about how close Mexico is to becoming a failed state. Drug cartels control the municipal workings of entire areas of the country; the police, elected officials and the judiciary, and corruption is rampant. The US and Mexico share a significant border and huge amounts of goods and people flow between them. What are the risks to the US if Mexico sinks into anarchy and what should we be doing now to prevent it? | 4/10/2013 | Free | View In iTunes |
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11 |
CleanBritish Austerity: Should the US Try Cutting Costs UK-Style? | British leaders are adopting a plan to cut public spending in that country by $131 billion dollars. The revolutionary plan will cut public housing subsidies by 80% and could cost the jobs of as many as 750,000 public sector employees. By cutting public spending and raising some taxes, government leaders are hoping to avoid a second recession and whittle down the budget deficit. With the US facing record budget deficits, and the last election seen as a referendum on overspending by the federal government, what can US leaders learn from the British? | 4/3/2013 | Free | View In iTunes |
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12 |
CleanCancer: An Interview with the author of The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer | Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, an oncologist and medical researcher at Columbia University, has written a comprehensive book examining the history of cancer. Through the stories of several cancer patients and researchers who have made great strides in understanding and fighting the disease, Mukherjee sounds an optimistic note about future medical advances in understanding and fighting cancer. | 3/22/2013 | Free | View In iTunes |
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13 |
CleanGetting America Back to Work (Part 1) | It’s no surprise the economy is on the minds of most Americans. One in ten of us is out of work. It’s a rate that hasn’t changed in a year and a half. So why aren’t jobs being created? Why aren’t businesses hiring? Can the government do anything about it? Should it? Three different economists with three very different views discuss how they would get America back to work. | 2/28/2013 | Free | View In iTunes |
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14 |
CleanVenezuela: Democracy on the Edge | He has taken a struggling democracy and slowly consolidated his hold on power, nationalizing key industries such as oil and food distribution. Tyrant, Dictator, Socialist Hero; whatever you call him, Hugo Chavez is committed to keeping a tight rein on his power and those who oppose him. And now he has stated a commitment to developing nuclear capabilities. What do his policies mean for U.S. foreign policy? | 2/14/2013 | Free | View In iTunes |
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15 |
CleanAmerican Expertise: Could America's Know-How Be Our Strongest Export? | W. Michael Cox is a professor at the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University and a leading economist and analyst of the American economy. America ranks number one in the sale of services such as finance, management, education and transportation to a world hungry for American know-how. Cox argues the key to future American economic growth is for companies to sell their services in developing markets abroad. | 1/30/2013 | Free | View In iTunes |
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16 |
CleanNatural Gas Nation | Jim and his guests discuss the vast American reserve of natural gas in shale, controversies over the extraction process called Hydraulic Fracturing, and the promise of this clean and domestic energy resource. | 8/30/2012 | Free | View In iTunes |
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17 |
CleanEntrepreneurialism: What can the U.S. learn from Israel? | The modern state of Israel is only 60 years old. Its population is smaller than some U.S. states. Geography-wise, Israel sits in the middle of hostile territory. Yet this tiny nation is forecasted to grow 3.5% in 2010, attracts more venture capital investments per capita than any other country, and its high-technology sector rivals that of the U.S. This episode examines Israel’s unique attributes that lead to successful innovation and risk-taking, and the lessons the U.S. can learn from it. | 8/16/2012 | Free | View In iTunes |
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18 |
CleanChina and the U.S.: Forecast for the Future (Part 2) | Part two of a conversation on China and the U.S., examining what policies the United States government should pursue to insure America remains competitive with China. Many people are saying the 21st century will be known as China's, much as the 20th was called the American century. How seriously should Americans view China's ascendance as an economic and military power? | 8/9/2012 | Free | View In iTunes |
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19 |
CleanChina and the U.S.: Forecast for the Future (Part 1) | China's economic growth seems staggering, leading many to wonder if the 21st century will belong to China. China holds billions in U.S. debt, triggering fears of increasing Chinese leverage over the U.S. economy. Tensions are rising between the U.S. and China over trade, currency, natural resources and global influence. How should the U.S. respond to the rise of China as a world power? | 8/2/2012 | Free | View In iTunes |
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20 |
CleanJob Creation | The economy is showing some signs of growth. But while the number of people being laid off is slowing and wages are growing modestly, unemployment continues to hold steady at about ten percent. The Obama Administration has pledged a big push for jobs this year. Measures include increased spending on roads, building and other infrastructure projects, aid to small businesses, and incentives for investment in so-called "green technologies." But can federal stimulus create good jobs that last? Who pays for these programs, and what will it take to get private companies to start hiring, and put America back to work? | 7/26/2012 | Free | View In iTunes |
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21 |
CleanDrive: Guess What Motivates Us? (Hint: It's Not Money) | Think money is the ultimate motivator? Not so, says Daniel Pink, author of “Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us.” Pink asserts that while money is vital, it plays a small role in what pushes us to strive, succeed and enjoy life. | 7/5/2012 | Free | View In iTunes |
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22 |
CleanRich State, Poor State: How Eliminating the Income Tax Helps Grow States' Economies | With many states in the U.S. fighting for their fiscal health, there is a small but growing movement to ditch the state income tax for an increased sales tax. Would this policy stimulate growth, and whom would it truly benefit? | 6/21/2012 | Free | View In iTunes |
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23 |
CleanEnding America's Dropout Crisis Part 1: Middle School Intervention That Works | A look at what can be done at the middle school level to keep students in school through high school and beyond. We will profile middle school leaders, teachers, students and programs that have turned troubled middle schools into models of success. | 4/19/2012 | Free | View In iTunes |
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24 |
CleanThe New Battle Field: Life After War for America's New Veterans | As the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq wind down, a new generation of veterans is returning home. While some may suffer from visible scars, many more carry psychological wounds that that are harder to recognize. How can Americans help today’s new generation of veterans adapt to life back home? | 4/5/2012 | Free | View In iTunes |
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25 |
CleanInterview with The Dalai Lama | As the 14th Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists and until recently was also their political leader. Ever since being forced to flee when China invaded Tibet in 1959, the Dalai Lama has ceaselessly advocated for a peaceful solution to Chinese occupation and “meaningful autonomy” for his country. He has also worked tirelessly as an activist for human rights around the world. | 4/3/2012 | Free | View In iTunes |
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26 |
CleanThe Quest: Energy, Security and the Re-making of the Modern World | Interview with author Daniel Yergin, international energy expert and winner of the Pulitzer Prize for his book, The Prize, in 1992. | 3/14/2012 | Free | View In iTunes |
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27 |
CleanHow to Solve a Problem Like Illegal Immigration | With states shaping their own immigration laws and courts taking up the issue, experts from across the spectrum discuss what is currently lacking and what is needed in shaping true immigration reform. | 3/8/2012 | Free | View In iTunes |
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28 |
CleanHas Nuclear Power Run Out of Power? | The nuclear power industry has suffered severe setbacks recently that bring into question whether it will be a viable source of energy in the future. Yet China has committed to nuclear in a big way. A discussion of the future of nuclear energy at home and abroad. | 3/1/2012 | Free | View In iTunes |
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29 |
CleanBringing Better Health Care To Women In Africa | A discussion about innovative programs designed to reach more women in Africa to improve their health care, with a particular focus on cervical and breast cancer detection and prevention. Taped during the Global Health Conference sponsored by the Bush Institute in September 2011. | 2/23/2012 | Free | View In iTunes |
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30 |
CleanHow to Remember Everything: A Discussion with Author and Memory Champion Josh Foer | Does mobile gadgetry make a good memory less important? Ancient orators memorized entire books. Can we all remember everything if we so choose? Author Joshua Foer explored these questions during his quest to become a national memory champion. | 2/16/2012 | Free | View In iTunes |
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31 |
CleanAfghan Women: Prospects for the Future: Former First Lady Laura Bush, Goldman Sachs Dina Powell and others | With the U.S. slated to draw down its troops in Afghanistan and the Afghan government seeking to negotiate peace with Taliban militants, the fragile strides made by Afghan women may be in jeopardy. Jim Glassman interviews former First Lady Laura Bush and others who are trying to help the women of Afghanistan gain greater access to education, health care, social rights and economic freedom. | 2/9/2012 | Free | View In iTunes |
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32 |
CleanEnding America's Dropout Crisis Part 2: A Matter of Leadership | A look at what can be done at the middle school level to keep students in school through high school and beyond. We will profile middle school leaders, teachers, students and programs that have turned troubled middle schools into models of success. | 2/1/2012 | Free | View In iTunes |
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33 |
CleanHigh Frequency Trading and the Future of Finance | When people think of the stock market, they think of Wall Street. But the world of finance is changing, and high-powered computers and high frequency trading methods are quickly taking on a larger role. Is this safe, and who wins and who loses? | 1/19/2012 | Free | View In iTunes |
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34 |
CleanStories from the Arab Spring: Will Democracy Take Hold? | As Tunisia and Egypt begin transitioning away from dictatorships and towards democracy, two Middle East experts assess the progress that has been made, as well as the hurdles that remain for both North African countries. | 12/13/2011 | Free | View In iTunes |
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35 |
CleanHow to Save America's Middle-Class | For many years, it has been portrayed in the media that America’s middle class is dying. But if you look where people are going economically, the true picture might surprise you. What is the real state of America’s middle class and what can Americans do to stay ahead? | 12/7/2011 | Free | View In iTunes |
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36 |
CleanCounterstrike: The Untold Story of America's Secret Campaign Against Al Qaeda | Ten years after 9/11, are we safer? Counterstrike, a new book by two veteran New York Times correspondents, examines how government agencies have learned to cooperate and share information to fight terrorism around the world. | 12/2/2011 | Free | View In iTunes |
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37 |
CleanVladimir Putin and the Future of Russia | Vladimir Putin’s recent announcement that he intends to become Russia’s President yet again indicates he rules Russian politics with an iron fist. Could he lead the country back behind a new Iron Curtain? | 11/22/2011 | Free | View In iTunes |
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38 |
CleanPakistan and America: An Alliance at the Breaking Point? | After the attacks of September 11th, America turned to Pakistan as an ally in the war on terrorism. But after ten years of fighting in Afghanistan, it appears that Pakistan is working to undermine U.S. interests in the region. What does this mean for the future of Pakistani/American relations? | 11/17/2011 | Free | View In iTunes |
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39 |
CleanMalaria: Fighting the Number One Killer in Africa | A program highlighting the scourge of malaria in Africa and developing countries worldwide with a discussion about how concerned organizations, such as the Bush Institute, can work with other groups to expand treatment and prevention of this deadly disease. | 11/2/2011 | Free | View In iTunes |
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40 |
CleanThe End of the Euro? How Far Can the Crisis Spread? | 17 European countries merged their currencies in 2002, and nearly a decade later that decision is being questioned. With several members in economic peril, the Euro-Zone’s wealthier nations are left to bail out its weaker members. How long can this situation last and what does it mean for the U.S.? | 9/29/2011 | Free | View In iTunes |
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41 |
CleanJockeying for Space on America's Public Airwaves | According to some experts, the explosion of new gadgets taking up capacity on the digital spectrum means we will run out of space soon. How can we regulate the airwaves to insure everyone gets equal access? Should we? | 9/8/2011 | Free | View In iTunes |
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42 |
CleanTrimming the Fat: Re-sculpting the Pentagon | A discussion of where and how the Pentagon can cut costs. | 9/1/2011 | Free | View In iTunes |
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43 |
CleanThe Business Climate: Prospects for Growth | What if we cut corporate taxes, legislators committed to specific long-term tax rates so companies could better plan ahead, and we made 4% economic growth per year a goal instead of settling for the anemic 2% we’ve had for the past few years? Jim Glassman and prominent business leaders discuss the current economic climate for corporations and what steps should be taken to improve short and long-term growth. | 8/29/2011 | Free | View In iTunes |
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44 |
CleanLessons of the Arab Spring: Building on Gains Already Made | What are the lessons to be learned from the waves of democratic uprisings in the Middle East? Will they encourage similar movements elsewhere? How can these gains be consolidated? | 8/11/2011 | Free | View In iTunes |
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45 |
CleanMain Street vs. Wall Street: The New Rules of Engagement | The financial reform bill referred to as the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act purports to end the risk of banks and other financial institutions considered “too big to fail.’ But will Dodd Frank end up being ‘too big to work?’ | 8/4/2011 | Free | View In iTunes |
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46 |
CleanWhy Life In Africa Is Getting Better | Guests examine increases in the quality of health care and education in Africa, arguing those factors show that life on the continent is improving beyond what a strict analysis of life expectancy might show. | 7/27/2011 | Free | View In iTunes |
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47 |
CleanMeg Whitman on Boosting the American Economy | An in-depth interview with Meg Whitman, former head of e-Bay and former gubernatorial candidate in California, on ways to strengthen the American economy. This interview stems from the 4% Economic Growth Conference held at the George W. Bush Institute in the spring of 2011. The interview is supplemented by a discussion on the effect of taxation on growth with Kevin Hassett, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. | 6/22/2011 | Free | View In iTunes |
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48 |
CleanInterview with World Bank President Robert Zoellick: Prospects for Economic Development, Part 2 | Since 2007, World Bank President Robert Zoellick has been working to focus the institution on its primary missions: eradicating poverty and assisting developing nations. Jim conducts a one on one interview with Zoellick on the powerful emergence of new economies, the outlook for developed nations, and the global impact of the tumultuous Middle East uprisings. How can the Bank chart a course to stabilize and elevate the global economy? | 5/5/2011 | Free | View In iTunes |
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49 |
CleanDid Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Cause the Financial Crisis, and How Can They Be Reformed? | The financial crisis has been blamed on many factors: Wall Street bankers, out of control hedge fund managers, incompetent ratings agencies, weak government oversight and a collapse in the housing mortgage markets. Seemingly all of these forces played a role. Peter Wallison of the American Enterprise Institute argues, controversially, that the main culprits in the financial crisis were the government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These mortgage-lending powerhouses, backed by taxpayer funds and a mandate from Congress to increase home ownership, even by people with low credit ratings, shoulder most of the blame for the economic meltdown according to Wallison. Unless they are reformed and reined in, Wallison writes, American taxpayers could well find themselves spending billions to bail them out again. | 4/14/2011 | Free | View In iTunes |
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50 |
CleanImmigration: Should We Change the Rules? | Immigration, legal and otherwise, is a hot-button issue in America. Changing the rules about who is welcome to come to our shores – rolling out the welcome mat for more highly skilled workers, and rolling it up for the extended family members of immigrants already here – will lead to a stronger American economy, according to author Pia Orrenius. She examines this idea in her new book, Beside the Golden Door, co-authored with Madeline Zavodny. | 11/25/2010 | Free | View In iTunes |
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51 |
CleanMiddle East Peace: Elliott Abrams One-on-One | Middle East Peace: Jim and Elliott Abrams discuss the Obama administration's progress on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. | 5/20/2010 | Free | View In iTunes |
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52 |
CleanThe Fallout from the Financial Crisis | Jim conducts a one-on-one interview with Robert Samuelson regarding the financial crisis and what Samuelson calls a “massive candor gap” from U.S. politicians on the consequences of continuing huge federal spending and running enormous deficits. If there is no honest accounting today, draconian tax increases and spending cuts will be needed in the future, affecting the quality of life our children will lead. | 4/8/2010 | Free | View In iTunes |
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53 |
CleanThe Future of News | The business of news is changing radically. The old-time economics of supporting a big newsroom, printing the news on paper and getting it to people’s doorsteps seems increasingly unsupportable given the exodus of advertising dollars to internet sites. What will it mean for Americans who want to stay informed? | 2/25/2010 | Free | View In iTunes |
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54 |
CleanPublic Education: Is Pay for Performance the Answer? | President Obama has put merit pay for teachers on a long list of educational reforms he’d like to enact. His $4.3 billion dollar “Race to the Top” initiative includes encouragement for states to experiment with teachers’ compensation. But who gets rewarded – and how do we measure success? | 2/18/2010 | Free | View In iTunes |
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55 |
CleanMedia Revolution in Iran | Ideas in Action host Jim Glassman moderates a panel discussion on how the internet and other cybertools are "revolutionizing revolution" in Iran. In the wake of Iran's disputed June 12, 2009 election, protesters are using cell phones, digital cameras and the internet to communicate with each other and to get their message to the outside world. Have YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter become the latest weapons in the war against tyranny? Jim and his four guests discuss the effect of these new technologies on movements for democracy and freedom in Iran and other parts of the world. | 2/4/2010 | Free | View In iTunes |
| 55 Items |
Customer Reviews
Retirement challenge
Good conversation, too short. I welcome expanding this dialogue further. Thanks
