What Happened to Moral Courage? – with Bret Stephens

Since the horrific attacks of October 7, the absence of moral courage has been glaring. In a time when speaking the truth comes with real consequences—risking careers, reputations, and even personal safety—many have chosen silence over principle. But what does it truly mean to stand up for what’s right? Why do some rise to the occasion while others retreat into the background? And how can we cultivate the strength to act, even when the cost is high?

In this episode, Aviva Klompas is joined by Bret Stephens, a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist known for his intellectual clarity and willingness to challenge prevailing narratives, no matter how uncomfortable. Together, they examine today’s crisis of moral courage—why it’s so scarce, what forces discourage people from speaking out, and what it will take to foster a culture where standing up for truth and justice isn’t the exception, but the expectation.

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Guest Bio

Bret Stephens is an op-ed columnist for The New York Times and editor-in-chief of Sapir (sapirjournal.org), a new quarterly dedicated to exploring issues of Jewish concern. He has previously worked as foreign-affairs columnist and deputy editorial-page editor for The Wall Street Journal and as editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post. Among his many prizes and distinctions are the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for distinguished commentary, the 2019 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and three honorary doctorates. His 2014 book, "America in Retreat: The New Isolationism and the Coming Global Disorder" correctly predicted many of the events of our day. In 2022 he was permanently banned by the government of Russia from visiting that country.

Bret was raised in Mexico City and educated at the University of Chicago and the London School of Economics He and his wife, Corinna, have three children and live outside of New York City.