The Munk Debates Podcast

14 countries, including Canada and the US, suspended funding to the U.N.’s Palestinian Refugee Agency in response to Israeli allegations that 12 employees were involved in the attack on Israel on October 7th, and roughly 10% of their employees in Gaza have links to Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad. Human rights workers argue that this is a form of collective punishment that will have dire consequences on a population already suffering from widespread hunger, displacement, and disease. Furthermore, cutting off payments to Palestinian refugees in the West Bank, Lebanon, and Syria could destabilize an already volatile region. UNRWA’s critics argue that by keeping Palestinians in a perpetual state of refugee status, the organization prevents them from setting down roots elsewhere in the region and thus acts as an obstacle to peace. Given the irrefutable evidence of its ties to Hamas and support of terror against Israel, they argue, there is no reason to continue to fund an agency openly committed to the right of return for Palestinian refugees and the elimination of the Jewish State.  Arguing in favour of the resolution is Kenneth Roth, the former Executive Director of Human Rights Watch Arguing against the resolution is Einat Wilf, former member of the Israeli Knesset and the author of The War of Return: How Western Indulgence of the Palestinian Dream Has Obstructed the Path to Peace Vote on who you think won the debate at https://munkdebates.com/podcasts/unwra-debate/   SOURCES: ABC News, UN WATCH   The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths  Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/ To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to podcast@munkdebates.com.   To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership Members receive access to our 15+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events. This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/   Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz Editor: Kieran Lynch  

John Mearsheimer, a leading realist scholar in international relations, discusses the need for Ukraine to sever ties with the West. He explores the ongoing conflict with Russia, the limitations of military power in a multipolar world, and the threat of a growing alliance between Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea.

David Horovitz, founding editor of The Times of Israel, shares insights on the Israeli-Hamas conflict, including the government's military aim, civilian pressure, and the future of Gaza. They discuss the media's portrayal of Israel and the importance of maintaining a Jewish and democratic government. The complexities of defeating Hamas, skepticism around a two-state solution, and the threat of Hezbollah are also explored. The dialogue concludes with recommendations and the encouragement to subscribe to The Times of Israel's website.

The podcast explores the ongoing attacks by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea, their relationship with Iran, and the potential of the conflict to escalate into a larger war. It discusses the resilience of the rebels despite previous airstrikes and highlights the impact of their attacks on global trade. The need for a ceasefire and international aid efforts are also examined.

Guest Lenore Skenazy discusses the impact of helicopter parenting on children's mental health, emphasizing the decline of independence and resiliency. They explore the benefits of unsupervised play, the connection to academic freedom on campuses, and the importance of fostering resilience and open-mindedness in young adults. The significance of free play and the Let Grow initiatives promoting independent play are highlighted, as well as the impact of full-time working parents on children's independence.

Claudine Gay, the first black female president of Harvard, faced intense scrutiny since her widely criticized congressional testimony on campus antisemitism in early December. Last week, President Gay resigned from her post after mounting allegations of plagiarism in her published articles.  In an op-ed in the New York Times, Gay argued that she was a victim of a right-wing political attack on academia and the diversity initiatives that she both championed and represented. On this Munk Dialogue were joined by Greg Lukianoff, the president and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. FIRE is America’s leading defender of fundamental rights on college campuses and it should come as no surprise that these past few years have been the organizations busiest on record. Greg talks to us about how universities can - and must - turn things around to save higher education and our children’s futures. The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths - @rudyardg.   Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/ To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to podcast@munkdebates.com.   To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership Members receive access to our 15+ year library of great debates in HD video, access to our Friday Focus podcast, a free Munk Debates book, and ticketing privileges at our live events.This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/ Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz Editor: Kieran Lynch

Retired senior colonel of China's PLA and senior fellow at Tsinghua University, Zhou Bo, discusses why Taiwan is China's biggest national security concern, the South China Sea disputes, and lessons from the war in Ukraine. Integration between China and Taiwan is seen as inevitable.

The hosts discuss selecting debate topics, challenges in booking cultural debates, attitudes towards debate, the role of Twitter in politics, reflections on past debates and the importance of performance, debating Western media's bias towards Israel, and a debate on Trump's prosecution and American democracy.

The Online News Act in Canada requires Google and Meta to pay Canadian news outlets for social media links. Michael Geist criticizes the legislation, arguing it will result in news organizations relying on government subsidies and becoming less objective. The podcast discusses the merits and demerits of the legislation, challenges of digital regulation, lessons from tech regulation, and the future of news.

Henry Kissinger, former US Secretary of State, and brilliant statesman discusses his controversial legacy. The podcast debates his realpolitik approach to foreign affairs, his role in the Cold War, and his impact on international world order. The discussion delves into his diplomatic achievements, criticisms of war crimes, and the violent conflicts unfolding in the present day.