The Munk Debates Podcast

On this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast Maggie Haberman, Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times’ White House correspondent, joins us for a behind the scenes look at President Trump’s re-election bid.

Flouting mask wearing as means to help control the pandemic. Forcing states to secure critical medical supplies and bootstrap their own testing capacity. Touting hydroxychloroquine as a key COVID therapy. These are some of the more memorable features of the national pandemic response of the United States to date. A response that has led the US to have the largest number of COVID deaths globally – 200,000 and counting. But millions of Americans believe that President Trump’s approach to the pandemic has been realistic, if not visionary. They say that stabilizing COVID cases and a declining death rate prove that President Trump was right not to panic, that the virus is not an existential threat. Joe Biden, his Democratic challenger, believes otherwise. He supports nation-wide mask wearing, targeted lockdowns, and a go-slow approach that privileges public health over the economy. In this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, Andy Slavitt, former Obama Chief of Medicare and Medicaid, and New York University law professor, Richard Epstein,  debate the essence of these two competing arguments. Sources: ABC News, Washington Post, CNN, The Telegraph, BBC, The Sun, Fox Business, NBC News

Weeks to go to one of the most consequential elections in a generation and the incumbent, President Donald Trump, is facing an increasingly challenging political environment. His Democratic opponent, Joe Biden, has enjoyed a consistent lead in the national polls as well in many key swing states. Add in a pandemic that has killed over two hundred thousand Americans and the conditions are ripe for political sea change on November 3. But seasoned election watchers say it’s far too early for the Biden’s campaign to be measuring curtains for the White House. They argue that Trump has an enthusiastic and loyal base and a highly sophisticated digital campaign tailor made for getting out the vote. Throw in a late October surprise vaccine announcement and more good job numbers and Joe Biden could find himself joining Hilary Clinton as a defeated democratic nominee. Sources: AZ Family, MSNBC, CBS News, MSN, Fox News, ABC News, NBC, Yahoo News

A wall that stretches 300 miles along the US-Mexico border. The suspension of the Dreamers program that shielded 800,000 children born to undocumented immigrants from deportation. The launch of a zero-tolerance policy that separates unauthorized migrants from their children. These are some of the hallmarks of the immigration policy of President Donald Trump’s administration. Tackling the growing number of unauthorized migrants was central to Trump’s election in 2016 and will be key to a second term. Supporters of Trump’s immigration policies argue that mass illegal migration is destabilizing the border, costing billions in social services, and driving down wages for struggling blue collar workers. Critics of President Trump’s immigration policies take issue with the very concept of a migrant being “illegal.” They argue that a realistic and humane immigration policy needs to recognize that undocumented immigrants are part of the fabric of America, with more than two-thirds having lived in the U.S. for over ten years. In this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast Rev. Sam Rodriguez, who leads the world’s largest Hispanic Christian organization, and Allen Orr, President Elect of the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association debate the essence of these two competing arguments. Sources: KPIX, Financial Times, Fox Business, News Max TV, PBS Newshour, KPRC, Al Jazeera, Bloomber

Six months into the pandemic researchers continue to be perplexed by COVID-19. There are many unknowns with the virus, and one of the most controversial is its deadliness. Leading health institutions have warned that COVID-19 is much more dangerous than the seasonal flu and that without expansive public health measures millions of people could die from the virus. But there are some in the scientific community who disagree.  Antibody testing of large population groups indicates that we could be underestimating the number of people who have been infected – which means we are overestimating the death rate. Given these findings they question whether lockdowns are the way to approach a possible second wave of COVID-19 this autumn. In this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast medical experts Jay Bhattacharya and Sten Vermund debate the essence of these two competing arguments. Sources: Associated Press, TIME, BBC, TRT World, Bloomberg, CNBC, Unherd.com, Yahoo Finance, AZ Family, MSNBC, The Sun, RTE News

In a world where shutdowns and quarantines have become the norm, Sweden stands out for choosing a pandemic strategy that is markedly different than its peer nations.  In Sweden, bars, restaurants, public spaces, and most significantly, elementary schools have continued to operate since COVID-19 began its spread through the country last March. Supporters of the Swedish model argue that its strength lies in being sustainable over the long haul. Critics say this strategy has come at way too high a price. Almost 6,000 citizens have died from the virus, one of the highest per capita death rates in the world. In this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast leading Swedish medical experts Dr. Jonas F. Ludviggson and Lena Einhorn debate the essence of these two competing arguments.Sources: Reuters, CBC, BBC, Sky News, PBS, WION, CNN, MSN, ITN

Since the beginning of human civilization, men have been the dominant sex. But now, for the first time, a host of indicators suggest that women are not only achieving equality with men but are fast emerging as the more successful sex of the species. Critics of the argument that men are in decline argue that the age-old power structures associated with “maleness” remain as entrenched as ever. They say men still retain significant control over the workplace, the family, and society at large. The Munk Debates shares an abridged version of the 2013 debate about gender in the 21st century featuring four female public intellectuals: Hanna Rosin, senior editor at The Atlantic, Pulitzer prize-winning journalist, Maureen Dowd, world famous academic on gender and culture, Camille Paglia, and Caitlin Moran, author of the global best seller “How to be a Woman”. Sources: CTV, CBS, CNBC, MSNBC

Throughout the Western world, politics is undergoing a sea-change. Long-held notions of the role of government, trade and economic policy, foreign policy and immigration are being challenged by populist thinkers and movements. Does this surging populist agenda in Western nations signal a permanent shift in our politics? Or, is it a passing phenomenon that will remain at the fringes of society and political power? On the eve of a contentious US election, the Munk Debates shares an abridged version of the 2018 stage debate about the rise of populism as an ideology between Steve Bannon, former chief strategist for President Donald Trump, and David Frum, senior editor at The Atlantic and former speechwriter for George W. Bush.Sources: City TV, CBC, Canadian Press, Garry Bakuniec

Over five million cases. More than 160,000 deaths and counting. The US currently leads the global tally for the highest number of COVID-19 cases. Meanwhile some countries, originally devastated by the coronavirus, are reopening successfully after driving new infections down to manageable levels. Some say the only way to prevent tens of thousands of more deaths in the U.S. is a second wave of shutdowns targeting the hardest hit areas. Critics argue that with shutdowns the supposed “cure” is worse than the disease. Millions will be denied essential medical treatment, including mental health. Jobs and businesses will be permanently lost. And, closed schools will prevent a much-needed return to normalcy for children and parents alike.  In this episode of the Munk Debates podcast leading epidemiologists, John Ioannidis and Andrew Noymer, debate the essence of these two competing arguments.Sources: MSN.com, NBC News, ABC, MSNBC, CNBC, WHAS11.com, 11Alive, Reuters, Fox News

To address the devastating economic impacts of COVID-19 Western governments have unleashed an unprecedented wave of monetary and fiscal stimulus. The US stimulus package includes trillions of dollars of liquidity for financial markets, the direct purchase of billions in corporate debt by central banks, and billions more in low interest loans and wage supports for big businesses. Supporters of these measures believe they are vital to preventing a severe recession from turning into a Great Depression. Critics charge that we are repeating the mistakes of the Great Financial Crisis by once again bailing out big business on the backs of taxpayers.  In this episode of the Munk Debates Podcast, Nomi Prins, a former senior Wall Street insider, and Douglas Holtz-Eakin, former Director of the Congressional Budget Office, debate the essence of these two competing arguments.Sources: CTV News, Global News, MSNBC, MSN, Bloomberg Politics, Quick News, CBS, WNCT-TV9, CNBC, Universal