You Might Be Right
Former Tennessee Governors Bill Haslam and Phil Bredesen take on topics including crime, the media, gun violence, and education disparities with expert guests of differing viewpoints. From the Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs at the University of Tennessee, "You Might be Right" aims to inspire the next generation of leaders in government, public policy, and public service by demonstrating that thoughtful civil conversations about tough topics are still possible.
Latest episodes
Jun 20, 2023 • 47min
Are Term Limits a Good Idea? - with Lindsay Chervinsky, Lee Drutman and Jerry Seib
Presidential historian Lindsay Chervinsky, New America Foundation senior fellow Lee Drutman, and fmr. WSJ Washington Editor Jerry Seib join Governors Bredesen and Haslam live at George Washington's Mount Vernon to explore the merits and drawbacks of term limits for public officials.
Jun 7, 2023 • 51min
Do we need a new strategy to address disparities in public education? - with Robert Pondiscio and Dr. Carol Johnson-Dean
Robert Pondiscio, American Enterprise Institute sr. fellow, and Dr. Carol Johnson-Dean, fmr. school superintendent in Memphis, Boston, and Minneapolis, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam live at the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis to assess the evidence on education reform and explore solutions to persistent achievement gaps.
6 snips
May 23, 2023 • 40min
What are the Best Ways to Address Crime? – with Jennifer Doleac and Ja’Ron Smith
Guests Jennifer Doleac, Economist, and Ja'Ron Smith, fmr. Deputy Asst. to the President for Domestic Policy, join to explore strategies to reduce and deter crime. Topics include: importance of deterrence, analyzing crime rates, bail reform, just criminal justice system, nuanced approach to crime, judicial reform, reducing recidivism, and taking a holistic approach to address crime.
May 10, 2023 • 47min
Why is it so controversial to teach American history today? – with Jon Meacham and Robert Woodson
Jon Meacham and Robert Woodson discuss the controversy over teaching American history objectively and comprehensively. They emphasize the importance of acknowledging both the successes and dark aspects of the country's past. The speakers also highlight the need to find solutions within communities and recognize the achievements of black Americans.
May 10, 2023 • 4min
Introducing season 2 of “You Might Be Right”
In Season 2, hosts and former Tennessee Governors Bill Haslam and Phil Bredesen hit the road, recording live episodes from the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, and from Mount Vernon outside of Washington D.C. Taking on topics including term limits, teaching history, crime, the media, and education disparities, the Governors and their guests demonstrate that thoughtful civil discourse is possible.
Dec 20, 2022 • 36min
Am I using my morals as a weapon or a gift? - with Arthur Brooks
Dr. Arthur Brooks joins Governors Bredesen and Haslam to offer practical strategies for navigating disagreements in everyday life. Recorded live at the Baker Center, Brooks, a renowned author, Harvard professor, and happiness expert, notes that no one is ever insulted into agreement and discusses how we can disagree better.
Nov 22, 2022 • 43min
What is the future of global trade? - with Fred Smith and Tim Fitzgerald
FedEx Founder/Executive Chairman Frederick Smith and Texas Tech economics professor Tim Fitzgerald join Governors Bredesen and Haslam for a conversation about how the US can balance global trade and competing national priorities. Smith contends that automation has had a greater impact on US manufacturing than offshoring personnel. Fitzgerald suggests that while it is valuable to have sufficient production capacity at home for national defense, geographic diversification of production is also a benefit.
Nov 15, 2022 • 46min
What is the Senate filibuster and why should we care? – with Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker
Former Tennessee Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss the filibuster for a special episode, recorded live at the Baker Center in Knoxville in September 2022. Use of the filibuster, a rule that prevents key nominations and legislation from advancing without the support of 60 senators, is a long-standing practice of the United States Senate and Senators Corker and Alexander discuss how the filibuster works in practice, what they would change, and why it matters.
Oct 26, 2022 • 47min
What still ails us a decade after the Affordable Care Act? – with Nancy-Ann DeParle and Larry Van Horn
Senior Obama official Nancy-Ann DeParle and Vanderbilt professor Larry Van Horn join Governors Bredesen and Haslam for a lookback on the decade after the passage of the Affordable Care Act and offer perspectives on lowering costs and improving outcomes. DeParle, one of the primary architects of the ACA, recounts how the law came together and regrets that the legislation did not receive bipartisan support. Van Horn, a longtime critic of the measure, laments passage of the ACA as a “lost opportunity” and says it did little to address healthcare costs.
Oct 19, 2022 • 46min
What can be done about the affordable housing crisis? – with Laurie Goodman and Erskine Bowles
Erskine Bowles, former White House Chief of Staff, and Laurie Goodman, an Institute fellow and founder of the Housing Finance Policy Center at the Urban Institute, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss the affordable housing crisis. Goodman walks the Governors through a range of zoning and financing policy considerations, while Bowles discusses his work to develop naturally occurring affordable housing – known as NOAHs – in his hometown of Charlotte and how their unique model could be replicated in other cities.
