Talks from the Hoover Institution

Stephen Kotkin, a Kleinheinz Senior Fellow and an expert on authoritarian regimes, joins U.S. Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, who focuses on the Chinese Communist Party. They delve into the geopolitical threats posed by China and discuss lessons from Leninist regimes, emphasizing the challenges of sharing power. Kotkin analyzes Xi Jinping's strategic risk-taking and its implications for Taiwan. They advocate for a unified bipartisan strategy to effectively counter China's ambitions and discuss the critical need to invest in America's youth for future success.

Randy Schriver, a key figure in U.S.-Taiwan relations and former Trump administration official, shares insights on the evolving dynamics of Taiwan's security and U.S. policy. He discusses the rising military tension with China and Taiwan's strategic importance. The conversation highlights Taiwan's semiconductor industry and its implications for global supply chains. Schriver also examines the impact of recent foreign aid cuts in Southeast Asia and the complexities of U.S. support for Taiwan's defense needs amidst an unsettled geopolitical landscape.

Join Hoover fellow and Director of the Hoover Institution's Wargaming and Crisis Simulation Initiative Jacquelyn Schneider for the launch of her new book "The Hand Behind Unmanned: Origins of the US Autonomous Military Arsenal" at the Hoover Institution in Washington, DC on Wednesday, March 26, from 5:30 - 7:15pm ET.

In this inaugural episode of Frontline Voices, host “IRON” Mike Steadman is joined by fellow Hoover Veteran Fellow alumnus Greg Eason. Mike opens up about his journey from growing up in a single-parent household, to becoming a Marine Corps officer, entrepreneur, and community leader. Together, they explore the idea of “normalizing excellence,” how their lived experiences shaped their outlook, and what it means to be a change-maker today. They also discuss the power of mentorship, faith, and resilience in overcoming adversity. This episode sets the stage for future conversations with veterans leading impactful work across the country. Recorded on March 11, 2025. ABOUT THE GUEST: Gregory Eason is a real estate developer and investor focused on delivering high-quality housing experiences in emerging and underserved markets. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy with a degree in quantitative economics, he served as a gunnery and training officer in the Navy before transitioning out of the military and into real estate. He currently leads a build-to-rent project in Atlanta, and is an angel investor in a 185-acre development in North Augusta, Georgia. As a Veteran Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Greg explored innovative housing solutions and the intersection of economic mobility, faith, and community investment. RELATED SOURCES: The Gap and the Gain by Dan Sullivan with Dr. Benjamin Hardy The Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer Jim Collins' Stockdale Paradox Concept FOLLOW THE GUEST ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Gregory Eason on LinkedIn

Wednesday, February 19, 2025 Hoover Institution | Stanford University The Hoover Institution Center for Revitalizing American Institutions webinar series features speakers who are developing innovative ideas, conducting groundbreaking research, and taking important actions to improve trust and efficacy in American institutions. Speaker expertise and topics span governmental institutions, civic organizations and practice, and the role of public opinion and culture in shaping our democracy. The webinar series builds awareness about how we can individually and collectively revitalize American institutions to ensure our country’s democracy delivers on its promise. The fifth session discussed Tested: Why Conservative Students Get the Most out of Liberal Education with Lauren A. Wright and Brandice Canes-Wrone on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, from 10:00 - 11:00 am PT. Recent critiques of America’s elite universities have aptly asserted that college students are being coddled and shielded from points of view they disagree with, setting them up for failure. But this depiction excludes the starkly divergent experiences of conservative students, who face extraordinary intellectual and social challenges inside and outside college classrooms. These obstacles are double edged: while they expose conservative students to adverse and sometimes hostile social environments, decades of psychology research also shows they may ironically impart educational advantages by forcing conservative students to defend their points of view. Are conservative students being better prepared than liberal students for life after college by constantly engaging in a more rigorous mode of thinking? This is the first ever ethnography of conservative college students at the best universities in the United States. Featuring hundreds of interviews with students and faculty, it fills a gap in timely conversations about intellectual diversity in higher education.

Deborah Lipstadt is a prominent historian and the Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish and Holocaust Studies at Emory University, who also served as the U.S. Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Antisemitism. In this engaging conversation, she discusses her diplomatic experiences addressing anti-Semitism, including a striking case involving Lufthansa. Lipstadt reflects on personal journeys of Jewish identity and the global landscape of anti-Semitism, advocating for cooperative international efforts to combat this persistent issue.

Jack A. Goldstone, a public policy expert, Dinsha Mistree, a policy researcher, and Nirvikar Singh, an economics authority, dive into India's complex policy landscape. They discuss significant challenges like demographic shifts, economic inequities, and the need for educational reforms. The trio also explores the evolving political dynamics ahead of the 2024 elections, the impact of Modi's governance, and the intricacies of U.S.-India relations. Notably, they highlight urgent reforms needed in India's healthcare system and the importance of sustaining growth amidst rising global significance.

A discussion with three of America's most distinguished former governors - Jeb Bush (Florida), Jerry Brown (California), and Mitch Daniels (Indiana) - exploring the critical relationship between states and the federal government. Moderated by Michael Boskin, this conversation examines how these innovative leaders managed natural disasters, educational reform, fiscal challenges, and infrastructure development. The three distinguished former governors share candid insights about dealing with federal regulations, balancing budgets during boom and bust cycles, and implementing effective education reforms. Highlights include Jeb Bush's groundbreaking education initiatives in Florida, Jerry Brown's fiscal management in California, and Mitch Daniels' successful privatization efforts in Indiana. This timely conversation offers valuable lessons for current policymakers and insights into effective governance at both state and federal levels. Featuring: Jeb Bush, Former Governor of Florida (1999-2007) Jerry Brown, Former Governor of California (1975-1983, 2011-2019) Mitch Daniels, Former Governor of Indiana (2005-2013) Moderator: Michael Boskin, Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution To learn more, read "American Federalism Today" by the Hoover Institution: https://www.hoover.org/research/american-federalism-today Part of the Tennenbaum Program for Fact-Based Policy at the Hoover Institution: https://www.hoover.org/research-teams/tennenbaum-program-fact-based-policy 

Tuesday, January 14, 2025 Hoover Institution | Stanford University The Hoover Institution Center for Revitalizing American Institutions webinar series features speakers who are developing innovative ideas, conducting groundbreaking research, and taking important actions to improve trust and efficacy in American institutions. Speaker expertise and topics span governmental institutions, civic organizations and practice, and the role of public opinion and culture in shaping our democracy. The webinar series builds awareness about how we can individually and collectively revitalize American institutions to ensure our country’s democracy delivers on its promise. The fourth session discusses Restoring Trust in American Elections: Challenges and Opportunities with Benjamin Ginsberg, Justin Grimmer, and Brandice Canes-Wrone on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, from 10:00 - 11:00 am PT. Public faith in the reliability of American elections has been eroding for decades with both political parties voicing concerns at times since the 1980s. Democrats have often pointed to issues like voter suppression and systemic inequities, while many Republicans have embraced claims of widespread fraud. Since 2016, and particularly following the 2020 election, polls have shown a more precipitous drop in the public’s trust in elections. These divisions have raised critical questions: Are election results reliable? Is distrust in elections now an enduring feature of American political campaigns and does that impact the democracy? Are we destined to cycle through accusations of fraud and suppression with every contested result?  What have we learned from the 2024 election process? 

Friday, December 6, 2024  Hoover Institution | Stanford University The Hoover Institution held a conversation with President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Mary C. Daly and Hoover Institution Senior Fellow, John H. Cochrane on Emerging Technology and the Economy on Friday, December 6th at 10:00 a.m. in the Shultz Auditorium, George P. Shultz Building.​ About the Speakers Mary C. Daly is President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, where she contributes to shaping U.S. monetary policy as part of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC). A labor and public policy economist, Daly is devoted to research and to ensuring that it is translated into practices that improve the lives of everyone. In addition to her work with the Federal Reserve, Daly has served as a visiting professor at Cornell University and UC Davis, and has been an advisor to the Congressional Budget Office, the Library of Congress, and the Social Security Administration. Daly is known for her ability to communicate and is a frequent speaker in the U.S. and internationally. She also hosts an award-winning podcast, Zip Code Economies. Daly holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City, a master’s degree from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, a Ph.D. in economics from Syracuse University, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at Northwestern University. John H. Cochrane is the Rose-Marie and Jack Anderson Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution. He is also a research associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research and an adjunct scholar of the CATO Institute. Before joining Hoover, Cochrane was a Professor of Finance at the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, and earlier at its Economics Department. He was a junior staff economist on the Council of Economic Advisers (1982–83). His most recent book is The Fiscal Theory of the Price Level. Cochrane frequently contributes editorial opinion essays to the Wall Street Journal. He maintains the Grumpy Economist blog. Cochrane earned a bachelor’s degree in physics at MIT and his PhD in economics at the University of California at Berkeley.