Cato Event Podcast

China’s military threat to Taiwan and the role of the United States in addressing it are hot topics in Washington. However, Taiwan’s self‐​defense capabilities are often overlooked and are arguably more important than the US‐​China military balance for deterring a Chinese attack. Unfortunately, Taiwan’s military is not well‐​structured to prevail in an invasion scenario, and it has been reluctant to fully embrace an asymmetric defense strategy that would give it the best chance of success.In a recent Cato Institute policy analysis, “Taiwan’s Urgent Need for Asymmetric Defense,” Eric Gomez makes the case for Taiwan to specialize its armed forces and adopt an asymmetric defense strategy designed to hold out in two critical military operations that Taiwan will likely be fighting alone, even if the US military intervenes. Gomez lays out a mix of policy changes to push Taiwan toward asymmetric defense while also buying it the necessary time to overhaul its military. Please join our panel of experts to discuss this pressing policy issue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why is the Middle East the least free region of the world? Some observers focus on external factors, such as European colonialism or US foreign policy. Others highlight political or cultural elements. In his book Freedoms Delayed, Timur Kuran focuses on the persistent impact of Islamic law on civil, political, and economic liberties. “Because of its institutional history,” he says, “there is no quick fix to the Middle East’s ongoing illiberalism.” But, he adds, “Islam’s rich history carries within it the seeds of liberalization on many fronts.” Professor Kuran will explain why freedoms are “delayed” in the Middle East but not unattainable. John Voll and Mustafa Akyol will evaluate Kuran’s thesis and assess the prospects of freedom in the region. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Joe Biden assumed the presidency, he brought with him one of the most experienced foreign policy teams in modern U.S. history. National security reporter Alexander Ward’s first book takes readers behind the scenes to reveal the Biden team’s struggle to enact a coherent and effective set of policies across several global crises. From the Afghanistan withdrawal to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine—and the subsequent fallout from both—Ward provides the first glimpse at how history may view the Biden administration’s foreign policy. Please join us for a discussion with the author and a panel of foreign policy experts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The rise of China has led to concerns about its use of military threats to coerce other nations. Emerging from an award‐​winning article in the journal International Security, China’s Gambit examines when, why, and how China attempts to coerce states over perceived threats to its national security. Author Ketian Zhang demonstrates that while China has used coercion for territorial disputes and issues related to Taiwan and Tibet, it is curiously selective in the timing, target, and tools of coercion. Join us for a discussion with a luncheon to follow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Race and racism have been intimately bound throughout American history and remain at the forefront of challenging conversations in politics, in policy, and in the classroom. How are we to understand and productively engage in these conversations and do so in a way that empowers our students? Join Sphere Education Initiatives on February 27 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST via Zoom for an important and informative discussion with the authors of the newly released book Race and the American Story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Race and racism have been intimately bound throughout American history and remain at the forefront of challenging conversations in politics, in policy, and in the classroom. How are we to understand and productively engage in these conversations and do so in a way that empowers our students? Join Sphere Education Initiatives on February 27 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST via Zoom for an important and informative discussion with the authors of the newly released book Race and the American Story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The COVID-19 pandemic made the public more aware of the benefits of telehealth technology. However, most states prohibit patients from accessing telehealth services from out‐​of‐​state clinicians unless those providers obtain licenses from the states where the patients reside. Many patients seeking the expertise of renowned out‐​of‐​state clinicians drive to “telemedicine parking lots” in states where the clinicians hold licenses to conduct telehealth visits. State licensing laws block interstate telehealth services, suppress providers and patients from using the technology, and infringe on patients’ rights to access telehealth. Dr. Shannon MacDonald is a radiation oncologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. State licensing laws have come between Dr. MacDonald and her patients needing follow‐​up care. She has joined with a medical colleague and New Jersey patients to sue the state of New Jersey, contending its health professional licensing laws are unconstitutional.Join Dr. MacDonald, her attorney Caleb Trotter of the Pacific Legal Foundation, and Anastasia P. Boden, the director of the Cato Institute’s Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies, for a discussion of the issue and the lawsuit’s potential impact on professional licensing laws. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As health care prices skyrocket and debates over the future of treatment, and who ought to pay for it, once again take up the attention of Congress, Michael Cannon’s new book, Recovery: A Guide to Reforming the US Health Sector, provides a much‐​needed look into the challenges and opportunities for reform. Join Sphere Education Initiatives on February 15, 2024, from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. EST via Zoom for “Recovery: Exploring Options for Health Care Reform” to hear from the author. Joining Cannon and providing critical commentary will be Len Nichols, nonresident fellow at the Urban Institute and professor emeritus at George Mason University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Educational freedom is gaining ground throughout the country. In 32 states plus Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico, many families can use school choice programs to select the learning environment that works best for their children. At least ten states are on the path to offering universal or nearly universal access to these programs. But challenges remain, such as having an adequate supply of educational options and spreading awareness of those options. Please join us for a robust discussion with five education entrepreneurs who have created diverse learning options for their communities. They’ll share the stories behind their unique entities and the challenges they’ve faced along the way. Three of them of are in universal choice states and can speak to how those programs are helping families. Attendees will come away with increased understanding of today’s education landscape and the wide variety of options that are available to meet students’ need. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.