Cato Event Podcast

Following stunning losses by the once hegemonic African National Congress in 2016 local elections, Herman Mashaba, a successful businessman and politician from the opposition Democratic Alliance, became mayor of Johannesburg—South Africa’s economic powerhouse. Over the course of last year, Mashaba started to tackle widespread corruption as well as failing delivery of public services in the city. In addition to speaking about the state of Johannesburg, Mashaba will offer his thoughts on economic stagnation and the potentially explosive political situation in the country. Princeton Lyman, who served as the U.S. Ambassador to South Africa at the time of the transfer of power from white minority to black majority, will discuss America’s original hopes for a new South Africa and the extent to which America’s expectations have been left unfulfilled. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

While there is an ongoing debate about what caused the 2008 financial crisis, there is little disagreement that the housing market was at the heart of the problem. In the years since the crisis, Congress passed a massive new piece of legislation, the Dodd-Frank Act, and federal financial regulators have been actively issuing new regulations. But what about the government-sponsored housing enterprises, known as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? What was their role in the crisis, and what has been done to reduce their potential harm in the future? Join us as we discuss these questions with experts from the policy world and the industry itself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is an exclusive opportunity for Cato Sponsors to interact with Peter and discuss topics of interest—from policy research to the organization’s operations to Peter’s own involvement with Cato and the broader liberty movement. He looks forward to taking your questions and engaging in a thought-provoking discussion.The 40th Anniversary e-Briefing Series offers Cato Sponsors a special online-only opportunity to directly engage with Cato’s leadership and scholars as the Institute commemorates this milestone while also examining the future of liberty.Forty years ago, the Cato Institute opened its doors as a new public policy research organization dedicated to liberty. Today, through our independent, nonpartisan research, worldwide events, vast online resources, and media outreach, Cato engages millions on the timeless principles of individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Cato’s success is a testament to our Sponsors’ commitment to the Institute and our work. Thank you for your continued support. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kidney disease kills more than 50,000 people each year—more than auto accidents, drug overdoses, or suicides.There are more than 500,000 people with end-stage renal disease currently undergoing dialysis, the majority of whom are Hispanics, African-Americans, and Native Americans. The only cure is a kidney transplant.However, a severe kidney shortage exists right now: while about 17,000 transplants were performed in 2016, about 100,000 patients remain on the waiting list. Thousands of people will die this year without a kidney becoming available for them.Various methods to increase the supply of available kidneys have proven to be either unworkable or insufficient to significantly allay the shortage.Join our esteemed panel as we explore various ways to alleviate this critical shortage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Iran deal may not survive the Trump administration. The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action requires Iran to limit its nuclear program and allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspections in exchange for sanctions relief from the United States, the European Union, and the UN Security Council. As a candidate, Trump said he would dismantle the deal. He now claims that Iran violated the deal’s “spirit” and has initiated a White House review of it. Trump’s skepticism matches that of several U.S. allies in the region and the mood of Republican majorities in Congress. Meanwhile, ahead of their coming election, Iranian hardliners criticize President Hassan Rouhani for not getting better terms.Advocates of the deal point out that it’s working. Even the Trump administration has formally recognized Iran’s compliance. Freezing Iran’s program, some argue, upsets hawks on both sides precisely because it limits tensions and lowers the odds of war.To discuss the deal and its prospects, Cato is hosting Ambassador Wendy Sherman, who led the U.S. negotiating team for the Obama administration. She’ll be interviewed by Laura Rozen, Al-Monitor’s diplomatic correspondent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Public schools were created with a mission to bring diverse people together and inculcate shared values thought necessary for democracy. But teaching children about politically, religiously, racially, or otherwise highly charged topics has turned out to be very difficult, driven by fear of igniting explosive conflicts. The result has been that potential flashpoints—but also crucial topics—have often been soft-pedaled or skipped entirely in schools. Which raises a fundamental question: Can a public education system encompassing very diverse people ever teach all children about highly controversial topics? Join a panel of experts as they tackle a critical question that is, itself, highly contentious. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Trump administration and Republicans in Congress are pushing ahead with major tax reforms. There is broad agreement on the need to simplify the tax code and to cut tax rates to improve America’s competitiveness. The administration’s tax plan would slash the top business tax rate to 15 percent, while simplifying and reducing individual income tax brackets. The House reform blueprint would cut individual and corporate tax rates and allow for expensing of capital investment. The blueprint also suggests creating Universal Savings Accounts. However, there is still disagreement among experts and political leaders over changes to the business tax base, the need for revenue neutrality, and other aspects of reform.Join our panel of experts who will discuss the economics of tax reform and comment on the policy process in the months ahead. We will explore the proposed changes to individual taxes outlined in the Trump and House plans, and further, examine U.S. business taxation in light of dramatic reforms undertaken in the UK and around the world that offer important lessons for U.S. policymakers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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

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

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