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.

Recent years have produced increasing attacks on the idea of free speech and significant doubts about the wisdom of its continued protection. From confusion about the nature of the First Amendment protection of speech, to misconceptions about the Supreme Court’s rulings on the issue, misinformation on free speech is rampant. World renowned legal scholar and free speech advocate Nadine Strossen’s new book, Free Speech: What Everyone Needs to Know, provides a timely and much needed response this confusion.The Cato Institute’s Sphere Education Initiatives is pleased to host Nadine Strossen in the Hayek Auditorium on November 6th from 1–2 pm EDT for a special book release event. Please join us in person or via online streaming video for this important conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Part three of this year’s Summer with Sphere is coming to you live from Sphere Summit. Join us on Tuesday, July 25th from 2–3 pm EDT for a panel discussion on the most important issues in tech policy and regulation. Joining us will be Jennifer Huddleston, Technology Policy Research Fellow at the Cato Institute, Nicol Turner Lee, Senior Fellow in Governance Studies and Director of the Center for Technology Innovation at Brookings Institution, and Adam Thierer, Resident Senior Fellow for Technology and Innovation at R Street. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The classroom can be a place of learning, wonder, and exploration of challenging ideas. Yet often the most engaging learning environments provide moments for difficult conversations. How can educators manage these tough topics in a way that promotes learning while navigating the challenges of the current education environment?Sphere Education Initiatives and Retro Report are pleased to invite you to this special, one‐​day professional development event on January 20 to tackle free speech issues and leave you empowered and equipped to engage in difficult conversations in your classroom. Held in person at the Cato Institute and streamed live online, this event will feature:Screenings of the latest Retro Report documentaries on free speech and artistic expressionConversation with the film’s producer and remarks from a leading free speech scholar Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At its essence, shareholder capitalism is a means for mutually beneficial trade. It fosters specialization, fuels innovation, and propels economic growth. While shareholder capitalism is a central theme in Finance 101 courses, it is increasingly criticized, especially with the popularization of sustainability, ESG investing, and stakeholder capitalism.In this engaging new book, author David McLean, the William G. Droms Professor of Finance at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, explains how shareholder capitalism benefits all. Edward Rock, the Martin Lipton Professor of Law at New York University School of Law and the codirector of the university’s Institute for Corporate Governance & Finance, will join McLean for a lively discussion on the nature of shareholder capitalism and its role in society. Norbert Michel, vice president and director of the Cato Institute’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives, will moderate the discussion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For nearly 30 years, the World Trade Organization (WTO) has been the bedrock of the global trading system, serving as a negotiating forum for its 164 members, providing a system for resolving trade disputes, and acting as an essential clearinghouse for trade‐​related information. Over three‐​quarters of cross‐​border trade is carried out based on members’ WTO commitments, fostering an environment that has seen global trade soar from $5 trillion in 1995, the year of the WTO’s founding, to almost $25 trillion in 2022.Paradoxically, despite decades of success and the overwhelming benefits of trade for developed and developing countries alike, the WTO faces growing challenges and growing skepticism—particularly among US policymakers—regarding the benefits of globalization.It is our pleasure to welcome Dr. Ngozi Okonjo‐​Iweala, director‐​general of the WTO, to the Cato Institute for a frank discussion on the threats facing both the WTO and globalization more broadly, as well as their implications for the global economy, developing countries, and the world’s most vulnerable people. Indeed, there may be no better person to discuss these topics than Okonjo‐​Iweala, given her current position at the WTO and her distinguished 40‐​year career as an economist, international development expert, Nigerian government official and finance expert. We’d be thrilled for you to join us for this important conversation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.