Conversations with Bill Kristol

James Warren is a veteran reporter, columnist, and editor, having served as Washington Bureau chief for the New York Daily News and managing editor for the Chicago Tribune, among other posts. In this Conversation, Warren shares his perspective on the major changes in American media during the last few decades—from the decline of print and emergence of online news outlets to the dramatic impact of social media. Kristol and Warren discuss the benefits of the current media landscape, notably the availability of diverse news sources of high quality, data-driven reporting, and audiovisual content. They also consider the drawbacks, including the proliferation of disreputable sources online and how budget constraints and other factors have led to the lowering of editorial standards in traditional media. The executive editor of NewsGuard, a new consumer reporting platform, Warren also addresses the future of the media business and the challenge readers and viewers face in distinguishing between serious reporting and fake news.

Nicholas Eberstadt, a distinguished scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, is one of the world’s preeminent experts on North Korea. In this "Conversation," Eberstadt shares his perspective on the distinctive character of the North Korean regime and the threats it poses to its neighbors and the United States. Drawing on his recent essay “The Method in North Korea’s Madness,” Eberstadt explains the strategy behind North Korea’s actions, including nuclear escalation—and how it fits with the regime's self-understanding and ambitions. Finally, Eberstadt considers how America might craft a sustained policy to address the North Korean threat.

Charles Murray, one of America’s preeminent thinkers, is an emeritus scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. In this Conversation, Murray reflects on the major themes of his work and shares his perspective on the state of American society in 2018. Engaging the arguments of his seminal books including "Losing Ground," "The Bell Curve," "In Pursuit," and "Coming Apart," Murray considers how his views have changed in the years since they were published. Finally, Murray reveals the working title of his next book, “Human Differences: Race, Gender, Class, and Genes,” and explains how new discoveries in the natural sciences are likely to affect the social sciences in the coming years.

Veteran Republican political strategist and commentator Mike Murphy shares his perspective on possible scenarios as we head toward the midterm elections and 2020. Will Republicans hold Congress? What are Trump's prospects for reelection (and renomination)? What kind of presidential candidate might Democrats choose? Could there be a viable independent candidacy in 2020? Murphy and Kristol discuss these and many other questions in this incisive (and often humorous!) Conversation.

John Podhoretz is the editor of "Commentary" and film critic of "The Weekly Standard." Podhoretz shares his perspective on movies as an American art form, pivotal eras in filmmaking (the 1930s and the 1970s), Hollywood today, and the broader cultural significance of movies and TV. Kristol and Podhoretz also consider innovations in television during the last decades and whether TV has surpassed film in cultural importance. Finally, Podhoretz argues that we have to much to learn and enjoy from watching the greatest movies of earlier decades.

In his fourth appearance on Conversations, former world chess champion and human rights activist Garry Kasparov discusses artificial intelligence and the political and social implications of it. Drawing on his recent book "Deep Thinking," Kasparov outlines what he considers the potential of new technologies built on “machine learning.” Kasparov explains why free societies must prioritize technological progress and embrace the challenges associated with innovation. Finally, Kasparov considers the new artificial intelligence chess program, AlphaZero—what we can learn from it about chess, as well as the relationship between humans and machines.

Jack Goldsmith is a professor of law at Harvard University and served as Assistant Attorney General in the Office of Legal Counsel (2003-2004). In this Conversation, Goldsmith shares his perspective on how American institutions, and political and cultural norms, have fared during the Trump presidency. While arguing that judicial independence and other constitutional checks and balances remain robust, Goldsmith also reflects on various stresses to the system during this volatile period in American politics.

In this Conversation, Harvey Mansfield considers the connection between the thought of Alexis de Tocqueville and Niccolo Machiavelli. In Tocqueville's "Democracy in America," there is just one reference to Machiavelli. Yet, according to Mansfield’s illuminating interpretation, Tocqueville draws significantly on Machiavelli’s thought—and ambition. Even while opposing the effects of Machiavelli's teaching, Tocqueville learns from Machiavelli in his effort to develop and advance a “new political science” for democratic citizens that preserves honor and political liberty. This Conversation reflects on the essay “Tocqueville’s Machiavellianism” by Harvey Mansfield and Delba Winthrop.

Dan Balz is chief correspondent at The Washington Post, having been a political reporter and editor at the paper for four decades. In this Conversation, Balz shares his perspective on the increasing fragmentation of the media—and the dramatic rise of social media as a political force. Balz also discusses Donald Trump’s relationship with the media, and considers how Trump's experience in the world of New York tabloid journalism and on reality television helped contribute to his success as a presidential candidate. Finally, Balz and Kristol reflect on our political situation more generally, sharing their thoughts on President Trump and the parties as we head toward elections in 2018 and 2020.

Kristen Soltis Anderson is a pollster, author, and political analyst. In this Conversation with Bill Kristol, Anderson considers the millennial generation and shares her research on their political, social, and cultural attitudes. She also reflects on the longstanding failure of the Republican Party to attract younger voters, and explains why these difficulties may be getting worse. Finally, Kristol and Anderson discuss what the voting patterns of millennials might mean for American politics in the short and medium term.