The Soho Forum Debates

Harvard professor Jeffrey Flier and historian of science Terence Kealey debate the resolution, "The National Institutes of Health should be abolished." For the affirmative is Kealey, former vice chancellor of the University of Buckingham. He's the author of multiple books, including The Economic Laws of Scientific Research. He is also an adjunct scholar at the Cato Institute, where he co-authored the white paper "Mission Lost: How NIH Leaders Stole Its Promise to America." For the negative is Flier, the George Higginson professor of physiology and medicine at Harvard Medical School. He is also a former clinical associate at the National Institutes of Health. The debate is moderated by Soho Forum Director Gene Epstein. Post Production: John OsterhoudtThe post Should the NIH Be Abolished? appeared first on Reason.com.

Brian Merchant, AI Now reporter and author who highlights proven harms like surveillance and job loss. Perry Metzger, technologist and author who champions AI’s boosts to productivity, medicine, and mobility. They clash over automation, medical breakthroughs, transportation safety, agricultural robots, creative destruction, labor impacts, and policy responses in a lively debate.

Naomi Schaefer Riley, a family policy expert, argues for increased intervention by child protective services (CPS) to safeguard vulnerable children, highlighting cases of child fatalities and the shortcomings of current practices. In contrast, Martin Guggenheim, a clinical law professor, advocates against expanding CPS interventions, emphasizing systemic issues and racial biases in child welfare. The debate navigates the complexities of neglect, poverty, and the necessity of reforming existing structures rather than merely increasing removals.

Economic researchers Matt Stoller and Geoffrey A. Manne debate the resolution, "The U.S. government should break up large technology companies like Amazon, Meta, and Google to protect workers, suppliers, consumers, and democratic institutions." Arguing in favor of the resolution is Stoller, the director of research at the American Economic Liberties Project and the author of Goliath: The 100-Year War Between Monopoly Power and Democracy. Taking the negative is Manne, the president and founder of the International Center for Law & Economics. The debate is moderated by Soho Forum Director Gene Epstein. Post Production: John OsterhoudtThe post Is It Time To Break Up Big Tech? appeared first on Reason.com.

Princeton University professor Paul Frymer and Wall Street Journal columnist Jason Riley debate the resolution, "The U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 decision to dismantle affirmative action in American higher education marked a significant regression in the pursuit of racial equality." Arguing for the affirmative is Frymer, a professor of politics at Princeton. He's the author of Uneasy Alliances: Race and Party Competition in America and Black and Blue: African Americans, the Labor Movement, and the Decline of the Democratic Party. Arguing against the resolution is Riley, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. He's also the author of several relevant titles, including The Affirmative Action Myth: Why Blacks Don't Need Racial Preferences To Succeed and Please Stop Helping Us: How Liberals Make It Harder for Blacks to Succeed, False Black Power. The debate is moderated by Soho Forum director Gene Epstein. Post Production Supervision: John OsterhoudtThe post Should Affirmative Action End? appeared first on Reason.com.

Drug policy scholar Kevin Sabet and Reason's Zach Weissmueller debate the resolution, "The failure of Oregon's experiment in decriminalizing all drugs is compelling evidence that other attempts at complete decriminalization will fail just as badly." Arguing for the affirmative is Sabet, the director of the Drug Policy Institute at the University of Florida, and the co-founder and president of Smart Approaches to Marijuana. He is the author of Reefer Sanity: Seven Great Myths About Marijuana. Arguing against the resolution is Weissmueller, a senior producer at Reason, who has been covering the drug war for well over a decade. He recently produced a documentary on why Oregon re-criminalized drugs. The debate is moderated by Soho Forum director Gene Epstein. Producer: John OsterhoudtThe post Is Oregon Proof That Drug Decriminalization Will Fail? appeared first on Reason.com.

In a spirited debate, Melanie Thompson, the Chief Advocacy Officer at the Coalition Against Trafficking in Women, argues that paying for sex perpetuates inequality and exploitation. She highlights the structural pressures that compromise consent and point to increased harms in legalized systems. Opposing her is Caitlin Bailey, founder of Old Pros, who advocates for decriminalization, arguing that criminalizing buyers increases dangers for sex workers and doesn't reduce violence. The discussion dives deep into issues of consent, buyer culture, and historical injustices.

Glenn Greenwald and Anna K. Gorisch debate the resolution, "President Trump's deportation policies generally violate key civil liberties as set forth in the U.S. Constitution." Arguing in favor of the resolution is Greenwald, a journalist and podcaster who won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for the National Security Agency–Edward Snowden revelations. He left The Intercept in 2020 to become independent and is now the host of System Update nightly on Rumble. Opposing the resolution is Gorisch, an immigration attorney at Kendall Immigration Law, PLLC, in Austin, Texas, focusing on employment-based immigration. The debate is moderated by Soho Forum Director Gene Epstein. Producer: John OsterhoudtThe post Are Trump's Deportations Constitutional? appeared first on Reason.com.

David Goldhill, CEO of Sesame and author of 'Catastrophic Care,' debates Jacob Hacker, Yale professor and political scientist. They tackle whether a public health insurance plan could effectively compete with private options. Hacker advocates for enhanced coverage and systemic improvements, critiquing current inefficiencies. Goldhill counters with concerns about market regulation and the need for competition. The discussion delves into healthcare disparities and explores innovative solutions while debating the balance between public and private systems.

Hal Brands and Gareth Porter debate the resolution, "The Cold War was a necessary response by the United States to a Soviet and Chinese threat to the global balance of power." Hal Brands, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, defends the resolution. He has authored multiple books on the Cold War, including The Twilight Struggle: What the Cold War Teaches Us About Great-Power Rivalry Today. Arguing against the resolution is Gareth Porter, an award-winning journalist and historian who authored The CIA Insider's Guide to the Iran Crisis: From CIA Coup to the Brink of War. The debate is moderated by Soho Forum director Gene Epstein. Post production: John OsterhoudtThe post Was the Cold War a Deception? appeared first on Reason.com.