Open to Debate
Open to Debate
America is more divided than ever—but it doesn’t have to be. Open to Debate offers an antidote to the chaos. We bring multiple perspectives together for real, nonpartisan debates. Debates that are structured, respectful, clever, provocative, and driven by the facts. Open to Debate is on a mission to restore balance to the public square through expert moderation, good-faith arguments, and reasoned analysis. We examine the issues of the day with the world’s most influential thinkers spanning science, technology, politics, culture, and global affairs. It’s time to build a stronger, more united democracy with the civil exchange of ideas. Be open-minded. Be curious. Be ready to listen. Join us in being Open to Debate. (Formerly Intelligence Squared U.S.)
Episodes
Mentioned books
14 snips
May 7, 2026 • 53min
Should Museums Repatriate Cultural Artifacts?
Mario Trabucco della Torretta, classical archaeologist who studies ancient artifacts and museum preservation; Dominic Selwood, historian and barrister defending universal collections; Leila Amineddoleh, art law expert on repatriation rules. They debate colonial-era seizures, legal frameworks, access inequality, cultural homes for objects, and practical paths like loans and collaboration. Tense, provocative, and deeply historical.
37 snips
Apr 30, 2026 • 53min
Should We Separate the Art from the Artist?
Randy Cohen, writer and humorist who defends appreciating art apart from creators; Aruna D'Souza, art critic focused on feminism and museums who argues art and maker are entangled. They spar over whether institutions should separate art from artists, how harmful beliefs show up in works, and when museums’ choices reinforce greatness and harm.
17 snips
Apr 23, 2026 • 53min
Should We Use Gene Editing to Make Better Babies?
Françoise Baylis, bioethicist questioning limits of heritable genomics. Marcy Darnovsky, policy advocate warning of social harms. Amy Webb, futurist arguing for prevention and resilience. George Church, geneticist urging regulated use to reduce disease. They debate safety, equity, governance, geopolitics, and what it even means to make a child "better."
39 snips
Apr 16, 2026 • 53min
Will the AI Bubble Burst?
Magnus Grimeland, founder and VC focused on early-stage and AI startups, and Ryan Cummings, economist and policy advisor, spar over whether AI’s boom is sustainable. They clash on valuations, adoption speed, compute costs, financing fragility, and the role of big firms and government. Short, sharp debate about risk versus real-world rollout and who pays if things go wrong.
13 snips
Apr 9, 2026 • 53min
Wartime Kill Decisions: Human or AI?
Jack Shanahan, former inaugural director of the U.S. Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, argues for pragmatic AI integration. Elliot Ackerman, ex-Marine Raider and bestselling author, brings combat and moral perspective. Michael C. Horowitz, CFR technologist and academic, explores AI’s compliance and deterrence potential. Laura Walker-McDonald, ICRC advisor, insists on human control and legal protections. They debate autonomy, swarms, accountability, and governance.
28 snips
Apr 2, 2026 • 53min
Think Twice About The Meaning of Your Life with Arthur C. Brooks
Arthur C. Brooks, social scientist and bestselling author who studies happiness and meaning, shares his journey from pilgrimage to Harvard research. He breaks meaning into coherence, purpose, and significance. He explores awe, service, love, the risks of tech replacing real connection, the value of serious leisure, suffering’s role in growth, and how AI might reshape meaningful work.
23 snips
Mar 26, 2026 • 53min
Should the U.S. Prioritize Settling Mars?
Shannon Stirone, a freelance science writer who questions Mars colonization on legal and ethical grounds. Eric Berger, senior space editor and author focused on commercial spaceflight and Mars planning. They spar over whether Mars should be the U.S. priority, debating geopolitics, planetary protection, reusable rockets and the costs and risks of human missions.
11 snips
Mar 19, 2026 • 53min
Has Legalizing Sports Gambling Become A Bad Bet?
Bill Pascrell III, lawyer and gaming policy advocate who helped expand legal sports betting. Harry Levant, public health gambling policy director and certified gambling therapist in recovery. They clash over online microbetting, AI-driven wagering, advertising and youth exposure, regulation versus federal public-health standards, and whether legalization’s economic gains outweigh societal harms.
74 snips
Mar 13, 2026 • 53min
The Future of Film: Big Screen or Stream?
Hawk Koch, veteran producer and former Academy and Producers Guild president, defends theaters as communal spectacles. Chris Aronson, ex-Paramount distribution chief, champions streaming’s convenience and reach. They spar over attendance trends, event films like Taylor Swift, pricing and subscription models, and whether cinemas can survive financial pressures. Fast, lively debate with sharp contrasts.
127 snips
Mar 6, 2026 • 53min
Will AI Make Work Obsolete?
Rumman Chowdhury, data and social scientist and CEO focused on responsible AI. Chris Hughes, tech entrepreneur and economic policy advocate. Simon Johnson, Nobel-winning economist and MIT professor. Andrew Yang, entrepreneur and policy advocate for economic supports. They spar over whether AI will replace or augment jobs. Short debates cover automation timelines, corporate incentives, policy responses, and impacts on entry-level roles.
