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Aspen Ideas to Go

Aspen Ideas to Go

The Aspen Institute 602 Episodes Oct 7, 2026

Aspen Ideas to Go is a show about bold ideas that will open your mind. Featuring compelling conversations with the world’s top thinkers and doers from a diverse range of disciplines, Aspen Ideas to Go gives you front-row access to the Aspen Ideas Festival.

Episodes

Rules of Engagement: The State of Civil-Military Relations
Rules of Engagement: The State of Civil-Military Relations Oct 7, 2026 52:08 Civilian control of the military is a cornerstone of American democracy. But what happens when the relationship between military and civilian leadership comes under strain? Amid significant changes in senior military leadership and renewed debate over the boundaries between military authority and civilian oversight, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Charles Q. Brown, Jr. joins
News You Can Trust, Maybe
News You Can Trust, Maybe Sep 30, 2026 46:09 The number of people using chatbots for their news is increasing. According to a 2026 report, 10 percent of all people globally use chatbots–that’s up from 7 percent in 2025. Trust and interest in news is also declining. The highest purpose of journalism is to serve needed information to the public. But what happens when AI is affecting every aspect of news–how it's produced, distributed,
We the Curious: Teaching Democracy in a Divided Age
We the Curious: Teaching Democracy in a Divided Age Sep 23, 2026 52:09 We don’t all learn in school how to participate in democracy. And a lack of understanding about how our government works can feed frustration, cynicism and apathy. In the age of the internet, there’s an opportunity to fill those educational gaps for people and empower them to get involved. But how do you send a signal through the noise, and motivate people civically? Sharon McMahon is a f
Journalism’s Next Chapter
Journalism’s Next Chapter Sep 16, 2026 53:04 Some internet content creators are building major platforms by analyzing, dispensing and sometimes reporting current events. But how can viewers gauge credibility in this Wild West? And what is the role of legacy journalism in an increasingly fragmented media landscape? Veteran reporter Katie Couric joins two leaders charting a new course in journalism, Jerusalem Demsas, founder of The Ar
9/11, DHS, and the Rule of Law
9/11, DHS, and the Rule of Law Sep 9, 2026 31:23 After the deadliest terror attacks in United States history occurred the morning of September 11, 2001, sweeping changes to security were put in place. The 9/11 attacks gave rise to the Department of Homeland Security and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Congress passed the Patriot Act and President George W. Bush declared a global war on terror, leading to the detention
The Democratic Reckoning
The Democratic Reckoning Sep 2, 2026 59:20 The current appeal of authoritarian regimes around the world is raising questions about whether democracy has a future. What’s sparking these political backlashes and what has soured voters on democratic systems and values? Stanford political scientist and the author of “The End of History,” Francis Fukuyama, joins Canadian journalist-turned-politician Chrystia Freeland and New York Times
Consent of the Governed? The Fight for the Franchise
Consent of the Governed? The Fight for the Franchise Aug 26, 2026 57:04 With the midterm elections on the horizon, will voters overcome a fraught electoral battlefield to show up at the polls? Threats to the electoral system such as polarization, misinformation, campaign finance, redistricting, and limits to the Voting Rights Act are reducing voters’ trust. How can the system be rebuilt in a way that inspires confidence across the political spectrum? Heather
The China Calculus
The China Calculus Aug 19, 2026 53:25 China’s ups and downs reverberate across the globe, and unpredictability from Washington has been throwing another wrench into the equation. Good diplomacy and an open trade relationship between these two superpowers is essential, but the playbook keeps changing. In this talk from the 2026 Aspen Ideas Festival, three experts on U.S.-China relations bring us up to date on technological adv
Unchecked: Is American Democracy Out of Balance?
Unchecked: Is American Democracy Out of Balance? Aug 12, 2026 49:18 In an era of executive overreach, Congress and the Supreme Court are becoming less effective at reigning in presidential power. America’s three branches of government–the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial–were created to regulate each other. But the nation’s founders didn’t anticipate headwinds like the rise of modern political parties. A healthier inter-branch dynamic is needed, says
What’s Going Right in a World Gone Wrong
What’s Going Right in a World Gone Wrong Aug 5, 2026 53:01 With so many problems in the world, it can be easy to skip over what’s actually working. But while progress often isn’t linear, history tells us that a lot of societal issues have actually improved. The experts on this panel help us see those bright spots and reframe our thinking to include hopeful visions for the future. Greg Jackson, a professor at Utah Valley University and the host of
Strait-jacket: The Future of the Iran War
Strait-jacket: The Future of the Iran War Jul 29, 2026 50:54 Since the conflict in Iran began in February, the results have been mixed. It has degraded Iran’s nuclear capacity, reduced its missile arsenal, and sunk its navy. But the war has also closed the Strait of Hormuz, divided America’s Gulf allies, fractured the U.S.-Israeli relationship, and failed to achieve objectives like regime change and nuclear elimination. A panel of Iran experts with
Major Questions, Major Consequences: The Supreme Court’s 2025 Term in Review
Major Questions, Major Consequences: The Supreme Court’s 2025 Term in Review Jul 22, 2026 56:37 In an increasingly polarized nation with a divided Congress, the rulings of the Supreme Court’s latest term were as closely watched as ever. The justices took on decisions about birthright citizenship, voting rights, transgender athletes and many other hot button issues, with sometimes surprising results. Immediately after the term wrapped, three experts on the court met onstage at the 20

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