The Brookings Cafeteria

Bruce Riedel, senior fellow and director of the Brookings Intelligence Project, offers his expert view on the policy challenges facing the new administration with respect to Pakistan, their double-sided government, and their tumultuous regional relations. Also in this episode, Molly Reynolds, fellow in Governance Studies, returns with her regular "What's Happening in Congress" update. This week: confirming Neil Gorsuch, passing an Obamacare replacement, contention over the budget, and the investigation of Russian interference into the US presidential election. Finally, Tom Loveless examines disproportionate suspension rates for African American students from his 2017 Brown Center Report on American Education. Subscribe to Brookings podcasts here or on iTunes, send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. The Brookings Cafeteria is a part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Donna A. Lopiano, adjunct lecturer in sports management at Southern Connecticut State University and president of Sports Management Resources consulting firm, and former Women's Athletic Director at the University of Texas at Austin, discusses her most recent title, co-authored with Gerald Gurney and Andrew Zimbalist, "Unwinding Madness: What Went Wrong with College Sports--and How to Fix It" (Brookings Institution Press, 2017) which looks at how college sports have undermined what college is supposed to do for students: educate them. Also in this podcast, Stephen Hess, senior fellow emeritus in Governance Studies, recounts travelling with vice-presidential candidate Spiro T. Agnew, in this installment of "Steve Hess Stories." Subscribe to Brookings podcasts here or on iTunes, send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. The Brookings Cafeteria is a part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Philip Wallach, senior fellow in Governance Studies, breaks down the regulatory process and considers the shape of regulation in Trump's administration. Also in this episode, an excerpt from an event with Ma Ying-jeou, former President of the Republic of China, as he discusses Taiwan's past, present, and future. Subscribe to Brookings podcasts here or on iTunes, send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. The Brookings Cafeteria is a part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Jessica Brandt, associate fellow in Foreign Policy and special assistant to the president in the Executive Office, examines the state of the global refugee crisis today and addresses what steps the United States and international community should take to provide relief. Also in this episode, David Wessel, senior fellow and director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, provides his regular economic update. This week, he introduces the center's new Fiscal Impact Measure, which interprets the impact of fiscal policy on GDP growth in real time. Finally, Lynn Kuok, nonresident fellow in the Center for East Asia Policy Studies, discusses tensions in the South China Sea in our "Ask an Expert" segment. Follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. BCP is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Steven Pifer, senior fellow and director of the Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Initiative, examines the relationship between the U.S. and Russia in terms of nuclear policy, arms control, and the conflict with Ukraine. Also in this episode, Molly Reynolds, fellow in Governance Studies, discusses recent congressional town hall meetings and the likelihood that members of Congress will change their actions when they return to Washington. Subscribe to Brookings podcasts here or on iTunes, send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter.

Alice Rivlin, a senior fellow in Economic Studies and the Center for Health Policy, addresses the claim that the Affordable Care Act is "collapsing," and provides her expert analysis on what actions the new administration and Congress should take on health care. Also in this episode, Jonathan Sallet, a visiting fellow in Governance Studies, discusses why became a scholar after serving in government on our Coffee Break segment. He explains why the idea of "truth" is most critical to preserving democracy, and why he considers it a pressing issue of our time. Finally, in our Metro Lens segment, Elizabeth Kneebone, fellow at the Metropolitan Policy Program, explains how EITC aids low-income Americans. Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Eric Abalahin, Jessica Pavone, Nawal Atallah, Kelly Russo, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to Brookings podcasts here or on iTunes, send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. BCP is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Shadi Hamid, senior fellow in the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World in the Center for Middle East Policy, discusses his new co-authored paper "Islamism After the Arab Spring: Between the Islamic State and the Nation State." He explains what "Islamism" means and how it has evolved over the past few years. Also in this episode, Dany Bahar, a fellow in the Global Economy and Development program, explains how immigrants strengthen our country. Finally, Fred Dews reviews the highlights of what experts have said in the previous week regarding the Trump administration in our new "First 100 Days" segment. This week:a possible rise in terrorism due to the "Muslim ban," repealing or repairing the ACA, and a shift in the U.S.-Mexico relationship. Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Eric Abalahin, Jessica Pavone, Nawal Atallah, Kelly Russo, and Rebecca Viser. Follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. BCP is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Want a daily bite of analysis from Brookings experts on what's happening with the Trump administration? Subscribe to 5 on 45 through your favorite podcast app for a quick hit of commentary on the day's news. And don't forget to follow @policypodcasts for the latest updates.

John Hudak, deputy director of the Center for Effective Public Management and senior fellow in Governance Studies, discusses why marijuana is an important public policy issue and how its image is changing, which is the focus of his new book, "Marijuana: A Short History." Also in this episode, David Wessel, senior fellow in Economic Studies and director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, provides his regular economic update. Finally, Fred Dews reviews the highlights of what Brookings experts have said in the previous week regarding the Trump administration in our new "First 100 Days" segment. This week: the "Muslim ban," Trump's trade stance, moving the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and the attack on sanctuary cities. Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Eric Abalahin, Jessica Pavone, Nawal Atallah, Kelly Russo, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to Brookings podcasts here or on iTunes, send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. BCP is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Ted Gayer, vice president and director of Economic Studies and the Joseph A. Pechman Senior Fellow, looks at the top economic issues in the upcoming year. Tune in to hear his views on the performance of the U.S. economy and job markets, as well as the trends he sees with the new administration. Also in this podcast: Joseph Kane, senior research analyst and associate fellow at the Metropolitan Policy Program, discusses the increasing water infrastructure challenges we face today, and what action cities need to take to tackle their water challenges in our regular "Metro Lens" segment. Finally, Fred Dews reviews the highlights of what experts have said in the previous week regarding the Trump administration in our new "First 100 Days" segment. This week: withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, security relations with China, and our possible transition into a new world order. Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Eric Abalahin, Jessica Pavone, Nawal Atallah, Kelly Russo, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to Brookings podcasts here or on iTunes, send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. BCP is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Elaine Kamarck, director of the Center for Effective Public Management and a Senior Fellow in Governance Studies, discusses what's next for Barack Obama and what role former presidents play in our civic life. She also offers some predictions about how Trump will deal with his presidency based off of her book, "Why Presidents Fail and How They Can Succeed Again." Also in this episode, Bradley Hardy, the Okun-Model Fellow in Economic Studies, discusses why he became a scholar and what he believes is the most pressing public policy issue today. Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Eric Abalahin, Jessica Pavone, Nawal Atallah, Kelly Russo, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to Brookings podcasts here or on iTunes, send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. BCP is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Shivshankar Menon, a distinguished fellow in Foreign Policy at Brookings and a former Indian foreign minister and national security advisor, shares some of his experiences behind the scenes of some of India's most critical foreign policy decisions. In his new book, "Choices: Inside the Making of India's Foreign Policy," Ambassador Menon reflects on the difficult choices that one of the world's great, rising powers has had to make. Also in this episode, part three of a conversation with Greg Clark, author of the 2016 book, "Global Cities: A Short History." You can listen to part one about the history of global cities in our November 4 episode, and part 2—a discussion of cities to include Singapore, Vienna, and San Diego—aired on December 9. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. BCP is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Donald Trump's inauguration as 45th president of the United States is right around the corner, and so the nation's (and world's) focus turns to the end of his transition to the White House and the start of his administration. Senior Fellow Michael O'Hanlon--director of research for Foreign Policy, co-director of the Center on 21st Century Security and Intelligence, and the Sydney Stein, Jr., Chair--came on the show to talk about the president-elect's incoming national security team and the most salient foreign policy, national security, and defense issues for the new administration. Also in this episode, Senior Fellow David Wessel, director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, talks about investing in human capital in his regular Wessel's Economic Update. And, Visiting Fellow Philippe Le Corre talks about China's global rise and how the U.S. and European Union can meet the challenge Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. BCP is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

2016 is finally over and with it another great year for the Brookings Cafeteria podcast. We had 52 episodes, over 60 guests, and covered dozens of policy topics. We celebrated the centennial of the Brookings Institution in a few episodes. The Academy of Podcasters at Podcast Movement honored us once again with a nomination as best education podcast of the year. Our team experienced some changes but still turned out a terrific show every week. To celebrate the closing of the year, today's show features our favorite clips from past 12 months. Thanks to all of those who made 2016 another great year for the show: Gaston Reboredo, audio engineer and producer, who took over from Zack Kulzer after Zack moved out west Vanessa Sauter, producer, who replaced Carisa Neitsche, who left to pursue graduate studies Bill Finan, interviewer with the authors of Brookings Press books Adrianna Pita, the host of the Intersections podcast and guest host of some episodes Sara Abdel Rahim and Basseem Maliki, interns extraordinaire. Basseem helped find all the clips for this show Mark Hoelscher, who produced a few shows and assisted with audio production in others Jessica Pavone, Eric Abalahin, and Rebecca Viser, who provide design and web support Richard Fawal and David Nassar, who provide their leadership and support. Show Notes: Visit the home page for the Brookings Cafeteria podcast to listen to all of the episodes mentioned in this one. Subscribe to Brookings podcasts here or on iTunes, send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. BCP is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Kemal Derviş, vice president and director of Global Economy and Development at Brookings, discusses policies for a globally interdependent world, which is the focus of his new book "Reflections on Progress: Essays on the Global Political Economy." Also in this episode, Molly Reynolds, fellow in Governance Studies, answers a listener's question on whether ideology or choice of candidate is more important for American voters in our regular "Ask an Expert" segment. Additionally, Richard Shearer, senior research associate and senior project manager with the Metropolitan Policy Program, examines the ways in which the divide between big city and small town America play out in our politics. Finally, an excerpt from a recent Brookings event featuring Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and British Member of Parliament Tristram Hunt talking about cities in the age of Trump and Brexit. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. BCP is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Ambassador Norman Eisen, visiting fellow in Governance Studies and former U.S. ambassador to the Czech Republic, discusses the controversies surrounding President-elect Trump's transition to the White House and his new report on open government. Also in this episode, Rebecca Winthrop, director of the Center for Universal Education and senior fellow in Global Economy and Development, analyzes the ways in which education systems should evolve in the digital age. Finally, Bill Finan and Greg Clark, nonresident senior fellow at the Metropolitan Policy Program, continue their conversation on Clark's new book "Global Cities: A Short History." The first part of this interview can be found in our "Election 2016: It's almost over" episode. Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Eric Abalahin, Jessica Pavone, Nawal Atallah, Basseem Maleki, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. BCP is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Darrell West, vice president and director of Governance Studies and author of "Megachange: Economic Disruption, Political Upheaval, and Social Strife in the 21st Century," analyzes how recent dramatic disruptions in trends, such as the rise of Donald Trump and Brexit, are challenging institutions and societies. Also in this episode, David Wessel, senior fellow and director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal on Monetary Policy, talks about the types of economic policies that we can expect from a Trump presidency. Finally, Vanda Felbab-Brown, senior fellow in Foreign Policy and the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence, answers a listener's question on what President Trump can do about NAFTA in our regular "Ask an Expert" segment. Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Eric Abalahin, Jessica Pavone, Nawal Atallah, Basseem Maleki, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. BCP is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Elaine Kamarck, senior fellow in Governance Studies and founding director of the Center for Effective Public Management, discusses the ongoing transition of president-elect Donald Trump to the White House. Also in this episode, Joshua Meltzer, senior fellow in Global Economy and Development, examines the U.S.'s relationship with international trade. Finally, David Victor, co-chair of the Energy Security and Climate Initiative, and Adrianna Pita, host of Brookings's Intersections Podcast, talk about the Paris Climate Agreement. Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Eric Abalahin, Jessica Pavone, Nawal Atallah, Basseem Maleki, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. BCP is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Cheng Li, senior fellow in Foreign Policy and director of the John L. Thornton China Center, talks about the rise of Chinese President Xi Jinping through the Chinese communist party leadership, which is the focus of his new book, "Chinese Politics in the Xi Jinping Era: Reassessing Collective Leadership." Also in this episode, Laurence Chandy, fellow in Global Economy and Development, examines how technology and globalization affect inequality. Finally, Harsha Singh, executive director of the Brookings India Center, discusses his career, Brookings India, and current events in India. Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Eric Abalahin, Jessica Pavone, Nawal Atallah, Basseem Maleki, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. BCP is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Brookings experts discuss Election 2016 and the transition ahead. David Wessel, senior fellow in Economic Studies and director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, moderates a conversation with Stuart Butler, senior fellow in Economic Studies, John Hudak, senior fellow in Governance Studies and deputy director of the Center for Effective Public Management, Elaine Kamarck, senior fellow in Governance Studies and founding director of the Center for Effective Public Management, and Bruce Riedel, senior fellow in Foreign Policy and director of the Intelligence Project, on the results of the 2016 U.S. presidential election and what to expect from President-elect Donald Trump. Special thanks to the event moderator, David Wessel, and the events team, Eric Bull, Adrianna Pita, and Camilo Ramirez. Additional thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Eric Abalahin, Jessica Pavone, Nawal Atallah, Basseem Maleki, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. BCP is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

John Hudak, deputy director of the Center for Effective Public Management and a senior fellow in Governance Studies, discusses the final stretch of the 2016 U.S. presidential election and what to expect after the election is over. Also in this episode, Adie Tomer, fellow at the Metropolitan Policy Program, talks about infrastructure challenges for the next president. Finally, Bill Finan interviews Greg Clark, nonresident senior fellow at the Metropolitan Policy Program, on his new book "Global Cities: A Short History." Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Eric Abalahin, Jessica Pavone, Nawal Atallah, Basseem Maleki, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. BCP is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Carol Graham, senior fellow in Global Economy and Development, explores the socioeconomic factors impacting the health and happiness of low-income white Americans and how they are playing out in the 2016 presidential election. Also in this episode, Joshua Meltzer, senior fellow in Global Economy and Development, answers a listener's question on trade policy in our regular "Ask an Expert" segment. Finally, Harsha Singh, senior fellow and executive director of Brookings India, offers his thoughts on the U.S. 2016 presidential election from an Indian perspective. Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Eric Abalahin, Jessica Pavone, Nawal Atallah, Basseem Maleki, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu, and follow us and tweet us at @policypodcasts on Twitter. BCP is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

As part of the Brookings Election 2016 project, the Brookings Podcast Network brings you a special edition episode in which Indira Lakshamanan, Washington columnist for the Boston Globe and contributor to Politico, moderates a conversation with Fiona Hill, senior fellow in Foreign Policy and director of the Center on the United States and Europe, and Thomas Wright, fellow in Foreign Policy and director of the Project on International Order and Strategy, on the ways in which the next president should treat current U.S. alliances, engage with Russia, and how all of this will affect the international order over the next 4-8 years. Special thanks to the event moderator, Indira Lakshamanan, and the events team, Eric Bull, Adrianna Pita, and Camilo Ramirez. Additional thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Eric Abalahin, Jessica Pavone, Nawal Atallah, Basseem Maleki, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu. BCP is part of the Brookings Podcast network.

Homi Kharas, deputy director in the Global Economy and Development program and one of the authors of Brookings's new "11 Global Debates" series, examines how issues of globalization are playing out in the 2016 presidential election. Also in this episode, John Hudak, deputy director of the Center for Effective Public Management and a senior fellow in Governance Studies, provides an update on the presidential and down-ballot races. Finally, Jon Valant, fellow in Governance Studies and the Brown Center on Education Policy, explains what inspired him to become a scholar of education policy and why he thinks education policy builds the foundation that solves many social problems. Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Eric Abalahin, Jessica Pavone, Nawal Atallah, Basseem Maleki, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu. The Brookings Cafeteria podcast is part of the Brookings Podcast Network.

Molly Reynolds, fellow in Governance Studies, examines the upcoming down-ballot races and how they will shape Congress and state governments. Also in this episode, John Hudak, deputy director of the Center for Effective Public Management and a senior fellow in Governance Studies, provides an update on where the presidential race stands. Finally, this episode features an excerpt from an episode of Brookings's Elections 101 Video Series in which William Galston, senior fellow in Governance Studies, talks about how to increase voter participation and make voting easier. Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Eric Abalahin, Jessica Pavone, Nawal Atallah, Basseem Maleki, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Fredrick C. Harris, nonresident senior fellow in Governance Studies and director of the Center on African American Politics and Society at Columbia University, and guest interviewer Adrianna Pita, host of the Intersections podcast, discuss the history of African-American participation in politics and how minority turnout might affect the results of this year's presidential election. Also in this episode, Elaine Kamarck, senior fellow in Governance Studies and author of a new paper titled, "The relationship that rules the world: Modern presidents and their vice presidents," analyzes the recent vice presidential debate and the role of vice presidents. This episode also includes an excerpt from an episode of Brookings's Elections 101 Video Series in which John Hudak, deputy director of the Center for Effective Public Management and senior fellow in Governance Studies, explains the importance of swing states. Finally, Joseph Parilla, fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program, talks about globalization and urbanization in China. Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Eric Abalahin, Jessica Pavone, Nawal Atallah, Basseem Maleki, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

As part of the Brookings Election 2016 project, the Brookings Cafeteria brings you a special edition podcast where Indira Lakshamanan, columnist for the Boston Globe, moderates a conversation with Robert Einhorn, senior fellow in the Arms Control and Non-Proliferation Initiative and former negotiator of the Iran nuclear deal, and Michael O'Hanlon, senior fellow in Foreign Policy and co-director of the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence, who discuss how the next president can balance the dual goals of U.S. security and the protection of Syrian lives. Special thanks to the event moderator, Indira Lakshamanan, and the events team, Eric Bull, Adrianna Pita, and Camilo Ramirez. Additional thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Eric Abalahin, Jessica Pavone, Nawal Atallah, Basseem Maleki, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu

Michael O'Hanlon, senior fellow in Foreign Policy and co-director of the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence, discusses ISIS, refugees, trade, and other foreign policy issues weighing on the minds of voters. He also addresses many of the issues the next president will have to deal with, whether or not they are part of the campaign discussion. O'Hanlon also previews the new Election 2016 and America's Future project, a series of policy briefs and events on the biggest issues facing the nation. Also in this episode, John Hudak, deputy director of the Center for Effective Public Management and senior fellow in Governance Studies, provides an analysis of the first presidential debate. This episode also includes an excerpt from an episode of Brookings' Elections 101 Video Series where E.J. Dionne, senior fellow in Governance Studies, explains polling and how to determine the accuracy of polls. Finally, Dany Bahar, fellow in the Global Economy and Development program, is featured in a new segment titled, "Ask an Expert," where we take BCP to the streets and get a passerby to ask one of our Brookings experts a question. Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Eric Abalahin, Jessica Pavone, Nawal Atallah, Basseem Maleki, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

David Wessel, senior fellow and director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, looks at Hillary Clinton's and Donald Trump's different approaches to policy issues including taxes, family leave, and trade. Also in this episode, John Hudak, deputy director of the Center for Effective Public Management and a senior fellow in Governance Studies, provides a general election update and discusses the upcoming first presidential debate. Finally, Bill Finan interviews John Bessler, professor of Law at the University of Baltimore School of Law and an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University Law Center, who edited the new Brookings volume, "Against the Death Penalty," which offers Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer's passionate dissent in a 2015 death penalty case. Thanks to audio producer Gaston Reboredo and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Eric Abalahin, Jessica Pavone, Nawal Atallah, Basseem Maleki, and Rebecca Viser.

Guest host Robert McKenzie, visiting fellow in the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World, and Leon Wieseltier, the Isaiah Berlin Senior Fellow in Culture and Policy, discuss how Western inaction impacts Syrian refugees and the political landscape in Europe. Also in this episode, Elizabeth Mann, fellow in the Brown Center on Education Policy, addressesthe importance of providing every child with a high level of education. Finally, Bill Finan interviews Donald Kettl about his new book, "Escaping Jurassic Government: How to Recover America's Lost Commitment to Competence." Thanks to audio producer Mark Hoelscher and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Eric Ablahan, Jessica Pavone, Nawal Atallah, Basseem Maleki, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Amadou Sy, senior fellow and director of the Africa Growth Initiative, addresses both the opportunities and challenges of U.S. economic engagement in Africa as the second U.S.-Africa Business Forum approaches. Also in this episode, Elizabeth Kneebone discusses the significance of the increasing number of high poverty neighborhoods in our regular Metro Lens segment. Finally, Bill Finan interviews Steven Koltai, guest scholar in Governance Studies, on his new book Peace through Entrepreneurship. Thanks to audio producer Mark Hoelscher and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Jessica Pavone, Eric Abalahin, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Elaine Kamarck, senior fellow in Governance Studies and director of the Center for Effective Public Management, talks about why we need a managerial presidency, a central argument in her most recent book Why Presidents Fail and How They Can Succeed Again. Also in this podcast, Aaron Klein, fellow in Economic Studies and policy director of the Initiative on Business and Public Policy, discusses what inspires him in public policy and public service. Finally, Steve Hess looks back on his time in the Eisenhower White House. Thanks to audio producer Mark Hoelscher and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Jessica Pavone, Eric Abalahin, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

John Villasenor, nonresident senior fellow in Governance Studies and the Center for Technology Innovation, discusses his new report on digital and financial inclusion. Also stay tuned for our regular election update from John Hudak, deputy director of the Center for Effective Public Management and a senior fellow in Governance Studies. Thanks to audio producer Mark Hoelscher and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Jessica Pavone, Eric Abalahin, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Mireya Solís, senior fellow and the Philip Knight Chair in Japan Studies in the Brookings Center for East Asia Policy Studies, explores the domestic and international importance of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, comments on what the presidential candidates are saying about trade, and also addresses the fears people have about losing their jobs to trade. Also stay tuned for our regular economic update from David Wessel, senior fellow and director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy. Thanks to audio producer Mark Hoelscher and producer Vanessa Sauter, and also thanks for additional support from Jessica Pavone, Eric Abalahin, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Jonathan Rauch, senior fellow in Governance Studies, expands on his widely popular new article in The Atlantic titled, "How American Politics Went Insane." Also in this episode, Metropolitan Policy Program Associate Fellow Devashree Saha examines the impact of crashing oil prices on state and metro economies. How American politics went insane The state of state parties, a neglected path to healthier politics Political Realism: How Hacks, Machines, Big Money, and Back-Room Deals Can Strengthen American Democracy Permanent trust funds: Funding economic change with fracking revenues Thanks to audio producer Mark Hoelscher, plus thanks to Carisa Nietsche, Bill Finan, Vanessa Sauter, Jessica Pavone, Eric Abalahin, and Rebecca Viser. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Harold Trinkunas, senior fellow and director of the Latin America Initiative at Brookings, and David Mares, guest scholar in the Latin America Initiative, discusses their new book Aspirational Power: Brazil's Long Road to Global Influence. Also in this episode, Steve Hess recounts navigating a challenging request from President Nixon. Finally, Metropolitan Policy Program Fellow Adie Tomer narrates his path to public policy research on infrastructure. Aspirational Power: Brazil on the Long Road to Global Influence The 2016 Rio Olympics: Will Brazil's emergence get a second wind? Brazil and the international order: Getting back on track Los Angeles will vote again whether to self-finance its infrastructure future Thanks to audio producer Mark Hoelscher, plus thanks to Carisa Nietsche, Bill Finan, Vanessa Sauter, Jessica Pavone, Eric Abalahin, Rebecca Viser, and our intern Sara Abdel-Rahim. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

After the conventions, a presidential election update from John Hudak. In the interview, Mark Muro, senior fellow and policy director of the Metropolitan Policy Program discusses a plan to address the economic boom-bust cycle in states that rely heavily on "fracking" and how this plan can spur innovation, inclusive economic development, and de-carbonization in the U.S. Also in this podcast a Coffee Break from Eyerusalem Siba, research fellow with the Africa Growth Initiative in the Global Economy and Development program. LINKS: Permanent trust funds: Funding economic change with fracking revenues Busted: State budgets feel fracking crash Look to advanced industries to help drive productivity gains Enabling female entrepreneurs and beyond Bloomberg's Clinton endorsement signals a big business problem for Trump and the GOP

Kemal Kirişci, TÜSİAD Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy, discusses the recent coup in Turkey and its implications for Turkey's regional role, foreign policy, and its democracy. Also in this podcast our final Syrian Refugee series segment with Matteo Garavoglia, a visiting fellow in the Foreign Policy Center on the United States and Europe. Also stay tuned for William Frey, Senior Fellow, Metropolitan Policy Program as he discusses America's racial and age divide and its effect on the political environment. Links - Turkey after the coup attempt: Implications for Turkish democracy, foreign policy, and the future of the Syrian War - Erdoğan's real opportunity after the failed coup in Turkey - Is Turkish foreign policy becoming pragmatic again? - Diversity Explosion: How New Racial Demographics are Remaking America - Convention cities make exemplary stages to discuss America's racial divide - Is Italy the new Greece? New trends in Europe's migrant crisis Thanks to audio engineer and producer Zack Kulzer, with editing help from Mark Hoelscher, plus thanks to Carisa Nietsche, Bill Finan, Jessica Pavone, Eric Abalahin, Rebecca Viser, and our intern Sara Abdel-Rahim. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu

Shadi Hamid, senior fellow in the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World in the Center for Middle East Policy and author of the new book Islamic Exceptionalism: How the Struggle Over Islam is Reshaping the World, discusses his own personal experience as an American Muslim, and talks about Islam in the context of modern America and the world. Also in this episode Constanze Stelzenmueller, Robert Bosch Senior Fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe, discusses refugee integration in Germany. Links Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World Islamic Exceptionalism: How the Struggle Over Islam Is Reshaping the World "Temptations of Power: Islamists and Illiberal Democracy in a New Middle East " Trump's proposed ban on Muslims Is Islam "exceptional"? Thanks to audio engineer and producer Zack Kulzer, with editing help from Mark Hoelscher, plus thanks to Carisa Nietsche, Bill Finan, Jessica Pavone, Eric Abalahin, Rebecca Viser, and our intern Sara Abdel-Rahim. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu

Fiona Hill, director of the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings and a senior fellow in Foreign Policy, discusses the decision of a majority of voters in Britain to leave the E.U. and the consequences of Brexit for the country's economy, politics, position as a world power, and implications for its citizens. Show Notes Mr. Putin (New and Expanded) The "greatest catastrophe" of the 21st century? Brexit and the dissolution of the U.K. Brexit—in or out? Implications of the United Kingdom's referendum on EU membership EU: how to decide (Anand Menon) Thanks to audio engineer and producer Zack Kulzer, with editing help from Mark Hoelscher, plus thanks to Carisa Nietsche, Bill Finan, Jessica Pavone, Eric Abalahin, Rebecca Viser, and our intern Sara Abdel-Rahim. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu

Arne Duncan, former U.S. secretary of education during the Obama administration and now a nonresident senior fellow with the Brown Center on Education Policy, discusses the crisis of youth violence in Chicago and solutions that strengthen schools and encourage more opportunities for those who are marginalized to make a living in the legal economy. "The best thing we can do is create hope, opportunity and jobs particularly on the South and West side for young and black men who have been disenfranchised, who have been on the streets. If we can give them some chances to earn a living in a legal economy not selling drugs and not on street corners, I think we have a chance to do something pretty significant here," Duncan says. "My fundamental belief is that the police cannot solve this on their own we have to create opportunities for young people in communities who have been marginalized for far too long." Also in this episode, Bruce Katz, the Centennial Scholar, who discusses how European cities are addressing the refugee crisis in a new segment from our Refugee Series.

Bobby McKenzie, a visiting fellow in the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World, discusses the current situation with and solutions for the Syrian refugee crisis. "The scale, scope and complexity of the Syria crisis is staggering. Nearly half a million people have lost their lives, 13.5 million are in need of humanitarian assistance, 6.5 million are internally displaced, and there 5 million refugees in neighboring countries - namely, Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey. And hundreds of thousands have made their way to Europe in search of refuge and rights," McKenzie says. Also in this episode: Bill Finan talks to Elizabeth Ferris Nonresident Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy, and Kemal Kirişci, TÜSİAD Senior Fellow in Foreign Policy, about their new book "The Consequences of Chaos: Syria's Humanitarian Crisis and the Failure to Protect." Show Notes Towards solutions to the Syrian refugee crisis Rights and responsibilities: Solutions to the Syrian refugee crisis A Syrian refugee speaks From Homs to Hamburg: Refugee movements from Syria to Europe and beyond Event: Refuge and Responsibility: The Syrian Refugee Crisis in 2016 Thanks to audio engineer and producer Zack Kulzer, with editing help from Mark Hoelscher, plus thanks to Carisa Nietsche, Bill Finan, Jessica Pavone, Eric Abalahin, Rebecca Viser, and our intern Sara Abdel-Rahim. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu

John Hudak, deputy director of the Center for Effective Public Management and a senior fellow in Governance Studies, discusses the fundamental dynamics of the 2016 election, the importance of the ground game, vice presidential picks, and prospects for the Senate and/or House flipping from Republican to Democratic control. "I think policy itself is what's not getting enough attention in these campaigns. … It is not something that is a sexy issue that people want to particularly hear about, they are more interested in the horse race or in this case the fighting that is going on," Hudak says. "What Americans need to do is take a step back and think about the issues that matter most to them. You have to think a lot about what issues matter the most to you and hold the candidates accountable as much as possible." Also in this podcast, Teresa Ter-Minassian explains public-private partnerships and their role in development based on her paper for the new project on 21st Century City Governance. Show Notes After California, it's time for Clinton and Trump to pick their VPs Fiscal and financial issues for 21st century cities Thanks to audio engineer and producer Zack Kulzer, with editing help from Mark Hoelscher, plus thanks to Carisa Nietsche, Bill Finan, Jessica Pavone, Eric Abalahin, Rebecca Viser, and our intern Sara Abdel-Rahim. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu

Kathryn Hirsh-Pasek, senior fellow in the Center for Universal Education and a psychology professor at Temple University, and University of Delaware professor Roberta Michnick Golinkoff, also a psychologist, discuss their new book: "Becoming brilliant: What science tells us about raising successful children." In this podcast, Hirsh-Pasek and Golinkoff discuss ways to reimagine what successful learning looks like in a global world using six major skills that will help kids succeed beyond traditional perceptions of success such as good test scores. "What we need to do is train thinkers, to be able to attack the problems in the world," Golinkoff says. These skills prepare children to become competitive business leaders, entrepreneurs, and scientific pioneers. As Hirsh-Pasek says, "The times have changed. As more businesses realize that their interactions are going to be global, they realize that they need creative thinkers, innovators, and problem solvers." Also stay tuned for our regular economic update with David Wessel as he looks at four big questions to determine what this year and next will look like for the U.S. economy. Show Notes Becoming brilliant: What science tells us about raising successful children Race against the machine Becoming brilliant: Reimagining education for our time Playful language and communication Thanks to audio engineer and producer Zack Kulzer, with editing help from Mark Hoelscher, plus thanks to Carissa Nietsche, Bill Finan, Jessica Pavone, Eric Abalahin, Rebecca Viser, Brionne Smith, and our intern Sara Abdel-Rahim. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu

In this podcast, award-winning author and veteran Phil Klay discusses how his experience as a Marine Corps officer in Iraq informed his short-story collection Redeployment, which won the National Book Award in 2014; and also talks about the themes he explores in the new Brookings Essay, "The citizen-soldier: Moral risk and the modern military." "Most people sign up with the hope of being part of an institution that is doing something good in the world," Klay says, and that "they will be putting their shoulders to the wheel along with a lot of other people by advancing the ideals of American democracy." Show Notes The citizen-soldier: Moral risk and the modern military Redeployment Landays told by Afghan women Shade It Black: Death and After in Iraq Red badge of courage What it is like going to war audible.com

Diane Whitmore Schanzenbach, director of The Hamilton Project and senior fellow in Economic studies, discusses the importance of investments in children, especially those who are from low socio-economic backgrounds. She highlights issues such as early childhood education, child poverty, and food insecurity, issues about which The Hamilton Project has produced significant research and recommendations. "[W]e're dangerously underinvesting in children today. And there's emerging research that indicates that if we spend more on schools, if we make sure that families have more income, or if we alleviate food insecurity, that has a payoff not just today but down the line, in terms of more productive people when they grow up," Schanzenbach says. Also in this episode: a presidential election update with John Hudak. And our new Metro Lens segment with Martha Ross as she discusses Employment and disconnection among teens and young adults. Show Notes Expanding Preschool Access for Disadvantaged Children Strengthening SNAP to reduce food insecurity and promote economic growth In defense of federal food aid Thanks to audio engineer and producer Zack Kulzer, with editing help from Mark Hoelscher, plus thanks to Carissa Nietsche, Bill Finan, Jessica Pavone, Eric Abalahin, Rebecca Viser, Brionne Smith, and our intern Sara Abdel-Rahim. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu

Benjamin Wittes, a senior fellow in Governance Studies and co-founder and editor-in-chief of The LawFare Blog, is co-author of a new study,-"Sextortion: Cyber Security, Teenagers, & Remote Sexual Assault"; and a legislative proposal to close the sextortion sentencing gap. In the podcast, Wittes explains the crime itself; the importance of cyber security and how teens and parents can protect themselves online. "Teenager cyber security hygiene actually matters a great deal," Wittes says. "It just matters a great deal to protect values and goods that the cyber security community has not traditionally focused on." Also in this podcast: meet Alaina Harkness, a fellow for the Project on 21st Century City Governance, part of the Centennial Scholar Initiative. Also stay up-to-date about a potential "Brexit" from the EU with some highlights from our Brookings event "Brexit – in or out? Implications of the United Kingdom's referendum on EU membership." Show Notes Sextortion: Cyber Security, Teenagers, & Remote Sexual Assault Closing the Sextortion Sentencing Gap: A Legislative Proposal Justice Department Report : "National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction" The LawFare Blog Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu. Thanks to audio engineer and producer Zack Kulzer, with editing help from Mark Hoelscher, plus thanks to Carissa Nietsche, Bill Finan, Jessica Pavone, Eric Abalahin, Rebecca Viser, Brionne Smith, and our intern Sarah AbdelRahim.

Martin Indyk, executive vice president of the Brookings Institution, offers his take on a broad spectrum of foreign policy issues, including peace in the Middle East, the liberal international order, and his own journey in foreign affairs leadership and policymaking. He also discusses the contours of an "Obama doctrine" in foreign policy, and whether the next president will bring continuity or change. Also in this podcast: an economic update from David Wessel, director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy. Also hear Philippe Le Corre, visiting fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe, discuss his upcoming book "China's Offensive in Europe." Show Notes Obama's article in "Atlantic Monthly" Order from Chaos blog Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu. Thanks to audio engineer and producer Zack Kulzer, with editing help from Mark Hoelscher, plus thanks to Carissa Nietsche, Bill Finan, Jessica Pavone, Eric Abalahin, Rebecca Viser, Brionne Smith, and our intern Sarah AbdelRahim.

Les Gelb, a former Brookings fellow and co-author of the 1979 book The Irony of Vietnam: The System Worked –which is being released this month as a Brookings Press Classic – discusses the influence the Vietnam War has had on how the U.S handles wars and the need for American pragmatism in foreign policy decision-making today. "What made this country great was Americans using their pragmatism, solving problems, and realizing there were certain problems they couldn't solve--at least, not solve them right away," Gelb says. In the podcast, Gelb also explains the "domino theory" that guided U.S. policymakers during the Vietnam conflict. "Vietnam was the essential domino and if it fell to communism, if it fell to the Soviet Union and China, in effect, [then] all of Asia would fall right behind it." Also in this episode: another installment of "Steve Hess Stories" with Senior Fellow Emeritus Stephen Hess; and hear more from the Brookings event Examining Charter Schools in America. Show Notes The Irony of Vietnam: The System Worked Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Richard Feinberg, a nonresident senior fellow in the Latin America Initiative and author of the forthcoming book, "Open for Business: Building a New Cuban Economy" (Brookings, 2016), discusses current U.S. and Cuba relations after President Obama's visit and looks ahead to Cuba's increasing engagement with the global economy. "The younger generation does have a respect for Fidel Castro and what the older generation accomplished," Feinberg says. "They want to see a fresh generation of leadership, they want to see a more relaxed political atmosphere, they want more opportunities economically to exercise their own profession and exercise their own talents. They want and fully expect normal relations between Cuba and the United States." In this podcast, Feinberg explains how Cuba can reintegrate itself into global economy while encouraging a gradual opening of economic relations with the U.S. Also in this podcast, meet new scholar Susan Hennessey, fellow in National Security in Governance Studies and stay tuned for our presidential election update with John Hudak. Show Notes Open for Business: Building the New Cuban Economy Obama scores a triple in Havana In Cuba, Obama looks to the post-Castro era Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Jenny Perlman Robinson, a nonresident fellow in the Center for Universal Education, and Rebecca Winthrop, a senior fellow and director of the Center for Universal Education, discuss a new report: Millions learning: Scaling up quality education in developing countries. In this podcast, Robinson and Winthrop discuss the state of children’s education around the world while highlighting some cases that show how the quality and reach of children’s education can be improved. “Nine out of 10 kids in the world is in primary school, but there is still a lot to be done,” Winthrop says. “A lot of kids are dropping out before they finish secondary school. 75% percent of girls in Sub-Saharan Africa enter primary school but only 8% finish secondary school.” Also in this podcast a Coffee Break with Paul Ginsburg, director of the Health Policy Center and an interview with author Malcolm Sparrow on his new book, "Handcuffed: What Holds Policing Back, and the Keys to Reform." Show Notes: Millions learning: Scaling up quality education in developing countries Getting millions to learn: The impact of Sesame Street around the world Why developing countries must focus on getting millions to learn Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

In this episode, Niam Yaraghi, a fellow in the Brookings Institution's Center for Technology Innovation, explains the current dilemma of security breaches of medical records that are hitting the health care industry. "The difference between the IT revolution in the health care sector and in any other sector is that other businesses embraced IT naturally and gradually and that allowed them to prepare in all other technological and organizational aspects that are necessary to appropriately use IT," says Yaraghi. "In the health care sector it happened overnight. From 9.4% in 2008 to 96.9 in 2014." Also stay tuned for our regular economic update with David Wessel, who talks about taxes; and hear our new Metro Lens segment with Natalie Holmes who discusses concentrated poverty in places like Cleveland and San Antonio. Show notes: Hackers, phishers, and disappearing thumb drives: Lessons learned from major health care data breaches Hospital hacks expose security weaknesses Tear down this health care information breach "wall of shame" U.S. concentrated poverty in the wake of the Great Recession Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

In this podcast, Lex Rieffel, a nonresident senior fellow in the Global Economy and Development program, discusses Myanmar’s transition to democracy, examining the economic, social and political aspects of the transition, as well as potential obstacles in the short run. “So much foreign aid has poured in and will continue to pour in now that Aung San Suu Kyi is leading the government that it may do more harm than good, becoming a factor that actually derails the transition," says Rieffel. Also in this episode: another installment of "Steve Hess Stories" with Senior Fellow Emeritus Stephen Hess; and a conversation with Tanvi Madan, director of The India Project at Brookings. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen in all the usual places, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

One year after: Observations on the rise of innovation districts Jennifer S. Vey, a fellow with the Centennial Scholar Initiative, discusses the current economic, social, and political situation in Baltimore a year after the riots. “1/5 people in Baltimore lives in a neighborhood of extreme poverty,” Vey says. In this podcast, Vey describes the current state of Baltimore and urges the start of discussions about the abject poverty facing many cities in the United States. Also in this episode: stay tuned for our presidential election update with John Hudak. Also, Vanda Felbab-Brown discusses global drug policy and the upcoming United Nations General Assembly special session on drug policy. Show Notes "The Third Rail" One year after: Observations on the rise of innovation districts Confronting Suburban Poverty in America Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Tom Loveless, a nonresident senior fellow in Governance Studies, explains his latest research on measuring achievement of American students. “The bottom line here: the implementation of the common core has appeared to have very little impact on student achievement,” Loveless says. In this episode, he discusses whether the common core is failing our students, whether AP achievement is indicative of student success, and the role of principals as instructional leaders. Also in this episode: Get to know Constanze Stelzenmüller, the Robert Bosch Senior Fellow in the Center on the United States and Europe, during our "Coffee Break” segment. Also stay tuned to hear the final episode in our centenary series with current and past Brookings scholars. Show notes: The 2016 Brown Center Report on American Education Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Melissa Kearney, a nonresident senior fellow in Economic Studies, explains her new research (with Phillip Levine for the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity) on high school students who are growing up in places with high income inequality and their decision to stay in high school or not. “Kids at the bottom of the income distribution are discouraged by higher levels of income inequality as opposed to being driven by it,” Kearney says. “Low income kids are more likely to drop out of high school than high income kids. But conditional to being low income, kids who are growing up in states or cities characterized by high levels of lower tail income inequality—a greater gap between the bottom and the middle—are more likely to drop out of high school.” Also in this episode: Our regular economic update with David Wessel, senior fellow and director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy. Also stay tuned to hear our new Metro Lens segment with Amy Liu, vice president and director of the Metropolitan Policy Program. Show Notes: Generation Unbound Income Inequality, Social Mobility, and the Decision to Drop Out Of High School Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Russell Wheeler, a visiting fellow in Governance Studies and an expert on federal courts, discusses the process and politics of replacing Associate Justice Antonin Scalia on the U.S. Supreme Court given the current political climate. “This polarization our politics has affected the polarization of the confirmation and nomination process and I don’t see how it gets ratcheted down,” Wheeler says. “It gets ratcheted up but I don’t see what happens to get us back to the day in which the Senate basically fulfilled its duty, which was to advise and consent to confirmation of qualified nominees and we’re moving away from that basic obligation of the Senate.” In the podcast, Wheeler gives an overview of the president's and the Senate's constitutional duties for replacing a Supreme Court justice. He also discusses the implications of appointing a Supreme Court justice now, or waiting until the next president is sworn in. Also in this episode: another segment of “Steve Hess Stories” with Senior Fellow Emeritus Stephen Hess; and Lincoln Mitchell discusses his new book, “The Democracy Promotion Paradox.” Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Qutaiba Idlbi, a Syrian refugee and activist, and Robert L. McKenzie, a Brookings visiting fellow and expert on the Middle East and North Africa, discuss the Syrian crisis from a personal and public policy perspective. In this podcast, Idlbi shares his own experience participating in the Syrian revolution as it began and the repercussions for him and his family. McKenzie also provides feedback on the crisis from a policy perspective and the role that the United States should play in accepting refugees. “Getting arrested is worse than getting killed because when you are arrested you wish you could get killed every moment you are in prison because of how much you are tortured,” Idlbi says about his experience in Syria. McKenzie says that, “There is no question that the Syrian crisis is the defining crisis of our time. It is a complex emergency that is ongoing.” See also: Syrian refugees tell their stories Also, Senior Fellow Elaine Kamarck gives her assessment of what happened on Super Tuesday, and looks ahead to the continuing presidential primary contest. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

As a part of Brookings Centenary series, Strobe Talbott, current president of Brookings, and Bruce MacLaury, president of Brookings from 1977 to 1995, look to the major policy challenges that Brookings should take on in its second century while they reflect on their own periods of leading Brookings. Talbott and MacLaury discuss the role of Brookings in the past, present, and future as a nexus of non-partisan ideas, with a passionate commitment to the common good. From their perspectives, the two presidents examine how the landscape of public policy research and analysis has changed since the years they assumed the presidency of Brookings.

Gary Burtless, a senior fellow in Economic Studies, explains new research on the growing longevity gap between high-income and low-income Americans, especially among the aged. “Life expectancy difference of low income workers, middle income workers, and high income workers has been increasing over time,” Burtless says. “For people born in 1920 their life expectancy was not as long typically as the life expectancy of people who were born in 1940. But those gains between those two birth years were very unequally distributed if we compare people with low mid-career earnings and people with high mid-career earnings.” Burtless also discusses retirement trends among the educated and non-educated, income inequality among different age groups, and how these trends affect early or late retirement rates. Also stay tuned for our regular economic update with David Wessel, who also looks at the new research and offers his thoughts on what it means for Social Security. Show Notes Later retirement, inequality and old age, and the growing gap in longevity between rich and poor Disparity in Life Spans of the Rich and the Poor Is Growing Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Ted Piccone, a senior fellow in the Project on International Order and Strategy discusses the five rising democracies; Brazil, South Africa, India, Indonesia, and Turkey and their role in the international liberal order. “These countries show that you can have democratization and improvements in political freedom and at the same time grow your economies and improve in terms of human development,” Piccone says. In the podcast, Piccone provides an overview of each of the five nations highlighted in his new book, “Five Rising Democracies and the Fate of the International Liberal Order,” and how their economic, social, and political development allows them greater access in global politics. Also in this episode, “Steve Hess Stories” with Senior Fellow Emeritus Stephen Hess. Show Notes Five Rising Democracies and the Fate of the International Liberal Order More Steve Hess Stories on SoundCloud Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Molly Reynolds, a fellow in the Governance Studies Program at Brookings, explains why the Iowa Caucuses matter so much in the presidential election. She also discusses what to expect from Congress this year for both congressional elections and the presidential election. “There are a lot of quirky details to the Iowa Caucus,” Reynolds says. In this interview, she explains what makes the Iowa Caucuses so important in the presidential nomination process and what to expect as the races continue. She also weighs in on what we can expect from Congress this year, including appropriations and what Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says he plans to do. Also in this episode: Listen to Hollie Russon Gilman, a fellow at New America and Harvard’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation, discuss her new book "Democracy Reinvented." Also, get to know Vanessa Williamson, a fellow in Governance Studies at Brookings, during our "Coffee Break." Show Notes: Primary Politics: Everything You Need to Know about How America Nominates Its Presidential Candidates How unrepresentative are the early presidential primary states? After Iowa, advice from "The West Wing" might get Hillary to the Oval Democracy Reinvented Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

This episode features two of the leaders of the Brookings Institution: the co-chairs of the Brookings Board of Trustees, John L. Thornton and David M. Rubenstein. They reflect on our first 100 years and share their thoughts on Brookings’s second century. The episode is the first in a series celebrating 100 years of the Brookings Institution. Later in this series, you’ll hear from former and current Brookings presidents as well as scholars.

In this week’s episode, John Page, a senior fellow in the Global Economy and Development Program, assesses the potential role of several economic strategies in transforming Africa’s industrial development for the global economy. “Between now and about 2030, the estimates are that as many as 85 million jobs at [the] bottom end of manufacturing will migrate out of China. So the question is: where will they go?” In this podcast, Page explains that with policy change, great focus, and a cohesive implementation of economic strategies, a number of African countries can capitalize on this opportunity in the global market. Also in this episode: Our regular economic update with David Wessel, senior fellow and director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy. Also, a new segment about issues affecting metropolitan areas with Alan Berube, senior fellow and deputy director of the Metropolitan Policy Program. Show Notes: Made in Africa Made in Africa: Some New Thinking on Africa Industrialization Day Foresight Africa: Top priorities for the continent in 2016 Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Tune in to hear Sarah Binder, senior fellow in Governance Studies, and Bill Galston, senior fellow and the Ezra K. Zilkha Chair in Governance Studies and former policy advisor to President Bill Clinton, review President Obama’s State of the Union address and look ahead to the 2016 presidential and congressional elections. In this episode, they assess policy issues from the Obama Administration and discuss how the presidential candidates will address these issues. They identify the political party of the next President as a determining characteristic in the legacy President Obama will leave behind. Show Notes: Obama's final State of the Union: An incomplete success State of the Union 2016 research and commentary America's Political Dynasties Brookings, Esquire team up on critical choices for America Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Ted Gayer, vice President and director of the Economic Studies Program at Brookings and the Joseph A. Pechman Senior Fellow, forecasts the top economic issues in the upcoming year. Tune in to hear more about the labor market, wages, and productivity growth in 2016. Gayer also outlines which economic issues the presidential candidates should be talking about in the elections and how much impact the president has in economic policy decisions. Also in this podcast: “What’s Happening in Congress” with John Hudak, senior fellow in Governance Studies and deputy director of the Center for Effective Public Management. And also get to know Mike Hansen, senior fellow and deputy director of the Brown Center on Education Policy, during our “Coffee Break.” Show Notes: Rising morbidity and mortality in midlife among white non-Hispanic Americans in the 21st century (Case/Deaton study) Top Economic Stories of 2015 (from Economic Studies Program) Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

In this last episode of the Brookings Cafeteria podcast for 2015, you'll hear some of the best moments from the show selected from the year's episodes. Thanks to the team that makes this podcast possible: Zack Kulzer, Mark Hoelscher, Carissa Nitchy, Jessica Pavone, Rebecca Viser and Eric Abalahin. Also, special thanks to the leadership and support of David Nassar and Richard Fawal. And a very special thanks to our intern Karen WaelGirgis, who was instrumental in putting this episode and many others together. Show Notes: Visit the home page for the Brookings Cafeteria podcast to listen to all of the episodes. Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Rebecca Winthrop, senior fellow and director of the Center for Universal Education at Brookings, discusses her new book (co-authored with Gene Sperling and Christina Kwauk) "What Works in Girls' Education: Evidence for the World's Best Investment" (Brookings Institution Press, 2015). “Girls’ education really is quite unique in terms of interventions you can do," she says. "Not because it’s a silver bullet; there are no such things as silver bullets. But, certainly in developing country contexts, it has so many high returns across such a wide variety of areas important for society.” In this podcast, Winthrop walks us through the evolution of girls’ education and how “Twenty-five years ago, girls’ education was an issue in every single country in the world.” She reminds us that there’s a reason to be optimistic: “There are a lot of huge gains in girls’ education. There is a lot to celebrate. Over the last twenty years, the number of girls who have been out of school have been cut in half.” Also in this podcast: Listen to Bill Frey, senior fellow in the Metropolitan Policy program and author of the book “Diversity Explosion,” answer a question from one of our listeners on how we define post-baby boom generations. And also stay tuned for the next installment of “Steve Hess Stories,” in which Senior Fellow Emeritus Stephen Hess discusses his childhood in New York City and his first memories of the presidency. ______________________________________________ Show Notes: What Works in Girls’ Education: Evidence for the World’s Best Investment Diversity Explosion: How New Racial Demographics are Remaking America America’s Political Dynasties Also listen to our other podcast episodes about global education: Education challenges in the Arab world, with Maysa Jalbout The power of universal education, with Julia Gillard A bleak picture for children's education in the Arab world, with Hafex Ghanem and Liesbet Steer Educating Children Worldwide: Access Plus Learning, with Rebecca Winthrop __________________________________________________________ Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

“A lot of the issues that we focus on as crises on a daily basis—I think particularly of Syria—they are certainly crises in their own right,” says Jeremy Shapiro. “But to my mind the failure to deal with them does have a lot to do with the consequences of the breakdown in international order and the breakdown in the international capacity to create order.” Jeremy Shapiro, fellow in the Project on International Order and Strategy and the Center on the United States and Europe at Brookings, gives his view on the top foreign policy issues of the day and in the 2016 presidential election. “The interesting thing about terrorism is that it is never, at least for advanced societies, a direct threat in any existential way, despite what many of our politicians say,” argues Shapiro in this podcast, “What can threaten a nation like ours is that in the process of responding to an attack like in San Bernardino or in Paris that we destroy the things that are most precious to us, like our freedoms, like our civil liberties, that we engage in foreign policy adventures in order to try to make ourselves feel more secure and more safe that actually erode our power.” Also in this podcast: The final installment of the Paris climate conference series by Bruce Jones, vice president and director of Foreign Policy at Brookings. And also stay tuned for our regular economic update with David Wessel, senior fellow and director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy. ______________________________________________ Show Notes: Order from Chaos: Foreign policy in a troubled world 'What U.S. Foreign Policy Really Needs Is...' Suzanne Maloney talks U.S.-Iran relations, the Iran nuclear deal, and the future of Iran How Russia and America make the same mistakes in Syria How not to overreact to ISIS The perils of "French Islam": France’s misguided response to the Paris attacks _____________________________________________________ Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Richard Bush, director of the Center for East Asia Policy Studies and holder of the Chen-Fu and Cecilia Yen Koo Chair in Taiwan Studies and also the Michael H. Armacost Chair, talks about Hong Kong’s relationship to China, the umbrella movement of 2014, and the future of democracy in Hong Kong. “First of all,” Bush says, “there is the continuing challenge of how you make the Hong Kong economy competitive in a global economy that is … constantly changing technologically.” “On the political side, I personally believe that Hong Kong would benefit from having competitive elections for senior leaders. … But elections in and of themselves won’t solve all the governance problems that Hong Kong has.” Also in this podcast: Listen to with the first installment of “Steve Hess Stories,” in which Senior Fellow Emeritus Stephen Hess explains how he came to write a best-selling book, America's Political Dynasties, while serving in the Army. And part four of our Paris climate conference series with Fellow Philip Wallach. ______________________________________________ Show Notes: The return of the Taiwan issue to U.S.-China relations Why Hong Kong’s next election really matters Hong Kong: The next round on universal suffrage What’s at stake at the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue? Hong Kong government announces electoral reform details What does China having the largest GDP mean? _____________________________________________________ Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Jonathan Rothwell, fellow in the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings, tells us what’s missing in conventional college ranking systems like that of U.S. News & World Report. And using President Obama’s new college score card, Rothwell talks about his new value added approach to rankings. “I don’t actually think we need more college ranking systems. I think we need better ranking systems,” argues Rothwell. The “problems with U.S. News and some of the conventional rankings,” he continues, include “way too much emphasis on selectivity. Non-selective schools have no chance to ever make it towards the top of the rankings. And as a result there are a lot of hidden gems out there … that are providing great outcomes for [their] students.” Also in this podcast: In our Coffee Break segment, meet a scholar who grew up in Vancouver, the son of World War II refugees, visiting fellow Alar Olljum. And stay tuned for part three of our Paris climate conference series as Senior Fellow Adele Morris discusses the role of carbon pricing in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. ______________________________________________ Show Notes: Using earnings data to rank colleges: A value-added approach updated with College Scorecard data Toward an economic mobility ranking of U.S. colleges Understanding the College Scorecard Skills, success, and why your choice of college matters Is it me or my college? These rankings will help you find out Alumni from these colleges (almost) always pay their debts In ‘value-added’ college rankings, these public schools step up ______________________________________________ Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Daniel Byman, an expert on counterterrorism and Middle East Security, and research director for the Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings, explains what we know and don’t know about the ISIS terrorist attack in Paris and whether he thinks ISIS will strike the U.S. Also, part two of our Paris climate talk series on new technology from Mark Muro, senior fellow and policy director of the Metropolitan Policy Program. “The real danger to me is not taking care of the refugee problem,” argues Byman, “If these refugees are trapped in the Middle East, if they’re in these huge camps where there are no opportunities, if they’re not integrated into host societies, over time we’re going to see the development of a terrorism and radicalization problem among large numbers of refugees.” Also in this podcast: “What’s Happening in Congress” with special guest Molly Reynolds, a fellow in Governance Studies. ______________________________________________ Show Notes: What do the Paris attacks tell us about foreign fighters? Five things to know about the Paris attack A look at the policy options in war torn Syria (video) Do Syrian refugees pose a terrorism threat? The believer: How an introvert became the leader of the Islamic State Five ways to make innovation 'sticky' Green banking goes local ______________________________________________ Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Timmons Roberts, nonresident senior fellow at Brookings and Ittleson Professor of Environmental Studies and Sociology at Brown University discusses climate change and the upcoming global climate talks in Paris. “Scientists are telling us,” Roberts says, “that about 2 degrees Celsius is about the highest limit to stay safe... And in fact right now we’re just under 1 degree Celsius of warming and we’re already seeing these impacts of wildfires, droughts, heat waves, flooding, sea level rise, melting Greenland icesheets and Antarctica being potentially destabilized. There are great risks we’re running at 1 degree. What is it going to be like at 2?” Also hear from Senior Fellow Audrey Singer as she discusses a new report on immigrants and their integration into American society. ______________________________________________ Show Notes: Climate and Development Lab (Brown University) 2015 Paris Climate Conference (COP21) Why we (still) need the UN to deliver on climate change? Obama walking a razor's edge in Alaska on climate change Power in a warming world The Integration of Immigrants into American Society ______________________________________________ Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

This week, Elaine Kamarck talks presidential primaries, congressional primaries, and the problems facing our current nominating system. She also offers predictions on the likely GOP and Democratic presidential nominees. Listen to find out who she’s tapped to win. “Political parties are incredibly important,” says Kamarck, “They shape Americans’ behaviors. They are the best predictor of how Americans are going to vote. And there are in fact real and meaningful differences between the parties. You can’t really have democracies without political parties. Political parties are the sort of essence of democracy, but they’re also the part of democracy that voters love to hate.” Kamarck is a senior fellow and founding director of the Center for Effective Public Management. She is also author of Primary Politics: Everything You Need to Know about how America Nominates its Presidential Candidates. “The primary method of nominating candidates increases polarization,” argues Elaine. “The place that you see it affect behavior most dramatically is in congressional primaries. … So what happens is the most extreme voters tend to dominate and they pull the Democrats to the left and Republicans to the right. What a surprise then when they get to Congress and nobody can agree on anything?” Also hear David Wessel give his regular economic update, this time on tax reform proposals from the campaign trail. ______________________________________________ Show Notes: The GOP Debates: Can any Republican beat the celebrity candidates? The illusive appeal of the non-politician A new kind of politics, not Benghazi, doomed McCarthy Speaker's bid Why Speaker Boehner can't govern: Primaries, parties, privacy, and pork Increasing turnout in congressional primaries In praise of old fashioned politics ______________________________________________ Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Marvin Kalb, a nonresident senior fellow at Brookings and former CBS News Correspondent, discusses his new book "Imperial Gamble: Putin, Ukraine and the New Cold War." “I think since 1991 at the end of the Soviet Union, the end of Communism as a global philosophy, Ukrainians have come to understand that they are an independent culture,” explains Kalb. “The shame of it is that though they are, they are locked into a history which may deny them the full expression of their politics and their culture. And they can’t escape that; it is simply a part of their history.” “When I started doing the research for this book,” Kalb says, “one of the things that I did was to go back and read notes of the classes I used to do fifty and sixty years ago as a graduate student. … And I realized, rather quickly I’m happy to say, that unless you went back a thousand years, truly, you would not understand why Putin is doing what he’s doing now either in Crimea, or Ukraine, or even in Syria. You couldn’t because the thousand years gives you the perspective and the reasoning and the psychological backdrop for current actions that may confound the West, may confound the president of the United States, but they don’t confound Russian nationalists, people who have been raised on this history.” Also in this podcast: Get to know Matteo Garavoglia, a dual German and Italian citizen and an Italy Program Fellow, during our “Coffee Break.” ______________________________________________ Show Notes: Read more about Marvin’s book “Imperial Gamble” Mr. Putin: Operative in the Kremlin Putin’s Crimean gamble: Russia, Ukraine, and the new Cold War Russia’s intervention in Syria: Protracting an already endless conflict Really, actually avoiding a new Cold War Stumbling towards conflict with Russia? Putin’s deceptive pause: What are Russia’s next steps in Ukraine? ______________________________________________ Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Homi Kharas and John McArthur discuss their Ending Rural Hunger project, designed to help the world achieve one important facet of the “No Hunger” Sustainable Development Goal. “[P]robably about ¾ of the [food insecurity] problem that we’re dealing with globally is actually in rural areas,” Kharas says in this podcast. McArthur explains, “I think the first thing to note is that the world is making progress. So roughly speaking, undernourishment as a share of the world is dropping by about 1 percent every three years.” Also in this episode, John Hudak gives his regular “What’s happening in Congress” update. ______________________________________________ Show Notes: Ending Rural Hunger (Report) Why 17 is a Beautiful Number 15 Million Success Stories Under the Millennium Development Goals I expect great outcomes from the Sustainable Development Goals The promise and pitfalls of partnerships in tackling extreme poverty around the world Dispatch from Italy: Ending Rural Hunger United Nations: Sustainable Development Goals A Note from Our Guests: Homi and John are very grateful to the full team that contributed to the Ending Rural Hunger project. The report itself was prepared by a group in Brookings’s Global Economy and Development program, which also included: Geoffrey Gertz, Sinead Mowlds, and Lorenz Noe, assisted by Julie Biau, Soumya Chattopadhyay, Krista Rasmussen and Madelyn Swift. The report design and interactive website were developed in collaboration with Data Act Lab, including: Alexandra Silfverstolpe, Daniel Lapidus, Mikael Göransson, Niklas Beinhoff, Martin Lindbratt, Tobias Strollo and Arkadiusz Mytych. ______________________________________________ Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Fellows Natan Sachs and Khaled Elgindy from the Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings debate the challenges facing the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. “In the long term, [Hamas] is not where peace lies… What doomed the disengagement in Gaza was the rise of Hamas and the continuation of the war from it… This reality, where war continues from a territory that is evacuated is perhaps the biggest [factor], except for the second intifada,… that has made Israelis skeptical of peace,” explains Natan. “The other two trends on the ground are deepening Israeli occupation…You would expect if you are moving towards a two state solution…that there would be movement towards disengaging from that reality rather than deepening it. But it is in fact deepening. There are more settlers, more construction. And that is a source of anger for Palestinians who see more and more of their land being swallowed up… and their hopes for an independent state sort of vanishing before their eyes,” says Khaled in this podcast. Also in this podcast: "Coffee Break" with Molly Reynolds. Coffee Break is a new segment where we ask scholars at Brookings six questions to get to know them and their work more personally. ______________________________________________ Show Notes: Palestinian political crisis deepens with collapse of unity government The end of the peace process: What comes next? Abbas’ UN speech: What it means and what it doesn’t The new politics of religion and gender in Israel Israel and the United States: A dialogue of the deaf Dilemmas of the Israeli-Palestinian impasse ______________________________________________ Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

“To use some of the time honored clichés, ‘The enemy may get a vote too.’ Or the Bolshevik line, ‘You may not have an interest in war, but war may have an interest in you.’ I paraphrase that to say we may not, at the moment, have an interest in counterinsurgency and stabilization missions, but they may have an interest in us… we can’t be like the ostrich putting our head in the sand just because we’re tired of these kinds of wars. They might come back, whether we like it or not.” says Senior Fellow Michael O’Hanlon about his new book, The Future of Land Warfare. After learning about the various scenarios that might necessitate land warfare, we’ll hear Russ Whitehurst, senior fellow in Economic Studies and Editor of the Evidence Speaks project, discuss the cost of universal Pre-K. “The question is: what should the nation or states do to increase participation rates to a universal level?” Whitehurst asks in this project. “And what I’ve found by looking at the evidence is that actually people haven’t provided very good evidence on how many children are presently served.” Also, stay tuned to hear expert David Wessel update us on one of the nation’s most alarming economic problems – wage stagnation. Show Notes: Read more about O'Hanlon's book The Future of Land Warfare The future of the U.S. army Toward a ‘‘Reaganov’’ Russia: Russian Security Policy after Putin Obama the Carpenter: The President's National Security Legacy What role will evidence play in the 2016 election? Do we already have universal preschool? Why public school vouchers could have bi-partisan appeal Hutchins Roundup: wealth inequality, student borrowing, and more Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

“For someone who has followed these issues from 1989 ... it is a sad moment,” says Kemal Kirişci in this podcast. “It is a sad moment because we feel that international solidarity is not there. And that solidarity was, ... for a fleeting moment, triggered by that little child ... on the beaches of Turkey.” Kirisci, TÜSİAD Senior Fellow at Brookings and an expert on Turkish foreign policy and migration studies, speaks on why Syrians are fleeing to Europe, the impact of Syrian displacement on neighboring countries, and how the failure of the international community to do its part in resettling refugees has increased Syrian reliance on human smugglers. “I think there is a growing loss of hope. There is a growing feeling that the likelihood of things improving in Syria is less than nil,” he says. Also stay tuned for "What’s happening in Congress" with Brookings Fellow John Hudak, and hear Senior Fellows E.J. Dionne and William Galston discuss their new paper advocating for universal voting. Show Notes: Europe is not enough: Coping with the Syrian refugee crisis globally Why 100,000s of Syrian refugees are fleeing to Europe What Turkey's open-door policy means for Syrian Refugees Notes from the Syrian-Turkish border Refugees as Survivors Northern Exodus: How Turkey Can Integrate Syrian Refugees Elizabeth Ferris and Kemal Kirişci forthcoming paper Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

“Iran gets out of jail free. I mean, they’re out of the penalty box at this point," says Senior Fellow Suzanne Maloney in this podcast on Iran in a post-nuclear deal world. "The rest of the world will do business as usual with Iran. Iran will be welcomed to international fora. The ... stench of pariah-hood that had attached itself to Iran during the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad—both because of the nuclear escalation and because of Ahmadinejad’s proclivity for really provocative statements and reprehensible rhetoric on the Holocaust and other issues—that problem is now gone.” Maloney, the interim deputy director of Foreign Policy at Brookings, and a senior fellow in the Center for Middle East Policy, examines the impact of the nuclear deal on U.S.-Iran relations and on the Iranian people, discusses Iran’s place in the international community, and talks about her optimism for the future of Iran. “It’s a young, dynamic, incredibly well-positioned society for the future,” she says. “I think if I were to place a bet on the long-term democratic opportunities in the region, Iran is it. By a long shot.” Also in this episode, Senior Fellow David Wessel, director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal & Monetary Policy, delivers his regular "Wessel's Economic Update, this time on the distribution of student loan debt. Show Notes: Follow Suzanne Maloney on Twitter @MaloneySuzanne The Brookings Essay: Iran Surprises Itself and the World: A new president may take his country in a new direction Debating the Iran Deal Series Iran, Syria, And The Secretarian Challenge Letters to the Ayatollah: Why Obama's Latest Outreach to Iran's Supreme Leader Was A Mistake Maloney's new book: Iran's Political Economy since the Revolution Brookings's Markaz blog on Middle East Politics and Policy Debating the Iran Nuclear Deal by Robert Einhorn Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

“Almost half of undergraduates in the United States start at a community college,” says Fellow Adela Soliz in this podcast. Soliz, a new fellow in the Brown Center on Education Policy at Brookings, identifies challenges faced by students looking to transfer from community colleges to four-year institutions, reacts to President Obama’s proposal to make community college free, and discusses the conflict between for-profit colleges and community colleges. Regarding the conflict between the two, she says, “From an institutional perspective, there is a lot of potential for competition to be a beneficial thing. If the community colleges are losing students to the for-profits, then that could encourage them to increase their efficiency and increase their quality. [However] there are a couple of reasons why that may not be happening.” Also in this episode, Fellow John Hudak, managing editor of FixGov blog, offers his "What's Happening in Congress" update. Show Notes: Increasing community college student transfer rates Will free college lead to more degrees? Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

"We have successfully built up our defenses so that here, at home in the United States, we're probably safer than we were a decade ago but abroad our terrorist enemy is more numerous, more barbaric, more dangerous than ever before," says Senior Fellow Bruce Riedel in this podcast. Riedel, director of the Intelligence Project at Brookings, and also a former CIA officer and senior policy official, identifies the catalysts of the global jihadist movement, discusses the rise of the Islamic State and its rivalry with al-Qaida, addresses the crisis in Yemen, and examines how the Obama administration can better deploy soft power tools. "A strategy that only uses the stick isn't going to work," he says. "We have to have a strategy that not only goes after the terrorists but also seeks to deal with the underlying issues that produce this wave of terrorism. That's easy to say and very very hard to do." Also in this episode, Senior Fellow David Wessel, director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal & Monetary Policy, delivers his regular "Wessel's Economic Update." Show Notes: Another royal reshuffle in Saudi Arabia: King Salman reorders his court again The war in Yemen has one local winner: al-Qaida. Why aren't the Saudis more concerned? The Pakistani Pivot from Saudi Arabia to China Interview on "Stand Up! with Pete Dominick" JFK's Forgotten Crisis: Tibet, the CIA, and Sino-Indian War What We Won: America's Secret War in Afghanistan, 1979-89 Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu. "22" by Taylor Swift, Max Martin, and Shellback (Big Machine Records, Republic Records)

“Go and interview a restaurateur in central London near Piccadilly or go and interview a theatre manager in central London about how their business was in central London in August of 2012 [during the Summer Olympics] and they’ll say ‘It was awful. It was like the great depression,’” says economist Andrew Zimbalist in this podcast. Zimbalist, a professor of economics at Smith College and the author of Circus Maximus: The Economic Gamble Behind Hosting the Olympics and the World Cup (Brookings Institution Press, 2015), reveals the real economic costs and benefits of hosting mega-sporting events and discusses the prospects of FIFA following the corruption scandal. “This is what the modern Olympics and the modern World Cup are really about,” he says. “It’s the Circus Maximus in the old days of referring to these gigantic stadiums and elaborate facilities, but it’s also a Circus Maximus in the sense that it’s a circus.” Also in this episode, Senior Fellow John Hudak, managing editor of FixGov blog, offers his "What's Happening in Congress" update. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Show Notes: Circus Maximus: The Economic Gamble Behind Hosting the Olympics and the World Cup Sports, Jobs, and Taxes: The Economic Impact of Sports Teams and Stadiums, Andrew Zimbalist and Roger Noll Andrew Zimbalist explains how FIFA treats the Women’s World Cup differently than the Men’s Olympics numbers don’t add up (Zimbalist op-ed in Boston Globe) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

“New Orleans is still in the middle of a major urban experiment,” says Senior Fellow Amy Liu in this podcast, the 50th episode of the Brookings Cafeteria. “It’s an urban experiment that is not so much just about responding to Katrina and the oil spill, but really is the great experiment of our time.” The central question within that experiment is, “regardless of any environmental or economic disaster—like the Great Recession, the loss of a manufacturing sector—how does an economic center, a population center, really continue to grow and adapt?” Liu is co-director of the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings and has been an expert on the rebuilding efforts in greater New Orleans and southern Louisiana post Hurricane Katrina, the Gulf oil spill, and the recession. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Also in this episode, Senior Fellow David Wessel, director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, offers his regular "Wessel's Economic Update." -------------------------------------------------------------------- Show Notes: The Data Center The New Orleans Index (2011) "New Orleans Five Years After: A Transformation Unfolding" "Resilience and Opportunity: Lessons from the U.S. Gulf Coast after Katrina and Rita" (book, 2011) -------------------------------------------------------------------- Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

“More and more we see that the separation between war and peace is not as clear-cut as it used to be,” says Jean-Marie Guéhenno in this podcast. Guéhenno, president and CEO of the International Crisis Group and a nonresident senior fellow at Brookings, was head of United Nations peacekeeping operations from 2000 to 2008, the longest-serving person in that post. In this podcast, he talks about his toughest peacekeeping operation, his best results, and why a political process is so important to the success of peacekeeping operations, all themes in his latest book, “The Fog of Peace: A Memoir of International Peacekeeping in the 21st Century" (Brookings Institution Press, 2015). Also in this episode, Governance Studies Fellow John Hudak explains what’s happening in Congress. --- Show Notes: The Fog of Peace: A Memoir of International Peacekeeping in the 21st Century United Nations peacekeeping fact sheet Crisisgroup.org --- Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

“The European Union is, in a way, a treasure,” says Distinguished Brookings Fellow Javier Solana in this podcast. “It’s a treasure that really signifies peace, that signifies cooperation … the type of thing the global world of today needs.” Solana, former secretary general of NATO and EU foreign policy chief, describes how he started as a physics professor before turning to policy-making and reaching the highest levels of Spanish and European institutions; discusses how the EU negotiates the shoals of nationalism; addresses the EU’s responses to the crisis in Ukraine and its approach to the negotiations with Iran; and offers his advice for success in navigating a global world. Also in this episode, Senior Fellow David Wessel, director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, offers his regular "Wessel's Economic Update," focusing on the question of whether the Federal Reserve's quantitative easing program increased inequality. And, George Burroughs gets an update from Nonresident Senior Fellow Pat Mulroy on the water crisis in the western states. This follows the Brookings Cafeteria podcast episode with Mulroy, the "Vegas water czar." Show Notes: Sovereignty's revenge: Populism and the future of European integration (event) Europe's Sovereignty Illusion Javier Solana's columns on Project Syndicate Monnet's Brandy and Europe's Fate, Brookings Essay by Strobe Talbott Saving Europe: Anatomy of a Dream (New and Expanded Edition), by Carlo Bastasin Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

What is happening in Ukraine is a tremendous threat to Putin’s Russia precisely because of the kinship that Russians feel with Ukraine,” says Chrystia Freeland in this podcast. Freeland, a Member of Parliament in Canada and also a journalist and author, talks about her own family’s connection to Ukraine, why the Russian propaganda machine has been effective, and why the Russian-Ukrainian language divide is oversimplified. Listen to find out why she thinks that the “Maidan and what has followed is the most hopeful moment ever in Ukrainian history.” --- Also in this episode, Fellow John Hudak explains what’s happening in Congress, including a rare moment of agreement between President Obama and the Republicans in Congress. --- Show Notes: • "My Ukraine: A personal reflection on a nation's dream of independence and the nightmare Vladimir Putin has visited upon it" • Chrystia Freeland's parliamentary bio --- Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

“Ten years from now college is going to look a lot different,” says Senior Fellow Stuart Butler in this podcast. Butler, an expert on the future of higher education, economic mobility, budget process reform, and federal entitlement reform, explains how developments in education technology, such as MOOCs, are driving college costs down, changing university business models, and could have a dramatic effect on social mobility in this country. “If you have a higher education system that actually does provide students with the skills they really need at a much lower cost than today,” he says, “that’s good for everybody, and good for the economy.” Plus, in "Wessel's Economic Update," David Wessel, director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, discusses the re-release of Arthur Okun's classic book, "Equality and Efficiency: The Big Tradeoff." Show Notes: New Arizona State-edX MOOC: Another blow to traditional college How Google and Coursera may upend the traditional college degree Beyond College Rankings: A Value-Added Approach to Assessing Two- and Four-Year Schools Reimagine College Tottering Ivory Towers City & Guilds Social Mobility Memos Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

“The Arab world has made huge progress in giving children access to school,” says Maysa Jalbout, a nonresident fellow with the Center for Universal Education at Brookings. Yet even so, she calls the 2.6 million Syrian children out of school in the region “perhaps the biggest education crisis globally.” In the podcast, Jalbout—former CEO of the Queen Rania Foundation and a global leader on education in international development—discusses the challenges and solutions to educating children in the Arab world, why quality and not just access matters, how the education crisis is a global security issue, and why 3 out of 4 Arab women remain out of the labor force in their countries. Much of the discussion is about Jalbout’s new report, “Reaching all Children with Education in Lebanon: Opportunities for Action.” Show Notes: Center for Universal Education Reaching all Children with Education in Lebanon: Opportunities for Action The Arab World Learning Barometer Unlocking the potential of educated Arab women Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

“Anger at the IRS for the complexity of the tax system is misplaced,” says Senior Fellow Bill Gale in this podcast. “The IRS does not legislate the tax code; Congress does. And if the tax code is complicated, that is Congress’s fault.” Gale, co-director of the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, explains one reason why the complicated tax code might be a good thing. Gale also addresses a variety of issues, including: what tax reform means; whether reform is good for economic growth; what are meant by a flat tax and consumption tax; and political rhetoric about abolishing the IRS. "You can argue about whether you want lower taxes or higher taxes, but I don’t think there should be an argument about whether we want an effective enforcement agency. It’s just a good government thing." - Bill Gale Show Notes: Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center How do IRS budget cuts affect taxpayers and the tax system? (event w/ IRS Commissioner Koskinen) Rubio-Lee hints at tax reform's troubling direction Tax Policy in 2014: Two Developments That May Set The Table For the Future Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

“I know that California has got a nightmare on [its] hands right now,” says Pat Mulroy, former general manager for the Southern Nevada Water Authority and now a Brookings nonresident senior fellow, in this podcast taped just as California announced statewide water restrictions. Mulroy, who has been called “the water empress of Vegas,” discusses a path forward in California’s crisis; explains why criticizing the Bellagio fountain’s water use is misplaced; reflects on how she got into the water business in the first place; and offers insights from her experience on how communities can cooperate on water issues. “We in this country have no idea how fortunate we are,” she says. “We are a small minority around the world that actually has reliable 24/7 water.” (Hoover Dam photo by Sareen Hairabedian) Show Notes: Video about Pat Mulroy (YouTube) Longtime Vegas water czar warns other cities to brace for climate change Pat Mulroy’s bio at UNLV’s Boyd School of Law Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

Brookings Fellows E.J. Dionne and Richard Reeves speak with noted political scientist and author Robert Putnam, professor of public policy at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, about his new book Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis. Putnam explains how an “opportunity gap” has emerged over the past twenty-five years between education for wealthy and poor children in America, and how differences in politics, class, and race are impacting the American dream. Also in this episode, Governance Studies Fellow John Hudak explains "What's Happening in Congress." Show Notes: - Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis, by Robert D. Putnam- Social Mobility Memos Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

“The forces of darkness, the terrorists, know that education is a powerful change agent,” says former Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in this podcast about her commitment to global education. Ms. Gillard, now a distinguished fellow with the Center for Universal Education at Brookings and chair of the Global Partnership for Education, discusses a variety of topics, including her path to becoming Australia’s 27th prime minister; overcoming barriers to achieving universal education; why quality of education matters as much, or more, than getting children into school; and what needs to be done in the post-2015 development agenda to achieve gender equity in education. Show Notes: - Brookings Center for Universal Education- Global Partnership for Education- The future of global education: What is the role of non-state actors?- #GirlsEdu: The Value of Girls’ Education in 2014 and Beyond- The Life of an Australian Prime Minister: A Conversation with Julia Gillard on "My Story" Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

“The real question is, are the proponents of ‘Audit the Fed’ legislation seeking to make the Fed more accountable …? Or are they basically people who don’t like what the Fed is doing and see ‘Audit the Fed’ as a lever to change the Fed?” asks Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy Director David Wessel in this podcast. Listen to find out why Wessel calls “Audit the Fed” a misnomer, but also how he explains why we are asking the Fed to do too much in the economy. He also offers ideas on useful reforms to Fed accountability and transparency. Plus, find out why he describes a return to the gold standard as “snake oil.” Wessel is also a senior fellow in Economic Studies and former economics editor of the Wall Street Journal. Show Notes: - The Fed in the 21st century: Independence, governance, and accountability- The Hutchins Center Explains: Audit the Fed- Congress vs. Yellen: Partisanship or accountability?- Central Banking After the Financial Crisis- The Global Financial Crisis: Lessons from History- Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

"We have a deficit of knowledge about the Koreas" in both the academy and public discourse, says Kathy Moon, the SK-Korea Foundation Chair in Korea Studies and a senior fellow in the Center for East Asia Policy Studies at Brookings. In this podcast, Moon, who is also a political science professor at Wellesley College, describes her own journey to becoming a scholar with a focus on Asia and the Koreas; talks about what she observed during her trip to North Korea; explains the sources of North Koreans' national pride; and offers her thoughts on the very serious challenges for Korean reunification. Also in the podcast, a discussion between John Hudak of Governance Studies and Michael O'Hanlon in Foreign Policy about President Obama's request to Congress for an Authorization for Use of Military Force against ISIS. Show Notes: - Shared Challenges and Cooperation for Korea, China and the U.S. - Protesting America: Democracy and the U.S.-Korea Alliance - Ethnicity and U.S. Foreign Policy: Korean Americans - Sandalwood Death, by Mo Yan - The Orphan Master's Son, by Adam Johnson ---- Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

"I think the Affordable Care Act is actually doing quite well," says Senior Fellow Alice Rivlin in this podcast. Rivlin, the Leonard D. Schaeffer Chair in Health Policy Studies and director of the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform at Brookings, cited the expansion of medical insurance coverage, declining cost growth, and other positive factors for the ACA. She also reflects on continued political opposition to the law, the impending King v. Burwell Supreme Court case, and what it was like to stand up a new federal agency, the Congressional Budget Office, in 1975. Also in the podcast, Senior Fellow David Wessel, director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal and Monetary Policy, offers his regular "Wessel's Economic Update." Show Notes: • Improving Health While Reducing Cost Growth, What is Possible? (with Mark McClellan) • People Who Wanted Market-Driven Health Care Now Have it in the Affordable Care Act • Health360: The latest views on health policy Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

“Cities and metro areas are networks, they are not governments; therefore we need to put them central to the debate of how the country moves forward,” Bruce Katz says in this podcast on the metropolitan revolution—metro areas’ recognition that they are where change does and should happen, especially in an era of congressional gridlock. Katz, vice president and director of the Metropolitan Policy Program and also the Adeline M. and Alfred I. Johnson Chair in Urban and Metropolitan Policy, explains that the nation’s 388 metropolitan areas are “the true organic economies”; discusses why metro areas are at the “vanguard of policy innovation”; describes why the traditional federalism pyramid should be flipped to feature cities and metros on top; and offers insights into the new spatial geography of innovation that is spurring production-oriented economic growth. Also in the podcast, Governance Studies Fellow John Hudak offers his regular update, "What's Happening in Congress." Show Notes: • The Metropolitan Revolution: How Cities and Metros Are Fixing Our Broken Politics and Fragile Economy (with Jennifer Bradley)• The Rise of Innovation Districts: A New Geography of Innovation in America (with Julie Wagner)• Mapping Freight: The Highly Concentrated Nature of Goods Trade in the United States (Adie Tomer and Joseph Kane)• What Should the Role of the Federal Government Be in Supporting Innovation Districts? • What the United States Can Teach the U.K. About Federalism• The Global Cities Initiative Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

In this podcast, Brookings President Strobe Talbott reflects on growing up in Cleveland, his career—as a journalist, State Department Official, and think tank leader—and today’s challenges for governance and stability. Learn how a career in journalism prepared him for State Department diplomacy; about his role in defusing two international crises in one dangerous week in June 1999; what he thinks about Vladimir Putin and Russia’s course; and why nuclear proliferation and climate change are “existential threats.” And also listen to his reflections on Brookings’s centenary next year. Also at the top of the podcast, David Wessel, director of the Hutchins Center on Fiscal & Monetary Policy, offers his economic update and previews two important upcoming events. Show Notes: • Mr. Putin: Operative in the Kremlin, by Fiona Hill and Clifford Gaddy (2d edition)• The Limits of Partnership: U.S.-Russian Relations in the Twenty-First Century, by Angela Stent• Fast Forward: Ethics and Politics in the Age of Global Warming, by Strobe Talbott and William Antholis (revised edition)• Brookings India Initiative• "Monnet's Brandy and Europe's Fate: A determined Frenchman's vision of integration serves as a guide to ending the eurozone crisis," Brookings Essay by Strobe Talbott Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.

In 1969, a conservative president made a liberal professor his urban affairs adviser in the White House. When Richard Nixon brought Daniel Patrick Moynihan onto the White House staff, the consequences for both would be tremendous, as recounted by Stephen Hess in this podcast based on his fascinating tale of those years, The Professor and the President: Daniel Patrick Moynihan in the Nixon White House (Brookings, 2014). Hess, a senior fellow emeritus at Brookings who was not only Moynihan’s deputy on the Urban Affairs Council but also a close friend, offers vivid anecdotes of what he witnessed, including: why “in a strange way Nixon fell in love with [Moynihan]”; a visit from actor Kirk Douglas; how Moynihan invented the Presidential Medal of Freedom; and the White House jazz concert led by Duke Ellington, the award’s first recipient. Also in the podcast, Governance Studies Fellow John Hudak, in his "What's Happening in Congress" commentary, reviews the end of the 113th Congress and looks ahead to the next; and Bruce Jones, deputy director of Foreign Policy at Brookings, talks about his new book, with David Steven, The Risk Pivot: Great Powers, International Security, and the Energy Revolution, which is about the "revolutionary changes in the supply, demand, and flow of energy" worldwide. Show Notes: • The Professor and the President: Daniel Patrick Moynihan in the Nixon White House• The Nixon Sightings, a series in which Hess recalls five key moments of his time working with Richard M. Nixon• The "Benign Neglect" memo, Moynihan to Nixon (January 16, 1970) (pdf)• A New Revelation From the Nixon White House, story of the 1969 jazz all-star concert (Len Garment, The New York Times, Aug. 25, 2002)• Watch this video of Hess Subscribe to the Brookings Cafeteria on iTunes, listen on Stitcher, and send feedback email to BCP@Brookings.edu.