100 episodes

The Munk Debates podcast is an extension of the main stage events - in subject, speaker selection, tone and format. It will introduce the iconic brand - and its engaging debates about significant issues of our time. Audiences will hear strong and passionate arguments from both sides of an issue so they will have enough information to make up their own minds about where they stand.

The Munk Debates Podcast Munk Foundation / iHeartRadio

    • Arts
    • 4.6 • 317 Ratings

The Munk Debates podcast is an extension of the main stage events - in subject, speaker selection, tone and format. It will introduce the iconic brand - and its engaging debates about significant issues of our time. Audiences will hear strong and passionate arguments from both sides of an issue so they will have enough information to make up their own minds about where they stand.

    Be it Resolved, American workers have never had it so good

    Be it Resolved, American workers have never had it so good

    The US economy is booming. Public investments in infrastructure, education, clean energy, and more is accelerating labour productivity, growing wages, and spurring employment. Recent economic data shows that “Bidenomics” is working and just as a rising tide lifts all boats, the average American worker hasn’t had it so good in a generation or more. But critics are pointing to the high cost of living – from expensive groceries to housing to health care – to the rise of precarious work to exploding levels of economic inequality as proof points that the president’s economic policies are in fact debt fuelled chimera and achieving the American dream is fast becoming an impossibility for millions of workers.

    Arguing in favour of the resolution is Steven Rattner. He’s the former head of Obama’s Auto Task Force, an Economic Analyst on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, and a contributing writer to The New York Times Op Ed page

    Arguing against the resolution is Michael R. Strain,  the Director of Economic Policy Studies and the at the American Enterprise Institute.

    SOURCE: MSNBC

     

    The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths 

    Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/

    To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to podcast@munkdebates.com.  

    To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership

    Members receive access to our 50+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events.

    This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/

     

    Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

    Senior Producer: Daniel Kitts

    Editor: Kieran Lynch

    • 48 min
    Be it Resolved, Donald Trump is a weak general election candidate.

    Be it Resolved, Donald Trump is a weak general election candidate.

    If recent polls are to be believed, Donald Trump is poised to become the President, for the second time, of the United States of America. Yet some observers think most swing voters who end up deciding American elections will ultimately turn away from Trump 2.0. For proof, they point to the difficulty Trump has had winning over many voters in his own party during the Republican primaries.  

    But other analysts insist the former president remains a formidable political force: He has a large and loyal base, he motivates people who don’t typically don’t vote, and he’s consistently beating Democrat Joe Biden in polls of key battleground states. 2016 should serve as an important lesson, they argue: don’t underestimate Donald Trump.

    Arguing in favour of the resolution is Sarah Longwell. She is the publisher of the political analysis and opinion website The Bulwark, and host of The Focus Group Podcast. 

    Arguing against the resolution is Patrick Ruffini. He is a pollster and founding partner of the firm Echelon Insights. He is also the author of the book Party of the People: Inside the Multiracial Populist Coalition Remaking the GOP.

     

    SOURCES: The Times and Sunday Times, MSNBC

     

    The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths 

    Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/

    To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to podcast@munkdebates.com.  

    To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership

    Members receive access to our 50+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events.

    This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/

    Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

    Producer: Daniel Kitts

    Editor: Kieran Lynch

    • 49 min
    Munk Dialogue with Rose Gottemoeller: assessing Russia’s nuclear threats

    Munk Dialogue with Rose Gottemoeller: assessing Russia’s nuclear threats

    Following the Cold War, the US and Russia entered into a series of arms control treaties that gave the world hope that, one day, nuclear weapons may be a thing of the past. But as tensions have risen between the two nuclear powers over Ukraine and other irritants, Russia has been abandoning these agreements. Most recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that Moscow would walk away from the last major arms treaty with the US, New START, in 2026. 

    What does all this mean for the prospect of nuclear war, and what can the United States and its allies do to get arms control back on track? 

    On this Munk Dialogue, we’re joined by someone who has been at the very centre of international arms control efforts. Rose Gottemoeller was the Deputy Secretary General of NATO from 2016 to 2019. In 2009 and 2010, she was the chief U.S. negotiator of New START, and she is now a lecturer at Stanford University's Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.

     

     

    The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths

    Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/

    To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to podcast@munkdebates.com.  

    To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership

    Members receive access to our 15+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events.

    This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/

    Executive Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

    Senior Producer: Daniel Kitts

    Editor: Kieran Lynch

    • 39 min
    Munk Dialogue with Gilead Sher: why a two-state solution is the only viable path to peace

    Munk Dialogue with Gilead Sher: why a two-state solution is the only viable path to peace

    For decades, the two-state solution has been held up as the best chance for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. But in the aftermath of October 7th, and the security risks posed by a potential Palestinian state in the West Bank, most Israelis are souring on the two-state vision.

    A few Israeli leaders, however, still believe it is the only viable path forward.

    On this Munk Dialogue, we’re joined by one of the country’s biggest proponents for peace. Gilead Sher was Chief of Staff to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and served as a senior negotiator at the Camp David summit in 2000, which ultimately failed in its objective to lay the groundwork for a sovereign Palestinian State. Now, he is acting as a representative for the families of the hostages in Gaza as they desperately seek the return of their loved ones after more than 150 days in captivity. Gilead argues that in spite of everything that has unfolded over the past five months, a two-state solution remains the best - and indeed only - way to achieve safety, security, and prosperity for both Israelis and Palestinians.

    The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths.

    Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/

    To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to podcast@munkdebates.com.  

    To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership

    Members receive access to our 15+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events.

    This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/

     

    Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

    Editor: Kieran Lynch

    • 35 min
    Be it Resolved, the Democrats need a new nominee

    Be it Resolved, the Democrats need a new nominee

    “An elderly man with a poor memory”. That is how a special counsel report described Joe Biden, president of the United States. Public appearances of the President looking confused and forgetting important dates and names seem to support this finding. Some Democrats believe Biden’s cognitive decline is a major liability that can no longer be ignored. With so much at stake in the 2024 election, and polls that are favouring Trump to win, it’s time for Biden to step aside for a candidate that can take on Trump with the energy and mental vigour such a contest requires. Biden’s supporters argue that his record as one of America’s most effective presidents renders his age irrelevant. Unlike previous candidates, Biden has proven that he can form a winning coalition. The risk of replacing him this close to the election would all but guarantee his defeat and the ruin of American democracy at the hands of a President Trump.

    Arguing in favour of the resolution is Jeff Weaver. He was a senior advisor on Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign and he is currently serving as an advisor to Representative Dean Phillip’s campaign to be the Democratic nominee.

    Arguing against the resolution is Jim Kessler. He’s the Executive Vice President of Policy at Third Way, a Washington DC Democratic think tank.

    SOURCES: 

    MSNBC, NBC News

     

    The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths 

    Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/

    To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to podcast@munkdebates.com.  

    To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership

    Members receive access to our 50+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events.

    This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/

    Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

    Editor: Kieran Lynch

     

    • 39 min
    Munk Dialogue with Sarah Paine: the rise of the Russia-China axis

    Munk Dialogue with Sarah Paine: the rise of the Russia-China axis

    Most geopolitical experts agree that we have entered into a new cold war. The rise of the China-Russia axis and its threat to the international rules-based order is of growing concern to western powers. On this Munk Dialogue, we’re speaking with Sarah Paine, University Professor of History and Grand Strategy at the US Naval War College. Sarah explains what is motivating leaders like Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin to act aggressively towards their neighbours, and how western powers should respond to these acts of aggression. In short: what can we learn about the wars of the 20th century to prevent a devastating global war in the 21st?

    The host of the Munk Debates is Rudyard Griffiths

    Tweet your comments about this episode to @munkdebate or comment on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/munkdebates/

    To sign up for a weekly email reminder for this podcast, send an email to podcast@munkdebates.com.  

    To support civil and substantive debate on the big questions of the day, consider becoming a Munk Member at https://munkdebates.com/membership

    Members receive access to our 15+ year library of great debates in HD video, a free Munk Debates book, newsletter and ticketing privileges at our live events.

    This podcast is a project of the Munk Debates, a Canadian charitable organization dedicated to fostering civil and substantive public dialogue - https://munkdebates.com/

    Senior Producer: Ricki Gurwitz

    Editor: Kieran Lynch

     

    • 38 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
317 Ratings

317 Ratings

Mwan2008 ,

Best debate podcast there is :)

Great discussion and debate from world class thinkers! The weekly discussions between Rudyard Griffiths and Janice Stein are a particular highlight - informative and entertaining. Keep up the great work!!

Radick4 ,

Highly biased and wildly blind to what Israel is doing to Palestine

The host is pathetically and willfully blind to what Israel is doing to Palestine. The recent podcast about a ceasefire was ridiculous. He weighs in as the “moderator” saying that “there is no proof that Israel is targeting civilians” while they cut off all basic needs for the population and have killed 7600 people. Your bias here is ridiculous Rudyard. I can’t respect you after your past couple episodes on this podcast. Unsubscribing.

Apeartune ,

Friday Focus = Garbage

What is this Friday Focus show that they’re adding on here? It’s 30 minutes or less of geriatrics talking about topics that they’re completely out of touch with. Rudyard and Janice just babbling incoherent opinions/arguments in an echo chamber between themselves. It’s absolutely ridiculous and yet sad because you can hear in their voices that they genuinely believe the things they’re saying. I really hope that it’s satire, but assuming it’s not I give it a 1-star rating.

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