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GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution (100)
In uncertain times what’s needed is not just clarity about today’s pandemic, but insight into the challenges that lie ahead as America recovers and returns to normal. GoodFellows, a weekly Hoover Institution broadcast, features senior fellows John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, and H.R. McMaster discussing the social, economic, and geostrategic ramifications of this changed world.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2025-04-11 18:57:19
Viewer Mail: The GoodFellows Answer Your Questions (20250411-goodfellows-mailbag.mp3)
What are the economic and geopolitical effects of President Trump’s imposition of tariffs on America’s trading friends and foes? In an episode devoted solely to viewers’ questions, Hoover senior fellows Sir Niall Ferguson, John Cochrane, and Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster delve into the certain volatility (and uncertain logic) of Trump’s tariff maneuvers and more.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2025-03-27 19:31:01
Mixed Signals and Emerging Technology with Amy Zegart (GoodFellows_2025-03-26_-_Amy_Zegart_wip03_podcast_96v17.mp3)
Does America have a plan for winning the competition of the future—mastering artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and space, plus other material and developmental sciences? Amy Zegart, the Hoover Institution’s Morris Arnold and Nona Cox Senior Fellow and cochair of the Stanford Emerging Technology Review (SETR), explains how this one-of-a-kind partnership between the Hoover Institution and Stanford University’s School of Engineering gives policymakers the tools they need to better address the challenges facing cutting-edge industries. Also discussed: the Trump national security team’s inelegant use of a chat app while prepping for a military strike in Yemen, plus the significance (or lack thereof) of Trump’s nemeses caving in to his demands—and whether other entities (Canada, Panama, Greenland, Venezuela’s trade partners) will follow suit. Recorded on March 26, 2025. Download the SETR report here: Stanford Emerging Technology Review 2025
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2025-03-08 01:56:19
Evil Empire 2.0: Tom Cotton on Europe’s Path to Peace and China’s Dangerous Hegemony (GoodFellows_2025-03-07_-_Tom_Cotton_podcast_8ujlc.mp3)
US and Ukrainian officials will meet on March 12 to talk peace in Eastern Europe; a new US approach to China may or may not be in the works; and the Trump administration’s gas-brake approach to imposing tariffs on trade partners has a Hoover economist baffled. Arkansas senator Tom Cotton, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee and author of Seven Things You Can’t Say About China, joins Hoover senior fellows John Cochrane and H.R. McMaster to discuss the latest in Ukraine and his concerns over China’s military, economic, and cultural hegemony. After that: The fellows dig deeper into the economic and strategic ramifications of Trump’s tariff ploys, followed by a “lightning round,” including the merits of a US “crypto strategic reserve”; the renaming an army fort in Georgia (H.R. having known the late general whose name was removed); the creator of Hamilton refusing to play a “Trumpier” Kennedy Center; plus what the two would give up for Lent if so inclined. Recorded on March 7, 2025.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2025-02-28 18:51:26
The Great X Debate, with Matt Continetti: Vance v. Ferguson, Trump Diplomacy, DOGE, and Hackman (GoodFellows_2025-02-27_-_Matt_Continetti_wip02_podcast_6wz72.mp3)
A one-week window into the Trump administration’s worldview—the president blaming Ukraine for Russia’s invasion; his vice president taking to social media to accuse a Hoover scholar of “historical illiteracy”; the US then refusing to join other UN members in condemning Russian aggression—raises the question: Is the Trump brand of confusion and controversy mere happenstance or a calculated means to an end? American Enterprise Institute scholar, author, and columnist Matthew Continetti joins Hoover senior fellows John Cochrane, H.R. McMaster, and Niall Ferguson (the subject of the vice president’s lashing on X) to discuss Trump’s unorthodox style, the showcasing of executive orders, and his chances of success at home and overseas. Also discussed: the significance of Trump’s firing top military brass, a $5 million “gold card” for US residency, the Washington Post’s editorial shift to “personal liberties and free markets,” Scotland’s rugby disappointment at the hands (and legs) of England, plus the late Gene Hackman’s best performances. Recorded on February 27, 2025.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2025-02-14 21:45:15
The Age of Empire Strikes Back: Stephen Kotkin on Trump, Wrestling, and the Use of American Power | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution (20250214-GoodFellows-Stephen-Kotkin.mp3)
Stephen Kotkin on American power showing signs of wear and tear—potentially crippling debt, a military perhaps unable to engage in multiple-theater conflicts, and more.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2025-01-30 00:15:48
Big Deal: Davos Man Returns; Colombia’s Social Media Smackdown; Is DeepSink AI’s “Sputnik Moment”? | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution (20250129-deepseek-trump-goodfellows.mp3)
A week into Donald Trump’s “second first term,” the GoodFellows drink from the proverbial fire hose trying to keep up with the news.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2025-01-16 19:09:38
Vibe Shifts: Enter Trump, Exit Biden, the Politics of Fires, “Silly Walking and Flying Eagles” | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution (20250116-GoodFellows-vibe-shift.mp3)
Donald Trump’s “second first term”—an oddity of winning nonconsecutive presidential elections—begins with talk of dramatic policy shifts at home and abroad.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-12-18 22:08:00
2024 in Review: Standards and Norms with the WSJ’s Kimberley Strassel | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution (20241218-GoodFellows-Kim-Strassel.mp3)
And so, an eventful election year concludes with the curtain soon to rise on a second Trump presidency and the possibility of dramatic changes to how Washington conducts itself.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-12-04 21:33:41
The Mailbag Show: The GoodFellows Answer Your Questions (GoodFellows_2024-12-03_-_Mailbag_wip021_podcast_8tun8.mp3)
In a special “mailbag” episode, Hoover senior fellows Sir Niall Ferguson, John Cochrane, and H.R. McMaster answer audience questions ranging from current geopolitics quandaries and viable economic models to career and parenting advice, plus their personal choices of dream guests. Among the topics: a neglected African continent; Russia’s military and economic sustainability and related policy options that the incoming Trump administration will face; parallels between Taiwan and pre–World War I Europe; rating Javier Milei’s performance in Argentina; job options for aspiring PhD candidates; plus the panel’s recommendations for foundational books to instill honor and patriotism in children (spoiler alert: Niall talking Tolkien). Submit your questions for our next mailbag episode at Hoover.org/AskGoodFellows and see if your question gets selected and answered!
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-11-22 23:37:10
Focus on the Mission, with Mike Pompeo | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution (GoodFellows_2024-11-22_-_Mike_Pompeo_wip02_podcast_bwngs.mp3)
After a “change” election that returned Donald Trump to the presidency, what can Americans expect in the way of foreign policy and national security departures from the current administration? Former US secretary of state and CIA director Mike Pompeo joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, John Cochrane, and H.R. McMaster to discuss possible new directions for America’s national security apparatus. Also discussed: the Biden administration’s allowing Ukraine to fire long-range missiles into Russia; how to counter Chinese threats to Taiwan’s independence; Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s being declared a “war criminal” subject to arrest; plus the likelihood that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency can reshape the federal government. Recorded on November 22, 2024.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-11-08 01:26:24
The Comeback: The NYT’s Bret Stephens and the GoodFellows Recap the ’24 Election | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution (20241107-GoodFellows-Bret-Stephens.mp3)
Donald Trump will return to the Oval Office in a manner few saw coming while progressive institutions (legacy media, Hollywood, wokeism, and a tired Democratic playbook) take a beating.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-11-01 16:14:59
Butterfly Wings & Hurricanes: The GoodFellows & Andrew Roberts Revisit Historical Counterfactuals | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution (20241114-goodfellows.mp3)
Imagine an alternate universe in which the American Revolution fails or where Russia rejects Leninism in its infant stage.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-10-29 21:36:24
Hope for Peace, Prepare for War, with Walter Russell Mead | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution (20241029-GoodFellows-Mead-peace.mp3)
Why has Israel repeatedly disregarded and gone the opposite way from the White House’s entreaties regarding the Middle East? And does the West fully fathom that Ukraine is losing its war of attrition with Russia?
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-09-25 21:23:42
OK Boomers: Victor Davis Hanson, Pagers, Zelenskyy, and the Fellows “Talkin’ ‘Bout Their Generation” | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution (20240925-GoodFellows-boomers.mp3)
Hot-wiring pagers and walkie-talkies to take out Hezbollah operatives: Was Israel’s tactic—like something from an Ian Fleming novel—a justifiable act of national security or a violation of international law?
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-09-12 20:49:34
Cruel Summer: McMaster’s Tour of Duty, the Debate, TSwift, and Yes, Churchill Was a Good Guy | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution (20240912-book-debates-churchill.mp3)
What was it like to navigate America’s national security apparatus all the while coping with a mercurial commander-in-chief? H.R. McMaster tells all – with additional insights provided by Niall Ferguson.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-08-26 15:00:00
So It Goes: Niall Ferguson on Good Books, Bad Screens, a 1968 Redux, and Hobbits | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution (20240826-GoodFellows-Niall-ferguson.mp3)
In a topsy-turvy election year, does America’s 2024 presidential contest summon ghosts from 1968 — or, is a late-breaking 1980-style landslide in the cards?
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-08-19 22:48:53
Gettin’ Grumpy with It: John Cochrane on the Fed, Tariffs, and Why Dogs Rule | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution (20240819-GoodFellows-Cochrane.mp3)
What happens when the stars align for a macroeconomist — publishing a lengthy tome on monetary policy just as inflation runs rampant?
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-08-12 21:55:00
Generally Speaking: McMaster on Trump Foreign Policy and Technology Warfare | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution (20240812-GoodFellows-HR-mini-wip05.mp3)
How would a Trump-Vance victory alter America’s commitments abroad? Are robotics supplanting humans on the battlefield? And will this year’s West Point graduates see combat?
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-08-07 20:34:45
We Win, They Lose, with Matthew Kroenig | GoodFellows: John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20240807-GoodFellows-Matthew-Kroenig.mp3)
Is a regional war across the Middle East about to erupt? And what to make of a Venezuelan regime that doesn’t honor election results?
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-07-25 21:24:08
Unburdened By What Has Been | GoodFellows: John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (202240725-goodfellows-elections.mp3)
An already surreal political year becomes all the more quizzical as former president Donald Trump literally dodges an assassin’s bullet soon before making a surprise pick of Ohio senator J. D. Vance as his running mate.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-07-12 17:28:32
The Senior Moment with Jonah Goldberg | GoodFellows: John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20240712-GoodFellows-Jonah-Goldberg.mp3)
The Dispatch’s Jonah Goldberg joins Good Fellows to discuss his differences with Niall Ferguson’s Soviet America essay, the Biden/Trump gerontocracy, and the European elections. Also, can someone help Niall choose a dog?
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-06-20 23:50:00
A GoodFellows Special: A Guide to Summer | GoodFellows: John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20240619-GoodFellows-Summer.mp3)
How do a historian, an economist, and a geostrategist make the best use of their summers? In an abbreviated GoodFellows, Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, John Cochrane, and H.R. McMaster reveal a few of their summertime preferences: favorite leisurely pursuits (land, air, and sea), their go-to foods and drinks, family gatherings (all three are grandparents), recommended books and movies, plus what research and writing lies ahead (plenty of writing and travel).
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-05-31 10:04:38
The Axis of Chaos, with Matt Pottinger | GoodFellows: John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20240530-GoodFellows-Matt-Pottinger.mp3)
Matt Pottinger, a Hoover Institution visiting fellow and editor of the forthcoming book The Boiling Moat: Urgent Steps to Defend Taiwan, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, John Cochrane, and H.R. McMaster to discuss how best to discourage China from moving on its island neighbor.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-05-16 20:32:47
The Counterfactual Show: Reimagining History, with Stephen Kotkin | GoodFellows: John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20240516-GoodFellows-Stephen-Kotkin.mp3)
Historians differ over the need to explore “counterfactuals”—the study of scenarios that never happened—and what they can tell us about historical causation. Stephen Kotkin, the Hoover Institution’s Kleinheinz Senior Fellow and noted historian of Russia, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson and John Cochrane to discuss alternative historical outcomes.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-05-03 21:06:06
TikTok’s Ticking Clock: National Security Vs. Free Speech; Dr. Evil And James Bond | GoodFellows: John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, Amy Zegart, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20240503-GoodFellows-amy-zegart.mp3)
Amy Zegart, the Hoover Institution’s Morris Arnold and Nona Jean Cox Senior Fellow and author of Spies, Lies, and Algorithms: The History and Future of American Intelligence, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, John Cochrane, and H.R. McMaster to discuss Israel’s intel failure, whether TikTok is the menace it’s portrayed to be, plus how spy films (wrongly) shape the public’s view on espionage.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-04-19 21:09:23
America’s Immigration Puzzle, Iran Strikes (Out) – And 60 Is The New 40 | GoodFellows: John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, Reihan Salam, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20240419-Reihan-Salam-GoodFellows.mp3)
Nearly 40 years since the nation last saw comprehensive reform on the matter, the consensus is that America’s immigration system is sorely in need of updating to 21st-century realities. Reihan Salam, Manhattan Institute president and author of the book Melting Pot or Civil War?, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, John Cochrane, and H.R. McMaster to discuss a smarter approach to welcoming newcomers to America.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-04-03 19:07:27
NYT’s Bret Stephens on Israel, 4 Years of GoodFellows, and An Invite to JK Rowling | GoodFellows: John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20240403-GoodFellows-Bret-Stephens.mp3)
As the six-month anniversary of Hamas’s attack on Israel approaches, what to expect next in that struggle—and is the American president and Israeli prime minister’s working relationship beyond repair? New York Times columnist Bret Stephens joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, John Cochrane, and H.R. McMaster to discuss the war’s possible expansion into southern Lebanon and Stephens’s vision of a rebuilt Gaza as a Mediterranean version of Dubai.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-03-21 01:29:44
China v. Ukraine with Elbridge Colby; TikTok's Clock; Election Meddling Is Cool Now? | GoodFellows: Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20240320-GoodFellows-Elbridge-Colby.mp3)
Elbridge Colby, former Defense Department assistant secretary and cofounder of the Marathon Initiative, which studies great-power competition, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson and H.R. McMaster to discuss his contention that rearming America’s military in anticipation of an eventual Chinese move on Taiwan takes priority over conflicts in Ukraine and Israel.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-03-08 09:37:39
Victor Davis Hanson On The State of the Union . . . and a Biden-Trump Rematch | GoodFellows: John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20240308-GoodFellows-Victor-Davis-Hanson.mp3)
Following Super Tuesday’s results, with the US presidential election still the better part of eight months away, a rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump is all but certain. Victor Davis Hanson, the Hoover Institution’s Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow and author of the soon-to-be-released book The End of Everything: How Wars Descend into Annihilation, joins Hoover senior fellows John Cochrane and H.R. McMaster to discuss where Biden and Trump stand on “shrinkflation” and the US economy, America’s involvement in overseas conflicts, plus the likelihood of Democrats replacing a struggling Biden at their August national convention and Trump running a disciplined campaign despite his legal travails.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-02-21 20:46:28
Israel’s Options, Plus Navalny’s Legacy and Ranking the US Presidents, with Dan Senor | GoodFellows: John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20240221-GoodFellows-Senor-2024-02-20.mp3)
Dan Senor, host of the Call Me Back podcast and author of two books on Israel, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson (live from Jerusalem) and John Cochrane to discuss the moving parts and global ramifications of the Israel-Hamas conflict.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-02-10 02:55:13
End Games: America Strikes Back, Congress Strikes Out On Immigration | GoodFellows: John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20240209-GoodFellows-2024-02-08-1.mp3)
While the American reprisal against Iranian proxies across the Middle East is impressive in its harnessing of firepower, technology, and intelligence, does it advance the goals of deterrence and de-escalation?
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-01-25 23:52:07
Davos, World War III, Essential Books, and No Swearing | GoodFellows: John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20240124-GoodFellows-Mailbag.mp3)
This installment of GoodFellows is devoted to audience questions—viewers and listeners putting Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, John Cochrane, and H.R. McMaster through their intellectual paces.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2024-01-11 04:37:59
Empire or Republic?: The Choice in ’24 | GoodFellows: John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20240111-GoodFellows-empire-or-republic.mp3)
The new year begins with a continuation of three topics that figured prominently in 2023: escalating hostilities in the Middle East; a possible return to more traditional higher education after shake-ups at several elite American universities; plus the uncertainty of certain economic assumptions (in 2023, a much-prophesied recession that never materialized).
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-12-12 21:01:55
Ivy-League Anti-Semitism with Bari Weiss, Regarding Henry, and Santa Hats | GoodFellows: John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20231212-GoodfFellows-Bari-Weiss.mp3)
Bari Weiss, founder of the Free Press and host of the Honestly podcast, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and John Cochrane to discuss when and why America’s universities went astray and how to separate scholarship from political agendas.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-11-29 01:08:08
Known Unknowns, the Rolling Stones, and Karl Rove | GoodFellows: John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20231129-GoodFellows-Karl-Rove.mp3)
Karl Rove, Wall Street Journal political columnist and the “architect” behind George W. Bush’s presidential runs, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson. H.R. McMaster, and John Cochrane to discuss the odds of a Biden-Trump rematch.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-11-09 20:47:57
Life During Wartime: Israel’s Resolve; Can Ukraine Still Win? | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, H.R. McMaster, Russ Roberts, and Bill Whalen (20231108-Russ-Roberts-and-Hodges-GoodFellows.mp3)
Two conflicts present two challenges: a Ukrainian counteroffensive turned stalemate; and Israel’s survival as it confronts Hamas (and possibly Hezbollah and Iran). Russ Roberts, Hoover’s John and Jean De Nault Research Fellow and president of Jerusalem’s Shalem College, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson. H.R. McMaster, and John Cochrane to discuss Israel’s morale and strategic choices.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-11-01 19:26:04
A Bronx Tale: Ian Rowe on the Fight for Charter Schools | GoodFellows: John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, Bill Whalen, and Ian Rowe | Hoover Institution (20231101-Ian-Rowe-GoodFellows.mp3)
Ian Rowe, an American Enterprise Institute senior fellow and cofounder of the Bronx-based Vertex Partnership Academies, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson and John Cochrane to discuss the future of public education and charter schools’ role in the quest for better outcomes.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-10-26 01:08:30
Understanding the New World (Dis)Order, with Stephen Kotkin | GoodFellows: John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20231025-kotkin-disorder-GoodFellows.mp3)
As Israel and Ukraine struggle for survival, a newer “axis of ill will”—formed by Russia, China and Iran—sows discord around the globe. Stephen Kotkin, the Hoover Institution’s Kleinheinz Senior Fellow and a vaunted historian, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson and John Cochrane to assess options abroad and parallels to the past (are we reliving the 1930s, the 1970s, or both?).
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-10-18 09:32:14
The War in Israel and the War at Home | GoodFellows: John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20231018-israel-goodfellows.mp3)
Recorded live at the Hoover Institution’s fall retreat: Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and John Cochrane discuss unfolding events in the Middle East—Israel’s response, failures in intelligence gathering, plus America’s strategic choices vis-à-vis a complicit Iran.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-09-26 08:07:02
Supreme Court, United Nations—What Next for Free Speech, the Free World? | GoodFellows: John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, Eugene Volokh, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20230925-Volokh-goodfellows.mp3)
Eugene Volokh, a soon-to-be Hoover Institution senior fellow and a First Amendment law professor at UCLA, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson and John Cochrane to discuss free speech in the Information Age and what comes next for universities following the court’s rebuke of race-factored admissions.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-09-07 20:22:00
Doomsayers, a Doomed China, and . . . President McMaster? | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20230907-Mailbag.mp3)
In a special “mailbag” episode, Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, John Cochrane, and H.R. McMaster answer viewers’ questions, ranging from global geopolitics to American domestic affairs.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-08-24 01:55:44
Tainted “Meat and Potatoes”— Andrew McCarthy on Political Trials, Public Tribulations | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, Andrew McCarthy, H.R. McMaster, and Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20230823-GoodFellows-Andrew-McCarthy.mp3)
Former president Donald Trump faces at least four criminal trials that could overshadow the Republicans’ presidential nominating process—and maybe fatally wound him in a general election—while a legal cloud hangs over President Biden due to an ongoing investigation into his son’s business affairs.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-08-10 19:29:00
AI And A-Bombs: Is Everything A-Okay? | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, Fei-Fei Li, H.R. McMaster, Bill Whalen | Hoover Institution (20230810-GoodFellows-fei-fei-li.mp3)
On the 78th anniversary of the only wartime use of nuclear weapons, is the human race at another moral crossroads, fearing what artificial intelligence (AI) breakthroughs might unleash?
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-07-14 19:48:41
The Recession That Didn’t Bark | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster | Hoover Institution (20230714-GoodFellows.mp3)
This week, the self-moderating GoodFellows (Bill Whalen is on vacation) ponder why the much predicted recession hasn’t materialized—at least not yet.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-06-27 19:18:29
Mutiny Interrupted: Prigozhin Stands Down | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, Bill Whalen, and Dmitri Alperovitch| Hoover Institution (20230628-GoodFellows-Alperovit.mp3)
A tumultuous 24 hours in Russia—ordinarily pro-Russia armed mercenaries marching on Moscow, Vladimir Putin’s whereabouts unknown—reveals the fragility of that wartime autocracy.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-05-17 20:54:54
There’s Nothing Stopping You Now: Coleman Hughes on Race and Poverty in America | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster | Hoover Institution (20230517-GoodFellows-Hughes.mp3)
California weighs reparations for slavery’s descendants as America approaches the three-year anniversary of the murder of George Floyd—a Black man killed by a White police officer—in Minneapolis.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-05-03 20:40:27
Charles In Charge: God Save the King with Douglas Murray | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster | Hoover Institution (20230523-GoodFellows-Douglas-Murray.mp3)
Does the Shakespearean adage “uneasy lies the head that wears a crown” still apply to today’s United Kingdom?
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-04-20 20:26:11
Rage Against The Machine: The Good Fellows Discuss AI | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster | Hoover Institution (20230420-goodfellows.mp3)
Is artificial intelligence a global killer or an emerging technology which, if properly harnessed, can improve mankind? And what’s the significance of a low-level National Guard member being able to expose US military secrets?
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-04-11 19:01:45
Viewer Mail, Part II: Empires, War Crimes, and Bad Facial Hair | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster | Hoover Institution (20230407-goodfellows.mp3)
In this second installment of audience questions, viewers and listeners from nearly three dozen nations spanning six continents ask Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster and John Cochrane about the durability of America’s “empire,” Putin’s war crimes, Henry Kissinger’s worldview, and the future of Western universities.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-03-28 20:36:50
Viewer Mail, Part 1: Banks, Tanks, Prizes, And A Singing Serpent | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster | Hoover Institution (20230328-goodfellows.mp3)
The first of two episodes devoted solely to questions from the audience—viewers and listeners from nearly three dozen nations spanning six continents—who ask Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane whether a protracted war favors Russia or Ukraine; what is China’s geopolitical interest in the conflict; what are financial risks associated with Silicon Valley Bank’s travails.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-03-14 23:11:44
Three Good Fellows and Not Enough Babies: A Conversation with Demographer Nicolas Eberstadt | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster | Hoover Institution (20230314-goodfellows.mp3)
What do long-term demographic trends suggest about the world moving forward? American Enterprise Institute fellow Nicholas Eberstadt joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane for a conversation about shifting populations and societal behavior.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-03-01 19:48:53
Weathering the Storms: Bjorn Lomborg on Climate Change, Global Priorities | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster | Hoover Institution (20230301-goodfellows.mp3)
While erratic weather and apocalyptic prophecies keep climate change in the headlines, a set of arguably more pressing global concerns goes less noticed. Bjorn Lomborg, a Hoover visiting fellow and president of the Copenhagen Consensus Center, discusses what his cost-benefit analysis says about curbing HIV/AIDS, malaria, and hunger, and the role of free trade and economic development in improving living conditions in Africa and impoverished lands.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-02-08 04:43:11
Super Bowl, Shmooper Bowl with Victor Davis Hanson | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster | Hoover Institution (20230207-goodfellows.mp3)
A Chinese “civilian airship” wafts across the US heartland. Vladimir Putin ramps up the saber-rattling as the one-year anniversary of his Ukraine invasion nears. And could a single platinum coin be America’s debt elixir? Victor Davis Hanson, the Hoover Institution’s Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane to discuss “eyes in the sky,” ground warfare, plus one soccer-and-rugby-loving fellow’s super disgust with the super-sized spectacle that is the Super Bowl.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-01-27 19:51:48
Tanks for the Memories | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster | Hoover Institution (20230127-goodfellows.mp3)
GoodFellows celebrates its 100th episode with Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane reflecting on social, economic, and geopolitical lessons learned since their first conversation nearly three years ago. Also debated: the merits of the World Economic Forum in Davos, the spectacle of climate-change bloviation, plus the strategic implications of sending American heavy tanks to Ukraine (Lt. Gen. McMaster knowing a thing or two about the topic, having led armored cavalry regiments into combat).
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2023-01-18 23:57:43
Sticks, Carrots...Baby Carrots: Rep. Mike Gallagher on the China Threat | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster | Hoover Institution (20230118-goodfellows.mp3)
Is the United States in a new “cold war” with China, and if so, what steps should be taken to get the attention of the government in Beijing (a military buildup? banning TikTok in the US)? Wisconsin congressman Mike Gallagher, chair of the newly created House Select Committee on China, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane for a look at US-Sino relations.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-12-14 20:09:47
The Year In Review, The Year Ahead: Ukraine’s Dominance, AI’s Emergence, “NapolElon’s” Waterloo? | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster | Hoover Institution (20221214-goodfellows.mp3)
What did the GoodFellows learn in 2022, and what do they anticipate for 2023? Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane reflect on the war in Ukraine, cryptocurrency’s fall and inflation’s rise, ChatGPT’s upending of essay writing and other academic pursuits, plus whether Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter could prove to be his undoing—much like that of a 19th-century French emperor.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-11-30 19:54:29
The BYO Show: China’s Totalitarian Gridlock, A Woke “Mind Virus,” And Futbal Vs. Football | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster | Hoover Institution (20221129-goodfellows.mp3)
A post-holiday Goodfellows features the panelists bringing their own curiosities to the table. Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane discuss China’s COVID-restriction protests and restoring academic freedom of college campuses. Plus two “Goodfellows” weigh in with differing views on American “football” vs. the more global “futbal.”
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-11-16 23:21:25
Kale and Arugula? Kim Strassel on a New Congress, Old Challenges | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster | Hoover Institution (20221115-GoodFellows-Kim-Strassel.mp3)
A week after America’s midterm election, Washington faces the prospect of divided government for the next two years. Kimberly Strassel, the Wall Street Journal’s “Potomac Watch” columnist, joins Hoover senior fellows H. R. McMaster and John Cochrane for a reading of the midterm tea leaves and thoughts on what comes next in terms of congressional agendas, the war in Ukraine, the future oversight of cryptocurrency, and Elon Musk’s Twitter overhaul.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-11-10 23:47:08
“Deep Thoughts”: Tyler Cowen on AI and the Future of Work | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson | Hoover Institution (20221110-GoodFellows-Tyler-Cowen.mp3)
A world where artificial intelligence completes your work and thoughts? And what’s the wiser bet: “short Meta” or “long Twitter”? Tyler Cowen, a George Mason University economist and coauthor of the Marginal Revolution blog, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson and John Cochrane to discuss whether technological advancements will improve the human condition.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-11-04 08:21:47
Pesci-ent Knowledge: Stephen Kotkin on Xi’s China, Putin’s Russia | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster | Hoover Institution (20221104-GoodFellows-kotkin.mp3)
Can China’s current authoritarian model hold without destroying its economy, and what’s the near-term outlook for the war in Ukraine? Stephen Kotkin, the Hoover Institution’s Kleinheinz Senior Fellow and an authority on geopolitics and authoritarian regimes (and a Joe Pesci soundalike) joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane to discuss the latest in Xi Jinping’s China and Vladimir Putin’s Russia.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-10-26 19:40:44
Unsolicited Advice For The Next Congress | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster | Hoover Institution (20221026-GoodFellows.mp3)
With the US election approaching and apparently tilting Republicans’ way, the question is: What to do with their newfound power on Capitol Hill? Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane discuss how a 118th Congress under new management might address aid to Ukraine, the China “Cold War 2.0” dilemma, plus America’s economic, energy, and health concerns.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-10-19 21:05:05
The “BYO” Show: China, Iran, and Truss (but Vilify) | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster | Hoover Institution (20221019-goodfellows.mp3)
The British prime minister’s days seem numbered (yet again), as might those of Iran’s theocracy—and what to make of Chinese president Xi Jinping’s growing cult of personality? In a “bring your own topic” edition of GoodFellows, Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane discuss these worldly matters as well the coming clash between a wintry COVID spike and pandemic-weary populations.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-10-06 04:25:36
“The Architect’s” Digest: Karl Rove On The 2022 Election And America’s Political Landscape | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster | Hoover Institution (20221005-GoodFellows.mp3)
Is history repeating itself, with America reliving the political rancor and upheaval of the late 19th-century Gilded Age? Karl Rove, political strategist and the “architect” of George W. Bush’s presidential campaigns, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane to discuss the impact of economics, world events, and cultural concerns on this year’s midterm vote.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-09-28 00:51:39
Upheaval and Change in Russia, Iran, and Italy | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster | Hoover Institution (20220927-GoodFellows.mp3)
Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane discuss the latest overseas news, including how to help Iranian resistors (send in Elon Musk’s Starlink) and Ukrainian warriors (send over more tanks).
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-09-23 08:28:16
Viewer Mail – Russia, Ukraine...And Noted Liberal George Washington | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster | Hoover Institution (20220922-GoodFellows.mp3)
This week’s episode is devoted to audience questions – viewers and listeners from nearly thirty nations spanning six continents asking Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster and John Cochrane for their thoughts on the war in Ukraine, future Napoleons, plus where they turn to for intellectual inspiration.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-09-12 22:24:55
Live from Kyiv: The War, the Queen, and Europe’s Winter(s) of Discontent | GoodFellows: John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster | Hoover Institution (20220913-GoodFellows.mp3)
GoodFellows presents an abbreviated episode, with Hoover senior fellow Niall Ferguson on the ground in Ukraine (but not sporting an olive-green tee) as he joins senior fellow John Cochrane to discuss the war’s progress, the outlook for Zelenskyy and Putin, plus what the future holds for Britain’s national identity and the House of Windsor in the aftermath of Queen Elizabeth II’s passing.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-08-26 20:00:56
Ameri-Can or Can’t?: China’s Looming Demographic and Economic Collapse (20220825-GoodFellows.mp3)
Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster and John Cochrane discuss the geopolitical consequences of a China in decline – if it accelerates a move against Taiwan; should America be engaging in détente or a military buildup?
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-08-04 19:44:08
The Situation Zoom: Pelosi Visits Taiwan (20220804-GoodFellows-taiwan.mp3)
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi heads a congressional delegation to Taiwan, prompting an angry backlash from Beijing and an escalation of tensions. In an abbreviated version of GoodFellows, Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane discuss what, if any, impact the Speaker’s visit will have on US–Sino strategy and relations and the global balance of power moving forward.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-07-26 19:00:48
The Fellows of Summer (20220725-GoodFellows-3-fellows.mp3)
As promised, the GoodFellows (that’s John H. Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, and H. R. McMaster) take a break from their summer hiatus to discuss what has transpired in the world since their last appearance on YouTube. Topics covered include the war in Ukraine, the economy and inflation, and the hot topic of the moment: the climate and Europe’s search for reliable energy.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-06-02 20:58:38
Ukraine, China, And Gun Violence, With Condoleezza Rice (20220602-goodfellows-condoleezza-rice.mp3)
As the Russia–Ukraine conflict approaches the 100-day mark, is any kind of resolution in sight? Condoleezza Rice, former US secretary of state and the Hoover Institution’s Tad and Dianne Taube Director, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane for a conversation encompassing the war in Eastern Europe, its impact on US-Sino policy, plus what the scourge of gun violence says about America’s social and cultural divides.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-05-24 19:19:02
War, Peace, and Politics with Victor Davis Hanson (20220524-Goodfellows-Victor-davis-Hanson.mp3)
As the fighting in Ukraine continues, what’s the wisest strategy for the United States—keep sending weapons, help the Ukrainians broaden their operations, or advocate for a peaceful settlement? Victor Davis Hanson, the Hoover Institution’s Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow, joins senior fellows John Cochrane, Niall Ferguson, and H. R. McMaster for a spirited debate regarding the breadth of American involvement overseas, Donald Trump’s sway over election outcomes, plus California’s drought and its impact on Victor’s farm in the San Joaquin Valley.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-05-04 18:21:18
“Ukraine Is Going To End Up Winning” (20220504-GoodFellows-Ben-Hodges.mp3)
As the war in Ukraine passes the 70-day mark, questions abound as to whether Russia will soon escalate the brutality, how far Ukrainian forces intend to take the fight, plus the West’s long-term appetite for supplying arms and aid. Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, former commanding general, US Army Europe, joins Hoover senior fellows H. R. McMaster and John Cochrane to discuss what to expect next in Eastern Europe’s war zone.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-04-28 00:19:32
More Cowbell: BYOT (Bring Your Own Topic) (20220427-byot-goodfellows.mp3)
A “potluck” edition of GoodFellows this time around, with Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane “bringing their own” topics for group discussion. These include an examination of an anticipated tank battle in Ukraine’s Donbas that’s yet to materialize, China’s disastrous “zero COVID” policy, what a post-Ukraine economic and military order might resemble, plus Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter and Florida governor Ron DeSantis’s takedown of Disney and university faculty in the Sunshine State.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-04-13 18:42:22
Soft Landing: Larry Summers On Inflation, Debt, And A Looming Recession (20220413-GoodFellows-Larry-Summers.mp3)
The GoodFellows return to economics this week, coinciding with news of America’s worst inflation in over 40 years. Lawrence Summers, former US Treasury secretary and Harvard University president emeritus, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane to discuss Federal Reserve policy, government spending, and the war in Europe as contributors to America’s economic woes. They also cover the soaring national debt, a possible supply-chain crisis, economic competition with China, plus academic freedom under fire in elite universities.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-04-05 18:35:44
A Soviet Reunion: Michael McFaul On What Putin Wants (20220405-GoodFellows-McFaul.mp3)
The war continues in Ukraine while peace talks go forward in Istanbul – the outcome of both endeavors anyone’s guess. Michael McFaul, a Hoover senior fellow and former U.S. Ambassador to Russia, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster and John Cochrane to discuss the chances of a settlement that’s mutually beneficial to the two warring parties and the West, Vladimir Putin, plus the possibility of hostilities escalating.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-03-23 20:11:25
That’s What Xi (Jinping) Said (20220322-GoodFellows-Pottinger.mp3)
This week, H .R. McMaster mans the moderator chair for Bill Whalen, and our guest is Matt Pottinger, the former deputy national security advisor and current distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution. We cover President Biden’s call with Chinese president Xi Jinping; discuss what lessons China may be taking from Russia’s experience in Ukraine with regards to its own ambitions in Taiwan; and debate what the end game may look like between Russia and Ukraine and when we might expect that to play out.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-03-16 17:48:33
Viewer Mail—Ukraine Edition (20220316-GoodFellows-mailbag.mp3)
This week’s episode is devoted to audience questions—viewers and listeners from over two dozen nations and five continents asking Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane for their thoughts on the war in Ukraine, America’s future involvement in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, China’s plans for Taiwan, plus the impact of Russia’s acts of aggression on oil prices and global economics.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-03-09 23:35:47
Yes or No Fly Zone: Congressman Mike Gallagher on Ukraine Policy and Politics (20220308-gallagher-goodfellows.mp3)
Have “false flags” given way to false hope in Ukraine? Despite the images of bold resistance, will Russian military setbacks eventually lead to a bad outcome for the citizens of that nation? Rep. Mike Gallagher, a member of the Armed Services and Intelligence committees, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane to discuss the latest news in Eastern Europe, US strategic choices, the war’s economic ramifications, plus China’s short-term (peacemaker?) and long-term (absorb Taiwan) aspirations.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-03-04 22:23:13
Vlad the Impaled? (20220305-goodfellows-ferguson.mp3)
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine produces a ripple effect across the globe militarily, diplomatically, and economically. Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster, and John Cochrane discuss a vaunted Russian war machine that’s seemingly slipped a cog, an altered geopolitical landscape, plus the effectiveness of economic sanctions in ending both Russia’s presence in Ukraine and Vladimir Putin’s tsarist ambitions.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-02-28 23:41:57
“One Pill Can Kill” (20220228-GoodFellows-Price.mp3)
Drug overdoses kill more Americans annually than vehicle crashes and gun deaths combined, with the intake of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl rampant across social and economic lines. Retired army major General Barrye Price, president and CEO of the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, joins Hoover senior fellows H. R. McMaster and John Cochrane to discuss how the US can kick its drug habit, plus a few thoughts on Critical Race Theory and better avenues to equality of opportunity as the nation celebrates Black History Month.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-02-19 09:02:21
Free-Speech Archipelago (20220218-UK-Bari-Weiss.mp3)
How to navigate the shoals of cancel culture when the p.c. mob comes your way? Bari Weiss, proprietor of the Common Sense newsletter and “Honestly” podcast, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane to discuss Joe Rogan’s Spotify drama and Substack’s role as journalistic haven, plus her belief that COVID restrictions constitute a “catastrophic and moral crime” upon the younger generation.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-02-02 18:26:28
Black Swans & Pink Flamingos (20220202-zegart-goodfellows.mp3)
As opposed to the fictional exploits of James Bond and Jason Bourne, what are the realities of modern-day intelligence-gathering—and how does the US compete in a new age of cyber-espionage? Amy Zegart, the Hoover Institution’s Morris Arnold and Nona Jean Cox Senior Fellow and author of the newly released Spies, Lies, and Algorithms: The History and Future of American Intelligence, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H .R. McMaster, and John Cochrane for a closer look at intelligence gathering, national security, and geopolitics.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-01-26 18:45:08
Boris Bad Enough? (20220126-sullivan-goodfellows.mp3)
Britain’s party-throwing prime minister may soon be thrown out of office; Ukraine and Russia are seemingly on the brink of an armed conflict that could throw the entire continent into tumult; and how to deter Russian aggression (other than sanctions)? Andrew Sullivan, proprietor of Substack’s Weekly Dish and Dishcast podcast, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane for a closer look at UK politics and European geopolitics.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-01-19 19:19:57
Dodging Bullets—Real And Metaphorical (20220119-cooke-goodfellows.mp3)
As gun sales soar in pandemic-stricken America, the GoodFellows ask, Who’s entitled to possess a firearm? What restrictions should there be? And how would an international right “to keep and bear arms” affect the world order? Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review senior writer and Second Amendment proponent, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane to discuss America’s fascination with firearms.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2022-01-07 18:50:24
Speaking Words of Wisdom (20220107-mailbag-goodfellows.mp3)
The new year begins by opening the viewer mailbag. Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane answer questions from viewers in more than 20 countries. They range from the likelihood of hostilities in Ukraine to academic freedom and the present health of American democracy—plus which of the Beatles they see themselves as, given that one viewer thinks the show is “fab.”
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2021-12-16 19:38:57
The Roaring 2021 – And That’s It (20211216-roaring-2021-goodfellows.mp3)
Inflation arrived, COVID stuck around in its various forms and the world became a lot more complicated in terms of nations edging to the brink of hostilities. Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster and John Cochrane ring out the old and ring in the new, offering their takes on what transpired in 2021 and what to expect in the new year.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2021-12-08 17:28:28
Schmidt Happens (20211130-schmidt-goodfellows.mp3)
A brighter future of better education and scientific breakthroughs? Or a dystopian future of technology-driven chaos? Eric Schmidt, former Google chairman and CEO and coauthor of the newly released The Age Of AI: And Our Human Future, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane to discuss where artificial intelligence is leading mankind and the AI competition between the US and China, plus the feasibility of the “metaverse” and the nexus between work and longevity.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2021-11-30 19:41:01
The Glenn Show (20211130-Loury-goodfellows.mp3)
This week, distinguished visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution and professor of economics at Brown University Glenn Loury joins the GoodFellows to discuss the Rittenhouse verdict and the controversies about race, the media, and guns that arose from the trial and the coverage of the verdict.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2021-11-17 18:52:16
Food for Thought (20211117-GoodFellows-Cowen.mp3)
Cryptocurrency’s future, fossil fuels and alternate energy sources, the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia, a new university devoted to academic freedom emerging deep in the heart of Texas, plus ethnic food as the gateway to a better understanding of economics and immigration: all are part of a multicourse intellectual feast featuring Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane, with their guest, George Mason University economist/blogger/podcaster/foodie Tyler Cowen.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2021-11-09 19:02:26
Ejector Seat (20211109-GoodFellows-Bhattacharya.mp3)
The latest on the pandemic front: kids ages 5–12 receiving vaccines and a federal deadline for private employers to comply with new vaccine rules set for January. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford University School of Medicine professor, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane for a wide-ranging conversation on COVID-19, encompassing mask sensibility, vaccine efficacy, and where Anthony Fauci and public health officials went astray.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2021-11-01 23:03:07
Meta Love Shack (20211101-goodfellows.mp3)
Live from the Hoover Institution’s Fall Retreat: Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane discussing think tanks’ role in today’s world, Washington’s absurdist tax proposals, Facebook’s rebrand, and China’s hypersonic missile test as a Sputnik-like wake-up call—plus one GoodFellow’s affinity for the B-52’s (the band, not the bomber).
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2021-10-20 22:49:57
“Fresh Soldiers” (20211020-goodfellows.mp3)
The late Colin Powell’s story is one of an immigrant’s son who rose to prominence based on a quality public-school education and enrollment in college ROTC. Hoover senior fellows H. R. McMaster, John Cochrane, and guest Caroline Hoxby discuss whether today’s generation stands to benefit the same as Powell’s, what role teachers play, how elite universities can better connect to lower-income students, plus COVID’s effect on the workplace in terms of remote work and concentrated workforces.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2021-10-16 05:01:55
Big Three Summit (20211015-goodfellows.mp3)
The 60th episode of the series includes a first: the three “Good Fellows” mixing it up in person, in the same room, on the grounds of the Hoover Institution. Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane discuss Congress’s handling of the Afghanistan debacle, pushback against COVID vaccine mandates, the present supply-chain “crisis,” and Facebook’s uncertain future—plus one fellow’s deep disdain for the music of Pink Floyd.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2021-10-06 20:45:34
Economists Rule? (20211006-GoodFellows.mp3)
As Washington mulls trillions in “human infrastructure” spending and remains at an impasse over raising the federal debt ceiling, what are the economic consequences? Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson and John Cochrane are joined by economic historian Tyler Goodspeed, Hoover’s Kleinheinz Fellow and a former acting chair of the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers, to discuss the latest DC drama, the present supply-chain crisis and cryptocurrency’s future.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2021-09-29 21:09:17
“Always Be An Autodidact” (20210929-GoodFellows.mp3)
In this week’s episode, we dove into our mailbag of viewers’ letters. The end result: Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane answering questions ranging from the future of US-Sino relations, sovereign debt, vaccine stockpiling, and bitcoin to advice for young students, the fellows’ favorite scholars, and movies related to their respective fields.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2021-09-23 18:48:42
Stable . . . And Stagnant? (20210923-GoodFellows.mp3)
Europe’s future includes a post-Merkel Germany, the fallout over the AUSUK technology deal, a shaky NATO alliance post-Afghanistan, Ukraine’s uncertain outlook, plus Russian control of natural gas supplies. Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster and John Cochrane discuss the mood on the other side of the Atlantic, as well as President Biden’s UN address and China’s financial reckoning.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2021-09-16 00:20:11
As California Goes . . .? (20210915-GoodFellows.mp3)
Pre-COVID, California governor Gavin Newsom touted his state’s policies as “America’s coming attractions.” Does that apply to the Golden State’s recall election—its overtones of vaccine mandates, abortion rights, and championing progressive ideals setting the stage for upcoming elections? Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane discuss California’s outlook and whether the pendulum currently swings left or right in America and around the globe.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2021-09-10 18:51:59
Safer But Not Yet Safe (20210910-GoodFellows.mp3)
The approaching twentieth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the American homeland is a time to remember the fallen and reflect on lessons learned from that terrible day, including America’s readiness for a similar event. Condoleezza Rice, the Tad and Dianne Taube Director of the Hoover Institution and President George W. Bush’s national security advisor at the time of the attacks, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson and John Cochrane to relive the White House’s response that day and shares her concerns about US national security moving forward.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2021-08-25 18:36:25
Papier-Mâché Tiger (20210824-GoodFellows.mp3)
America’s inability to adequately game-plan and execute a clean withdrawal from Afghanistan brings into question the foresight and competency of the nation’s political and foreign policy establishment. Hoover Institution senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane discuss what went wrong in Kabul, the harm done to US prestige, and whether the image of a weakened America at odds with its NATO allies opens the door to Chinese and Russian aggression.
From GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution at 2021-08-11 18:59:52
Advance, Retreat, Resign (20210810-GoodFellows-v2.mp3)
America’s military withdrawal from Afghanistan and the onset of the Delta variant raise questions as to the success of the war on terror and the war on COVID-19. Hoover Institution senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane discuss what all has gone wrong of late on those respective battlefields, plus a few thoughts on the rise and fall of New York governor Andrew Cuomo.