Recent Entries
News (100)
For more than two decades the Hoover Institution has been producing Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson, a series hosted by Hoover fellow Peter Robinson as an outlet for political leaders, scholars, journalists, and today’s big thinkers to share their views with the world. Guests have included a host of famous figures, including Paul Ryan, Henry Kissinger, Antonin Scalia, Rupert Murdoch, Newt Gingrich, and Christopher Hitchens, along with Hoover fellows such as Condoleezza Rice and George Shultz. “Uncommon Knowledge takes fascinating, accomplished guests, then sits them down with me to talk about the issues of the day,” says Robinson, an author and former speechwriter for President Reagan. “Unhurried, civil, thoughtful, and informed conversation– that’s what we produce. And there isn’t all that much of it around these days.” The show started life as a television series in 1997 and is now distributed exclusively on the web over a growing network of the largest political websites and channels. To stay tuned for the latest updates on and episodes related to Uncommon Knowledge, follow us on Facebook and Twitter. For more than two decades the Hoover Institution has been producing Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson, a series hosted by Hoover fellow Peter Robinson as an outlet for political leaders, scholars, journalists, and today’s big thinkers to share their views with the world. Guests have included a host of famous figures, including Paul Ryan, Henry Kissinger, Antonin Scalia, Rupert Murdoch, Newt Gingrich, and Christopher Hitchens, along with Hoover fellows such as Condoleezza Rice and George Shultz. “Uncommon Knowledge takes fascinating, accomplished guests, then sits them down with me to talk about the issues of the day,” says Robinson, an author and former speechwriter for President Reagan. “Unhurried, civil, thoughtful, and informed conversation– that’s what we produce. And there isn’t all that much of it around these days.” The show started life as a television series in 1997 and is now distributed exclusively on the web over a growing network of the largest political websites and channels. To stay tuned for the latest updates on and episodes related to Uncommon Knowledge, follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2026-05-29 16:00:00
Five More Questions With Stephen Kotkin: Can America Still Lead The World? (UK_Stephen_Kotkin_2026-05-26_wip02_podcast_8qk2b.mp3)
Stephen Kotkin returns to Uncommon Knowledge for another round of five questions, this time on Iran, China, Ukraine, and the future of the American republic. Kotkin argues that America still possesses unmatched strengths — economic, technological, military, and cultural — but warns that self-inflicted political dysfunction could squander them. Kotkin dissects Trump’s Iran strategy, explains why China wants Taiwan “for free,” argues that Ukraine has already won the sovereignty war against Russia, and delivers a powerful defense of America’s founding ideals at a moment when both authoritarian regimes abroad and political extremism at home are testing them. Sharp, provocative, and deeply informed, this is classic Kotkin: history as a guide to the geopolitical storms of the present. Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge at hoover.org/uk
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2026-05-20 18:45:00
Palmer Luckey Wants America to Win | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (UK_Palmer_Luckey_2026-05-07_wip04_podcast_agzk4.mp3)
Why is America struggling to keep pace with China? Can Silicon Valley help rebuild US military power? And what happens when artificial intelligence transforms warfare? Anduril founder Palmer Luckey joins Peter Robinson to argue that America must rethink everything from defense procurement to manufacturing, innovation, and national identity itself. Luckey explains why he founded Anduril Industries after selling Oculus to Facebook, why he believes the US has become dangerously dependent on China, and how autonomous weapons, AI fighter jets, and drone warfare are reshaping the future battlefield. Luckey also takes aim at Pentagon bureaucracy, Silicon Valley globalism, America’s hollowed-out industrial base, and what he calls the “national divorce” between tech and national security. It’s a provocative discussion about patriotism, innovation, deterrence, and whether the United States still has what it takes to defend itself in a rapidly changing world. Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge at hoover.org/uk
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2026-05-05 21:43:34
Governor Ron DeSantis and The Free State of Florida | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (UK_DeSantis_wip02_podcast_8d777.mp3)
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis joins Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson at the Governor’s Mansion in Tallahassee to explain how Florida transformed from a razor-thin swing state into one of the fastest-growing and most politically distinct states in the country. DeSantis outlines his governing philosophy—pairing conservative policy with a focus on competence—and details the results: rapid population growth, rising revenues without an income tax, debt reduction, and a dramatic political realignment. He reflects on controversial decisions during COVID, his approach to education reform and school choice, and high-profile battles with corporations, universities, and cultural institutions. The discussion also explores broader themes, including the decline of identity politics, the future of the Republican Party, and the enduring relevance of America’s founding principles. Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge at hoover.org/uk
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2026-04-20 16:00:00
Stephen Meyer, John Lennox, and James Tour: Three Scientists on the Origins of Everything | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (UK_Lennox_Myers_Tours_wip03_audio_b5abs.mp3)
Peter Robinson sits down with mathematician John Lennox, philosopher of science Stephen Meyer, and chemist James Tour to examine what modern science really suggests about the origin of the universe and life itself. Moving from the Big Bang and the discovery of cosmic beginnings, to the fine-tuning of the physical constants that make life possible, to the extraordinary complexity and information embedded in DNA, the conversation explores whether these developments point to blind, undirected processes—or to the activity of an intelligent mind. The trio challenges long-held materialist assumptions, revisits classic scientific debates, and reflects on what these questions mean not only for science but also for our understanding of human existence and purpose. Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge at hoover.org/uk
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2026-04-08 18:20:21
Ben Shapiro and The Battle For The Soul of Conservatism | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (UK_Shapiro_wip03_audio_83pou.mp3)
Is conservatism losing its way? Ben Shapiro says yes—and explains why. In this candid interview, Shapiro takes aim at conspiracy culture, fractures inside the right, and the growing distrust of institutions reshaping American politics. From college campuses to foreign policy to the future of media, this is a blunt assessment of where the movement stands—and where it could be headed next. Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge at hoover.org/uk
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2026-03-23 15:00:00
How Israel Fights: Inside the Mossad with Zohar Palti | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (UK_Zohar_Palti_wip03_video_2_bj729.mp3)
Peter Robinson is joined by Zohar Palti — Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Hoover Institution and former head of the Intelligence Directorate in Israel’s Mossad— for a rare, inside account of how Israel thinks about war, deterrence, and survival. From the shock of October 7 to the current campaign against Iran, Palti explains why Israel sees both nuclear capability and ballistic missiles as existential threats—and why waiting is not an option. The conversation explores the logic of preemptive war, the limits of intelligence when it comes to predicting regime change, and the realities of fighting a modern conflict—from missile defense and drone warfare to the vulnerability of global energy routes. Palti also reflects on Israel’s internal challenges, the resilience of its people under constant attack, and the enduring partnership with the United States. A candid, strategic, and deeply personal look at how one of America’s closest allies fights—and why it believes it must. Recorded on March 11, 2026. Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge at hoover.org/uk
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2026-03-02 16:00:00
“They’re Not Like Us”: Michael McFaul on Autocrats vs. Democrats and the Fight for the Twenty-First Century | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (UK_Mike_McFaul_2026-01-27_wip03_podcast_6af6b.mp3)
Former US ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul returns to Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson to discuss his new book, Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America, and the New Global Disorder. McFaul explains why Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and today’s autocratic leaders fundamentally do not think like we do—and why that misunderstanding has shaped some of America’s most consequential foreign-policy mistakes. Drawing on decades of scholarship and firsthand experience inside the Kremlin, McFaul traces Russia’s post–Cold War slide back into autocracy; challenges the claim that NATO expansion caused the rupture with Moscow; and argues that the true threat to authoritarian regimes is democratic example rather than Western military power. He examines the war in Ukraine, its implications for Taiwan, the limits of transactional diplomacy with ideologues like Putin, and the enduring lessons of Cold War statecraft. He also reflects on his unlikely journey from Butte, Montana, to Spaso House —the Moscow home of the U.S. ambassador to Russia— and why he remains convinced that democracy, however fragile, is still the West’s greatest strategic advantage. Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge at hoover.org/uk
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2026-02-17 16:00:00
Basketball in the Last 60 Seconds: Ben Sasse on Mortality, Meaning, and the Future of America | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (UK_Ben_Sasse_2026-02-09_wip02_audio_66joi.mp3)
In December 2025, former US Senator Ben Sasse announced that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer. That’s the primary topic for this far-reaching conversation about mortality, faith, and what truly matters when time is short. Sasse reflects on “redeeming the time”—holding ambition lightly, loving family more deliberately, and resisting the urge to make politics or professional success the center of life. The discussion also covers Sasse’s thoughts on the failures of Congress; the dangers of a fragmented, attention-starved republic; the crisis of higher education; and the moral challenges of technological abundance. Sasse speaks candidly and movingly about regret, forgiveness, prayer, and suffering—arguing that while death is a real enemy, it does not get the final word. Recorded on February 9, 2026. Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge at hoover.org/uk
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2026-01-27 16:00:00
Thomas Sowell on School Choice and the Price Our Children Pay for Bad Ideas | Peter Robinson | Thomas Sowell | Hoover Institution (UK_Tom_Sowell_2025-09-30_wip03_podcast_8am2q.mp3)
Thomas Sowell delivers a sweeping critique of American education, affirmative action, and modern universities, drawing on his own life story—from Harlem classrooms to Ivy League institutions—decades of research, and hard data. Sowell argues that ideology has replaced knowledge and that well-intentioned policies often harm the very people they are meant to help. He explores intersecting issues of race, charter schools, universities, AI, and the future of American institutions—with his usual clarity, candor, and unmistakable intellectual force. Recorded on September 30, 2025. Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge at hoover.org/uk
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2026-01-15 16:00:00
Why Does 2 + 2 = 4? What Math Teaches Us About Deep Reality | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (UK_Berlinski_Klainerman_Meyer_wip03_podcast_8ba2o.mp3)
Is math something humans invent—or something we discover? And why does it describe the universe so uncannily well? In this episode of Uncommon Knowledge, Peter Robinson sits down with mathematicians David Berlinski, Sergiu Klainerman, and Stephen Meyer to explore one of the deepest mysteries in science and philosophy: the reality of mathematics. From the simple certainty that 2 + 2 = 4 to the mind-bending mathematics behind black holes and quantum physics, the conversation asks why abstract numbers—created in the human mind—map so perfectly onto the physical world. Is mathematics purely logical, or does it point to a deeper structure of reality that isn’t material at all? Along the way, the panel explores beauty in science, the “unreasonable effectiveness” of math, and whether the concept of materialism can really explain the world we live in. This wide-ranging discussion blends mathematics, physics, philosophy, and metaphysics into a fascinating conversation about truth, beauty, and the nature of reality itself. Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge at hoover.org/uk
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-12-16 01:14:28
Russian Soul, American Life: A Conversation with Ignat Solzhenitsyn | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (Day_1_-_Ignat_Solzhenitsyn_wip02_podcast_8o5xo.mp3)
Pianist and conductor Ignat Solzhenitsyn reflects on growing up in exile as the son of Nobel laureate Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, moving from Soviet persecution to a quiet childhood in rural Vermont. Ignat recounts how music, faith, and Russian culture sustained his family far from home, how cellist and conductor Mstislav Rostropovich helped set him on a musical path, and what it meant to carry a historic name while forging his own life between Russia and America. The conversation ranges from the moral legacy of his father’s The Gulag Archipelago to the emotional power of Russian music, the meaning of freedom, and the enduring truth that the line between good and evil runs through every human heart. It’s a deeply personal conversation on memory, exile, and the choices that shape a life. The episode concludes with Ignat at the piano performing a section from Bach’s Cantata No. 208, Sheep May Safely Graze. Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge at hoover.org/uk
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-12-05 19:00:00
Teaching Gorbachev Capitalism: Jerome Powell, Condoleezza Rice, and Michael Boskin Discuss George Shultz, the Economist | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (UK_Shultz_lecture_2025-12-01_wip02_podcast_5zvu2.mp3)
For the second edition of the George P. Shultz Memorial Lecture Series, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, Hoover Institution Director Condoleezza Rice, and Hoover Senior Fellow Michael Boskin assemble for a wide-ranging conversation on the economic mind and legacy of George P. Shultz. From his early career as a labor economist at MIT and the University of Chicago to his battles in the White House cabinet over wage and price controls, the closing of the gold window, and inflation that defined the Nixon and Reagan eras, Shultz emerges as a rare figure who fused intellectual rigor with political pragmatism. The panel explores how his beliefs in free markets, personal integrity, and “trust as the coin of the realm” shaped his actions, from collective bargaining and desegregation to global diplomacy—right up to his famous economic tutorials for Mikhail Gorbachev in the Kremlin. This is a timely look at how one man’s economic philosophy helped steer American policy for half a century. Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge at hoover.org/uk
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-11-19 23:30:00
Why the Cold War Still Matters with John Lewis Gaddis | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (UK_John_Gaddis_wip02_podcast_6reef.mp3)
Peter Robinson sits down at Yale University with the “dean of Cold War historians,” John Lewis Gaddis—Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer of Long Telegram author George F. Kennan and one of America’s most influential thinkers on grand strategy. From the origins of the Cold War to the nuclear age, from Vietnam to détente, and from Ronald Reagan to Mikhail Gorbachev, Gaddis offers a masterclass in how nations think, plan, and learn from history. Gaddis explains why students today often have little grasp of the Cold War, how the atomic bomb reshaped global politics, why George Kennan predicted the Soviet collapse decades before it happened, and why détente faltered in the 1970s. He revisits the debates around Vietnam, assesses Ronald Reagan’s strategic instincts, and reflects on how the Cold War ultimately ended. The discussion then turns forward: the future of American grand strategy, the challenges posed by China and Russia today, the tension between promoting democracy and maintaining global stability, and why understanding the past is essential for navigating the 21st century. Along the way, Gaddis shares stories of teaching grand strategy, the influence of the classics, his unexpected path from small-town Texas to Yale, and why he remains optimistic about the humanities—and about America. Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge at hoover.org/uk
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-11-05 19:32:55
Listening to the Law: How Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett Does Her Job | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (UK_Amy_Coney_Barrett_wip03_podcast_bcbne.mp3)
How does the Supreme Court really work—and how does one of its youngest justices balance life, law, and seven children? In this in-depth conversation, Justice Amy Coney Barrett discusses her new book, Listening to the Law: Reflections on the Court and the Constitution. Barrett explains the principles behind originalism, the Court’s reasoning in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, and how the Court reached a decision in landmark cases like Casa de Maryland v. United States and handled a debate over the major questions doctrine. Barrett also opens up about her clerkship with Justice Antonin Scalia, how the Court builds consensus, why stare decisis matters, and how her faith and family life shape her character—but not her judicial reasoning. With the discussion ranging from the Warren Court to the Roberts Court, from Roe v. Wade to Dobbs, this is a very candid and illuminating conversation with a sitting Supreme Court justice. Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge at hoover.org/uk
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-10-21 01:49:56
Thomas Sowell: A Free Man | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (UK_Tom_Sowell_wip057_podcast_7d7ym.mp3)
This special episode of Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson features our most requested guest: Hoover senior fellow and acclaimed economist and author Dr. Thomas Sowell. But rather than discussing Sowell’s many books, this conversation explores the full arc of Sowell’s life — from his childhood, along a dirt road in North Carolina, through his years in Harlem, the Marine Corps, Harvard, and ultimately to his long tenure at the Hoover Institution. Through rich storytelling and candid reflection, Sowell recounts his early struggles and triumphs: growing up in poverty yet surrounded by love, discovering books and ideas in a Harlem library, working his way through school and menial jobs, and eventually earning degrees from Harvard, Columbia, and the University of Chicago. Along the way, he shares how experience and evidence—not ideology—shaped his transformation from a young Marxist to one of America’s most influential champions of free markets and individual responsibility. The interview reveals the wit, humility, and intellectual rigor behind the man who has spent decades challenging conventional wisdom. From tales of family and resilience to his enduring skepticism of government programs, Sowell’s reflections illuminate a life defined by hard work, empirical reasoning, and independence of mind. This is Thomas Sowell’s American story—told in his own words. Recorded on December 19, 2024. Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge at hoover.org/uk
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-10-14 16:00:00
Niall Ferguson, Victor Davis Hanson, and Stephen Kotkin: Three Historians Debate the Era of Trump (UK_Historians_wip03_podcast_1_6i919.mp3)
Niall Ferguson, Victor Davis Hanson, and Stephen Kotkin are all senior fellows at the Hoover Institution, and this is the first time they have appeared together in a public discussion. The topic: Is the United States in decline or on the verge of renewal? Exploring topics including Donald Trump’s second term and the transformation of the Republican Party, relations between China and Taiwan, America’s fiscal crisis, the current state of universities, and the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, this wide-ranging and often passionate conversation dives deep into history, politics, and the fate of Western civilization. Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge at hoover.org/uk
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-10-02 18:27:01
From Havana to Yale: Carlos Eire on Cuba, Becoming an American—and Miracles | Peter Robinson | Uncommon Knowledge (UK_Eire_wip02_podcast_v27snj1.mp3)
Yale historian and memoirist Carlos Eire recounts his extraordinary journey from being an 11-year-old Cuban boy in Operation Peter Pan—sent to the United States to escape Fidel Castro’s regime—to becoming a National Book Award–winning author and chaired professor at Yale. Eire discusses the painful separation from his family, the challenges of assimilation, and the lifelong tension between his Cuban and American identities, themes he explores in his acclaimed memoirs Waiting for Snow in Havana and Learning to Die in Miami. The conversation also delves into Eire’s recent book They Flew: A History of the Impossible, which examines early modern testimonies of levitation, bilocation, and miracles, and how belief, culture, and skepticism shaped their reception. Eire also reflects on Cuban history, the failures of the Castro regime, the broader Hispanic experience in America, and the enduring clash between materialist skepticism and openness to mystery. Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge at hoover.org/uk
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-09-12 15:30:00
The Age of Depopulation With Nicholas Eberstadt | Peter Robinson | Uncommon Knowledge (UK_Nicholas_Eberstadt_2025-05-21_wip03_podcast_17ledx.mp3)
Is humanity running out of people? Demographer and American Enterprise Institute scholar Nicholas Eberstadt joins Peter Robinson to explain why birthrates are collapsing across the globe—from China and Japan to Europe and the United States—and what this means for the future of prosperity, freedom, and global power. Can immigration save America? Will Africa remain the great exception? And is there any way to reverse the “baby bust”? Subscribe to Uncommon Knowledge at hoover.org/uk
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-08-15 19:04:19
From Pearl Harbor to Hiroshima: Two Historians on How America Fought and Won The Pacific in WWII | Peter Robinson | Uncommon Knowledge (UK_Horn_and_Toll_wip04_1905jf.mp3)
August 15th, 2025 is the 80th anniversary of the surrender of the Japanese to Allied Forces in the Pacific, ending World War II . To mark the occasion, Peter Robinson sits down with Jonathan Horn and Ian Toll to examine the most contested decision of World War II: the use of atomic weapons against Japan.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-08-01 16:30:00
The Light Withdrawn: Christopher Cox On How Woodrow Wilson Shaped—And Undermined—American Democracy | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (UK_Chris_Cox_2025-03-27_With_Promo_Audio76b83.mp3)
Was Woodrow Wilson a visionary statesman—or a reactionary bigot? Peter Robinson sits down with historian and former SEC Chairman Christopher Cox to discuss his latest book, Woodrow Wilson: The Light Withdrawn, Cox’s meticulously researched biography of the 28th president of the United States. Together, they explore Wilson’s complicated legacy: his towering achievements as a reformer and wartime leader and his deeply troubling record on race, gender, and civil rights. From his opposition to women’s suffrage and his resegregation of the federal government to his embrace of the film, The Birth of a Nation, Cox reveals how Wilson’s Southern upbringing and elitist worldview shaped both his presidency and progressivism itself. This conversation offers a sobering reappraisal of one of America’s most consequential and controversial leaders—and asks what it means to judge historical figures by the standards of both their time and ours.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-07-08 17:30:09
Inflation Is A Choice: Kevin Warsh on Fixing the Federal Reserve | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (UK_Kevin_Warsh_2025-05-28_wipi02_1ac43k.mp3)
Has the Fed lost its way? Hoover Visiting Fellow Kevin Warsh thinks it has and offers solutions on how to fix it. Kevin Warsh is the Shepard Family Distinguished Visiting Fellow in Economics at the Hoover Institution, a partner at Duquesne Family Office LLC, the investment firm of Stanley Druckenmiller, a former governor at the Federal Reserve, and on the short list of candidates to be the next chairman of the Federal Reserve. In this conversation, Warsh offers a candid, in-depth critique of the US central bank’s recent performance. Drawing on his firsthand experience during the 2008 financial crisis and his continuing work as a macro investor and Hoover Institution fellow, Warsh argues that the Fed has strayed from its core mandate of price stability. He discusses the dangers of inflation, the legacy of quantitative easing, and the institution’s growing entanglement with fiscal policy. Along the way, Warsh revisits the insights of Milton Friedman, Paul Volcker, and Alan Greenspan, warns against institutional complacency, and outlines a vision of reform—not revolution—for the Fed. Despite the turbulence, Warsh remains bullish on America’s economic future, driven by innovation, productivity, and the enduring dynamism of its people. Recorded on May 28, 2025.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-06-17 18:15:00
Justice Alito: Dobbs, A Color Blind Constitution, And The Balancing Of Power | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (UK_Justice_Alito_in_DC_wip032_17zfob.mp3)
In this wide-ranging conversation, Supreme Court Associate Justice Samuel Alito discusses the principles that guide his judicial philosophy. From his majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson to his views on originalism, precedent, and the role of the courts in American democracy, Alito offers a candid defense of the Constitution as a fixed and enduring document. He explores the meaning of the Equal Protection Clause, the limits of judicial power, and the tensions surrounding race-conscious policies. Justice Alito also reflects on the practical realities of the Court and the deeper meaning of constitutional interpretation, speaking with clarity, conviction, and with an eye toward the long view of American jurisprudence. Recorded on June 6, 2025.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-06-06 17:19:00
The Signal in the Noise: Speaker Mike Johnson on Elon, the Big Beautiful Bill, and “Our Chance to Save Our Country” | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (UK_Mike_Johnson_in_DC_2025-06-05_wip02_19s4d6.mp3)
Peter Robinson interviews Speaker of the House Mike Johnson about the contentious passage of the “One, Big, Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping budget reconciliation measure crafted to implement core elements of the Trump agenda. Johnson defends the bill against criticism from Elon Musk and others, arguing it delivers historic tax cuts, $1.6 trillion in savings, and crucial investments in border security and national defense. The conversation delves into the arcane rules of Congress, the realities of leading a narrow majority, and the significance of the DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) effort—driven in part by Musk—to root out waste and fraud. Johnson positions the legislation not only as fiscally responsible but also as a turning point in restoring constitutional governance and federal oversight. Recorded on June 5, 2025.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-05-28 16:30:00
Dr. Jay Goes to Washington: Reforming Science from the Inside at NIH | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (UK_Jay_Bhattacharya_wip02_26wbyv.mp3)
Peter Robinson speaks with Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a former Stanford professor and epidemiologist, and the newly appointed director of the National Institutes of Health. Once labeled a “fringe epidemiologist” by the previous administration at NIH, he now leads the world’s largest biomedical research agency and its $50 billion annual budget. Their conversation explores the structural flaws in America’s public health institutions, including the replication crisis, the culture of scientific risk aversion, and the NIH’s growing failure to address the rise of chronic disease. Dr. Bhattacharya outlines his vision for reform—emphasizing transparency, innovation, and restoring public trust in science. He also addresses the politics of scientific funding, the need for better vaccine evaluation standards, and the rationale behind the administration’s new restrictions on gain-of-function research. It is a candid and thoughtful discussion with a scientist now tasked with reshaping the very system he was once attacked by. Recorded on May 21, 2025.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-04-30 16:55:00
Christopher Buckley: “Steaming to Bamboola” and Other Journeys (UK-Christopher-Buckley.mp3)
In this wide-ranging and richly entertaining conversation, novelist and political satirist Christopher Buckley joins Peter Robinson for a reflection on writing, legacy, friendship, and grace.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-04-15 13:55:00
Thomas Sowell: Facts Against Rhetoric, Capitalism, Culture—and, Yes, the Tariffs | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20250415-UK-Sowell.mp3)
Tune in to this rare appearance by one of America’s most influential thinkers.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-04-01 18:55:41
Empire of Illusion: Frank Dikötter on Why China Isn’t a Superpower (UK_Frank_Dikotter_2025-03-27_wip02_1a0wvk.mp3)
Frank Dikötter is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution who has recently returned to the United States after living in Hong Kong since 2006. In this provocative conversation, Dikötter challenges the prevailing narrative about China’s rise. Drawing from his latest book, China After Mao: The Rise of a Superpower, Dikötter argues that the Chinese Communist Party has masterfully projected the image of a powerful, modern, and economically dominant nation—but says that image is largely a façade. Dikötter contends that far from being a true superpower, China remains fundamentally fragile: an empire held together by repression, propaganda, and paranoia. Despite gleaming cities and impressive-seeming economic statistics often cited by the West, he asserts that much of China’s so-called growth has been built on the backs of an impoverished population, often without its consent or benefit. He further explains how inflated numbers, hollow institutions, and internal contradictions undermine China’s long-term strength. In his view, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) hasn’t lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty—it has merely stepped aside as ordinary people began reclaiming their autonomy after decades of devastation under Mao. Dikötter delves into how the CCP’s fear—of its own citizens, of capitalism, of peaceful evolution—has driven decisions for decades. Dikötter also draws parallels with the Soviet Union and suggests that, like the USSR’s, China’s power is brittle beneath the surface. Xi Jinping, he argues, is not a break from tradition but a continuation of the Party’s long-standing obsession with control. This conversation calls into question not only China’s global ambitions but also how the West has consistently misread the CCP’s intentions and capabilities. Ultimately, Dikötter leaves us with a stark question: Are we overestimating China’s strength—and underestimating its fear? Recorded on March 27, 2025.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-03-18 15:55:00
Conflict: Niall Ferguson on Ukraine, Taiwan, and His War of Words with V. P. Vance (20250318-UK-Niall-Ferguson.mp3)
Niall Ferguson, preeminent historian, discuss the war and ongoing stalemate in Ukraine; the Trump administration’s foreign policy and negotiations with Russia; and the broader geopolitical landscape, including the shift in Europe’s defense posture as the US signals a reduced commitment to NATO.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-02-21 16:55:00
The Great Partnership: How George Shultz Helped Ronald Reagan Win The Cold War (20250221-UK-Rice-Sharansky-Sofaer.mp3)
A panel discussion on the legacy of George Shultz and his contributions to U.S. foreign policy, human rights, and the end of the Cold War.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-01-28 16:55:00
Five Questions for Stephen Kotkin: Advice for the New Administration (and the Rest of Us) (20250128-UK-Stephen-Kotkin.mp3)
Stephen Kotkin, one of the most preeminent historians in the world, explores the reelection of Donald Trump, ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, the rising tensions in the Middle East and more.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-01-14 16:55:00
Marc Andreessen: It’s Morning Again In America (20250114-UK-Marc-Andreessan.mp3)
The interview also delves into the technological and political evolution of Silicon Valley and Andreessen’s own shifting political affiliations from left to right, along with his vision for leveraging technology to drive societal progress, the role of innovation in addressing energy challenges, border security, and national defense.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2025-01-07 16:55:00
The Extinction of Experience: Christine Rosen on the Impact of Technology on Society (20250107-UK-Christine-Rosen.mp3)
This wide-ranging discussion delves into the pervasive impact of technology on human experience, relationships, and societal norms.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-12-06 18:59:04
Part II: Apocalypse Now? Peter Thiel on Ancient Prophecies and Modern Tech (UK_Peter_Thiel_pt_2_2024-10-08_wip02_1680th.mp3)
In this, the second half of our conversation with Peter Thiel, the discussion delves into Thiel’s reflections on ancient prophecies, particularly the concept of the Antichrist as outlined in biblical and literary sources. Drawing from thinkers such as Cardinal Newman and fiction by Vladimir Solovyov and Robert Hugh Benson, Thiel explores how apocalyptic ideas remain relevant today, particularly in light of global challenges like technological risks, nuclear threats, and international governance. The conversation examines the tension between fears of Armageddon and the dangers of a one-world government, emphasizing Thiel’s call for critical thinking, balanced globalization, and the need to integrate historical and contemporary insights into a coherent framework for action. Recorded on October 8th, 2024 RELATED SOURCES Part I: Apocalypse Now? Peter Thiel on Ancient Prophecies and Modern Tech Peter Thiel, Leader Of The Rebel Alliance Make Ticker Tape Parades Great Again: A Conversation With Peter Thiel The World According To Thiel Peter Thiel On “The Straussian Moment”
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-11-26 22:09:27
This Is BIG: Podhoretz, Ferguson, and Olsen Discuss the Meaning of the Election and What’s Next (UK_Andrew_Ferguson_and_Podhoretz_wip02_196s9f.mp3)
Andrew Ferguson is a journalist and author; John Podhoretz is the editor of Commentary magazine and the host of the daily Commentary Magazine Podcast; Henry Olsen is a veteran political analyst, host of the Beyond the Polls podcast, and one of the few people who correctly predicted the outcome of the 2024 presidential election. This discussion hosted by Peter Robinson centers on the shifting political landscape in America, dissecting voter behavior, demographics, cultural changes, the shifting role and influence of legacy and new media, and leadership dynamics in the context of the 2024 election. As the conversation unfolds, the panelists evaluate Donald Trump’s presidency—both past and future—and his potential legacy. They debate his character, leadership style, and policies, weighing his effectiveness in breaking establishment norms against the risks of his divisive rhetoric and unconventional governance. They also discuss the implications of his actions for America’s future, particularly the possibility of a political realignment or a new conservative coalition. The panelists conclude with reflections on national renewal, the importance of moral leadership, and whether America is poised for a period of economic and cultural resurgence similar to the Reagan era. The trio discuss whether the political and cultural shifts in the country indicate a deeper realignment or merely a reaction to current circumstances. Recorded on November 20th, 2024.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-11-21 20:34:05
A Hero Speaks: Natan Sharansky on the US and Israel At This Hour (UK_Natan_Sharansky_wip38nq5x.mp3)
Natan Sharansky is a renowned human rights activist, former Soviet dissident, Israeli politician, and author. In 1977, Sharansky was sentenced to 13 years of hard labor in a Soviet prison for the crime of advocating for human rights and the right for Soviet Jews to emigrate to Israel. After nine years of imprisonment, under harsh conditions and including long periods of solitary confinement, Sharankly was released in 1986 as part of a political prisoner exchange between the Soviet Union and western nations. Upon his release, he emigrated to Israel, where he became a prominent figure in Israeli politics and global Jewish advocacy. In this wide-ranging interview, Sharansky discusses pressing geopolitical issues, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the nature of anti-Semitism on university campuses, and the role of the United States in supporting Israel and the broader free world. He also reflects on the 1977 Oslo Accords, the resilience of Israeli society amid ongoing threats, and the enduring significance of freedom and identity in Sharansky’s life and worldview. Sharansky also examines America’s responsibility as a leader in the free world, the challenges posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and the deeper cultural and spiritual threads that unite the Jewish people. Recorded on November 18, 2024.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-11-18 16:30:00
Apocalypse Now? Peter Thiel on Ancient Prophecies and Modern Tech | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20241118-UK-Peter-Thiel.mp3)
Peter Thiel —the prominent tech entrepreneur and thinker— returns to Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson, to discuss his views on the end times, technology, and societal progress.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-11-06 17:20:29
The Three Historians: Niall Ferguson, Victor Davis Hanson, and Andrew Roberts | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20241106-UK-Ferguson-Hanson-Roberts.mp3)
The most prestigious and popular historians in the world have appeared together in a public forum for the first time to discuss: the recent controversy regarding Winston Churchill’s role in World War II, the false premise of the 1619 Project, the Cold War, World War II, and more.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-10-18 20:39:21
Which Way, America? Condoleezza Rice on America’s Foreign Policy Challenges | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20241018-UK-Condoleezza-Rice.mp3)
Condoleezza Rice joins Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson at a perilous moment for the United States and the world at large, even more dangerous than the Cold War, Rice argues.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-09-03 17:00:00
H.R. McMaster on Why the Trump Administration Was “At War with Ourselves” | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20240902-UK-HR-McMaster-2024-07-10.mp3)
General (ret.) H.R. McMaster, returns to discuss his latest book, At War with Ourselves, in which he candidly recounts his experiences as former national security advisor to President Donald Trump from 2017 to 2018.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-08-20 16:00:00
Are We Alone? Fine-Tuning the Universe, with Barnes, Keating, and Richards | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20240820-UK-Italy-Barnes-Keating-Richards.mp3)
“Are we alone in the universe?” That’s the central question we put to astrophysicist Dr. Luke Barnes, cosmologist Dr. Brian Keating, and philosopher Dr. Jay Richards.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-08-05 16:00:00
Beyond Evolution: Unraveling the Origins of Life with Stephen Meyer and James Tour | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20240805-uk-meyer-tour.mp3)
In this wide-ranging conversation, Stephen Meyer and James Tour contrast biological evolution with the more complex challenge of chemical evolution, where modern science still struggles to explain how nonliving chemicals could give rise to life.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-07-16 17:52:42
The Magician’s Twin, with David Berlinski, Stephen Meyer, and James Orr | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20240712-UK-The-Magicians-Twin-Show2-Italy.mp3)
In his 1943 book The Abolition of Man, C. S. Lewis wrote: “The serious magical endeavor and the serious scientific endeavor are twins: One was sickly and died, the other strong and throve. But they were twins.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-06-25 16:55:00
Doing “The Best Things First,” with Bjorn Lomborg | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20240621-UK-Bjorn-Lomborg.mp3)
Offering cost-benefit analyses of many of the top-line policies of industrial and developing nations, Dr. Lomborg discusses which policies we should prioritize and which we should pay less attention to or end. Lomborg also asserts the benefits of economic growth and says that by spending on technology, we can solve all kinds of big problems, including hunger.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-06-04 17:27:20
A Dangerous Moment, with Douglas Murray | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20240604-UK-Douglas-Murray.mp3)
Author and columnist Douglas Murray has spent much of the past few years reporting from battlefields in Ukraine and Gaza.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-05-15 16:00:00
“The End of Everything,” with Victor Davis Hanson | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20240513-UK-Victor-Davis-Hanson.mp3)
Classicist Victor Davis Hanson is the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and the author of hundreds of articles, book reviews, and newspaper editorials on Greek, agrarian, and military history and essays on contemporary culture.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-05-01 16:30:00
Paul Wolfowitz on the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars and a Life in Foreign Policy | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20240429-UK-Paul-Wolfowitz.mp3)
Currently a fellow at the Hoover Institution, Paul Wolfowitz previously served as director of policy planning at the State Department, as US ambassador to Indonesia, as under secretary of defense for policy, as dean of the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University, as deputy secretary of defense, and as president of the World Bank.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-04-16 19:26:19
The Rise of the Machines: John Etchemendy and Fei-Fei Li on Our AI Future | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20240416-UK-Etchemendy-and-Li.mp3)
John Etchemendy and Fei-Fei Li are the codirectors of Stanford’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI), founded in 2019 to “advance AI research, education, policy and practice to improve the human condition.” In this interview, they delve into the origins of the technology, its promise, and its potential threats. They also discuss what AI should be used for, where it should not be deployed, and why we as a society should—cautiously—embrace it.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-04-02 19:13:55
Andrew Roberts on “Conflict: The Evolution of War from 1945 to Ukraine” | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20240402-UK-Andrew-Roberts.mp3)
Historian Andrew Roberts is the author of more than a dozen major works of history, including Napoleon: A Life, Churchill: Walking with Destiny, and The Last King of America: The Misunderstood Reign of George III. His latest book, coauthored with General David Petraeus, is Conflict: The Evolution of Warfare from 1945 to Ukraine, which provides the basis for this interview. Roberts discusses the differences in the way nations and allied forces prosecute wars in the twentieth century vs. today.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-03-19 18:10:58
Why Bitcoin Will Take Over The World: Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20240319-UK-Brian-Armstrong-2024.mp3)
Despite a tumultuous and volatile marketplace; scandals, arrests, and bankruptcies at rival digital exchanges; and social issues disrupting his own company, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong is a devout believer in digital currencies and the power of the blockchain.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-02-23 19:52:59
Growing Up Segregated: Three Witnesses To The Struggle For Civil Rights, Part 2 | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson, Condoleezza Rice, Mary Bush, and Freeman Hrabowski| Hoover Institution (20240223-UK-Rice-Birmingham-Part-2.mp3)
In this second part of our interview, the three lifelong friends further recount what life was like for Blacks in Jim Crow Alabama and the deep bonds that formed in the Black community at the time in order to support one another and to give the children a good education. They discuss how they overcame the structural racism they experienced as children to achieve incredible successes as adults.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-02-07 21:05:02
Birmingham, 1963: Three Witnesses to the Struggle for Civil Rights | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson, Condoleezza Rice, Mary Bush, and Freeman Hrabowski| Hoover Institution (20240207-UK-Rice-Birmingham-Part-1.mp3)
Mary Bush, Freeman Hrabowski, and Condoleezza Rice grew up and were classmates together in segregated Birmingham, Alabama, in the late 1950s and early ’60s. We reunited them for a conversation in Birmingham’s Westminster Presbyterian Church, where Rice’s father was pastor during that period.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-01-30 20:37:27
Uncommon Knowledge Archive: Oppenheimer’s Edward Teller and Sid Drell on ICBM Defense Systems | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20240130-UK-Edward-Teller.mp3)
With the recent announcement that Oppenheimer, the film directed by Christopher Nolan, had garnered 11 Academy Award nominations, it seemed timely to pull from the archives this rarely seen episode of Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson from 1996 (the third episode ever shot), featuring nuclear physicists and Hoover senior fellows Edward Teller and Sidney Drell.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-01-23 20:04:48
“The Treason Of The Intellectuals,” With Niall Ferguson | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20240123-UK-Niall-Ferguson.mp3)
In this interview, Ferguson discusses his stunning essay “The Treason of the Intellectuals,” published in December 2023 in the Free Press. The essay delves deeply into the changes Ferguson has observed in his 30-year career as an academic, especially over the past 10 years.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2024-01-17 02:04:41
Donald Trump and The Supreme Court | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson, Richard Epstein, and John Yoo | Hoover Institution (20240117-UK-Epstein-Yoo.mp3)
Two questions: What should the Court’s rulings be? What will they be? To answer those questions and more, we turn to our in-house legal experts: NYU Law School’s Richard Epstein and Berkeley Law School’s John Yoo.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2023-12-19 19:12:10
100% Cotton: The Senator from Arkansas On Issues Domestic And Foreign | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20231220-UK-Tom-Cotton.mp3)
In this wide-ranging interview, conducted in the Hugh Scott Room in the US Capitol, Senator Cotton opines on a variety of issues, including the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine and the looming conflict with China over Taiwan.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2023-12-05 19:03:03
The Most Dangerous Moment: A Debate on America’s Role in the Pacific | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20231205-UK-Colby-and-Blumenthal.mp3)
In this wide-ranging conversation, Colby and Blumenthal discuss what the United States and its allies can do practically to deter China’s expansion in the South China Sea and its aggression toward Taiwan.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2023-11-17 19:16:56
Breaking China: Congressman Mike Gallagher on Asian Geopolitics and Beyond | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20231117-UK-Gallagher.mp3)
Not yet 40 years old, Republican congressman Mike Gallagher has been elected four times to the House of Representatives from Wisconsin’s eighth district, which includes Green Bay and, more importantly, Lambeau Field, home of the Packers.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2023-11-08 02:26:05
Pay and Play: Andrew Luck & Condoleezza Rice on the Changing Landscape of College Sports | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20231108-UK-Andrew-Luck-Condoleezza-Rice.mp3)
The past several years have seen consequential changes for NCAA schools and their athletes: the introduction of name, image, and likeness rules; the establishment of the transfer portal; and the realignment of the conferences in which all major college teams and athletes compete—and critically, the distribution of the TV monies the conferences generate.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2023-10-24 00:51:07
The World According to China with Elizabeth Economy | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20231023-UK-Liz-Economy.mp3)
Dr. Economy is the author of half a dozen books, including her most recent volume, The World According to China. She has just returned to Hoover after a two-year leave of absence in Washington, where she served as senior advisor for China to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2023-09-29 23:09:11
More “Social Justice Fallacies,” With Thomas Sowell | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20230913-UK-Tom-Sowell-2.mp3)
Thomas Sowell, age 93, is the Rose and Milton Friedman Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution. With his usual fierceness and feistiness intact, Dr. Sowell returns to Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson for a second round of discussion on his latest book (he’s published over 40 titles over his career), Social Justice Fallacies.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2023-09-15 17:00:00
Consequences Matter: Thomas Sowell on “Social Justice Fallacies” | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20230913-UK-Tom-Sowell.mp3)
Thomas Sowell, age 93, is the Rose and Milton Friedman Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution. With his usual fierceness and feistiness intact, Dr. Sowell returns to Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson to discuss his latest book (he’s published over 40 titles over his career), Social Justice Fallacies.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2023-08-22 20:48:13
Hot Or Not: Steven Koonin Questions Conventional Climate Science And Methodology | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20230821-UK-Steve-Koonin.mp3)
Steven Koonin is one of America’s most distinguished scientists, with decades of experience, including a stint as undersecretary of science at the Department of Energy in the Obama administration.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2023-07-31 19:15:12
Hadley and Rice on “Hand-Off”: Foreign Policy Decisions in the 9/11 Era | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20230731-UK-Hadley-Rice.mp3)
In this wide-ranging conversation, Hadley and Rice reveal the insights and discussions that informed US foreign policy and national security, particularly in the months and years following 9/11, concerning the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Russia. Decisions made during the Bush years would impact America and the world for years to come, presaging many of the issues being faced today in the Middle East and in Ukraine.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2023-07-13 18:48:18
Five More Questions for Stephen Kotkin: Prigozhin Mutiny Edition | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20230713-UK-kotkin.mp3)
Stephen Kotkin is the Kleinheinz Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and one of the foremost experts on Russia, past and present.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2023-06-27 01:24:17
Victor Davis Hanson, Part II: The Contrarian Agrarian | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20230623-UK-VDH-part-2.mp3)
In this second and final installment of our conversation with Senior Fellow Victor Davis Hanson, we cover his writing process for his books and columns, examine how “World War II” has earned that name, and preview his upcoming book, The End of Everything: How War Becomes Armageddon, which offers four cases studies of civilizations that collapsed.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2023-06-12 19:19:41
A Classicist Farmer: The Life and Times of Victor Davis Hanson | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20230612-UK-VDH.mp3)
Over the years, Hoover senior fellow Victor Davis Hanson has graced Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson many times, often referring to his family home and farm outside of Selma, in California’s Central Valley. So for this interview, we decided to go to Selma and see where Hanson grew up and still lives and where several generations of his family—going back to the mid-19th century—have lived and worked the land.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2023-05-18 20:46:12
The Man Who Talked Back: Jay Bhattacharya On the Fight against COVID Lockdowns | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson and Jay Bhattacharya | Hoover Institution (20230518-UK-Bhattacharya.mp3)
Prior to spring 2020, Jay Bhattacharya was a well-respected but little-known epidemiologist and Stanford Medical School professor. But when the COVID pandemic broke out that March, Dr. Bhattacharya was thrust into a leadership role as coauthor of the groundbreaking Santa Clara Study.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2023-05-01 19:33:13
Cold War II: Niall Ferguson on The Emerging Conflict With China | Uncommon Knowledge | Peter Robinson and Niall Ferguson | Hoover Institution (20230501-UK-Niall-Ferguson.mp3)
Niall Ferguson is the Milbank Family Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution and the author of numerous books, including Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe and Kissinger, 1923–1968: The Idealist. In this conversation, we cover the conflict over Taiwan: why it’s a cold war, when it started, how to avoid allowing it to become a hot war, and how to de-escalate and even win it.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2023-04-13 19:03:09
Lone Gunman: The Man Who Knew Lee Harvey Oswald| Peter Robinson and Paul Gregory | Hoover Institution (20230413-uk-Gregory.mp3)
Paul Gregory is a research fellow at the Hoover Institution and the Cullen Professor Emeritus in the Department of Economics at the University of Houston. He’s also the author of a new book, The Oswalds: An Untold Account of Marina and Lee, a fascinating account of the relationship he developed with Marina and Lee Oswald in the summer of 1963, when Gregory was 21 years old.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2023-03-31 01:13:55
Courage and Conviction: Will Inboden on “the Peacemaker,” Part II | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20230331-UK-Will-Imboden-part-2.mp3)
In this second installment, we cover Reagan’s second term, including his quest to negotiate and sign a nuclear arms treaty with Soviet premier Mikhail Gorbachev; the now iconic “tear down this wall” speech (a topic our host has some familiarity with); and finally, the lasting legacy of Ronald Reagan and his place in history.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2023-03-16 17:52:04
The Peacemaker: Ronald Reagan, The Cold War, And The World On The Brink | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20230315-UK-Will-Imboden.mp3)
Will Inboden is a man of many talents: author, academic, and national policy maker. He held positions with the State Department and the National Security Council before returning to academia to serve as executive director of the Clements Center for National Security and associate professor of public policy and history at the LBJ School of Public Affairs.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2023-02-28 19:00:30
Dropping Money From Helicopters: Economist John Cochrane On Inflation | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20230228-UK-John-Cochrane.mp3)
John Cochrane is the Rose-Marie and Jack Anderson Senior Fellow in Economics at the Hoover Institution and the author of a new book, The Fiscal Theory of the Price Level. In this wide-ranging conversation, Cochrane discusses the root causes of inflation, what we can (and can’t) do about it, the economists who influenced his thinking, and how his father inspired him to become an academic.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2023-02-14 20:11:15
A Historian Of The Future: Five More Questions For Stephen Kotkin | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20230214-UK-Stephen-Kotkin.mp3)
Historian Stephen Kotkin became the Kleinheinz Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution in 2022. He taught at Princeton for more than 30 years, and is the author of nine works of history, including the first two volumes of his biography of Joseph Stalin, Paradoxes of Power, 1878 to 1928 and Waiting for Hitler, 1929 to 1941. He is now completing the third and final volume. Since the war in Ukraine broke out a year ago, Kotkin has appeared regularly on Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson to offer his unique perspective on the Russian aggression and answer five questions for us. This is the third installment.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2023-02-01 19:10:28
By Design: Behe, Lennox, and Meyer on the Evidence for a Creator | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20230131-Meyer-Lennox-Behe.mp3)
Michael Behe, John Lennox, and Steven Meyer are three of the leading voices in science and academia on the case for an intelligent designer of the universe and everything in it (including us). In this wide-ranging conversation, they point out the flaws in Darwin’s theory and the increasing amount of evidence uncovered by a rigorous application of the scientific method that points to an intentional design and creation of the physical world.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2023-01-10 18:52:20
Does God Exist? A Conversation with Tom Holland, Stephen Meyer, and Douglas Murray | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20230110-UK-Holland-Murray-Meyer-Italy.mp3)
Does God exist? Something—a being, a power—that’s supernatural? That is, an entity that we’re unable to perceive with our five senses but that’s still real? Ever since the Enlightenment, the knowing, urbane, sophisticated answer has been, “Of course not.” Now a historian, a scientist, and a journalist talk it over and reveal new threads in the debate around science and theism.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-12-09 20:00:22
“Bibi: My Story,” Benjamin Netanyahu On His Life And Times | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20221208-Netanyahu-uk.mp3)
Benjamin Netanyahu is the past and soon to be again prime minister of Israel. In his new book, Bibi: My Story, Netanyahu describes how he went from an Israeli American high school student in Philadelphia to a member of the Israeli Defense Force, detouring along the way to study architecture and get a master’s degree from the MIT Sloan School of Management in 1976.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-12-06 02:30:40
Hello, Cleveland: Troy Senik on Man of Iron | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20221206-senik-cleveland-uk.mp3)
In his new book, Man of Iron, author Troy Senik discusses Cleveland’s improbable rise from obscure lawyer in upstate New York to mayor of Buffalo, governor of New York, and finally, in 1885, president of the United States; followed by his subsequent loss of the White House in the election of 1888 to Benjamin Harrison, and his unprecedented—and as yet unrepeated—return to the Oval Office after beating Harrison in 1892.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-11-29 18:52:31
The Ethos of Economics with John Cogan and Kevin Warsh | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20221128-cogan-warsh-uk.mp3)
On this show, John Cogan and Kevin Warsh discuss their newest white paper, Reinvigorating Economic Governance: Advancing a New Framework for American Prosperity, which is intended to provide a framework to revitalize the governance of economic policy based on our nation’s foundational system of natural liberty.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-11-09 19:43:23
Peter Thiel, Leader Of The Rebel Alliance | Peter Robinson | Hoover Institution (20221109-thiel-UK.mp3)
With his many varied interests in technology, politics, and culture, Peter Thiel has often been described as a Renaissance man. So perhaps it was only fitting that we traveled to Florence, Italy—where the Renaissance originated and thrived for hundreds of years—to speak with him. In this wide-ranging interview, we cover several topics, including his support for candidates across the country who are running as outsiders, why technology has not fulfilled many of its early promises, and why California is still America’s incubator for ideas and growth.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-11-03 01:01:47
Senator Rob Portman: The Exit Interview | Hoover Institution (20221102-uk-portman.mp3)
In this wide-ranging interview conducted a couple of months prior to his leaving office, Senator Portman discusses his legislative record, his accomplishments, his disappointments, and the changes in the culture of Washington DC, that he has witnessed in his 30 years of service. And he hints at what he has planned for the future.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-10-11 19:02:44
Condoleezza Rice on Footballs: Domestic, International, College, and Professional (20221011-rice-UK.mp3)
Current Hoover Institution director and former secretary of state and national security advisor to President George W. Bush, Condoleezza Rice is the only person in the world who can speak knowledgeably about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the threat from China . . . and the Denver Broncos and why college sports must be saved from itself.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-09-23 08:21:43
The Heat Is On: Bjorn Lomborg on the Summer’s Record Heat (20220922-lomborg-UK-lomborg.mp3)
Bjorn Lomborg acknowledges that climate change is here, it’s real, and humans are largely responsible for it. He also says that it is survivable and manageable. In other words, climate change is not the extinction-level event it is often characterized as. Lomborg also discusses practical ways to lower our carbon footprint and emissions.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-09-15 02:02:48
The De-Population Bomb (20220914-UK-Eberstadt.mp3)
In 1970, Stanford professor Paul Ehrlich published a famous book, The Population Bomb, in which he described a disastrous future for humanity: “The battle to feed all of humanity is over. In the 1970s and 1980s hundreds of millions of people will starve to death.” That prediction turned out to be very wrong, and in this interview Nicholas Eberstadt tells how we are in fact heading toward the opposite problem: not enough people.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-09-01 19:57:40
The Antislavery Activist That Time Forgot: Historian Walter Stahr On Salmon P. Chase (20220901-UK-Walter-Stahr.mp3)
Historical biographer Walter Stahr has given us definitive biographies of William H. Seward and Edwin Stanton, two of the ablest and most influential members of President Abraham Lincoln’s cabinet. Earlier this year, Stahr followed those books with the definitive biography of Salmon P. Chase, Treasury secretary under Lincoln and one of the country’s most important antislavery lawyers.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-08-24 02:03:04
The Wrath of Kan: A Soviet-Born Anthropologist on Stalin’s Gulag (20220824-UK-Sergei-Kan.mp3)
Dartmouth College anthropology professor Sergei Kan was born in the Soviet Union just a few months after the death of Stalin.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-08-03 19:59:00
Do Not Defund: Roland Fryer and Rafael Mangual on Crime and Policing in the 21st Century (20220801-UK-Dallas-Mangual-Fryer.mp3)
Together, Roland Fryer and Rafael Mangual take a close look at what is and is not working in policing and law enforcement, in some cases citing statistics and research they have personally conducted. They also make the case that most people, regardless of race or economic status, want safe neighborhoods and cities and explain why the defund movement is not popular among them.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-07-25 21:50:50
Not Buying It: Glenn Loury, Ian Rowe, and Robert Woodson Debunk Myths about the Black Experience in America (20220725-UK-Dallas-Loury-Rowe-Woodson.mp3)
In this wide-ranging conversation, Glenn Loury, Ian Rowe, and Robert Woodson debunk The 1619 Project, advocate for the restoration of the Black family and the Black church, describe their own very different upbringings and formative experiences, and discuss the many reasons why they are optimistic about the future of Black Americans, despite the narrative commonly expressed in the media.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-07-13 03:46:49
Nationalize or Not?: Matthew Continetti and Chris DeMuth Debate the Future of Conservatism (20220712-UK-Continetti-Demuth.mp3)
Matthew Continetti is the author of the new book The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism, an extensively researched and reported history of the conservative movement in America. Chris DeMuth is a former president of the American Enterprise Institute and currently a fellow at the Hudson Institute. In this conversation, DeMuth states that national conservatives (or “NatCons”) “are conservatives who have been mugged by reality. We have come away with a sense of how to recover from the horrors taking America down.” Continetti counters —in a typically conservative argument— that there is no need for NatCons to break away from the traditional movement, since they’re all in the same boat and agree on most of the important issues of the day. The elephant in the room in this debate is former president Donald Trump. What he says and does in the next year or two will be crucial toward determining the future direction of the conservative movement. Continetti and DeMuth agree on that.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-06-23 10:36:55
Yoram Hazony Rediscovers Conservatism (20220622-uk-hazony.mp3)
Yoram Hazony’s new book, Conservatism: A Rediscovery, has set off a passionate debate among intellectuals on the Right to determine what “national conservatism” actually means and why conservatism needs to be rediscovered. We put those questions and many more to Hazony in this interview.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-06-08 02:34:43
More Than “One Damn Thing,” with Bill Barr (20220607-uk-barr.mp3)
In William P. Barr’s new book, One Damn Thing after Another: Memoirs of an Attorney General, Barr goes into great detail about the chaos, the troubles, and the triumph that occurred during the time of his service under President Trump. This wide-ranging interview covers Russiagate, the COVID outbreak, civil unrest, the impeachment, and the 2020 election fallout.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-05-24 03:17:40
Harvey Mansfield Counts His Blessings (20220523-uk-mansfield.mp3)
The political philosopher Harvey Mansfield first arrived at Harvard University in the fall of 1949. He has remained at that august institution of higher education and is still teaching at age 90. In this special edition of Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson, recorded in the Baker Library at Dartmouth College, Dr. Mansfield answers five questions about America today from his perspective of observing and writing about the country for more than half a century.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-04-29 18:49:59
The Importance of Being Ethical, with Jordan Peterson (20220428-uk-jordan.mp3)
By any measure, Dr. Jordan Peterson is the most famous (now former—as is discussed in this interview) Canadian professor of clinical psychology in the world. He’s also a deep thinker and a best-selling author of multiple books, and has amassed a huge following through podcasts, YouTube videos, and public speaking. Today, Jordan Peterson is one of the most influential voices in the “anti-woke” movement and this powerful interview demonstrates why.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-03-31 00:07:42
Are We Dumb about Intelligence? Amy Zegart on the Capabilities of American Intel Gathering (20220330-UK-Zegart.mp3)
Amy Zegart is a fellow at the Hoover Institution, a professor of political science at Stanford University, and the author of a new book, Spies, Lies, and Algorithms: The History and Future of American Intelligence. In this frank conversation, Zegart grades American intelligence-gathering operations, recent and historical, and compares them to their counterparts in China and Russia. Professor Zegart also discusses Silicon Valley’s crucial role in these operations and how they often conflict with the politics of the people running tech companies. Finally, Zegart discusses the crucial ability of the intelligence community to recruit the next generation of spies and analysts, some of whom may be her own students.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-03-15 18:04:28
Bari Weiss on Post-Mainstream Media Life and Her Battles in the Culture Wars (20220315-UK-Bari-Weiss.mp3)
Bari Weiss began her career as a mainstream media prodigy, landing coveted positions at the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times in her early twenties. Her ambition is nothing short of becoming a 21st-century one-woman media company, and based on what she reveals in this interview, she is well on her way to achieving that goal.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-03-04 07:59:00
5 More Questions For Stephen Kotkin: Ukraine Edition (20220304-UK-Stephen-Kotkin.mp3)
Last month, Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson asked Princeton Professor and Hoover Institution Senior Fellow Stephen Kotkin 5 questions, all in the foreign policy and history realm. Since then, the world has changed in ways that were unimaginable just 3 weeks ago. So we asked Professor Kotkin to come back for a second round of questions, this time all dedicated to one topic: the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-02-04 19:00:20
5 Questions For Stephen Kotkin (20220204-UK-Stephen-Kotkin.mp3)
The premise of this show is simple: Peter Robinson poses five questions to Dr. Kotkin: what Xi Jinping, the president of China believes; what Vladimir Putin believes; whether nuclear weapons are a deterrent in the 21st century; the chances of another American renewal; and Kotkin’s rational basis for loving the United States. It’s a fascinating conversation that delves deep into one of the country’s brightest minds.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-01-26 20:17:22
Judging The Justices: Epstein And Yoo On The New Originalist Supreme Court (20220127-UK-Epstein-Yoo.mp3)
In what has now become an annual tradition on Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson, law professors John Yoo and Richard Epstein join the show to opine on a newly minted Supreme Court. For the first time in decades, today’s court is dominated by a majority of originalist justices—justices who believe the Constitution means today just what the document meant when it was ratified more than 200 years ago.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2022-01-11 19:01:52
The Last King of America: Andrew Roberts on King George III (UK-20220111-roberts.mp3)
Andrew Roberts’s new book is The Last King of America: The Misunderstood Reign of George III, a biography of the monarch who led England during the American Revolution and who has been made into something of a caricature by Americans, most recently by his portrayal in the musical Hamilton as a preening, stuck-up (but funny) king of England. In this interview and in his book, Roberts goes to great lengths to deconstruct that distortion and, in the process, give us an extremely nuanced and detailed portrait of the man who created the conditions for America’s independence.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2021-12-16 05:13:09
It Could Have Been Worse: Kim Strassel and Ross Douthat Review 2021 (UK-2021-Year-End-review.mp3)
It’s the last show of the year for Uncommon Knowledge with Peter Robinson, and as is our tradition (for the last two years, anyhow), we’ve invited two of our favorite journalists —Ross Douthat of the New York Times and Kim Strassel of the Wall Street Journal— to look back, discuss, and analyze the year that was. We delve, discuss, and predict politics, the law, COVID, the future of Roe v. Wade, and much more.
From Uncommon Knowledge at 2021-12-14 19:36:01
Make Ticker Tape Parades Great Again: A Conversation With Peter Thiel (20211214-thiel-uk.mp3)
In this wide-ranging conversation, Thiel discusses his politics, his campaign, and the scourge of totalitarian conformism in the United States and abroad; the problem with “following the science”; where President Biden deserved blame and where he does now; and why cryptocurrency may just save the world.