The Campus Exchange

Michael R. Strain is the director of Economic Policy Studies and the Arthur F. Burns Scholar in Political Economy at the American Enterprise Institute, where he studies labor markets, public finance, social policy, and macroeconomics. Before joining AEI, Dr. Strain worked in the Center for Economic Studies at the US Census Bureau and in the macroeconomics research group at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. He holds a PhD in economics from Cornell University.

Dr. Strain is joined by Jake Kirshen of the University of North Carolina to discuss inflation, the national debt, and an economic...

Steven B. Kamin is a senior fellow at AEI, where he studies international macroeconomic and financial issues. Before joining AEI, Dr. Kamin spent 32 years at the Federal Reserve, directing the Division of International Finance, advising on international economic and financial policy matters, and representing the Fed before international groups such as the G7. He also served as a visiting economist at the Bank for International Settlements, a senior economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisers, and a consultant for the World Bank.

Dr. Kamin is joined by Brady Nichols of the University of Michigan to...

Alex Brill is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he studies the impact of tax policy on the US economy as well as the fiscal, economic, and political consequences of tax, budget, health care, retirement security, and trade policies. He also works on health care reform, pharmaceutical spending and drug innovation, and unemployment insurance reform. Brill is the editor of Carbon Tax Policy: A Conservative Dialogue on Pro-Growth Opportunities.

He has testified numerous times before Congress on tax policy, labor markets and unemployment insurance, Social Security reform, fiscal stimulus, the manufacturing sector, and...

Christine Rosen is a senior fellow at AEI, who specializes in society and culture, as well as technology and culture. Dr. Rosen is concurrently a columnist for Commentary Magazine and a co-host of The Commentary Magazine Podcast, as well as a fellow at the University of Virginia’s Institute for Advanced Studies in Culture, and a senior editor in an advisory position at the New Atlantis.

Dr. Rosen is joined by Ella O’Brien of Baylor University to discuss social media, media bias, and free speech.

To learn more about AEI’s work on college campus...

Zach Cooper is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he studies US strategy in Asia, including alliance dynamics and US-China competition. He also teaches at Princeton University and is currently writing a book that explains how militaries change during power shifts. Before joining AEI, Dr. Cooper was the senior fellow for Asian security at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and has served on the National Security Council, as well as the Department of Defense.

Dr. Cooper joins Nathan Lee from Baylor University to discuss deterrence and security in the Indo-Pacific.

Matthew Continetti is the director of domestic policy studies and the inaugural Patrick and Charlene Neal Chair in American Prosperity at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where his work is focused on American political thought and history, with a particular focus on the development of the Republican Party and the American conservative movement.

Matthew joins Joshua Jankelow, a senior at Stanford University and member of AEI’s Collegiate Network, to unpack the responses on college campuses to Hamas’ October 7th massacre and the ensuing Israel-Gaza war.

“What makes the past three weeks so alarming is that t...

Philip Wallach is a senior fellow at AEI, where he studies America’s separation of powers, focusing on regulatory policy issues and the relationship between Congress and the administrative state. Dr. Wallach recently published, Why Congress, where he defends the centrality of Congress in America’s constitutional system, traces the roots of current dysfunction, and suggests how the institution might be restored.

Dr. Wallach joins Shantanu Kamat from the University of California – Berkley to discuss his recent publication, Why Congress, the impact of institutional changes in the House of Representatives, and consequences of open rules in the house...

Kenneth M. Pollack is a senior fellow at AEI, where we works on Middle Eastern political-military affairs, focusing in particular on Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the Gulf countries. He previously served in the CIA, National Security Council, and is currently an adjunct professor at Georgetown University’s Security Studies Program.

Kenneth joins Dillon Prochnicki from Georgetown University to discuss the Israel-Gaza conflict, contextualize the role of Iran, and examine the future of the Middle East.

To learn more about AEI's work on college campuses, visit our website: https://www.aei.org/academic-programs/”

Visi...

John Yoo is a nonresident senior fellow at AEI, Emanuel S. Heller Professor of Law at the University of California, Berkeley, and a visiting fellow at the Hoover Institution. He has worked in all three branches of government, notably as an official in the US Department of Justice. He also served as a law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and US Court of Appeals Judge Laurence Silberman.

John joins Nikhil Agarwal from Claremont McKenna College to discuss the Fourteenth Amendment and well as The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Supreme Court, John’s recent book he...

Chris Stirewalt is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he focuses on American politics, voting trends, public opinion, and the media. He is concurrently a contributing editor and weekly columnist for The Dispatch.

Chris is joined by Sam Raus of the University of Miami for a recap of the first Republican primary debate and discussion about the remainder of the 2024 presidential race.

To learn more about AEI’s work on college campuses, visit our website.

David French is an opinion columnist for the New York Times, specializing in law, culture, religion, and armed conflict.

In this special summer episode, David joins two AEI Summer Honors Academy students, Ethan Wilmot from the University of Michigan and Michaela Ferrario from Cornell University, for a wide-ranging conversation on college free speech culture, religious disengagement, and civil-military relations.

Visit our website to learn more about AEI’s work on college campuses, including our Summer Honors Program.

Brent Orrell is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he works on job training, workforce development, and criminal justice reform. Before joining AEI, he worked in the executive and legislative branches of the US government for over 20 years. 

In our last episode of season 3, Brent joins Elisabeth Nieshalla of Taylor University for a conversation on how to choose a rewarding career, workforce development, and the impact of artificial intelligence on the job market.

Thank you for tuning in this season! To learn more about AEI’s work on college campuses, visit our webs...

Jesús Fernández-Villaverde is the John H. Makin Visiting Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, and a professor of economics at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Fernández-Villaverde’s broad areas of research include macroeconomics, econometrics, and economic history.

Dr. Fernández-Villaverde joins Oscar Ortiz of Abilene Christian University to discuss the ongoing banking crisis, its implications for the US and global economy, and how citizens and businesses can protect themselves.

To learn more about AEI’s work on college campuses, visit our website.

Adam J. White is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he focuses on the Supreme Court and the administrative state. Concurrently, he codirects the Antonin Scalia Law School’s C. Boyden Gray Center for the Study of the Administrative State at George Mason University.

Adam joins Allie Mast of Messiah University for a Supreme Court term roundup. They discussed cases such as Gonzalez v. Google LLC, Twitter Inc. v. Taamneh, and the Biden administration's proposed student loan forgiveness plan, among others.

To learn more about AEI’s work on college campuses, visit our w...

Elisabeth Braw is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in the Foreign Policy and Defense Department, where she focuses on defense against emerging national security challenges such as hybrid and gray-zone threats.

Elisabeth joins Erin Hodgson from Abilene Christian University for a conversation on gray zone aggression and deterrence between the United States, Eastern Europe, and Asia. They also discussed her recent book, The Defender’s Dilemma, and the future of TikTok in America.

To learn more about AEI’s work on college campuses, visit our website.

Naomi Schaefer Riley is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where she focuses on child welfare and foster care issues. Specifically, her work analyzes the role of faith-based, civic, and community organizations in changing the foster care and adoption services landscape.

Naomi joins Nidhi Krishnan from Washington University in St. Louis for a conversation about the child welfare crisis and the foster care system, the evolution of parenting roles, and the quality of life of Native American populations in the United States.

To learn more about AEI’s work on college campuses, visit ou...

Dr. Daniel A. Cox is the director of the Survey Center on American Life and a senior fellow in polling and public opinion at the American Enterprise Institute, where he studies political behavior, religious and demographic change, social capital, and youth politics.

Dr. Cox joins Lily Miller from the University of Notre Dame to discuss the intersection of gender with friendship and dating, workplace sociability, and political identity. They also consider the decline of religious participation in post-pandemic America across factors like age, location, and ideology.

To learn more about AEI's work on college campuses...

Dr. Kevin R. Kosar is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he studies the US Congress, the administrative state, American politics, election reform, and the US Postal Service.

Dr. Kosar is joined by Benjamin Mays of Cedarville University to discuss the current state of play in Congress, the recent messy election of the House Speaker, potential reforms to improve Congress, and his book, Congress Overwhelmed: The Decline in Congressional Capacity and Prospects for Reform.

To learn more about AEI's 2023 Summer Honors Program, click here. The deadline to apply is March 15, 2023.

Mackenzie Eaglen is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where she focuses on defense strategy, defense budgets, and military readiness.

Mackenzie joins Pieter van Wingerden of Claremont McKenna College to discuss the state of the US defense industrial base, America's dwindling weapons stockpiles, and the role of allies in US defense strategy.

To learn more about our 2023 Summer Honors Program, visit https://www.aei.org/summer-honors-program/

James C. Capretta is a senior fellow and holds the Milton Friedman Chair at the American Enterprise Institute, where he studies health care, entitlement programs, and fiscal trends in advanced economies.

Jim joins Arunabh Sinha of Indiana University to discuss how to improve the US healthcare system, conservative approaches to price transparency with procedures and medications, and options to increase access to medical care while managing costs of coverage. They also discussed Jim's recent book, US Health Policy and Market Reforms: An Introduction.

To learn more about our 2023 Summer Honors Program, visit https://www.aei...

Dr. Yuval Levin is the director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at AEI, where he also holds the Beth and Ravenel Curry Chair in Public Policy. The founder and editor of National Affairs, he is also a senior editor at The New Atlantis, a contributing editor at National Review, and a contributing opinion writer at The New York Times.

In our first episode of 2023, Yuval joins Jonny Gartner of Cedarville University to discuss his book, A Time to Build: From Family and Community to Congress and the Campus, How Recommitting to Our Institutions Can Revive the...

Today, we're doing something a little bit different.

In this special holiday episode of the Campus Exchange, Jeff is joined by two members of AEI's Academic Programs staff: Camille Messer and Chris Healey. Listen for a fun discussion of holiday traditions, favorite books and movies, what drew each of them to AEI, and more.

To learn more about our 2023 Summer Honors Program, visit https://www.aei.org/summer-honors-program/

Dr. Kori Schake is a senior fellow and the director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute. Before joining AEI she was the deputy director-general of the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London. She has had a distinguished career in government, working at the US State Department, the US Department of Defense, and the National Security Council at the White House.

Kori joins Caleb Sampson of Hillsdale College to discuss nuclear risks in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the role of nuclear weapons in contemporary conflict, and how the United...

Dr. Oriana Skylar Mastro is a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where she focuses on Chinese military and security policy in the Asia-Pacific and rising power challenges to the international order.

Oriana joins Eli Glickman of the University of California, Berkeley to discuss China's threat to Taiwan, steps the United States and its allies can take, and potential means for both short and long-term deterrence.

To learn more about our 2023 Summer Honors Program, visit https://www.aei.org/summer-honors-program/

Dr. Christopher J. Scalia is a Senior Fellow in the Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies department at the American Enterprise Institute, where he focuses on literature, culture, and higher education.

Chris joins Thomas Gilmore of Ave Maria University to discuss the legacy of his father, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Justice Scalia's friendship with Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, friendship as an antidote to political partisanship, and the Court's legitimacy in light of recent decisions.

To learn more about our 2023 Summer Honors Program, visit https://www.aei.org/summer-honors-program/

Jonah Goldberg is a Senior Fellow and holds the Asness Chair in Applied Liberty at AEI, where he focuses on American politics and culture, media, and both the conservative and progressive movements. He is also the editor-in-chief of The Dispatch, and hosts the podcast “The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg.”

Jonah is joined by Isaac Willour of Grove City College to discuss the peculiar nature of the 2022 midterms, the potential influence of issues like Dobbs and inflation on election outcomes, and Joe Biden’s presidency.

To learn more about our work on college campuses, visit www.aei.or...

Dr. Dalibor Rohac is a Senior Fellow at AEI, where he focuses on European political and economic trends, specifically Central and Eastern Europe, the EU, US-EU relations, and the post-Communist transitions and backsliding of countries in the former Soviet bloc.

Dalibor joins the University of Pittsburgh's Jake Lorenz to discuss the European energy crisis and its sweeping implications.

To learn more about our work on college campuses, visit www.aei.org/academic-programs

The Campus Exchange podcast is thrilled to welcome AEI's President, Robert Doar, in the first episode of our reboot.

Robert Doar is the President of the American Enterprise Institute, where he launched the Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies research division and focuses on poverty studies, welfare, families, children's health, and young adults.

Robert is joined by Nick Tolbert of the University of Alabama to discuss his philosophy concerning welfare reform, drawing on lessons he learned from his father's career in the Civil Rights Movement as well as numerous biographies.

To learn more about...

What is the state of the American media landscape? Are the partisan divisions in cable news increasing? How ought news stations operate election polling desks? And what influence does the media have over midterm and presidential elections?

The American Enterprise Institute’s Chris Stirewalt joins students at Indiana University to discuss the interplay of media and public opinion. As we enter into midterm season, the press will play a large role in public perception of candidates. Stirewalt offers further insight on the proper relationship between a president and the press corps, how an administration crafts a media st...

Under what conditions can employers mandate vaccinations?

Should abortion be a constitutional right? How malleable are our laws amid

changing administrations? And is there a constitutional basis for race-based

university admissions?

AEI’s Adam White is joined by students at the University of Alabama to discuss

some of the biggest Supreme Court cases this term. From examining the history

of gun rights and abortion, to addressing race-based admissions into universities,

government position, and private organizations, White provides a compelling

look at judicial history, mo...

What does it mean to be a good citizen? How is American government meant to function? What does the present ideological state of our parties indicate?

The American Enterprise Institute’s Dr. Jay Cost is joined by students from the University of Georgia to discuss insights that James Madison, Founding Father and America’s fourth president, can offer us about brokering compromise in a divided society. For more on the topic, check out Cost's incisive new biography, James Madison: America's First Politician.

The United States' unprecedented withdrawal from Afghanistan this past summer has left a wake of questions and uncertainty. What does a new Afghanistan mean for Iran and U.S. allies in the region? How did U.S. foreign policy progress to this point and what are the lasting implications of this decision?

AEI's Michael Rubin is joined by students at Stanford University to discuss the American withdrawal from Afghanistan, our evolving mission in the country, and what an American withdrawal means for the region, our allies around the world, and Americans back home. 

Is upward economic mobility attainable for most Americans? Are welfare programs offering increased opportunity? And what policy solutions provide hope for post-pandemic economic recovery?

AEI's Scott Winship and the Atlantic's Annie Lowrey joined the Academic Programs team this summer to discuss American mobility, welfare, and opportunity. From recession and pandemic analysis, to the viability of universal basic income and family-focused welfare programs, Winship and Lowrey offer insight into the future of the American economy.

This panel conversation was part of the 2021 AEI Summer Honors Program lecture series. If you are a student interested in applying...

In an age marked by racial division and political polarization, what visions and ideals can Americans share? When our national history is for many a source of shame rather than pride, how can Americans find a way forward to prosper and thrive—together? And when many thinkers and activists emphasize historical grievance and victimization, who can offer a more positive perspective without ignoring the injustices of the past?

AEI's Academic Programs hosted a recent panel conversation on the 1776 Unites movement, a non-partisan and intellectually diverse alliance of thinkers, writers, and activists offering important answers to these questions by...

What does integrity in political leadership look like? How do we commit to truth in political and social life?

Welcome to the new academic year and Season 2 of the Campus Exchange!

Former Congressman Carlos Curbelo joins the Academic Programs team to share his insights from his time in public service. In the next decade Hispanic politicians, community activists, and business leaders are poised to influence the American political and social landscape. What sort of issues will this generation of leaders focus on? How might they shake up our current understanding of partisanship and polarization? And...

How can we think more broadly about career, family, and achievement? What might a more robust view of achievement offer? What comprises a meaningful vocation and how can we steward our talents to this end?

Dr. Elizabeth Corey, AEI visiting professor 2018-2019, joins students at Baylor University, offering a reorientation of how we can think about a balanced life in the face of conflicting priorities. She speaks on today’s pernicious view of achievement, the good of work, and how both the liberal arts and Christianity can serve as more balanced models. Tune in for a conversation on...

What sorts of personal and professional experiences should people in their twenties prioritize? What should recent graduates expect from life and careers beyond the university?

Amidst this graduation season, AEI’s Charles Murray joins the Academic Programs team to discuss his book "The Curmudgeon's Guide to Getting Ahead: Dos and Don'ts of Right Behavior, Tough Thinking, Clear Writing, and Living a Good Life." From leaving home and trying out different jobs, to taking the clichés about marriage and happiness seriously, Murray offers advice on the pursuit of both a successful career and a happy life.

This episo...

How much has American foreign policy shifted from the Trump administration to the Biden administration? How is president Biden planning to address America’s greatest foreign policy challenges?

In this episode of The Campus Exchange, AEI’s Kori Schake joins students at Elon University for a high-level survey on some of the most consequential foreign policy questions facing the Biden administration. Schake explores the challenges posed by three significant revisionist powers: China, Russia, and Iran. She also underscores the importance of international alliances, and the Biden administration’s shortcomings in strengthening ties with European allies.

Stay t...

What challenges has the pandemic posed for our education system and what are its long term implications on schools across America? AEI resident scholar Rick Hess joins students at Harvard University to discuss K-12 schools during the pandemic. Hess looks at the challenges it has presented for students, parents, and teachers; the effectiveness of hybrid schooling models; and the timeline for school reopenings.

Be sure to stick around until the end of the conversation, where Hess talks about his latest book, “A Search for Common Ground: Conversations About the Toughest Questions in K–12 Education” (Teachers College Press, 2021).

...

Most commentators agree that China is America’s greatest strategic competitor on the international stage. But can we understand our relationship with China through analogies to America’s greatest 20th century struggle, the Cold War?

AEI research fellow Zack Cooper joins students at the University of Miami to explore the history of China’s rise in the world stage, the challenges it poses, and the shortcomings of Cold War comparisons. He also offers advice to students interested in careers in US-China relations.

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