Conversations with Bill Kristol

James Ceaser V: How we select presidential candidates, from the founding period to the primaries and caucuses of today.
Date Added: March 21, 2020

Paul Cantor VIII: On Westerns and their enduring interest in America and around the world.
Date Added: March 7, 2020

Harvey Mansfield XIX: An introduction to the central themes and ideas of Montesquieu's masterwork, "The Spirit of the Laws."
Date Added: February 22, 2020

Jonathan V. Last: On declining fertility rates in America and around the world, and their implications for politics and economics.
Date Added: February 8, 2020

Stan Veuger: The AEI economist assesses Europe's political and economic situation today and presents a qualified defense of the European project.
Date Added: January 25, 2020

N. Gregory Mankiw II: The Harvard economist assesses the American economy today as well as some prominent economic ideas of the Left and the Right.
Date Added: January 11, 2020

Jack Goldsmith III: On Jimmy Hoffa, Goldsmith's relationship with his stepfather (who once was a prime suspect in Hoffa's disappearance), and the rise and fall of the mob
Date Added: January 1, 2020

Mike Murphy IV: On the battle for the Democratic nomination, and Trump's prospects for reelection in 2020.
Date Added: December 13, 2019

Greg Weiner: On the career and political thought of Daniel Patrick Moynihan (1927 - 2003).
Date Added: November 30, 2019

James Capretta: On America's dynamic healthcare system, the cost of care, and proposals for reform.
Date Added: November 16, 2019

Paul Cantor VII: On the Shakespeare authorship question. Who wrote Shakespeare's plays?
Date Added: November 2, 2019

Adam White: On the Supreme Court and the conservative legal movement.
Date Added: October 19, 2019

Steve Hayes: The author and former editor of The Weekly Standard on conservatism today and the Republican Party after Trump.
Date Added: October 5, 2019

Jim VandeHei: The co-founder of Axios and Politico discusses the transformation of our media landscape and its political implications.
Date Added: September 19, 2019

Eric Edelman III: On America’s strategic position in the Post-Post-Cold War era—and the threats we face.
Date Added: September 6, 2019

Harvey Mansfield XVIII: On higher education, free speech, and his "disinvitation" from giving a commencement address at Concordia University.
Date Added: August 24, 2019

James Hankins: On the idea of meritocracy in the Western tradition, and meritocracy as practiced today in America and China.
Date Added: August 10, 2019

Diana Schaub II: Interpreting Lincoln's political thought, including The Lyceum Address and The Gettysburg Address.
Date Added: July 27, 2019

Aaron Friedberg: On the rise of China and the strategic threat to the United States.
Date Added: July 13, 2019

John J. DiIulio Jr.: On big government, then and now—why we expect our government to do so much and so often are dissatisfied.
Date Added: July 1, 2019

Harvey Mansfield XVII: On Alexis de Tocqueville's Democracy in America, the best book ever written on democracy and the best ever written on America.
Date Added: June 15, 2019

Jim Manzi III: On global warming, climate change, and what to do about it.
Date Added: June 1, 2019

Edward Conard II: On how to generate sustained economic growth, innovation, and greater prosperity for the middle class.
Date Added: May 18, 2019

Andrew Ferguson II: On identity politics and its effects on American culture and institutions.
Date Added: May 4, 2019

Paul Cantor VI: On the dark side of the American Dream, as exemplified in popular works such as Huckleberry Finn, The Godfather, and Breaking Bad.
Date Added: April 20, 2019

Robert Kagan: On authoritarianism as a strategic threat to America and the liberal world order.
Date Added: April 6, 2019

Joe Trippi: The veteran political strategist on the Democratic field, the nomination process, and the 2020 elections.
Date Added: March 21, 2019

James Ceaser IV: On James Madison as the first American founder, and the history of the idea of founding.
Date Added: March 9, 2019

Jeff Bergner: Why is today's Congress so dysfunctional? Is the quality of today's legislators worse? What reforms could improve Congress? A veteran of the Hill and executive branch discusses.
Date Added: February 23, 2019

Kristen Soltis Anderson II: What do Millennials and Generation Z think about Trump, the Left, Big Government, and the Republican Party? The author and pollster shares her perspective.
Date Added: February 9, 2019

Michael Strain: The AEI economist on whether America is in decline economically—and why we still must prioritize innovation and growth.
Date Added: January 26, 2019

Stephen Rosen II: On the current geopolitical environment, the threat of a rising China, and the consequences of American disengagement from the world.
Date Added: January 12, 2019

Harvey Mansfield XVI: On what Aristotle can teach us about democracy and the relationship between philosophy and politics.
Date Added: December 29, 2018

Mike Murphy III: On Trump's prospects for reelection, the Democrats, the Republicans, and 2020.  
Date Added: December 15, 2018

Ronald Brownstein III: An analysis of the 2018 midterms and a look ahead to the primaries and general election in 2020.
Date Added: December 1, 2018

Jack Goldsmith II: The Harvard law professor shares his perspective on the threats we face from cyberwar, and how we can counter them.
Date Added: November 17, 2018

Christine Rosen: On the Me Too movement, and men and women in our gender-neutral society.
Date Added: November 3, 2018

Scott Lincicome: A defense of free trade, including the history of US trade agreements and alliances, the U.S.-China relationship, and the politics of trade at home and abroad.
Date Added: October 20, 2018

Paul Cantor V: On great television shows, and the emergence of canons from Greek tragedy to TV.
Date Added: October 6, 2018

Eric Edelman II: On restoring American leadership and the dangerous consequences of American retreat from the world.
Date Added: September 22, 2018

Harvey Mansfield XV: On the wisdom of The Federalist and why it remains the greatest work of American political science.
Date Added: September 8, 2018

Linda Chavez: On American identity, the current immigration debate, and why immigration remains a net benefit to the United States.
Date Added: August 25, 2018

Jim Manzi II: On artificial intelligence, the future of technological innovation, and the implications for our politics.
Date Added: August 11, 2018

Steven F. Hayward II: On Winston Churchill's politics, writings, and what we can learn from Churchill about statesmanship.
Date Added: July 28, 2018

Ronald Brownstein II: On the increasing partisan divide between Red and Blue America, and its implications for the elections in 2018 and 2020.
Date Added: July 14, 2018

Diana Schaub: A discussion of the life and ideas of the abolitionist and political thinker Frederick Douglass.
Date Added: July 2, 2018

Christopher Caldwell II: The Weekly Standard Senior Editor on populism in Europe and the future of the European Union.
Date Added: June 15, 2018

Edward Conard: The businessman and bestselling author on innovation, income inequality, and the need for high-skilled immigration.
Date Added: June 2, 2018

Paul Begala II: The veteran strategist on the prospects for the Democrats in the midterms and in 2020.
Date Added: May 19, 2018

Garry Kasparov V: On the threat posed by dictators to America and other Western countries, and the need for the West to defend itself and its principles.
Date Added: May 5, 2018

Jonah Goldberg IV: The National Review senior editor on nationalism, populism, and identity politics in America.
Date Added: April 21, 2018

Peter Berkowitz II: The Hoover Institution senior fellow on critiques of liberal democracy and why it deserves to be defended.
Date Added: April 7, 2018

James Warren: The veteran reporter and editor shares his perspective on today's media landscape and the problem of fake news.
Date Added: March 26, 2018

Nicholas Eberstadt: The distinguished American Enterprise Institute scholar on the distinctive character of the North Korean regime and the threats it poses.
Date Added: March 9, 2018

Charles Murray III: One of America's preeminent thinkers reflects on the major themes of his work.
Date Added: February 26, 2018

Mike Murphy II: On possible paths forward for the Trump administration and the parties in the midterms and in 2020.
Date Added: February 9, 2018

John Podhoretz: The editor of Commentary discusses movies, TV, and American popular culture.
Date Added: January 27, 2018

Garry Kasparov IV: On the political and social implications of new technologies including artificial intelligence.
Date Added: January 15, 2018

Jack Goldsmith: The Harvard law professor shares his perspective on the state of American institutions during the Trump presidency.
Date Added: January 2, 2018

Harvey Mansfield XIV: On the connection between the thought of Alexis de Tocqueville and Machiavelli.
Date Added: December 18, 2017

Dan Balz: The Washington Post political reporter shares his perspective on the fragmentation of the media, our political parties, and the Trump presidency.
Date Added: December 3, 2017

Kristen Soltis Anderson: The pollster and political analyst shares her perspective on millennials and American politics.
Date Added: November 20, 2017

Jonah Goldberg III: On the Trump presidency and the future of conservatism.
Date Added: November 6, 2017

Spencer Abraham and Vin Weber: On the current political moment, and looking ahead to 2018 and 2020.
Date Added: October 20, 2017

Eric Edelman: On the rise of authoritarianism around the world, and his career in government.
Date Added: October 8, 2017

Paul Cantor IV: On Shakespeare's Rome, including discussions of "Coriolanus," "Julius Caesar," and "Antony and Cleopatra."
Date Added: September 25, 2017

Thomas Donnelly: The AEI scholar discusses challenges to American primacy, and why America must continue to lead.
Date Added: September 11, 2017

Christina Hoff Sommers II: On Google, GamerGate, and challenges to free speech on campus and in corporate America.
Date Added: August 28, 2017

Harvey Mansfield XIII: On Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels as a work of political philosophy, and Swift as a critic of modernity.
Date Added: August 14, 2017

Irwin Stelzer: The economist and political thinker on strengthening and preserving American democratic capitalism.
Date Added: July 31, 2017

Ronald Brownstein: The veteran political journalist on the demographic, geographic, and political challenges facing Democrats and Republicans.
Date Added: July 16, 2017

Mike Murphy: The Republican political strategist discusses the 2016 elections, the first months of Trump's presidency, and looking ahead to 2018 and 2020.
Date Added: July 3, 2017

Martin Feldstein: The Harvard economics professor discusses the 2008 financial crisis and analyzes the current strengths and weaknesses of the U.S. economy.
Date Added: June 19, 2017

Josh Bolten: The chief of staff to George W. Bush reflects on managing the White House in moments of crisis.
Date Added: June 3, 2017

John Walters: The former Drug Czar discusses the nation's opioid epidemic and how to address it.
Date Added: May 22, 2017

Ben Sasse: The Nebraska senator on the state of American society and culture.
Date Added: May 8, 2017

Harvey Mansfield XII: On the Senate's confirmation hearings for Neil Gorsuch and the relationship between politics and law.
Date Added: April 24, 2017

N. Gregory Mankiw: The Harvard professor of economics on the American economy and why we need free markets.
Date Added: April 9, 2017

Christopher Caldwell: The Weekly Standard Senior Editor analyzes the political, economic, and cultural situation in Europe today.
Date Added: March 27, 2017

Vin Weber: On Reaganite internationalism, the election of Donald Trump, and the state of our parties.
Date Added: March 13, 2017

David Axelrod: The 2016 elections, possible paths forward for Democrats & Republicans, & the early days of the Trump presidency.
Date Added: February 27, 2017

Christopher DeMuth and Adam White: On how the president, Congress, & courts might go about reforming the administrative state.
Date Added: February 11, 2017

James Ceaser III: On Donald Trump, our political parties, and the relationship between populism and conservatism.
Date Added: January 29, 2017

Andrew Ferguson: The Weekly Standard senior editor on journalism, politics, culture, and the state of higher education.
Date Added: January 16, 2017

Jonah Goldberg II: On President-elect Donald Trump, the state of liberalism and conservatism in 2017, and American culture.
Date Added: January 3, 2017

Harvey Mansfield XI: On Donald Trump and how political philosophy can inform our understanding of Trump and his election.
Date Added: December 19, 2016

William Galston: On the 2016 elections, the populist moment, Trump's political prospects, and the Democrats.
Date Added: December 5, 2016

Elliott Abrams III: Elliott Abrams and Bill Kristol discuss the death of Fidel Castro and the future of Cuba.
Date Added: December 1, 2016

2016 Post-Election Special: Abraham, Cost & Kristol analyze the elections & opportunities / challenges for the Trump administration.
Date Added: November 20, 2016

Steven F. Hayward: On what made Ronald Reagan a successful president, and why we should study statesmen.
Date Added: November 7, 2016

Clarence Thomas: Personal reflections on twenty-five years on the Court, his jurisprudence, and his education.
Date Added: October 22, 2016

Elliott Abrams II: On foreign policy challenges the next president will face and what the U.S. must to do to restore its global standing.
Date Added: October 10, 2016

Harvey Mansfield X: On crime and mystery novels, P.G. Wodehouse, James Q. Wilson, Winston Churchill, and Jonathan Swift.
Date Added: September 26, 2016

Charles Murray II: A discussion of the decline in American civic life and its effects on the current political moment.
Date Added: September 12, 2016

Mark Blitz II: The professor of political philosophy on American liberal democracy and its basis in individual natural rights.
Date Added: August 29, 2016

Paul Cantor III: On works of literature from different periods and genres that can teach us about liberty.
Date Added: August 15, 2016

2016 State of the Race: Former Sen. Spencer Abraham, The Weekly Standard's Jay Cost, and Bill Kristol analyze the 2016 presidential race.
Date Added: August 3, 2016

Harvey Mansfield IX: On Justice Scalia, and how to think about the role of the Constitution in America.
Date Added: August 1, 2016

Jonah Goldberg: The National Review senior editor on Donald Trump's candidacy and the state of liberalism and conservatism.
Date Added: July 18, 2016

David Petraeus II: On the need for American engagement in the world, our current military capabilities, and his education.
Date Added: July 5, 2016

Garry Kasparov III: On Trump, Sanders, Clinton, Obama and the state of American politics today.
Date Added: June 20, 2016

James Ceaser II: The University of Virginia politics professor on the intellectual roots of contemporary progressivism.
Date Added: June 6, 2016

Peter Thiel II: The business founder and investor on the global economy, the state of technology, and artificial intelligence.
Date Added: May 22, 2016

Harvey Mansfield VIII: On manliness and the political and philosophical debates about our gender-neutral society.
Date Added: May 9, 2016

Garry Kasparov II: On American foreign policy, Russia since the end of the Cold War, and the rule of Vladimir Putin.
Date Added: April 25, 2016

Robert P. George: The distinguished Princeton professor of legal and moral philosophy discusses the major themes of his work.
Date Added: April 11, 2016

Stephen Rosen: The Harvard government professor on today's geopolitical challenges and American leadership in the world.
Date Added: March 28, 2016

Robert D. Putnam: The author of Bowling Alone and Our Kids on the decline of American communities and civic life.
Date Added: March 14, 2016

Garry Kasparov: The chess champion and human rights activist on his life and politics in Soviet Russia.
Date Added: February 29, 2016

2016 State of the Republican Race: Spencer Abraham, Jay Cost, and Bill Kristol analyze the race for the Republican nomination.
Date Added: February 24, 2016

David Petraeus: A discussion of General Petraeus's command in Iraq from 2007-2008 and of his execution of the "surge."
Date Added: February 15, 2016

Rich Lowry: The editor of National Review on conservatism, Donald Trump, and the 2016 race.
Date Added: February 3, 2016

Harvey Mansfield VII: On the ideas behind our political parties, the Democrats and the Republicans.
Date Added: February 1, 2016

Larry Summers II: The Harvard University Professor and President Emeritus on political correctness in our universities.
Date Added: January 18, 2016

Ayaan Hirsi Ali: The best-selling author explains the challenge of radical Islam and what the West should do to combat it.
Date Added: January 4, 2016

Leon Kass: The distinguished AEI scholar and University of Chicago Emeritus Professor on bioethics and the Bible.
Date Added: December 21, 2015

Harvey Mansfield VI: A discussion of Niccolò Machiavelli as the founder of modern philosophy, politics, and economics.
Date Added: December 7, 2015

Larry Summers: The former Treasury Secretary on his experiences in the Clinton and Obama administrations.
Date Added: November 23, 2015

Thomas Donnelly and Gary Schmitt: The AEI scholars discuss the state of the U.S. military and American foreign policy.
Date Added: November 9, 2015

Arthur Brooks: The president of the American Enterprise Institute on the work of AEI and the role of think tanks today.
Date Added: October 26, 2015

Newt Gingrich II: On a dangerous world, reforming our feckless bureaucracy, and America after Barack Obama.
Date Added: September 28, 2015

Paul Cantor II: On American popular culture and what we can learn from the best television shows and movies.
Date Added: October 12, 2015

2016 State of the Race: Former Senator Spencer Abraham and The Weekly Standard's Jay Cost analyze the race for the White House.
Date Added: September 12, 2015

Harvey Mansfield V: On the political philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville and his insights into democracy and America.
Date Added: August 31, 2015

Mitch Daniels: The former governor of Indiana reflects on his career in business, politics, and education.
Date Added: August 17, 2015

Christina Hoff Sommers: The AEI scholar and former philosophy professor on how feminism went awry.
Date Added: August 3, 2015

Samuel Alito: Justice Alito reflects on the Supreme Court, recent controversial cases, and his education.
Date Added: July 20, 2015

David Gelernter: The Yale computer scientist on technology, art, and the dumbing down of America.
Date Added: July 6, 2015

Donald Kagan: The distinguished Yale classical historian discusses the major themes of his teaching and scholarship.
Date Added: June 22, 2015

Peter Berkowitz: The Hoover Institution Senior Fellow on liberal education and our illiberal universities.
Date Added: June 8, 2015

Fred Barnes: The Weekly Standard Executive Editor discusses his career in political journalism.
Date Added: May 25, 2015

Harvey Mansfield IV: On the political philosopher Leo Strauss and the Straussian school of philosophy he founded.
Date Added: May 11, 2015

Gary Bauer: The conservative, pro-family activist and former Reagan advisor on Main Street conservatism.
Date Added: April 27, 2015

Charles Krauthammer: Reflections on a distinguished career in writing and ideas with the author and columnist.
Date Added: April 13, 2015

Jeff Bell: The strategist and former Senate candidate on conservatism and the Republican party, from the 1960s until today.
Date Added: March 30, 2015

Paul Begala: An insider's account of Bill Clinton's 1992 run for the White House and the Clinton presidency.
Date Added: March 16, 2015

James Ceaser: Our party system, Barack Obama, and the case for Constitutional politics with the UVA professor.
Date Added: March 2, 2015

Bill Bennett: The former Education Secretary and Drug Czar on the Book of Virtues, education in America, and the War on Drugs.
Date Added: February 16, 2015

Frederick W. Kagan: How the 2006/07 surge in Iraq was devised, and a look at the U.S. military in Iraq, Afghanistan, and at home.
Date Added: February 2, 2015

Harvey Mansfield III: Party Government, Alexis de Tocqueville, Niccolò Machiavelli, and the limits of science in politics.
Date Added: January 19, 2015

Newt Gingrich: On the 1994 Republican Revolution, his time in Washington, and presidents from Eisenhower to Obama.
Date Added: January 5, 2015

Jim Manzi: The software entrepreneur and author discusses the scientific method in business and government.
Date Added: December 22, 2014

Ruth Wisse: On anti-Semitism, Jewish politics, and why we should read Yiddish literature with the Harvard literature professor.
Date Added: December 8, 2014

Brit Hume: A discussion of the career of Brit Hume, the ascent of Fox News, and the media today.
Date Added: November 25, 2014

2014 Post-Election Special: Former Senator Spencer Abraham and The Weekly Standard's Jay Cost analyze the results.
Date Added: November 11, 2014

Joe Lieberman: Key moments in a distinguished political career, including Gore-Lieberman 2000 and his 2006 Senate race.
Date Added: November 10, 2014

Christopher DeMuth: How ideas meet public policy with the former president of the American Enterprise Institute.
Date Added: October 27, 2014

Dick Cheney: Personal reflections on key moments in his public life, from the Ford years to Bush-Cheney.
Date Added: October 13, 2014

Jack Keane: A discussion of the 2007 Surge in Iraq and current military threats with the retired four-star general.
Date Added: September 29, 2014

Peter Thiel: PayPal, Facebook, Palantir, and the state of technological progress with the business founder and investor.
Date Added: September 15, 2014

Harvey Mansfield II: Conservatism in a liberal democracy, the wisdom of The Federalist, and the consequences of feminism.
Date Added: September 1, 2014

Mark Blitz: A discussion on the great thinkers of the Western tradition, from Plato to Nietzsche, and their relevance today.
Date Added: August 18, 2014

Yuval Levin: A discussion of modern conservatism and today's challenges with the editor of National Affairs. 
Date Added: August 11, 2014

Paul Cantor: A two-part discussion of comedies, tragedies, and what Shakespeare can teach us about politics.
Date Added: July 28, 2014

Charles Murray: Economic and moral well-being in America with one of the nation's preeminent political scientists.
Date Added: July 14, 2014

Amy and Leon Kass: Love, friendship, and the promise of liberal education with the teaching duo married couple.
Date Added: June 30, 2014

Elliott Abrams: An insider's take on public affairs on the hill, at the Department of State, and in the White House.
Date Added: June 30, 2014

Harvey Mansfield: The distinguished Harvard political philosopher discusses the themes which have defined his career.
Date Added: June 30, 2014