Aspen Ideas to Go

9/11, DHS, and the Rule of Law

After the deadliest terror attacks in United States history occurred the morning of September 11, 2001, sweeping changes to security were put in place. The 9/11 attacks g

The Democratic Reckoning

The current appeal of authoritarian regimes around the world is raising questions about whether democracy has a future. What’s sparking these political backlashes and wha

Consent of the Governed? The Fight for the Franchise

With the midterm elections on the horizon, will voters overcome a fraught electoral battlefield to show up at the polls? Threats to the electoral system such as polarizat

The China Calculus

China’s ups and downs reverberate across the globe, and unpredictability from Washington has been throwing another wrench into the equation. Good diplomacy and an open tr

Unchecked: Is American Democracy Out of Balance?

In an era of executive overreach, Congress and the Supreme Court are becoming less effective at reigning in presidential power. America’s three branches of government–the

What’s Going Right in a World Gone Wrong

With so many problems in the world, it can be easy to skip over what’s actually working. But while progress often isn’t linear, history tells us that a lot of societal is

Strait-jacket: The Future of the Iran War

Since the conflict in Iran began in February, the results have been mixed. It has degraded Iran’s nuclear capacity, reduced its missile arsenal, and sunk its navy. But th

Major Questions, Major Consequences: The Supreme Court’s 2025 Term in Review

In an increasingly polarized nation with a divided Congress, the rulings of the Supreme Court’s latest term were as closely watched as ever. The justices took on decision

The Idea of America

Before this month’s semiquincentennial celebration, the United States’ last milestone anniversary was in 1976–during a difficult period. “The 1970s were a rough time–9 pe

ENCORE: Brené Brown and Kate Crawford on Artificial Intelligence and the Human Spirit

As artificial intelligence becomes more powerful and pervasive, how will it affect our work, our lives, and our ability to connect? Brené Brown, research professor and be

Unexpected Hope: What Can Religious Traditions Offer Today?

The teachings offered by ancient religious texts are timeless and full of wisdom for today’s world. When hope can be difficult to find in contemporary society, sacred tra

ENCORE: Leadership that Lifts Us

Leaders who truly inspire and get the best out of people are few and far between. How do they learn to gain trust and rally a group to action? Steve Kerr has been coachin

The Complexities of Merit

Over the last 50 years or so, the divide between winners and losers in the United States has been deepening, says author and philosopher Michael Sandel. In the era of glo

Remembering Lilly Ledbetter’s Fight for Equal Pay

For those who knew her, Lilly Ledbetter was humble, smart, and determined. For the rest of us, she is a symbol of unequal treatment of women in the workplace. A landmark

ENCORE: Hope is a Muscle with Jason Reynolds & Krista Tippett

What does it look like to hope in the face of tough times and undeniable challenges? The speakers in today’s talk might describe true hope as more than a passive platitud

What Wealth Will Look Like Tomorrow

Volatile political and economic conditions make projections about building future wealth difficult in today’s world. This discussion with economic and investment experts

Roadblock: Have Progressive Politics Slowed Development?

Public exhaustion with top-down decisions about our built environment spurred American progressivists to work successfully over the past several decades to democratize de

Anxious Girls, Lonely Boys

Young people today report feeling sad, anxious, hopeless, and lonely. The youth mental health crisis in the United States has grown in recent years but the adults in kids

As Temperatures Rise, Could Dimming the Sun Be a Solution?

What are the solutions to slowing the harmful effects of climate change? Could a plausible one be to block some sun to cool the planet? It may sound far-fetched but scien

Between Two Americas with Jonathan Capehart

Growing up in New Jersey without any connections to media, it wasn’t obvious that Jonathan Capehart would become the successful journalist and commentator he is today. Bu