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Fifty years ago, the nation was (gradually, then suddenly) rocked by revelations of dirty tricks in what became known as the Watergate scandal. But it wasn’t the first time that our government deceived its citizens, and it certainly wasn’t the last. From false narratives promoting war to deliberate lies meant to undermine elections, has deception come to be seen as a legit...

Within our lifetimes, AI will, by design, begin to behave unpredictably, thinking and acting in ways which defy human logic. Big tech companies may be inadvertently building and enabling vast arrays of intelligent systems that don't share our motivations, desires, or hopes for the future of humanity. Is it too late to change course and realize a human-centered future for a...

Is the spirit of citizenship still alive in America? Past generations had the draft and epic fights for civil rights. Before that, Tocqueville described how barn raisings and self-government were part of the same civic impulse. But what is citizenship in America today? What should it mean beyond a bundle of rights and benefits? What are the responsibilities, individual and...

In the 2019 Axios Harris Poll 100, which measures the reputations of some of America’s most visible companies, the US government ranked dead last. This poll comes on the heels of the longest government shutdown in our nation’s history, which further tested American’s trust and made many dedicated public servants question their career choice. With only 6 percent of today’s...

America’s heartland is quietly upending traditional notions of how cities work to deliver on their promise of shared prosperity. This means local governments, philanthropy, and the private sector have to work together and work differently. Jennifer Bradley of the Center for Urban Innovation and Rip Rapson of the Kresge Foundation discuss how leaders from Detroit, Fresno, M...

The award-winning economist Mariana Mazzucato has been called the “world’s scariest economist.” Why? She challenges us to reconsider capitalism as it exists today. Focusing on innovation-led, inclusive, and sustainable growth, Mazzucato examines the critical — and misunderstood — role that governments play in fostering innovation. Her latest book, The Value of Everything,...

Trust is fundamental to almost every action, relationship, and transaction in society, but we live in an era when technology is rapidly changing who and how we trust. The trust we used to place in traditional institutions such as governments, banks, media, and charities has hit an all-time low, and trust now flows horizontally through systems and networks that are as likel...

It is no surprise that trust in institutions, be they private, government, nonprofit, or media, has suffered huge declines globally and throughout the United States. According to the 2017 Edelman Trust Barometer, we are suffering a crisis of trust not seen in recent memory. How do we reverse the trends? What can leaders of institutions do to restore faith in institutions?...

What does it take for a team, business, or nonprofit to achieve audacious goals? Venture capitalist John Doerr argues that success has everything to do with how organizations — starting with their leaders — establish thoughtful objectives and transparent and measurable key results. With inside stories from Google to the Gates Foundation, from start-ups to giants, and from...

Philanthropy has long played a critical role in America, filling in where government has left gaps. But by nature, philanthropy has often served the status quo, rather than addressing problems at their roots. As deep inequality and injustice persist, what will it take for philanthropy to help catalyze more fundamental and lasting systems change? As distrust in institutions...

Recent years have seen rising political extremism in both Europe and the United States, from Neo-Nazi rallies in Charlottesville to ISIS jihadists in Brussels. One of the hardest challenges facing counterterrorism officials is what to do with the thousands of extremists who, for a variety of reasons, decide to step back from the battlefield. Hear former extremists discuss...

The CEO of one of the largest aerospace and defense companies explains the new technologies changing the face of the industry. How are they confronting the increased threat of cyber-attacks? What’s it like to run a private corporation with a revenue stream driven by the U.S Government, in a time of increased defense spending? And what are the factors that empowered a woman...

Today, there is global demand for prosperity that is inclusive, sustainable, and fair. Growth without equity is no longer an acceptable outcome. Who is going to lead us into a future where growth and social equity go hand in hand? From the private sector to government to philanthropy and everywhere in between, women are driving change on new terms, with powerful results. J...

We don’t need fewer arguments in American civic life today, we need less stupid ones. That means we need arguments that are more emotionally intelligent and more deeply rooted in our history. It also means recognizing that America is an argument: between liberty and equality, strong national government and local control, color blindness and color-consciousness, pluribus an...

In a time of uncertainty, rapid change, and disruption, who is best positioned to move society forward? Many are losing faith not only in government, but in the institutions of journalism, nonprofits, and higher education. What role should these organs of civil society play in today’s fractured world, and how can people of good will come together to best make a difference?...

George F. Will enjoys a reputation as one of the nation’s most distinguished and widely read columnists. Highly decorated for his writing and commentary, Will is known for his reflections on Western thought and its application to current political life in America. His newest book, The Conservative Sensibility, contrasts the Founders’ vision for America, embracing natural r...

Big philanthropy can contribute to a democratic society by addressing problems that neither government nor the private sector will take on. Yet philanthropic institutions and foundations are institutional oddities within a democracy: exercises of power by the wealthy with little accountability, donor-directed preferences in perpetuity, and generous tax subsidies. What, if...

With Congress mired in partisan gridlock and presidents of both parties relying on the growing use of federal executive power, states are playing an increasingly important role on issues ranging from climate change, immigration, and banking regulation, to health care, data privacy, and the opioid crisis. State attorneys general are leading the charge, alternately teaming u...