GoodFellows: Conversations from the Hoover Institution

Dark Lights, Big Cities?

Are America’s and the world’s great cities forever changed by COVID-19’s side effects of distanced economies, population exoduses, and accelerated urban decay? Edward Glaeser, a Harvard University urban economist, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane to discuss whether recent metropolitan decline is unique to the current health crisis or indicative of more permanent demographic shifts.

Recorded February 2, 2021

No Hugging, No Kissing

As California struggles to administer COVID vaccines in a timely manner, questions arise as to what demographic should go first and how the nation can better prepare for similar crises. Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford University professor of medicine whose recent research focuses on the epidemiology of COVID-19 as well as an evaluation of policy responses to the epidemic, joins Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane to discuss COVID lessons learned over the past year and a sensible approach moving forward.

Recorded January 26, 2021

Beer or Whiskey?

The Biden administration begins and, with it, questions as to how America’s 46th president will pull off the balancing act of uniting the nation, helping to curtail the pandemic, and finding the proper formula of executive authority versus the legislative process. Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane offer thoughts on the Biden inaugural, the shift in federal COVID policy, and a possible return to Obama-brand foreign policy.

Recorded January 20, 2021 3 PM PT

SNAFU . . . or FUBAR?

Supporters of President Trump storm the US Capitol; Congress mulls how to punish the president for the rioting; Big Tech cracks down on Trump and conservative social media—and we still have a full-blown pandemic. Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane discuss whether the confluence of events qualifies as a snafu (“situation normal, all fouled up”) or a more ominous fubar (“fouled up beyond all recognition”).

Recorded January 12, 2021 1 PM PT

One Nation Under A Groove

In the final episode of the series for 2020, Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane reflect on lessons learned from the pandemic, Donald Trump’s future, the ruinous state of the Golden State, how society will differ in 2021, plus what gets them through their daily routines—a mixtape of UK punk, Philly-brand funk, and the soothing sounds of “Sweet Baby James” Taylor.

Recorded December 8, 2020 4 PM PT

A Tale Of Three Waves

As America enters a period of deeper COVID restrictions on the eve of the holiday season, what will be the effects on families, livelihoods, and civil liberties? Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster and John Cochrane discuss what the future holds for curbing the pandemic, implementing vaccines, and returning to normalcy.

Recorded November 17, 2020 1 PM PT

Two-Year-Olds With Hammers

The likelihood of a change of power in Washington raises the question of how a nascent Biden administration would approach the pandemic, economics, and foreign policy. Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane share their thoughts on what policy detours or reversals our 46th president would undertake.

Recorded November 10, 2020 1 PM PT

The Best Of All Possible Outcomes?

With votes still being counted, this much is apparent: the 2020 election didn’t produce a forecasted “blue wave”; radical “woke” ideas are likely dead on arrival in Washington. Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H.R. McMaster and John Cochrane discuss the message voters sent and the current health of American democracy. Also, Niall Ferguson remembers a fellow Scotsman, Sean Connery, who died last week at the age of 90.

Recorded November 5, 2020 10 AM PT

Ready For Anything

A Trump victory, a Biden victory, or a protracted cliffhanger? Hoover senior fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane discuss Election Day scenarios, issues that went unaddressed in 2020’s presidential contest, plus what lies ahead for both parties in dealing with their restless bases.

Recorded October 30, 2020 5 PM PT

Breaking Up (Big Tech) Is Hard To Do

This week’s antitrust lawsuit against Google poses a pertinent question at the intersection of Big Tech and free speech: from rewriting statutes to dismantling market giants such as Amazon and Facebook, what actions is the federal government willing to take to ensure the interests of Americans? Hoover Senior Fellows Niall Ferguson, H. R. McMaster, and John Cochrane weigh the latest salvo in the ongoing hostilities between Washington and Silicon Valley.

Recorded October 21, 2020 2 PM PT