Carnegie Council Podcasts

How has private wealth accumulation by a select few undermined both U.S. democracy and global security? Author and journalist Casey Michel joins "Values & Interests" to discuss his book, "United States of Oligarchy." Drawing on Aristotle's definition of oligarchy and the legacy of the Gilded Age, Michel argues that a small number of wealthy Americans are not only reshaping domestic politics but effectively privatizing U.S. foreign policy. From technology leaders' ties to authoritarian governments to the intersection of private investment and diplomacy, the conversation examines what happens when personal ambitions displace public responsibilities. What distinguishes today's billionaires from earlier generations of American industrialists? And how might reforms to campaign finance, taxation, and financial transparency help restore democratic accountability? Be sure to subscribe to "Carnegie Council" wherever you stream your podcasts. Access all "Values & Interests" episodes: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-podcast

Freedom House CEO Jamie Fly and Carnegie Council President Joel Rosenthal interrogate why democracy is both a moral and a political principle, the regression of freedom globally, and the effects of emerging tech on political processes and institutions. What can be done to counter the rise of authoritarian and anti-democratic forces? Be sure to subscribe to "Carnegie Council" wherever you stream your podcasts. Access all "Values & Interests" episodes: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-podcast

In this "Ethical Article," Kathleen Egan reviews Michael Russell Gunn's "The Brink of War." She discusses issues related to nuclear ethics in the film, which depicts the 1986 Reykjavik Summit between U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. To read this article, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/ethics-on-film-brink-of-war 

What does ethical leadership require in an era of polarization, institutional distrust, and geopolitical upheaval? In this episode of "Values & Interests," Kevin Maloney speaks with Noah Bopp, founder of The School for Ethics and Global Leadership, about educating the next generation for public life. Reflecting on the legacy of 9/11, the decline of civic institutions, and the challenges facing Gen Z, Bopp argues that today's young people have a strong moral compass but often lack the institutions and relationships needed to navigate an increasingly complex world. Drawing on philosophy, history, and decades of experience educating future leaders, Bopp explores the value of pluralism, good-faith dialogue, mentorship, and ethical accountability. How do we teach ethical judgment without prescribing ideology? What responsibilities do educators and institutions have in a fractured public sphere? And how can hope itself become a form of leadership? Be sure to subscribe to "Carnegie Council" wherever you stream your podcasts. Access all "Values & Interests" episodes: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-podcast

Artificial intelligence is increasingly framed as an unstoppable force that will reshape economies, societies, and even human civilization. But what if that narrative is part of the problem? In this episode of "Values & Interests," Virginia Dignum, professor of responsible artificial intelligence at Umeå University and author of "The AI Paradox," traces the interests behind today's AI race, from the economics driving it to the moral questions raised by the Vatican's recent AI document. Dignum challenges the idea that AI is inevitable, arguing that technology does not simply happen to us: It reflects deliberate human decisions about what we build, who benefits, and what kind of future we want to create. Be sure to subscribe to "Carnegie Council" wherever you stream your podcasts. Access all "Values & Interests" episodes: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-podcast