Washington Monthly

Can capitalism be saved? | Nick Hanauer and Eric Beinhocker

Billionaires are the apex predators of the modern economy. They tear up governments, buy politicians, and wreck the planet with carbon-spewing yachts. They control the news and what’s in our feeds. They spend $55 million on lavish weddings while the rest of us struggle to buy groceries and gas.That's why entrepreneur Nick Hanauer and Professor Eric Beinhocker argue for a new economic paradigm they call "market humanism." It's not the end of capitalism, nor the end of markets. Instead, what Hanauer and Beinhocker would like to see is the better organization of markets so they produce the outcomes that benefit humanity (i.e., not the production of more billionaires).In this episode, Hanauer and Beinhocker discuss their new treatise, "Markets Built for Humans," and their critique of the current neoliberal paradigm. Host: Anne Kim, Washington MonthlyGuests: Nick Hanauer and Eric Beinhocker

Get ready for the AI crash | Asad Ramzanali

Risky financial maneuvers and mountains of debt mean the AI economy is in trouble, says Vanderbilt's Asad Ramzanali. America needs to get ready. Host: Anne Kim, Senior Editor, Washington MonthlyGuest: Asad Ramzanali, Director of AI and Technology Policy, Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator, Vanderbilt University

Trump’s Not-So-Great Health Care Plan | Edwin Park

President Donald Trump recently unveiled his “Great Healthcare Plan,” vowing to bring down soaring premiums and “fix” the Affordable Care Act. But Trump’s single-page plan is likely to fall far short of his promises, says Edwin Park, a research professor at Georgetown University and a former health policy advisor to the National Economic Council under President Joe Biden. Host: Anne Kim, Senior Editor, Washington Monthly Guest: Edwin Park, Georgetown University Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Trump's Health Care Plan 02:23 Analyzing Drug Pricing Proposals 05:20 Cash Payments vs. Insurance Premiums 10:24 Transparency and Cost Sharing in Health Care 15:34 Republican Proposals and Medicaid Cuts 18:48 Bipartisan Efforts and Future Priorities Find us on Substack: https://washingtonmonthly.substack.com Read the Washington Monthly:www.washingtonmonthly.com

The Republicans Who Could Save Democracy | Andrew Seligsohn and Sarah Bryner

So-called “Constitution-First” Republicans are uncomfortable with Trump’s abuses of power. They could be the key to a pro-democracy coalition that cuts across party and ideology. President Donald Trump’s grip on the Republican party hasseemed absolute. But his consistent disregard for constitutional and societalnorms might be leading to genuine fissures within the GOP. A new report [https://publicagenda.org/wp-content/uploads/Understanding-Evolving-Republican-Attitudes-Towards-Democracy-VF.pdf] by the nonprofit Public Agenda and the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University, based on focus groups and surveys involving more than 4,500 Americans, identifiesan emerging three-part typology within the Republican party: ·      “Trump First” Republicans who are the core of the MAGA base; ·      “Party First” Republicans, whose partisan loyalties outweigh their personal devotion to Trump; and ·     “Constitution First” Republicans, conservativeswho are increasingly uncomfortable with Trump’s behavior in office. These Constitution First Republicans—who make up 34 percent of the party—have the potential to be an effective counterweight to extremism within their party. Host: Anne Kim, Senior Editor, Washington Monthly Guests: Andrew Seligsohn, President, Public Agenda; Sarah Bryner, Director, Public Agenda Chapters 00:00 Introduction to the Research and Its Purpose 02:55 Understanding the GOP Typology 06:39 Contrasting Republican Groups: Trump-First vs. Constitution-First 10:26 Media Consumption and Its Impact on Political Views 14:16 Engagement Strategies for a Healthy Democracy 19:44 Hope for American Democracy: Insights from the Research Read the Washington Monthly: www.washingtonmonthly.com Subscribe to our Substack: https://washingtonmonthly.substack.com

How New Orleans Fixed Its Schools | David Osborne

In 2003, New Orleans public schools were among the worst in the country.Seventy percent of eighth-graders were not proficient in math, 74 percent weren’t proficient in English, and the graduation rate was barely over 50 percent. Moreover, the district was as corrupt as it was incompetent. FBI investigations led to the indictment of two dozen school officials; nearly $70 million in federal funding was missing. New Orleans schools have since achieved a remarkable transformation. In 2023, the high school graduation rate was 79 percent, and 65 percent enrolled in college—nearly double what it was in 2004 and higher than the state average.This success, one expert argues, was powered by the city’s commitment to charter schools. In a new documentary, Turnaround, which premiered at the New Orleans Film Festival last fall, author David Osborne chronicles the rise of New Orleans public schools through its use of charters and argues for the expansion of this model. Osborne is the author of six books, including the 1992 bestseller, Reinventing Government. Host: Anne Kim, Senior Editor, Washington MonthlyGuest: David Osborne, Director, TurnaroundChapters00:00 Introduction to the Documentary and Its Purpose03:18 The State of New Orleans Public Schools Before the Turnaround05:40 The Role of Charter Schools in Education Reform10:18 Leslie Jacobs: A Key Figure in the Reform Movement17:10 Success Stories from Charter Operators21:40 Criticism and Challenges Facing Charter Schools25:42 Differentiating Vouchers from Charter Schools32:33 The Future of Public Education and Charter SchoolsRead the Washington Monthly:www.washingtonmonthly.comSubscribe to the Washington Monthly's PolicyFix playlist:https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLonp7h9esu5j_rTTHx-0Vv_T_AyQqoRaO&si=AANgMFJ6G2_cOUM4