Intelligence Squared

Was Edward Snowden Justified?

/ Matthew Clemente / Leave a comment

That was the proposition being debated on the Intelligence Squared podcast.

Moderated by ABC News’ John Donvan, the debate featured Daniel Ellsberg (former U.S. Military Analyst and Pentagon Papers Whistleblower) and Ben Wizner (Legal Adviser to Edward Snowden and ACLU Attorney) who argued for the motion; and Andrew C. McCarthy (former Assistant US Attorney and Contributing Editor, National Review) and Ambassador R. James Woolsey (former CIA Director and Chairman of Foundation for Defense of Democracies), who argued against the motion.

Here is description of the debate:

Has Edward Snowden done the U.S. a great service? There is no doubt that his release of highly classified stolen documents has sparked an important public debate, even forcing what could be a major presidential overhaul of the NSA’s surveillance programs. But have his actions-which include the downloading of an estimated 1.7 million files-tipped off our enemies and endangered national security? Is Snowden a whistleblower, or is he a criminal?

“Don’t Eat Anything With A Face”

/ Matthew Clemente / 2 Comments

That was the proposition being debated on the Intelligence Squared podcast.

Moderated by ABC News’ John Donvan, the debate featured Dr. Neal Barnard (Clinical Researcher & Author, 21-Day Weight Loss Kickstart) and Gene Baur (President and Co-Founder, Farm Sanctuary) who argued for the motion; and Chris Masterjohn (Nutritional Sciences Researcher & Blogger, The Daily Lipid) Joel Salatin (Farmer & Author), who argued against the motion.

Here is description of the debate:

According to a 2009 poll, around 1% of American adults reported being vegan. In 2011 that number rose to 2.5%–more than double, but still dwarfed by the 48% who reported eating meat, fish or poultry at all of their meals. In this country, most of us are blessed with an abundance of food and food choices. So taking into account our health, the environment and ethical concerns, which diet is best? Do vegans have the right idea, or are we meant to be carnivores?

Is Obamacare “Now Beyond Rescue?”

/ Matthew Clemente / Leave a comment

That was the proposition being debated on the Intelligence Squared squared podcast.

Moderated by ABC News’ John Donvan, the debate featured Dr. Scott Gottlieb (Practicing Physician & Former Deputy Commissioner, FDA) and Megan McArdle (Writer and Columnist, Bloomberg View) who argued for the motion; and Jonathan Chait (Political Commentator and Columnist, New York Magazine) Dr. Douglas Kamerow (Family Physician & Former Assistant Surgeon General), who argued against the motion.

Here is description of the debate:

With the disastrous launch of the HealthCare.gov website, critics of the Affordable Care Act, or “Obamacare,” were given more fuel for the fire. Is this political hot potato’s inevitability once again at stake? And is the medical community really on board with the law, or resisting (rewriting?) it from the sidelines?

Is The Second Amendment Antiquated?

/ Matthew Clemente / Leave a comment

That was the proposition being debated on the Intelligence Squared squared podcast.

Moderated by ABC News’ John Donvan, the debate featured Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz and University of Texas Law and Governmet Professor Sanford Levinson, who argued for the motion; and UCLA Law Professor Eugene Volokh and David Kopel– Research Director, Independence Institute & Associate Policy Analyst, Cato Institute, who argued against the motion.

Here is description of the debate:

“A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.” –2nd Amendment

Recent mass shooting tragedies have renewed the national debate over the 2nd Amendment. Gun ownership and homicide rates are higher in the U.S. than in any other developed nation, but gun violence has decreased over the last two decades even as gun ownership may be increasing. Over 200 years have passed since James Madison introduced the Bill of Rights, the country has changed, and so have its guns. Is the right to bear arms now at odds with the common good, or is it as necessary today as it was in 1789?

California v. Texas

/ Matthew Clemente / 1 Comment

Okay, that wasn’t quite the proposition being debated on the Intelligence Squared podcast, but that was essentially what it boiled down to. Instead, the proposition debatined was “For A Better Future, Live In A Red State.”

Moderated by ABC News’ John Donvan, the debate featured Hugh Hewitt–radio host of The Hugh Hewitt Show–and Stephen Moore–editorial board member of The Wall Street, who argued for the motion; and Michael Lind–co-founder of New America Foundation–and Gray Davis–37th Governor of California, who argued against the motion.

Here is description of the debate:

While gridlock and division in Washington make it difficult for either party or ideology to set the policy agenda, single-party government prevails in three-quarters of the states. In 24 states Republicans control the governorship and both houses of the legislature, and in 13 states Democrats enjoy one-party control. Comparing economic growth, education, health care, quality of life and environment, and the strength of civil society, do red or blue states win out?