Public Affairs (Audio)

America’s contemporary democratic predicament is rooted in its historically incomplete democratization. Born in a pre-democratic era, the constitution’s balancing of majority rule and minority rights created still-unresolved dilemmas. Placing the U.S. in comparative perspective, Daniel Ziblatt, professor of government at Harvard University, offers new perspectives on what should be “beyond the reach of majorities” – and what should not – making the case for a fuller democracy as antidote to the perils of our age. Ziblatt is also director of the Transformations of Democracy group at Berlin’s WZB Social Science Center. He is the author of four books, including "How Democracies Die," co-authored with Steve Levitsky, a New York Times best-seller. His newest book co-authored with Steven Levitsky is entitled "Tyranny of the Minority." Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 39237]

What role do oil companies have in tackling climate change? In this program, Paasha Mahdavi, Assistant Professor of Political Science at UC Santa Barbara, talks about the challenge of getting big oil to take climate change seriously. Mahdavi's research broadly explores comparative environmental politics and the political consequences of natural resource wealth. He is the author of Power Grab: Political Survival Through Extractive Resource Nationalization (Cambridge University Press, 2020), which shows how dictators maintain their grip on power by seizing control of oil, metals, and minerals production. Additional recent work includes the effects of oil-to-cash transfers on civic engagement; the political economy of fossil fuel subsidy reform; and the efficacy of policies to eliminate natural gas flaring. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 39442]

What's the root cause of poverty in America? And how do we fix it? In this discussion, Matthew Desmond, renowned Princeton sociologist and author of "Poverty, by America," talks about why poverty persists in the U.S. with Marc-Andreas Muendler, economic professor at UC San Diego. Desmond argues we can end poverty through grassroots activism and a willingness to target systems that perpetuate it, like local zoning laws. Desmond was catapulted into the national spotlight as a leading authority on modern American poverty when his Pulitzer Prize-winning masterpiece, “Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City,” made its debut in 2016. His work has been supported by the Gates, Horowitz, Ford, JBP, MacArthur, and National Science, Russell Sage, and W.T. Grant Foundations, as well as the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. Series: "Helen Edison Lecture Series" [Public Affairs] [Business] [Show ID: 39385]

Between 1918 and 1921, Ukrainian peasants, townsmen, and soldiers who blamed the Jews for the turmoil of the Russian Revolution murdered over a 100,000 Jews. Aid workers warned that six million Jews were in danger of extermination. Twenty years later, these dire predictions would come true. In his new book “In the Midst of Civilized Europe,” acclaimed historian Jeffrey Veidlinger shows for the first time how this wave of genocidal violence created the conditions for the Holocaust. Veidlinger is Joseph Brodsky Collegiate Professor of History and Judaic Studies at the University of Michigan and the author of multiple prize-winning books, including “The Moscow State Yiddish Theater: Jewish Culture on the Soviet Stage” (2000), “Jewish Public Culture in the Late Russian Empire” (2009), and “In the Shadow of the Shtetl: Small-Town Jewish Life in Soviet Ukraine” (2013). Series: "Library Channel" [Public Affairs] [Humanities] [Show ID: 39078]

Where did the American Dream of hard work equals upward mobility go? And what will it take to bring it back? In this talk, Raj Chetty, director of Opportunity Insights and professor of public economics at Harvard University, focuses on three policy levers to increase upward mobility: reducing racial and economic segregation through more effective affordable housing programs, investing in place-based policies, and strengthening higher education. Chetty gives specific examples of pilot studies and interventions that help inform the design of policy and practice from the federal to state to local levels, including at institutions of higher education such as UC Berkeley. He offers illustrations that can be scaled nationally, providing a pathway to expand opportunities for all. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Public Affairs] [Business] [Show ID: 39239]

As a New York Times columnist known for his fearless brand of political and social commentary, Charles Blow has become a familiar face on TV and a frequent target for conservative critics. His column typically features charts, but it's mainly his words, written and spoken, that continue to spark conversation and debate about social and political issues of the day. As a speaker, Blow fearlessly tackles contentious issues, such as racism, childhood obesity, life in large cities, acceptance of gays in society, and the current administration. Blow has recently spoken on topics such as: income inequality, xenophobia, teen pregnancy, education and the relationship between journalism and justice. In this program, Blow talks with Lorie Hearn, CEO of iNewsource, about the issues facing America. Series: "Helen Edison Lecture Series" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 39287]

Children’s chances of earning more than their parents have fallen from 90% to 50% over the past half century in America. How can we restore the American Dream of upward mobility for all children? In this talk, Raj Chetty, director of Opportunity Insights and professor of public economics at Harvard University, shows how big data from varied sources ranging from anonymized tax records to Facebook social network data is helping us uncover the science of economic opportunity. Among other topics, Chetty discusses how and why children’s chances of climbing the income ladder vary across neighborhoods, the drivers of racial disparities in economic mobility, and the role of social capital as a driver of upward mobility. He presents data on the state of economic opportunity in California in particular to provide a local context to these national patterns. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Public Affairs] [Business] [Show ID: 39238]

Hear firsthand from the women at the forefront of the regenerative food movement. From farmers to winemakers and scientists to chefs, learn why they are so passionate about feeding the planet without depleting the earth. Join us for this enriching discussion on conservation, biodiversity, soil health, carbon reduction, and more — all which can ultimately lead to a healthier food system, food security, and a balanced economy for generations to come. Featuring: Michelle Ciccarelli Lerach Founder Berry Good Food Foundation Bea Alvarez Climate Resilience Specialist FoodShed Small Farm Coop Lily Foster Founder Fenix Farms Lesley Kroupa Policy Specialist Roots of Change and Center for Wellness and Nutrition at the Public Health Institute Kristin Magnussen Winemaker Lechuza Vineyards Elle Mari Director, Urban Food Equity UC San Diego Center for Community Health Keiko Nishikawa Winemaker Santo Tomas Vineyard Mia Vaughnes Founder Good Neighbor Garden Series: "Future Thought Leaders" [Public Affairs] [Agriculture] [Show ID: 39059]

Based on co-authored research, this talk shows how historical framing--drawing parallels between past and present events or actors--can mobilize protesters and keep them politically engaged in the face of unpopular policies and violent repression. Nicaraguan and Chilean activists and citizens saw their presidents and security forces as repeating reviled dictatorships’ behavior, making clear the importance of protesting against them. Using a survey experiment, we also demonstrate that historical framing can remain useful after protests have subsided, increasing Chilean respondents’ support for police reform a year later, though frames must be carefully targeted to be most effective. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 39333]

California’s deepest problems — the skyrocketing cost of housing, the lagging development of clean energy, the traffic choking the state — reflect an inability of Democratic governments to build real things in the real world quickly and affordably. The result is liberal governance that routinely fails to achieve liberal outcomes. New York Times opinion columnist and podcast host Ezra Klein talks with Amy E. Lerman, Chair and Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at UC Berkeley, about how we got here and what can be done about it. Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Public Affairs] [Business] [Show ID: 39236]

This episode of TecHype features Yoel Roth, former Head of Trust and Safety at Twitter. Yoel provides first-hand insights into how one of the largest online platforms in the world built out its trust and safety operations to better ensure its service was helpful, harmless, and aligned with user expectations While at Twitter, Dr. Roth found himself the target of a coordinated harassment campaign on the platform, one instigated by the current CEO Elon Musk. His years of work building out the trust and safety operations had become personal. In this episode, Dr. Roth provides professional and personal perspectives on the real benefits and risks of platform trust and safety efforts, the current state-of-the-art of the field, and where it’s going. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Science] [Show ID: 39285]

UC Davis Professor, Dr. Frank Mitloehner, and CLEAR Center members took to Mexico to attend the Congress Internationale de la Carne in León, Guanajuato, Mexico, where they met and discussed sustainability efforts with the Minister of Agriculture. In addition to meeting with beef cattle producers and others in the livestock industry to share research coming from the UC Davis CLEAR Center, we got to tour feedlots and discuss sustainable practices that are currently being implemented. For example, rotational grazing can improve forage quality and soil carbon sequestration while implementing shade for cattle can improve efficiencies in production, and promote animal welfare. [Public Affairs] [Science] [Show ID: 39161]

Joan Donovan, a leading disinformation researcher specializing in media manipulation, explains how social media platforms have become the new battleground for public persuasion. Co-author of “Meme Wars: The Untold Story of the Online Battles Upending Democracy in America,” Donovan uncovers the ways memes and social media enable fringe groups to lure in new recruits and spread their ideologies. In this episode, Donovan provides expert guidance on technical and policy strategies necessary to mitigate the weaponization of social media. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Science] [Show ID: 39286]

The relationship between the United States and China is the most important, difficult and vital bilateral relationship in the world today. So how does the U.S. make its China policy? How do different administrations address the China policy? And how has it changed over the past two decades? In this discussion, Susan Shirk, professor emeritus at the UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy and founding chair of the 21st Century China Center, talks with Stephen Hadley, former national security advisor to President George W. Bush, about the evolution of U.S.-China relations in recent years. Also joining the discussion is Paul Haenle, who served as the White House China director on the National Security Council staffs of former presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 39227]

TecHype is a groundbreaking series that cuts through the hype around emerging technologies. Each episode debunks misunderstandings around emerging tech, provides insight into benefits and risks, and identifies technical and policy strategies to harness the benefits while mitigating the risks. This episode of TecHype features Prof. Stuart Russell from UC Berkeley, a world-renowned expert in artificial intelligence and co-author (with Peter Norvig) of the standard text in the field. We debunk misunderstandings around what “AI” actually is and break down the benefits and risks of this transformative technology. Prof. Russell provides an expert perspective on the real impacts AI will have in our world, including its potential to provide greater efficiency and effectiveness in a variety of domains and the serious safety, security, and discrimination risks it poses. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Science] [Show ID: 39284]

Sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities across the country have been subjected to increased hate incidents, including verbal harassment, civil rights violations, and physical assaults. Since its founding in March 2020, thousands of incidents have been reported to the Stop AAPI Hate coalition. Manjusha Kulkarni will discuss how Stop AAPI Hate is addressing anti-Asian hate through civil rights enforcement, education equity, community-based safety, and building a movement against systemic racism. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 39081]

Asian/Pacific Islander American communities have a long history of activism in the United States, particularly in response to anti-Asian racism and exclusion. In their struggle for equality and liberation from oppression, AAPI activists have developed social and political movements for immigrant rights, labor rights, educational equity, affordable housing, religious freedom, environmental justice, and more. This panel features several AAPI activists who will discuss how they became activists, their work on the leading edges of activism, and how more people can get involved. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 39080]

Big cities create big opportunities for innovation in design and planning that transform daily life and shapes the future. Their complexity and scale also create unique challenges for integrating design and planning, both in terms of processes and outcomes. In this program, three urbanists - Gil Kelley, Peter Park and John Rahaim - explore what is good public design and how it impacts our neighborhoods. The Big City Design + Planning Symposium is co-sponsored by the UC San Diego Department of Urban Studies and Planning and the Design Lab. Series: "Design at Large" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 39157]

UC Santa Cruz developed a computational tool known as UShER that enables real-time SARS-CoV-2 tracking and helps researchers identify new lineages of the virus. The easy-to-use tool and online server creates an evolutionary tree that helps scientists understand genomic mutations by creating new branches, showing the relationships between virus samples and the order in which mutations happened along various lineages as the virus evolves. Series: "UC Santa Cruz News" [Public Affairs] [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39241]

Researchers deployed a fleet of 100 semi-autonomous vehicles to test whether a new AI-powered cruise control system can help smooth the flow of traffic and improve fuel economy. In a massive traffic experiment, scientists tested whether introducing just a few AI-equipped vehicles to the road can help ease “phantom” jams caused by human behavior and reduce fuel consumption for everyone. (Video: Roxanne Makasdjian, Alan Toth, and CIRCLES Consortium Music: Dyalla - Organic Guitar House) Series: "UC Berkeley News" [Public Affairs] [Science] [Show ID: 39225]