National Rural Health Association President Pat Schou discusses challenges facing rural health care facilities during the coronavirus pandemic, and author and historian John Cribb discusses the 157th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address.
The House Armed Services Committee held a hearing on the U.S. military mission in Afghanistan. Witnesses included former U.S. ambassador to Afghanistan Ryan Crocker who warned the committee that the recent announcement by the Trump administration to withdraw troops would give up U.S. leverage in the country. Members asked questions on the implication of the drawdown, support for our allies, relations with NATO after this announcement, and advice for the incoming Biden administration.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) joined the Ronald Reagan Institute for a discussion on the direction of the Republican Party. The Republican governor who was serving his second term in a heavily Democratic state talked about how the Republican Party can reach out to the moderate electorate that he believes makes up the majority of the country. "We cannot afford to continue to perpetuate toxic politics," he said while making the case for Republicans to start pushing pragmatic, big-tent politics to appeal to more voters.
Noting the November 22 1963 assassination of President Kennedy with radio communications between the White House and Air Force One and LBJ's first calls as President.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, provided the latest update on the coronavirus pandemic during a University of Virginia School of Medicine virtual event. He addressed the recent surge in coronavirus cases in the U.S. and Europe as well as the COVID-19 vaccines announced by Pfizer and Moderna. Dr. Fauci introduced by University of Virginia Medical School Dean Dr. David Wilkes.
Bill Gates, Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla and Vaccine Confidence Project Director Heidi Larson joined the New York Times for a virtual panel discussion on the coronavirus pandemic and vaccination efforts. The panelists talked about the encouraging results from the vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna, how they would be distributed and how likely the public would be to take them.
Denis McDonough, former chief of staff to President Obama, discussed the incoming Biden administration at a virtual event hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Mr. McDonough outlined President-elect Joe Biden's policy priorities which include coronavirus response, the economy, climate change and racial justice. He also talked about the current presidential transition period and associated national security challenges. Mr. McDonough previously served as the deputy national security adviser during the Obama administration.
University of Maryland, Baltimore County professor William Blake taught a class about New Deal-era politics and the role of public opinion on issues such as court packing and executive power. Professor Blake argued that while many of President Roosevelt's policies had broad support, the general public -- fearing an upset to the balance of power -- swayed Congress to block some of FDR's initiatives, such as increasing the number of Supreme Court justices. This class took place online and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County provided the video.
Northwestern University history professor Carl Smith looked at the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 that left close to a 1/3 of Chicago's residents homeless. This was a virtual event hosted by the Book Stall Bookstore in Winnetka, Illinois.
Economic consultant Nicholas Sargen provided a history of JPMorgan, from its status as a universal bank in the 1980s, to its buyout by Chase in 2000, to the changing of its business model following the 2008 financial crisis. This virtual event was hosted by the Museum of American Finance in New York City.
Neuroscientist Lisa Mosconi argued that the female brain is more susceptible to dementia and Alzheimer's disease than the male brain. She reported that because research has been centered around the male brain, treatment for women has lagged behind. This virtual event was hosted by The Aspen Institute in Washington, DC.
University of Virginia business professor Ed Freeman discussed the focus on responsibility and ethics that he says unites influential businesses. This virtual event was hosted by the Museum of American Finance in New York City.
Jeffrey Sutton, U.S. Court of Appeals Judge for the Sixth Circuit and former law clerk to Justice Antonin Scalia, discussed a collection of the late Supreme Court Justice's writings.
Jordan Ritter Conn, a staff writer for the Ringer, detailed the journey of two Syrian brothers, one who immigrated to the United States and the other who remained in Syria during that country's civil war. This was a virtual event hosted by the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville.
Authors Sarah Smarsh, Thomas Burton, and Wayne Winkler reflected on life in Appalachia. This was a virtual event hosted by the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville
Authors Wanda Lloyd and David Pilgrim discussed the Jim Crow era in the South. This was a virtual event hosted by the Southern Festival of Books in Nashville.
Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster (Ret.), former National Security Adviser to President Trump, talked about the foreign policy and national security challenges facing the United States. This virtual event was hosted by the McCain Institute at Arizona State University.
