Uncommon Knowledge by date
Thomas Sowell discusses his newest book, Intellectuals and Race
This week on Uncommon Knowledge, Hoover fellow and author Thomas Sowell discusses his newest book, Intellectuals and Race, which argues that the impact of intellectuals' ideas and crusades on the larger society, both past and present, is the ultimate concern. (38:27)
“The intellectuals have told them [African Americans] that the world is unjust, that other people are keeping them down, that the fact that they don't have what other people have, is somebody else's fault.”
Former Florida governor Jeb Bush offers his outlook on immigration
This week on Uncommon Knowledge, former Florida governor Jeb Bush offers his outlook on immigration into the United States and discusses the policies he believes would improve the issue. (47:16)
“I think we've [the Republican Party] become too reactionary. We have not been as positive, offering concrete proposals that are based on this principle that the future is incredibly bright. If we believed it, we would be advocating across-the-board principles and policies that would advance that notion.”
John O'Sullivan remembers Margaret Thatcher on Uncommon Knowledge
This week on Uncommon Knowledge, journalist and author John O'Sullivan discusses the unique and memorable career of the late Margaret Thatcher, former prime minister of the United Kingdom. (44:12)
“Mrs. Thatcher loved people who argued with her. She loved debate. She loved rhetorical combat. That was all important to her. People who argued with her went up in her estimation and she tended to like them.”
John Taylor discusses the economy on Uncommon Knowledge
This week on Uncommon Knowledge, world-renowned economist and Hoover senior fellow John B. Taylor discusses the US economy: how we got here and what policies we should adopt going forward.
“Quite frankly I think if we don't change the policy we will have this two percent growth, and it is very disappointing. It's hardly enough to have incomes rise over time. The notion of progress and the notion of people being able to move from the lower-income distributions to a higher will go away.” (34:33)
Wisconsin governor Scott Walker
This week on Uncommon Knowledge, Wisconsin governor Scott Walker discusses a wide range of issues facing his state, the nation, and the future of the GOP. (32:53)
“What we've tried to do is take a step back and instead of getting engrossed in the nuances and acronyms here in our nation's capital is instead try to focus on what does this mean to real people? What does this mean to our state? What does this mean to us long term? My goal is to move people from government dependence . . . and find a way to transition them into the private sector.”
US senator Ted Cruz discusses his first two months in office and his vision for the Republican Party
This week on Uncommon Knowledge, US senator Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) discusses his first two months in office and his vision for the Republican Party. (36:13)
“I think the biggest divide is not even a divide between Republicans and Democrats; it's a divide between the people. And [between] the entrenched elites in Washington that are growing their own power. And I think there is an incredible desire to get back to commonsense conservative principles.”
Rupert Murdoch discusses the future of journalism
This week on Uncommon Knowledge, Rupert Murdoch discusses a wide range of topics including the future of journalism and the “new” News Corporation.
James Buckley discusses the challenges we face after the 2012 election
This week on Uncommon Knowledge, author and former Senator James Buckley discusses the transformation of the federal government and the challenges we face after the 2012 election. (28:30)
“It is going to be an extraordinary challenge for [future generations] but there are certain realities that are going to be faced. If the debt goes off on the trajectory it is currently on, in terms of devastating, destroying the economic basis of the country my grandchildren are going to face problems that I never dreamed of and you never dreamed of. Nevertheless insofar as they pay any attention of any advice I might give them it would be you have responsibilities not only to yourself and your family but to the public.”
Bernard Lewis and Norman Podhoretz discuss the Middle East
This week on Uncommon Knowledge, Islam historian Bernard Lewis and Commentary editor Norman Podhoretz discuss the history and future of the Middle East. (56:54) “Deterrents worked with the Soviets and the Chinese because the Soviets were not suicidal and because they knew that, if they launched the first strike, there would be a second strike that would annihilate them. Mutually assured destruction. And mutually assured destruction can’t work in relation to Iran because these are people who you might say are in love with useful death.”
Legal scholar John Yoo and Hollywood writer Rob Long debate the future of the Republican Party.
This week on Uncommon Knowledge, legal scholar John Yoo and Hollywood writer Rob Long strongly disagree about the future of the Republican Party. (41:33)
“If the Republican Party didn’t change at all in the next two years, we would still gain seats in the House and the Senate. But if we actually take advantage of the opportunity and reformulate our principles in a clear way and sell them well, I think we will get a majority in the Senate to combine with our majority in the House.”