In early July, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo launched the Commission on Unalienable Rights. “The commission’s mission,” he explained in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, “isn’t to discover new principles but to ground our discussion of human rights in America’s founding principles.” The announcement of the panel’s existence and mandate immediately triggered a barrage of skepticism, indignation, and anger. The misunderstandings that the criticisms embody underscore the urgency of the commission’s work.

Rebecca Friedrichs, the lead plaintiff in the Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association case that ended in a four-four split in the Supreme Court, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss her book, “Standing Up to Goliath,” and how teachers feel about national unions.

Hoover Institution fellow Andrew Roberts talks about leadership—and the case for a no-deal Brexit. Roberts also discusses his recent book Leadership in War: Essential Lessons from Those Who Made History.

The East Room of the Richard Nixon Presidential Library was filled to capacity Friday evening, Sept. 13, as former Defense Secretary and four-star Marine General Jim Mattis discussed his newly released memoir, “Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead.”

During a portion of an interview aired on Friday’s edition of PBS’ “Firing Line,” former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stated that the Trump administration’s commitment to human rights and democracy isn’t “as strong as I would like” but there have been “flashes” of such a commitment in Venezuela, Syria, and with the Taliban.

Former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is on tour promoting his book Call Sign Chaos: Learning to Lead, and while he wants to talk about what he learned leading troops in combat, all interviewers want to know about is his experience working for President Trump. Trump, who has a well-known aversion to heavy reading, is not likely to crack the Mattis book, but in an interview with the Washington Examiner, Mattis says anyone who does might pick up a few hints on how to be a better leader. Asked if he would recommend his book to the commander in chief, Mattis avoided answering directly.

In a recent interview with The Hill, presidential contender Sen. Bernie Sanders praised China, stating the nation had made "more progress in addressing extreme poverty than any country in the history of civilization." The remark generated a slew of headlines from right-leaning media, some of which mocked the Vermont senator for praising China. As many undoubtedly know, however, China’s progress in eradicating extreme poverty in recent decades is unprecedented.

The UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy will hold its inaugural Global Leaders Forum Friday with a discussion featuring former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.