FEATURED DEBATE

Trump’s First 100 Days: The Economic Agenda

May 9, 2025

LEARN MORE

Unresolved Debate Topics

Can Tariffs Be Part of a Winning U.S. Strategy?

Is Deregulation Good for Growth?

Could the President's "Medicine" Mean A Recession?

April 25, 2025

LEARN MORE

Should the U.S. Decouple from China?

In 2024, the total trade value between the U.S. and China was around $583 billion. For decades, China has been a central node in global supply chains and a primary trade partner for the U.S.…

With Isaac Stone Fish, Derek Scissors, Susan Shirk, Benn Steil

April 25, 2025

May 2, 2025

LEARN MORE

Think Twice: The Stoic Capitalist with Robert Rosenkranz

Stoic philosophers like Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius taught that clarity of thought and emotional detachment are the keys to self-mastery, leading to a life of virtue, tranquility, and wisdom. One person who has applied these…

With Robert Rosenkranz

May 2, 2025

THE LATEST

Explore All

Trump’s First 100 Days: The Economic Agenda

Trump’s First 100 Days. Five Debaters. Three Questions. Open to Debate, in partnership with Bloomberg, is taking a closer look at President Trump’s economic agenda during the first 100 days of his second term, which has…

With Jeff Ferry, Jason Furman, Mariana Mazzucato, Stephen Moore, Allison Schrager

May 9, 2025

Think Twice: The Stoic Capitalist with Robert Rosenkranz

With Robert Rosenkranz

May 2, 2025

Should the U.S. Decouple from China?

In 2024, the total trade value between the U.S. and China was around $583 billion. For decades, China has been a central node in global supply chains and a primary trade partner for the U.S.…

With Isaac Stone Fish, Derek Scissors, Susan Shirk, Benn Steil

April 25, 2025

Was Trump Right to Be Hard on Soft Power in the Middle East?

For decades, the U.S. has balanced military strength with soft power—influence through culture, diplomacy, and foreign assistance—especially in the Middle East. Agencies like USAID and media outlets such as Alhurra and Radio Sawa have aimed…

With Jeffrey Gedmin, Faisal Saeed Al Mutar

April 18, 2025

Should the U.S. Prioritize Settling Mars?

Trump said in his State of the Union speech that “we will pursue our Manifest Destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars,” throwing down the…

With Eric Berger, Shannon Stirone

April 11, 2025

Think Twice: About Abundance with Derek Thompson

It’s a tale as old as time: we see the environment in which we grow up, along with all the issues plaguing it, and aspire to leave the world better than we’ve found it. If…

With Derek Thompson

March 28, 2025

UN Efforts in the Middle East: Helping or Hurting?

Founded directly after Israel’s establishment, UNRWA was established to temporarily assist Palestinian refugees displaced by the war. Decades later, it continues to provide services to almost six million Palestinian refugees in Gaza, the West Bank,…

With Richard Gowan, Hillel Neuer

March 14, 2025

Is it Time to End Daylight Savings Time?

Bonus Release Most Americans grew up hearing the phrase “spring forward, fall back,” referring to Daylight Savings Time, where an hour is added to the clock during Spring and taken off in Autumn to take…

With Binyamin Appelbaum, Joan Costa-i-Font

March 5, 2025

Is Musk’s DOGE Dodging the Law?

In the new Trump administration, Elon Musk was named a special government employee and de facto head of the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which seeks to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse within federal agencies. The…

With Michael W. McConnell, Laurence Tribe

Public Release Date
March 7, 2025

Was Trump Right to Increase Tariffs on Chinese Imports?

Live Debate in D.C. President Trump recently enacted a ten percent additional tariff on Chinese imports, citing the need to curb the flow of fentanyl into the United States and to address the substantial trade…

With Jennifer Hillman, Rana Mitter, Stephen Moore, Scott Paul

February 28, 2025

Can Religion Cure the Loneliness Epidemic?

Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy published an influential report indicating that the U.S. is experiencing a loneliness epidemic. Sixty percent of adults report feeling lonely, and eight percent report not having any close friends. While a…

With Dan Barker, Harold Koenig, Chris Murphy, Ruth Whippman

February 21, 2025

The Hopkins Forum: A Debate on the Future of the Supreme Court

The Hopkins Forum, a new nonpartisan debate series from Johns Hopkins University and Open to Debate, is hosting its first debate and taking a close look at the highest court in the land and its future. In the past…

With Ambassador Jeff Flake, Jamal Greene, Cristina Rodríguez, The Honorable Jeff Sessions

Public Release Date
February 7, 2025

IN THE NEWS

Explore All

Trump’s First 100 Days: The Economic Agenda

With Jeff Ferry, Jason Furman, Mariana Mazzucato, Stephen Moore, Allison Schrager

May 9, 2025

Is Musk’s DOGE Dodging the Law?

With Michael W. McConnell, Laurence Tribe

Public Release Date
March 7, 2025

Was Trump Right to Increase Tariffs on Chinese Imports?

With Jennifer Hillman, Rana Mitter, Stephen Moore, Scott Paul

February 28, 2025

Has Legalizing Sports Gambling Become a Bad Bet?

In 2018, the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban on sports betting, allowing states to legalize and regulate it. Since then, sports gambling has exploded, with over thirty states embracing sports betting. Now, legal…

With Bill Pascrell III, Harry Levant

January 31, 2025

Prescription Weight Loss Drugs for All?

A new study from The Lancet revealed that three-quarters of U.S. adults and almost half of teens are now overweight or obese. Weight loss drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro, known as GLP-1 drugs, have been making headlines as…

With David Allison, Stuart W. Flint

January 24, 2025

Global Leaders Debate Money, Truth, and Power

In a world being reshaped by vital questions about Al, sustainability, and an uncertain global economy, now is the time for decisive action. As a Knowledge Partner with the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Institute, this…

December 6, 2024

Can Israel Make Peace with Hamas?

After the October 7th attack, Israel vowed to eradicate Hamas and began its counteroperation in Gaza. Now, after ten months of war, a hostage crisis, and an increasing death toll, Israel and Hamas have been…

With Cenk Uygur, Mosab Hassan Yousef

August 9, 2024

Should Congress Stop Funding the War in Ukraine?

Since the beginning of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the United States has provided more than $75 billion in aid to Ukraine, which has been directed toward military operations, economic support, and humanitarian assistance. As the…

With Heather Conley, Daniel L. Davis, Paula Dobriansky, John J. Mearsheimer

April 12, 2024

Urgent Debate: Securing the Border

In recent years, the U.S. has seen a surge in the number of migrants and asylum seekers at its borders, which has strained existing border security and immigration systems. The Secure the Border Act of…

With Kristie De Peña, Jessica Vaughan

December 15, 2023

Should NATO Admit Ukraine?

Currently, NATO has 31 member countries and there are four countries that have declared their desire to join the alliance, which includes Ukraine. Over the years, Ukraine has sought to move away from Russia's sphere…

With Garry Kasparov, Charles Kupchan

August 4, 2023

Is It time for Medicare for All?

As the nation gears up for the 2020 election, Democrats are promising bold new changes to the American health care system. One idea championed by many on the progressive left is “Medicare for All,” or…

With Adam Gaffney, Nick Gillespie, Sally Pipes, Joseph Sanberg

September 17, 2019

Unresolved: The Techonomic Cold War With China

President Xi Jinping has made it clear: When it comes to big data, advanced weaponry, and other innovations in tech and AI, China has plans to surpass the United States as the world’s next techonomic…

With Ian Bremmer, Michèle Flournoy, Yasheng Huang, Parag Khanna, Susan Thornton

February 25, 2019

EDITOR'S PICKS

Explore All

Think Twice: The Stoic Capitalist with Robert Rosenkranz

With Robert Rosenkranz

May 2, 2025

Should the U.S. Prioritize Settling Mars?

With Eric Berger, Shannon Stirone

April 11, 2025

Can Religion Cure the Loneliness Epidemic?

With Dan Barker, Harold Koenig, Chris Murphy, Ruth Whippman

February 21, 2025

Can America and Its Allies Tolerate A Nuclear Iran, or Is It Time to Stop Them Now?

Iran's nuclear ambitions and military capabilities are at a critical juncture. U.S. officials warn Iran could produce the necessary quantity of enriched uranium to weapons-grade levels within a few weeks, which it could then use to…

With Barbara Slavin, Behnam Ben Taleblu

January 10, 2025

Does Alcoholics Anonymous Work?

Dry January has become increasingly popular, practiced by a quarter of Americans last year, and provides individuals a collegial and open path for reconsidering their alcohol consumption. For almost two million people worldwide who have…

With Dan Griffin, Adi Jaffe

January 3, 2025

Fast Fashion: Shop or Stop?

Is that new $12 dress you saw trending on TikTok worth it? Brands like Shein, H&M, Zara, and Primark have made it easy to stay on-trend, thanks to the fast fashion industry. These inexpensive, truly-of-the-moment…

With Katherine Mangu-Ward, Kenneth Pucker

November 29, 2024

America the Dysfunctional?

Recorded live in Washington, DC on August 13th American politics today has been marred by increasing levels of “us vs. them” thinking, leading to the destruction of our social fabric and democracy. But critical thinking,…

With Brian Tyler Cohen, Nick Gillespie

Public Release Date
August 16, 2024

Is the ICC’s Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu Justified?

The International Criminal Court (ICC) is tasked with prosecuting individuals for the most serious offenses, such as genocide and war crimes. The ICC recently requested arrest warrants for Hamas’s leaders, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,…

With Eugene Kontorovich, Kenneth Roth

Public Release Date
September 13, 2024

History Lessons About Combatting Polarization in 2024 with Fareed Zakaria

From AI and tech innovations to the political and cultural climate during a critical election year, our modern world is constantly changing. However, within these revolutions comes a new level of polarization that has entered…

With John Donvan, Fareed Zakaria

July 12, 2024

Is It OK to Pay for Sex?

Prostitution remains heavily stigmatized and legally complex globally, ranging from full decriminalization to controlled regulation like the Nordic Model, where only purchasers of sex, not sellers of sex are penalized. This model has been implemented…

With Kaytlin Bailey, Yasmin Vafa

June 7, 2024

Should We Address the Gender Wage Gap?

American women are, on average, paid 84 cents for every dollar men make, according to the Department of Labor. This wage gap has persisted despite near-record rates of women’s participation in the labor market, with…

With Kadie Ward Philp, Allison Schrager

March 8, 2024

David Petraeus and Andrew Roberts on Conflict, War, and Debate

Debate is a form of conflict that is played out through words, arguments, civility, and the capability to exchange ideas with people we disagree with. But what happens when debate fails — and what leads…

With General David H. Petraeus, Andrew Roberts

January 12, 2024

Upcoming Debates

The Hopkins Forum: Can the U.S. Outpace China in AI Through Chip Controls?

With Lindsay Gorman, Will Hurd, Susan Thornton, Paul Triolo

6:00 PM | Wednesday, May 14, 2025

We are excited to announce the second debate in The Hopkins Forum, a partnership between Open to Debate and Johns Hopkins University’s Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute. Join us in Baltimore for a live debate that will explore the high-stakes U.S.-China AI arms race, examining whether U.S. chip controls can secure an American advantage in artificial intelligence. The AI revolution is underway, and the U.S. and China are racing to the top. At the heart of this competition are semiconductors—especially…

The Hopkins Forum: Can the U.S. Outpace China in AI Through Chip Controls?

With Lindsay Gorman, Will Hurd, Susan Thornton, Paul Triolo

6:00 PM | Wednesday, May 14, 2025

DEBATE COMMUNITY

Join a community of social and intellectual leaders that truly value the free exchange of ideas.

BECOME A MEMBER

Influential Voices. Pressing Topics. Open Minds.

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay informed on our curated weekly debates, dynamic live events, and educational initiatives.

NEWSLETTER

SUPPORT OPEN-MINDED DEBATE

Help us bring debate to communities and classrooms across the nation.

DONATE

Features

Topics

Upcoming debates

SUPPORT OPEN-MINDED DEBATE

FEATURED DEBATE

Trump’s First 100 Days: The Economic Agenda

Unresolved Debate Topics

Jason Furman

Allison Schrager

Stephen Moore

Mariana Mazzucato

Jeff Ferry

Should the U.S. Decouple from China?

Think Twice: The Stoic Capitalist with Robert Rosenkranz

THE LATEST

Trump’s First 100 Days: The Economic Agenda

Think Twice: The Stoic Capitalist with Robert Rosenkranz

Should the U.S. Decouple from China?

Was Trump Right to Be Hard on Soft Power in the Middle East?

Should the U.S. Prioritize Settling Mars?

Think Twice: About Abundance with Derek Thompson

UN Efforts in the Middle East: Helping or Hurting?

Is it Time to End Daylight Savings Time?

Is Musk’s DOGE Dodging the Law?

Was Trump Right to Increase Tariffs on Chinese Imports?

Can Religion Cure the Loneliness Epidemic?

The Hopkins Forum: A Debate on the Future of the Supreme Court

TRENDING

UN Efforts in the Middle East: Helping or Hurting?

Is It Time to Break Up with Dating Apps?

Psychedelics for Mental Health: Help or Hype?

Were Israel’s Actions in the Gaza War Justified?

Is the Two-State Solution Still Viable?

Married or Single?

How to Resolve Conflict in Relationships: A Conversation with Esther Perel

Agree to Disagree: Ukraine

Is Taiwan Indefensible?

Is Free Speech Threatened on Campus?

China and the U.S. Are Long-term Enemies

IN THE NEWS

Trump’s First 100 Days: The Economic Agenda

Is Musk’s DOGE Dodging the Law?

Was Trump Right to Increase Tariffs on Chinese Imports?

Has Legalizing Sports Gambling Become a Bad Bet?

Prescription Weight Loss Drugs for All?

Global Leaders Debate Money, Truth, and Power

Can Israel Make Peace with Hamas?

Should Congress Stop Funding the War in Ukraine?

Urgent Debate: Securing the Border

Should NATO Admit Ukraine?

Is It time for Medicare for All?

Unresolved: The Techonomic Cold War With China

EDITOR'S PICKS

Think Twice: The Stoic Capitalist with Robert Rosenkranz

Should the U.S. Prioritize Settling Mars?

Can Religion Cure the Loneliness Epidemic?

Can America and Its Allies Tolerate A Nuclear Iran, or Is It Time to Stop Them Now?

Does Alcoholics Anonymous Work?

Fast Fashion: Shop or Stop?

America the Dysfunctional?

Is the ICC’s Arrest Warrant for Netanyahu Justified?

History Lessons About Combatting Polarization in 2024 with Fareed Zakaria

Is It OK to Pay for Sex?

Should We Address the Gender Wage Gap?

David Petraeus and Andrew Roberts on Conflict, War, and Debate

Upcoming Debates

The Hopkins Forum: Can the U.S. Outpace China in AI Through Chip Controls?

The Hopkins Forum: Can the U.S. Outpace China in AI Through Chip Controls?

DEBATE COMMUNITY

Influential Voices. Pressing Topics. Open Minds.

SUPPORT OPEN-MINDED DEBATE

Be Curious. Be Open-Minded. Be Open to Debate.