FEATURED DEBATE

Mock Trial: Should Trump’s Conviction Stand?

Donald Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime. He was found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree under New York law. Trump has the right to appeal and announced the day after the conviction that he would. Now there is also a Supreme Court ruling that says presidential immunity is permitted for official acts committed in office. Legal scholars are questioning whether his conviction could be overturned and what could come next. Those defending the New York court conviction argue that no individual, regardless of their office, is…

FOR THE APPELLEE

Erwin Chemerinsky

Dean of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law

July 26, 2024

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FOR THE APPELLANT

Randy Zelin

Trial Attorney; Adjunct Law Professor at Cornell Law School

FEATURED DEBATE

July 26, 2024

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Mock Trial: Should Trump’s Conviction Stand?

FOR THE APPELLEE

Erwin Chemerinsky

Dean of the University of California, Berkeley School of Law

FOR THE APPELLANT

Randy Zelin

Trial Attorney; Adjunct Law Professor at Cornell Law School

June 28, 2024

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Married or Single?

Marriage has long been considered a goal to aspire to and a conventional path to happiness. But over the last few decades, the traditional view of marriage as the cornerstone of adult life has been questioned. Changes in…

With Bella DePaulo, Jonathan Rothwell

June 28, 2024

July 11, 2024

LEARN MORE

Should Biden Step Aside?

During the current election cycle, President Biden has dismissed concerns about seeking re-election. He says that he is fit for the job and in it to win it. But after the first 2024 Presidential Debate,…

With Michelle Goldberg, Dmitri Mehlhorn

July 11, 2024

THE LATEST

Explore All

Mock Trial: Should Trump’s Conviction Stand?

Donald Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime. He was found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree under New York law. Trump has…

With Erwin Chemerinsky, Randy Zelin

July 26, 2024

Is the Two-State Solution Still Viable?

With Elliott Abrams, Mohammed Dajani Daoudi, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Ambassador Dennis Ross

Public Release Date
August 2, 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

Should Biden Step Aside?

With Michelle Goldberg, Dmitri Mehlhorn

July 11, 2024

Does the Effective Altruism Movement Get Giving Right?

With Alice Crary, Peter Singer

Public Release Date
August 9, 2024

Married or Single?

With Bella DePaulo, Jonathan Rothwell

June 28, 2024

Is Islam Antisemitic?

Though they share similar values, guidelines, and principles, Islam and Judaism have a long, complicated relationship that has led to tension recorded within the Quran and other Islamic texts. As a result of what’s been…

With Reza Aslan, Tim Dieppe

June 21, 2024

Mock Trial: Murthy v. Missouri - Free Speech, Government and Misinformation on Social Media Platforms

The Supreme Court is taking up a case that could affect how you read about issues during a crucial election year. Government officials concerned about misinformation related to topics such as COVID and election integrity…

With Charles "Chip" Miller, Rylee Sommers-Flanagan

June 14, 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

Young Voices Debate Tough Topics: DEI and Climate Change

New Special Episode - It’s not often that young people’s opinions about what is happening in the public square, and their ideas for solutions to these issues, are platformed and celebrated. But here, we have…

May 24, 2024

The Pursuit of Happiness: Virtue or Pleasure?

Happiness is a complex emotion and mental state, one that has been pondered since the times of the Ancient Greeks. Many have wondered what it means to be happy and to achieve happiness through either…

With Roger Crisp, Jeffrey Rosen

May 17, 2024

Mock Trial: Should the Courts Restrict Access to the Abortion Pill?

About the Trial In a post-Roe v. Wade world, a medication that 63% of women use to undergo an abortion is under consideration by the Supreme Court. Mifepristone was approved as a two-drug regimen for use…

With Catherine Glenn Foster, Julia Kaye

May 10, 2024

IN THE NEWS

Explore All

Mock Trial: Should Trump’s Conviction Stand?

Donald Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a crime. He was found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree under New York law. Trump has…

With Erwin Chemerinsky, Randy Zelin

July 26, 2024

Should Biden Step Aside?

With Michelle Goldberg, Dmitri Mehlhorn

July 11, 2024

Mock Trial: Murthy v. Missouri - Free Speech, Government and Misinformation on Social Media Platforms

With Charles "Chip" Miller, Rylee Sommers-Flanagan

June 14, 2024

Should Elite Universities Reinstate the SAT?

High school students have breathed a sigh of relief for the last couple of years as some colleges decided to make their applications test-optional during the COVID pandemic, meaning they did not need to submit…

With John Friedman, Ben Nelson

May 3, 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

Unresolved: The Iran Threat

Post-October 7th, Iran's presence in the Middle East—and on the world stage—is growing stronger, many say, given its nuclear ambitions and its use of proxies in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, and Yemen, most recently disrupting shipping…

With Michael Doran, Barbara Slavin, Ray Takeyh

February 16, 2024

Mock Trial: Is Trump Guilty in the January 6th Case?

In a new “Mock Trial” debate format, Open to Debate will take on the most important legal questions of our time, with each episode focusing on a high-profile case unfolding in the public square. We’ll…

With Sara Azari, Lanny Davis

January 5, 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

How Would A No Labels Presidential Candidate Change the Outcome in 2024?

The centrist group No Labels is planning to host a bipartisan nominating convention in 2024. This is leading some people to speculate that they may promote a third-party candidate that better reflects the perspective of…

With Ryan Clancy, Rahna Epting

December 1, 2023

Is Legalizing Marijuana a Mistake?

According to an October 2022 Pew survey, “88% of US adults say that marijuana should be legal for medical and recreational use.” While marijuana legalization is gaining more and more cultural acceptance, effectively regulating drugs…

With Teresa Haley, Toi Hutchinson, Paul J. Larkin, Jr., Cat Packer

September 8, 2023

Is Netanyahu's Government Heading in the Wrong Direction?

Benjamin Netanyahu is the longest-serving prime minister in Israel’s history. After five elections happening in four years, Israeli voters re-elected him in November 2022 where he established a new government while on trial for corruption…

With Jeremy Ben-Ami, Caroline Glick

May 26, 2023

Should The U.S. Ban TikTok?

With one billion active users across more than 150 countries, TikTok is by many measures one of the world’s most successful video apps — and half of Americans use it. The House of Representatives has…

With Milton Mueller, Kori Schake

February 17, 2023

EDITOR'S PICKS

Explore All

History Lessons About Combatting Polarization in 2024 with Fareed Zakaria

With John Donvan, Fareed Zakaria

July 12, 2024

Married or Single?

With Bella DePaulo, Jonathan Rothwell

June 28, 2024

Is Islam Antisemitic?

With Reza Aslan, Tim Dieppe

June 21, 2024

Is It OK to Pay for Sex?

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

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

Conflict is not reserved for politics or public policy — it also happens within relationships. Couples have arguments over what’s happening behind closed doors, their beliefs, and how to navigate the future together. However, it’s through…

With John Donvan, Esther Perel

February 9, 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

David Brooks on the Art of Seeing and Hearing Others

A special conversation episode with David Brooks and John Donvan. In a society that is becoming increasingly polarized, as evident in our national political discourse and the powerful and divisive reverberations from two wars, people feel disconnected and hesitant…

With David Brooks, John Donvan

December 29, 2023

Is Carbon Capture Essential to Fighting Climate Change?

When it comes to carbon dioxide, last year was a record year. The world emitted more of the climate-warming gas in 2022 than in any year since scientists began recording levels in 1900. The culprit,…

With Mark Z. Jacobson, Katherine Romanak

May 5, 2023

Has China's Power Peaked?

This was supposed to be the “Chinese century.” In just a few decades, China transitioned from a developing economy to the world’s second-largest. Measured in purchasing power parity, it actually surpassed the U.S. economy in…

With Michael Beckley, Ian Bremmer

January 30, 2023

Is Elon Musk Killing Twitter?

These days, the bird’s the word. Since shelling out $44 billion for Twitter, critics say Elon Musk is knocking the social media giant off its perch. Under his guidance, a slew of firings, a resurgence…

With Anthony Scaramucci, Kara Swisher

January 20, 2023

Do Unions Work For The Economy?

Unions may be on the verge of a resurgence. After decades of declines, workers are organizing across household-name companies, like Starbucks, Amazon, and Google, at a pace not seen since the 1930s. A generation of…

With Steven Greenhouse, Allison Schrager

October 21, 2022

Upcoming Debates

Is the Two-State Solution Still Viable?

With Elliott Abrams, Mohammed Dajani Daoudi, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Ambassador Dennis Ross

Public Release Date
August 2, 2024

As the war between Israel and Hamas is ongoing, the nonpartisan debate series Open to Debate in partnership with the Council on Foreign Relations is taking a closer look at one proposed solution to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The two-state solution proposes a sovereign State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel and aims to address the territorial disputes, security concerns, and national aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians. However, many have questioned whether this plan is still possible, especially during the…

Is the Two-State Solution Still Viable?

With Elliott Abrams, Mohammed Dajani Daoudi, Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, Ambassador Dennis Ross

Public Release Date
August 2, 2024

Does the Effective Altruism Movement Get Giving Right?

With Alice Crary, Peter Singer

Public Release Date
August 9, 2024

Effective altruism is a philosophical and social movement that encourages people to ask themselves how they can most benefit others and do good through an evidence-based approach to charity. Over the last decade, it has influenced billionaires such as Bill Gates, Dustin Moskovitz, and MacKenzie Scott and resulted in millions of dollars given to “high-impact charities” annually. However, after philosophical critiques and the downfall of one of effective altruism’s most visible advocates, Sam Bankman-Fried, some thought leaders are questioning whether EA is the best philanthropic model. Those championing effective…

Does the Effective Altruism Movement Get Giving Right?

With Alice Crary, Peter Singer

Public Release Date
August 9, 2024

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Features

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Upcoming debates

SUPPORT OPEN-MINDED DEBATE

FEATURED DEBATE

Mock Trial: Should Trump’s Conviction Stand?

Erwin Chemerinsky

Randy Zelin

FEATURED DEBATE

Mock Trial: Should Trump’s Conviction Stand?

Erwin Chemerinsky

Randy Zelin

Married or Single?

Should Biden Step Aside?

THE LATEST

Mock Trial: Should Trump’s Conviction Stand?

Is the Two-State Solution Still Viable?

History Lessons About Combatting Polarization in 2024 with Fareed Zakaria

Should Biden Step Aside?

Does the Effective Altruism Movement Get Giving Right?

Married or Single?

Is Islam Antisemitic?

Mock Trial: Murthy v. Missouri - Free Speech, Government and Misinformation on Social Media Platforms

Is It OK to Pay for Sex?

Young Voices Debate Tough Topics: DEI and Climate Change

The Pursuit of Happiness: Virtue or Pleasure?

Mock Trial: Should the Courts Restrict Access to the Abortion Pill?

TRENDING

Does Color Blindness Perpetuate Racism?

Should NATO Admit Ukraine?

Agree to Disagree: Ukraine

Is Anti-Zionism the New Anti-Semitism?

Would The World Be Better Off Without Religion?

Is Islam A Religion Of Peace?

Should The U.S. Step Back From Its Relationship With Israel?

IN THE NEWS

Mock Trial: Should Trump’s Conviction Stand?

Should Biden Step Aside?

Mock Trial: Murthy v. Missouri - Free Speech, Government and Misinformation on Social Media Platforms

Should Elite Universities Reinstate the SAT?

Should Congress Stop Funding the War in Ukraine?

Unresolved: The Iran Threat

Mock Trial: Is Trump Guilty in the January 6th Case?

Urgent Debate: Securing the Border

How Would A No Labels Presidential Candidate Change the Outcome in 2024?

Is Legalizing Marijuana a Mistake?

Is Netanyahu's Government Heading in the Wrong Direction?

Should The U.S. Ban TikTok?

EDITOR'S PICKS

History Lessons About Combatting Polarization in 2024 with Fareed Zakaria

Married or Single?

Is Islam Antisemitic?

Is It OK to Pay for Sex?

Should We Address the Gender Wage Gap?

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

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

David Brooks on the Art of Seeing and Hearing Others

Is Carbon Capture Essential to Fighting Climate Change?

Has China's Power Peaked?

Is Elon Musk Killing Twitter?

Do Unions Work For The Economy?

Upcoming Debates

Is the Two-State Solution Still Viable?

Is the Two-State Solution Still Viable?

Does the Effective Altruism Movement Get Giving Right?

Does the Effective Altruism Movement Get Giving Right?

DEBATE COMMUNITY

EDUCATIONAL BRIEFS

SUPPORT OPEN-MINDED DEBATE

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

Mock Trial: Should the Courts Restrict Access to the Abortion Pill?