Presented in Partnership with 
Jason Furman
Former Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers; Professor at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government
Allison Schrager
Bloomberg Opinion Contributor and Senior Fellow at the Manhattan Institute
Mariana Mazzucato
Professor of Economics at University College London; Author of “Mission Economy”
Jeff Ferry
Chief Economist Emeritus at the Coalition for a Prosperous America
Stephen Moore
Former Senior Economic Advisor to President Trump; Senior Fellow at the Heritage Foundation
GUEST MODERATOR
Mishal Husain
Editor-at-Large of Bloomberg Weekend
This week:
- New episode: The economic agenda 100 days into Trump’s second term
- Attend our Hopkins Forum debate on AI chip controls in Baltimore, MD on May 14th
- Your Sunday reading list
In this special episode, Open to Debate was proud to partner with Bloomberg for a first-of-its-kind live event — bringing together top economists from across the political spectrum to Bloomberg’s New York City headquarters for a high-impact debate, just over 100 days into President Trump’s second term.
A packed house leaned in as an intellectually rigorous conversation unfolded, echoing questions on the minds of viewers around the country: Will the current wave of economic shifts help restore prosperity in the United States, or push the country toward a recession?
Moderated by award-winning journalist, broadcaster, and author Mishal Husain — the Editor-at-Large for Bloomberg Weekend and one of the most trusted voices in international journalism — this special Unresolved debate featured five economists — Jason Furman, Mariana Mazzucato, Allison Schrager, Stephen Moore, and Jeff Ferry — with sharply divergent views.
Together, they tackled three of the most pressing — and unresolved — questions of the economic moment:
Can Tariffs Be Part of a Winning U.S. Strategy?
Is Deregulation Good for Growth?
Could the President’s “Medicine” Mean a Recession?
It was a night of sharp disagreement, bold ideas, and rare moments of consensus—proof that when debate is done right, it brings clarity to even the most complex challenges. Watch the full event on Bloomberg TV and YouTube or listen on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. As always, let us know what you think.
More soon,
Lia Matthow
Chief Content Officer
Powerhouse Panel Debates the U.S. China-AI Arms Race: Attend in Baltimore, MD on May 14th or View the Livestream
This important topic is in the news this week… and updates are unfolding. President Trump announced plans to rescind a set of Biden-era rules that restricted the export of AI chips. Will this new pivot in regulation bolster America’s tech economy, or make the U.S. more vulnerable to China’s innovation ambitions?
Join us and Johns Hopkins University’s Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute for our new Hopkins Forum debate, “Can the U.S. Outpace China in AI Through Chip Controls?”. Register now to attend live in Baltimore or tune in via livestream here.
Date: Wednesday May 14, 2025
Check-in: 5 PM. Light refreshments will be provided.
Debate start time: 6 PM sharp
Location: Johns Hopkins University – Shriver Hall (3400 N Charles St, Ste 14, Baltimore, MD)
WEEKLY POINTS OF VIEW
Democrats keep saying America is an “oligarchy.” Is that true?
Lee Drutman | April 28, 2025
Vox
Watch Lee’s debate on the two-party system
Dahlia Lithwick | April 29, 2025
Slate
Watch Dahlia’s debate on whether we should expand the Supreme Court
The Christian Right is Going Extinct
David French | May 1, 2025
The New York Times
Our Universities Need Diverse Ideas, Not Ideological Auditors
Michael S. Roth | May 1, 2025
The Wall Street Journal
Watch Michael’s debate on whether safe spaces are dangerous
Defend Civil Debate in a Divided Time
Polarization is eroding our ability to solve problems, both in the U.S. and around the world. Open to Debate is working to reverse that trend by fostering respectful, fact-based debates in the public square — where ideas can be challenged, minds can change, and common ground can be found. Donate today to help keep debate alive where it’s needed most.
