Open to Debate

Sports fans can place bets on their favorite teams and athletes faster and easier than before, thanks to legalized sports gambling. But was it the wrong bet to make? As March Madness tips off, the stakes have never felt higher. Advocates believe it’s been good for fans, the economy, and the sports industry. However, opponents say it’s driven a rise in gambling addiction and created a public health crisis. Watch the heated debate featuring gambling counselor Harry Levant and attorney @BillPascrell3rd (@PPAGInc). Moderated by @nayeema.

Who should control sports gambling regulation? @BillPascrell3rd of @PPAGInc believes states are regulating well and federal involvement would only make things worse. Harry Levant argues the contrary—state regulations have failed and without national standards like the Safe Bet Act, “responsible gaming” becomes just industry spin, shifting the burden to individuals. Watch the episode now and tell us what you think.

Listen to the debate now. open.spotify.com/episode/61l5CJ…

Sports fans can place bets on their favorite teams and athletes faster and easier than before, thanks to legalized sports gambling. But was it the wrong bet to make? As March Madness tips off, the stakes have never felt higher. Advocates believe it’s been good for fans, the economy, and the sports industry. However, opponents say it’s driven a rise in gambling addiction and created a public health crisis. Watch the heated debate featuring gambling counselor Harry Levant and attorney @BillPascrell3rd (@PPAGInc). Moderated by @nayeema.

Watch the debate on our channel now. youtu.be/ipuxmBJcMN8

Is watching a movie at home the same as seeing it in a theater? @HawkKoch of @AMCTheatres believes the magic of film comes alive in a theater when viewed communally. Whereas, Chris Aronson of @ParamountPics thinks home setups can recreate that immersive experience just fine. Question from @SonnyBunch of @BulwarkOnline.

The Oscars are tonight, but do people still care who wins? Some say the Academy Awards remains the gold standard of Hollywood, one of the most recognizable brands in the world and the award every filmmaker still dreams of winning. Others point to declining ratings and a fragmented media landscape filled with platforms like TikTok, questioning whether audiences still care the way they once did. Watch the debate now. Featuring @HawkKoch, Film Producer and Former President of @TheAcademy and the @producersguild, and Chris Aronson, Former President Of Domestic Theatrical Distribution @ParamountPics.

“The middle class has been cut out, and this is not just due to technology, it's due to corporate greed. What we are talking about is a better world where technology enables us to have a dignified future.” In her closing remarks on the @OpentoDebateOrg stage, Dr. Rumman Chowdhury (@ruchowdh), who debated alongside ESP co-founder @chrishughes, makes the case for a better future of work—one where technology helps enable a more dignified future, where people have choice, opportunity, and upward mobility. Watch the full debate: youtube.com/watch?v=3lijAX…

Watch the debate now. youtu.be/ipuxmBJcMN8

The Future of Film: Big Screen or Stream? Are theaters still the irreplaceable heart of cinema, or has streaming become the industry’s new default? And what does that mean for the audience? Arguing "Big Screen": @HawkKoch, Film Producer; Former President of @TheAcademy and the @producersguild Arguing "Stream": Chris Aronson, Former President Of Domestic Theatrical Distribution @ParamountPics

Co-director @baselinescene participated in a recent debate with @OpentoDebateOrg on whether AI will make work obsolete. "We need to redirect the direction of artificial intelligence, but it's not what's happening," he argued. Watch here: youtube.com/watch?v=3lijAX… 📸 Poll Bravo

During our debater Q&A, a Johns Hopkins University student asked the panel the question many young people are thinking about: what should graduates do if AI starts replacing entry-level jobs? With automation reshaping the workforce, young people are asking what comes next. Should you double down on grad school, learn to use AI as a tool, help local businesses adapt or even get involved in shaping the policies that govern it? This exchange dives into what the AI era could mean for the next generation of workers. Featured Debaters: Dr. @ruchowdh, @AndrewYang, and Simon Johnson @baselinescene. @MITshapingwork @snfagora @johnshopkinsu @JHUBloombergCtr

“This time around, we have to build the bridge before the river rises.” At the close of the @OpentoDebateOrg debate, ESP co-founder @chrishughes and Dr. Rumman Chowdhury (@ruchowdh) argue that as AI transforms the economy, the real question isn’t whether work will become obsolete — but whether we build policies that expand choice, opportunity, and dignity for all workers That means modernizing unemployment insurance, creating a national service program, and strengthening workforce training to ensure people have real pathways to good jobs in a rapidly changing economy. Watch the full debate here: youtube.com/watch?v=3lijAX…

Americans spend about $12,000 a year on transportation. One side argues that when transportation costs drop, that extra money flows back into the economy, creating new jobs and services. The other warns that millions of driving-related jobs could disappear and shift to companies like @waymo. And then there’s the bigger question: can workers realistically reskill fast enough if automation moves this quickly? Watch the full debate now. Featured Debaters: Dr. @ruchowdh (@humaneintelligence), @chrishughes (@economicsecproj), and @andrewyang (@forward_party).

Watch the debate now. youtu.be/3lijAXbyMIg

AI systems are now writing code, diagnosing diseases, designing buildings, and even generating art. Tools like @ChatGPTapp, @claudeai, @GoogleDeepMind, and autonomous robots are reshaping industries once thought immune to automation. Will AI usher in a new era of prosperity and leisure or a future of unemployment and inequality? Featured Debaters: Dr. @ruchowdh, @chrishughes (@economicsecproj), Simon Johnson @baselinescene (@MITshapingwork), and @AndrewYang. Moderated by @JohnDonvan. This is the fifth debate of The Hopkins Forum series, co-presented by @snfagora of @johnshopkinsu and @opentodebateorg. Photo credit: Poll Bravo of @JHUBloombergCtr. Watch now on YouTube, or listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

The number of people working at newspapers may be hitting a new low, but at @OpentoDebateOrg, @KBAndersen @NellieBowles @racheljanfaza & I all agreed that in most ways, we're in a golden age for news media. youtube.com/watch?v=xg8LTk…

Thank you to everyone who joined us in Washington, D.C., for a sold-out evening of debate @JHUBloombergCtr in partnership with @SNFAgora. Dr. @ruchowdh, @chrishughes (@EconomicSecProj), Simon Johnson @baselinescene (@MITshapingwork), and @AndrewYang took on one of the most consequential questions of our time: Will AI Make Work Obsolete? With a packed venue, an overflow room, and thoughtful questions from @JohnsHopkins students, the discussion brought forward a wide range of economic, technological, and societal perspectives. Watch the full debate tomorrow (March 6th) on our YouTube channel, podcast platforms, and on @NPR.

From overproduced news to AI becoming the new editor-in-chief, this clip digs into why trust is collapsing and how algorithms may soon shape our shared reality more than journalists ever did. Is AI the future of truth, or the final fracture of it? Tell us what you think. Featured Debaters: @KBAndersen, Novelist, and Former Host of NPR’s @Studio360show; Co-founder of Spy magazine @NellieBowles, Journalist & Co-Founder of @TheFP @racheljanfaza, Journalist & Founder of The Up and Up Substack; Contributor to @BulwarkOnline

After @washingtonpost pulled its @KamalaHarris endorsement, backlash followed, igniting a sharp debate over whether news outlets should take a stand, chase the center, or abandon endorsements altogether. With comparisons to the @nytimes and concerns about the future of journalism jobs, this clip asks a blunt question: who is the media actually serving? Featuring @nickgillespie, @KBAndersen, @NellieBowles, and @racheljanfaza

Watch the debate now. youtu.be/xg8LTkw9gRU

Are we living through a Golden Age of News Media, or a moment of profound fragmentation and overall decline? In this episode of “Generational Divides,” @reason editor-at-large @nickgillespie leads a wide-ranging conversation about how journalism, algorithms, and audience expectations are reshaping the media landscape in real time. For Baby Boomers: @KBAndersen, Novelist, and Former Host of NPR’s @Studio360show; Co-founder of Spy magazine For Millennials: @NellieBowles, Journalist & Co-Founder of @TheFP For Gen Z: @racheljanfaza, Journalist & Founder of The Up and Up Substack; Contributor to @BulwarkOnline