Latest Interviews
Showing 901–915 of 1,563 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Milken Institute1h 1m
Business Tax Reform: Hammering Out the Details
Ben White, Chris Campbell, Ross DeVol, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Gene Sperling, Mark Weinberger
The White House and Republican congressional leadership have unified behind a tax reform package leveraging budget reconciliation to pass with a simple majority, though experts warn that claims of self-funding through growth are mathematically inconsistent with current proposals. Key debates center on the inclusion of corporate cuts alongside individual rate reductions, while panelists express skepticism regarding the Border Adjustment Tax's viability and the likelihood that the final legislation will fail deficit neutrality tests under the Byrd Rule. Consequently, the anticipated outcome is a significant short-term stimulus with temporary deficits rather than a permanent, revenue-neutral reform, leaving bipartisan support unlikely without structural adjustments favoring the middle class and infrastructure investment.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
Activist Athletes: Embracing Social Advocacy
Jocelyn Benson, Anquan Boldin, Swin Cash, Stephen Ross, Troy Vincent, Bill Desser, Hillary Lautenberg, Dewan Wiltshire, Jenny Santee
NFL figures Steven Ross, Troy Vincent, and Anquan Boldin joined WNBA executive Swin Cash to discuss leveraging professional sports as a platform for racial equality and social policy reform. Drawing on personal tragedies and collective action, the panel detailed strategies such as RISE's non-partisan coalition and cross-league initiatives aimed at shifting advocacy from awareness campaigns to tangible legislative changes. While acknowledging significant fan backlash and industry risks, the leaders emphasized that authentic, generational commitment and owner accountability are essential to dismantling systemic barriers within the sports ecosystem.
- Milken Institute1h 8m
How to Accelerate Gender Diversity on Boards
Celia Huber, Denise Morrison, Ronald O'Hanley, NV Tyagarajan, Rich Dottizio, Ron O'Hanley, SHARMINI PERIES, Kristen, Hope Tates, Amy Wilkinson, Nan Morris, Anna Chapman, Kelly Close, John Stackhouse
At the Milken Institute's 20th Annual Global Conference, CEOs from State Street Global Advisors, Campbell Soup, and Genpak argued that gender-diverse boards are essential for solving complex problems and driving shareholder value. These leaders identified systemic barriers such as conservative search firm practices and risk aversion while outlining actionable strategies like expanding recruitment criteria and implementing rigorous diversity metrics. The event concluded with a consensus that deliberate change requires CEO accountability and institutional leverage to achieve the industry's "30% Club" target.
- Milken Institute57 min
Globalization in the Crosshairs
Gillian Tett, Steven Ciobo, J. Bradford DeLong, John Hagel, Alejandro Ramirez Magaña, Stephen Schwarzman, Brad DeLong
Prominent economists and business leaders debated the global shift toward bilateral trade agreements and protectionism, with experts like Steve Schwarzman and Steve Chaubeau arguing that current friction serves as a catalyst for necessary systemic adaptation despite the risks of complex regulatory environments. While panelists such as Alejandro Ramirez and John Hagel highlighted immediate vulnerabilities in North American supply chains and declining corporate returns, the group largely agreed that unilateral tariff reductions in countries like Australia have historically driven superior growth compared to protectionist policies. Ultimately, the consensus leaned toward viewing the present era as a cyclical correction that could reset global trade baselines, though economist Brad DeLong warned that secular stagnation and automation might entrench these barriers longer than anticipated.
- Milken Institute56 min
Overcoming the Political Divide
Chuck Todd, Steve Bullock, Eric Cantor, Jason Grumet, Kenneth Hersh, Neera Tanden
A panel of political analysts and former officials identified that escalating dark money, collapsing competitive districts, and algorithmic media silos have structurally incentivized extremism while eroding public trust in Congress. To address these divisions, the discussion proposed concrete reforms such as the Montana-style disclosure of independent expenditures, reinstatement of reformed earmarks, and a national primary day to dilute ideological primary electorates. Looking toward the future, experts predicted that rising female candidacy rates and direct digital engagement may gradually shift the legislative landscape, potentially enabling bipartisan infrastructure deals if presidential leadership prioritizes compromise over partisan dogma.
- Milken Institute54 min
The Refugee Crisis: Rising to Meet the Moral Challenge of Our Time
Mary Hart, Simon Henshaw, Peter Laugharn, Saed Moujtahed, Zainab Salbi, Caryl Stern
A Milken Institute panel convened global leaders and philanthropists to address the escalating crisis of forced displacement, revealing that 50 million children are currently on the move while host nations face systemic strain and security misconceptions. The discussion highlighted critical failures in current aid models, noting that refugees spend an average of 18 years in limbo with only 0.2% of funding reaching local organizations, prompting a pivot toward long-term strategies like cash transfers, employment rights, and rebuilding war-torn economies. Ultimately, stakeholders called for a transition from reactive crisis management to proactive systemic reform, leveraging private and public capital to restore dignity and stability rather than relying on emergency shelters.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
How the Energy Transformation Will Power the Future
Josh Barro, Robert Armstrong, J. Andrew (Drew) Murphy, Mark Schwartz, Michael Smith
Industry experts project that while global oil demand will peak by 2040 driven by petrochemicals, natural gas will remain the fastest-growing fossil fuel alongside a renewable sector that is rapidly undercutting traditional baseloads. Economic forces are increasingly dictating energy transitions, with falling solar and wind costs enabling corporate adoption and grid modernization efforts, even as political uncertainty and infrastructure risks threaten to slow nuclear retirements and coal-phaseouts. Simultaneously, the sector faces critical challenges in grid stability and storage integration, while long-term technological bets on fusion and advanced batteries aim to address a persistent underinvestment in research and development.
- Milken Institute58 min
Seeding Change: A New Dynamism in Philanthropy
Richard Ditizio, Sir Tom Hunter, Dominika Kulczyk, David Panzirer, Belinda Tanoto, Dominique Cravicchio
Leading philanthropists including Tom, David, Belinda, and Dominika advocate for treating charitable capital as an investment portfolio that prioritizes data-driven efficacy, rigorous milestone tracking, and strategic partnerships over traditional overhead constraints. These experts emphasize shifting from direct service delivery to scaling proven models through government adoption and market-based mechanisms, while accepting that failure must be minimized through rapid iteration and clear exit metrics. The collective strategy focuses on de-risking early-stage solutions, investing in high-quality talent without artificial caps, and fostering deep collaboration to ensure sustainable, measurable impact across diverse sectors ranging from medical research to global education.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Solutions to Climate Change: A 10-Year Game Plan
Andrew Revkin, Noah Diffenbaugh, Bob Inglis, Qi Ye, Diane Regas, Pete Trelenberg, Andy Revkin, Carolyn Jungermann, Paul Telles, Amy Christensen
A comprehensive panel analysis spanning thirty years of climate data identifies the urgent need to double global energy supply while decarbonizing systems to meet Paris Agreement goals and accommodate three billion new middle-class consumers. Experts from government, industry, and research institutions converged on a multi-stakeholder strategy favoring market-based carbon pricing, expanded clean energy investment, and the prioritization of adaptation alongside mitigation. The discussion highlighted critical geopolitical dynamics, noting China's aggressive clean energy deployment and the necessity of bipartisan support for basic science to address the intersection of climate change, economic development, and national security.
- Milken Institute57 min
Japan's Great Investment Wave
Kotaro Tamura, Victor Chu, Yasuhide Nakayama, Kiyotaka Sasaki, Takumi Shibata, Sasaki-san, Shibata-san, Steve Tsang, Nakayama-san, HIROTAKA YOSHIDALEMURA, HIROKA IWASAKI
Panelists including FSA official Hironori Sasaki and Nikko Asset Management's Yasuhiro Shibata outlined strategies to mobilize Japan's 15 trillion yen in dormant household and corporate savings through revised governance codes and tax-exempt savings accounts. The discussion highlighted inbound opportunities in tourism, real estate, and the silver industry while addressing outbound shifts toward Southeast Asia and specific commitments like Masayoshi Son's $50 billion pledge to US infrastructure. Geopolitical stability, demographic solutions via foreign caregiving visas, and enhanced capital flows from Hong Kong and Africa were identified as critical drivers for the nation's economic revitalization.
- Milken Institute1h 3m
Common Sense from Uncommon Investors
Michael Milken, Thomas Barrack, John Calamos Sr., Mitchell Julis, Stephen Schwarzman, Jonathan Sokoloff
Leading Blackstone executives and private equity investors convened to analyze the structural evolution of global capital markets, highlighting a strategic pivot toward service-based consumer portfolios and the critical role of alternative financing in filling gaps left by traditional banking constraints. The panel detailed specific operational successes, including long-term outperformance in real estate and private equity against public indices, while addressing governance models that align owner-operator incentives with sustained job creation and revenue growth. Participants further outlined a forward-looking framework that rejects the permanence of low-interest-rate environments, urging active management and disciplined exit strategies to navigate emerging geopolitical dislocations and inflationary pressures.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
To Infinity and Beyond: What's Cool in Transportation
Alan Ohnsman, Peggy Johnson, James Kuffner, Lior Ron, Kyle Vogt, Richard Wallace
Industry leaders project the widespread deployment of Level 4 autonomous ride-share fleets in major urban centers by 2021, prioritizing constrained environments over universal Level 5 capability to ensure technical reliability. This transition drives a shift toward Mobility as a Service, where companies like Uber and Cruise aim to replace private vehicle ownership with high-utilization shared fleets while infrastructure providers like Microsoft leverage cloud computing to monetize in-car time. Beyond operational changes, the technology promises significant societal benefits including reduced traffic fatalities and repurposed urban land, even as it necessitates navigating a fragmented regulatory landscape and evolving labor markets.
- Milken Institute58 min
The Hunt for Yield: Risk-Free Return or Return-Free Risk?
James Mackintosh, Scott Evans, Robert Kricheff, AJ Murphy, Anne Walsh, Andrew Whittaker, James McInstosh, Bob Krychev
A panel of institutional investors and asset managers characterizes the fixed-income market as being in a late-stage bull phase with historically tight spreads, prompting a strategic shift toward defensive positioning despite a consensus that the environment remains distinct from the speculative excesses of 2007-2008. While participants are reducing exposure to overvalued assets like U.S. agency mortgage-backed securities and wary of liquidity risks from passive investing and covenant-lite debt, they continue seeking yield premiums in sector-specific opportunities such as second-lien loans and selective high-yield issuers. This cautious approach reflects concerns that corporate leverage remains elevated and that potential macroeconomic catalysts, including fiscal policy changes and geopolitical shifts, could abruptly alter the trajectory of an otherwise extended credit cycle.
- Milken Institute1h 2m
California and Asia: The Need for Collaboration
Kevin Klowden, Fred Hochberg, Elise Huang, Pradeep Khosla, Ashok Kumar Mirpuri
A panel of experts warns that shifting U.S. trade policies and proposed federal budget cuts threaten California's role as the primary gateway for Pacific economic and technological engagement. While China and Singapore aggressively expand their influence through strategic investments, regulatory sandboxes, and bilateral partnerships, the United States faces significant risks to its leadership in R&D, education, and export markets. The discussion highlights that sustaining California's innovation ecosystem requires immediate government support to counteract global shifts in semiconductor manufacturing and fintech dominance.
- Milken Institute1h 10m
U.S. Overview: Will the Economic Tailwind Continue?
Ross DeVol, John Chen, Francisco González Díaz, Vasant Prabhu, Steven Rattner, Alan Schwartz
Moderated by Ross Duvall, a panel of industry leaders from BlackBerry, Visa, Guggenheim Partners, and other institutions analyzed the disconnect between U.S. consumer confidence and weak corporate investment while debating the strategic necessity of NAFTA renegotiation and tax reform. Participants highlighted that despite robust consumer spending and low unemployment, stagnant productivity and a skills gap limit growth, prompting calls to shift focus toward high-tech innovation rather than manufacturing repatriation. Looking ahead to 2017, the group predicted a likely passage of corporate tax legislation through reconciliation, limited modifications to the Affordable Care Act, and the commencement of NAFTA negotiations that would emphasize technology and intellectual property over traditional trade barriers.