Latest Interviews

Racial Justice and Centering the Black Community: A Milken Institute Community Discussion

Richard Ditizio, Byron Allen, Philip Ozuah, Don Peebles, Debra Smith

This panel redefines systemic racism as an ambient condition perpetuating severe economic disparities in real estate, healthcare, and media despite decades of diversity initiatives. Key figures including Byron Allen, Don, and CalSTRS representatives highlighted how minority entrepreneurs face capital exclusion while institutions like CalSTRS leverage shareholder power to mandate board diversity. The discussion concluded with a strategic pivot from philanthropy to investment, framing the inclusion of underrepresented groups as an essential "emerging market" for national economic competitiveness.

Covid-19: why travel will never be the same

Leo Mirani

In April 2020, global aviation experienced a historic collapse with passenger numbers dropping 94% year-over-year, forcing carriers like Virgin Atlantic to eliminate thousands of jobs while the IATA warned that without government aid, only 30 of over 700 airlines would survive. Regional recovery remains uneven, with European and U.S. flight levels still down by 75% and 57% respectively, threatening to permanently erase business travel segments that once subsidized leisure fares. Looking ahead, the industry faces a potential shift toward closed borders and reduced globalization, as travel restrictions and the retirement of older aircraft reshape the economic and operational landscape for years to come.

The Power of Advocacy: US Mayors

Eric Johnson, Nan Whaley, LaToya Cantrell

Mayors Eric Johnson of Dallas, Andrew Whitaker of Dayton, and LaToya Cantrell of New Orleans collectively addressed the compounding crises of the COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest while outlining strategies to support small businesses and protect vulnerable populations. These leaders detailed significant public-private financial partnerships, such as Dallas's $10 million recovery fund and New Orleans' $50 million commitment with Goldman Sachs, to mitigate job losses and address systemic inequities. Furthermore, the mayors emphasized an urgent need for federal assistance and collaborative governance to accelerate economic recovery and build more resilient, equitable urban environments.

Make Disadvantage Your Superpower | Lex Fridman | AMA #6

Lex Fridman, Zachariah

Dr. Lex advises Libyan high school student Zachariah to transform his educational disadvantages into a competitive advantage by leveraging online resources to build and publicly share practical AI projects. He urges Zachariah to prioritize bold passion and early risk-taking over seeking traditional stable careers or elite university admissions, emphasizing that meaningful engineering impact arises from startups or applied work in diverse sectors. This mentorship reframes early struggles as the necessary foundation for a future "great story," assuring the young student that consistent hard work and kindness will ultimately yield significant professional fulfillment.

Covid-19: is working from home really the new normal?

Philip Coggan

The pandemic has accelerated a fundamental shift in the US labor market, transforming the remote work ratio from one in fifty to over one in three while forcing a reevaluation of the $10,000 annual cost per employee associated with traditional office leases. Tech leaders like Twitter and Facebook are institutionalizing permanent remote mandates, driving a transition from time-based industrial wages to function-based compensation even as urban productivity models face disruption from reduced office density and gendered employment impacts. Despite skepticism about replicating corporate culture and creativity online, future office spaces are expected to evolve from daily workstations into collaborative hubs that complement a decentralized, knowledge-based economy where remote eligibility remains highly variable across global regions.

20,000 Push-ups and Pull-ups in 30 Days Challenge (featuring David Goggins)

David Goggins

Initiating a 30-day physical and mental trial starting June 10th, the speaker commits to a daily regimen of 20,000 combined push-ups and pull-ups alongside a six-mile run, a challenge inspired by a social media engagement milestone and refined by advice from David Goggins. Goggins instructs the participant to endure a month of deliberate suffering to harden mental resilience while prioritizing injury prevention through specific warm-up protocols, a low-carb diet, and a strategic focus on form over speed. The event aims to demonstrate that ambitious goals can be achieved through consistent habit formation without extensive planning, with public progress tracking offered to inspire similar community challenges.

Covid-19: what’s really going on in Russia?

Arkady Ostrovsky

Russian healthcare professionals have compiled unofficial records revealing that the nation's reported pandemic death rates are significantly lower than reality, prompting local officials in Dagestan and Moscow to later admit to severe undercounting to maintain an illusion of control. Amidst this crisis, President Vladimir Putin avoided a strict nationwide lockdown and faced plummeting popularity, yet he proceeded with a military parade and scheduled a constitutional vote to secure his grip on power until the end of his life. Analysts warn that instead of adopting transparency to address the pandemic's human toll, the leadership is likely to deepen repression, creating a dangerous precedent for a potentially violent future transfer of authority.

How scientists calculate climate change

Vilhelm Bjerknes, Oliver Morton

Building on Wilhelm Bjerknes' 19th-century formulas, modern atmospheric computers now operate 25 trillion times faster than early models to simulate global climate behavior through complex grid systems. Although technical limitations regarding small-scale cloud dynamics create divergent warming projections, historical data confirms these tools accurately forecast observed trends when paired with economic scenarios that link human policy to temperature outcomes. Ultimately, while these models cannot predict human decisions, they remain the essential instrument for quantifying carbon dioxide's impact and guiding the stringent emission reductions necessary to meet Paris Agreement targets.

Covid-19: how bad will it be for the economy?

Philip Coggan

Global markets have plummeted due to the pandemic-induced collapse of commodity prices and a historic surge in unemployment, triggering the fastest bear market decline on record as investors rapidly devalued future profit projections. Governments worldwide have deployed over $2.2 trillion in fiscal relief to balance economic survival against strict lockdowns that aim to prevent a spike in mortality rates, even though models warn that prolonged restrictions could slash U.S. and Eurozone GDP by one-third. While early indicators from China suggest a V-shaped recovery is possible, economists caution that restoring global supply chains and achieving economic stability will require a slow, cautious approach as nations navigate the trade-off between public health and financial contraction.

A Day in the Life of an ER Doc on the COVID-19 Frontlines

Craig Spencer

Emergency physician Craig Spencer documented the overwhelming surge of suspected COVID-19 cases in New York City hospitals, highlighting severe resource strains where ventilators are depleting and staff are working under rigorous decontamination protocols. His account details a shift from routine emergency care to managing critical respiratory distress while enforcing strict social distancing to mitigate transmission risks amid a predicted exponential rise in infections. Ultimately, Spencer argues that while the virus spread cannot be stopped, immediate public adherence to staying home remains the only viable strategy to slow the outbreak and preserve life-saving medical resources.

7 Levels of Coronavirus Attack on Our Society and How We Can Fight Back

This comprehensive analysis examines the multi-layered impacts of a novel pandemic, detailing projected medical outcomes that could range from annual flu-level fatalities to millions of deaths if mitigation strategies fail. The event necessitates a unified global response across biological, psychological, economic, and political spheres, urging swift adoption of social distancing, rapid fiscal stimulus, and the protection of scientific integrity against partisan obstruction. Ultimately, the crisis serves as a critical wake-up call to reform healthcare infrastructure, redefine digital interaction standards, and prioritize collective compassion and existential preparedness against future civilization-threatening threats.

The new coronavirus: how should the world respond?

As the global pandemic escalated to 565 deaths and triggered market panic in mid-March, governments enforced unprecedented lockdowns while grappling with a stark trade-off between life-saving suppression and severe economic collapse. Analysis of China's strategy and modeling by Imperial College London demonstrated that only sustained social distancing could prevent critical care from exceeding capacity, though economic indicators like China's 20% retail decline signaled the high cost of such measures. Meanwhile, contrasting successes in Singapore and South Korea highlighted the necessity of aggressive testing and clear communication, even as experts warned that effective antibody testing and vaccines remain months away from resolution.

America v China: why the trade war won't end soon

Soumaya Keynes, Deng Xiaoping, Trump, David Rennie, Chad Bowne, Samaya

After sixteen months of reciprocal tariffs triggered by US concerns over China's rapid economic ascent and alleged unfair trade practices, the conflict has escalated to impose 25% duties on billions of dollars in goods while specifically targeting the agricultural sector to influence political outcomes. The dispute has severely impacted global growth projections and business investment, with recent restrictions on tech firm Huawei and a stalled "phase one" deal highlighting the deep structural disagreements regarding intellectual property and market access. Analysts caution that while a limited agreement might offer temporary tariff relief, the fundamental clash over US dominance in future industries and China's state-led economic model suggests a prolonged stalemate without comprehensive resolution.

Is America right to fear Huawei?

Ren Zhengfei, Joe Franell

Amidst a geopolitical clash where the US government labels Huawei a national security risk citing China's 2017 National Intelligence Law, the world's largest telecommunications manufacturer faces a 2019 ban on American components despite offering independent code audits. While Huawei's founder Ren Zhengfei acknowledges the resulting uncertainty, the company's cheaper 5G infrastructure remains critical for billions of users globally, including rural US networks. Analysts warn that excluding Huawei could fracture global supply chains and stall technological progress, yet the US administration maintains its stance to counter China's strategic rise in the telecommunications sector.

Reducing the Cost and Risk of Dementia

Nora Super, Michael Belleville, Jennie Chin Hansen, Kevin Crain, Jeff Huber, Shari Ling, Sarah Locke, Ian Cramer, Orion, Alan Stevens, Jill Lesser

The Milken Institute's new report on reducing dementia costs sparked a multi-sector dialogue involving CMS officials, patient advocates, and industry leaders to address critical gaps in workforce preparedness and community support. Key initiatives highlighted include CMS's expanded billing codes for cognitive screening, the rapid growth of accredited Geriatric Emergency Departments that reduce hospitalizations, and innovative financial strategies to protect caregivers from retirement disparities. Panelists emphasized that effective intervention requires moving beyond isolated medical treatment to holistic models that integrate home care, fraud detection, and policy changes aimed at improving long-term quality of life.