Latest Interviews
Showing 31–37 of 37 transcripts.
Clear all filters- Milken Institute22 min
Keynote Address: Gov. Jerry Brown
Governor Jerry Brown credited California's transition from a $27 billion deficit to a projected surplus of up to $12 billion on five voter-passed structural reforms, including redistricting and a top-two open primary, while cautioning against using temporary capital gains to fund permanent programs. The administration is currently shifting education funding from state mandates to a local formula that targets low-income and non-English-speaking students, reversing a trend of centralized control initiated by Proposition 13. Despite facing unresolved liabilities such as unfunded pensions and deferred infrastructure maintenance, the state continues to lead the nation in venture capital and innovation while positioning climate change solutions as a key economic driver.
- Milken Institute54 min
Magic Johnson and David Ho: Winning the Battle Against AIDS (updated)
Magic Johnson, David Ho, Earvin (Magic) Johnson, Al Michaels
In 1938, President Roosevelt launched a campaign against polio that, following the 1955 introduction of the Salk vaccine and strategic public endorsements, reduced US cases by 99.9% and annual costs from $100 billion to $100 million by the turn of the millennium. Decades later, the HIV/AIDS epidemic reshaped global health through pivotal moments such as Magic Johnson's 1991 retirement announcement and Dr. David Ho's development of HAART therapy, which transformed the disease from a fatal diagnosis into a manageable chronic condition for many. Today, despite significant advances in treatment and the efforts of advocates like Bill Gates and Dr. Ho, the disease remains a critical global challenge affecting millions, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and among specific US demographics, necessitating continued research for a vaccine and cure.
- Milken Institute1h 14m
Investing in African Prosperity
Tony Blair, Bill Gates, H.E. Paul Kagame, Strive Masiyiwa, Rhonda Zygocki, Michael Milken
Economic and health data reveal that twenty-five African nations have achieved middle-income status, driven by demographic dividends, rapid mobile adoption, and strategic investments from corporations like Chevron and the Agricultural Transformation Agency in Ethiopia. Successful interventions in countries such as Rwanda and Zimbabwe demonstrate that combining local capacity building with global partnerships can eliminate extreme poverty, eradicate diseases like polio, and transform sectors ranging from agriculture to financial services. These outcomes suggest a future where infrastructure leapfrogging and transparent governance create a sustainable win-win scenario for both private investors and African populations.
- Milken Institute1h 1m
Lunch Panel: A Conversation with Tony Blair and Michael Milken
Former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair reflected on the psychological demands of executive leadership while outlining his strategies for addressing global challenges including the Eurozone crisis, religious extremism, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He emphasized the necessity of structural reforms to drive economic growth and argued that open immigration policies and private-sector innovation are critical for future stability, contrasting his experiences managing unforeseen crises with his current freedom to select specific international causes. Blair concluded by calling for a $6 million initiative to link 1,000 schools globally, aiming to combat radicalization through shared education and the promotion of common values across cultures.
- Milken Institute1h 6m
Pushing the Frontier: How the Space Industry Is Changing the Way We See the World
Gwen Shotwell, Ellen Polakowski, May Jemison, Esther Dyson
The global space sector is undergoing a transformative shift from government dominance to a competitive commercial model driven by private firms like SpaceX and Bigelow Aerospace, which are deploying reusable rocket technology and inflatable orbital habitats to reduce costs and expand capabilities. While the industry navigates growing international competition and contested orbital environments, it simultaneously addresses critical challenges such as asteroid defense and interstellar travel through initiatives like the 100-Year Starship project and NASA's evolving public-private partnerships. This transition is fostering a new economic multiplier effect where commercial innovation in satellite services, synthetic biology, and deep-space exploration generates substantial returns for both national security and global environmental monitoring.
- Milken Institute1h 0m
A Conversation with Larry King and Carlos Slim
Carlos Slim, a telecommunications magnate known for his disciplined approach to business and extensive philanthropy, attributes his success to an innate curiosity and a belief that wealth should serve as a tool for social development rather than an end goal. His economic analysis highlights unsustainable Western fiscal deficits, prompting proposals for structural reforms such as privatizing state assets and rethinking labor models, while his foundation actively advances global health and digital literacy through massive infrastructure projects in Latin America and Indonesia. Despite facing criticism regarding market dominance, Slim maintains that his operations are driven by efficiency and competition, viewing his survival of multiple life-threatening health crises as a testament to his philosophy that happiness is defined by a continuous "love for life."
- Milken Institute1h 21m
Milken Institute Forum: Todd Buchholz
Todd Buchholz, Skip, Debbie, Dick Fredericks, Henny Youngman, E.F. Schumacher, Jimmy Carter, Robert Redford, Shirley Temple, Julia Child, Jackie Robinson, George Washington, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Stalin, Daniel Gilbert, Richard Frank, Mandela, Steve Jobs, Dalai Lama, Mother Teresa, Fidel, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Mark Twain, Ronald Reagan, Pope John Paul II, Jonas Salk, Watson, Crick, Harry, Lucille Ball, Ethel, Kiyosaki, Tom Cruise, Ozzie, Harriet, Beaver, Theodore Roosevelt, Milton Berle, Joe Biden, Yao Ming, John Taylor, Al Gore, John Mackey
Todd Buchholz argues that human rushing, biological stress, and economic competition are essential drivers of happiness, freedom, and historical progress, refuting narratives that advocate for retreat into simplicity. He supports this thesis with neuroscientific evidence showing that risk-taking stimulates cognitive function, historical data proving capitalism's role in extending life expectancy, and corporate case studies like General Motors illustrating the inefficiency of suppressed competition. Buchholz concludes that removing competitive pressure leads to stagnation and tyranny, while maintaining that freedom and merit-based incentives are necessary to sustain the ongoing rise in human prosperity and longevity.