William Bennett
Showing 1–6 of 6 transcripts.
- Milken Institute1h 5m
Conversation w/ Betsy DeVos, Secretary, U.S. Dept. of Education / U.S. Education Policy Discussion
Betsy DeVos, Lowell Milken, William Bennett, Steve Bullock, Jeb Bush
During a high-level policy discussion, Secretary Betsy DeVos, former Secretary William Bennett, and Governors Jeb Bush and Steve Bullock debated the role of federal versus state authority in education amidst persistent achievement gaps and insufficient college readiness rates. The panelists advocated for shifting decision-making power to the states through block grants and school choice mechanisms like Education Savings Accounts and dual enrollment programs to foster local innovation and address specific demographic needs. While all participants expressed optimism about state-led reforms, they simultaneously warned that systemic issues such as teacher shortages and social stratification require urgent attention to ensure the education system functions as an effective equalizer.
- Milken Institute54 min
The First 100 Days—and the Next 1,000
Carol Lee, Paul Atkins, William Bennett, Richard Haass, Chris Liddell, Andrew Liveris, Bill Bennett
The Office of American Innovation has engaged over 200 business leaders to advance a growth agenda focused on deregulation, legislative reforms like the Financial Choice Act, and workforce modernization to address manufacturing and STEM skills gaps. Concurrently, the administration is restructuring foreign policy by shifting toward fair trade negotiations and withdrawing from the Trans-Pacific Partnership while utilizing executive orders to lower regulatory costs for the automotive and banking sectors. Although fiscal concerns persist regarding deficits and political challenges remain from both congressional factions, the strategy emphasizes a transition from consultation to active policy implementation intended to secure a permanent voice for job creators.
- Milken Institute59 min
Can the Traditional University Thrive in the Internet Age?
Jeffrey Silber, Bill Achtmeyer, William Bennett, Gregory Cappelli, Ronald Daniels, Nikhil Sinha, Jeff Silber, Bill Bennett, Ron Daniels, Bhagwan Chaudhary, James Starr, Gary Weisserman, Ray Jacobson, Devian
Moderated by Jeff Silber of BMO Capital Markets, a panel including Bill Ackmeyer, Bill Bennett, Greg Capelli, Ron Daniels, and Nikhil Sinha examined the viability of traditional universities amid 24% growth in online enrollments and the rise of micro-credentials. Experts predicted that while elite research institutions will survive by leveraging prestige and innovation, small colleges with low endowments face extinction as market consolidation accelerates and Fortune 500 leaders increasingly define skills standards. The discussion highlighted that future higher education must differentiate itself through pricing disruption, personalized learning technologies, and hybrid models that balance technical instruction with essential soft skills.
- Milken Institute59 min
The Rise and Decline of Nations and Civilizations (updated)
Jared Diamond, Niall Ferguson, James Robinson, William Bennett
Historians Neil Ferguson, Jared Diamond, and James Robinson analyze the non-linear S-curves of civilization collapse through the lenses of environmental strain, health crises, and the critical distinction between inclusive and extractive political institutions. The panel assesses contemporary vulnerabilities in the United States, such as educational deficits and intergenerational debt, while projecting that China faces insurmountable demographic and resource barriers despite its current innovation surge. Divergent views on future stability emerge regarding the European Union and Japan, with experts debating whether historical precedents of institutional evolution can overcome inherent systemic flaws.
- Milken Institute1h 16m
The Future of Higher Education in America
William Bennett, Steven Knapp, Daphne Koller, Patricia McWade, Anthony Miller, John Nelson, Bill Bennett, Tony Miller, Megan Smith, John Graff
Amidst eroding public confidence and a trillion-dollar student debt crisis, the U.S. higher education sector faces significant pressure to modernize through legislative mandates for outcome transparency and disruptive online learning models. Prominent institutions and experts like George Washington University, Georgetown University, and Udacity are testing alternative strategies ranging from fixed-tuition policies and global competency credentials to robust need-based aid programs. These responses aim to address the widening gap between academic credentials and economic reality while preparing for a future where regulations tie financial aid to institutional performance and survival.
- Milken Institute59 min
The Rise and Decline of Nations and Civilizations
Jared Diamond, Niall Ferguson, James Robinson, William Bennett
This analysis applies a non-linear theoretical framework to evaluate the divergent trajectories of the United States and China, identifying personal health crises, environmental degradation, and extractive institutions as primary drivers of societal collapse. While the U.S. retains structural advantages in soil fertility and federal innovation, it faces severe risks from political polarization, regulatory complexity, and civic atrophy, whereas China's rapid economic rise is constrained by an inability to transition from authoritarian governance and critical resource scarcity. The discussion concludes that future instability may stem from cyber warfare, external shocks, or a shift in the global locus of innovation toward China rather than a sudden, total collapse of either civilization.