This past week Aspen Institute Radio focused on the latest sessions from around the Institute, including conversations from CityLab 2015 that took place in London earlier in the week. This episode features an interview with former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and London Mayor Boris Johnson, as well as talks with authors Dale Russakoff and Evan Thomas.
Aspen Institute Radio, our two-hour radio show, airs every Saturday and Sunday on SiriusXM Insight (channel 121). Each episode dives into the topics that inform the world around us. Here in our weekly Listen Longer posts, we’ll recap each episode and show where you can read, watch, and listen to more. Don’t have SiriusXM? Try it free for a month here.
CityLab 2015: Michael Bloomberg and Boris Johnson
Aspen Institute President and CEO Walter Isaacson recently spoke with Boris Johnson, mayor of London, and Michael R. Bloomberg, former New York City mayor and founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies. The men consider the role of wealth inequality in London, and discuss how the city’s ethnic diversity and tech culture contribute to urban development.
CityLab 2015: Migrants, Refugees, and the Challenge Facing European Cities
Giorgos Kaminis, mayor of Athens, Greece; George Ferguson, mayor of Bristol, UK; and James Bennet, editor-in-chief and president of The Atlantic; explain why Europe’s refugee crisis is both a political challenge and an economic opportunity.
Book Talk: Dale Russakoff, “The Prize: Who’s in Charge of America’s Schools?”
Dale Russakoff, writer and former Washington Post reporter, discusses her book “The Prize: Who’s in Charge of America’s Schools?” The book examines the efforts of Facebook Co-Founder Mark Zuckerberg, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and (then) Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who in 2010 planned to use a $200 million donation to reform the Newark school system. Russakoff explains why the men failed to achieve meaningful change, and what steps public school reformers should take to transform the US public education system.
Book Talk: Evan Thomas, “Being Nixon: A Man Divided”
New York Times bestseller Evan Thomas discusses his latest book, “Being Nixon: A Man Divided.” During the talk, Thomas describes Nixon not only through the lens of his presidency, but his humanity, illustrating how Nixon’s personal shortcomings undermined his political success.
