Matters of Policy & Politics

Goodbye, Mask Mandate . . . Now What?

Does a Florida judge’s decision to strike down the federal mandate for wearing masks mark a shift from pandemic to endemic thinking? Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Hoover senior fellow, a Stanford University professor of medicine, and an epidemiological researcher, discusses the efficacy of mask-wearing, the nuances of the BA.2 variant, lessons from past lockdowns, plus a proposed bill in Sacramento that would suppress COVID dissenters in California’s medical community.

Sacramento’s Economic Illiteracy

A legislative maneuver turning a tax break into a tax hike, coupled with a proposed one-day reduction in California’s work-week, begs the question of economic knowledge in Sacramento. Hoover senior fellow Lee Ohanian and distinguished policy fellow Bill Whalen, both contributors to Hoover’s “California on Your Mind” web channel, join Hoover senior writer Jonathan Movroydis to discuss why is there a reflexive desire to tax; the impact of a four-day business week; a restless governor Newsom’s interest in the affairs of conservative states; plus the Oakland Athletics’ uncertain Golden State residency.

The State Of Political Journalism

A major newspaper editorializes remorse over not covering the Hunter Biden laptop story when it first emerged soon before the November 2020 election – big news, little news, no real news at all? Carl Cannon, Real Clear Politics’ Washington bureau chief and a Hoover media fellow, discusses the state of political journalism, media bias, Elon Musk’s Twitter machinations, plus the health of the parties as the midterm election nears.

The Undereducated Generation?

The COVID pandemic struck universities in various ways – a shift to online learning, declining enrollments, plus changes in standardized testing and admission requirements. Paul Peterson, a Hoover Institution senior fellow and director of the Program on Education Policy and Governance at Harvard, discusses the corollary between COVID policy and academic prestige, plus the long-term effects of shutting down college classrooms for multiple semesters.

Mixed Cyber Signals?

Despite President Biden’s warning a week ago, a Russian-related cyberattack on American interests has yet to occur. Jacquelyn Schneider, a Hoover Institution fellow studying the intersection of technology, national security, and political psychology, with a special interest in cybersecurity, discusses the odds and merits of the Kremlin “going cyber,” how cyberwarfare factors into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, lessons learned for other geopolitical rivals, plus the changing face of 21^st century warfare.

Sacramento’s Rebate Debate

California governor Gavin Newsom and Democratic lawmakers differ on how to spend the state’s budget surplus – Newsom favors $400 vouchers for car-owners to offset higher gasoline prices; legislators favor a $200 giveaway to all adults and dependents. Hoover senior fellow Lee Ohanian and distinguished policy fellow Bill Whalen, both contributors to Hoover’s “California on Your Mind” web channel, join Hoover senior writer Jonathan Movroydis to discuss the feasibility of the proposals, plus the latest on California’s K-12 math curriculum, the Golden State’s role in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the centrists’ inability to advance criminal justice reforms.

Whither The Biden Bounce?

One month into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, does polling show a “rally ‘round the flag’” effect in America and President Biden enjoying a higher job-approval? David Brady and Douglas Rivers, Hoover Institution senior fellows and Stanford University political scientists, discuss American public sentiment towards the war in Ukraine, the added dynamics of inflation, a possible COVID relapse, and partisan primary outcomes as the midterm elections approach.

The Hornet’s Nest Over The Door

California’s governor delivered an 18-minute State of the State oration notable for its many omissions, including underperforming public schools and Sacramento’s notorious “boom or bust” revenue stream. Hoover senior fellow Lee Ohanian and distinguished policy fellow Bill Whalen, both contributors to Hoover’s “California on Your Mind” web channel, join Hoover senior writer Jonathan Movroydis to discuss how market volatility may upend state budgeting, the latest on K-12 ethnic studies, the future of UC-Berkeley student enrollment, plus the field of contenders looking to oust Gavin Newsom this November.

Did Europe Take The Red Pill?

Has the war in Ukraine and a reliance upon Russian fossil fuels prompted western European nations to reconsider their respective energy strategies? Bjorn Lomborg, a Hoover visiting fellow and environmental researcher, discusses ways for developed nations to reduce energy independence and battle climate change without necessarily devastating economies and lifestyles.

Ukraine’s George Washington – Or Martyr

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine begs questions of flawed military strategy, bad geostrategic gambits, plus how information true and false flows amidst a hostile invasion. Paul Gregory, a Russian-fluent Hoover research fellow, offers insight into how to interpret news coming out of Eastern Europe, the makeup of Ukrainians and Russians – and an update on his 16-year-old granddaughter (of Ukrainian descent) presently trying to stay out of harm’s way in Kyiv.