Intelligence Squared U.S. Debates Topics From National Security to Comedy This Fall

Intelligence Squared U.S.'s fall season tackles the widest array of topics in the nonprofit's 12-year history, debating everything from national security to Silicon Valley to political comedy. The debate series The New Yorker called "fantastic" and the New York Times a "model for disagreeing well" builds on the milestones of their last season, which saw them produce their 150th debate and launch a new program on cable television, furthering their growing reach via public radio, podcast, live streaming, and beyond.

This initial lineup includes debates in their New York City home base along with traveling debates in San Francisco and their return to the Mayo Clinic's "Transform" conference in Minnesota. Experts and prominent figures like popular satirist Andy Borowitz, political scientist John Mearsheimer, former National Security Council official Kori Schake, author P.J O'Rourke, former Assistant Secretary of Defense Derek Chollet, and Collective Health co-founder Rajaie Batniji will debate subjects including national security, healthcare, comedy, Silicon Valley, and the future of the Democratic Party. All debates will stream live online.

See the current debate schedule below, with more additions and debaters to be announced. Tickets will go on sale soon at http://iq2us.org.

Intelligence Squared U.S. Fall Debate Lineup

9/20 - "Unresolved: U.S. National Security"
New York, NY
* Stephen F. Cohen: Professor of Russian Studies and Politics Emeritus, New York University & Princeton University
* Reuel Marc Gerecht: Senior Fellow, The Foundation for Defense of Democracies & Fmr. CIA Case Officer
* John J. Mearsheimer: American Political Scientist & Professor, University of Chicago
* Kori Schake: Deputy Director-General, International Institute for Strategic Studies
* Derek Chollet: Executive VP, German Marshall Fund & Fmr. U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense

9/26 - "Retail Alliances - Not Washington - Will Save the U.S. Health Care System"
Mayo Transform Conference - Rochester MN
For the Motion:
* Rajaie Batniji: Co-Founder & Chief Health Officer, Collective Health
* W. Gregg Slager: Senior Partner & Global Health Leader, Ernst & Young
Against the Motion:
* Dr. Lisa Bielamowicz: President and Co-Founder, Gist Healthcare and former Chief Medical Officer of the Advisory Board Company
* Rosemarie Day: Founder, Day Health Strategies

10/11 - Topic: Is progressive populism or centrism the way forward for the Democratic party?
New York, NY
* Debaters TBA

11/1 - "Trump Is Bad for Comedy"
New York, NY
For the Motion:
* Andy Borowitz: Comedian, The New Yorker
* PJ O'Rourke: Author, Satirist
Against the Motion:
Debaters TBA

11/11 - "Silicon Valley Has Lost Its Soul"
Techonomy Conference - San Francisco, CA
* Debaters TBA

About Intelligence Squared U.S.

A non-partisan, non-profit organization, Intelligence Squared U.S. was founded in 2006 to address a fundamental problem in America: the extreme polarization of our nation and our politics. Their mission is to restore critical thinking, facts, reason, and civility to American public discourse. The award-winning debate series reaches over 30 million American households through multi-platform distribution, including radio, television, live streaming, podcasts, interactive digital content, and on-demand apps on Roku and Apple TV. With over 150 debates and counting, Intelligence Squared U.S. has encouraged the public to "think twice" on a wide range of provocative topics. Author and ABC News correspondent John Donvan has moderated IQ2US since 2008.