Intelligence Squared U.S. Launches Debates-from-Home Series with "The Defense Production Act Is Being Underutilized," Online Now

For fourteen years, nonpartisan debate series Intelligence Squared U.S. has held debates across the country, always in front of live audiences. Today, they release their first-ever remote debate and begin a new series of debates from home. Now any viewer online can vote to determine the winners, rather than just those in the room. The motion for the first debate: "The Defense Production Act Is Being Underutilized."

As health professionals and leaders around the nation rush to procure the supplies Americans need to combat coronavirus, we ask: Is the Defense Production Act being underutilized? While President Trump has invoked the act in recent weeks, many are calling on his administration to use its powers much more broadly. They argue that the federal government must intervene in private industry to ensure life-saving supplies - like personal protective equipment and ventilators - are produced and distributed effectively. But others say that companies like GM and Ford will meet America's needs without government overreach.

Historian and New York Times contributing op-ed writer Margaret O'Mara argues for the motion. The Heritage Foundation's Center for National Defense director Thomas Spoehr argues against it.

This debate is audio-only, available as a podcast and public radio show airing nationally. Future debates will include a video component as well.

Listen to the complete debate here: 
https://www.intelligencesquaredus.org/debates/defense-production-act-being-underutilized

FOR THE MOTION

* Margaret O'Mara: Historian & Author, "The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America" 
Margaret O'Mara is a professor of history at the University of Washington, where her research explores the connection between the technology industry and American politics. She is a contributing opinion writer at the New York Times and the author of many books, including her most recent, "The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America."

AGAINST THE MOTION

* Thomas Spoehr: Director, Heritage Foundation's Center for National Defense 
Thomas Spoehr is director of the Heritage Foundation's Center for National Defense. Prior to joining Heritage, Spoehr served for over 36 years in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of Lieutenant General. An expert on national defense policy, he is one of the foremost uniformed experts in weapons of mass destruction, which includes chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear weapons.

ABOUT INTELLIGENCE SQUARED U.S. DEBATES (IQ2US)
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 millions of viewers and listeners through through multi-platform distribution, including radio, live streaming, podcasts, interactive digital content, and on-demand apps on Roku and Apple TV. With over 170 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.

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