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Point Taken

Enough shouting. Let’s use our inside voices. Each week, POINT TAKEN debates a topic Americans care about. We deliver smart, interesting guests who can disagree without being disagreeable. Come learn something you didn't know, and maybe laugh a little.

Live from Aspen: Can College Sex Be Managed By Checklist?

1h 5m

Recently, the conversation about campus sexual assault has shifted from the previous slogan of choice, “no means no”, to that of affirmative consent referred to as “yes means yes.” But the debate over how to prevent campus sexual assault is far from over. Hosted by Carlos Watson with guests Leah Fessler, Nancy Gertner, Dianne Harrison, and Sean Decatur, live from the Aspen Ideas Festival.

Episodes

  • Live from Aspen: Can College Sex Be Managed By Checklist?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Live from Aspen: Can College Sex Be Managed By Checklist?

    S1 E11 - 1h 5m

    Recently, the conversation about campus sexual assault has shifted from the previous slogan of choice, “no means no”, to that of affirmative consent referred to as “yes means yes.” But the debate over how to prevent campus sexual assault is far from over. Hosted by Carlos Watson with guests Leah Fessler, Nancy Gertner, Dianne Harrison, and Sean Decatur, live from the Aspen Ideas Festival.

  • Should Organs Be Sold?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Should Organs Be Sold?

    S1 E10 - 26m 46s

    Each day, twenty-two people in the US die waiting for an organ. The introduction of a market for organs could decrease waiting lists, but could also incentivize dangerous behavior from both buyers and sellers. With so many lives at stake, we must ask: should organs be sold? Hosted by Carlos Watson with guests Abigail Blanco, Amy Holmes, Michele Goodwin, and Nahel Elias.

  • Is Technology Making Us Smarter or Dumber?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Is Technology Making Us Smarter or Dumber?

    S1 E9 - 26m 47s

    For many people, it’s terrifying to go a day — heck, a few hours — without their smartphones. Is this unprecedented access to technology improving human intelligence, or fueling a mindless dependency? Hosted by Carlos Watson with guests Daniel Levitin, Emily Dreyfuss, Jeff Glasse, and Kathryn Finney.

  • Should Paying for Sex Be a Crime?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Should Paying for Sex Be a Crime?

    S1 E8 - 26m 46s

    Poverty and lack of opportunity are two of the main reasons people turn to sex work. Should the law punish them, or people on the other side of the transaction who create the demand? Hosted by Carlos Watson with guests Jenna Torres, Monica Mehta, Daniel Rivero, and David Talcott.

  • Is the US Doing More Harm or Good in the Middle East?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Is the US Doing More Harm or Good in the Middle East?

    S1 E6 - 26m 40s

    After decades of negotiation and conflict, America is still involved in the Middle East. But has our military presence—and the hundred of billions of dollars in aid—improved the situation? With no clear end in sight, we must ask: is the US doing more harm or good in the Middle East?

  • Should the US Pay Reparations to Black Americans?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Should the US Pay Reparations to Black Americans?

    S1 E5 - 26m 46s

    History can’t be rewritten, but can it be redressed? Even though the United States ended slavery more than a century ago, the effects of the atrocity still endure. Does the United States need to make up for that? If so, are reparations the answer? Hosted by Carlos Watson with guests Kmele Foster, Wendy Murphy, Tom Shattuck, and Valerie Rawlston Wilson

  • Should Salaries Be Transparent?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Should Salaries Be Transparent?

    S1 E4 - 26m 47s

    Do you know how much your coworkers make? And do they know how much you make? It’s pretty normal if the idea of revealing your salary makes you squirm. But a lack of transparency may be keeping us from bridging pay gaps. So should salaries be transparent, or is there a better way to achieve equitable pay? Hosted by Carlos Watson with guests Patrice Lee, Ijeoma Oluo, Dan Price and Matt Welch.

  • Is College Worth the Price Tag?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Is College Worth the Price Tag?

    S1 E3 - 26m 46s

    We’ve all heard the advice: If you want more opportunity, go to college. But today, that advice is seriously expensive. It makes you wonder: Can we still afford to send our kids to college? Or in today’s job market, can we afford not to? Hosted by Carlos Watson with guests Margaret Hoover, Robert Kelchen, Randall Pinkston, and Charles Taibi.

  • Should the US Take in More Refugees or Fewer?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Should the US Take in More Refugees or Fewer?

    S1 E2 - 26m 47s

    The civil war in Syria, now in its fifth year, has caused more than 4.8 million Syrians to flee the country. The US has committed to taking in 10,000 of these refugees—that’s 0.2% percent. With millions of refugee lives at stake, we must ask ourselves: should the US take in more refugees, or fewer? Hosted by Carlos Watson with guests Roy Beck, Melanie Nezer, Ash-har Quraishi, and Jessica Vaughan.

  • Is the American Dream Dead or Alive?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Is the American Dream Dead or Alive?

    S1 E1 - 26m 28s

    The American Dream: Work hard, and you’ll make it. But nowadays, it can feel like hard work isn’t enough to ensure success or even to cover the basics. You start to wonder: Is the American Dream still alive, or are we just dreaming? In the series premiere of POINT TAKEN, join host Carlos and guests Monica Mehta, Tom Shattuck, Matt Welch, and Isabel Wilkerson as they discuss the American Dream.

Extras + Features

  • Fact Check: Organ Donation: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Fact Check: Organ Donation

    S1 E10 - 2m 29s

    What is the market rate of organs in Iran? And which organ can you donate as a living donor in rare circumstances? Guests play Fact Check during the Point Taken debate about organs, hosted by Carlos Watson with guests Abigail Blanco, Amy Holmes, Michele Goodwin, and Dr. Nahel Elias.

  • Preview: Should Organs Be Sold?: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Preview: Should Organs Be Sold?

    S1 E10 - 30s

    Premieres June 28 at 11/10C online and on PBS. Hosted by Carlos Watson with guests Abigail Blanco, Amy Holmes, Michele Goodwin, and Nahel Elias.

  • Audience Q&A: Organs: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Audience Q&A: Organs

    S1 E10 - 3m 8s

    Audience members ask questions following the debate about organs, hosted by Carlos Watson with guests Abigail Blanco, Amy Holmes, Michele Goodwin, and Dr. Nahel Elias.

  • The Organs Debate in 56 Seconds: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Organs Debate in 56 Seconds

    S1 E10 - 1m 19s

    Highlights from the debate about organs. Hosted by Carlos Watson with guests Abigail Blanco, Amy Holmes, Michele Goodwin, and Dr. Nahel Elias.

  • The Technology Debate in 58 Seconds: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Technology Debate in 58 Seconds

    S1 E9 - 1m 21s

    Highlights from the debate about technology. Hosted by Carlos Watson with guests Daniel Levitin, Emily Dreyfuss, Jeff Glasse, and Kathryn Finney.

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