Forming Souls in an AI Future
City Journal Audio
Ben Sasse addresses the centrality of the family and the challenges of technology in accepting the Manhattan Institute’s Hamilton Award.
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Youth Residential Treatment in America
City Journal Audio
America’s children are in crisis—and the system designed to help them is breaking down. Christina Buttons, Naomi Schaefer Riley, Scott Dziengelski, and Carolyn Gorman explore one of the most urgent and overlooked issues in public health: the severe shortage of residential treatment beds for young people struggling with mental illness. What happens when children need intensive care and there’s nowhere to send them? We dig into the real story behind treatment facilities, cutting through the media sensationalism to show what quality mental health care for kids really looks like. Our...
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When Race Trumps Merit, with Heather Mac Donald
City Journal Audio
Is America trading excellence for ideology? In this episode, Rafael Mangual sits down with Heather Mac Donald—author of When Race Trumps Merit—for a frank conversation about affirmative action, diversity mandates, and what happens when institutions prioritize identity over ability. They dig into the real-world consequences of diversity-driven policies in education and the workplace, the growing skills gap, and the cultural factors that shape outcomes. It’s a provocative and engaging discussion of issues many people try to avoid talking about.
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Reforming Child Welfare: The Hidden Crisis No One Talks About
City Journal Audio
Naomi Schaefer Riley and Rafael Mangual discuss the complexities of the child welfare system in the U.S. They explore controversial policies surrounding child protection, neglect, and foster care, emphasizing the need for transparency and reform.
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Pre-Industrial Life Was Worse
City Journal Audio
Chelsea Follett joins Brian Anderson to talk about how technology has improved urban living from earlier times.
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Supreme Court Opinion Roundup (with Ilya Shapiro)
City Journal Audio
Ilya Shapiro and Rafael Mangual discuss the Supreme Court’s most consequential recent decisions and anticipate the legal battles that could define the future of American law. From landmark rulings to looming cases, they offer sharp analysis of issues like birthright citizenship, the scope of executive power, and the role of independent agencies—while examining how judicial philosophy continues to influence the Court’s approach. They also look ahead to what’s next: potential retirements, shifting dynamics on the bench, and high-stakes cases such as Childs v. Salazar.
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Reforming Therapy: Addressing Bias and Building Trust
City Journal Audio
Founder of the Open Therapy Institute Andrew Hartz and Rafael Mangual explore the growing influence of political bias in psychotherapy and what it means for both therapists and clients. Hartz makes the case for an approach to mental health care that respects personal beliefs while still promoting growth and well-being.
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Affordability Roundtable (Part 2): The Hidden Costs of College and Food Delivery: How Regulations Drive Up Prices
City Journal Audio
Jarrett Dieterle, Neetu Arnold, and Rafael Mangual discuss surprising parallels between the soaring costs of higher education and the price of food delivery. What’s driving these increases—and who’s really paying for them? They examine how government regulations, subsidies, and market dynamics shape affordability in both sectors. Their conversation challenges conventional thinking about cost, value, and opportunity in today’s economy.
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City Journal Affordability Roundtable (Part 1)
City Journal Audio
Judge Glock, John Ketcham, and Rafael Mangual discuss key factors affecting urban affordability. From the hidden impact of sales taxes to the role of density in shaping livable cities, they examine how policy decisions affect housing costs, public services, and quality of life. Whether you're a policymaker, city resident, or just curious about the future of urban living, this episode offers sharp insights into what makes cities affordable.
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Mamdani’s First Three Months
City Journal Audio
Nicole Gelinas joins Brian Anderson to discuss Zohran Mamdani’s performance as mayor and the fiscal condition of New York City.
info_outlineKay Hymowitz joins City Journal editor Brian Anderson to discuss a challenge facing aging populations in wealthy nations across the world: loneliness. Her essay in the Spring 2019 issue, "Alone," explores this subject.
"Americans are suffering from a bad case of loneliness," Hymowitz writes. "Foundering social trust, collapsing heartland communities, an opioid epidemic, and rising numbers of 'deaths of despair' suggest a profound, collective discontent."
Evidence of the loneliness epidemic is dramatic in other countries, too. Japan, for example, has seen a troubling rise in "lonely deaths." The challenge, Hymowitz says, is to teach younger generations the importance of family and community before they make decisions that will further isolate them.