02/11/2015 (press release: foratv) // Julia Aranda
FORA.tv will present a free live stream of an Intelligence Squared U.S. debate that questions whether or not America’s best days are behind it. Arguing in favor of the motion are Josef Joffe and Peter Zeihan, against are Chrystia Freeland and James Rickards.
WHAT: FORA.tv, the leading online destination for video programs from the world’s best conferences and events, will broadcast the Intelligence Squared U.S. (IQ2US) Oxford-style debate, “Declinists Be Damned: Bet on America.”
America owes $6 trillion to China, our sprawling military complex often appears helpless against disparate threats abroad, and the War on Terror has stripped us of the moral high ground. Washington is paralyzed by bitter partisanship, our children are falling behind their international peers, and our middle class is no longer the world’s most affluent. But we’ve been warned about America’s decline before. Remember Sputnik? Yes, times are tough, but America is recovering from the Great Recession faster than any other advanced country, an energy boom could add billions to the GDP, we’re still a leader in technological innovation, and our military strength and geopolitical advantages remain unrivaled. Are our best days behind us, or should the world still bet on America?
WHEN: Wednesday, February 11th at 6:45 pm EST
WHERE: The debate will be streamed live at intelligencesquaredus.fora.tv. The debate will be interactive with a Twitter feed following the conversation around the event. Following the live event, FORA.tv will offer the debate as a free on-demand program, and the full video and highlights will be available to share and embed.
In support of the motion:
Joseph Joffe, Senior Fellow, Stanford’s Freeman Spogli Institute & Publisher-Editor, Die Zeit
Peter Zeihan, Geopolitical Strategist & Author, The Accidental Superpower
Against the motion:
Chrystia Freeland, Member, Parliament of Canada & Journalist
James Rickards, Economist, Investment Banker & Author, Currency Wars
The Moderator: John Donvan is a correspondent for ABC News. In a career that spans more than two decades for ABC News, Donvan previously served as the Chief White House Correspondent, along with postings in Moscow, London, Jerusalem and Amman.
ABOUT FORA.TV
FORA.tv is the leader in video production, online distribution and monetization services for the conference and event industry. FORA.tv helps hundreds of organizations including the Aspen Institute, the Economist, the New York Public Library, and Wired expand the audience for their events. FORA.tv has been named a Top 50 Web Site by TIME, and a Top Education Site by The Telegraph. FORA.tv is based in San Francisco. For more information, visit http://fora.tv.
ABOUT INTELLIGENCE SQUARED U.S. DEBATES (IQ2US)
Winner of the 2013 Silver Radio Award for Best Public Affairs Program and named one of the “Five Podcasts that Will Change the Way You Think” by Forbes, Intelligence Squared U.S. was founded in New York City in 2006 by Robert Rosenkranz, and has grown into an internationally syndicated series heard and watched by millions. The debates have attracted some of the world’s top thinkers, including Steven Forbes, Neal Barnard, Paul Krugman, Karl Rove, Malcolm Gladwell, and Arianna Huffington. With over 80 debates, 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. The executive producer is Dana Wolfe.
