Toast n' Topics

In the second of our series of interviews, Toast n’ Topics speaks with Michael Beckley, Associate Professor of Political Science at Tufts University. We dive into his work on the U.S.–China power balance, exploring the future of U.S. foreign policy, the limits of China’s rise, and the broader lessons for how America should navigate great-power rivalry.

In this episode, Ben and Sachin dive into the trajectory of U.S. debt and consider its sustainability in the years and decades ahead. 

In our latest episode, we discuss the recent string of technical failures that unfolded at Newark Airport, including the longer-term problems of outdated infrastructure and staffing shortages in the industry, as well as what could be done to improve them. 

In this episode, Sachin interviews Ben on his new coauthored book, Command of Commerce: America's Enduring Economic Power Advantage over China. 

The book is available here: https://www.amazon.com/Command-Commerce-Americas-Enduring-Advantage/dp/0197802303

In this episode, we interview Nikhil Kamdar, a graduate of Vanderbilt University and a current med student at George Washington University, about a recent medical service trip that he made to Uganda and his observations on the ground

In this episode, Ben and Sachin examine recent cuts to foreign aid spending and consider the effects of it being removed. 

In this episode, Ben and Sachin discuss the progress that has been made in generative AI technology and the tangible evidence that it could be improving productivity.

See a sample of Ben's webpage mentioned in the podcast here: https://commandofcommerce.com/

In this episode, Ben and Sachin examine the drivers of recent egg shortage in the United States. 

In this episode, we unpack the latest developments in the global AI race including the recent breakthroughs from Deepseek, a Chinese AI startup, and what it could mean for the future in the race for global AI dominance. 

In this episode, Ben and Sachin revisit trade policy, analyzing tariff proposals under the Trump Administration, the causes and effects of global trade imbalances, and potential remedies. 

Thanks for listening to Toast n' Topics this year! In this episode, Ben and Sachin share with you their plans for the show in 2025. 

In our last episode of 2024, we speak with Sachin Shiva, a graduate of Dartmouth College in the Class of 2022 and a current researcher at the Center For American Progress, about some of his work around unions, their benefits to our economy, and how they promote a more inclusive democracy. 

To read more of Sachin's research, click the link here: 
https://www.americanprogress.org/people/sachin-shiva/

In this episode, Ben and Sachin debrief on Sachin's recent travels to India and his observations on India's Unified Payments Interface (UPI). 

In this episode, Ben and Sachin explore what the intensification of tropical storms and other natural disasters may mean for risk analysis and development over the coming decades. 

In this episode we outline the economic theory of monopolies and market concentration, with a focus on understanding their structure, prevalence, and policy responses. 

In this episode, Ben and Sachin unpack the U.S. fiscal deficit, its primary drivers, and why it matters. 

In this episode, we take a deep dive into US trade policy and two of the key proposals that have come to the forefront -- tariffs and subsidies -- with a focus on what they intend to accomplish and their longer-term implications.