SAPIR with David Wolpe

Harvard political philosopher Danielle Allen joins David Wolpe to discuss how ideas shape influence, from Plato to the American founding and today’s age of AI. Allen explains how an 18th-century British aristocrat—the subject of her latest book Radical Duke—helped her truly understand Lincoln’s idea of government “of the people, by the people, for the people.” She also shares the reforms she’d make for America’s 250th birthday, and the value she thinks is most missing from our discourse today.

Links from the episode:

• Danielle Allen: danielleallen.scholars.harvard.edu 

• Radical Duke: How One Aristocrat—and the American Revolution—Transformed Britain: wwnorton.com/books/9781631497551 

• Allen Lab for Democracy Renovation at Harvard Kennedy School: ash.harvard.edu/programs/allen-lab-for-democracy-renovation/ 

About SAPIR

• SAPIR Journal: sapirjournal.org

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• SAPIR events: sapirjournal.org/events

• SAPIR event recordings on YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UCBZtgeiwIB1PrYK1A-Kh1GQ 

• SAPIR on X: x.com/SapirJournal 

• SAPIR on Facebook: facebook.com/SapirJournal2021/ 

• Get in touch at [email protected] 

Subscribe to the SAPIR Podcast

• Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sapir-with-david-wolpe/id1583771945

• Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7JcLb3jkh60ybrtX7Awp0m

• Wherever you listen: creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/sapirpodcast/

Theme music: “Kid Kodi” by Blue Dot Sessions: sessions.blue

Does the fight against antisemitism require new limits on free speech? Two leading thinkers tackle that question in the latest SAPIR debate, produced with and recorded live at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia, steps from the Liberty Bell and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Claire Finkelstein, professor of law and philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania’s Carey Law School, argues yes. Nadine Strossen, former president of the ACLU and a fellow at FIRE, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, argues no. The debate is moderated by Eric Fingerhut, president and CEO of The Jewish Federations of North America. 

This event was part of SAPIR’s Fixing America issue, marking the country’s 250th birthday.

The SAPIR podcast, hosted by Rabbi David Wolpe, is a home for thoughtful, wide-ranging conversations that matter. Drawing on the latest issue of SAPIR, this season explores the theme of influence through culture, politics, technology, and education. Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen, then email a screenshot and your mailing address to [email protected]  to get a free set of SAPIR conversation cards, while supplies last.

Links from the episode

• Claire Finkelstein: law.upenn.edu/faculty/cfinkels 

• Nadine Strossen: fire.org/about-us/our-team/nadine-strossen 

• Eric Fingerhut: jewishfederations.org/about-us/our-leadership 

• SAPIR’s Fixing America issue: sapirjournal.org/issues/fixing-america/ 

• Learn more about The Weitzman: theweitzman.org 

• Follow @weitzmanmuseum on Instagram: www.instagram.com/weitzmanmuseum, X: x.com/weitzmanmuseum, Facebook: www.facebook.com/weitzmanmuseum/, and YouTube: www.youtube.com/@weitzmanmuseum 

About SAPIR

• SAPIR Journal: sapirjournal.org

• Subscribe: ezsubscription.com/sap/subscribe?type=qualify 

• SAPIR events: sapirjournal.org/events

• SAPIR event recordings on YouTube: /www.youtube.com/channel/UCBZtgeiwIB1PrYK1A-Kh1GQ 

• SAPIR on X: x.com/SapirJournal 

• SAPIR on Facebook: facebook.com/SapirJournal2021/ 

• Get in touch at [email protected] 

Subscribe to the SAPIR Podcast

• Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sapir-with-david-wolpe/id1583771945

• Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7JcLb3jkh60ybrtX7Awp0m

• Wherever you listen: creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/sapirpodcast/

Theme music: “Kid Kodi” by Blue Dot Sessions: sessions.blue

Economist Tyler Cowen joins David Wolpe for a conversation about AI, religion, and what makes us human. Tyler makes the case that AI’s biggest impact may be on status: who gains it, who loses it, and what happens to experts like rabbis when anyone can ask ChatGPT all their questions. He also suggests that losing our monopoly on intelligence may make us feel more unique as humans, rather than less. 

Links from the episode:

• Tyler Cowen: tylercowen.com

• Marginal Revolution: marginalrevolution.com

• David Wolpe’s interview on Tyler’s podcast: conversationswithtyler.com/episodes/rabbi-david-wolpe/ 

• Jared Diamond’s interview on Tyler’s podcast: conversationswithtyler.com/episodes/jared-diamond/ 

• Ezra Klein on recursive AI models: nytimes.com/2026/09/20/opinion/ai-ban-self-improvement-recursive-models.html 

• Emergent Ventures, Tyler’s grant program: mercatus.org/emergentventures

• Maimonides Jewish Leadership Initiative: mjlinstitute.org/ 

The SAPIR podcast is a home for thoughtful, wide-ranging conversations that matter. Drawing on the latest issue of SAPIR, this season explores the theme of influence through culture, politics, technology, and education. Subscribe to the SAPIR quarterly journal at sapirjournal.org

On Tuesday, October 27, at 12 p.m. ET, historian Jenna Weissman Joselit joins SAPIR editor-in-chief Bret Stephens for “Judaism as a Civilization,” a virtual conversation about Mordecai Kaplan’s landmark 1934 book. Register and find out about all the upcoming SAPIR events ⁠sapirjournal.org/events⁠.

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. Email a screenshot of your review and your mailing address to [email protected] to get a free set of SAPIR conversation cards, while supplies last.

Subscribe to the SAPIR Podcast:

• Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sapir-with-david-wolpe/id1583771945

• Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/7JcLb3jkh60ybrtX7Awp0m

• Wherever you listen: /creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/sapirpodcast/

Theme music: “Kid Kodi” by Blue Dot Sessions: ⁠http://www.sessions.blue/⁠ 

Bret Stephens, SAPIR editor-in-chief, joins David Wolpe for a conversation about why having power doesn’t always mean you have influence. Bret makes the case that American Jews face a striking paradox: more power but less influence than at any point in his lifetime. They explore how that happened, and the lessons for anyone trying to change minds in a polarized era. They also discuss promising new ventures in media and publishing, as well as how to equip the next generation of Jewish leaders to thrive. 

You can read Bret Stephens' editor’s note, The Anxiety of (Waning) Jewish Influence, at https://sapirjournal.org/influence/2026/the-anxiety-of-waning-jewish-influence/ 

The IHRA definition of antisemitism, which was referenced in their conversation, can be found at https://holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definition-antisemitism. 

Learn more about SAPIR and subscribe to the print journal at http://⁠www.sapirjournal.org⁠.

Subscribe to the SAPIR Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sapir-with-david-wolpe/id1583771945

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JcLb3jkh60ybrtX7Awp0m 

Or wherever you get your podcasts: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/sapirpodcast/

Comments or questions? Get in touch at [email protected] 

Theme music by Blue Dot Sessions: ⁠http://www.sessions.blue/⁠ 

Host David Wolpe is joined by guests like Tyler Cowen, Bret Stephens, and Danielle Allen to explore the theme of influence across culture, politics, technology, education, and beyond. This season is inspired by the latest issue of SAPIR, the quarterly journal of ideas for a thriving Jewish future. 

Learn more about SAPIR and subscribe to the print journal at ⁠https://sapirjournal.org/.

Subscribe to the SAPIR Podcast on Apple:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sapir-with-david-wolpe/id1583771945

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7JcLb3jkh60ybrtX7Awp0m 

Or wherever you get your podcasts: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/sapirpodcast/

Comments or questions? Get in touch at [email protected]

Theme music by Blue Dot Sessions: www.sessions.blue

For many Jewish and Zionist students, faculty, and administrators, the tumultuous year following October 7 meant navigating campus life amid protests, encampments, lockdowns, and boycotts. What was once a familiar academic environment had become a place of sustained tension and, at times, outright hostility.

Over the last 20 months, federal authorities have taken increasingly assertive action to address this collegiate climate, citing concerns about a rise in campus antisemitism. Lawsuits, congressional subpoenas, threats of funding cuts, and the detention of foreign students have been welcomed by some in the Jewish community as long overdue demonstrations of resolve. Others, however, warn that these measures risk undermining the pluralistic norms that have long sustained Jewish life in higher education – and, worse, might even breed resentment against Jews in the long-term.

American Jews and friends of the community face a consequential question: do government crackdowns ultimately safeguard, or undermine, the interests of Jewish and Zionist students, faculty, and the broader academic community?

This SAPIR Debate took place live at the Israel on Campus Coalition National Leadership Summit on August 4, 2026 in Washington D.C. It featured Noah Pollak and Jonathan Rauch, and was moderated by Aviva Klompas.

Johns Hopkins political scientist Yascha Mounk joined Bret Stephens to discuss his new essay, “Censorship Won't Help the Jews,” in the (Fixing) America issue of SAPIR.

Read Yascha’s essay here: https://sapirjournal.org/fixing-america/2026/censorship-wont-help-the-jews/

Questions or comments? Send us a note at ⁠[email protected]⁠

Music from #Uppbeat: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove

Literary scholar Ruth Wisse and publisher Adam Bellow join Rabbi David Wolpe for a lively discussion on American Jewish literature, 50 years on from the year Saul Bellow was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Questions or comments? Send us a note at ⁠[email protected]⁠

Music from #Uppbeat: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove

Manhattan Institute president Reihan Salam joined Bret Stephens to discuss his new essay, “Islam in America,” in the (Fixing) America issue of SAPIR.

Read Reihan’s essay here: https://sapirjournal.org/fixing-america/2026/islam-in-america/

Questions or comments? Send us a note at ⁠[email protected]⁠

Music from #Uppbeat: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove

Anne Neuberger joined Bret Stephens to discuss her new essay, “The Jewish Case for Public Service,” in the (Fixing) America issue of SAPIR.Read Neuberger’s essay here: https://sapirjournal.org/fixing-america/2026/the-jewish-case-for-public-service/

Questions or comments? Send us a note at ⁠[email protected]⁠

Music from #Uppbeat: ⁠https://uppbeat.io/t/theo-gerard/monsieur-groove