TED Talks News and Politics

By TED

News & Politics

What's TED Talks News and Politics about?

Seeing the world beyond news headlines: politicians, journalists and researchers share their insights onstage at the TED conference, TEDx events and partner events around the world. You can also download these and many other videos free on TED.com, with an interactive English transcript and subtitles in up to 80 languages. TED is a nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading.

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How to spark your curiosity...

04.15.2020

Curious how stuff works? Do a hands-on experiment at home, says physicist Nadya Mason. She shows how you can demystify the world around you by tapping into your scientific curiosity -- and performs a few onstage experiments of her own ...

TED Talks News and Politics episodes:

04.15.2020 How to spark your curiosity, scientifically \| Nadya Mason Curious how stuff works? Do a hands-on experiment at home, says physicist Nadya Mason. She shows how you can demystify the world around you by tapping into your scientific curiosity -- and performs a few onstage experiments of her own ...
04.10.2020 How the coronavirus pandemic is changing the world \| Fareed Zakaria The coronavirus pandemic is more global, dramatic and unusual than any crisis we've seen in a long time, says journalist Fareed Zakaria. Listen as he shares his perspective on how we can recover from the economic fallout, why certain countries ...
04.10.2020 How the coronavirus is impacting India -- and what needs to happen next \| Gayathri Vasudevan The coronavirus pandemic put India's population of 1.3 billion into an extreme and sudden lockdown. Social entrepreneur Gayathri Vasudevan explains how the situation is impacting the country's migrant workers, who are stuck far from home with limited access to food ...
04.03.2020 The intangible effects of walls \| Alexandra Auer More barriers exist now than at the end of World War II, says designer Alexandra Auer. And when you erect one wall, you unwittingly create a second -- an "us" versus "them" partition in the mind that compromises our collective ...
03.30.2020 How forgiveness can create a more just legal system \| Martha Minow Pardons, commutations and bankruptcy laws are all tools of forgiveness within the US legal system. Are we using them frequently enough, and with fairness? Law professor Martha Minow outlines how these merciful measures can reinforce racial and economic inequality -- ...
03.30.2020 How forgiveness can create a more just legal system \| Martha Minow Pardons, commutations and bankruptcy laws are all tools of forgiveness within the US legal system. Are we using them frequently enough, and with fairness? Law professor Martha Minow outlines how these merciful measures can reinforce racial and economic inequality -- ...
03.27.2020 What the world can learn from China's response to the coronavirus \| Gary Liu From Hong Kong, South China Morning Post CEO Gary Liu tracks China's response to the coronavirus pandemic -- from the initial outbreak in Wuhan to the shutdown of Hubei province and the containment measures taken across its major cities. Sharing ...
03.27.2020 What the world can learn from China's response to the coronavirus \| Gary Liu From Hong Kong, South China Morning Post CEO Gary Liu tracks China's response to the coronavirus pandemic -- from the initial outbreak in Wuhan to the shutdown of Hubei province and the containment measures taken across its major cities. Sharing ...
03.25.2020 How we must respond to the coronavirus pandemic \| Bill Gates Philanthropist and Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates offers insights into the COVID-19 pandemic, discussing why testing and self-isolation are essential, which medical advancements show promise and what it will take for the world to endure this crisis. (This virtual conversation is ...
03.19.2020 How repaying loans with social service transforms communities \| Angie Murimirwa What if you could repay loans through volunteering and mentorship instead of money? Activist Angie Murimirwa shares how a game-changing economic tool known as "social interest" is reinvigorating sub-Saharan communities once trapped in cycles of poverty. Join her as she ...
03.03.2020 What we do (and don't) know about the coronavirus \| David Heymann What happens if you get infected with the coronavirus? Who's most at risk? How can you protect yourself? Public health expert David Heymann, who led the global response to the SARS outbreak in 2003, shares the latest findings about COVID-19 ...
03.03.2020 When local news dies, so does democracy \| Chuck Plunkett Nearly 1,800 newsrooms have shuttered across the US since 2004, leaving many communities unseen, unheard and in the dark. In this passionate talk and rallying cry, journalist Chuck Plunkett explains why he rebelled against his employer to raise awareness for ...
02.24.2020 What if a single human right could change the world? \| Kristen Wenz More than a billion people worldwide, mostly children, do not have a legal identity. In many countries, this means they can't get access to vital services like health care and education, says legal identity expert Kristen Wenz. She discusses why ...
02.06.2020 What if the poor were part of city planning? \| Smruti Jukur Johari Almost a billion people worldwide live in informal communities and slums, often without basic infrastructure like clean water, toilets or adequate roads. Urban planner Smruti Jukur Johari breaks down myths about these communities and shares examples of simple, common-sense solutions ...
01.31.2020 Dictators hate political cartoons -- so I keep drawing them \| Rayma Suprani "A political cartoon is a barometer of freedom," says Rayma Suprani, who was exiled from her native Venezuela for publishing work critical of the government. "That's why dictators hate cartoonists." In a talk illustrated with highlights from a career spent ...
01.23.2020 The unpaid work that GDP ignores -- and why it really counts \| Marilyn Waring If you: do laundry, are (or have been) pregnant, tidy up, shop for your household or do similar labor, then by GDP standards, you're unproductive. In this visionary talk, economist Marilyn Waring seeks to correct the failures of this narrow-minded ...
01.16.2020 A path to security for the world's deadliest countries \| Rachel Kleinfeld You are more likely to die violently if you live in a middle-income democracy with high levels of inequality and political polarization than if you live in a country at war, says democracy advisor Rachel Kleinfeld. This historical shift in ...
01.15.2020 How supply chain transparency can help the planet \| Markus Mutz Given the option, few would choose to buy products that harm the earth -- yet it's nearly impossible to know how most consumer goods are made or where they're sourced from. That's about to change, says supply chain innovator Markus ...
12.19.2019 How civilization could destroy itself -- and 4 ways we could prevent it \| Nick Bostrom Humanity is on its way to creating a "black ball": a technological breakthrough that could destroy us all, says philosopher Nick Bostrom. In this incisive, surprisingly light-hearted conversation with Head of TED Chris Anderson, Bostrom outlines the vulnerabilities we could ...
12.13.2019 Why lakes and rivers should have the same rights as humans \| Kelsey Leonard Water is essential to life. Yet in the eyes of the law, it remains largely unprotected -- leaving many communities without access to safe drinking water, says legal scholar Kelsey Leonard. In this powerful talk, she shows why granting lakes ...
12.12.2019 To help solve global problems, look to developing countries \| Bright Simons To address the problem of counterfeit goods, African entrepreneurs like Bright Simons have come up with innovative and effective ways to confirm products are genuine. Now he asks: Why aren't these solutions everywhere? From password-protected medicines to digitally certified crops, ...
12.04.2019 The problem of light pollution -- and 5 ridiculously easy ways to fix it \| Kelsey Johnson Ever gaze up at the starry night sky? This stunning view is at risk of disappearing -- unless we act now, says astrophysicist Kelsey Johnson. In this fascinating, unexpectedly funny talk, she explains how light pollution affects almost every species ...
11.20.2019 A creative solution for the water crisis in Flint, Michigan \| LaToya Ruby Frazier Artist LaToya Ruby Frazier spent five months living in Flint, Michigan, documenting the lives of those affected by the city's water crisis for her photo essay "Flint is Family." As the crisis dragged on, she realized it was going to ...
11.18.2019 5 steps for clean air in India \| Arunabha Ghosh India's big cities have some of the worst air quality in the world. How can we fix this public health crisis? In an actionable talk, social entrepreneur Arunabha Ghosh lays out a five-step plan to put India on the path ...
11.14.2019 What's really happening at the US-Mexico border -- and how we can do better \| Erika Pinheiro At the US-Mexico border, policies of prolonged detention and family separation have made seeking asylum in the United States difficult and dangerous. In this raw and heartfelt talk, immigration attorney Erika Pinheiro offers a glimpse into her daily work on ...
11.11.2019 Hope and justice for women who've survived ISIS \| Rabiaa El Garani Human rights protector Rabiaa El Garani shares the challenging, heartbreaking story of sexual violence committed against Yazidi women and girls in Iraq by ISIS -- and her work seeking justice for the survivors. "These victims have been through unimaginable pain. ...
11.06.2019 Our immigration conversation is broken -- here's how to have a better one \| Paul A. Kramer How did the US immigration debate get to be so divisive? In this informative talk, historian and writer Paul A. Kramer shows how an "insider vs. outsider" framing has come to dominate the way people in the US talk about ...
11.05.2019 What happens to people in solitary confinement \| Laura Rovner Imagine living with no significant human contact for years, even decades, in a cell the size of a small bathroom. This is the reality for those in long-term solitary confinement, a form of imprisonment regularly imposed in US prisons. In ...
11.05.2019 The Amazon belongs to humanity -- let's protect it together \| Tashka and Laura Yawanawá Tashka and Laura Yawanawá lead the Yawanawá people in Acre, Brazil -- a tribe that stewards almost 500,000 acres of Amazon rainforest. As footage of the Amazon burning shocks the world's consciousness, Tashka and Laura call for us to transform ...
10.16.2019 A circular economy for salt that keeps rivers clean \| Tina Arrowood During the winter of 2018-2019, one million tons of salt were applied to icy roads in the state of Pennsylvania alone. The salt from industrial uses like this often ends up in freshwater rivers, making their water undrinkable and contributing ...
10.08.2019 How we're helping local reporters turn important stories into national news \| Gangadhar Patil Local reporters are on the front lines of important stories, but their work often goes unnoticed by national and international news outlets. TED Fellow and journalist Gangadhar Patil is working to change that. In this quick talk, he shows how ...
10.08.2019 How we're helping local reporters turn important stories into national news \| Gangadhar Patil Local reporters are on the front lines of important stories, but their work often goes unnoticed by national and international news outlets. TED Fellow and journalist Gangadhar Patil is working to change that. In this quick talk, he shows how ...
09.27.2019 Creativity builds nations \| Muthoni Drummer Queen In a hopeful talk followed by an empowering performance, musician and TED Fellow Muthoni Drummer Queen shares how industries like music, film and fashion provide a platform for Africans to broadcast their rich and diverse talents -- and explains how ...
09.26.2019 A wall won't solve America's border problems \| Will Hurd "Building a 30-foot-high concrete structure from sea to shining sea is the most expensive and least effective way to do border security," says Congressman Will Hurd, a Republican from Texas whose district encompasses two times zones and shares an 820-mile ...
09.12.2019 Community-powered criminal justice reform \| Raj Jayadev Community organizer Raj Jayadev wants to transform the US court system through "participatory defense" -- a growing movement that empowers families and community members to impact their loved ones' court cases. He shares the remarkable results of their work -- ...
09.09.2019 How we can make racism a solvable problem -- and improve policing \| Phillip Atiba Goff When we define racism as behaviors instead of feelings, we can measure it -- and transform it from an impossible problem into a solvable one, says justice scientist Phillip Atiba Goff. In an actionable talk, he shares his work at ...
09.03.2019 What happened when we paired up thousands of strangers to talk politics \| Jochen Wegner In spring 2019, more than 17,000 Europeans from 33 countries signed up to have a political argument with a complete stranger. They were part of "Europe Talks," a project that organizes one-on-one conversations between people who disagree -- sort of ...
09.03.2019 What happened when we paired up thousands of strangers to talk politics \| Jochen Wegner In spring 2019, more than 17,000 Europeans from 33 countries signed up to have a political argument with a complete stranger. They were part of "Europe Talks," a project that organizes one-on-one conversations between people who disagree -- sort of ...
08.30.2019 What I learned about freedom after escaping North Korea \| Yeonmi Park "North Korea is unimaginable," says human rights activist Yeonmi Park, who escaped the country at the age of 13. Sharing the harrowing story of her childhood, she reflects on the fragility of freedom -- and shows how change can be ...
08.26.2019 How the West can adapt to a rising Asia \| Kishore Mahbubani As Asian economies and governments continue to gain power, the West needs to find ways to adapt to the new global order, says author and diplomat Kishore Mahbubani. In an insightful look at international politics, Mahbubani shares a three-part strategy ...
07.31.2019 What it was like to grow up under China's one-child policy \| Nanfu Wang China's one-child policy ended in 2015, but we're just beginning to understand what it was like to live under the program, says TED Fellow and documentary filmmaker Nanfu Wang. With footage from her film "One Child Nation," she shares untold ...
07.31.2019 What it was like to grow up under China's one-child policy \| Nanfu Wang China's one-child policy ended in 2015, but we're just beginning to understand what it was like to live under the program, says TED Fellow and documentary filmmaker Nanfu Wang. With footage from her film "One Child Nation," she shares untold ...
07.30.2019 How policewomen make communities safer \| Ivonne Roman Less than 13 percent of police officers in the United States are women -- despite their proven effectiveness in diffusing violent situations and reducing the use of force. Drawing on more than two decades of experience as a police officer ...
07.29.2019 Why governments should prioritize well-being \| Nicola Sturgeon In 2018, Scotland, Iceland and New Zealand established the network of Wellbeing Economy Governments to challenge the acceptance of GDP as the ultimate measure of a country's success. In this visionary talk, First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon explains the ...
07.26.2019 The new political story that could change everything \| George Monbiot To get out of the mess we're in, we need a new story that explains the present and guides the future, says author George Monbiot. Drawing on findings from psychology, neuroscience and evolutionary biology, he offers a new vision for ...
07.16.2019 The fundamental right to seek asylum \| Melanie Nezer Refugee and immigrants rights attorney Melanie Nezer shares an urgently needed historical perspective on the crisis at the southern US border, showing how citizens can hold their governments accountable for protecting the vulnerable. "A country shows strength through compassion and ...
07.03.2019 A vision for the future of Sierra Leone \| Julius Maada Bio When Julius Maada Bio first seized political power in Sierra Leone in 1996, he did so to improve the lives of its citizens. But he soon realized that for democracy to flourish, its foundation needs to be built on the ...
06.14.2019 The political power of being a good neighbor \| Michael Tubbs Michael Tubbs is the youngest mayor in American history to represent a city with more than 100,000 people -- and his policies are sparking national conversations. In this rousing talk, he shares how growing up amid poverty and violence in ...
05.29.2019 How to deconstruct racism, one headline at a time \| Baratunde Thurston Baratunde Thurston explores the phenomenon of white Americans calling the police on black Americans who have committed the crimes of ... eating, walking or generally "living while black." In this profound, thought-provoking and often hilarious talk, he reveals the power ...
05.24.2019 What prosecutors and incarcerated people can learn from each other \| Jarrell Daniels A few weeks before his release from prison, Jarrell Daniels took a class where incarcerated men learned alongside prosecutors. By simply sitting together and talking, they uncovered surprising truths about the criminal justice system and ideas for how real change ...

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