Living a Moral Life in a Catastrophic World, with Philosopher Travis Rieder

The defunding of U.S. soft power institutions, significant cuts to foreign aid, and the embrace of an aggressive transactional style of diplomacy have shattered long-held assumptions about American values and its interests on the world stage. This begs the question: Has Trump 2.0 ushered in an era of post-liberal American power? In the first panel in Carnegie Council's new keynote event series, "Values & Interests," an expert panel interrogates the relationship between morality and power in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment.  For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-post-liberal-american-power

Seven months into Trump's second term, liberal principles hang in the balance. Bringing these norms back to life will require courage and the power of states, businesses, institutions, and the people, says Carnegie Council President Joel Rosnenthal in this "Ethical Article." To read this article, pleae go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/post-liberal-ethics-rosenthal

The race to develop the latest AI-enabled military technology is often justified as essential to preserving democracy. Yet, this “virtuous” messaging deployed by tech CEOs and venture capitalists is driving the creation of a new highly militarized tech ecosystem—one which relies on perpetual conflict to test, iterate, and improve weapons systems. Elke Schwarz, professor at Queen Mary University of London, joins the "Values & Interests" podcast to unpack the virtue signaling of today’s techno-military-industrial-complex, society’s failure to cultivate ethical thought in an increasingly computational world, and the resulting dehumanization of civilians in conflicts in places such as Gaza and Ukraine. For more, please go to https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-schwarz

How can the U.S. pursue a realist foreign policy without abandoning its core values? Alexander Vindman, retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and former director for European Affairs on the White House’s National Security Council, joins the "Values & Interests" podcast for a discussion on the critical interplay between morality and power in the practice of geopolitics. Together with host Kevin Maloney, Vindman discusses the shifting U.S. foreign policy landscape, President Trump's increasingly transactional approach to international relations, and what a just end to the war in Ukraine might look like. Alexander Vindman's latest book is "The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine." For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-vindman

Moral philosopher Travis Rieder joins "Values & Interests" to explore how we might pursue ethical lives in an era of global crisis. From climate change and violent conflict to the dilemmas of daily life, Rieder argues that we must radically overhaul our outdated moral toolkits to face the challenges of an increasingly contradictory and catastrophic world. Dr. Travis Rieder is an associate research professor at the Berman Institute of Bioethics at Johns Hopkins University. His latest book is "Catastrophe Ethics: How to Choose Well in a World of Tough Choices." For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-rieder

We’re living in a world where transactional leadership is being prioritized over transformational leadership. Dr. Edward Brooks, executive director of the Oxford Character Project, joins the Values & Interest podcast to discuss how embracing ethics can unlock better thinking, relationships, and outcomes in our personal and professional lives. For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-brooks

Global health requires a multilateral approach for research, knowledge sharing, and the distribution of life-saving services. What lessons can we take from recent shocks such as the COVID-19 pandemic? What ethical considerations are imperative as we enter a moment of fracturing global partnerships? For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/ethics-empowered-global-health

Today’s shifting global order is increasingly restrictive, and even hostile, toward human mobility. Meanwhile, geopolitical volatility continues to drive more people to seek safety across borders. In response, Carnegie Council’s Model International Mobility Convention (MIMC) project held a special multi-part convening at the Council’s Global Ethics Hub in New York. The event began with a presentation and fireside chat on the state of international migration featuring Carnegie Council Senior Fellow Michael Doyle and Greg Maniatis, director, refugees & migration at Open Society Foundations. Following the fireside chat, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Molly O'Toole moderated a panel discussion on key challenges facing migrants within the U.S. and at the Southern border. For full video and transcript, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/state-of-migration-2025  

University of Minnesota's Professor Tanisha Fazal joins the Values & Interests podcast to discuss shifting geopolitical norms in a moment of global transition. For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-fazal

U.S. Army Lieutenant General (Ret.) Mark Hertling joins the Values & Interests podcast to discuss lessons in leadership, the power of embracing your professional ethos, and the critical importance of staying true to personal values in times of crisis. For more, please go to: https://carnegiecouncil.co/values-interests-hertling