The Unity Forum

Episode SummaryIn this episode of The Unity Forum, Chris Malone speaks with Dan Hesse —Chairman of Akamai Technologies and former CEO of Sprint—about why healthy capitalism and healthy democracy are “meant to go together,” and what business leaders can do to strengthen civic norms without becoming partisan. About the GuestDan Hesse is Chairman of Akamai Technologies and serves on the board of PNC Financial Services Group. He was President and CEO of Sprint (2007–2014), following leadership roles at Embark, TerraBeam, and AT&T Wireless as President and CEO. He also co-hosts The Mentors Radio Program.Chapter Markers02:22 Do business leaders have a responsibility to defend democracy?02:37 “Peanut butter and chocolate”: capitalism + democracy03:26 Why institutions matter (Fed independence example)06:08 Culture as “north star”; data-privacy decision at Sprint08:31 “Strength in numbers”: acting with other CEOs/associations10:22 Focus on process + institutions, not political outcomes11:24 Personal attacks vs. policy debate; “performance theater”13:34 Leaving politics at the door; policy vs. politics blurred15:47 Finding common ground; seeing people as people (Jack Danforth story)20:36What companies can do: voting encouragement, civic leadership23:04 Integrity, free expression, and accountability inside companies27:23 What leadership we need now: measure “policy vs. attacks” + productivity29:27 Audience Q&A: economy, debt, democracy, misinformation34:21 How to reduce personal attacks: relationships, meals, across-the-aisle contact36:53 Closing Remarks: focus on culture; define it, measure it, live itEpisode HighlightsDemocracy + capitalism as a mutually reinforcing system (“free flow of ideas” + “free flow of capital”).Institutions can matter more than “market-friendly” policy (why threats to the Fed can spook markets).Culture as a leadership “north star” —including Sprint’s decision to require customers to opt-in to data use to build trust.“Strength in numbers”: leaders can reduce backlash by acting collectively through trusted business coalitions.A practical nonpartisan standard: focus on process and institutions, not partisan outcomes.A core civic repair target: reducing personal attacks and restoring policy debate.Action inside companies: encourage voting, civic involvement, and constructive dialogue while keeping partisan identity out of the workplace.Notable Quotes:02:37 — “Democracy is the free flow of ideas, and capitalism is really the free flow of capital.”02:46 — “Healthy capitalism and healthy democracy go together like peanut butter and chocolate.”06:08 — “Your company’s culture is so important, and that really becomes your north star.”10:22 — “You don’t focus on outcomes; you focus on process and institutions.”11:24 — “Personal attacks have no role whatsoever, and we should be focused on policy.”20:36 — “If you are a citizen, you have a responsibility to vote.”27:23 — “We should measure personal attacks versus talking about policy.” Closing Message:In his closing remarks, Dan Hesse urged business leaders to focus on culture as the most reliable lever they control: define it clearly, involve employees in shaping it, and measure whether the organization is “walking the talk.” He emphasized that strong culture helps unify people with differing views around shared values and respectful norms—and that strengthening relationships inside our organizations can model the kind of constructive dialogue the country needs.

Episode SummaryIn this episode, Chris Malone speaks with constitutional law scholar Professor Stephen Wermiel about the legal guardrails—and vulnerable norms—that sustain American democracy. Drawing on current events and long-running constitutional debates, Wermiel explains how executive power expands under political pressure, how courts respond, and why public understanding of constitutional basics—voting rights, separation of powers, and free speech—matters more than ever.About the GuestProfessor Stephen Wermiel is a constitutional law scholar at American University’s Washington College of Law. He previously served as a U.S. Supreme Court correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, His work focuses on constitutional law, the Supreme Court, and First Amendment issues, with an emphasis on civic literacy and constitutional norms.Chapter Markers02:32 Executive orders and the constitutional guardrails on presidential power04:53 War powers, Congress, and the use of military force abroad09:40 The War Powers Act and whether Congress can reclaim its role11:14 Trump tariffs and what the recent Supreme Court decision means15:10 Executive authority over immigration, federal funding, universities, and law firms18:22 Federal court challenges, the “shadow docket,” and confusion over the rule of law22:22 State power vs. federal power: ICE, the National Guard, and local resistance24:45 Elections, voting authority, and where state and federal powers begin and end26:33 Institutional independence: the Federal Reserve, Department of Justice, and political interference28:38 Why civic education matters for preserving democracy29:58 What Americans should watch for in the 2026 election cycle31:37 Heritage Foundation, Federalist Society, and the “unitary executive” theory33:31 What protects democracy if one side dominates elections and institutions?38:04 Peaceful protest, Clarence Thomas, and the First Amendment39:24 What is missing from public understanding that fuels our current divisiveness?40:26 Final thoughts: free speech, ideological purity, and the need to talk to one anotherEpisode HighlightsHow constitutional “guardrails” include both written law and longstanding norms—and what happens when norms are openly defied. (04:03 – 04:25)Why war powers are a recurring constitutional flashpoint—and why Congress often fails to reclaim its role. (04:54, 09:40)How tariff authority illustrates the tension between Congress’s Article I power and delegated executive discretion—and how courts analyze those moves. (11:14)A clear framework for understanding state vs. federal authority in enforcement conflicts—and what “federal supremacy” actually means in practice. (22:23, 24:46)Why civic education isn’t “nice to have”—it’s essential to sustaining constitutional democracy. (28:39)Notable Quotes“I think the constitutional [guardrails], the separation of powers and the checks and balances among the three branches are [clear].” (04:03)“There are long-standing understandings of how the Constitution works, and how the branches are supposed to interact. And those understandings are being defied" (04:14)“You have a right to vote, and that means you ought to be able to vote. Having a right to vote and not being able to figure out how to do it is not the way this is supposed to work” (31:03)

Episode SummaryDr. Don Berwick joins Chris Malone and Terry Akin on The Unity Forum for a timely discussion about the state of U.S. healthcare. Drawing directly from current policy developments, Dr. Berwick examines looming Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage losses, rising insurance premiums, workforce strain, and growing threats to science and public trust. He reflects on what these changes mean for patients, families, clinicians, and communities—and why caring for one another must remain the central priority of healthcare reform.GuestDr. Don Berwick — former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and founding President and CEO of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. A pediatrician and internationally recognized leader in healthcare quality, safety, and policy reform.Chapter Markers00:00 – Welcome to The Unity Forum and Program Overview01:30 – Introduction of Dr. Don Berwick03:05 – Urgent changes facing the U.S. healthcare system03:40 – Medicaid cutbacks and coverage loss concerns04:15 – Rising premiums and affordability challenges9:45 – Impact on hospitals, clinicians, and safety-net providers17:30 – Trust in science and the consequences of misinformation26:10 – Workforce burnout and patient safety risks33:00 – Payment reform and value-based care40:15 – Hopeful examples and reasons for optimism45:30 – Caring for one another as a guiding principleEpisode Highlights- Millions of Americans risk losing health coverage due to Medicaid and ACA policy changes.- Rising premiums place increasing strain on families and healthcare organizations.- Workforce stress and burnout threaten patient safety and care quality.- Attacks on science undermine prevention, trust, and effective public health.- Healthcare outcomes depend on social and community conditions, not medical care alone.- Civic engagement and advocacy remain essential to protecting population health.Notable Quotes“Science is not a set of facts chiseled into rock.”“When nurses are under a lot of stress, patient safety goes down.”“We are in this together. A virus doesn’t check what party you belong to.”Closing MessageDr. Berwick emphasizes that healthcare should never be a partisan issue. By grounding decisions in science, compassion, and a shared responsibility to care for one another, communities can navigate uncertainty and build a more humane and effective healthcare system.Recommended Book & Podcast The Health Gap: The Challenge of an Unequal World by Michael MarmotTurn on the Lights Podcast with Dr. Don Berwick and Dr. Kedar Mate

Episode Summary Social psychologist Dr. Ronnie Janoff-Bulman joins Chris Malone to explain how two distinct moral systems—proscriptive (“do no harm”) and prescriptive (“help others”)—shape liberal and conservative worldviews. Drawing on her book The Two Moralities, she describes how approach-and-avoidance motivations give rise to social-order and social-justice moralities, why both are essential for a healthy democracy, and how understanding them can bridge America’s political divide.Guest Dr. Ronnie Janoff-Bulman — Professor Emerita of Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and author of Shattered Assumptions and The Two Moralities: Conservatives, Liberals, and the Roots of Our Political Divide. Recipient of the Morton Deutsch Award for Justice Research.Chapter Markers 00:00 – Welcome to The Unity Forum 00:52 – Guest introduction and career overview 02:17 – Origin of “left” and “right” during the French Revolution 04:26 – From ideological diversity to modern polarization 04:46 – Approach vs. avoidance motivation: the basis of two moralities 06:01 – Proscriptive (“don’t harm”) vs. prescriptive (“help others”) morality 07:06 – Group-level morality: social order (protection) vs. social justice (provision) 09:36 – Government intervention: contrasting liberal and conservative domains 10:55 – Finding balance between the two moralities 12:00 – Parenting analogy: demandingness and responsiveness 13:56 – Why “don’ts” are easier than “dos” in moral learning 15:52 – Moral obligations and the trolley problem 17:11 – Religion’s role in reinforcing morality and group identity 19:52 – Bridging divides: both sides as moral, not immoral 22:53 – Media and social media: loss of a shared public sphere 26:27 – Holiday and family conversations: practicing attributional generosity 27:46 – Q&A: rural-urban moral divide 31:15 – Q&A: finding common ground and worthy intent 32:26 – Q&A: libertarians and communitarians 34:57 – Q&A: defining “protecting society” across moralities 37:18 – Q&A: bridging divides when identities are denied 39:02 – Closing reflections and call to re-humanize each other Episode HighlightsPolitical polarization stems from two core moral motives: providing (care) and protecting (order).Liberals emphasize social justice and equality; conservatives emphasize stability and tradition.Both moralities are legitimate and necessary for societal balance.Contact and conversation remain the best tools to reduce demonization and build trust.Attributional generosity—assuming good intent—helps restore civility.Notable Quotes“There really are two different forms of morality that map onto approach and avoidance … don’t harm and help others.”“Social order and social justice moralities are both legitimate — we want to live in groups where we’re protected and provided for.”“Eight of the Ten Commandments are what you should not do … it’s easier to learn the proscriptive than the prescriptive.”“Both sides are grounded in morality. We demonize each other when we forget that.”“Ask for attributional generosity with your family … remember that person would still help you in a crisis.”Closing Message Dr. Janoff-Bulman reminds us that America’s political divide is a moral one rooted in two valid human instincts—to protect and to provide. Recognizing the worth in both approaches can help us listen more generously, disagree more respectfully, and re-humanize each other in the process.

Closing thoughts from Professor and former President & CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Dr. Patrick Harker.

Episode Summary Dr. Patrick T. Harker joins The Unity Forum to unpack the moment we’re in: why he describes the backdrop as “stagflation light,” how to read the Fed’s dot plot as guidance—not a promise, and why long-term rates may not fall soon despite policy moves. The discussion explores the Fed’s independence, the neutral rate (r★), AI’s potential productivity boost, and listener questions on the U.S. dollar’s reserve-currency status.Guest Dr. Patrick T. Harker — economist and academic leader; served on the FOMC while leading the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia; currently a Rowan Distinguished Professor.Chapter Markers: 00:00 – Welcome & format 02:34 – Guest introduction 06:29 – Is policy being swayed by politics? 08:31 – “Stagflation light”: mixed labor signals and sticky inflation 11:44 – The dot plot as assessment, not commitment 14:02 – Neutral rate (r★) and AI’s productivity potential 19:00 – What the Fed can and can’t do: long end vs. fed funds 22:21 – Appointments & central-bank independence 24:16 – Risks of political interference in central banking 31:57 – Defining stagflation 33:06 – Listener question: Will the U.S. dollar lose reserve status? 40:19 – Why long rates may not go down soon 42:46 – Closing reflectionsKey TakeawaysPolitics are not part of the FOMC’s internal policy debates; decisions are fact-based.The economy is best described as “stagflation light”: slowing labor market and sticky inflation.The dot plot shows participants’ views, not a promise of rate moves.A higher neutral rate may hinge on productivity gains from AI.Long-term rates drive mortgages and consumer borrowing more than the fed funds rate.The Fed has no “secret data”—all information used is public.Independence of the central bank is crucial to avoid short-term political manipulation.Given deficits and Treasury supply, long rates are unlikely to fall soon.Notable Quotes “I don’t think it’s political pressure.” “This is an assessment of appropriate monetary policy, not a commitment.” “AI is going to dramatically improve productivity of the U.S. economy.” “The long end has not moved at all… even though the Fed cut 25 basis points.” “People think the Fed has secret sauce. They don’t.” “Do not expect long rates to go down anytime soon.” “Stop demonizing each other… let’s get down to work.”Listener Question Highlight On the U.S. dollar’s reserve-currency status: it would take a long time to displace, as contracts worldwide are written in dollars and no clear replacement exists today.