First debate in DC on January 29: "The Future of the Supreme Court" at the Hopkins Bloomberg Center with Jeff Sessions, Jeff Flake, Christina Rodriguez, Jamal Greene

Open to Debate, the leading nonpartisan media platform steering the national conversation around the art of debate and the importance of free speech, has partnered with the Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University to hold a flagship series of eight live debates over the next two years in Washington DC and Baltimore called "The Hopkins Forum: A Debate Series from the Johns Hopkins University and Open to Debate." The first of those eight debates will take place in DC on January 29th at 6:30 pm ET addressing the future of the Supreme Court.

"A critical part of our university's mission is to foster the capacity for those with divergent, yet passionately held views to engage in thoughtful, rigorous dialogue," said Ron Daniels, president of Johns Hopkins University. "We are thrilled to partner with Open to Debate to provide another avenue for testing and contesting ideas, both in Baltimore and at our Hopkins Bloomberg Center, and deepening the habits and skills to debate important societal issues in ways that bring us closer to impactful solutions."

"Modeling civil, respectful debate on critical contemporary issues has never been more important," says Clea Conner, CEO of Open to Debate. "At a time when so many settings generate more heat than light, we are honored to partner with John Hopkins and the SNF Agora Institute to establish the Hopkins Forum, fostering an environment where diverse perspectives can be freely explored and interrogated."

The first debate will use Open to Debate's "Unresolved" format to explore "The Future of the Supreme Court." Debaters will include Ambassador Jeff Flake, former member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; Jamal Greene, Professor of Law at Columbia Law School and prominent Supreme Court commentator; Cristina Rodriguez, co-chair of Biden's Supreme Court Commission; and Jeff Sessions, former US attorney general and senator. The Unresolved format features multiple debate resolutions on the topic. Debaters must declare their "yes" or "no" stance on each of the resolutions, allowing for both sharp disagreements and unexpected alliances.

The debate will take place on Wednesday, January 29th, at 6:30 PM ET at Hopkins Bloomberg Center (555 Pennsylvania Avenue NW) in Washington D.C. Media are invited to attend and can email [email protected] for access. The event will be recorded for later broadcast on the Open to Debate public radio show and podcast.

ABOUT OPEN TO DEBATE
Open to Debate addresses a fundamental problem in America: the extreme polarization of our nation and our politics. We are the nation's only nonpartisan, debate-driven media organization dedicated to bringing multiple viewpoints together for a constructive, balanced, respectful exchange of ideas. Open to Debate is a platform for intellectually curious and open-minded people to engage with others holding opposing views on complex issues. We know debate works to find common ground: On average, 32% of the Open to Debate audience changes their mind on contentious topics after hearing a debate. That's the power of debate done right, and at scale, it can change the direction we're headed in America. Open to Debate is broadcast as a weekly public radio program, carried on NPR stations including WNYC (#1 in the nation). Open to Debate is made available as a podcast, video series, and digital platform, and records episodes with live audiences nationwide. Visit opentodebate.org to become a member, access an archive of more than 220 debates, and attend live events.

Go here for photos, links and more info: https://shorefire.com/roster/open-to-debate

ABOUT THE SNF AGORA INSTITUTE

The Stavros Niarchos Foundation (SNF) Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University is an academic and public forum dedicated to strengthening global democracy through research, teaching, and practice. Founded in 2017 with a visionary $150 million grant from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, the institute draws inspiration from the ancient Athenian agora-a space for open debate and deliberation-to bridge divides, expand civic engagement, and foster informed, inclusive, dialogue as the cornerstone of robust democracy.

SNF Agora organizes its work around three pillars:

• Discovery : Advancing transformative, multi-disciplinary research to address democratic decline and identify sources of resilience.
• Design : Collaborating with practitioners to develop usable knowledge that transforms academic insight into real-world impact.
• Dialogue : Creating spaces for inclusive civic discourse, public convenings, and educational programs that empower citizens to engage meaningfully in democracy.

Through its work, the SNF Agora Institute empowers citizens with diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas to participate meaningfully in civic life. Its scholars and practitioners collaborate to address challenges to democracy, bridge divides, and cultivate democratic resilience through research, innovative interventions, and public engagement.

For more information about the SNF Agora Institute, visit www.snfagora.jhu.edu.

For more information on Open to Debate, contact Ray Padgett ( [email protected] ) or Mark Satlof ( [email protected] ) at Shore Fire Media.

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