By skyforbes 
Open to Debate addresses a fundamental problem in America: the extreme polarization of our nation and our politics.
It is 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.
Debate works to find common ground: On average, 32% of the Open to Debate audiences change 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.
Two weeks ago, Open To Debate won an Ear Worthy Award, which focuses on excellence in independent podcasting, for Best Podcast of 2025.
With the breakdown of norms in the U.S. government, and the disenfranchisement of so many Americans due to arbitrary government cuts, mass firings, a weaponized U.S. Justice Department, and incompetent leadership, there was a consensus for Open to Debate as the Ear Worthy Podcast Of The Year.
This week’s debate begins with a question. What if the United States abandoned its democratic system and instead opted for a CEO-style dictator to run the country like a high-performing company?
One of this week’s debaters, anti-democracy theorist and tech entrepreneur, Curtis Yarvin, is a proponent of the idea, which is said to be gaining traction in influential policy circles in Silicon Valley and Washington, DC. Yarvin’s growing political influence was profiled in a New Yorker article in June of 2025, and Elon Musk reportedly consulted him on the formation of a new party in July. A self-described monarchist, Yarvin argues that democracy is too slow and ineffective to meet the challenges of the modern world and deliver efficiency at scale.
But at what cost? His opponent, E. Glen Weyl, Founder of the RadicalxChange Foundation, Plurality Institute, and Microsoft Research’s Plural Technology Collaboratory, counters that consolidating power under one leader undermines the values at the core of America’s political system. History offers cautionary tales of autocratic rulers whose unchecked power led to disastrous decisions and societal breakdowns. How could the country reasonably consider abandoning democratic norms, even if it’s a messy process, on occasion?
Open To Debate brought these sharply divergent perspectives together for a live debate at Racket, a music venue in New York City, on Thursday evening.
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Open To Debate On TikTok in The Classroom
Another year of learning, and 94% of teachers are using TikTok in the classroom in some regard. Is this new wave of digital engagement the future of classroom innovation, or a distraction that undermines the integrity of the teaching profession?
Some teachers, including chemistry teacher and TikTok influencer Phil Cook, who has millions of followers online, say it’s just a new way to reach students. Some teachers are using TikTok to find educational ideas, from which they create lesson plans, demonstrate science experiments, and utilize the platform to reach students in a novel way. Teachers need to evolve and be able to meet students where they are, helping them learn effectively.
But others, including education consultant and secondary school teacher Adrian Dingle, argue that the app and its algorithm aren’t designed to educate, inform others, or promote critical thinking, but instead to entertain and distract. In addition, recent data shows how social media apps are linked to harming children’s mental health and other issues.
To help listeners explore whether TikTok in the classroom could enhance or erode the teaching profession, two chemistry teachers — who share the common ground of wanting what is best to help their students succeed — debate this week’s question. Listen to the episode now and let Open To Debate know what you think.