Public Policy Roundtable - 1 Oct 2025

The primary purpose of this public policy roundtable series is to engage participants in an informed discussion and debate about some of the most contentious and complex issues confronting U.S.  policy makers at a time when the American public is deeply divided. Weekly sessions are designed to foment discussion and debate and deepen participant understanding of a select number of domestic and foreign policy challenges at the forefront of the Administration’ current public policy agenda. For example, in foreign policy participants will consider how the U.S. should effectively respond to threats posed by the geopolitical and economic rise of China. Discussions will assess the pros and cons of alternative policy responses to China’s ascendancy, and the likely consequences for US national interests. On the domestic policy front, participants will be asked to focus on two front-burner policy challenges with far reaching consequences for all Americans: First, what are the pros and cons of alternative regulatory approaches to oversight of companies at the forefront of the AI industry? And second, considering current and projected fiscal realities (i.e. rising levels of U.S. debt and budget deficits), how should policy makers assess and decide among alternative approaches to entitlement reform (e.g. social security, Medicare)? With each policy issue, participants will be challenged to weigh alternatives and recommend and defend one or another approach.   A few days prior to each session the moderator will email participants the upcoming discussion topic along with a few background readings to frame the discussion. Compared to past roundtable series, reading suggestions will be more in-depth. This discussion group will meet on eight consecutive Wednesdays, October 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, November 5, 12, 19. The registration fee is $80.   Moderator: Roger Leeds recently retired as a Professor at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), where he taught international finance and investing in developing countries. He also taught at Wharton and Columbia Business Schools and co-founded the Leadership Academy for Development with Francis Fukuyama, offering training for government and business leaders in developing nations. Before academia, he spent 25 years in international finance across the public and private sectors. Leeds is the author of two books and 30+ articles, a frequent media commentator, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.