The Steamboat Institute

10/14/2026

What would America do if a rival power trained and armed a foreign army on our southern border?

From our Campus Liberty Tour debate at the Virginia Military Institute: retired Army Col. Douglas Macgregor vs. Johns Hopkins professor Hal Brands on whether America benefits from the end of the rules-based international order. Moderated by Steamboat Fellow Carine Hajjar. The speakers' views are their own.

10/14/2026

Was the Iran war a strategic mistake? Should Washington have seen Iran’s response coming, from the Strait of Hormuz on down?

From our Campus Liberty Tour debate at the Virginia Military Institute: retired Army Col. Douglas Macgregor vs. Johns Hopkins professor Hal Brands on whether America benefits from the end of the rules-based international order. Moderated by Steamboat Fellow Carine Hajjar. The speakers' views are their own.

10/13/2026

President Trump has officially asked Kimberly Guilfoyle to resign.

Ambassadors serve at the pleasure of the president. Personnel changes like this happen, but they still raise questions about what prompted the request and what comes next for the post.

10/10/2026

Who actually writes the rules?

From our Campus Liberty Tour debate at the Virginia Military Institute: retired Army Col. Douglas Macgregor vs. Johns Hopkins professor Hal Brands on whether America benefits from the end of the rules-based international order. Moderated by Steamboat Fellow Carine Hajjar. The speakers' views are their own.
Full debate, out now.

10/08/2026

Does China pose an immediate threat to America’s national security?

From our Campus Liberty Tour debate at the Virginia Military Institute: retired Army Col. Douglas Macgregor vs. Johns Hopkins professor Hal Brands on whether America benefits from the end of the rules-based international order. Moderated by Steamboat Fellow Carine Hajjar. The speakers' views are their own.

Full debate, out now.

10/02/2026

🔥 That’s a wrap for VMI!

Tonight, we hosted a debate asking the question,

“Does America benefit from the end of the rules-based international order?” 🇺🇸

Arguing the affirmative was Douglas Macgregor, Ph.D., Colonel (Ret.) U.S. Army and former Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense.

Arguing the negative was Hal Brands, Ph.D., Henry Kissinger Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs at Johns Hopkins SAIS.

Steamboat Institute presented this debate in partnership with VMI Center For Leadership and Ethics, with Steamboat Institute Fellow and Washington Post Opinion journalist and editorial board member Carine Hajjar serving as moderator.

🎥 The full debate will be available on our channels within 48 hours!

10/01/2026

We are about to go LIVE! Join us for this debate from anywhere in the world by joining our YouTube livestream! On the livestream, you can participate in our debate poll, ask the speakers a question, and join in the live chat with other viewers!

Join here: https://www.youtube.com/live/O5WBFXJitmA

We are officially in fall, which means we are officially kicking off our Campus Liberty Tour again!

Our first debate will be at Virginia Military Institute, in partnership with the VMI Center For Leadership and Ethics debating the following resolution: America benefits from the end of the rules-based international order.

Arguing the affirmative is Douglas Macgregor, Ph.D., Colonel (Ret) US Army and Former Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense.

Arguing the negative is Hal Brands, Ph.D., Henry Kissinger Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies.

Moderator is Carine Hajjar, Opinion Journalist and Editorial Board Member at The Washington Post; Steamboat Institute Fellow.

You can livestream this event from anywhere in the world via our YouTube livestream here: https://www.youtube.com/live/O5WBFXJitmA

Or, register for your FREE ticket to join us in-person here: https://cvent.me/nNmyPY

09/29/2026

Did you know that you can watch all of our Campus Liberty Tour debates LIVE on our YouTube channel?

Including our upcoming debate at VMI, which is asking the question, "Does America benefit from the end of the rules-based international order?"

Joining our livestream allows you to participate in our pre and post-debate poll, ask the speakers your top questions, and participate in the live chat with other viewers!

Join us on October 1st!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5WBFXJitmA

09/23/2026

Is AI really the threat some people are making it out to be? 🤖

In this clip, Steamboat Institute Fellow Caroline Downey discusses the growing concerns surrounding artificial intelligence and what she sees as a rise in AI alarmism. She examines how fear surrounding new technology can shape public debate and why it’s important to separate legitimate concerns from unnecessary panic.

What do you think - are we underestimating the risks of AI, or is the current conversation becoming too alarmist? 👇

Watch the full clip and follow us for more insights and commentary from our fellows!

09/23/2026

🍂🎓 The Campus Liberty Tour is BACK! 🇺🇸

Fall is officially here, and that means it’s time to kick off another season of spirited debate on college campuses across the country! 🔥

We’re starting things off at Virginia Military Institute with a major foreign policy debate, thanks to the VMI Center For Leadership and Ethics for helping host this debate!

“Be it resolved, America benefits from the end of the rules-based international order.”

Arguing the affirmative: Douglas Macgregor, PhD, Colonel (Ret.) U.S. Army and Former Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense

Arguing the negative: Hal Brands, Ph.D., Henry Kissinger Distinguished Professor of Global Affairs at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies

🎙️ Moderator: Carine Hajjar, Opinion Journalist and Editorial Board Member at The Washington Post and Steamboat Institute Fellow

Whether you’re interested in foreign policy, national security, geopolitics, or simply love a good debate, you won’t want to miss this one! 🇺🇸

📺 Watch LIVE from anywhere in the world:
https://youtube.com/live/O5WBFXJitmA

🎟️ Join us at VMI in person for FREE:
https://cvent.me/nNmyPY

Let the debates begin! 🎤⚡