Do we need a NEW America? | with Anne-Marie Slaughter

Do we need a NEW America? | with Anne-Marie Slaughter

Author: The Progress Network with Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas April 15, 2026 Duration: 54:15
What do we do when our systems stop working? Anne-Marie Slaughter, the CEO of New America, former Director of Policy Planning at the U.S. State Department under Secretary Hillary Clinton, and one of the most influential voices in American foreign policy joins Zachary Karabell to reckon with a country in the middle of a massive realignment. From democratic reform and the collapse of the two-party system to America's fraying role on the world stage, this conversation refuses easy answers. In this wide-ranging discussion, they explore the shifting geopolitical landscape, including the heightened risks associated with the war in Iran, and how the escalating competition with China challenges us to look inward and ask what we truly stand for. Then they revisit the question Anne Marie has been trying to answer for much of her career, whether or not modern women really can have it all.  So, what does it mean to still believe in liberal democracy when the system isn't delivering? Is this a moment of unraveling, or the messy beginning of a rebirth? What Could Go Right? is produced by The Progress Network and Kaleidoscope. For transcripts, to join the newsletter, and for more information, visit: theprogressnetwork.org Subscribe to our (FREE) Substack newsletter: https://theprogressnetwork.org/newsletter/ Watch the podcast on YouTube: / theprogressnetwork Follow us on X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @progressntwrk Subscribe to Zachary’s Substack: www.edgyoptimist.substack.com/ Follow him LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/zacharykarabell Follow Zachary on X @zacharykarabell

It’s easy to feel that everything is falling apart, but what if the dominant narrative of decline is missing a crucial piece of the story? What Could Go Right? asks that question directly, offering a necessary counterpoint to the daily drumbeat of crises. Hosted by The Progress Network’s Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas, this podcast operates from a simple but radical premise: while the problems are real, so is the human capacity for ingenuity and constructive change. Each episode brings together a diverse group of thinkers, from scientists and activists to policymakers and cultural commentators, for conversations that go beyond diagnosing issues to exploring tangible solutions and underreported advances. You’ll hear nuanced discussions on everything from climate technology and economic innovation to the reshaping of governance and culture, all grounded in a realistic sense of possibility. This isn’t about blind optimism; it’s about engaged, evidence-based hope. Tuning in means joining a community that believes understanding what’s working is just as important as understanding what’s broken. If you’re weary of doomscrolling and looking for substantive dialogue that charts a path forward, this is the podcast for you.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

What Could Go Right?
Podcast Episodes
Education Where the Internet Can't Reach with Laura Hosman [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:18
Zachary Karabell and Emma Varvaloucas shine a light on a powerful form of providing education. This week, they’re joined by Laura Hosman of Arizona State University, creator of SolarSPELL, an offline, solar-powered digit…
A Historian’s Look Into America’s Future with Garrett Graff [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:00
What can Americans look forward to despite today's lack of trust in the government? Zachary and Emma welcome Garrett Graff, journalist, historian, and author of several books, including Pulitzer finalist Watergate: A New…
The Progress Report: Clean Up on Aisle Everest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:36
On this week’s episode of The Progress Report, Zachary and Emma dig up the good news buried beneath the usual headlines, celebrating Costa Rica’s leap into high-income status and the upward mobility of Cape Verde and Sam…
What Makes Societies Thrive? with Johan Norberg [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:59
What made history’s golden ages thrive? Zachary and Emma speak with Johan Norberg, historian, documentary filmmaker, and author of Peak Human: What We Can Learn from the Rise and Fall of Golden Ages. Johan discusses what…
The Progress Report: A Robot Saved My Heart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:08
This week on The Progress Report, Zachary and Emma bring more uplifting headlines you won’t find in your usual news feed. America’s prison population is dropping fast, thanks to a dramatic decrease in youth incarceration…
Climate Change's Agriculture Problem with Michael Grunwald [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:26
Can we feed the world without destroying it? Zachary and Emma speak with Michael Grunwald, award-winning journalist and author known for his work on the environment and national politics. He is currently a senior writer…
The Progress Report: FDA Approves HIV Prevention Gamechanger [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:53
On this week's Progress Report, Zachary and Emma spotlight the stories that prove the world is moving forward, from Ireland’s bold move to end coal power to major U.S. brands ditching synthetic food dyes to breakthrough…
Are High-Achieving Families Born or Made? with Susan Dominus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:04
Can sibling rivalries shape success? Zachary and Emma speak with Susan Dominus, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and staff writer at The New York Times Magazine. She is the author of The Family Dynamic: A Journey Into t…
The Progress Report: Child Labor Drops by 100 Million [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:31
On this week’s Progress Report, Emma is going solo with the news. Discover how global child labor has nearly halved since 2000, why alarming disaster statistics might be more about better data than a world in crisis, and…