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You Might Be Right
30 episodes
Should Taxpayers Pay for R&D? – with Jeffrey Miron and Aldo Musacchio
Ep 56 · May 21, 2026 · 53 min
From the internet and GPS to vaccines and artificial intelligence, federal research funding has helped shape modern life, but should government still play such a large role in innovation? Jeffrey Miron, VP for Research at the Cato Institute and Economics Lecturer at Harvard, and Aldo Musacchio, Professor of Management and Economics at Brandeis, join Governors Haslam and Bredesen to debate whether taxpayer-funded research still makes sense in a world increasingly driven by private capital.
Who Should Regulate AI? – with Kristian Stout and Bruce Schneier
Ep 55 · May 7, 2026 · 55 min
AI is already reshaping everyday life, but the rules governing it are still up for debate. Kristian Stout, Director of Innovation Policy at the International Center for Law & Economics, and Bruce Schneier, security technologist and author, join Governors Haslam and Bredesen to explore whether AI regulation should come from the market, the states, or the federal government.
Should Federal Dollars Come with Strings Attached? – with Mitch Daniels & Elena Patel
Ep 54 · Apr 23, 2026 · 53 min
As billions of federal dollars flow through state budgets, who should decide how that money gets spent? Former IN Governor & OMB Director Mitch Daniels and Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center co-director Elena Patel join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to unpack the balance between federal priorities and state flexibility, and what it means for taxpayers.
Is there too much money in politics? – with Larry Lessig and Brad Smith
Ep 53 · Apr 9, 2026 · 53 min
Ahead of the fall midterms, Larry Lessig, a professor at Harvard Law School, and Brad Smith, former chair of the Federal Election Commission and a professor at Capital University Law School, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to examine the campaign finance system driving election spending. Political spending enables expression and participation – but at what cost?
Can the President do that? – with Jack Goldsmith and Ilya Shapiro
Ep 52 · Mar 26, 2026 · 52 min
Has the American presidency become too powerful? In this episode, Governors Bredesen and Haslam are joined by Jack Goldsmith, a professor at Harvard Law School, and Ilya Shaprio, a senior fellow and director of constitutional studies at the Manhattan Institute, to discuss the history, arguments, and constitutional stakes behind the not-so-simple question: can the President really do that?
When and How Should the National Guard be Deployed? – with Rosa Brooks and John Yoo
Ep 51 · Mar 10, 2026 · 59 min
Should a president be able to take control of a state’s National Guard to restore order, even if a governor disagrees? To kick off a new season, Governors Bredesen and Haslam are joined by Rosa Brooks, a law professor at Georgetown University and former senior advisor at the U.S. Department of Defense, and John Yoo, a law professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and former official with the U.S. Department of Justice, to discuss the ability to federalize the National Guard and the un…
Introducing "You Might Be Right"
Mar 4, 2026 · 1 min
We’re back – now on YouTube. Join former Tennessee Governors Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam as they tackle the toughest issues of the day with expert guests. Representing opposite sides of the aisle, the two leaders model how even the most polarizing topics can be explored with curiosity, humility, and respect. This season, we'll take on questions about the role of the National Guard, the limits of presidential power, campaign finance reform, and more.
A Baker's Dozen - Howard Baker's 1998 Senate Address
Ep 50 · Dec 2, 2025 · 32 min
In this time of intense civil discord, Sen. Howard Baker's words still provide a path for renewing faith in our American institutions. In this special release episode, hear Sen. Baker's famous Baker's Dozen 1998 address delivered to the Senate.
Would Howard Baker Have a Place in Today's Politics? – with Tom Daschle and Ben Sasse
Ep 49 · Nov 11, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
Former U.S. Senators Tom Daschle and Ben Sasse join Governors Bill Haslam and Phil Bredesen to discuss Howard Baker's legacy as "The Great Conciliator" and what his place would be in today's politics.
What Do Universities Owe Society? – with Ron Daniels
Ep 48 · Oct 28, 2025 · 52 min
The relationship between higher education and the American public has grown increasingly strained, leading many to call for reforms. In exchange for significant public funding, what are our universities obligated to provide the American people? Governors Bredesen and Haslam welcome Ron Daniels, president of Johns Hopkins University and author of What Universities Owe Democracy, to discuss the social contract in higher education and how universities can meet public expectations. This episode was…
Is the Federal Reserve Doing Its Job? – with Austan Goolsbee and Charles Calomiris
Ep 47 · Oct 14, 2025 · 56 min
Austan Goolsbee, president and chief executive officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, and Charles Calomiris, professor emeritus at Columbia Business School, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss the challenges the Fed faces in balancing independence with accountability, and the potential policy reforms that could modernize its approach.
If the Economy is Up, Why do Americans Feel Down? – with Whit Ayres, John Lettieri, and Marianne Wanamaker
Ep 46 · Oct 2, 2025 · 55 min
With a growing economy and household wealth at record highs, why do so many Americans feel left behind? In a live event, Governors Bredesen and Haslam sit down with Whit Ayres of North Star Opinion Research, John Lettieri of the Economic Innovation Group, and Dr. Marianne Wanamaker of the UT Baker School to examine the gap between economic data and public perception and discuss what reforms policymakers could implement to meet the economic demands of their constituents.
Do we have enough energy to power the country? – with Reagan Farr and and Shameek Konar
Ep 45 · Sep 16, 2025 · 47 min
Economic growth and new technologies are driving a surge in energy demand, stressing the country's power grid and posing challenges for policymakers. Governors Bredesen and Haslam are joined by Reagan Farr, Co-Founder & CEO of Silicon Ranch, and Shameek Konar, fmr. CEO of Pilot & Head of Energy at Ara Partners to discuss evolving demands in energy consumption and how changing policies are affecting our nation's energy and climate.
Who Judges the Judges? – with Holly Kirby, Sharon Lee, and Alberto Gonzales
Ep 44 · Sep 2, 2025 · 58 min
With the judicial branch increasingly in the spotlight, how judges are chosen and held accountable has never mattered more. Governors Bredesen and Haslam sit down with TN Supreme Court Chief Justice Holly Kirby, fmr. Justice Sharon Lee, and fmr. U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to discuss judicial elections, ethics, and explore whether reforms are needed to preserve the independence of the judiciary and public trust.
Is Public Education in Crisis? – with Jeb Bush, John White, and Rahm Emanuel
Ep 43 · May 13, 2025 · 1 hr
Our schools have faced unprecedented challenges from the pandemic and teacher shortages to debates over curriculum and student mental health. In this final episode of Season Six, Governors Bredesen and Haslam are joined by former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Louisiana State Superintendent of Education John White, and fmr. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel to delve into the role of state and federal governments in education and discuss reforms needed to improve student outcomes.
Can We Still Count on the Separation of Powers? – with Cass Sunstein and David Lewis
Ep 42 · Apr 29, 2025 · 54 min
In our Constitution, the framers established three independent branches of government, creating checks and balances to keep any one branch from becoming too powerful. Governors Bredesen and Haslam are joined by Harvard professor Cass Sunstein and Vanderbilt professor David Lewis to explore the history and interaction between the branches and whether the Framers' vision holds up in current practice.
How important are foreign alliances? – with Rahm Emanuel and Michael Kimmage
Ep 41 · Apr 15, 2025 · 52 min
As global dynamics shift, are foreign alliances essential to U.S. safety and prosperity – or is an America First approach more effective? Governors Bredesen and Haslam talk with former Ambassador Rahm Emanuel and historian Michael Kimmage about the pros and cons of foreign alliances and the new international order.
Has Pardon Power Gone Too Far? – with Mike Nelson and Steve Vladeck
Ep 40 · Apr 1, 2025 · 43 min
The power of the President to pardon convicted criminals is enshrined in the Constitution, but many experts have criticized the recent use of pardons and calls for reform have grown louder. Governors Bredesen and Haslam are joined by Mike Nelson, professor of political science at Rhodes College and Steve Vladeck, professor of law at Georgetown University (and returning YMBR guest), to discuss this power, what the Framers of the Constitution intended, and how it could be reformed.
Can government work better and cost less? – with Elaine Kamarck and Jim Capretta
Ep 39 · Mar 18, 2025 · 49 min
Presidents from both parties have tried to make government leaner – with mixed results. Governors Bredesen and Haslam are joined by Elaine Kamarck of the Brookings Institution and Jim Capretta of AEI to discuss what a smaller, more efficient government might look like – and if it's realistic. Drawing on their own experiences in the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, the guests discuss the real drivers of federal spending and whether efforts like the Department of Government Efficiency c…
Is this the end of free trade? – with Heather Long and James Lake
Ep 38 · Mar 6, 2025 · 46 min
To kick off a new season of You Might Be Right, Heather Long, opinion columnist for The Washington Post, and James Lake, associate professor of economics at the University of Tennessee, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss trade policy and the impact of tariffs.
2024 Election – What Did We Learn? – with Andy Busch and Lindsay Chervinsky
Ep 37 · Nov 21, 2024 · 47 min
Following an unprecedented presidential campaign, Andy Busch, Associate Director of the Institute of American Civics at the Baker School, and Lindsay Chervinsky, a presidential historian and executive director of the George Washington Presidential Library at Mount Vernon, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to debrief the election. What have we learned and what can history tell us about what might be next?
Can the Supreme Court be impartial? – with Steve Vladeck and John McGinnis
Ep 36 · Oct 31, 2024 · 60 min
Steve Vladeck, law professor at Georgetown and CNN Supreme Court analyst, and John McGinnis, law professor at Northwestern, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss the impact of polarization and declining public trust on the Supreme Court. Is the Supreme Court as partisan as Americans think it is? Are reforms needed to help rebuild trust?
Can the Constitution help fight polarization? – with Yuval Levin
Ep 35 · Oct 22, 2024 · 55 min
While constitutional issues are at the heart of many of our disagreements, it may also be the solution to our increasing political polarization. Yuval Levin, Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and author of a new book "American Covenant", join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to explore how the Constitution can guide us to disagree constructively and resolve problems.
How has polarization changed governing? – with Anthony Foxx and Margaret Spellings
Ep 34 · Oct 8, 2024 · 54 min
Anthony Foxx, Secretary of Transportation in the Obama Administration and Margaret Spellings, Secretary of Education in the Bush Administration, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam for a wide-ranging conversation, reflecting on experiences navigating divisions then and the changes they see today. They also share lessons learned while in office, from navigating relationships with the White House and Congress to memorable encounters with Dick Cheney and Grover Norquist. This episode was recorded li…
Is the Political Left and Right a Myth? – with Hyrum Lewis and Verlan Lewis
Ep 33 · Sep 24, 2024 · 59 min
Brothers, professors, and authors Hyrum Lewis and Verlan Lewis join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss their new book "The Myth of Left and Right", and its premise that the "left" and "right" are social groups united by tribal loyalty rather than consistent philosophies. Could a more multidimensional view of politics improve our civic discourse? This episode was recorded live at the Chattanooga Rotary Club in August 2024.
What does the research say about polarization? – with Rachel Kleinfeld
Ep 32 · Sep 10, 2024 · 44 min
Are Americans as divided as we think we are? To kick off Season Five, Rachel Kleinfeld, an international relations scholar and senior fellow in the Democracy, Conflict and Governance program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, joins Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss what the research says about the roots and repercussions of polarization in American politics.
Phil & Bill Answer Your Questions
Ep 31 · Aug 20, 2024 · 33 min
Two years and over 200,000 downloads later, "You Might Be Righ"t has inspired listeners nationwide. To mark this milestone, we invited our most avid listeners to ask Governors Bredesen and Haslam questions about the podcast, their time in office, and current hot topics.
What's Happening with AI Right Now? – with Michael Kratsios
Ep 30 · Aug 6, 2024 · 43 min
Nearly a year after the first You Might Be Right episode on AI, Michael Kratsios, former U.S. Chief Technology Officer, joins Governors Bredesen and Haslam to revisit this rapidly evolving topic. They discuss recent AI developments, its societal impact, and America's role in global tech leadership.
What is the history and future of presidential debates? – with Frank Fahrenkopf
Ep 29 · Jun 24, 2024 · 33 min
Frank Fahrenkopf, co-chairman of the Commission on Presidential Debates, joins Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss the history of televised presidential debates, his reaction to two major party campaigns agreeing to debates this year without the Commission's involvement, and the future of these essential civic events.
How can we disagree better? – with Spencer Cox and Jared Polis
Ep 28 · Mar 26, 2024 · 33 min
Two Governors from adjacent states and opposing parties, Utah's Spencer Cox (R) and Colorado's Jared Polis (D), join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to share their "Disagree Better" initiative. They affirm the need to "disagree without hating each other" and explore practical ways to disagree better in everyday life.
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