Social Security remains beloved and holds bipartisan support among American citizens. Yet the program faces an insolvency crisis. By 2034, when the fund is projected to run dry, it’s estimated that 81 million Americans will face automatic benefit cuts of 20%.

There is nothing complicated about fixing Social Security, according to R. Douglas Arnold, the William Church Osborn Professor of Public Affairs, Emeritus, and professor of politics and public affairs, emeritus, at Princeton University. Legislators could simply raise taxes or they could cut benefits — by raising the retirement age, for example. What remains complicated are the politics of fixing Social Security, Arnold argues in a new book published by Princeton University Press.

In “Fixing Social Security: The Politics of Reform in a Polarized Age” Arnold explores the historical role that Social Security has played in American politics, why Congress has done nothing to fix its solvency problem for three decades, and what legislators can do to save it. We discuss the book in this episode.

Endnotes takes listeners behind the cover and through the pages of books on politics, policy, and more — all written by faculty at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. The show is hosted by B. Rose Huber.

Fixing Social Security (R. Douglas Arnold)

Thanks for tuning into the first episode of the Dean’s Dialogue podcast!  April is Arab American Heritage Month, and to reflect on this diverse community, Dean Amaney Jamal sits down in conversation with Baher Iskander MPA ’22, a naturalized immigrant from Cairo, Egypt, with an interest in U.S. Middle East policy. 

Together, they discuss what it means to be Arab American, the representation of different faiths within the community, and the ways the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) can foster a more inclusive community for all students. 

The Dean’s Dialogue is a monthly podcast hosted by Amaney Jamal, Dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. The show is produced and edited by B. Rose Huber and receives support from Sarah Binder, Egan Jimenez, Daniel Kearns, and Brittany Murray.

Dean’s Dialogue: Come Here if You’re Serious about Service (Baher Iskander MPA ’22)

​Equitable policies for families and children is a focus for Christina Henderson MPA ’12, at-large member of the DC City Council. In this episode of the Dean’s Dialogue, she discusses how to advocate for those who “aren’t often in the room” with Dean Amaney Jamal.

Together, they cover policy issues like maternal and infant health, reproductive rights, and paid parental leave.

Throughout the episode, Henderson stresses the importance of local government and reflects on the courses, faculty, and friends at SPIA that prepared her for a life of public service. In turn, Dean Jamal shares her vision for School, especially in terms of creating a diverse and inclusive environment for all.

Why Local Government is Sexy (Christina Henderson MPA ’12)

Climate-driven migration is having global impacts, something Hélène Benveniste Ph.D. ’21 is acutely aware of thanks to her research. There are an increasing number of people who need to move and don’t have the resources to do so. Helping these hidden communities should be top of mind for policymakers.

In this episode of #Changemakers, she discusses her research on climate change policy, as well as the challenges she faces as a woman in academia. She also shares advice for anyone considering a Ph.D., most importantly the value of "knowing yourself" since research is such an involved activity.

Benveniste is a postdoctoral environmental fellow at the Harvard University Center for the Environment at the Kennedy School. She graduated from SPIA in 2021 with her Ph.D. in Public Affairs, focusing on Science, Technology, & Environmental Policy (STEP). Previously, she was a researcher at University of California, Berkeley and the National Center for Atmospheric Research. She also served as a research scientist and project manager for the French negotiation team during the creation of the Paris Climate Agreement.

#Changemakers is a podcast series featuring the many Princeton SPIA alumni who built up their policy toolkits at Princeton and went on to change their communities. The show is produced, hosted, and edited by B. Rose Huber, director of communications and senior writer at SPIA.

If You Pursue a Ph.D. — Know Yourself First (Hélène Benveniste Ph.D. ’21)

China’s intentions to become the world’s next superpower are clear. After decades of trade and investments with advanced democracies, the country is far richer and stronger today than ever before. At the same time, China remains regressive toward its citizens and aggressive toward countries abroad. How did we get to this point?

The West and its allies underestimated the resilience and ruthlessness of the Chinese Communist Party, Aaron Friedberg argues. In a new book, “Getting China Wrong,” he explains why the West’s strategy toward China failed and offers a path forward for U.S. foreign policy toward China.

Friedberg is a professor of politics and international affairs at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. He studies international relations with expertise in international security, globalization, political economy, foreign and defense policy, and East Asia.

Endnotes: Getting China Wrong (Aaron Friedberg)

In today’s workplace, writing is an essential skill. Whether drafting a policy memo, an email, or even a tweet, succinct writing is the key to effective communication.

Best practices for clear writing are explored in a new book by Martha Coven: "Writing on the Job: Best Practices for Communicating in the Digital Age,” published by Princeton University Press. 

In the book, Coven draws upon decades of experience in the public and private sectors — as well as in the classroom at Princeton University — to provide a helpful guide for anyone looking to improve their writing.

Coven, lecturer and John L. Weinberg/Goldman Sachs & Co. Visiting Professor at SPIA, has spent her career inside and outside of government working on domestic policy, with a focus on poverty reduction and the federal budget. Before coming to Princeton, she served for six years in the Obama Administration. She’s also served in nonprofit roles at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and Consumers Union. Along with her teaching, she currently provides consulting services to foundations and nonprofits.

Endnotes, a SPIA podcast, takes listeners behind the cover and through the pages of books on politics, policy, and more — all written by faculty at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs. The show is hosted by B. Rose Huber.

Endnotes: Writing on the Job (Martha Coven)

Podcasts produced by the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs.

Fixing Social Security (R. Douglas Arnold)

Princeton Policy Podcasts

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