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You Might Be Right

Baker School of Public Policy and Public Affairs at University of Tennessee

63 episodes

Former Tennessee Governors Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam bring their perspectives to some of the country’s most challenging public policy questions, joined by expert guests with a range of viewpoints. In Season 9, they turn their attention to issues shaping the national conversation ahead of the midterm elections, including redistricting, affordability and what the polling numbers reveal about American voters. Produced by the Howard H. Baker Jr. School of Public Policy and Public Affairs at the University of Tennessee, "You Might Be Right" demonstrates that disagreement doesn’t have to mean division. Through thoughtful, civil conversations, the podcast explores complex issues, finds areas of common ground, and models a more constructive approach to public discourse.

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  1. How will populism impact the midterms? – with Patrick Ruffini and Ruy Teixeira

    · 53 min · S9 E61

    Issues like affordability, AI, and immigration are fueling populist sentiments across the political spectrum. In this episode, Governors Bredesen and Haslam are joined by Patrick Ruffini, a Republican pollster and a…

  2. Are We Really Experiencing an Affordability Crisis? – with Michael Strain and Jason Furman

    · 54 min · S9 E60

    Governors Bredesen and Haslam are joined by Michael Strain, Director of Economic Policy Studies and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), and Jason Furman, a professor at Harvard and former chair…

  3. Will Redistricting Shape the Midterms? - with Jonathan Rodden and Sam Wang

    · 52 min · S9 E59

    What does it mean for voters when the politicians get to choose their constituents, instead of the other way around? In this episode, Governors Haslam and Bredesen pull back the curtain on redistricting and…

  4. What Dolly Parton Taught Us About Common Ground

    · 26 min · S9 E58

    In this special episode, former Tennessee Governors Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam share personal stories about Dolly Parton and reflect on her life and legacy. Dolly had a remarkable ability to take stands, support…

  5. Can We Trust What the Polls Say About the 2026 Midterms? – with Kristen Soltis Anderson and Anna Greenberg

    · 56 min · S9 E57

    Leading pollsters Kristen Soltis Anderson, a Republican, and Anna Greenberg, a Democrat, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to open a new season of "You Might Be Right." In this episode, the Governors and their guests…

  6. Introducing "You Might Be Right" Season 9

    · 2:34 · S9 E56 · Trailer

    From redistricting to affordability, we’re diving into the issues defining the midterm elections in a new season of "You Might be Right." On Sept. 3, the Season 9 opens with an episode that features former governors…

  7. Should Taxpayers Pay for R&D? – with Jeffrey Miron and Aldo Musacchio

    · 53 min · S8 E56

    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…

  8. Who Should Regulate AI? – with Kristian Stout and Bruce Schneier

    · 55 min · S8 E55

    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…

  9. Should Federal Dollars Come with Strings Attached? – with Mitch Daniels & Elena Patel

    · 53 min · S8 E54

    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…

  10. Is there too much money in politics? – with Larry Lessig and Brad Smith

    · 53 min · S8 E53

    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…

  11. Can the President do that? – with Jack Goldsmith and Ilya Shapiro

    · 52 min · S8 E52

    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…

  12. When and How Should the National Guard be Deployed? – with Rosa Brooks and John Yoo

    · 59 min · S8 E51

    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…

  13. Introducing "You Might Be Right"

    · 1:24 · Trailer

    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…

  14. A Baker's Dozen - Howard Baker's 1998 Senate Address

    · 32 min · S7 E50

    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…

  15. Would Howard Baker Have a Place in Today's Politics? – with Tom Daschle and Ben Sasse

    · 1 h 01 min · S7 E49

    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.

  16. What Do Universities Owe Society? – with Ron Daniels

    · 52 min · S7 E48

    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…

  17. Is the Federal Reserve Doing Its Job? – with Austan Goolsbee and Charles Calomiris

    · 56 min · S7 E47

    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…

  18. If the Economy is Up, Why do Americans Feel Down? – with Whit Ayres, John Lettieri, and Marianne Wanamaker

    · 55 min · S7 E46

    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…

  19. Do we have enough energy to power the country? – with Reagan Farr and and Shameek Konar

    · 47 min · S7 E45

    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…

  20. Who Judges the Judges? – with Holly Kirby, Sharon Lee, and Alberto Gonzales

    · 58 min · S7 E44

    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.…

  21. Is Public Education in Crisis? – with Jeb Bush, John White, and Rahm Emanuel

    · 1 h 00 min · S6 E43

    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…

  22. Can We Still Count on the Separation of Powers? – with Cass Sunstein and David Lewis

    · 54 min · S6 E42

    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…

  23. How important are foreign alliances? – with Rahm Emanuel and Michael Kimmage

    · 52 min · S6 E41

    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…

  24. Has Pardon Power Gone Too Far? – with Mike Nelson and Steve Vladeck

    · 43 min · S6 E40

    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…

  25. Can government work better and cost less? – with Elaine Kamarck and Jim Capretta

    · 49 min · S6 E39

    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…

  26. Is this the end of free trade? – with Heather Long and James Lake

    · 46 min · S6 E38

    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…

  27. 2024 Election – What Did We Learn? – with Andy Busch and Lindsay Chervinsky

    · 47 min · S5 E37

    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…

  28. Can the Supreme Court be impartial? – with Steve Vladeck and John McGinnis

    · 1 h 00 min · S5 E36

    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…

  29. Can the Constitution help fight polarization? – with Yuval Levin

    · 55 min · S5 E35

    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…

  30. How has polarization changed governing? – with Anthony Foxx and Margaret Spellings

    · 54 min · S5 E34

    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,…

  31. Is the Political Left and Right a Myth? – with Hyrum Lewis and Verlan Lewis

    · 59 min · S5 E33

    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…

  32. What does the research say about polarization? – with Rachel Kleinfeld

    · 44 min · S5 E32

    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…

  33. Phil & Bill Answer Your Questions

    · 33 min · S4 E31

    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…

  34. What's Happening with AI Right Now? – with Michael Kratsios

    · 43 min · S4 E30

    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…

  35. What is the history and future of presidential debates? – with Frank Fahrenkopf

    · 33 min · S4 E29

    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…

  36. How can we disagree better? – with Spencer Cox and Jared Polis

    · 33 min · S4 E28

    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…

  37. Is the Electoral College the best way to elect a president? – with Allen Guelzo and Daniel Ziblatt

    · 52 min · S4 E27

    Historian Allen Guelzo of Princeton University and political scientist Daniel Ziblatt of Harvard join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to delve into our presidential election process, its history, and arguments for (and…

  38. What is the Role of Traditional Media in a Presidential Election? – with Natalie Allison and Dan Balz

    · 51 min · S4 E26

    Natalie Allison, national political reporter for Politico, and Dan Balz, Chief Correspondent for The Washington Post, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to examine the evolving role of traditional media in a modern…

  39. Can a Third-Party Candidate Succeed? – with Dan DiSalvo and Bill Galston

    · 48 min · S4 E25

    Dan DiSalvo, a political scientist and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and Bill Galston, a senior fellow at Brookings and Wall Street Journal columnist, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss our…

  40. Is Our Primary System Working? – with Galen Druke and Jonah Goldberg

    · 57 min · S4 E24

    Galen Druke, host and producer of the FiveThirtyEight Politics podcast and Jonah Goldberg, Editor-in-Chief of The Dispatch and host of The Remnant podcast, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to explore the modern…

  41. Phil & Bill Discuss Their Political Parties

    · 36 min · S4 E23

    To kick off Season Four, former Tennessee Governors Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam reveal why they chose to be part of their respective political parties and how they are squaring their own values with America's…

  42. Phil & Bill Talk Immigration Policy

    · 29 min · S3 E22

    In this bonus episode, former Tennessee Governors Phil Bredesen and Bill Haslam share their own perspectives on immigration, modeling the type of civil debate that "You Might Be Right" seeks to foster. From controlling…

  43. Carly Fiorina: On Running for President and Staying Engaged in our Democracy

    · 46 min · S3 E21

    As we approach the 2024 election, 2016 presidential candidate and fmr. HP CEO Carly Fiorina joins Governors Bredesen and Haslam for a wide-ranging discussion about democratic engagement, running for office, and her…

  44. Our Kids are Struggling. Who Can Help Them? – with Melissa Kearney and Richard Reeves

    · 55 min · S3 E20

    Recorded live at the Baker School in October 2023, economist Melissa Kearney, author of "The Two-Parent Privilege: How Americans Stopped Getting Married and Started Falling Behind," and Brookings Sr. Fellow Richard…

  45. Entrepreneurship: What it takes to be successful, and should government have a role? - with Sarah Bellos and Brad Smith

    · 48 min · S3 E19

    Recorded live at Launch Tennessee's 3686 Festival, founders Sarah Bellos of Stony Creek Colors and Brad Smith of Russell Street Ventures join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to explore the interaction between…

  46. Affirmative Action and College Admissions: What Happens Now? - with Sarah Isgur and Marie Bigham

    · 51 min · S3 E18

    Legal analyst Sarah Isgur and fmr. college admissions official Marie Bigham join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss the Supreme Court ruling banning race-conscious admission policies in higher education,…

  47. How will AI Affect Democracy? - with Sarah Kreps and Bruce Schneier

    · 56 min · S3 E17

    Dr. Sarah Kreps, a political scientist and director of the Cornell Tech Policy Institute, and Bruce Schneier, a technologist and Harvard Kennedy School lecturer, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to dig into the good,…

  48. How Secure is Your Vote? – with Brad Raffensperger and Jocelyn Benson

    · 50 min · S3 E16

    Two Secretaries of State, Brad Raffensperger (R) of Georgia and Jocelyn Benson (D) of Michigan, join Governors Bredesen and Haslam for a conversation about their efforts to safeguard elections and combat misinformation.

  49. Why are there no more Walter Cronkites? - with Judy Woodruff and Chris Stirewalt

    · 52 min · S2 E15

    Longtime CNN and PBS anchor Judy Woodruff and fmr. Fox News political editor Chris Stirewalt join Governors Bredesen and Haslam to discuss the role the media plays in our democracy and the future of local news.

  50. Do we need a democracy renovation? – with Danielle Allen

    · 40 min · S2 E14

    Harvard University professor, author, Washington Post columnist, and democracy scholar Danielle Allen joins Governors Bredesen and Haslam to share her vision for shoring up democracy. Allen discusses her work on civics…

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