"This is a film about why you should join a club." So begins the documentary Join or Die, available to stream on Netflix, that follows the work of sociologist Robert Putnam, who famously argued that American civic organizations and engagement were in serious and steady decline and that this would not bode well for the nation. The documentary's co-directors and co-producers (and siblings), Rebecca and Pete Davis, join the O'Connor Institute to discuss their film and why joining a club may be the best way for individuals to improve their communities and country.

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From trade wars to rising prices, America’s economic landscape is being reshaped by powerful forces. How do tariffs affect U.S. industry and global standing? With inflation cooling but uncertainty lingering, where are things headed next—and what does it mean for policy and growth? Economist John Cochrane joins the Institute to explore the pressures and policies defining this critical moment for the U.S. economy.

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At a time when civic knowledge is in decline, political scientist Jeffrey Sikkenga makes the case that the health of our democracy depends on how—and whether—we teach American principles.

Sikkenga, executive director of the Ashbrook Center, joined the O’Connor Institute to discuss A Republic, If We Can Teach It, which he coauthored with Hoover Institution fellow David Davenport. The book explores the challenges facing civic education today and argues that a strong republic requires citizens who understand and value its constitutional foundations. What role should schools, parents, and institutions play in preparing the next generation for informed, engaged citizenship?

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