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Bret Stephens on being the 'conservative wing of the liberal church'

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River to River, hosted by Ben Kieffer

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bret Stephens is known for his willingness to challenge both the left and the right.

New York Times columnist and Pulitzer Prize winner Bret Stephens says he uses the views of others he disagrees with as a whetting stone to sharpen his mind. Calling himself the "conservative wing of the liberal church," Stephens is known for critiquing both the left and the right, and he joined Ben Kieffer live at Hancher Auditorium for the University of Iowa College of Law fall Levitt Lecture.

Stephens and Kieffer discussed the political atmosphere following the killing of Charlie Kirk, his proudly held Zionist views amid a tenuous cease-fire in Gaza and how his views on climate change evolved.

Guests:

  • Bret Stephens, New York Times columnist, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist
Ben Kieffer is the host of "River to River." Since 2007, Kieffer has interviewed, conversed with, and shared ideas from guests of all backgrounds and locations, and has helped listeners better understand, appreciate, and explore their state and the world around them. Kieffer has a bachelor's degree from the University of Iowa.
Dani Gehr is a talk show producer for Iowa Public Radio. She holds a bachelor's degree from Iowa State University. Since 2022, Gehr has worked with IPR's talk team to bring news and features to IPR's listening audience.