Aspen Ideas: Public events available Wednesday
A look at the public events for Wednesday that have tickets (available at the Wheeler Opera House box office or aspenshowtix.com):
What: The People vs. Democracy (Book Talk)
Where: Hotel Jerome Ballroom
When: 7:50 a.m.
Cost: $45 (with breakfast)
From Italy to Turkey, and from Hungary to the United States, authoritarian populists have seized power. As a result, political scientist and author Yascha Mounk argues that democracy itself may now be at risk. How did we get here, and what do we need to do now?
What: The Supreme Court Now: The Most Recent Decisions, the Deciders, and What to Expect Next
Where: St. Regis Ballroom
When: 7:50 a.m.
Cost: $45 (with breakfast)
From same-sex wedding cakes and voting rights to gerrymandered congressional districts and public unions, the latest Supreme Court term was full of newsmaking decisions, even when they decided not to decide. Join Ideas Festival legal and policy experts for a lively and informative roundup, where they’ll parse the most consequential opinions, emerging trends, and what these decisions tell us about the future of the highest court in the land.
What: With Honor: Can Veterans Help Bridge Our Political Divides?
Where: St. Regis Ballroom
When: Noon
Cost: $55 (with lunch)
America is at a critical and potentially existential moment. Tribal polarization is at an all-time high. Yet veteran representation in Congress is at an all-time low. Veterans know how to work together and get things done in tough places. Can a surge of next-generation, principled veterans who have pledged to form a cross-partisan coalition win in November, break down divisions, and get Congress working again?
What: “The Sentence” (film & discussion)
Where: Paepcke Auditorium
When: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $12
Ever wondered why mandatory minimum sentences are so controversial? Pay a visit through film to the family of Cindy Shank, mother of three, who is serving a 15-year sentence in federal prison for her tangential involvement with a Michigan drug ring years earlier. Captured by Shank’s brother, this intimate portrait of the devastating consequences of mandatory minimum drug sentencing follows her and her family over the course of 10 years.
What: Yeethoven: How Kanye West and Beethoven Collide
Where: Hotel Jerome Ballroom
When: 8:30 p.m.
Cost: $25
On his last two albums, Kanye West’s music departed dramatically from traditional pop song structures, launching into a more symphonic approach. Ludwig van Beethoven — similarly controversial in his time — wrought havoc on existing musical forms and alienated many in the process. Join Yuga Cohler and Stephen “Johan” Feigenbaum as they explore these similarities during a discussion of their orchestral concert Yeethoven, which sold out Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall this past January. An eleven-piece classical ensemble will illustrate their arguments with live musical excerpts.
Perils of retirement can trip up joy if you don’t consider you still need purpose, panelists say
For those who have yet to experience it, retirement can sound like a wonderful bookend to a working career. That said, there are many factors that come with it that don’t often get discussed.
