Charlie Rose Season 20 Episode 2 Authors Tom Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum; David Friend

Authors Tom Friedman and Michael Mandelbaum join Charlie Rose in the latest episode of season 20 to discuss their book "That Used to Be Us: How America Fell Behind in the World It Invented and How We Can Come Back". The authors share their insights into the state of the United States, its evolution and its challenges. They reflect on the impact of technology, globalization, the economy as well as politics and examine how these factors are contributing to the nation's decline in its global standing.

Tom Friedman is a New York Times columnist, who has written extensively about globalization, technology, and the environment. His colleague, Michael Mandelbaum is a professor of American foreign policy at the John Hopkins University. Together, they have examined the state of America and provide valuable critiques and recommendations on what needs to be done to improve its prospects.

In this episode, the two authors provide insights on the areas where America has excelled in which include innovation, the rule of law, liberal democracy among others. However, they also examine how states like China have been able to adopt the American model and accelerate their growth, while America stagnates. The authors further expound on the relationship between China and the United States and how this impacts on their respective global standings.

Charlie Rose, the acclaimed television host, also interviews David Friend, the author of "The Naughty Nineties: The Triumph of the American Libido" a book that focuses on the cultural aspects of the 90s decade. Friend, who was the editor of Vanity Fair, provides a high-spirited, insightful and humorous account of that era and discusses how it impacted on America's social values.

As usual, Charlie Rose brings his unique journalistic style to the show, eliciting insightful commentary from his guests and providing his audience with an engaging and informative discussion. The show provides viewers with a balanced yet critical look at how America is falling behind in the world and what needs to be done to reverse this trend.

In conclusion, the Charlie Rose show, season 20 episode 2, offers a thought-provoking discussion on the current status of the United States from a political and cultural standpoint. The authors provide a comprehensive analysis of the factors that have led to their decline in global standing and offer a roadmap for what can be done to restore America's position in the world. David Friend, on the other hand, adds a fresh perspective to the show by providing insights into the cultural impact of the 90s and how it influenced the values and attitudes of today's generation. Overall, this episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in understanding the state of America and its prospects for the future.