School Phone Bans Are Spreading. But Are They Working?
Sep 1, 2026 · 11m
Summary
This episode examines the shifting public support for school phone bans, with WSJ’s Julie Jargon discussing how lockable pouches curb usage but haven’t yet boosted grades. The show then pivots to Hawaii’s economic struggles, where WSJ’s Owen Tucker Smith reports on efforts to diversify beyond tourism by fostering niche tech sectors like ocean and aerospace industries to retain young talent.
Topics discussed
Intro: AWS AI ad and show welcome
Preview: School phone bans and Hawaii tech
Rise of school phone bans and public opinion
How schools enforce phone bans in practice
Study results on phone usage reduction
Student reactions and socialization effects
Impact on grades and classroom attention
AWS AI commercial break
Hawaii's brain drain and past tech failures
New strategy: Ocean tech and aerospace
Challenges of building niche industries
State incentives and shared manufacturing
Economic stakes and wage competitiveness
Outro and credits
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