Is October 7 Gen Z’s 9/11? ft. Jonah and Debi

What are the defining moments that shape a generation?

In this episode of The Civic Generation, George Washington University sophomore Jonah Beinart and civic leader Debi Ghate share how defining moments for their generations—9/11 and October 7—shaped how they see the world, and how those different starting points actually help them relate to each other.

They both reflect on the pitfalls of black-and-white thinking and how labels make them feel boxed in. Instead, their conversation shows how getting a little more curious about each other might bring us closer.

What is The Civic Generation?

The Civic Generation is a limited podcast series exploring what happens when curiosity & generations meet.
We’re bringing together young leaders and seasoned changemakers for honest conversations about democracy, identity, and the future we’re building together.
This isn’t about winning arguments. It’s about learning.
If we’re going to reach 20 million young people building bold civic solutions, generations must work differently together. This is what that sounds like.