New York Times columnist David Brooks addressed the Milken Institute Associates, offering an analysis of whether Washington has the political will to fix some of the nation's biggest challenges, from entitlements to energy policy. Later, Mike sat down for a taped conversation with the columnist to discuss human capital, its role in Israel's growth as a technology center, and the valuations of pharmaceutical companies. Just two months later, commenting on CNN (April 24, 2011), Brooks said: "I was with Michael Milken recently and he’s one of those guys who just soaks you in. He just wants to learn everything from every single person he meets. That is a pretty valuable talent."