In each episode, Douglas convenes a panel of public officials, policy makers, academics, journalists and other leaders, and challenges them with provocative but fair questions about the topic at hand.

Unlike traditional lines of questioning that often result in perfunctory answers, the Socratic method uses hypothetical situations and rhetorical inquiry to elicit well-reasoned responses. The interviewee is challenged to think about an issue from a different point of view than his or her own. Rather than just being asked to state a position, guests must explain and defend it too.