Travis Fisher and Jennifer Huddleston discuss how outdated energy policies created barriers to new generation just as AI data centers began demanding unprecedented amounts of power. They imagine a path forward using free market policies in both AI and electricity to create previously unimaginable levels of human flourishing and prosperity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Trump is taking a victory lap for brokering peace in Gaza—while simultaneously escalating the U.S. proxy war in Ukraine and launching airstrikes against suspected cartel boats. Our panel assesses Trump’s Nobel ambitions, celebrates this year’s actual Peace Prize winner, Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.Featuring Ryan Bourne, Gene Healy, Justin Logan, & Ian VasquezJustin Logan, "The Case for Withdrawing from the Middle East," Defense Priorities, September 2020.Ian Vasquez, “Maria Corina Machado, Venezuelan Champion of Freedom, Wins the Nobel Peace Prize,” Cato at Liberty blog, October 10, 2025.Ian Vasquez and Marcos Falcone, “Liberty Versus Power in Milei’s Argentina,” Free Society, October, 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

According to recent government data, immigration enforcement has become a much more dangerous job. David Bier and Patrick Eddington discuss the policy tradeoffs driving these numbers, previous administrations' efforts at mitigating mass immigration, and how to craft a more just, effective and safe immigration policy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Trump’s new “Compact with Academia” aims to reshape higher ed using the leverage of federal funds. Our panel unpacks the constitutional risks of Washington’s latest salvo in the campus culture wars. Plus, shutdown week two: will the administration deliver on federal job cuts or is it Grim Reaper cosplay? Featuring:Ryan Bourne, Gene Healy, Neal McCluskey and Adam Michel Neal McCluskey, "Higher Ed Compact Is More of the Same, Worse," Cato at Liberty blog, October 7, 2025.Adam Michel, "Six Reasons to Not Extend the Enhanced Obamacare Subsidies," Cato at Liberty blog, October 7, 2025.Neal McCluskey, "Court Rightly Finds for Harvard Against Trump Administration," Cato at Liberty blog, September 4, 2025.Dominik Lett, "Revoking IEEPA Tariffs Will Not “Lead to Financial Ruin,”" Cato at Liberty blog, October 3, 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robby Soave, senior editor at Reason and co-host of The Hill's Rising, join's Cato's Thomas A. Berry and David Inserra to discuss the state of free speech following the Charlie Kirk assassination and Jimmy Kimmel suspension. They examine how recent administrations have engaged in government jawboning to suppress speech and conclude that consistent First Amendment principles must prevail regardless of which party controls government power.Show Notes:https://www.cato.org/blog/kimmel-cancellation-dangerous-sign-free-speechhttps://www.cato.org/blog/americans-must-remain-committed-free-expression-after-assassination-charlie-kirk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The federal government shuts down as the Supreme Court returns. Our panel looks at the Trump team’s plan to use the shutdown for mass layoffs —and previews a new Supreme Court term packed with big fights over tariffs, emergency powers, and the future of “independent” agencies.Featuring: Ryan Bourne, Gene Healy, Thomas Berry, and Jeffrey MironRomina Boccia, "Thoughts About The Impending Government Shutdown," The Debt Dispatch, September 30, 2025.Jeffrey Miron, "Some Libertarians Cheer When Government Shuts Down: Here's Why They Shouldn't," Vox, January 21, 2018.Ryan Bourne, "The Libertarian Experiment That Isn't," Cato at Liberty blog, January 11, 2019.Thomas A. Berry, Brent Skorup, and Charles Brandt, "Learning Resources v. Trump," Cato Amicus Brief, July 30, 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will congressional inaction lead to a government shut down? Do shutdowns halt the government in its tracks, and if not, who decides what stays and what goes? What does it mean for President Trump -- or the rest of us? Cato's VP for Government Affairs, Chad Davis, in conversation with Patrick Eddington, senior fellow in homeland security and civil liberties at the Cato Institute.Correction: The 35-day shutdown in late 2018 into early 2019 was over Trump's demand for $5.7 billion in federal funds for a border wall. The shutdown over Dreamers was three days in January 2018. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

FCC chair Brendan Carr’s “easy way or hard way” threat to TV broadcasters lit a censorship firestorm this week. Our Cato panel digs into the government's jawboning, broadcast licensees' “junior-varsity” First Amendment rights, and whether it’s time to scrap the FCC altogether. Plus, the latest on AI regulation and the art of the TikTok deal.Featuring Gene Healy, Ryan Bourne, Brent Skorup and Jennifer HuddlestonBrent Skorup, "Jimmy Kimmel, the FCC, and Why Broadcasters Still Have “Junior Varsity” First Amendment Rights," September 19, 2025.Ilya Somin, "Abolish the FCC," September 18, 2025.David Inserra and John Samples, "Kimmel Cancellation a Dangerous Sign for Free Speech," September 24, 202Jennifer Huddelston, "Trump’s TikTok Reprieve Won’t Fix the Law’s Free Speech Problems," February 3, 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce joins Jennifer Schulp and Cato's Norbert Michel to discuss how government financial surveillance has eroded Americans' constitutional privacy rights through tools like the Consolidated Audit Trail. Peirce advocates for principles-based regulation that protects individual financial privacy while allowing innovation to flourish, arguing that current prescriptive rules create barriers to entry and stifle competition. The conversation explores how new technologies could restore individual sovereignty over personal financial data, enabling Americans to reclaim control over their private information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are Americans becoming dangerously tolerant of political violence? After Charlie Kirk’s assassination, our Cato panel looks at trends in public opinion, past episodes of political terrorism, and new risks to free expression. Plus, Milei’s electoral setback in Buenos Aires province—what now for Argentina's libertarian experiment?Alex Nowrasteh, "Politically Motivated Violence Is Rare in the United States," September 11, 2025.Emily Ekins, "The State of Free Speech and Tolerance in America," October 2017 Survey Report.YouGov, "What Americans really think about political violence," September 12, 2025.Ian Vasquez, "Deregulation in Argentina." Spring 2025.Lorenzo Bernaldo de Quirós, "Argentine President Milei Should Let the Peso Float," September 17, 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Syracuse University forced its social work faculty to partner with a for-profit corporation that takes two-thirds of online tuition revenue, professor Kenneth Corvo began investigating where student money actually goes in higher education. His findings reveal a systemic problem across American universities: more administrators than faculty at the college level, expanding bureaucracies focused on "student experience" and compliance, and minimal transparency about how tuition dollars are spent. The discussion with Cato's Walter Olson traces how federal funding, regulatory requirements, and the erosion of scientific rigor have combined to create institutions that increasingly fail their core educational mission. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Congress returns to looming shutdowns and a “pocket-rescission” power grab. Abroad, President Trump pushes “America First” by rebranding the Pentagon as the Department of War—and launching an airstrike on a Venezuelan cartel boat. Our panel asks what all this says about America’s fiscal sanity and its foreign-policy compass.Featuring Ryan Bourne, Gene Healy, Adam Michel, & Brandan BuckAdam N. Michel and Dominik Lett, “Reconciliation 2.0: Fix or Fiasco?,” Cato at Liberty (September 3, 2025)Romina Boccia and [co-author unspecified], “Coming Budget Debates and How Congress Should Navigate Them,” Cato at Liberty (September 2025)Brandan P. Buck, “The Lost Liberalism of America First,” Free Society (June 30, 2025)Brandan P. Buck, “The Cognitive Shift: How the Terrorist Label May Lead to Another Forever War,” Cato at Liberty (March 19, 2025) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Norbert Michel and Dominic Lett square off over whether fiscal or monetary policy is the bigger mess. Lett highlights how entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare are driving unsustainable debt levels, while Michel explains how post-2008 Federal Reserve changes have created risks of “fiscal dominance,” where monetary policy is increasingly shaped by government borrowing needs. Both stress that without structural reforms and political restraint, the U.S. faces uncertain and potentially catastrophic economic consequences.Show Notes:https://www.cato.org/policy-analysis/comprehensive-evaluation-policy-rate-feedback-rules#https://www.cato.org/books/crushing-capitalismhttps://www.cato.org/blog/medicaid-driving-deficits-republicans-are-scarcely-tapping-brakeshttps://www.cato.org/news-releases/senate-bill-could-increase-debt-6-trillion-cato-analysis# Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What should “public health in a free society” look like, and what limits should courts impose on executive trade powers? This week’s panel covers the shakeup at the CDC, asks whether America really needs a Surgeon General, and unpacks a blockbuster ruling from the Federal Circuit declaring most of President Trump’s global tariffs illegal.Featuring Ryan Bourne, Gene Healy, Jeffrey A. Singer, & Scott LincicomeAdam Thierer, “Breaking the Government’s Grip on the Medical Debate,” Cato at Liberty (August 28, 2025) J.A. Singer, “Unnecessary Relics,” Policy Analysis (July 2025)Thomas A. Berry, Brent Skorup, and Charles Brandt, “V.O.S. Selections, Inc. v. Trump,” Legal Briefs (July 8, 2025)Brent Skorup, Ilya Somin, and Walter Olson, “Tariffs, Emergencies, and Presidential Power: A Conversation with Ilya Somin and Walter Olson,” Multimedia Event (May 27, 2025) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join Cato's Alex Nowrasteh and Travis Fisher as they unpack a pivotal moment in climate policy reform. The duo explores Fisher's tenure at the Department of Energy and the groundbreaking report that could reshape the discourse on greenhouse gases.Travis Fisher, “Why I Helped Organize the Department of Energy’s Climate Report,” Cato at Liberty (August 6, 2025)Travis Fisher and Joshua Loucks, “The Budgetary Cost of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Energy Subsidies,” Policy Analysis (March 11, 2025)Patrick J. Michaels, “Cato Releases Report on EPA Endangerment Finding,” News Releases (October 31, 2012) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Golden shares” at home, grand bargains abroad. In this episode, Cato scholars weigh Trump’s push for equity stakes in U.S. firms under the CHIPS Act and his effort to strike a quick deal with Putin on Ukraine. What does state capitalism at home mean for American liberty—and can deal-making diplomacy abroad actually end the U.S. entanglement in Ukraine?Featuring Ryan Bourne, Gene Healy, Norbert Michel, and Justin LoganScott Lincicome, “The government’s Intel stake is antithetical to American greatness”https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/08/24/trump-intel-government-marketplace/Justin (and Dan Caldwell) on security guarantees: https://thefederalist.com/2025/08/26/if-ukraine-wants-security-guarantees-it-should-get-them-from-europe/Ryan Bourne, “Trump’s cronyism is quietly unravelling American capitalism,”https://www.thetimes.com/us/business/article/trumps-cronyism-is-quietly-unravelling-american-capitalism-jxlwwf7dwRyan Bourne, Industrial Policy was the Gateway Drug to Cronyism Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cato’s Jennifer Huddleston and Tommy Berry examine the 2024 TikTok divest-or-ban law and what it means for Americans. They explain how the law could reshape the app market, restrict free speech, and expand government power far beyond TikTok itself.Jennifer Huddleston, “Could the Latest TikTok ‘Ban’ Pass Constitutional Muster?,” Cato at Liberty (blog) (March 12, 2024)Jennifer Huddleston, “Competition and Content Moderation: How Section 230 Enables Increased Tech Marketplace Entry,” Policy Analysis no. 922 (January 31, 2022)Jennifer Huddleston and Tommy Berry, “TikTok Users Await Looming US Ban; SCOTUS May Intervene,” Cato Daily Podcast (January 16, 2025) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As President Trump’s “crime emergency” puts troops on D.C.’s streets, socialist Zohran Mamdani surges ahead in the New York mayoral race. On the panel, Cato scholars debate whether America’s capitals of politics and finance are becoming laboratories for failed ideas.Featuring Ryan Bourne, Gene Healy, Clark Neily, and Marian TupyRyan Bourne, “Zohran Mamdani’s ‘War on Prices’,” Commentary (June 13, 2025) cato.orgScott Lincicome, “State-Run Supermarkets: A (Bad) Statist Solution in Search of a Problem,” Commentary (July 10, 2025) cato.orgMarian L. Tupy, “Marian L. Tupy Discusses His Experiences Living Under Communism on Prager U’s Stories of Us Podcast,” Media Highlights TV (November 14, 2023) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justin Logan and Clark Packard break down the twists and turns of the U.S.-China relationship—from trade liberalization and consumer benefits to lost manufacturing and rising geopolitical tensions. They unpack how economic integration shaped today’s challenges and what it means for America’s future.Justin Logan, “Liberty at Home, Restraint Abroad: A Realist Approach to Foreign Policy,” Free Society (June 20, 2024) Justin Logan, “Uncle Sucker: Why U.S. Efforts at Defense Burdensharing Fail,” Policy Analysis no. 940 (March 7, 2023) Clark Packard, Course Correction, Policy Analysis no. 897 (July 21, 2020)Clark Packard and Scott Lincicome, “Presidential Tariff Powers and the Need for Reform,” Briefing Paper no. 179 (October 9, 2024) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As President Trump pushes to unwind one proxy war—with Russia in Ukraine—he’s ramping up another in this hemisphere: ordering the Pentagon to ready battle plans against Latin American drug cartels. On our panel, Cato scholars weigh the odds of a Putin deal and the risk of replaying past drug war disasters.Featuring Ryan Bourne, Ian Vásquez, Gene Healy, and Justin LoganJustin Logan, “Trump Shouldn’t Settle for European Spending Pledges,” Foreign Policy, July 25, 2025Brandan P. Buck, “Invading Mexico Will Not Solve the Cartel Problem,” The American Conservative, December 17, 2024Ian Vasquez, “Deregulation in Argentina: Milei Takes “Deep Chainsaw” to Bureaucracy and Red Tape,” Free Society (Spring 2025) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Senior Fellow in Technology Policy Jennifer Huddleston and Technology Policy Research Fellow Matthew Mittelsteadt break down the Trump administration's new AI Action Plan and what it means for American innovation. Matt Mittelsteadt, “The AI Action Plan: Taking AI Innovation Seriously,” Cato at Liberty (July 28, 2025)Matt Mittelsteadt, “The Safety Risks of the Coming AI Regulatory Patchwork,” Cato at Liberty (June 24, 2025)Jennifer Huddleston, “Content Creators, Entrepreneurial Users, and the Impact of Tech Policy,” Policy Analysis (April 29, 2025)Jennifer Huddleston, “Is AI a Horse or a Zebra When It Comes to the First Amendment,” Cato at Liberty (July 28, 2025) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last week, President Trump ramped up pressure on two favorite targets: elite universities and Fed Chair Jerome Powell. In the “War on Woke U,” the administration landed a $50 million settlement from Brown—the third Ivy to cut a deal—and added Duke and UCLA to the hit list with new civil rights probes and a funding cutoff. Meanwhile, after the Fed held rates steady, Trump escalated his campaign to oust Powell, denouncing him as a “stubborn MORON” on Truth Social.In this episode, Cato scholars break down the Art of the Forcible Deal. What risks do Trump’s pressure tactics pose for monetary stability? Will they reform broken institutions—or just deepen their politicization? And is Trump’s strongarm approach an aberration, or a preview of the modern presidency’s future?Featuring Gene Healy, Ryan Bourne, Emily Ekins, and Jeffrey MironShow Notes:David Beckworth, “The Consolidated Government Budget Constraint Does Not Care About Your Fed Independence Feelings,” Substack (July 25, 2025)Ryan Bourne, “A Case for Federal Deficit Reduction,” Cato Policy Analysis no. 973 (April 18, 2024)Michael Chapman, “A Win for Liberty: Congress Defunds CPB, NPR, and PBS,” Cato@Liberty (July 23, 2025)Jeffrey A. Miron and Jacob P. Winter, “Giving Up Federal Funds Would Do Harvard Good,” Harvard Crimson (April 30, 2025)Norbert Michel and Jai Kedia, “A Check-In on the Fed: Why Politically Motivated Monetary Policy Is Dangerous and Counterproductive,” Cato Video (July 22, 2025) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Van Doren and David Kemp bring libertarian skepticism to the bipartisan political support for nuclear power. They analyze why regulatory reform alone may not solve nuclear's economic problems and discuss how recent U.S. projects have failed to deliver on promises of cost-effectiveness even after a supposed "renaissance" in the late 2000s. They finish up with a discussion on whether small modular reactors (SMRs) are the nuclear silver bullet.Show Notes:Peter Van Doren and David Kemp, Nuclear Power in the Context of Climate Change, Cato Institute Working Paper, April 27, 2023. https://www.cato.org/working-paper/nuclear-power-context-climate-change.David Kemp and Peter Van Doren, "Would a Carbon Tax Rejuvenate Nuclear Energy?" Regulation 45, no. 3 (Fall 2022). https://www.cato.org/regulation/fall-2022/would-carbon-tax-rejuvenate-nuclear-energy.David Kemp, "Nuclear Power’s Newest Cautionary Tale," Cato at Liberty (blog), January 23, 2024. https://www.cato.org/blog/nuclear-powers-newest-cautionary-tale. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cato's Clark Neily and Mike Fox give the most recent SCOTUS term a B- grade on criminal law. While they celebrate some unanimous victories like Barnes v. Felix (requiring courts to consider totality of circumstances in police use-of-force cases) and Martin v. United States (allowing federal tort claims against law enforcement), they express frustration with the Court's repeated refusal to hear cases involving the "petty offense doctrine," appellate waivers in plea bargains, and felon-in-possession gun laws—all issues with clear circuit splits that affect large numbers of people.The episode concludes with a celebration of Fox's efforts that led to presidential pardons for John Moore and Tanner Mansell, achieving justice where the courts failed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Thomas A. Berry and Brent Skorup analyze five major Supreme Court cases from the recently concluded term, describing it as a "mixed bag" with more government victories than libertarians would prefer. They discuss key decisions including Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton (upholding Texas age verification requirements for adult content), Trump v. Casa Inc. (ending universal injunctions by federal judges), and several other significant rulings on transgender rights and religious liberty in schools. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Michel, Michael Cannon, and Dominik Lett break down the One Big Beautiful Bill. Is it $3.4 trillion, or actually $6 trillion? Is Medicaid getting a cut or a trim? With spending cuts pushed to later years and tax benefits front-loaded, the scholars dissect the political calculations and baseline accounting that shaped this massive piece of legislation.Show Notes:Michael F. Cannon, “Congress Must Cut and Reform Medicaid,” Cato at Liberty (blog), July 18, 2023. https://www.cato.org/blog/congress-must-cut-reform-medicaid.Chris Edwards, “The Senate’s Big, Beautiful Blunder Could Increase the Debt by $6 Trillion,” Cato at Liberty (blog), October 30, 2023. https://www.cato.org/blog/senates-big-beautiful-blunder-could-increase-debt-6-trillion.“Senate Budget Serves Dessert First, Spinach Later,” Cato Institute, October 26, 2023. https://www.cato.org/news-releases/senate-budget-serves-dessert-first-spinach-later.Romina Boccia, “Fiscal Hawks to the Defense of the GOP’s Deficit-Busting Budget Bill,” Cato at Liberty (blog), November 1, 2023. https://www.cato.org/blog/fiscal-hawks-defense-gops-deficit-busting-budget-bill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael F. Cannon and Neal McCluskey let us listen in on their ongoing 20-year debate over who has the more difficult job -- fixing health care or education. McCluskey argues that government's monopolistic control over K-12 education and compulsory schooling creates a more fundamental threat to freedom, while Cannon contends that health care is even more dysfunctional due to cascading government interventions that have created the world's most expensive and gap-ridden health system. Both scholars explore how government subsidies drive up costs in their respective sectors and outline their visions for more libertarian, market-based alternatives.Show Notes:https://www.cato.org/free-society/summer-2025/federal-failure-parental-freedom-story-movement  https://www.cato.org/blog/supreme-court-right-reading-opt-outs-thats-not-enough https://www.cato.org/blog/top-5-reasons-end-us-department-education Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justin Logan and Jon Hoffman delve into Hoffman's latest policy analysis, "Aimless Rivalry: The Futility of U.S. China Competition in the Middle East." They debunk justifications for U.S. Middle East policy based on competition with China and challenge prevailing narratives in international relations. Tune in for a thorough discussion that puts threats in context and examines U.S. policy through a skeptical lens.Show Notes:Hoffman, Jon. Aimless Rivalry: The Flawed Assumptions Driving U.S. Middle East Policy. Policy Analysis no. 956. Washington, DC: Cato Institute, July 24, 2023. https://www.cato.org/policy-analysis/aimless-rivalry.Gholz, Eugene, and Daryl G. Press. “Why the Middle East Still Doesn’t Matter.” Politico Magazine, October 15, 2014. https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/10/why-the-middle-east-still-doesnt-matter-111747/.Ashford, Emma. The Case for Withdrawing from the Middle East. Washington, DC: Defense Priorities, 2019. https://www.defensepriorities.org/reports/the-case-for-withdrawing-from-the-middle-east/.Preble, Christopher A., and Jon Hoffman. “Middle East Security.” In Cato Handbook for Policymakers, 9th ed., 406–13. Washington, DC: Cato Institute, 2022. https://www.cato.org/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policymakers-9th-edition-2022/middle-east-security.Hoffman, Jon. “The U.S. Has Nothing to Fear from China in the Middle East.” Cato Institute, June 20, 2023. https://www.cato.org/commentary/us-has-nothing-fear-china-middle-east.Hoffman, Jon. “Jon Hoffman Participates in Event: U.S.-China Competition and the Value of the Middle East.” Cato Institute, April 25, 2023. https://www.cato.org/multimedia/media-highlights-tv/jon-hoffman-participates-event-us-china-competition-value-middle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are stablecoins, how do they work, and what does the future hold for these innovative financial instruments? Join Norbert Michel and Jennifer Schulp from the Cato Institute's Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives as they delve into the evolving landscape of stablecoin legislation. Whether you're a seasoned crypto enthusiast or just curious about digital currencies, this discussion will provide valuable insights into the regulatory environment and the potential impacts on the financial system.Show Notes:Norbert J. Michel and Jack Solowey. “Stablecoin Bills Galore: How Do They Stack Up?” Cato at Liberty (blog), July 27, 2023. https://www.cato.org/blog/stablecoin-bills-galore-how-do-they-stack.Jack Solowey. “Stablecoin Legislation Must Ensure Financial Privacy.” Cato Institute, August 15, 2023. https://www.cato.org/commentary/stablecoin-legislation-must-ensure-financial-privacy.Nicholas Anthony. “The GENIUS Act Is a Good Start. Congress Could Make It Smarter.” Cato Institute, June 6, 2023. https://www.cato.org/commentary/genius-act-good-start-congress-could-make-it-smarter.“Stablecoins, Market Structure, and More: Evaluating the Crypto Legislative Landscape.” Cato Institute Video, August 29, 2023. https://www.cato.org/multimedia/cato-video/stablecoins-market-structure-more-evaluating-crypto-legislative-landscape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Alex Nowrasteh and Ryan Bourne delve into the intriguing journey of Doge 1.0 under Donald Trump's administration. From Elon Musk's ambitious overhaul to the eventual departure of key figures, they explore the chaotic, amusing, and concerning facets of this government efficiency experiment. With insights into the economic impacts, legislative hurdles, and potential future in Doge 2.0, this discussion sheds light on the complexities of attempting a bureaucratic revolution. Join Alex and Ryan as they dissect the promises, failures, and hopes of a libertarian downsizing dream.Show Notes:Alex Nowrasteh and Ryan Bourne, "Cato Institute Report to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)" White Paper, December 11, 2024Ryan Bourne and Alex Nowrasteh, "Small-Government Conservatives Should Give DOGE a Chance" The Dispatch, December 30, 2024Ryan Bourne and Alex Nowrasteh, "DOGE Can’t Just Trim Waste. It Has to Cut Government — A Lot" U.S. News & World Report, January 7, 2025Ryan Bourne, "DOGE: Efficiency Requires Elimination" The War on Prices, March 14, 2025Alex Nowrasteh and Ryan Bourne, "Six Ways to Understand DOGE and Predict Its Future Behavior" cato.org, March 17, 2025Ryan Bourne, "Does DOGE Show That There’s Little Government Waste?" The War On Prices May 9, 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is misinformation really a new crisis—or just the latest chapter in a centuries-old debate over truth, speech, and power? In this episode, Cato Institute’s Jennifer Huddleston and David Inserra unpack the cultural and policy panic surrounding misinformation and disinformation in the age of AI, deepfakes, and viral tweets. Who should decide what counts as truth online? Plus, why humility, media literacy, and a competitive internet might be better solutions than censorship.Show Notes:Jennifer Huddleston, "AI and the Future of Our Elections" Testimony, September 27, 2023Jennifer Huddleston and David Inserra, "Oversight Board Comment on Misinformation and Manipulated Media: The Importance of Free Expression in the Debate over Misinformation" cato.org, October 25, 2023Jennifer Huddleston, "The Rush to Regulate AI Coule be the Death of Parody" National Review (Online), January 26, 2024David Inserra and Jennifer Huddleston, "Actually, Tim Walz, the First Amendment Does Protect Misinformation and ‘Hate Speech’" National Review, August 11, 2024Jennifer Huddleston and Emma Hopp, "What the Past Can Teach Us about Our AI Fears" Reason, October 29, 2024David Inserra and Brent Skorup, "Comments in Response to FCC “Delete, Delete, Delete” Initiative" cato.org, April 11, 2025David Inserra, "The Misleading Panic over Misinformation" Policy Analysis No. 999, June 26, 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is your financial life really private? In this eye-opening episode, Cato Institute's Norbert Michel and Nicholas Anthony take us deep into the world of financial surveillance, starting with the 1970 Bank Secrecy Act. What was originally sold as a tool to catch tax cheats has quietly evolved into a sprawling system of government oversight—with banks and financial institutions acting as unwitting watchdogs. From suspicious activity reports to the third-party doctrine, Norbert and Nicholas explain how the erosion of Fourth Amendment protections has happened largely out of public view. They break down the law’s legacy, how it expanded post-9/11, and why $10,000 isn’t the large sum it once was. But there's reason for optimism. With growing public awareness, privacy-focused tech, and new reform legislation finally on the table, change might be within reach. If you thought your bank account was your business, think again—this episode will make you see it in a whole new light.Show Notes:Norbert Michel and Jennifer J. Schulp, "Revising the Bank Secrecy Act to Protect Privacy and Deter Criminals" Policy Analysis No. 932, July 26, 2022Nicholas Anthony, "The Right to Financial Privacy" Policy Analysis No. 945, May 2, 2023Norbert Michel, "The Bank Secrecy Act Is a Bigger Threat than FISA" Forbes, April 17, 2024Nicholas Anthony and Naomi Brockwell, "The Illusion of Financial Privacy" Reason.com, May 30, 2024 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Cato Institute's Scott Lincicome and Adam Michel dive deep into the sweeping new legislation—dubbed "The One Big Beautiful Bill"—moving through Congress. They break down what’s at stake as key provisions of the 2017 tax reform are set to expire, unpack the bill’s complex mix of tax cuts, new carve-outs, and industrial subsidies, and examine why temporary tax policy and policy uncertainty could derail economic growth. Plus, they confront the fiscal fiction behind tariffs as a reliable revenue source and make the case for a cleaner, more permanent pro-growth tax system. If you're looking for a sharp, honest take on where tax and trade policy stand in 2025—and where they should go—this one’s for you.Show Notes:Adam Michel, "Republicans’ One, Big, Beautiful Tax Bill Needs a Makeover" Cato.org, May 14, 2025Adam Michel, "Four Things the Senate Can Do to Improve the House Tax Bill" Cato.org, May 22, 2025Scott Lincicome, "Republicans Can’t Pay for Their Tax Cuts with Fantasy Revenue Sources" The Washington Post, May 27, 2025Scott Lincicome, "Trump’s Latest Tariff Idea Is Dangerously Foolish" The Dispatch, June 19, 2025Adam Michel, "Senate Big Beautiful Bill: More Growth, More Subsidies, More Debt" Cato.org, June 30th, 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Starting July 1, we’ll be trying some new things on this feed, starting with conversations between Cato Institute scholars. We hope you’ll join us. Please consider listening to some of our other podcasts on cato.org/podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.An engineer and brewer thought he would take up home distilling as a hobby, but he then learned it’s a federal crime. In Ream v. U.S. Department of Treasury, he’s fighting back. The Buckeye Institute’s Robert Alt explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.The housing crunch affects so many parts of the country. In Arizona, it’s harder to build than you might think. Leo Biasiucci is the Republican majority whip of the state’s House of Representatives. We talked about how best to advance flexibility for new housing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.The people who write the rules under which we must live generally ought to be subject to accountability from voters. That’s not a controversial proposition, but how it works in practice is more complicated. Daniel Dew of the Pacific Legal Foundation comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.What happens when public university officials violate your free speech rights? Often, they get qualified immunity, thus shielding them from the consequences of those actions. Casey Mattox with Americans for Prosperity comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.Psychedelics have powerful impacts on the human mind, and researchers are finding new ways to use those drugs to help people overcome mental difficulties. Do they also herald a new freedom of thought? Mason Marks of the Petrie-Flom Center comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.Impeachment isn’t a dirty word. Gene Healy explains why Congress should consider it more often. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.Textiles are everywhere, and before the Industrial Revolution, even tiny advances in textile development had massive ripple effects. Virginia Postrel traces this amazing history in The Fabric of Civilization: How Textiles Made the World. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.Religious charter schools may grow in the coming years, but it’s not clear what the benefits are to the schools or religious institutions that would run them. Neal McCluskey comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.The world lost the great civil libertarian, journalist, and Cato scholar Nat Hentoff last week. Scott Bullock comments on his several legacies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.What should the U.S. do to adjust to China’s rise? Tariffs and shattering the global trading system aren’t the answer, according to Scott Lincicome. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.Cato Executive Vice President David Boaz answers a few questions about and related to his new book, The Libertarian Mind. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.Parents might embrace their children’s independence, but how much support do those parents have in the form of local infrastructure? Andrea Keith of Let Grow explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.Rights precede government. That’s the core of the American founding, and George F. Will argues that it’s worth preserving. His new book is The Conservative Sensibility. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.“Denial” is the single word that the Reason Foundation’s Peter Constant uses to describe the attitude many state governments have taken toward pension finance problems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.Civil disobedience over victimless crimes may be encouraged under an idea by author Charles Murray. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield are the icons better known for Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. Now they’re focusing their notoriety on ending qualified immunity. Ben, Jerry, and Cato’s Jay Schweikert comment on the campaign to end the powerful, court-invented doctrine that shields public officials from accountability. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.“Fusionism,” something of an ideological nonaggression pact between libertarians and conservatives, has fallen on hard times. Can it be reborn? Stephanie Slade of Reason discusses her new article on the subject. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.In presenting the Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty to Danish newspaper editor Flemming Rose, former ACLU president Nadine Strossen discusses the importance of unfettered freedom of speech. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.Libertarianism — the philosophy of personal and economic freedom — has deep roots in Western civilization and in American history, and it’s growing stronger. Cato Institute Executive Vice President David Boaz talks about the renewed appetite for smaller government and more freedom.The Libertarian Mind: A Manifesto for Freedom by David Boaz Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.Discussions of qualified immunity focus almost exclusively on police. What about when public school administrators clearly violate the rights of students? Should parents of those children be able to hold administrators accountable in civil court? Chris Kemmitt is the deputy director of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.What’s the best path forward to end cannabis prohibition without loading it up with needless federal regulation? Jim Higdon is the co-founder of Cornbread Hemp and an advocate for an end to cannabis prohibition. He says the Farm Bill is the key. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.In assessing the legacy of Mitch McConnell as a Republican leader in the U.S. Senate, it’s important to include his large role in radically reducing the regulation of Americans’ political speech. Cato’s John Samples explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.Civil disobedience may be the only avenue left for millions of Americans who just want to go about their business undisturbed. Charles Murray explains his dangerous idea in the new book, By the People: Rebuilding Liberty without Permission. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.Don’t talk to the police, even if you want to help them solve a crime. James Duane says that’s the advice police and lawyers give their own children. He explains why in his new book, You Have the Right to Remain Innocent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.The freedom to trade is morally good. Congress has sadly delegated many of its powers over trade to the White House. That poses particular risks today. Senator Rand Paul (R‑KY) discusses his efforts at reclaiming legislative power over trade. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.As many voters are licking their wounds after failing to elect the first female U.S. President, Anthony Comegna talks about how the important historical role of women on behalf of liberty is more than mere interactions with the state. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.Why have five or more children? Hannah’s Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth by Catherine Pakaluk details the stories and reasoning of dozens of women who have gone well beyond replacement-level fertility. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown hosted the Cato Daily Podcast for nearly 18 years, producing well over 4000 episodes. He has gone on to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. This is one among the best episodes produced in his tenure, selected by the host and listeners.In the long history of the ebb and flow of liberty, some examples stand out. Jim Otteson of Wake Forest University offered a few of those examples at Cato Club 200. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Caleb O. Brown has hosted the Cato Daily Podcast since 2007, CatoAudio since 2008, and all told has created several thousand interviews, videos, and other pieces for the Cato Institute. On his final episode, he is interviewed by Cato's Deirdre McCloskey about the art of the interview and his pending move to head Kentucky’s Bluegrass Institute. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It should come as no surprise to learn that when some people in the US are targeted for their speech, it does no service to your right to speak freely. David Bier and Tommy Berry explain why immigration crackdowns triggered by speech are so dangerous. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

El Salvador is receiving prisoners snatched by the US federal government. The Supreme Court has ordered the Trump administration to "facilitate" the return of one prisoner. Ilya Somin details some of the more troubling aspects of this struggle. We spoke April 11, 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Meta's trial for alleged monopolistic practices could change how mergers get done and if they get done. Cato's Jennifer Huddleston and CEI's Alex Reinauer comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The so-called "Liberation Day" tariffs use emergency powers from a statute that makes no mention of tariffs. Ilya Somin explains why that's one reason the tariffs are on shaky legal/constitutional ground and why a new lawsuit is challenging them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Federal withholding may among the most insidious of government policies. It hides the full scale of what government takes from us, and makes you feel like you're getting a bonus when you get your own money back. Cato’s Adam Michel makes the case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cato's Adam Michel ran a bracket of the worst offenders among "tax expenditures," or special benefits for some taxpayers. Turns out people like their own tax benefits and dislike the ones that benefit someone else. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The case for tariffs hinges critically on a misunderstanding of the relevant data. Contrary to the claims from the President and Vice President, free trade has substantially enriched most Americans. Cato's Norbert Michel counters the false rhetoric. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The arguments for tariffs lack the kind of useful perspective provided by a basic economics course. Cato's Colin Grabow picks them apart. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The tariff policies dubiously adopted by President Trump have echoes of previous authoritarian governments. Ian Vasquez explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are several errors, misconceptions, and confusing assumptions that went into the creation of Donald Trump's new wealth-destroying tariff regime. Scott Lincicome explains a few of them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Federal Reserve can blunt the impact of a good deal of politically driven economic mischief. What about the new punitive tariff regime from the President? Jai Kedia suggests that you not get your hopes up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With respect to the substantial federal power to repress and surveil Americans, how did we get here? Patrick Eddington provides the first part of the story in The Triumph of Fear: Domestic Surveillance and Political Repression from McKinley Through Eisenhower. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Big energy facilities make the grid more stable, but rooftop solar reduces the need for those plants. Regulators have a hard time negotiating the tension. Economist Lynne Kiesling comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

History can be a weapon. Obscuring inconvenient history can be a weapon. And Left and Right are both guilty of it. Phil Magness provides some helpful examples. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's become easier to hate those with whom we disagree on matters of policy and politics, and our ideological tribes insulate us from thoughtful challenge. Andrew Heaton hopes to help you navigate a coarsening culture with his book, Tribalism is Dumb. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Government-administered aid to the poor is routinely wasted. Many well-intended charitable programs undermine self-determination and fail to restore dignity. James Whitford discusses a new way to think about poverty and its alleviation in The Crisis of Dependency. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Several states have recently moved ahead with recognizing occupational licenses issued elsewhere. Ed Timmons explains what it means for employment, worker mobility, and consumer welfare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ending the US Department of Education is an important policy goal that appears closer than ever, and it should occur both within the bounds of the US Constitution and as soon as possible. Tommy Berry and Neal McCluskey comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A late change by President Biden in how alcohol is treated in dietary guidance will mean more finger wagging from health officials. The change highlights the problem of government health advice. Eric Boehm of Reason and Cato's Jeff Singer comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Under the guise of targeting illegal immigration, the Trump administration is moving to curtail Americans' financial privacy even further. Nick Anthony explains how. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

They’re not real courtrooms, of course, but administrative courts are being used in the context of immigration. What is their role in adjudicating immigration issues? David Bier and Will Yeatman comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pharmacists regularly help patients navigate both prescriptions and physicians’ advice, but they can do more. A few states have begun to recognize their capabilities that have otherwise largely gone untapped. Alicia Plemmons of the Knee Regulatory Research Center comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump's use of the Alien Enemies Act to whisk alleged gang members to an El Salvador prison should not be allowed to stand for a variety of reasons. Ilya Somin explains why it might put Americans at risk. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The federal government’s security resources should be allocated to the most efficient means of reducing the costs of terrorism. Alex Nowrasteh details a new paper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Trump has issued executive orders targeting law firms that have represented his opponents in court. It strikes at the heart of several constitutional protections. Walter Olson and Mike Fox comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Trump tariffs are bad enough, but the uncertainty surrounding trade policy is making everything much worse. Scott Lincicome explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Legislative attempts to compel price transparency from health care providers ignores an important factor: Price transparency emerges naturally from well-functioning markets. Michael Cannon explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump created a "faith office" to protect religious liberty and a DOJ task force to combat anti-Christian discrimination, but his immigration policy leaves foreign Christians facing persecution without a way to escape to the US. David Bier explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When a prisoner accuses a prison official of sexual abuse, what do courts owe him? In Perttu v. Richards, the Supreme Court will weigh in. Cato's Mike Fox comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Inflation Reduction Act didn't do much to stem inflation, but it did commit taxpayers to decades of special handouts for preferred technologies. Cato's Travis Fisher and Joshua Loucks discuss their new paper describing the budgetary impact. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Capping credit card interest would punish less creditworthy people and breed new life into the ranks of more unsavory lenders. Nick Anthony and Norbert Michel comment on the new proposal from Senators Sanders and Hawley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The tariff policies preferred by President Trump will be a "disaster" for the United States according to Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. We discussed trade, tariffs, and his hope to make spending cuts identified by DOGE permanent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The feds spend too much. It doesn't appear the Republican-controlled U.S. House is doing much about it. Romina Boccia explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Europe, Vice President J.D. Vance issued speech-threatening and trade-restricting demands for future American AI systems. Matt Mittlesteadt comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Corporate welfare” programs burden taxpayers and undermine economic growth. Chris Edwards has identified $181-billion in these useless subsidies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Federal Trade Commission appears to be preparing multiple lines of attack against the autonomy of big tech firms in the name of cracking down on content moderation. Why? David Inserra and Jenniffer Huddleston comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The House Un-American Activities Committee marks a dark chapter for Congress. In targeting some advocacy groups for scrutiny, is HUAC making a comeback? Patrick Eddington comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Modern Libertarianism, the new book from Libertarianism.org, Brian Doherty details the people and groups that defined libertarian thinking and advocacy in the 20th century. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The popular narrative that American workers' job prospects improve when illegal immigrants are deported deserves more scrutiny. Scott Lincicome explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When police lean on medical professionals to violate their oaths, there is good news about how seriously those professionals take that pledge. Jeff Singer and Mike Fox comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are many examples of governments using racial categories in nefarious ways, and the upside for cataloging people by race seems vanishingly small. Cato's John Early explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Patrick Eddington details some of the missed opportunities and looming issues relating to President Trump's executive order on firearms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The feds want millions of businesses and other corporations to turn over sensitive information so they can snoop for evidence of crimes. It’s an affront to financial privacy, anonymous association, and other liberties. The requirement is laid out in the Corporate Transparency Act, now the subject of litgation at the Fifth Circuit. Caleb Kruckenberg represents the Texas Top Cop Shop and others in the case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lawmakers wouldn't truly change current federal fentanyl policy with the HALT Fentanyl Act; they'd simply continue a framework that has failed over the past seven years to stop sellers of illicit fentanyl from meeting market demand. Jeff Singer explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Immigrants consumed 21 percent less welfare and entitlement benefits than native-born Americans on a per capita basis in 2022. Alex Nowrasteh explains why in a new paper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Department of Government Efficency, such as it is, can't really do much to cut government without Congressional approval. Gene Healy discusses what a more serious approach to spending and regulatory reform will have to entail.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some of what is implicated by President Trump's executive orders in the realm of education simply can't happen without Congress. Neal McCluskey breaks down what's in them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's hard to function without a bank account, which is why "debanking" disfavored people and groups works so well. Nicholas Anthony explains how the feds encourage it, and how it can be used to punish ideological opponents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The long and winding supply chains inherent in auto manufacturing face signifcant threats from presidentially imposed tariffs. Reporter Christopher Otts at The Wall Street Journal discusses the impact on car prices and manufacturers decisions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The American housing crunch demands some state-level legislative reform. Christian Britschgi of Reason identifies a few bright spots in state efforts to get government out of the way of housing creation.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even the credible threat of a tariff can make businesses rethink their currently profitable trading relationships. Brian Albrecht of the International Center for Law & Economics evaluates the current tariff threats and how it may impact business decisions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The difference between prostitution and sex trafficking should be clear, but thinking among law enforcement and lawmakers seems to blur the distinction at every turn. Elizabeth Nolan Brown of Reason details the implications of Commonwealth v. Garafalo, a case in Massachusetts that may ultimately define all sex work as sex trafficking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The EPA routinely uses punitive regulation on local water systems, and the costs are sometimes crippling for local governments. The benefits are less than clear. The Manhattan Institute's Judge Glock makes a case for ending federal control over municipal water systems just as a new fight over water fluoridation is set to emerge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The White House is asserting the ability to defy longstanding legal and constitutional rules. It's almost certainly not an accident. Walter Olson comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Financial regulation comes in many forms, and freeing Americans from the most pernicious ones should be a high priority for Congress. Jennifer Schulp and Norbert Michel explain where to start.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Drugs like Ozempic show potential to help those with addiction with little downside risk. How quickly can their availability be expanded? Nicholas Reville of CASPR makes his case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does a Christian theology consistent with liberal values and institutions look like? Jonathan Rauch suggests something has gone wrong in communities of faith in the US, and hopes for a reckoning in Cross Purposes: Christianity's Broken Bargain with Democracy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you are a libertarian, odds are good that you started with a particular writer or thinker. Political philosopher Matt Zwolinski suggests you read more broadly before committing yourself to one particular vision for libertarian society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did Facebook roll over for the Trump administration? Content moderation at scale is incredibly difficult, and the company will be criticized no matter what it does. David Inserra and John Samples discuss the state of play. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Republicans often talk tough when it comes to illegal immigration, but dramatically reducing legal immigration is key to the Trump agenda, and that fact makes the oft-repeated "just immigrate legally" canard fall apart. David Bier explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are multiple ways to end the Department of Education. The method chosen matters. Neal McCluskey explains why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are Trump threats aimed at Canada and Denmark (over Greenland) anything more than bluster? Cato's Doug Bandow and Clark Packard talk about the implications for trade and foreign relations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US Presidents past and present have abused the constitutional pardon power, but the abuses of that power in just the last week by Presidents Biden and Trump should get special scrutiny. Clark Neily explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The three delivery systems for nuclear weapons deserve a reassessment. Eric Gomez explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should the US presidency be replaced with a prime minister? Adam Gurri of Liberal Currents entertains the idea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court today said it will allow a federal order for TikTok to end its availability in the US. Cato’s Tommy Berry and David Inserra evaluate the court's opinion and detail possible repercussions for tech and free speech. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

California wildfires are not yet fully contained, and the policy choices that led to the death and destruction deserve examination. Cato's Ryan Bourne and Steve Slivinski break down how California can improve as it rebuilds. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The divest-or-ban order deadline for the social media app, TikTok, is just days away. SCOTUS may weigh in at any time. Jennifer Huddleston and Tommy Berry evaluate the oral argument. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As state legislatures get back to work, where are the best opportunities for getting government out of the way of civil society? Steve Slivinski has a rundown.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will spending by 'dark money' groups face more restrictions from Congress? Luke Wachob of People United for Privacy believes it may depend on how politically threatened incumbents feel by that kind of speech. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Your lack of wealth shouldn't limit your investment options, but the SEC has for decades actively prevented lower-wealth Americans from making certain investments. Nick Morgan of the Investor Choice Advocates Network and Cato's Jennifer Schulp explain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The housing market needs less government intervention, both in terms of zoning and building codes that add enormously to construction costs. Emily Hamilton of the Mercatus Center comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On the campaign trail, Donald Trump said that his political rivals should be prosecuted. Now, his appointees will head the Justice Department and other federal law enforcement agencies. Clark Neily discusses the potential turnabout in the use of federal law enforcement’s coercive tactics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A little-noted federal law – currently on hold – dramatically expands government surveillance of millions of Americans by requiring tens of millions of businesses to collect and send specific data about the businesses' beneficiaries. Jennifer Schulp and Brent Skorup comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hayek's The Constitution of Liberty is worth revisiting in part because of its call for a liberalism that takes seriously the contributions of fields well beyond economics. Paul Meany explains why that's important. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Hasnas says the common law has a lot to recommend it over lawmaker legislating. He makes his case in Common Law Liberalism: A New Theory of the Libertarian Society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Who controls currently federal lands can tell us quite a bit about how wildfire risks are likely to be managed. Hannah Down of the Property and Environment Research Center comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What's the middle ground between local zoning tyrannies and state preemption? Mark Miller of the Pacific Legal Foundation discusses ways to expand housing production amid restrictionist local zoning. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Flavored e-cigarettes are a popular whipping boy for would-be regulators. Jeff Singer explains why it's terrible policy to punish would-be former smokers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Downtowns built 100 years ago are still viable, so why are they so hard to build today? Andrew Cline is president of the Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy. We talked about what's instructive about the changes in New Hampshire's zoning rules that have left so many towns unable to renew themselves. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The history of government control over how and where people live is told in Nowhere to Live: The Hidden Story of America's Housing Crisis. Jim Burling is the book's author. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The major questions doctrine from the Supreme Court places some limits on the kinds of questions the executive branch can handle alone. Are there similar "too large" delegations at the state level? Adi Dynar of the Pacific Legal Foundation comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Human Freedom Index is now in its tenth year. What have we learned about the state of and trends in human freedom? Author Ian Vasquez explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How would states respond to the threat posed by central bank digital currency? Niklas Kleinworth of the Idaho Freedom Foundation has considered how states have and should respond to the looming possibility of a federal CBDC. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Federal courts won't be deferring to federal agencies as often going forward. How does that change Congress's need for expertise when legislating? Joe Luppino-Esposito of the Pacific Legal Foundation has a few ideas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has been tasked with identifying regulatory and spending reforms to shrink government. The new report for the informal agency from the Cato Institute identifies trillions in spending cuts and other reforms. Cato’s Alex Nowrasteh and Ryan Bourne detail the substantial spending and regulatory cuts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

States with certificate of need laws, where incumbent firms get to shut down their would-be competitors' plans, had more difficulties handling the pandemic. Jaimie Cavanaugh of the Pacific Legal Foundation explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Evidence suggests breastfeeding protects babies against short- and long-term health problems, so why license those who would help women do it? Cato's Jeff Singer and coauthor Sofia Hamilton discuss their new paper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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It's hard to take seriously a push for decarbonization that doesn't involve nuclear power and yet might impose large personal costs on individual consumers. Jason Hayes of the Mackinac Center details some of the tradeoffs involved in changing energy markets with an eye toward reducing carbon emissions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The US has given the green light for Ukraine strike targets deep into Russia with US weapons. Eric Gomez comments on that and other big shifts in Russia's war on Ukraine ahead of the US transfer of executive power. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Marty Makary has been nominated to head the Food and Drug Administration. In October, he sat down with Cato's Jeff Singer to discuss his new book, Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong, and What It Means for Our Health. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Whether you're a generous supporter of the Cato Institute or any other nonprofit, make no mistake: Threats to donor privacy and tax-advantaged giving are still out there, and are largely politically motivated. Luke Wachob and Peter Lipsett explain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Concerns over fentanyl imports are leading some in Congress to call for an actual invasion of Mexico with the US military. Brandan Buck explains why a fresh war with a next-door neighbor continues to be a terrible idea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the FBI searched hundreds of safe deposit boxes, they kept the contents of safes containing more than $5000 in cash or valuables. A challenge is now in federal circuit court in Washington, DC. Tommy Berry explains what the court should do. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How much should we expect in terms of enhanced liberty and savings for taxpayers from the "Department" of Government Efficiency? Cato's Tom Firey and the Pacific Legal Foundation's Willie Yeatman break down some elements of the challenge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The next Trump Administration will feature a new head of the FCC, Brendan Carr. He's said he stands on the side of the First Amendment when it comes to some FCC roles, but also views many tech firms as central to a "censorship cartel." Cato’s Jennifer Huddleston and Brent Skorup comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A key figure in the end of slavery in America has never been treated to proper biography until now. Caleb Franz is author of The Conductor: The Story of Rev. John Rankin, Abolitionism's Essential Founding Father. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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The economics of nuclear power should signal that Biden's late-term commitment to its expansion doesn't mean a whole lot, at least not for a few decades. David Kemp comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Central bank digital currency will be a looming threat for some time to come, and arguments in their favor often depend on your ignorance of the power of the technology. Will Luther and Nick Anthony explain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The sci-fi classic The Illuminatus! Trilogy is well-suited to our current moment of widespread, mindbending conspiracy theories with real-world impacts. Bobby Campbell is heading up a comic book adaptation of that series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Though ending the Department of Education is a good idea, even fans of school choice ought to be wary of President-elect Trump's plan to nationalize school choice. Neal McCluskey explains why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No, it's not real. The Social Security trust fund is a gimmick. And if it were real, it would be full of IOUs. Romina Boccia lays to rest several fictions surrounding Social Security. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert Kennedy Jr. may carry significant influence in public health policy in the near term. Even if he seems to recognize a few big problems inherent to federal policymaking, many of his most prominent ideas are seriously misguided. Jeff Singer comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

State governments regularly engage in corporate handouts to boost their electability. The evidence that they're good for taxpayers is still weak. John Mozena of the Center for Economic Accountability and Cato’s Steve Slivinski comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Immigration and inflation loomed large in the race for the White House. Emily Ekins details the what changed since 2020. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Americans voted on more than just a contentious Presidential fight. Ranked-choice voting, labor reform, and drugs were among the issues decided. Walter Olson details a few of them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For freedom-enhancing policy, a second Trump term provides obvious, large downsides and risks, but there are likely policy upsides to a second Trump term. Alex Nowrasteh explains what Donald Trump might do in his now-secured second term. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A man currently on death row in Texas is probably innocent, and it’s taken more effort than you might hope to get his case re-examined. Republican State Rep. Brian Harrison comments on the legislature’s temporary delay to Robert Roberson’s execution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The work of judges is often opaque to the public and poorly understood generally, and yet voters are regularly expected to vote on them. Clint Bolick of the Arizona Supreme Court makes his case for a better way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Biden administration's FTC has earned the ire of many who support a more freewheeling business sector. Would a Harris administration maintain that skepticism toward big business? Or are those ideas about punishing big companies more suited to Team Trump? Jennifer Huddleston comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Public machinations over in vitro fertilization have stepped up since the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision, including a high-profile endorsement of federal subsidies from presidential candidate Donald Trump. Vanessa Brown Calder says that plan is wrongheaded and provides some context. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert Nozick's Anarchy, State, and Utopia is 50. Professor Eric Mack discusses its relevance today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The introduction of soldiers from both North and South Korea in Russia's assault on Ukraine poses significant risks for the US. Cato's Doug Bandow explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Congress has broadly delegated its tariff powers to the president. There is a real risk that the legislative and judicial branches would not check a future president’s abuse of US trade law as currently written. Cato's Clark Packard provides details. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Digital nomads are people who can do their work from anywhere and regularly do. Unclear rules governing foreigners working in the US make our country relatively less welcoming to these travelers. David Bier explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Federal Reserve directly controls a rate that for a long time drove interest rates. Does it still work that way? Cato's Jai Kedia looked at the evidence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

China's irregular military exercises around Taiwan express Beijing's displeasure with Taiwanese leadership, so how seriously should the US take those demonstrations? Eric Gomez comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Protectionist measures like tariffs often harm the very firms and people they're supposed to help. Paul Best explains in a new piece in Free Society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Matzko discusses some of the long history of American-style mashups of faith traditions and the direction of government. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Education entrepreneurship has grown dramatically since the pandemic. Kerry McDonald details how to protect these innovative learning environments from regulators. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The freedom to trade is morally good. Congress has sadly delegated many of its powers over trade to the White House. That poses particular risks today. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) discusses his efforts at reclaiming legislative power over trade. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As many voters will consider changes to voting processes, what does recent experience tell us about ranked-choice voting? Walter Olson explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How did your governor perform on various fiscal policy metrics? Cato's Chris Edwards details the Fiscal Policy Report Card on America’s Governors 2024. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes an arrest retaliatory and what evidence ought to be up for consideration when courts decide if an arrest was, in fact, a retaliation? Thanks in part to a clarifying decision from the Supreme Court earlier this year, courts now must grapple more seriously with that question. Patrick Jaicomo of the Institute for Justice offers his thoughts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Homeschooling has been having a moment that seems to have been going on for a few years. Angela Watson of Homeschool Hub and Cato's Colleen Hroncich discuss the implications. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the absence of significant reforms, Americans should be prepared for a future that looks more like the European tax system. Adam Michel discusses what that would mean in a new Cato paper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Federal agencies can haul you into their own court-like rooms and delay your day in a real court. State agencies often do the same. This isn't how it ought to be. Daniel Dew of the Pacific Legal Foundation discusses how state officials avoid making their arguments in real courts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

America's financial system is inseparable from America's enormous growth, productivity, and prosperity. Many myths about financial markets persist. Norbert Michel and Jennifer Schulp detail the many critical benefits of robust financial markets in Financing Opportunity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

F.A. Hayek's contributions to economics are hard to overstate. This week marks fifty years since Hayek became a Nobel Laureate for that work. Economists Peter Boettke and Bruce Caldwell detail some of Hayek's enduring contributions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Democratic VP nominee Tim Walz seems to have a poor understanding of what the First Amendment protects. Donald Trump pledges to use the Department of Justice to punish Google over the presentation of negative news stories about him. Cato's Brent Skorup and Nico Perrino of FIRE detail the candidates' troubling views. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Federal health programs contribute to massive and unsustainable government overspending. Government control of most health care dollars continues apace. Neither Donald Trump nor Kamala Harris has a plan to fix it. Michael Cannon explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ohio's Buckeye Institute is challenging the IRS practice of collecting and storing information on major donors to American nonprofits. Buckeye president Robert Alt explains why the case matters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Offering subsidies is how many states show interest in bringing in a new business enterprise and states regularly try to offer more than other states can, but it doesn't have to be that way. Marc Joffe explains how states can get out of the trap of playing the subsidies game against their neighbors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A few changes might make for broadly better political debates, especially debates among presidential candidates. Erec Smith makes his case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Squatters pose a challenge for property owners, law enforcement, and state legislatures. Kyle Sweetland of the Pacific Legal Foundation offers some ways for states to address the issue to give owners more control over their property. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An old and common law on many cities' books was meant to crack down on houses of prostitution. Today those same laws are used to effectively ban boarding houses or college student housing. Deirdre McCloskey and Art Carden tell the tale. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cato's Patrick Eddington details what he's learned about how intelligence agencies handle requests for information about their own internal accountability measures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Discussions about renewing or adopting something like the JCPOA to slow Iran's advance toward nuclear weapons should be tempered by the evidence. Justin Logan believes it's a dead letter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the government sets the allowable interest rate on credit cards, that's a straightforward price control. Nick Anthony explains why Donald Trump's recent proposal to limit credit card interest would be disastrous. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has continued his largely successful push to centralize power in Mexico under him. Cato's Ian Vasquez says the turn away from markets and freedom will bring dire results for average people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The legal landscape for parents seeking religious education for their children has become friendlier, thanks in large part to court rulings relating to school choice and religious discrimination. Neal McCluskey details where things stand now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new law challenging TikTok's presence in the US went before a federal court this week. Cato's Jennifer Huddleston and Tommy Berry detail the arguments presented. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At the Cato Institute's conference on financial privacy, Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-NC) discussed the civil liberties implications of pervasive financial surveillance of Americans among other issues with Cato's Jennifer Schulp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the Federal Reserve uses a ministerial task to punish financial innovation, what's a bank to do? Take them to court, for one. Caitlin Long is CEO of Custodia Bank. She and Cato's Jack Solowey detail how and why the Fed is cracking down on innovators. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In evaluating the potential outcomes of the expansion of AI, the natural tendency is to downplay the benefits and highlight the risks. Oprah Winfrey recently jumped into the conversation. Jennifer Huddleston comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Protecting our earthly environment is a worthy task, so why do many conservatives seem to believe that the private sector should have a severely limited role? Todd Myers of the Washington Policy Center offers his take. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The FDA's rejection of MDMA as a treatment may well be a short-term setback for legally helping people with PTSD and other disorders. Mason Marks of Harvard Law School’s Petrie-Flom Center for Health Law Policy offers his assessment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After months of protest, counterprotest, and administrative overreaction over the last school year, the protection of free speech on college campuses seems less certain than ever. Angela Erickson of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression discusses their new College Free Speech Rankings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In The Islamic Moses, Mustafa Akyol provides a theological and historical exploration of the connection between Islam and Judaism through the single most-mentioned character in the Quran. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What will/should conservatism look like after this election year? John Hood of the John William Pope Foundation comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The "degrowth" movement has many adherents, so it's worth emphasizing the manifold benefits of economic growth to the lives of humans across the globe. Justin Callais of the Archbridge Institute explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What appears to have started as a judge's request to have critical content removed from X (Twitter) has escalated into the country's highest court banning the service altogether. Cato’s David Inserra discusses how the US should respond. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Getting a handle on the state-level regulatory burdens can identify inexpensive ways for states to step away from useless intervention. Patrick McLaughlin of the Mercatus Center details a new index aimed at that task. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fights over whether states should give parents a broader range of education options don't get much more pointed than public school officials leveraging state resources to advocate against public questions. Jacob Huebert of the Liberty Justice Center details two current cases of that kind of electioneering. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What should we expect from the state-level advance of prescribing psychologists, non-physicians who are able to prescribe certain medications? Jeff Singer says their potential for helping patients is strong. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's still just a wisp of an idea, but Kamala Harris's plan to ban so-called "corporate price gouging" assumes a lot (wrongly) about how grocery stores operate. Scott Lincicome offers his thoughts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parents in West Virginia have new education options thanks to the Hope Scholarship. It's also dramatically expanded education entrepreneurship in the state. Jessi Troyan of the Cardinal Institute explains what it means for other efforts to broaden the range of choices available to families. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A large child tax credit is among a handful of remarkably similar campaign pledges from the campaigns of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Vanessa Brown Calder offers some analysis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

At Cato University earlier this month, journalist Radley Balko discussed a range of ways that public sector officials, particularly police and prosecutors, are largely able to escape accountability for misconduct. He offers at least one way to evaluate certain incidents to prevent tragic outcomes for Americans going forward. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Federal Reserve, when committed to a policy rule, could enhance its own institutional credibility while giving Congress a means to hold the central bank more accountable. Jai Kedia explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Tim Walz misunderstanding what the First Amendment protects to European regulators trying to squelch speech on American platforms, the threats to free speech are numerous. David Inserra comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US ought to take a step back from the war in Ukraine. Doug Bandow explains why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Presidential candidates Harris and Trump both seem amenable to special tax benefits for their favored groups of voters, be they tipped workers or recipients of Social Security benefits. Is that good tax policy? Adam Michel explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giving parents a wider variety of choices for their own kids means disrupting existing institutional power. But does enhancing parental choice in education "blow a hole" in state budgets? Cato’s Neal McCluskey evaluates the case of Arizona. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New polling from the Cato Institute asks Americans to weigh their preferences for Buy American policies against the very real likelihood that protectionism will hit them in their pocketbooks. Scott Lincicome and Emily Ekins detail the results. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes a monopoly depends on who you ask and what’s being monopolized. In the case of Google, it's a narrow focus on one element of its business: search. Jennifer Huddleston details how a court concluded that Google, despite its many competitors, is still a search monopolist. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How have candidates navigated the thorny politics of cryptocurrency? Nicholas Anthony discusses how crypto crept into the 2024 election. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Public support for fostering robust legal immigration has taken a dramatic negative turn. What's likely under a Trump or Harris administration on immigration? David Bier comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does a former U.S. Senator from the Bay Area have more than the usual sympathy for tech firms fearing the heavy hand of federal regulators? Cato's Jennifer Huddleston evaluates candidates Trump and Harris on tech policy and regulation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many states declared states of emergency during the recent pandemic, and those declarations conferred fresh powers to the executive branch. What do those powers do in terms of saving lives? Christian Bjørnskov is coauthor of State of Emergency: An Economic Analysis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Project 2025 has effectively become an epithet for many Democrats. The project was aimed at providing the next administration with a roadmap for reform in a wide variety of areas, some more controversial than others. Neal McCluskey offers a couple cheers aimed at the education portion of the document. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When parents have choices to make in education, it's an opportunity for parents to engage with what schools are offering. Colleen Hroncich and Jamie Buckland detail how states should proceed with helping those parents navigate the new landscape. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Large increases in home prices mean both home appreciation and closing off housing options for would-be buyers. Housing researcher Nolan Gray discusses a range of federal options for removing some state and local regulatory barriers to new housing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neither Donald Trump nor Kamala Harris will make a full-throated defense of the freedom to trade, and both would use trade restrictions to score points or compel Americans' behavior. Scott Lincicome discusses their policy preferences. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It is no small matter to attempt to hide a physical or mental infirmity in the President of the United States. The ramifications could be severe. Walter Olson discusses considerations in any attempt to insert some transparency into what the public and Congress should know about the chief executive’s wellbeing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cato's Travis Fisher walks us through the record and pronouncements of candidates Donald Trump and Kamala Harris on critical energy issues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Republicans seem so concerned about Joe Biden's departure from the presidential race that some groups have threatened litigation over any Biden replacement on Americans' ballots. Walter Olson comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why have five or more children? Hannah's Children: The Women Quietly Defying the Birth Dearth by Catherine Pakaluk details the stories and reasoning of dozens of women who have gone well beyond replacement-level fertility. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump's running mate this time around is a consistent opponent of immigration and doesn't draw the typical – and reasonable - distinctions between legal and illegal immigrants. David Bier comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Protectionism is frequently justified on national security grounds, but there are strong reasons to liberalize trade in the name of American security, as well. Colin Grabow explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The One Weird Trick of public health advocacy seems to be to define as much as possible as a public health concern to justify massive intervention into the lives of Americans. Jeff Singer explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most Americans have access to either medical or recreational cannabis, but prohibition at the federal level persists, and that prohibition keeps in place at least two big problems. Paul Best explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Inserra says looming regulation of artificial intelligence has huge implications for the future of free expression. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The fiscal picture for the federal government is increasingly dire. Social Security’s worsening finances figure prominently in that story. Cato's Romina Boccia and Brian Riedl of the Manhattan Institute tell the tale. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The federal government has its own problematic junk fees, according to Cato's Nick Anthony. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's hard to get a handle on the breadth of protections handed to current and future presidents in Trump v. United States. Cato's Walter Olson says much of the immunity from prosecution handed to these heads of state is wholly invented by SCOTUS. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

State laws seeking to compel social media companies to allow certain content or people on their platforms failed to pass muster at the Supreme Court. Jennifer Huddleston evaluates what's next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Murthy v. Missouri, the Supreme Court clarified the evidence that would be required to prove government coercion with respect to online speech platforms. Cato's Walter Olson and Brent Skorup discuss the case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court's Jarkesy decision will mean more cases brought federal agencies will end up in court instead of the court-like rooms inside the agencies themselves. Will Yeatman of the Pacific Legal Foundation and Cato’s Jennifer Schulp explain the importance of the change. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court's decision giving absolute immunity to the President of the United States from prosecution for certain actions raises as many questions as it answers. Cato’s Clark Neily offers some initial thoughts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Declaration of Independence is one of the most important documents in human history. Cato's Roger Pilon details the philosophical underpinning of America's Birth Certificate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Texas collects data on the immigration status of those accused of crimes in the state. What it tells us about the crime rates of immigrants versus native-born Americans is valuable. Alex Nowrasteh explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Courts will no longer defer to federal agencies when it comes to interpreting certain statutes. Tommy Berry explains the Supreme Court's opinion that ended so-called Chevron deference. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One galling and unAmerican provision typical of recent National Defense Authorization Acts may finally be on the way out. Patrick Eddington details how it happened. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Streetcars are great for politicians' ribbon cutting events, but not much else. Marc Joffe explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After President Joe Biden appeared distracted in last night’s debate with Donald Trump, some lawmakers are now discussing the 25th Amendment's provisions to remove a mentally unfit chief executive. And how would a political party replace a candidate after the selection process in states has largely concluded? Gene Healy and John Samples explain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some members of Congress want to make it easier to draft both men and women into wartime military service. Doug Bandow explains why that's a terrible idea at odds with liberty in America. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Big changes may be ahead for legal gun ownership in the United States. Clark Neily explains the potential implications following the Supreme Court's Rahimi decision. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When police use underhanded tactics to wrongly charge you with a crime, should they get a free pass if they bring along some legitimate charges, as well? The Supreme Court says "no." Tommy Berry explains the case of Chiaverini v. City of Napoleon, Ohio. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court hasn't closed the door entirely on taxes on unrealized income, but the door isn't exactly open. Thomas A. Berry explains the court's decision in Moore v. United States. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For many Americans, it is jarring to find themselves subject to severe financial, reputational, and professional penalties in adjudications very different from a courtroom. Brent Skorup explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The CFPB has long been controversial. Its unique structure makes it powerful in ways other agencies are not. Jennifer Schulp and Tommy Berry detail the recent Supreme Court holding that the agency's funding doesn't violate the Appropriations Clause. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arguments on behalf of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) don't stand up to scrutiny. Nicholas Anthony runs down and interrogates the arguments in his new book, Digital Currency or Digital Control?: Decoding CBDC and the Future of Money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Between the needless complications of the tax code and various special-interest giveaways in it, overall tax rates are higher than they could be otherwise. Adam Michel explains in a new paper what would be required for Congress to lower overall rates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new executive order from President Joe Biden will make seeking asylum in The Land of the Free that much more difficult. David Bier explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The conviction of the President's son, Hunter Biden, on charges relating to lying about drugs to get a gun makes for an interesting case for those who care about Second Amendment rights and ending the War on Drugs. Clark Neily comments on the case, appeals, and the broader justice system. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Boaz was an intellectual leader of the Cato Institute for four decades and a libertarian thinker of the first order. In addition to his speeches, books, and clear-headed communication of libertarian ideas in the public sphere, David was a friend and mentor. David passed away on June 7, 2024. Aaron Ross Powell, founding director of Libertarianism.org, and Cato Senior Fellow Tom G. Palmer discuss the work and legacy of David Boaz.Related:The Libertarian Mind by David BoazThe Libertarian Reader edited by David Boaz“David Boaz: Liberty’s North Star” by Aaron Ross Powell“David Boaz Is with Us” by Tom G. Palmer“The Separation of Art and State” by David BoazThe Crisis in Drug Prohibition edited by David Boaz“David Boaz: ‘Now It’s Your Turn’” featuring David Boaz and Caleb O. Brown Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Boaz, longtime executive vice president of the Cato Institute, has passed away at the age of 70. His contributions to the advance of libertarian ideas in the public sphere are hard to overestimate. These are his remarks at the Students for Liberty LibertyCon in February.David Boaz Memorial Page Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following his related testimony on Capitol Hill, Cato's Adam Michel details why Congress should move toward ending a wide variety of penalties aimed squarely at Americans who save. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Slowing or freezing technological advancement could be devastating for the many benefits that artificial intelligence can bring to a wide variety of problems we face. Jack Solowey and Jennifer Huddleston explain what's at stake. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Presidents of both parties have been handed – decade over decade – a growing list of powers to be only unlocked in the event of an emergency, but those powers rarely get reviewed on a consistent basis. What's a better path for handing over and taking back emergency power? Satya Thallam of Americans for Responsible Innovation comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Serving the underserved is a well-established path to profits for entrepreneurs and acceptance for minority populations. Economist Nathan Goodman explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former President Donald Trump has been convicted on felony charges of falsifying business records to conceal crimes. Cato's Clark Neily discusses the trial in the context of how criminal prosecutions work generally. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Social mobility means helping people improve their prospects for creating and building long-term wealth. What stands in the way? The Archbridge Institute's Gonzalo Schwarz discusses what he's learned. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should Congress take steps to ban certain foreign-made drones that, despite being owned and used by Americans in a wide variety of helpful ways, could be sending sensitive data to antagonistic foreign governments? Will Duffield discusses the state of play. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two notably illiberal politicians headlined at the Libertarian Party's convention over the weekend. What does it reveal about the brand of libertarianism advanced by the LP? Aaron Steelman and Andy Craig comment.Related: “Trump is hardly libertarian. But neither is today’s Libertarian Party.” By Peter Goettler, The Washington Post, May 23, 2024 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Will a new president in Taiwan mean a greater focus on defending against a potential Chinese attack? Eric Gomez comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How much US land receives Fourth Amendment protections under the so-called "Open Fields Doctrine"? Authors Joshua Windham and David Warren explore that issue in a new article in Regulation Magazine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Should the government prove you shouldn't be allowed to immigrate, or should individuals have to prove that they should be allowed to immigrate? A century ago today, immigration policy shifted from the former to the latter. David Bier explains how the change has implicated Americans’ rights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The notion that there can ever be a "level playing field" between decentralized, private cryptocurrencies and state-issued ones is entirely wrong. Nick Anthony explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The contours of freedom advanced in The Subjection of Women apply to us all. The influence of his wife, Harriet Taylor Mill, in the work’s final form is hard to miss. That is in part why the essay remains a favorite of Libertarianism.org's Grant Babcock. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Humility is a good starting point for lawmakers seeing to understand content moderation. David Inserra offers a helpful guide to policymakers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Meany of Libertarianism.org walks us through the importance of John Stuart Mill through his powerful treatise On Liberty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the wake of protests at many universities over the Israeli war in Gaza, what's the role for Congress to regulate? Unsurprisingly, it's not much. Cato's Neal McCluskey and Nico Perrino of FIRE comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In David Beckworth's essay in The War on Prices, he explains what must be true for narratives of a pandemic-driven inflation to be true. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US wage gap between men and women consistently drives calls for deep federal intervention into the labor market in the name of preventing discrimination. Analyzing that gap more critically reveals far less clarity about its causes and potential solutions. Vanessa Brown Calder explains in her essay in the new book, The War on Prices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rent control doesn't make housing more affordable. It makes affordable housing less available. Jeff Miron explains in his essay in the new book, The War on Prices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are the prices men and women pay for similar products evidence of discrimination that calls for a heavy-handed government response? Ryan Bourne is editor of the new Cato book, The War on Prices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the marginally creditworthy, mandatory interest rate caps on credit cards would end access to a convenient form of credit. Nick Anthony discusses his essay in Cato's new book, The War on Prices. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's not exactly a silver lining, but data from the pandemic has some lessons in it about the effectiveness of price gouging laws. Gavin Roberts, an economist at Weber State University, discusses his findings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As smaller local newspapers continue to shrink, what's the potential for AI to help deliver local news to happy customers? Paul Matzko makes his hopeful case to foster a better-informed public. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

European leaders think very differently than US officials about China, both as a rising economic power and a military threat. Doug Bandow discusses why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ideological commitments shouldn't harm your ability to receive medical treatment. Erec Smith and Jeff Singer discuss a troubling evolution in how medical education is delivered in the US. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There aren't big, glaring differences between Trump and Biden on giving Americans maximum freedom to trade across the globe, but the style of the candidates' protectionism differs somewhat. Scott Lincicome explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medicare represents a massive fraction of the federal budget, and its spending is effectively on autopilot. That needs to change sooner than later. Paragon Health Institute chief Brian Blase and Cato's Michael Cannon comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New regulations under consideration would hold financial advisors accountable to elements of the Bank Secrecy Act, which currently compels banks to turn over certain financial data to the feds. How would that change your relationship with that advisor? Jennifer Schulp comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The DEA is likely to change its federal designation for cannabis in the coming months. It's a good sign for research and for the ability of Americans to receive medical treatments involving the plant, but descheduling and ending federal prohibition is still a worthy goal. Jeff Singer explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How productive is federal spending to advance early childhood education? Following her testimony on Capitol Hill, Cato's Colleen Hroncich says there are several problems with the assumptions about its benefits. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does the case of Peru have to teach us about state capacity to foster (or hamper) human flourishing? Edwar Escalante of Angelo State University discusses the upsides and downsides of increasing state capacity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Heroes Act was insufficient authority for the President to cancel massive amounts of student debt. The Biden White House has instead been moving to cancel (transfer) smaller amounts of student debt using different executive authority. Neal McCluskey explains the issues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former President Trump's lawyers argued before the US Supreme Court that the President ought to be broadly immune against misdeeds committed in office, even many that are clearly criminal. The Supreme Court is now weighing where to draw the lines both for this former President and future former Presidents. Clark Neily discusses the oral argument at the high court. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Economics is everywhere, and its implications are subtle and beautiful. The essays in Art Carden's book, Strangers with Candy, uses both economic and biblical insight to show how welcoming strangers can make us both better and wealthier people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There was a point when Cato's Patrick Eddington believed warrantless snooping on Americans might be on the wane. He was very wrong. Congress instead voted to continue unconstitutional surveillance of Americans for at least two more years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

North Carolina's pursuit of VinFast to make electric vehicles in the state has placed dozens of homeowners in a difficult spot. Paul Best explains how economic development ran headlong into homeowners' property rights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are two avenues to fixing a big issue with federal appointments, that of individuals not confirmed by Congress nonetheless wielding significant federal power. Tommy Berry explains the problem and the solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Housing plays a large role in growing wealth for Americans, but it remains an area where economist Jeremy Horpedahl is pessimistic for the near term. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Federal budget deficits are projected to remain alarmingly high for many years to come, but as Cato's Ryan Bourne notes, things that can't go on ... don't. His new paper on debt, spending, and fiscal crisis is available today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When countries impose tariffs, that begins a chain reaction that frequently doesn't end in the outcomes preferred by tariff advocates. Erica York of the Tax Foundation separates fact from fiction on tariffs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bitcoin miners are under the microscope for what some call "parasitic" consumption of energy, but is distaste for some consumers of electricy enough to make it harder for them to buy it? Cato's Nick Anthony and Travis Fisher explain the implications. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Income taxes are on pace to increase on virtually all Americans in 2026. Cato's Adam Michel has some reforms in mind. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been 45 years since the US made certain promises to Taiwan in the form of the Taiwan Relations Act, so what exactly has the US committed to provide? Eric Gomez discusses the strategic ambiguity of those American promises. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Human freedom and prosperity go together, but what does that look like specifically? Cato adjunct John Early explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would a tax on unrealized income produce big dividends for Americans? Economic historian Phil Magness says the predicted revenues wouldn't materialize. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US continues to provide Israel with roughly $3.8 billion annually in addition to other arms deals and security benefits. What exactly the United States gets in return for this relationship remains unclear. Jon Hoffman explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are several ways the Securities and Exchange Commission could be reformed to make the agency more welcoming to regulatory comments, align its actions with statutory authority, and follow proper administrative procedures. Jennifer Schulp explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amid the shifting ideological commitments among the voting public, how welcoming will voters be toward more liberty-friendly ideas? Stephanie Slade of Reason comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Separating credible election reforms from those born of conspiracy theories is a valuable task, especially when some current proposed reforms threaten to make elections slower, less efficient, and less secure. Walter Olson provides details. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If markets demand parking, it will largely be provided. In so many cases, however, it's governments setting the rules for how much parking must be provided for new housing or commercial ventures. Requiring all that parking raises costs and make lots of unique development unaffordable. Author M. Nolan Gray explains why markets are generally far better at setting the right mix. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The wage-price spiral is a popular explanation for why a temporary inflation might persist or even accelerate. Economist Bryan Cutsinger says the wage-price spiral narrative is unsupported by the empirical evidence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The growth in the size and scope of government can be understood along multiple dimensions. Economist Abigail Hall has studied crisis and the growth of government in the context of nuclear proliferation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump-supporting organizations are hoping that making it easier to fire career bureaucrats will make achieving the presidential hopeful's agenda easier. Cato's Tom Firey has some bad news for that plan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fears around children’s and teenagers’ online safety are basically as old as the internet itself. That's no reason to abridge the rights of young people online. Jennifer Huddleston explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Department of Justice accuses Apple of behaving like a monopoly. Patrick Hedger of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance and Cato's Jennifer Huddleston discuss the merits of the case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The ability of private schools to better meet parent demand compared with public schools may help explain rising demand for private school education. Neal McCluskey explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An engineer and brewer thought he would take up home distilling as a hobby, but he then learned it's a federal crime. In Ream v. U.S. Department of Treasury, he's fighting back. The Buckeye Institute's Robert Alt explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are fine concepts, but DEI offices on college campuses appear to have fostered a problematic culture. Greg Lukianoff is coauthor of The Canceling of the American Mind. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yonas Fikre , a US citizen, challenged his placement on the federal No Fly List and the feds removed him from the list. Did that moot the case? The Supreme Court says "no." Tommy Berry and Patrick Eddington explain why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ryan Yonk is coauthor of The China Dilemma?: Rethinking US-China Relations Through Public Choice Theory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Women tend to prefer more children than they have. How much can expanding economic freedom shrink the gap? Economist Clara E. Piano details her research. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

War games are supposed to help train the military, expose weaknesses, and provide guidance on resource allocation. That last part can provide an incentive to game the war gaming system. Economist Garrett Wood comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Subsidizing both the buying and selling of homes in a seller's market means most of the subsidy will be absorbed by sellers. Mark Calabria explains why the President's plan won't create much new housing and offers some better ways to help Americans secure affordable housing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A proposal to limit short‐​term health plans is not an attempt to protect consumers. It is the opposite: an attempt to punish consumers who choose a perfectly legal and valid product that competes with the product the Departments favor. Michael Cannon explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What benefit does the Securities and Exchange Commission's new climate disclosure rule offer investors? Jennifer Schulp offers a few ideas why the agency adopted the new disclosure mandate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

t's an immensely popular social media app, but if a proposed new law goes into effect, TikTok would face a nationwide ban in the U.S. if the app isn't divested from Beijing-based ByteDance. It raises questions for both the free speech rights of producers and users, and the property rights of company owners. Cato's Jennifer Huddleston and Paul Matzko comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Jones Act's costs are especially high in Puerto Rico, where the 100-year-old shipping law affects everything from where food comes from to the mix of industries that Puerto Ricans might undertake. Economist Russell Hillberry explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Courts have witnessed the rise of "reverse warrants." Brent Skorup discusses how courts so far have managed the process. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many Americans believe that civil dialogue with their fellow Americans is virtually impossible. Kristina Kendall's new film, Undivide Us, addresses that notion directly and offers a hopeful way forward for productive conversation in a polarized age. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The privacy of donors who give to nonprofits deserves protection, and indeed the Supreme Court has protected that privacy on more than one occasion. Some states aren't getting the message. Matt Nese of People United for Privacy Foundation explains how. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Want to keep your trades private? Good luck. The Securities and Exchange Commission wants that data. Jennifer Schulp and Brent Skorup detail the warrantless collection of your private trading data. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are new wrinkles in the struggle to renew federal surveillance authorities, and the White House doesn't seem concerned about the programs' long history of abuse. Patrick Eddington explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In assessing the legacy of Mitch McConnell as a Republican leader in the U.S. Senate, it's important to include his large role in radically reducing the regulation of Americans’ political speech. Cato's John Samples explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court this week heard arguments challenging and defending laws in Florida and Texas that constrain internet platforms in setting their own rules for users. How did the justices receive those arguments? David Inserra, Jennifer Huddleston, and Tommy Berry comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wendy's toyed with the idea of dynamic pricing for their menus, and then quickly walked those comments back. But the general ire for dynamic pricing shouldn't invite politicians to get involved. Ryan Bourne explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trump and Biden have different takes on CBDCs, to say the least. And now states are moving in a variety of ways to account for the proposed new currency in their commercial codes. Nick Anthony explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If an arrest warrant is issued without probable cause that a crime has been committed, the person arrested can sue for “malicious prosecution.” But there's a catch, and the Supreme Court will have to grapple with it this term. Tommy Berry explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has a role to play in managing the multistate movement of energy, but it's not clear the agency will be able to do the job in the near term. Cato’s Travis Fisher explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

His most recent package of reforms has stalled. Will Javier Milei now turn his full attention to securing dollarization to rescue Argentina from the costs of inflation? Daniel Raisbeck and Gabriela Calderon de Burgos explain the stakes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US has a particular way of engaging with the Middle East, and it doesn't serve US interests particularly well. Jon Hoffman explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

State fiscal health was surprisingly good during and after the pandemic, but state debt expenses have increased as the Federal Reserve has tried to quell inflation. Marc Joffe offers some advice for states seeking cost savings. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When you hear complaints from the White House about "junk fees," it's worth digging into what that refers to and notably what it does not refer to. Ryan Bourne parses the rhetoric. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over the last few decades, the share of spending subjected to a normal budget process has been very small. Fixing it should be a high priority in Congress. Romina Boccia explains the high stakes for acting sooner versus later. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The approval rate for green card applications is remarkably low. David Bier explains in a new paper how to improve the backlogged process of welcoming new people to the United States. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author Alexander Hammond details the contributions that puts Frederick Douglass in the ranks of the Heroes of Progress. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Remarks from Donald Trump on how the US would treat a Russia-led attack on fellow NATO members earned the ire of the group’s defenders, so it's worth asking: What are US obligations to the alliance? Justin Logan comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an era marked by global trade and digital transformation, the international tax landscape is at a crucial juncture. The OECD would like to create an international tax cartel. Adam Michel explains why Congress should reject the proposal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US-derived LNG exports can serve a variety of American interests at once, and yet the Biden White House seems to want to keep it in the ground. Travis Fisher details the President's error. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When the feds turn ads into spyware, surveillance tools demand more public scrutiny. Patrick Eddington explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In his new book, The Road to Freedom: Estonia’s Rise from Soviet Vassal State to One of the Freest Nations on Earth, Matthew D. Mitchell and his coauthors recount the fall and rise of Estonian freedom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why did the Cato Institute land on the FBI's list of "vexsome" filers of FOIA requests? Patrick Eddington explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medicaid is consistently among the top two expenditure categories in every state budget, but Medicaid spending levels vary greatly among states. Marc Joffe discusses how to shrink the program. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An important way to tackle America’s debt problem is to devolve a large part of federal spending to the states, allowing them to fund it themselves. Chris Edwards explains in a new paper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The anti-tobacco crusade morphed ever so slowly into an anti-nicotine crusade. If it continues unimpeded, the costs could be quite high. Jeff Singer explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

An attack on a US outpost leaves three service members dead, and some Republicans want war with Iran sooner than later. But the calls for war happily ignore several uncomfortable facts and critical context. Justin Logan explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's utterly irrational to expect that making illegal immigration the only immigration would give US policymakers better options at the border. David Bier explains.What Biden Can Do After Another Failed Border Deal Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daniel Raisbeck evaluates both Javier Milei's message to the World Economic Forum and the status of the Milei agenda in Argentina. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How will elections in Taiwan change the country's posture with respect to China's desire to seize control? Cato's Eric Gomez comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Europe's heavy-handed regulatory approach to tech and speech may not leave US speakers unaffected. Cato's David Inserra and Jennifer Huddleston explain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Taiwan should arm up according to Cato's Eric Gomez. Corruption and other problems in China's military could give them the time to do so. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When a New York regulatory agency tried to get groups doing business with the NRA to end those business relationships, it may have run afoul of the First Amendment. Cato's Walter Olson and Andrew Grossman comment on National Rifle Association v. Vullo. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the wake of the SEC's market-moving hack on social media, it's appropriate to examine where the agency ought to do more (securing its own data) and less (collecting too much data). Jennifer Schulp explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new federal law means jail time and fines if you don't report the identities of people providing you with large amounts of crypto. Nick Anthony explains why it's another federal assault on financial privacy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why are some farmers so troubled by farm subsidies? Cato's Paul Best explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year was a wild one for would-be tech regulators. State governments, Congress, and federal agencies are all still champing at the bit to impose some new restrictions on big and small tech firms alike. David Inserra and Jennifer Huddleston comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nitazenes are a relatively new category of opioids, and their high potency demands a rational policy response. Jeff Singer explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Argentina’s Javier Milei has an ambitious regulatory agenda, but lawmakers will still have their say on a large portion of it. Daniel Raisbeck discusses what Argentina's new president has announced so far. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sociologist Herbert Spencer was "light years" ahead of his contemporaries in grappling with some very modern problems of political economy. Libertarianism.org's Paul Meany explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Herbert Spencer once loomed large in social science. Is he receiving his due in the modern era? Paul Meany discusses how a major thinker was celebrated, forgotten, and remembered again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For many states in the southeast, certificate of need laws have needlessly complicated the delivery of health services. Cato's Jeff Singer describes some differences among CON and non-CON states. We spoke in November. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Human Freedom Index tracks human freedom across multiple dimensions for the bulk of humanity. Ian Vasquez details the latest iteration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The FDA's decisions to approve or delay drugs can have major impacts well beyond the health of Americans. Michael Cannon explains how FDA's delays approving contraception impacted women in the labor market. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Even critics of globalization admit that it's delivered the world's bounty to our doorsteps. Gabriella Beaumont-Smith details how globalization also gives us back our valuable time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trade is a positive-sum game, and when you keep a few fundamentals of trade front and center, it becomes harder for politicians to confuse the issue. Economist Andreas Freytag explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's getting more difficult to remember times when seasonal produce was only available for a brief window. Cato’s Scott Lincicome is old enough to remember those dark times of avocado deprivation. He explains how globalization has dramatically expanded the range of foods available all year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How much blame should be given to institutional investors for our current housing woes? Vanessa Brown Calder comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This year was yet another banner year for educational freedom in states, and while a few states faced substantial setbacks, the broad trend toward more and universal school choice continues. Jason Bedrick details his research. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

States are starting to understand how zoning and other housing restrictions have contributed to the housing crisis gripping so much of the United States. Nolan Gray of California YIMBY explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Does "march in" authority have hope for bringing drug prices down? Should it? What are the secondary effects of changing who can produce what drugs? Cato's Michael Cannon and Peter Van Doren comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Biden keeps advancing the delusion that Ukraine can achieve total victory against Russia. Congress is under no obligation to join in that delusion. Justin Logan explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

No matter how you slice the data, it tells a clear story: Certificate-of-need laws make health care services relatively less available or more costly. Jaimie Cavanaugh of the Institute for Justice explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Toma is the Republican Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives. We discussed his state's role as the trendsetter for advancing educational freedom for families. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Presidential candidate Nikki Haley recently suggested that anonymity on the internet should be compromised on behalf of national security. Edward Longe of the James Madison Institute argues that it would trash an important element of free speech. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are many kinds of medical professionals who are legally prevented from delivering care for which they are trained. Jeff Singer describes how pharmacists could be allowed to step up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's hard to take seriously the federal agencies that undertake their own adjudications and often award damages to themselves. Adi Dynar of the Pacific Legal Foundation discusses how "due process" works in administrative law courts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The housing crunch affects so many parts of the country. In Arizona, it's harder to build than you might think. Leo Biasiucci is the Republican majority whip of the state's House of Representatives. We talked about how best to advance flexibility for new housing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court recently heard the case of Securities and Exchange Commission vs. Jarkesy. Cato's Tommy Berry and the Pacific Legal Foundation's Oliver Dunford evaluate what the court heard. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Federal lawmakers are continuing to ponder the end of some warrantless surveillance of U.S. citizens. Patrick Eddington provides a brief history lesson and an assessment of where things stand now. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gestational surrogates provide a valuable service for many couples who want children, but the process has drawn significant criticism. Cato's Vanessa Brown Calder dispels the misconceptions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

States are advancing policies that embrace universal recognition of various occupational licenses and others that end a broad range of certificate of need requirements. Ed Timmons runs the Knee Regulatory Research Center. He details the progress. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The central bank digital currency is on the wish list for many central banks despite the lack of compelling use cases for the currency and troubling rollouts of CBDCs thus far. Nicholas Anthony details the Human Rights Foundation's new tracker for CBDCs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

America's civil justice system has a variety of problems that must be addressed. Bridget Mary McCormack, a former chief justice on the Michigan Supreme Court and the current head of the American Arbitration Association, has a few ideas. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Link taxes are supposed to help prop up ailing print media outlets by charging big tech firms for the privilege of linking to news content. The case of Canada’s link tax is challenging that hope. Cato's Paul Matzko comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Last year, Illinois voters handed breathtaking new powers to collective bargaining agreements for government employees. Mailee Smith of the Illinois Policy Institute evaluates the status. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Contrary to conventional beliefs about how the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries operates, there are many reasons to believe OPEC has fewer degrees of freedom than most people believe. That misperception can serve the needs of politicians searching for a bogeyman. Peter Van Doren and David Kemp explain why in a new paper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Parents might embrace their children's independence, but how much support do those parents have in the form of local infrastructure? Andrea Keith of Let Grow explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It may not be shocking to learn that state-level regulators face many of the same incentives as federal regulators. State lawmakers should pay close attention to how those regulators do their work, says Joe Luppino-Esposito of the Pacific Legal Foundation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Javier Milei, the next President of Argentina, says he's a supporter of free trade, dollarization, and big cuts to the public sector. Cato’s Daniel Raisbeck evaluates the Milei platform against Argentina’s economic and political realities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's an immense task to understand the criminal penalties that attach to a vast array of federally disfavored behavior. Patrick McLaughlin of the Mercatus Center details what he's learned in undertaking exactly that task. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eric Gomez is author of the new Cato Institute paper, "Taiwan's Urgent Need for Asymmetric Defense." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If public school libraries are supposed to represent a broad range of views, do they? Neal McCluskey details his new paper exploring the question. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A bipartisan group in Congress wants reform to federal surveillance authorities before signing off on reauthorization. What would that reform do? Cato's Patrick Eddington and James Czerniawski of Americans for Prosperity comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Political reality demands that we recognize that any power we might claim for ourselves will ultimately be wielded by our ideological opponents. Scott Lincicome explains how that lesson is being learned the hard way yet again. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The freedom of speech is under constant threat, and broad public support for that freedom has eroded in recent years. Nadine Strossen, in Free Speech: What Everyone Needs to Know, details why that right is worth defending. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does the forced exodus of Afghans from Pakistan tell us about the domestic politics of Pakistan? Sahar Khan explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Methadone is a powerful drug that is often dosed out by the government for those in the criminal legal system who are able jump through the proper legal hoops. Helen Redmond of Filter says it serves as a mechanism for government control of people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Michael Cannon details why the promises of Obamacare would be better delivered by giving consumers dramatically more power over health care dollars. Cannon's new book is Recovery: A Guide to Reforming the U.S. Health Sector. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During the pandemic, governments placed significant public and private pressure on social media companies to remove speech protected by the First Amendment, blurring the line between acceptable government speech and unconstitutional censorship by proxy. Concerns about this “jawboning” only grew with the recent decisions in Missouri v. Biden finding that the pressure applied by various government actors likely violated the First Amendment. But this case also revealed the limitations of broadly prohibiting government communications with private companies or merely relying on the courts to police government abuse. Join us as the panel discusses the options available to policymakers and why greater transparency is essential to combating such censorship. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Biden White House is out with a massive executive order on artificial intelligence. Why? Jennifer Huddleston and Jack Solowey comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It should be troubling that the bloodshed in Israel and Gaza is being fueled somewhat by US policy with respect to weapons transfers. Where is the appetite for revisiting those polices? Jordan Cohen comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Which school choice programs respect families most? Andrew Clark, president of yes. every. kid., offers his thoughts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By any relevant measure, the U.S. manufacturing sector is a dynamo. Retreating from globalized supply chains can threaten that success. Colin Grabow details the evidence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From reining in debt and spending to freeing up American healthcare, incoming House Speaker Republican Mike Johnson has an opportunity to bring seriousness to critical pending policy issues. Cato's Alex Nowrasteh comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is a word for self-styled conservatives who nonetheless want to the power of the state to compel certain social outcomes: illiberal. Kevin Vallier is author of All the Kingdoms of the World: On Radical Religious Alternatives to Liberalism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Political actors are more than happy to attempt to bend media outlets to serve their preferred narratives. The history of it in the U.S. is less well known. Paul Matzko discusses a chapter in the history of crackdowns on news "distortion." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are the privacy implications for cars that collect all manner of data about us and our driving habits? Jennifer Huddleston explains the good and bad. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When lawmakers wag their fingers in the faces of tech companies, when are they trying to exact compliance for activities that are otherwise perfectly legal? David Inserra helps us draw the lines. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does the election of Daniel Noboa as president of Ecuador mean for the country’s engagement in the global economy? Cato's Gabriela Calderon de Burgos comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The approaches taken by governments to online safety vary widely. Matthew Feeney and Jennifer Huddleston discuss how various states and countries are handling the issue and assess the risks to privacy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since 2020's Bonta decision at the U.S. Supreme Court, states have broadly taken two approaches to donor privacy, according to Luke Wachob of People United for Privacy Foundation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marc LeBlond directs policy at EdChoice. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Johan Norberg is author of The Capitalist Manifesto: Why the Global Free Market Will Save the World. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In his new book, Recovery: A Guide to Reforming the U.S. Health Sector, Michael Cannon walks readers through a variety of ways to make health care in the United States better, more transparent, more secure, and more universal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The housing crisis is actually myriad local crises. Combating that will, at some point, require some local ingenuity. Greg Brooks of the Better Cities Project has a few ideas to help generate the will to build more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

States are under more serious constraints than the feds when it comes to spending levels. There are still more steps governments can take to do so. Vance Ginn with the Pelican Institute details some of the ways states can get more control over budgets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's worth knowing just how costly it is to effectively give the loudest voices at a zoning board meeting the power of the veto. Chris Denson of the Georgia Public Policy Foundation discusses the tax NIMBYs impose on the rest of us. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Misconceptions about the motivations of drug dealers and users have likely worsened the increases in drug overdoses. Are state lawmakers rethinking how they approach drug-related sentencing? Lauren Krisai of the Justice Action Network comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The people who write the rules under which we must live generally ought to be subject to accountability from voters. That's not a controversial proposition, but how it works in practice is more complicated. Daniel Dew of the Pacific Legal Foundation comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The ability for the U.S. to escape the consequences of high spending and massive debt may be declining faster than conventional wisdom would have predicted. Cato's Norbert Michel and Romina Boccia detail the issue. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So many well-intentioned laws run into basic incentive problems. The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act appears to be another law aimed at protecting many women from mistreatment that may create perverse incentives. Vanessa Brown Calder comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New tech threatens the ability for investors to understand what they're doing, or so the leaders of the SEC seem to believe. But what would their proposed federal regulations do to change that? Jack Solowey and Jennifer Schulp comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The U.S. House is without a Speaker after a small revolt within the Republican Party that removed Kevin McCarthy from that job. With yet another fight over spending just a few weeks away, Cato’s John Samples and Chad Davis explore what might be coming next. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When politicians decry the production that's done overseas, it's a good time to take stock of a most basic economic concept: comparative advantage. Don Boudreaux discusses what it means. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Biden White House has urged states to slow the pace of trimming Medicaid enrollees. Why? Rea Hederman of the Buckeye Institute comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why does the Office of Management and Budget want to expand racial categories in the United States? Alex Nowrasteh discusses his new paper that explains why such an expansion is a bad idea. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

California Governor Gavin Newsom is mulling legislation that would legalize possession of small amounts of multiple psychedelic drugs. Cato's Jeff Singer discusses the implications for medical practitioners. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The emergency spending that's come to characterize an increasing share of federal outlays has contributed mightily to current fiscal woes. Jonathan Bydlak of the R Street Institute comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Donald Trump might prefer to leave Congress out of the loop on decisions about which nations or actors receive U.S. weapons. A new Heritage Foundation report also leans toward giving POTUS fewer checks on foreign policy moves. Jordan Cohen comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court long ago erred in gutting a key provision of the 14th Amendment. Anastasia Boden says a case the court could take up this term gives them an opportunity to repair that mistake. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seeking fresh weaponry for his war in Ukraine, Russia's Vladimir Putin met with North Korea's Kim Jong Un recently. Eric Gomez discusses the geopolitical considerations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does the United States get in terms of security enhancement given its informal, but pricey financial commitment to Saudi Arabia? President Biden is advancing a plan that would formalize security guarantees to Saudi Arabia. Cato's Jon Hoffman comments.Pariah or Partner: Reevaluating the U.S.-Saudi Relationship Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

School choice is on the march so it's reasonable to ask if the shift toward relatively more students receiving private school educations will raise prices at those schools? Cato adjunct Jason Bedrick comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The President's son, Hunter Biden, now faces charges related to his drug use and gun ownership. It illustrates, as Clark Neily details, the enormous discretion wielded by prosecutors. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Parole sponsorship" allows individuals in the U.S. to sponsor people fleeing unstable or authoritarian regimes. The Biden administration has reinvigorated the program for people from a handful of countries. David Bier says it delivers great benefits. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when public university officials violate your free speech rights? Often the get qualified immunity, thus shielding them from consequences of those actions. Casey Mattox with Americans for Prosperity comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Policy change can be a long slog. The now-famous "Overton Window" gives us a way of thinking about how change happens. Joe Lehmann of the Mackinac Center discusses how the late Joe Overton thought about policy change. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Globalization's opponents are loathe to admit that the process of expanding the movement of goods, services, and people relatively freely across borders has paid enormous dividends for a very long time. Scott Lincicome explains why free trade and migration deserves a vigorous defense. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

States and localities, grimly unaware of the predictable consequences of prohibition, are moving ahead with plans to make cigarettes and other nicotine products a matter of criminal law. Jacob Grier is author of The New Prohibition. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The American housing crisis was largely created by local governments. Fixing it demands local innovation. Greg Brooks of the Better Cities Project details some local fixes to address the mismatch between supply and demand in American housing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are the implications of a federal court panel's decision that a lifetime ban on voting rights for felons is "cruel and unusual punishment"? Cody Wisniewski of the Firearms Policy Coalition comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

State-level programs intended for the very poor should not be expanded to include the middle class. Jarrett Skorup of the Mackinac Center details some such programs states are working to expand. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

National conservatism (or conservative nationalism) may have had its moment, but a group of so-called Freedom Conservatives have unveiled a statement of principles that includes a more robust voluntary sector of society. Stephanie Slade of Reason comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The American housing crisis can be fixed mostly by states and localities. How did Montana advance a more rational set of housing policies? Kendall Cotton of Montana's Frontier Institute explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Farm Bill puts food subsidies and healthy eating at odds with one another. Cato's Chris Edwards comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How will Medicare and drug companies effectively negotiate on matters of price? What are the real deficiencies in how drugs get to the people who need them? Michael Cannon comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The methods of Maria Montessori aim to help young people take charge of their learning at a younger age. Jesse McCarthy, founder of MontessoriEducation.com, believes those methods prepare young people to thrive and build civil society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Tuttle Twins author Connor Boyack brings that same didactic approach to history in a new series of books aimed at young people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Psychedelics have powerful impacts on the human mind, and researchers are finding new ways to use those drugs to help people overcome mental difficulties. Do they also herald a new freedom of thought? Mason Marks of the Petrie-Flom Center comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PayPal's entry into stablecoins promises big potential benefits to consumers across the financial sector, but how well founded are regulators' fears? Cato's Jack Solowey highlights the legitimate concerns. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Próspera aims to present a new model for governance, and Honduras has led the way in fostering it. J Robertson directs development for Próspera. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tens of millions of Americans use federally illegal drugs, often in states where those drugs are legal. Do those people have the right to possess firearms under the Constitution? The feds seem to think they don’t. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals weighed in last week. Cato's Clark Neily comments on the case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former president Trump and more than a dozen codefendants will face charges in Georgia over claimed attempts to subvert the will of Georgia voters in 2020. Cato’s Clark Neily discusses the indictment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New proposed merger guidelines would have a negative impact on consumers and companies of all sizes, according to Cato's Jennifer Huddleston. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Well-intentioned though it may be, emulating Australia's "Link Tax" would be disastrous for small journalism outlets in the United States. Paul Matzko is author of a new Cato paper detailing the evidence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Being a parent is hard enough. Labor laws, child safety policies, tax and trade policy, and health policies each add impediments to the decision to have more children. A new Cato paper digs into policy reforms. Coauthor Vanessa Brown Calder comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does a shakeup in the highest levels of China's People's Liberation Army Rocket Force mean for U.S. commitments to Taiwan? Cato's Eric Gomez offers his analysis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Argentina has long had big problems with inflation, so why is dollarization such a hard sell there? Cato's Daniel Raisbeck explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The United States has recently sold weapons to well over 100 countries, many of which have terrible human rights records. Cato's new Arms Sales Risk Index aims to help Congress understand the risks associated with many of those sales. Cato's Jordan Cohen comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now that the Supreme Court has tossed his original plan, President Biden plans different routes to forgives billions in student debt. Cato's Neal McCluskey discusses the plans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A week before his trial on charges that his company facilitated prostitution, Backpage founder James Larkin took his own life. Elizabeth Nolan Brown of Reason discusses what's led up to the trial and how prosecutors attempted to stymie the defendants. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Another credit rating agency has reduced its confidence in U.S. debt. Cato's Romina Boccia explains why it should spur greater interest in a fiscal commission that would stabilize the debt and protect politicians from some of the electoral fallout. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In The Individualists: Radicals, Reactionaries, and the Struggle for the Soul of Libertarianism, authors Matt Zwolinski and John Tomasi dissect the wide range of libertarian thought through history. Coauthor Matt Zwolinski discusses the book. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cryptocurrency has some powerful enemies, including several members of Congress who appear bent on regulating the products into oblivion. Cato's Nick Anthony explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Green Card Game shows just how time consuming, expensive, and complicated it can be to achieve legal status in the United States. Cato's David Bier and Alex Nowrasteh created the game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The rumblings about adding Ukraine in yet another expansion of NATO raises many important questions, most especially about NATO's purpose. Justin Logan explains why NATO membership should not be in the future for Ukraine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The tax code penalizes workers who want to control their earnings and their health insurance. Michael Cannon explains why the income tax is the original sin of U.S. health policy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Dissident Project’s speakers travel to high schools to speak to students about authoritarianism, drawing on their own experience living under autocratic rule in their home countries. Grace Bydalek and Frances Hui discuss The Dissident Project’s work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

David Beito is author of The New Deal’s War on the Bill of Rights: The Untold Story of FDR’s Concentration Camps, Censorship, and Mass Surveillance. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Atlanta's Cop City represents an expansion of police training to include more potential "urban combat" scenarios. At least one Cop City protestor has been killed with little explanation by authorities. Patrick Eddington discusses what he's found. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes for good rules? Good rules are often "discovered," according to Cato's Deirdre McCloskey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Accredited investors are supposed to be sophisticated, but the designation is rooted in the size of your portfolio and not your expertise. Jennifer Schulp discusses current attempts at reform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The only way to treat all equally, while advancing genuine tolerance, is the good old American value of limited government. Mustafa Alkyl and Neal McCluskey explain what this ought to mean for education. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Bank Secrecy Act requires your financial institutions to snitch on you every time you engage in certain kinds of financial transactions. What's the benefit in terms of reducing crime? Nick Anthony says it's hard to tell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court shot down an extreme version of a relatively new theory of state legislative independence in the context of elections. Walter Olson explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Buc-ee's has garnered a reputation as an oasis for the weary traveler, but should taxpayers have to support it financially? Cato's Marc Joffe and John Mozena of the Center for Economic Accountability comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The state and local tax deduction has been curtailed, but many Congressional Democrats wish it would come back in full force. Cato's Adam Michel comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court will take up the case of a one-time tax hike for a highly selective group of Americans on some of their unrealized income. Tommy Berry explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do states hold counties and cities accountable for their financial management? Marc Joffe details a tightening of some accounting requirements in North Carolina. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Europe's data privacy rules make regulating artificial intelligence an easier step to take. How will those rules affect the deployment and investment in this new technology elsewhere? Jennifer Huddleston comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court’ 303 Creative v. Elenis decision correctly applies First Amendment law to vindicate one of the most important dimensions of human liberty: the right not to speak. Walter Olson explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court rejected President Biden’s ambitious plan to give away hundreds of billions of dollars on behalf of student debtors. The President claimed his legal authority to do so came from 2003’s Heroes Act. Biden has pledged to try again. Tommy Berry evaluates the case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Counterman v. Colorado, the Supreme Court clarified what should be treated as a "true threat" going forward. Jay Schweikert discusses the court's opinion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court has effectively ended affirmative action in college admissions. Cato's Anastasia Boden comments on the cases. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court upheld the federal criminal prohibition on encouraging or inducing violations of immigration law, and how they did so is notable and disappointing. Tommy Berry comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What would India and the U.S. get out of a stronger relationship? Is that even likely? Cato's Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyar comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Congress is pretty good at avoiding accountability, opting instead for budgeting gimmicks that aim to hide the true cost of government. Romina Boccia highlights some of the ideas that could change that. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.