Cato Podcast

What are the users of Google, Facebook, and Twitter due, exactly? If anti-conservative bias exists on big speech platforms, is federal law or the Constitution on the side of the conservatives? Matthew Feeney comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does a Director of National Intelligence do a good job? Julian Sanchez discusses the new nominee for the job, Rep. John Ratcliffe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has long supported relatively open immigration. The U.S. should take note. Alex Nowrasteh explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the United States adjusts to a changing global balance of power, nuclear deterrence is poised to return to a level of importance in U.S. national security not seen since the end of the Cold War. What are the emerging issues in nuclear weaponry and global power that policymakers should consider? Caroline Dorminey and Eric Gomez are editors of America’s Nuclear Crossroads. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The tensions between what wealthy westerners want for and from Africa and what actual Africans want is coming into increasing tension. Catherine Semcer of the Property and Environment Research Center comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are the risks of downplaying North Korea's latest warning in the form of missile launches? As diplomacy with North Korea moves forward, how should the U.S. view the North's provocations? Eric Gomez comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the President and Congress push through another massive, debt-laden budget, deficits and debt continue to pile up. Chris Edwards discusses what might trigger an American debt crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The tiff between workers for the Bernie Sanders campaign and the campaign leadership illustrates some of the tradeoffs inherent in mandating wage floors. Ryan Bourne is author of a new paper on minimum wage hikes and bad justifications for them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Small incidents can magnify a tense U.S. situation with Iran. How should the Trump Administration proceed to lower tensions? Doug Bandow comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As civil discourse falters in the United States, House Democrat Zoe Lofgren and House independent Justin Amash discuss the process of lawmaking with Cato's Jeff Vanderslice. This was recorded on Capitol Hill at the Cato Institute's #SphereSummit held this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Species recovery is a key goal of the Endangered Species Act. So why are recovering species so rarely removed from the list? Brian Yablonski of the Property and Environment Research Center comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conservations are not a part of the conversation when it comes time to lease federal lands. Should that change? Shawn Regan of the Property and Environment Research Center comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Montana parents want to use a scholarship tax credit program to send their kids to religious schools. Montana’s high court says no. The Supreme Court will ultimately decide the issue this term. Erica Smith with the Institute for Justice comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chinese tech company Huawei is widely perceived to pose a threat to US national security. Considering the high costs of mitigating that threat the way US policy makers seem to be demanding, the US public first should be convinced that the threat is dire and that the prescribed measures are necessary. Dan Ikenson comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justin Amash's departure from the GOP means the continued fracturing of anti-war conservatives and libertarians. Jim Antle of The American Conservative comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There is no credible way to conclude that the United States is not at war. Ah, but "endless war" Is another thing altogether, right? Gene Healy comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Community Reinvestment Act should be scrapped wholesale. Failing that, it should be dramatically restructured. Diego Zuluaga is author of "The Community Reinvestment Act in the Age of Fintech and Bank Competition." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Kisor case decided recently by the Supreme Court reined in so-called "Auer deference," but what changes about regulating going forward? Will Yeatman comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Supreme Court challenge implicating state-level Blaine Amendments and Democrats' revival of school busing as an issue could force a real conversation about educational freedom. Neal McCluskey comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.

The President's decision to flex military hardware at an Independence Day celebration is at odds with a commemoration of liberty. Chris Preble comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the ways Chicago is special is the way in which all power appears to flow out of the mayor's office. It causes massive and relatively intractable problems. It's not a problem of personalities, but of structure. Ed Bachrach and Austin Berg are authors of The New Chicago Way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the land of the free, how has U.S. militarism changed domestic policing? Chris Coyne and Abigail Hall are authors of Tyranny Comes Home: The Domestic Fate of U.S. Militarism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Opportunity Zones are a part of the 2017 tax bill, but who benefits? And how is it appropriate to single out some places for special investment tax breaks? Chris Edwards comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In an attempt to take on what he calls "censorship" on big speech platforms online, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) would prefer to effectively compel big tech firms to secure federal licenses to operate. John Samples comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many young protestors on college campuses appear intent on achieving something new: Ending campus debate on controversial ideas. Robby Soave is author of Panic Attack: Young Radicals in the Age of Trump. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Congress can't just delegate all of its duties away. Where should the line be drawn? In Gundy, the Supreme Court turned away a challenge to one particular Congressional delegation, but new challenges are coming. Trevor Burrus and Ilya Shapiro comment on the case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many of the trade restrictions imposed by the White House have been accompanied by concerns over national security. Simon Lester is coauthor of a new paper detailing how this rationale can and has been abused. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A new currency offered by Facebook among others stands to be a substantial financial innovation, but important elements about the sort-of cryptocurrency have yet to be revealed. Diego Zuluaga comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court has given new life to a large exception to a Constitutional prohibition on double jeopardy. Ilya Shapiro and Clark Neily discuss the Gamble case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nearly two decades ago, one Congress voted once to strike back against those who perpetrated 9/11. Now that same legal authority is enabling a push to take the U.S. to war with Iran. Gene Healy comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Manhattan Community Access Corporation v. Halleck, the Supreme Court affirms that private platforms are not state actors, and are therefore not subject to First Amendment constraints. Trevor Burrus comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Legal immigration is becoming more challenging. David Bier explains how in a new paper. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Remember MySpace? What about Kodak? These companies seemed to be unstoppable monopolies. So what happened? Ryan Bourne is author of the new Cato paper, "Is This Time Different? Schumpeter, the Tech Giants, and Monopoly Fatalism." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Postal banking offered in financial reform legislation is a solution to a problem created by current interventions in the banking sector. So says Cato's Todd Zywicki. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bob Gunter's Koloa Rum is extremely expensive to ship to the mainland U.S., all thanks to the Jones Act.Learn more about the Jones Act Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes modernity persist? When do efforts to perfect modernity undermine it? Stephen Davies is author of The Wealth Explosion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When does the SEC make a decision to go after a particular cryptocurrency offering? What standards apply? The case of Kik and its related crypto offering, Kin, isn't yielding any answers. Diego Zuluaga comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What are the important lessons from Islam's inward turn centuries ago? Mustafa Akyol comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the president's assertion of authority to unilaterally lay a five-percent tariff on all Mexican goods authorized under law and the Constitution? Gene Healy comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Senator Elizabeth Warren's presidential campaign has presented a broad economic plan that includes a shift in priorities for trade under the banner of "economic patriotism." Simon Lester comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many federal inmates are about to be released under the First Step Act, but the road ahead for prison reform should focus more directly on putting fewer people in prison to begin with. Kevin Ring, president of FAMM Foundation, comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court turned away a challenge to Amtrak's regulatory power wherein the agency/company regulates its private sector rivals. What does that mean for competition between private and public entities in the future? William Yeatman comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How much of Julian Assange's alleged espionage was the kind of thing good reporters do every day? Patrick Eddington comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The policy and professional choices of U.S. Senator and presidential hopeful Kamala Harris seem to be rooted in … no particular ideology. But her past uses of prosecutorial power show a willingness to abandon her own kinder and gentler public political commitments. Elizabeth Nolan Brown of Reason looked into the longtime prosecutor's statements and record. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would taxing big firms that fail to pay men and women the same achieve gender pay equity? Ryan Bourne comments on a new proposal from Senator Kamala Harris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the President threatens new tariffs on Mexican goods, other countries hoping to secure trade agreements with the U.S. may think twice. Simon Lester explains why. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When Speech First is the defendant, students who want to speak freely don't have to make themselves targets for harassment or ostracism. Nicole Neily is president of Speech First. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two Democratic U.S. Senators running for President have unveiled their plans for potential federal roles in managing the costs of college. Diego Zuluaga describes the plans and their problems. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Congress should guard its power of the purse. In the case of handouts to farmers injured as a result of Trump tariffs, members of Congress are fighting to make sure their farmers get some. William Yeatman comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.