Cato Podcast

The IRS is seizing the assets of business people, but then won't file criminal charges. Larry Salzman from the Institute for Justice is taking the agency to court. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rand Paul seeks to separate himself from other Republicans (and Hillary Clinton) by offering restraint as a value in American foreign policy. Christopher A. Preble comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The threats to law enforcement posed by strong encryption seem to be at odds with the benefits encryption provides against threats to cybersecurity. Julian Sanchez comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The intellectual traditions of conservatism and socialism, oddly enough, owe much to classical liberalism. So says Brian Doherty, author of Radicals for Capitalism. He spoke at this year's Cato University. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Devolving state power and money to local governments and people drives growth and fosters self-government. Greg Lawson from the Buckeye Institute discusses how to make it happen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Judges are beginning to question the on-the-books legal protections assigned to state pensions, especially when those protections conflict with other laws. Eileen Norcross studies pensions at the Mercatus Center. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Gessing of the Rio Grande Foundation describes the impact of New Mexico's dependence on federal largesse. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed Whelan corrects the record and reviews the Supreme Court's narrow Hobby Lobby decision. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Leonard Liggio was an important pillar in the modern libertarian movement and someone who connected modern libertarian ideas with their historical antecedents. Tom G. Palmer comments on Liggio's impact on ideas and libertarianism. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do states hand out special benefits in the tax code? William Freeland from the American Legislative Exchange Council provides some notable examples and avenues for reform. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The "Bootlegger and Baptist" theory, a public-choice theory developed more than 30 years ago, holds that for a regulation to emerge and endure, both the "bootleggers," who seek to obtain private benefits from the regulation, and the "Baptists," who seek to serve the public interest, must support the regulation. Economists Adam Smith and Bruce Yandle discuss the concept.Bootleggers and Baptists: How Economic Forces and Moral Persuasion Interact to Shape Regulatory Politics Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens after so-called right-to-work legislation passes? Joe Lehman of the Mackinac Center details the experience in Michigan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Conservatives broadly believe in law and order, but the death penalty as an institution has clearly failed. Marc Hyden with Conservatives Concerned about the Death Penalty says it's time for government-run executions to end. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The public broadly wants to shift the power to make key political decisions away from the federal government to state governments. John Samples discusses the public's developing appetite for federalism.Public Attitudes toward Federalism: The Public's Preference for Renewed Federalism Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have entered a time where the backdrop for debates about executive power is endless war. Gene Healy comments on the President's assertions of nearly unlimited war powers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Disinvitation season" for commencement speakers has become something of a hallmark of the college experience in recent years. Greg Lukianoff of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education explains in his new essay, "Freedom from Speech." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A judge in Florida has turned back a union challenge to education savings accounts for special needs children. Clint Bolick of the Goldwater Institute comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Colorado is one of two U.S. states that has relegalized marijuana. How is the experiment going? Jon Caldara of Colorado's Independence Institute comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many state pension funds are still in dire financial condition. The case for reform is stronger than ever. Lance Christensen with the Reason Foundation talks about how lawmakers can ask fund managers and actuaries the right questions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harsh sentencing laws that gives judges no discretion can effectively destroy whole families. Greg Newburn of Families Against Mandatory Minimums discusses a few recent cases. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Supreme Court spoke clearly on police searches of cellphones incident to arrest. Jim Harper discusses the twin cases that brought about the ruling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Serious or not, the U.S. Senate leadership's attempt at curbing political speech would have dramatically reduced the range of political debate. Allen Dickerson of the Center for Competitive Politics comments on the failed amendment to the Constitution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

McCutcheon v. FEC has been maligned and misunderstood. Nadine Strossen sets the record straight on an important First Amendment Supreme Court ruling.13th Annual Constitution Day Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cases moving through the courts threaten to undo various occupational licensing regimes. Timothy Sandefur comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Objections to liberalizing markets in air travel lack genuine merit, according to Kenneth J. Button in a new Cato policy analysis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The current discussion about Iraq lacks coherence, according to Justin Logan."A New War Can’t Fix What Ails Iraq," by Justin Logan. USA Today (Online). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

India's long habit of subsidizing industry is harming its prospects for trade and the fortunes of the Indian people. Dan Pearson comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our patent system has become unweildy and in many cases counterproductive. The Mercatus Center's Eli Dourado comments.http://www.cato-unbound.org/2014/09/08/eli-dourado/true-story-how-patent-bar-captured-court-shrank-intellectual-commons Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Applying old-school utility regulation to the Internet would be a disaster according to Berin Szoka, President of TechFreedom. Tech Freedom's new site, Don't Break The Net. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The City of Brotherly Love can't get enough of its citizens' property and cash. The city is in a class by itself in the world of civil asset forfeiture, says Institute for Justice attorney Darpana Sheth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scholarship tax credits for education face another legal challenge in Florida. Andrew Coulson talks about the policy and the constitutional argument. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In Licensed to Lie, attorney Sidney Powell takes readers through a series of disturbing events, missteps, and cover-ups in our federal criminal justice system. According to Powell, the malfeasance stretches across all three branches of our government — from the White House to the U.S. Senate, to members of the judiciary.Event: Licensed to Lie: Exposing Corruption in the Department of Justice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

State-level legal challenges to K-12 educational freedom continue. Jason Bedrick offers his analysis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a lawsuit, Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal accuses the federal government of turning the Common Core "into a scheme by the federal government to nationalize curriculum." Neal McCluskey comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A recent Reason-Rupe poll of millenials holds some promise for a more libertarian future. Emily Ekins discusses the results. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A challenge to New Hampshire's popular scholarship tax credit program for low-income families has been rejected by the state's highest court. Dick Komer of the Institute for Justice comments on the ruling.Live Free and Learn: NH Supreme Court Upholds School Choice Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ike Brannon argues that U.S. corporations investing abroad creates jobs back home. Our tax code punishes both foreign investment and bringing that income back to the U.S. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nothing prevents President Obama from giving tens of thousands more highly skilled immigrants a more permanent status in the United States. Alex Nowrasteh explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If Burger King buys Tim Horton's and switches its corporate base to Canada, it will be largely to avoid punitive U.S. tax policies. Dan Mitchell explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As police and protestors continue to clash in Ferguson, Missouri, the public is rightly asking questions about the police response at all stages. Tim Lynch offers his thoughts.Event: The Ongoing Events in Ferguson, Missouri Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

MetLife may soon be designated "systemically important," but what does that designation really mean? Mark Calabria comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Social justice advocates seem to rarely articulate what would constitute a socially just pattern of resources distribution. Randy Barnett argues they typically simply argue for "more" for the aggrieved parties. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

India's new prime minister has managed to disappoint both his critics and fans. Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyar comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The militarization of local police didn't happen overnight. It took decades. Trevor Burrus explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After critics loudly condemned the militarized response of Ferguson, Missouri police to local protestors, the situation has calmed. Now the focus should shift to reforms to federal programs that subsidize militarization of local police. Tim Lynch explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Americans are now getting a clear picture of what militarized local policing looks like. Following the killing of an unarmed teenager in Missouri, the extreme tactics used by police there are truly breathtaking. Walter Olson comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The United States launches airstrikes in Iraq based on authority granted in 2002 as the terrorists attack civilians in the country. Chris Preble evaluates the unfolding situation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Senator Thad Cochran's inspection proposal would penalize foreign producers of catfish and raise prices in the U.S. Bill Watson comments.The Farm Bill Came Surprisingly Close to Fixing Some Protectionist Regulations Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lawsuits are now challenging the institution of teacher tenure. Neal McCluskey comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A National Labor Relations Board ruling could pave the way for unionization of workers at franchised establishments, but it would also punish companies that adopt the franchise model. Walter Olson analyzes the ruling. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.