Cato Podcast

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.