Cato Podcast

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.