Liberty Curious

What exactly is ESG? Where did it come from, and how did it start to take hold and reshape our world? How is it related to the infamous UN SDGs?In this episode of Liberty Curious, Paul Mueller joins Kate Wand to discuss and dissect.Paul is an economist and Senior Research Faculty at AIER who specializes in defending freedom and combatting collectivism. He has written a definitive collection of articles on ESG.ESG has been perniciously changing the way corporations, governments, NGOs and institutions operate. This ideological framework synonymous with stakeholder capitalism has become the subject of scrutiny and public backlash, but nonetheless continues to dominate.---The conversation explores the history, definition, and implications of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) investing. It delves into the origins of ESG in the post-World War II era and the rise of international organizations. The discussion highlights the utopian ideals and ideological shifts that have shaped the ESG movement. It also examines the technocratic element of ESG and the challenges of calculation and efficiency. The conversation raises concerns about the potential for eco-dictatorship and the threat ESG poses to freedom and individualism. In this conversation, Paul Mueller and Kate Wand discuss the totalitarianism of climate alarmists and the loss of individualism in the ESG movement. They explore the advocates for ESG, such as the World Economic Forum, and the pushback against ESG, including Larry Fink's change in stance. They also delve into the philosophical elements underlying the green movement and the potential future of ESG. The conversation highlights the importance of transparency, the value of nuclear energy, and the need to focus on adaptation rather than prevention. They conclude by discussing the role of intellectuals in shaping ESG policies.---Paul Mueller's Related Articles:https://www.aier.org/people/paul-mueller/https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/faith-freedom-self-reliance/the-totalitarianism-of-climate-alarmistshttps://dailycaller.com/2023/12/09/opinion-gavin-newsoms-california-is-showing-us-what-the-green-energy-transition-looks-like-it-isnt-pretty-paul-mueller/---TIMESTAMPS:0:00 - Intro1:31 - History of ESG3:21 - ESG as a Quest for Global Solidarity10:19 - Post-World War II Era and the Rise of International Organizations12:22 - Utopian Ideals and Ideological Shifts13:40 - Stakeholder Capitalism and the Technocratic Element of ESG16:15 - The Problem of Calculation and Efficiency in ESG18:45 - Consumer Value and the Top-Down Approach of ESG31:40 - The Potential for Eco-Dictatorship in ESG36:12 - ESG as a Threat to Freedom and Individualism38:38 - Totalitarianism and the Loss of Individualism41:05 - Advocates for ESG and the Totalitarianism of Climate Alarmists45:05 - Larry Fink and the Pushback Against ESG53:09 - The Social Responsibility of Businesses and the Birth of Stakeholder Capitalism56:18 - The Future of ESG and its Impact on Economies59:18 - The Potential of Nuclear Energy and the Need for Transparency1:03:08 - The Malthusian Element and the Importance of Human Existence1:05:20 - The Value of Adaptation and the Inefficiencies of ESG Means1:05:47 - The Role of Intellectuals in Shaping ESG Policies---Hayek: Intellectuals and Socialism: https://cdn.mises.org/Intellectuals%20and%20Socialism_4.pdf---You can also listen to this podcast on Apple, Google, Spotify, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Make sure to subscribe to this channel and hit the bell to be notified of more episodes like this, and leave your questions and comments below!LISTEN: https://aier.org/podcasts---***...

How free is your state? Why has New York gone from a beacon of liberty to a state that people now flee in droves? And why are people moving to places like Florida, New Hampshire and South Dakota?Way back in the early 2000s, Jason Sorens paired up with AIER president William Ruger to find out. Jason joined Kate Wand on Liberty Curious to discuss his book, Freedom In the Fifty States, and the interactive tool that measures economic and personal freedom across American states. Now in its 7th edition, Sorens and Ruger use a data set that measures over 230 policies from all 50 states to see how well each state performs.Jason Sorens is Senior Research Faculty and founder of the New Hampshire Free State Project. They discuss the freest and least free states, voting with your feet, and surprising findings from the latest edition. Jason also emphasizes the role of individuals in changing policies and promoting freedom in their states.*** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***0:00 - intro1:28 - What is Freedom in the 50 States?4:24 - Personal freedom & economic freedom8:19 - Which state is the most free?10:01 - Florida & New Hampshire14:15 - Can a free state insulate you from Federal Government overreach?18:10 - The states ranking lowest in freedom19:51 - What happened to New York?23:37 - Freedom vs High Taxes & Paternalism26:30 - Biggest surprises29:30 - Correlation between Red/Blue states32:15 - Purple states33:00 - Updates in this edition35:00 - The interactive tool: freedominthe50states.org38:06 - How to use this tool40:46 - Is policy what really affects freedom?43:25 - How can people change policy?46:30 - Last thoughts?freedominthe50states.orgaier.org/podcasts

READ Samuel Gregg's Articles: https://lawliberty.org/when-a-classical-liberal-confronted-nazi-terror/https://lawliberty.org/wilhelm-ropkes-civilization-of-liberty/LISTEN to Liberty Curious: https://www.aier.org/podcasts/SUBSCRIBE to Sam Gregg's Articles: https://www.aier.org/people/samuel-gregg/What can happen when societies decouple from the Western liberal tradition and adopt collectivist frameworks that abandon reason, the pursuit of truth, and the core principles of civilization?On this episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand was joined by Samuel Gregg, Distinguished Fellow in Political Economy at AIER, to discuss the life and ideas of Wilhelm Röpke. Röpke was a 20th century economics professor who was exiled from Germany in the 1930s for defending liberty and opposing the National Socialists. In the conversation you’re about to hear, Samuel Gregg tells Röpke’s incredible life story, and describes the humanist philosophy that Röpke lived by, which left him standing alone against the illiberal Nazi regime. Gregg writes, “The National Socialists had no interest in reason or the individual, let alone freedom as Röpke understood it. They personified what Röpke called the “reigning illiberalism,” which was characterized by “hot air, slogans . . . glorification of direct action, violence in dealing with all those of different opinion, rabble-rousing in every sphere, empty rhetoric, and deceitful stage effects.” Such illiberalism would, he said, “trample down the garden of European civilization.” That, eventually, was what National Socialism did, epitomized by the regime’s attempt to wipe the Jewish people off the face of the earth.”aier.org*** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***0:00 - Intro2:18 - Who was Wilhelm Röpke?8:20 - After the First World War11:50 - Röpke's Opposition to the Nazis15:50 - Röpke's humanistic convictions19:20 - His defence of Liberalism23:43 - Cogs in the Machine28:28 - Dividing people by identity groups35:00 - The pursuit of Truth39:55 - How do you know the Nazis were the 'bad guys'?42:32 - The Nazis thought that they were right47:52 - Why do mass mobs lose their ability to reason?52:40 - Threats to liberty now?58:40 - What can individuals do?1:01:37 - Last thoughts

READ Barry Brownstein's Article: https://www.aier.org/article/to-live-for-grievances-risks-liberty/LISTEN to Liberty Curious: https://www.aier.org/podcasts/SUBSCRIBE to Barry's Substack: https://mindsetshifts.substack.com/Why are so many in our generation brainwashed to see the world in a terrible way? And what is it about their mindset that makes them so susceptible to this kind of manipulation?In his recent article for AIER, Barry Brownstein writes, "Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay wrote in their book Cynical Theories, the contemporary social justice movement “is a worldview that centers social and cultural grievances and aims to make everything into a zero-sum political struggle revolving around identity markers like race, sex, gender, sexuality, and many others.”On this episode of Liberty Curious, I was joined by Barry Brownstein, professor emeritus of Economics and Leadership, to discuss how our personal grievances are a threat to liberty. “In his 1976 lecture, “Socialism and Science,” Hayek argued that socialism requires a “government with unlimited powers” to give groups with grievances what they think “they are entitled to.”Barry explains that our individual mindset has a ripple effect that shapes the society around us. When we build our identities around our personal grievances, we play into the hands of illiberal politicians and ideologies that promise to solve all of our problems for us, at the cost of our inner and outer liberty.0:00 - intro1:21 - holding onto grievances6:30 - socialism mindset9:01 - far-left & far-right grievances12:01 - mindset in Russian Revolution vs American Revolution14:02 - if the State doesn't fix your life15:33 - self-concept against something19:42 - identity politics and victim mentality25:40 - neo-marxism & social justice28:51 - hatred that lasts for centuries33:50 - Hayek: the road to serfdom36:39 - politicians exploit grievances39:40 - a mindset shift43:30 - ready-made ideology45:26 - the power of choice49:40 - is there still hope?

Since October 7th, 2023, we have seen that ideas have consequences in the real world.Phillip Magness is an economic historian who specializes in the economic dimensions of slavery and racial discrimination, the history of taxation, and measurements of economic inequality over time. He also maintains an active research interest in higher education policy and the history of economic thought. He joins Kate Wand on Liberty Curious to discuss his recent work on Critical Race Theory (CRT) and its proliferation in academia and the mainstream, and its connection to the far-left's response to Hamas' massacre of Israeli citizens. Phil Magness is Senior Research Faculty and F.A. Hayek Chair in Economics and Economic History at the American Institute for Economic Research.READ: https://philmagness.com/AIER: https://www.aier.org/people/phillip-w-magness/LISTEN: https://www.aier.org/podcasts/PHIL'S ARTICLE: https://www.aier.org/article/critical-race-theory-in-data-what-the-statistics-show/0:00 - intro1:35 - CRT in a nutshell3:05 - CRT academics' reactions to Oct 710:24 - Media spin13:08 - Who is colonizing who?17:07 - What is decolonization?19:15 - The dangers of CRT in the real world20:39 - The proliferation of CRT in academia26:46 - Why are these ideas so seductive?30:15 - Promises33:07 - Silver linings?37:20 - Last Thoughts*** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***

In this episode of Liberty Curious we go deep into the historical roots of 'Making America Great Again'. Kate Wand sat down with Phillip W. Magness, Senior Research Faculty and F.A. Hayek Chair in Economics and Economic History at AIER, to discuss the true implications of tariffs and protectionism and how they have shaped America's economic landscape.From the earliest years of the American founding, promises of putting America first echoed through political chambers. These calls, though wrapped in patriotism, often harbored hidden implications of cronyism, favoritism, and a veiled tax that burdened everyday consumers. Despite the appealing rhetoric, tariffs and protectionist measures stand as barriers to economic freedom, prosperity, and genuine international cooperation. As history warns, "When goods cease to cross borders, armies soon follow."By tracing the history of tariffs, we see a repeating pattern: opportunistic rent-seeking, strained international relations, and a government that often interferes with natural economic exchanges. This meddling not only fosters less peace but also empowers the federal government at the expense of states and the very people it promises to protect.*** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***aier.org/podcastshttps://www.aier.org/people/phillip-w-magness/Phil Magness on X: https://twitter.com/PhilWMagness

On this episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand sat down with Michael Munger, economist and professor of political economy at Duke University, to discuss the Classical Liberal diaspora. Diaspora refers to the scattering of liberals ‘of the old type’; the remnant, the libertarians, and the classical liberals, whose message about liberty and limited government gets lost in a sea of tribal left vs. right politics. They discuss how progressives and conservatives are both convinced that their morality and vision for society is correct, and have no qualms about using the power of the state to impose it upon the rest of us. They get into details about the classical liberal tradition, how we got to where we are now, and the dangers of wielding the ring of power in our favour. *** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***0:00 - intro1:30 - origins of Liberalism4:00 - Progressivism7:48 - Classical liberal diaspora10:16 - Classical Liberalism in Politics16:30 - The Reagan Administration19:55 - Post 9-11 shifts23:29 - Classical Liberals vs Libertarians27:34 - Where Progressives & Conservatives Collide30:19 - Limited Government33:18 - American Erosion39:02 - The Central Planning Allure42:00 - Technocracy45:00 - The Remnant vs. Fusionism50:00 - The dangers of complacency54:00 - an opportunity for classical liberalism58:23 - Last thoughtsText on the Remnant: https://mises.org/library/isaiahs-jobMichael Munger on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mungowitzMichael at AIER: https://www.aier.org/people/michael-munger/aier.org/podcasts

On this episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand sat down with Paul Mueller, who recently joined AIER as Senior Research Faculty, to discuss the 2007-2008 Financial Crisis and its reverberation into our present day. "Everything we're seeing around us is a fallout from that crisis." - Paul MuellerPaul received his PhD in economics from George Mason University, and is the author of Ten Years Later: Why the Conventional Wisdom about the 2008 Financial Crisis is Still Wrong. They get into the mis-regulation, cronyism and fatal conceit that precipitated the crisis, how it was mismanaged by government and central banks, and then became the catalyst for a growing anti-capitalist sentiment that blames free markets for the failures of an increasingly controlled financial system and economy.*** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***aier.org/podcastsPaul Mueller's book: https://www.amazon.com/Conventional-Wisdom-about-Financial-Crisis/dp/1527519236/ref=sr_1_1?crid=VGKBR6GSB0LB&keywords=paul+mueller+financial+crisis&qid=1694349635&s=books&sprefix=paul+mueller+financial+crisis%2Cstripbooks-intl-ship%2C130&sr=1-1https://www.aier.org/people/paul-mueller/0:00 - Intro1:58 - A Generation-Defining Event6:22 - The Fed's Historical Role10:47 - Political Pressures15:20 - Mis-regulation22:27 - The Bank of International Settlements25:30 - Fatal Conceit30:22 - The American Dream35:16 - Wealth & Income Inequality 40:30 - Low Interest Rates Benefits Government44:23 - How Did the Crisis Unravel?49:46 - What Happens Next?54:30 - The Third Mis-regulation57:21 - Reverberation Into Today59:40 - Conditioning for Economic Intervention1:05:58 - Market Solutions1:10:28 - How to Get Out of The Cycle1:14:33 - Free Up Markets or Great Reset?1:18:05 - Last Thoughtsaier.org/podcasts

Is there such a thing as objective morality? On a recent episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand sat down with Bruce Pardy, professor of Law and Executive Director of Rights Probe to discuss the woke virus of the mind. The comments section was full of passionate and interesting criticism and debate on one particular issue: can we all universally agree on what is right and wrong and then let that determine our rights? So Kate asked Bruce to come back and go through some of your comments with me. To begin, we examined how we might differentiate moral philosophy from individual rights and the law. In delving deep into these kinds of questions and concepts, we came across two common arguments for liberty: the moral argument, and the consequential one; ie, liberty produces better outcomes. Bruce argues that both of these arguments for liberty fall short, and shares his thesis for a third way. We hope you enjoy this episode of liberty curious, and as always, please feel free to let us know what you think in the comments section. *** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***aier.org/podcasts0:00 - intro2:00 - Objective Morality5:30 - Comment #1 10:30 - Of Course, 'This is Immoral'12:50 - Utility Argument14:50 - Bodily Autonomy17:28 - Misgendering18:35 - Comment #221:00 - The Ten Commandments24:07 - The Non-Aggression Principle27:10 - One Choice32:58 - The Use of Force34:40 - Social Contract Theory36:10 - Comment #3 42:22 - Arguments for Liberty47:50 - Producing Efficient Outcomes51:15 - Liberty By Consent (Third Way)55:40 America's Founding Principles1:02:43 - What Would That World Look Like?

On this episode of Liberty Curious, David T. Beito, professor, historian and author, joins Kate Wand to discuss his upcoming expose: The New Deal’s War on the Bill of Rights: The Untold Story of FDR’s Concentration Camps, Censorship, and Mass Surveillance.Although FDR is still considered one of the most beloved presidents in American history, David’s research exposes his dark side, which differed greatly from his public persona. They explored the dark underbelly of the New Deal, and how it relates to what America has become today.David Beito's new book: https://www.independent.org/store/book.asp?id=142*** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***aier.org/podcasts

On this episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand spoke with Allen Mendenhall, author, lawyer, Associate Dean and Professor in the Sorrell College of Business at Troy University. He teaches a free market, non-woke business course that has gained significant clout, leading anti-woke ESG advocates to seek his aid and testimony for an anti-ESG investment bill. His advocacy for economic freedom led to the banking crony ESG profiteers to go on a coordinated witch-hunt against him to try and get him cancelled.Allen’s story attests to the power of the Individual. They spoke about how ESG is a segue into global governance, the growing decentralized resistance against hyper-centralization, and how one person taking a principled stand is a great equalizer against the most corrupt concentrations of power. https://allenmendenhall.com/https://twitter.com/allenmendenhall0:00 - intro1:20 - anti-ESG business program3:43 - policy debates around ESG6:33 - the Witchhunt begins9:55 - Blackrock, State Street, Vanguard lobbyists12:49 - The risk of bank runs14:50 - Global Coordination of Financial Institutions20:10 - Sri Lanka as a Target24:33 - Incentives for ESG27:19 - Stakeholder Capitalism30:22 - Unprecedented Power32:50 - CBDCs & ESG37:30 - Decentralization vs Centralization42:47 - The Power of the Individual48:56 - All Powerful Nation State Parallels52:05 - Milton Friedman vs. Klaus Schwab54:21 - USA vs Europe for ESG58:11 - The Nation State & Global Concatenation 1:00:00 - The outcome of Allen's battle1:03:12 - Lord of the Rings parallels1:08:46 - Last thoughtsaier.org/podcasts*** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***Milton Friedman's essay: https://www.nytimes.com/1970/09/13/archives/a-friedman-doctrine-the-social-responsibility-of-business-is-to.html

When big corporations like Target or Bud Light go blatantly Woke, to the detriment of their shareholders and profits, you might ask yourself what exactly they are doing, and why.This is where ESG comes in. ESG is Environment, Social, and Governance, three pillars of a pervasive type of corporate social credit score that businesses are pressured or incentivized to abide by. On this episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand invited Samuel Gregg, Distinguished Fellow in Political Economy at AIER, to discuss the origins of ESG, how its being applied, and its ties to the UN SDGs and the World Economic Forum. They also explore its role in reflecting, promoting, and shaping Woke ideology. 0:00 - intro1:55 - Origins of ESG4:03 - Stakeholder Capitalism6:45 - How did ESG ascend so quickly?11:15 - The Great Reset13:33 - the ESG Cartel & Central Planning21:40 - How did the UN & WEF become so powerful?25:25 - America's Achilles Heel31:05 - Malthusian Flavour of ESG35:40 - Carbon Markets & 'Green' Economy38:00 - Why would you destroy your company?46:46 - Confronted with Reality51:43 - Legal Solutions in Corporate Law56:06 - Europe's Self-Inflicted Decline58:32 - Hope for America?1:00:43 - Last Thoughtsaier.org/podcastsSamuel Gregg on Twitter: twitter.com/drsamuelgregghttps://www.aier.org/people/samuel-gregg/*** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***

In this episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand invited Phil Magness to discuss the origins of critical theory, which is a neo-Marxist school of thought born in the Frankfurt School in 1923. Phil is the director of research and education at AIER, and a prolific researcher on these kinds of ideas. They discuss the history of critical theory, and how it has proliferated through academia and into our culture, manifesting itself as what we commonly refer to as Woke ideology. *** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***aier.org/podcasts0:00 - intro1:50 - what is Critical Theory?5:04 - Offshoot of Marxism11:07 - Frankfurt School19:20 - Marxism Splits23:30 - from Economics to Sociology27:45 - Incoherence29:28 - Coming to America35:26 - Critical Theory vs. Traditional Theory38:09 - The Ambitions of Critical Theorists45:30 - Last thoughts50:30 - Bonus question: Utopia

On this episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand invites Bruce Pardy to discuss the origins of the Woke virus of the mind: critical theory, social justice, postmodernism and critical race theory.Bruce explains identity politics, power relationships, victimhood, and all the pillars of Critical Theory, a school of thought that has infiltrated our culture, institutions and society. We explore how this has all developed, touch on topics like the 'death of God', trans-humanism, morality, intersectionality, and how woke culture is, at its core, an attack on Western civilization.Bruce Pardy is a professor of law and executive director of Rights Probe, a law and liberty think tank. He is a classically liberal legal academic who believes in equal treatment under the law, negative rights, private property, limited government, and the separation of powers, which are foundational to the Western legal tradition. He is a critic of legal progressivism, social justice, and the discretionary managerial state, and has written extensively on a range of pressing legal subjects that are at the forefront of the culture war inside the law."Modern Western civilization grew out of the Enlightenment of the 17th and 18th centuries. The ascendancy of reason in human affairs produced the scientific method and later the Industrial Revolution. Add in the rule of law, individual liberty, private property, and capitalism, and you have the basic recipe that has raised much of humanity out of poverty and oppression over two centuries.Four academic doctrines—Critical Theory, Postmodernism, Social Justice, and Critical Race Theory—are moving the world, or at least the West, from this triumph to decline. These doctrines reject Enlightenment values such as open inquiry, individual autonomy, free speech, scientific skepticism, and even reason itself. They claim to champion equality, peace, and social cooperation, but instead promote identity politics, elitism, and centralized control. They are the four doctrines of the apocalypse." - Bruce Pardyhttps://www.theepochtimes.com/bruce-pardy-the-four-doctrines-of-the-apocalypse-critical-theory-and-our-compromised-institutions_5355971.htmlaier.org/podcasts *** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***

In this episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand invites Dr. Ryan Yonk to discuss the contentious and hotly debated recent Supreme Court rulings on affirmative action, student loan debt forgiveness, and freedom of speech. They discuss the details and nuances of the historic and significant Harvard Affirmative Action Case, Biden vs. Nebraska, and 303 Creative. Kate also asks Ryan a big picture question: is the law downstream from culture, or is the culture downstream from the law?aier.org/podcastshttps://www.aier.org/people/ryan-m-yonk/*** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***0:00 - intro1:22 - Harvard Affirmative Action Case10:58 - Biden VS Nebraska19:17 - 303 Creative33:15 - Is culture downstream from the law?38:02 - Last thoughts

On this episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand sat down with Thomas Hogan, to discuss what he coined the SEC’s illegal war against crypto. Tom is senior research faculty at AIER and former chair to the senate committee on banking, housing & urban affairs. Thomas explains how "the SEC has charged crypto exchanges Binance and Coinbase with facilitating the trade of unregistered securities. Yet the opacity of the statute as it pertains to crypto and the SEC’s arbitrary and contradictory application have made compliance with the law impossible."*** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***WEF Whitepaper on Crypto: https://www.weforum.org/whitepapers/pathways-to-crypto-asset-regulation-a-global-approach/ 0:00 - intro0:42 - operation chokepoint 2.02:17 - SEC sues Binance and Coinbase3:32 - CBDCs4:47 - Crypto & blockchain10:15 - Market-driven innovation13:35 - Blackrock & Big Traditional Players15:08 - The particulars of the case24:37 - WEF Whitepaper on Crypto32:20 - Prometheum34:12 - FTX 2.0?38:00 - Gary Gensler's weird relationships42:20 - Last thoughts on Crypto industryaier.org/podcasts

Where did Bitcoin come from? Since the mysterious conception of Bitcoin following the 2008 financial crisis, people have been trying to figure out who created it, and why. Joining Kate Wand on Liberty Curious is independent thinker & writer Emile Phaneuf, to discuss the origins of Bitcoin, and its philosophical influences including the writings of Hayek, Ayn Rand and David Friedman. Emile writes on matters of money and cryptocurrency and has spent well over a decade working in international business development around the world.Emile explains that Hayek imagined how private enterprise could compete with the long withstanding government monopoly on money to create better choices for the people. He draws parallels as to how Bitcoin is an example of decentralization in the Information Age, and how this kind of technology has the potential to disrupt the status quo. To begin, we delve into the potential motives of the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, Satoshi Nakamoto.Emile Phaneuf's articles discussed in this podcast:https://www.aier.org/article/hayek-and-bitcoin/https://www.aier.org/article/cypherpunks-galts-gulch-and-bitcoin/https://www.aier.org/article/anarchy-and-bitcoin/Emile Phaneuf on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EconEmileemilephaneuf.com*** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***0:00 - Introduction0:23 - Origins of Bitcoin and philosophical influences2:15 - Influence of Hayek, Rand, and Friedman5:06 - Decentralization and disruptive potential of Bitcoin6:43 - Concealment of Satoshi Nakamoto's identity8:28 - Hayek's argument for denationalization of currency10:02 - Government monopolization and the public's lack of choice11:56 - Algorithmic monetary policy of Bitcoin19:14 - The Machinery of Freedom25:03 - Parallel Financial System29:26 - CBDC32:31 - The Revolt of the Public44:20 - Absolute Control47:05 - Final Thoughtsaier.org/podcasts

Karl Marx’s theories sparked the Russian Revolution in 1917. His communist ideology was foundational to the USSR, and other oppressive regimes, which led to the state murder of hundreds of millions of people. Yet despite the 20th century Marxist democide, Marx remains one of the most popular so-called intellectual figures of the last century, up to this day. “Appearing in 3,856 syllabi as of 2015, Marx’s Communist Manifesto is consistently among the most frequently assigned texts in American college classrooms.” But what if the Russian Revolution had never happened? Would anyone today even know who Karl Marx was? And is there a way to measure that empirically? Phillip Magness, the director of research and education at AIER and his colleague Michael Makovi set out to do just that. What did they discover? In this episode of Liberty Curious, you are going to find out. What I really wanted to ask Phil first was, “Who was Karl Marx?”*** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***The Mainstreaming of Marx: Measuring the Effect of the Russian Revolution on Karl Marx’s Influence: https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/722933Das Karl Marx Problem: https://www.aier.org/article/das-karl-marx-problem/When Lenin Read a Book on Marx: https://www.aier.org/article/when-lenin-read-a-book-on-marx/Phil Magness on Twitter: https://twitter.com/PhilWMagnessaier.org/podcasts0:00 - intro1:18 - Who was Karl Marx?4:24 - Who influenced Marx?7:43 - Marx's obscurity11:47 - Surplus Value15:08 - Russian Revolution20:00 - Straight into Communism22:24 - Democratic Socialism26:33 - Cult of Marxism after 191733:50 - Totalitarianism37:05 - Technocracy39:05 - Neo-Marxism / Critical Theory43:22 - Research: The Mainstreaming of Marx51:20 - What ifs?52:15 - the 1916 project55:50 - Times of Crisis59:16 - Russian Revolution vs. American Revolution1:02:26 - Collectivism vs. Individualism1:03:44 - Last thoughts

On this episode of Liberty Curious, Robert Wright, historian, joins Kate Wand to discuss two Great Resets. In his research he has discovered striking resemblances between the New Deal under FDR in the 1930s, and the modern day Great Reset. This begs the question: is history repeating itself?Robert Wright explores the parallels between the New Deal era and the current situation. The New Deal was a period of significant change in the relationship between the federal government and individuals in America. It marked a shift from a society focused on individual liberty to one where people looked to the government for solutions to problems. The federal government gained more power, while individual liberties were curtailed.The parallels between then and now are examined through ten points. The first point is the state control of mass media. In the past, newspapers, movies, radio, and theater were used to vilify critics of administration policies. Today, social media platforms like Twitter are accused of censoring speech, labeling certain views as extremist or pro-enemies, similar to how critics were labeled during the New Deal era.The second point is the augmentation of state surveillance and law enforcement. The increase in government surveillance and the expansion of agencies like the National Security Administration (NSA), CIA, and the passing of acts like the Patriot Act are reminiscent of the increase in the FBI's power during the New Deal era. The FBI, under J. Edgar Hoover, tracked and harassed individuals who were considered threats to the administration.Other points in the video discuss the expansion of government control over the economy, such as through regulations, government intervention, and the confiscation of gold. The video also touches on the use of crisis and war to expand government power, the increase in government spending and debt, the centralization of power in the executive branch, and the erosion of constitutional limits on government power.Overall, the video suggests that there are parallels between the New Deal era and the current situation, highlighting the expansion of government power and the potential threats to individual liberties.0:00 - Intro1:40 - The New Deal8:40 - State Control of Mass Media16:36 - Augmentation of State Surveillance18:29 - Division of People by Class26:20 - Disruption of Food Creation & Distribution29:18 - New Monetary System36:17 - Economic Coercion to Achieve State Goals44:36 - Invisible Enemies47:16 - Physical War & the Ratchet Effect49:44 - Taxes51:49 - Misuse of Congressional Hearings53:53 - Big Picture: Two Great Resets1:00:40 - Last Thoughts*** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***aier.org/podcastsaier.org

What role does the state have in imposing its morality on individuals? What role should it have? How much should government control our lives?On this episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand sat down with Jason Sorens, Senior Research Faculty at AIER, co-author of Freedom in the 50 States, and founder of the Free State Project, to discuss how much government interferes with our daily lives. Sorens claims that adults should be treated like adults, and not children, but the government often does the very opposite. They also talk about how to approach issues from a libertarian perspective, such as life-altering medical procedures for kids, hard drugs, tobacco, and where to draw the line on externalities. Jason also talks about the New Hampshire Free State Project, and how liberty-oriented people can foster freedom at the local level. https://www.aier.org/article/treating-adults-like-children/*** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***aier.org/podcasts0:00 - intro1:04 - founding debates5:52 - relationship between government & citizens7:49 - free state project12:44 - red states vs new hampshire15:13 - moral arguments for liberty20:15 - treating adults like children23:28 - education system trickle26:35 - prohibition of drugs31:32 - externalities36:16 - rights of the majority vs individual41:18 - family relationships trickle into society44:24 - dealing with life-altering procedures for children48:35 - school choice52:34 - last thoughts

Dive into a riveting discussion on the future of money and banking with George Selgin, director emeritus of the Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives at the Cato Institute, and our host Kate Wand. In this episode of Liberty Curious, they explore the history of money, the evolution of fractional reserve banks, and the impact of emerging technologies like Bitcoin and CBDCs on personal and economic freedom. Join them as they discuss the merits of free banking, Keynesian economics, and the potential for a Bitcoin Standard in a world where governments have long abused and mismanaged money. Don't miss this enlightening conversation for insights on the future of the financial system! #Money #Banking #Bitcoin #LibertyCuriousaier.org/podcasts*** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***0:00 - intro 1:10 - debates between liberty people4:04 - how is Bitcoin different?7:56 - what about cryptocurrency & stablecoins?10:20 - operation chokepoint 2.014:20 - Fed rejecting Custodia 18:37 - repercussions for regulators 21:22 - predictions for crypto regulation 25:40 - history of government monopolies 32:02 - Keynes the whipping boy40:48 - have free markets ever really existed? 45:38 - free banking 53:49 - Rothbard and fractional reserve banking1:00:08 - does the bank own your money?1:06:07 - secrets & beliefs 1:09:42 - bitcoin standard 1:15:00 - freedom & money 1:17:40 - wrapping up

This episode discusses Operation Chokepoint and its possible resurgence in the form of Operation Chokepoint 2.0, which targets the crypto industry. The speaker, Tom Hogan, explains how government regulators have been pressuring banks not to lend to politically unpopular industries, such as firearms, payday lenders, and crypto companies, even though there are no laws against lending to them. He also notes that the regulators' power has increased over time, with unelected bureaucrats making and enforcing regulations that circumvent the democratic process. The current aggressive stance of regulators may be due to the appointment of more aggressive leaders by the Democrats and the inability to pass laws through the legislative process. The speaker also draws parallels between Operation Chokepoint and the New Deal's creation of regulatory agencies.aier.org/podcasts*** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***0:00 - why do they hate crypto?1:07 - operation chokepoint8:17 - chokepoint 2.012:02 - the new deal parallels15:38 - regulators motives17:10 - bitcoin / alt currencies22:14 - all about control24:44 - gary gensler & regulators27:43 - climate change30:47 - securities31:53 - nic carter article36:32 - Fednow42:45 - CBDC

Can a former Wall Street banker fix our broken financial system? Or will the banking cartel succeed at destroying the competition?In this episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand had the honor of speaking with Ms. Caitlin Long, founder of Custodia, a financial institution anchored in Bitcoin, sound money, and safe banking. Long has been fighting an ongoing battle with the most powerful institutions in the world, in her fight of Custodia vs. the Fed. We discuss the importance of economic freedom in a rapidly centralizing world, the philosophy that shapes Long’s decisions, and the implications of the Fed denying Custodia's application for membership. We dive into the Fed's balance sheet, fractional reserve banking, and the link between Austrian economics and Bitcoin. She explains why she sees Bitcoin as so important, and how it is linked to both personal and economic freedom. We also touch on the history of the banking system, bank failures, central banks, and CBDCs. This is a real-life David vs. Goliath tale, and Caitlin Long is fighting for all of our economic and personal freedoms.aier.org/podcasts0:00 - Intro1:13 - Caitlin Long4:05 - fractional reserve banking7:13 - Focus of Custodia13:05 - Changing the architecture of the banking system20:54 - There's something broken in the system28:23 - Austrian vs. MMT33:08 - Bitcoin & decentralized banking37:50 - Bitcoin skeptics & fiat money45:50 - Authoritarian regimes & bitcoin48:00 - Custodia & self-custody50:54 - Choking the competition57:00 - What do you want your bank to be?59:13 - Why? (CBDC)1:01:49 - Last thoughts*** Please note that the opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the host and her guests. They do not necessarily reflect the views of the American Institute for Economic Research. The content presented in this show is intended for educational purposes only, and should not be considered as financial advice. ***

In this podcast, we take a closer look at the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), which was one of the banks that went down during the ongoing banking crisis. SVB was a politically correct and extremely diverse operation that pledged billions of dollars to progressive causes. Many have speculated that the bank was more focused on social justice than financial risk, which contributed to its demise. Venture capitalists, those involved in climate initiatives, and the big tech crowd had their money in SVB. When the herd mentality mimeticism kicked in, everyone started pulling their money out at the same time, causing an old fashioned bank run to occur. The video explores some interesting details in this tale, including the CEO and top executives selling a large amount of their shares just before the bank collapsed, and SVB paying out annual bonuses to their employees at 1.5 to 2X their regular salaries just hours before going bust. We also examine what actually caused the bank to collapse and how depositors were bailed out, on the dime of the little guy. This video will be an eye-opener for those interested in the ongoing banking crisis and the bigger picture issues at the core of the Silicon Valley Bank collapse.aier.org#svbcollapse #svb #siliconvalleybank 0:00 - intro0:39 - go woke go broke?2:25 - who was invested?3:26 - how it went down6:08 - fdic bailout7:20 - the bigger picture problem8:42 - safe banks10:08 - fundamental questions

For over four decades, affirmative action has been a hotly debated topic in the United States. In essence, affirmative action allows for the consideration of an applicant's race in university admissions, in an attempt to level the playing field in light of a history of systemic racial discrimination. However, this practice has faced legal challenges, with groups arguing that it is unfair and unconstitutional.In this podcast, we sit down with Ryan Yonk, senior research faculty at AIER, to discuss the latest challenge to affirmative action. A group called "students for fair admissions" is taking on Harvard University, claiming that racial classifications and preferences in college admissions are unnecessary and unconstitutional.We delve into the history of affirmative action and how it came to be, as well as the various arguments made for and against the practice. Ryan also provides insights on the Supreme Court's previous rulings on affirmative action, including the landmark case of Grutter v. Bollinger.We explore the question of whether affirmative action truly achieves its intended goal of levelling the playing field, or if it perpetuates further discrimination. Furthermore, we discuss the importance of judging a person based on the content of their character rather than the color of their skin.If you're interested in learning more about affirmative action and its current legal challenge, then tune in to this podcast. Don't forget to like and subscribe to our channel for more thought-provoking discussions on social and political issues. Leave your comments and questions below, as we love to hear from our viewers.On this episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand was joined by Ryan Yonk.Listen and subscribe 👇Apple: https://aier.site/LiberyCuriousPodcastSpotify: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousSpotifyAudible: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousAudiblePlayer FM: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlayerfmYouTube: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlaylistMore about AIER: https://aierdotorg.taplink.ws/aier.org

The Federal Reserve has publicly stated that they would stay out of climate change policy, but their actions tell a different story. In this video, we'll explore the Fed's recent actions and what they mean.We'll examine how the Fed has quietly incorporated climate change into their economic analyses, stress tests, and regulatory oversight of financial institutions. Despite saying they will stay out of climate policy, we will discuss their contradictory actions in joining the Network for Greening the Financial System, whose stated purpose is "to help strengthening the global response required to meet the goals of the Paris agreement and to enhance the role of the financial system to manage risks and to mobilize capital for green and low-carbon investments in the broader context of environmentally sustainable development." We'll also discuss why the Fed's involvement in climate change could impact the economy and financial markets, and why they should stay in their lane. Despite the Fed's reluctance to get involved in climate change policy, their actions suggest that they are doing it anyways. Whether you're an investor, policymaker, or concerned citizen, this video will provide you with the essential information you need to know about the Fed's secret involvement in climate change policy.On this episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand was joined by Thomas Hogan.Listen and subscribe 👇Apple: https://aier.site/LiberyCuriousPodcastSpotify: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousSpotifyAudible: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousAudiblePlayer FM: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlayerfmYouTube: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlaylistMore about AIER: https://aierdotorg.taplink.ws/aier.org

America’s founding is tainted with the stain of slavery.This is undoubtedly among the darkest parts of American history, that has long been repudiated.It also presents a paradox which is this: the founding principles of liberty and equality under the law are incompatible with the institution of slavery that was still present upon the founding.This has left a void ready to be filled with all kinds of interpretations as to what America is fundamentally about. There are historians who research the past in order to understand the nuanced truth.And then there are those who are focused on rewriting history in order to further their ideological and political agenda in the modern day.Phil Magness is one of the most passionate, significant and qualified critics of the New York Time’s 1619 project, which just launched a Hulu miniseries. As a historian who specializes in 19th century United States, the American revolution, and the political and economic dimensions of slavery, he was astonished at the core fallacies, distortions and omissions of the 1619 project, and its blatant attempt to rewrite American history to fit a modern day political agenda. In this episode of Liberty Curious, we explore the fundamental flaws of the 1619 project, and point to stories about abolitionists like Frederick Douglass that never made the cut. Phil also explains how they shockingly use pro-slavery figures to make a denouncement of slavery and free market capitalism, and exposes the underlying Marxist ideology that underpins the 1619 projects’ premises, when ironically, it is slavery and Marxism that have much more in common than the 1619 projects’ authors care to admit. What I really wanted to ask him first was, “is tipping rooted in slavery and racism?”. 0:00 - intro1:58 - is tipping racist? 6:10 - Nikole Hannah-Jones 7:28 - what is the 1619 project? 9:51 - what is the New History of Capitalism? 14:13 - the slave owner the 1619 project distorts 19:25 - capitalism and the cotton industry 25:00 - pairing slavery with capitalism 27:03 - American revolution & Nikole Hannah-Jones28:38 - 1619 discounts the abolition movement 35:19 - an example of an abolitionist free market capitalist 40:28 - Did Canada have a slavery problem? 44:37 - American values & hypocrisy 47:09 - Nikole Hannah-Jones doubles down 50:10- history, journalism, or politics? 52:17 - last thoughts To read Phil's book: https://www.amazon.com/1619-Project-Critique-Phillip-Magness/dp/1630692018Footage in the intro used from Hulu's 1619 Project is fair use and meant for educational purposes only. No copyright infringement intended. Listen and subscribe 👇Apple: https://aier.site/LiberyCuriousPodcastSpotify: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousSpotifyAudible: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousAudiblePlayer FM: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlayerfmYouTube: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlaylistMore about AIER: https://aierdotorg.taplink.ws/aier.org

With the rise of crypto, and particularly in the case of stablecoins, Thomas Hogan argues that “Electronic stablecoins are the modern analog to paper banknotes.”Stablecoins are just one type of cryptocurrency, and the regulations behind stablecoins is one of the most controversial topics in the crypto world.Regulators & the Biden administration have their eye on them, warning that stablecoins threaten financial stability.Although regulators' stated reason is to protect consumers and stabilize the banking system, and many of them may even truly believe that their means are justified, history has shown that the result of these types of regulations for banknotes have achieved the ends of destroying competition and creating a monetary monopoly.But what if the current debate over stablecoin regulations is missing a vital piece of information?What if a little-known loophole, that’s been around for decades, changes the game?In this video, we are going to tell that story.full podcast discussion: https://youtu.be/g46_lnBbGPAarticle: https://www.coindesk.com/consensus-magazine/2023/01/23/can-banks-issue-stablecoins/Listen and subscribe 👇Apple: https://aier.site/LiberyCuriousPodcastSpotify: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousSpotifyAudible: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousAudiblePlayer FM: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlayerfmYouTube: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlaylistMore about AIER: https://aierdotorg.taplink.ws/0:00 - Introduction: Stablecoin regulations0:55 - Effect of SBF and FTX crash2:37 - the loophole4:33 - Stablecoins & Banknotes7:06 - why are stablecoins/bitcoin valuable?9:22 - CBDC: Cutting off the competition?12:58 - currency wars17:17 - the low hanging fruit18:57 - the pre-fed system19:24 - competition vs monopolies22:30 - the march of regulation27:08 - why don't banks issue stablecoins?30:24 - acknowledging the issue32:20 - no need for excess regulation32:59 - last thoughts

There are increasing signs that the 2021 – 2022 inflationary surge is cooling. But will there be a soft landing? A recession? What are the kind of narratives we will be told about Fed policies over the last few years, and the effectiveness of monetary policy?To help me answer these questions, I was joined by Pete Earle on Liberty Curious. Pete is an economist for AIER who spent over 20 years as a trader at a number of securities firms and hedge funds in New York and the New York area.He expects narratives to emerge about how the Fed handled Covid, and that there is a distinct possibility that - like in the past - a far more charitable version of the last three years than is justified will emerge and become the definitive account. Why is this important? Because the narratives that form today will become the received wisdom and history book accounts of the future. That may result in less skepticism among the public regarding what monetary policy can do, and we may confront a more emboldened central bank in the future.Pete's article: https://www.aier.org/article/welcome-the-disinflation-beware-the-narrative/#thefed #softlanding #powell 0:00 - introduction1:06 - effects of fed policy2:04 - the lag time3:15 - money printing & inflation4:09 - narratives5:33 - how much can the fed control?6:33 - soft landing of the 'Maestro'9:14 - monetary policy & myth of central bankers11:40 - the importance of narratives13:00 - the New Deal & studying narratives14:18 - what are we going to be told?16:54 - there is no formula18:04 - central planning & central banks21:19 - last thoughtsIf you enjoy the Liberty Curious podcast and other content by AIER, make sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel @AIER dedicated to short, dynamic videos that explore the topics of sound money, economic freedom, defending freedom & fighting collectivism. Listen and subscribe 👇Apple: https://aier.site/LiberyCuriousPodcastSpotify: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousSpotifyAudible: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousAudiblePlayer FM: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlayerfmYouTube: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlaylistMore about AIER: https://aierdotorg.taplink.ws/aier.org

We are polarized between two political tribes, perhaps like never before: left vs right, liberal vs conservative, democrat vs republican. In ongoing culture wars, progressives are ascendant and conservatives fight to recover lost ground. But do these opposing camps have more in common than they care to admit? And is there a political philosophy that sees the world through a completely different lens?To help us answer these questions, we're joined by Bruce Pardy, a professor of law and executive director of Rights Probe, a law and liberty think tank. He is a classically liberal legal academic who believes in equal treatment under the law, negative rights, private property, limited government, and the separation of powers, which are foundational to the Western legal tradition. He is a critic of legal progressivism, social justice, and the discretionary managerial state, and has written extensively on a range of pressing legal subjects that are at the forefront of the culture war inside the law.Bruce has taught at law schools in Canada, the United States, and New Zealand, and has also served as a tribunal adjudicator and mediator. A prolific writer and figure in the public arena, he has worked with leading liberty-oriented think tanks in Canada, including the Fraser Institute and the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, and has published and commented widely in traditional and online media. He spearheaded resistance to and ultimate repeal of the Law Society of Ontario’s statement of principles policy that required Ontario lawyers to attest to their ideological purity to maintain their licence to practice. He is also one of the co-creators of the Free North Declaration, a public petition and movement to protect civil liberties from COVID-19 irrationality and overreach.We began our discussion by highlighting the differences and similarities in prevailing ideologies, and how: Bruce: “The political philosophies can be judged as much as what they say when they are in power, then when they are not in power.”

What has happened to America? How did we get here?The 2008 financial crisis. Cronyism. Globalism vs. Economic nationalism. The rust belt. The rise of China. Lockdowns. The culture wars. The 1619 project. Critical Race Theory. Radical woke ideologies permeating our institutions and our schools. America first. Left vs right. The Age of Chaos. America feels lost. How can we find our common ground again?full video: https://youtu.be/Z4JTYXIyCsQSamuel Gregg is Distinguished Fellow in Political Economy and Senior Research Faculty at the American Institute for Economic Research and author of the Next American Economy: Nation, State and Markets in an Uncertain World. He argues that the perennial debates about America’s identity go all the way back to the founding, and that the key to repairing what seems broken lies in the ideas of the Constitution. He believes that there’s still hope for the people of the United States and the American experiment, but first we need to recognize that America is at an economic crossroads. Will you choose liberty or state control?0:00 - introduction: what has happened to America?2:31 - America is at an economic crossroads 6:12 - identity politics & the moral argument for free markets 9:13 - a commercial republic 11:02 - collectivism, individualism, and general welfare 14:48 - what do people mean by capitalism? 18:18 - the rise of China 25:02 - from Tocqueville’s visit, to asking government to solve our problems today29:40 - the moral case for moving back towards the vision of a Commercial Republic33:28 - the crisis of masculinity & “toxic masculinity” 35:40 - soft nihilism 37:20 - what do you say to the economic nationalists? 40:09 - the culture wars 40:40 - ESG, stakeholder capitalism, DEI43:46 - political combat (left vs right)45:06 - consistency in your values 46:04 - mild authoritarianism among some influential conservatives 47:44 - what about the Davos crowd?48:59 - the WEF and Corporatism52:31 - not every corporatist is a fascist, but every fascist is a corporatist 53:58 - what can people do? 55:30 - school boards taking back education 59:25 - rigid stances 1:00:14 - America’s founding principles1:01:25 - the American identity 1:04:15 - ordered liberty 1:06:42 - different views on freedom in liberty movement 1:08:39 - how much should government be involved in all this?1:09:13 - a natural moral code1:10:57 - is moving towards a market economy with ordered liberty possible? 1:11:56 - reasons for hope 1:14:00 - outro: you can read Samuel Gregg’s book intro music: Sufjan Stevens "America"You can follow Sam on Twitter @DrSamuelGreggYou can read his work here: https://www.aier.org/people/samuel-gregg/& here: https://www.amazon.com/Next-American-Economy-Markets-Uncertain/dp/164177276X/If you enjoy the Liberty Curious podcast and other content by AIER, make sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel  @AIER_  dedicated to short, dynamic videos that explore the topics of sound money, economic freedom, defending freedom & fighting collectivism. Listen and subscribe 👇Apple: https://aier.site/LiberyCuriousPodcastSpotify: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousSpotifyAudible: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousAudiblePlayer FM: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlayerfmYouTube: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlaylistMore about AIER: https://aierdotorg.taplink.ws/

What if the last three years had never happened the way they did? What if there were colossal ideas, events and facts that were purposefully misrepresented or even hidden from the public that could have completely changed the world as we now know it? And what would happen when those truths came to light? Phillip W. Magness is the Director of Research & Education at AIER. He was actually the person who had done the FOIA request on the Fauci emails, the same emails that Fauci is now being questioned about in court by the Attorneys General of Missouri, Louisiana, and the New Civil Liberties Alliance. “On November 23, 2022, Fauci sat for a sworn deposition about his own actions in directing the United States’ pandemic response” and his role in suppressing so-called misinformation. In the FOIA request emails, Phil Magness and his colleagues discovered something wholly unexpected: “In early October of 2020, Dr. Francis Collins, then Director of the National Institutes of Health, ordered Fauci and his trusted lieutenant Clifford Lane to wage “a quick and devastating published take down (sic)” of a declaration written by eminent epidemiologists from Harvard, Stanford and Oxford. The GBD was based on long withstanding, evidence-based pandemic policies, but the problem was, it directly competed with the interests of the top-down, unprecedented response to a respiratory virus. What would the last three years have looked like if we hadn't had lockdowns, masks, mandates? If we hadn't have had the Hunter Biden story and the GBD censored and suppressed through Big Tech, with the involvement of the highest levels of governmental institutions?Is it possible that all of this was in violation of the first amendment?The Twitter files and the Fauci deposition are exposing the collusion between Big Tech and Big Government, and how that symbiotic relationship made it possible to craft narratives that changed the course of history. Phillip Magness has a unique perspective as an insider on the Fauci files. What I really wanted to ask him first, was “what do you see as the thread that ties this together”? #FauciFiles #twitterfiles #faucideposition https://www.aier.org/article/forgetful-faucis-deposition-all-those-lies-are-hard-to-keep-straight/aier.orgIn this video, we're going to be discussing the Fauci Deposition and Twitter Files Reveal Big Tech and Government Collusion. These documents show that the big tech companies have been working collaboratively with the government for years and that there is much more collusion going on than we originally thought.If you enjoy the Liberty Curious podcast and other content by AIER, make sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel @AIER dedicated to short, dynamic videos that explore the topics of sound money, economic freedom, defending freedom & fighting collectivism. Listen and subscribe 👇Apple: https://aier.site/LiberyCuriousPodcastSpotify: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousSpotifyAudible: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousAudiblePlayer FM: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlayerfmYouTube: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlaylistMore about AIER: https://aierdotorg.taplink.ws/

On this episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand sat down with Thomas Hogan to discuss the Fed's expanding objectives.We discussed how the Fed is drifting into uncharted territory, dabbling in diversity, equity and inclusion, climate policy, CBDC, and more. Hogan points out how the Federal Reserve is harming the very people it says it is trying to help by implementing these politicized missions. Find out how in this video.If you enjoy the Liberty Curious podcast and other content by AIER, make sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel @AIER dedicated to short, dynamic videos that explore the topics of sound money, economic freedom, defending freedom & fighting collectivism. Listen and subscribe 👇Apple: https://aier.site/LiberyCuriousPodcastSpotify: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousSpotifyAudible: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousAudiblePlayer FM: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlayerfmYouTube: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlaylistMore about AIER: https://aierdotorg.taplink.ws/

On this episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand speaks with Peter C Earleeconomist at AIER. They discussed FTX, SBF, altruism, virtue signalling, ESG, CBDC, and the thread that weaves them all together. Pete is someone whose perspective you really want to hear on these topics. A former Wall Street guy, he spent over 20 years as a trader and analyst at a number of securities firms and hedge funds in the New York metropolitan area.If you enjoy the Liberty Curious podcast and other content by AIER, make sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel @AIER dedicated to short, dynamic videos that explore the topics of sound money, economic freedom, defending freedom & fighting collectivism. Listen and subscribe 👇Apple: https://aier.site/LiberyCuriousPodcastSpotify: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousSpotifyAudible: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousAudiblePlayer FM: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlayerfmYouTube: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlaylistMore about AIER: https://aierdotorg.taplink.ws/

On this episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand sat down with Thomas Hogan, Senior Research Faculty at the American Institute for Economic Research, to discuss the Sam Bankman-Fried / FTX debacle and downfall. They discussed how it came to pass, and what it means for cryptocurrency exchanges & regulation moving forward.If you enjoy the Liberty Curious podcast and other content by AIER, make sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel @AIER dedicated to short, dynamic videos that explore the topics of sound money, economic freedom, defending freedom & fighting collectivism. Listen and subscribe 👇Apple: https://aier.site/LiberyCuriousPodcastSpotify: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousSpotifyAudible: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousAudiblePlayer FM: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlayerfmYouTube: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlaylistMore about AIER: https://aierdotorg.taplink.ws/

If a society aims at liberty, can it become more equal? On this episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand sat down with Alex Salter, Georgie G. Snyder Associate Professor of Economics in the Rawls College of Business and the Comparative Economics Research Fellow with the Free Market Institute, both at Texas Tech University. They discussed the history of the Federal Reserve, politics in America, rule of law, equality, the expansion of government, concentrations of power, and their socioeconomic effects. Full Video Podcast: https://youtu.be/JT2oS1XslzgIf you enjoy the Liberty Curious podcast and other content by AIER, make sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel @AIER dedicated to short, dynamic videos that explore the topics of sound money, economic freedom, defending freedom & fighting collectivism. Listen and subscribe 👇Apple: https://aier.site/LiberyCuriousPodcastSpotify: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousSpotifyAudible: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousAudiblePlayer FM: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlayerfmYouTube: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlaylistMore about AIER: https://aierdotorg.taplink.ws/

On this episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand sat down with Phil Magness, Director of Research and Education at AIER, to discuss censorship, fact-checking, the politicization of academia, and how that affects research, corporations, and American culture. Phil also outlines how academia often produces ideologically-driven experts who then take a technocratic approach to the impossible task of designing a perfect world, while quashing all ideas that don’t align with theirs. Full Video Podcast: https://youtu.be/gbVViPNsvFYYou can follow Phil on Twitter @PhilWMagnessYou can read his work here: https://philmagness.com/& here: https://www.aier.org/staffs/phillip-w-magness/If you enjoy the Liberty Curious podcast and other content by AIER, make sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel  @AIER  dedicated to short, dynamic videos that explore the topics of sound money, economic freedom, defending freedom & fighting collectivism. Listen and subscribe 👇Apple: https://aier.site/LiberyCuriousPodcastSpotify: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousSpotifyAudible: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousAudiblePlayer FM: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlayerfmYouTube: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlaylistMore about AIER: https://aierdotorg.taplink.ws/

What could America’s economic future look like?On this episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand sat down with with Dr. Samuel Gregg, prolific author, Member of the Mont Pèlerin Society & Distinguished Fellow in Political Economy and Senior Research Faculty at the American Institute for Economic Research. They discussed his new book, The Next American Economy: Nation, State, and Markets in an Uncertain World. Full Video Podcast: https://youtu.be/RVKmLvz2sQoThey discussed state capitalism vs. a market economy, economic nationalism, populism, and more.READ: https://www.amazon.com/Next-American-Economy-Markets-Uncertain/dp/164177276XYou can follow Sam on Twitter @drsamuelgregg. If you enjoy the Liberty Curious podcast and other content by AIER, make sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel  @AIER  dedicated to short, dynamic videos that explore the topics of sound money, economic freedom, defending freedom & fighting collectivism.

In this episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand sat down with Barry Brownstein, professor emeritus of Leadership and Economics, writer for AIER and the Substack called Mindset Shifts. They discussed tribalism, and how it relates to historical and modern political ideologies, the war between Russia and Ukraine, and totalitarian systems. Barry explains how tribalism is incompatible with liberty, and how we can move away from tribalism and towards freedom. Video episode: https://youtu.be/LEIAWIV9GWYRead Barry's work here: https://www.aier.org/staffs/barry-brownstein/If you enjoy this podcast, you can also check out the Liberty Curious playlist on AIER here. You can subscribe to this new channel  @AIER  and hit the notification bell to be notified of all new videos. If you enjoy this podcast, make sure to subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Google, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Listen and subscribe 👇Apple: https://aier.site/LiberyCuriousPodcastSpotify: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousSpotifyAudible: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousAudiblePlayer FM: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlayerfmYouTube: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlaylistMore about AIER: https://aierdotorg.taplink.ws/

Did Lockdowns mark the end of the enlightenment era? Two years after the Great Barrington Declaration, Kate Wand sat down with one of it’s eminent authors, Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, professor at Stanford University Medical School, a physician, epidemiologist, health economist, and public health policy expert focusing on infectious diseases and vulnerable populations.They discussed the immense harms and collateral damage of lockdowns, the crushing censorship of scientific debate and scapegoating of perceived opponents, the deification of Science, and the philosophical underpinnings of our societal response. If you enjoy this podcast, make sure to subscribe on Apple, Spotify, Google, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Full Video: https://youtu.be/RChf-siETRYIf you enjoy the Liberty Curious podcast and other content by AIER, make sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel @AIER dedicated to short, dynamic videos that explore the topics of sound money, economic freedom, defending freedom & fighting collectivism. Listen and subscribe 👇Apple: https://aier.site/LiberyCuriousPodcastSpotify: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousSpotifyAudible: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousAudiblePlayer FM: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlayerfmYouTube: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlaylistMore about AIER: https://aierdotorg.taplink.ws/

Is bitcoin dead?David Waugh, Managing Editor at AIER, doesn’t think so. In this episode of Liberty Curious, we discussed the philosophy and intrinsic value of Bitcoin, the problems and politicization of centralized finance, the reasons BTC may have been created, and what the future might look like.Watch full episode: https://youtu.be/c0gGVYSAFQI

On this episode of Liberty Curious, Robert Wright, historian and senior research faculty at AIER, joins Kate Wand to discuss his new book: Fearless: Wilma Soss and America’s Forgotten Investor Movement. https://www.amazon.com/Fearless-Americas-Forgotten-Investor-Movement/dp/1958682306Full Video Podcast: https://youtu.be/pH4B4EcjxRsRobert shares details of her remarkable story as a self-made woman, journalist, PR pioneer, and activist, who devoted her life to reforming corporate America. In the post World War Two era, with personal lessons from the Great Depression in hindsight, she went from being a stock market skeptic to the owner of what began as one single share that would allow her to have access into the inner workings of corporations. A staunch supporter of free markets and economic freedom, Wilma believed that the private sector was the best means to achieve personal wealth, well-being and liberty, and the ultimate defence against collectivism.If you enjoy the Liberty Curious podcast and other content by AIER, make sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel  @AIER  dedicated to short, dynamic videos that explore the topics of sound money, economic freedom, defending freedom & fighting collectivism. Listen and subscribe 👇Apple: https://aier.site/LiberyCuriousPodcastSpotify: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousSpotifyAudible: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousAudiblePlayer FM: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlayerfmYouTube: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlaylistMore about AIER: https://aierdotorg.taplink.ws/

On this episode of Liberty Curious, Thomas Hogan sat down with Kate Wand to discuss the inflation reduction act, and it’s similarities to the Green New Deal, as well as the New Deal under FDR in 1933 — a historical turning point that changed the course of the US economy, monetary systems, and the role of government to this day. Thomas is senior research faculty at AIER, formerly the chief economist for the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.Full Video Podcast: https://youtu.be/ZiD-VdYPmEAIf you enjoy the Liberty Curious podcast and other content by AIER, make sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel  @AIER  dedicated to short, dynamic videos that explore the topics of sound money, economic freedom, defending freedom & fighting collectivism. Listen and subscribe 👇Apple: https://aier.site/LiberyCuriousPodcastSpotify: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousSpotifyAudible: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousAudiblePlayer FM: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlayerfmYouTube: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlaylistMore about AIER: https://aierdotorg.taplink.ws/

Does America have a 'racial hangover'? Does the State crush Black Americans?On this episode of Liberty Curious, Dr. Rachel Ferguson, co-author of “Black Liberation Through the Marketplace: Hope, Heartbreak, and the Promise of America”, joins Kate Wand.Full Video Episode: https://youtu.be/5_GThHfEocUDr. Ferguson is the Director of the Free Enterprise Center at Concordia University Chicago, Assistant Dean of the College of Business, and Professor of Business Ethics. You can follow her on twitter @LibertyEthics. https://www.rachelfergusononline.com/They discussed her nuanced understanding of Black American history through the classical liberal lens, what went wrong, what could be done to make reparations today, and the economic and personal freedom required to provide all Americans the opportunity to live the American Dream. If you enjoy the Liberty Curious podcast and other content by AIER, make sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel  @AIER  dedicated to short, dynamic videos that explore the topics of sound money, economic freedom, defending freedom & fighting collectivism. Listen and subscribe 👇Apple: https://aier.site/LiberyCuriousPodcastSpotify: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousSpotifyAudible: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousAudiblePlayer FM: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlayerfmYouTube: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlaylistMore about AIER: https://aierdotorg.taplink.ws/

“Organizations like the World Economic Forum have been articulating what you just described since the 1990s. Schwab has been arguing for this for decades. And remember, the WEF is the place where leaders of large corporations come together with the heads of governments and big NGOs to talk about what should be happening in the world, and how the economy should be developing, and how we deal with political problems, social problems, environmental problems... and it’s a very corporatist mindset, but it’s also reflective of the way that with the failure of central planning, the desire of many people to try and come up with a different set of economic arrangements that’s different from the free market has not gone away.” - Dr. Samuel GreggVIDEO podcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFnHwA7ZQXwOn this episode of Liberty Curious, Kate Wand sat down with with Dr. Samuel Gregg, prolific author, member of the Mont Pèlerin Society &amp; Distinguished Fellow in Political Economy and Senior Research Faculty at the American Institute for Economic Research. He has a Doctorate in moral philosophy and political economy from Oxford University, and a Masters in political philosophy from the University of Melbourne.His new book, “The Next American Economy” will be available this fall. It was a pleasure speaking with him about free markets, cronyism, central planning, Marxism, and stakeholder capitalism. You can follow Sam on Twitter @drsamuelgregg. If you enjoy the Liberty Curious podcast and other content by AIER, make sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel @AIER dedicated to short, dynamic videos that explore the topics of sound money, economic freedom, defending freedom &amp; fighting collectivism. Listen and subscribe 👇Apple: https://aier.site/LiberyCuriousPodcastSpotify: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousSpotifyAudible: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousAudiblePlayer FM: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlayerfmYouTube: <a...

This episode of Liberty Curious Podcast features Robert Wright, historian and Senior Research Faculty at the American Institute for Economic Research. His new book, Fearless: Wilma Soss and America’s Forgotten Investor Movement, will be available on August 30th. Full Video Episode: https://youtu.be/jbq07W1-X60Robert &amp; Kate Wand discussed ESGs and how they distort the market by operating as a kind of social credit system for corporations, having them focus not on profit as a primary goal, but so-called Woke objectives. We are witnessing in real time that the countries with the highest ESG scores, like Sri Lanka, Panama and the Netherlands, are rife with chaos; both social and economic turmoil. Circumstances rapidly change, and at the time of recording, Elon Musk was set to take over Twitter. At this time, we know he has back-pedalled on the deal, citing the massive bot problem, among other things. The exploration of Elon’s quest to fix Twitter is still relevant today.Hosted by the American Institute for Economic Research.aier.org#elonmusk #esg #economicsListen and subscribe 👇Apple: https://aier.site/LiberyCuriousPodcastSpotify: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousSpotifyAudible: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousAudiblePlayer FM: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlayerfmYouTube: https://aier.site/LibertyCuriousPlaylistMore about AIER: https://aierdotorg.taplink.ws/

Ryan Yonk joins Kate Wand on Liberty Curious to discuss Public Choice theory, which James Buchanan famously described as 'politics without romance'. Video Episode: https://youtu.be/ZcxXMMRDOcIhttps://www.aier.org/public-choice-and-public-policy-project/Hosted by the American Institute for Economic Research.aier.org#publicchoice #economicsexplained #politics Read James Buchanan: https://www.libertyfund.org/books/the-logical-foundations-of-constitutional-liberty/Visit our website: https://aier.org/​Facebook: https://facebook.com/aierdotorg/​Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aierdotorg/Twitter: https://twitter.com/aier​Instagram: https://instagram.com/aierdotorg/

In this episode of Liberty Curious, Pete C. Earle discusses some of the lesser known costs of inflation, as well as what inflation actually is - and what really causes it.Video episode: https://youtu.be/psR9H0UTEnsVisit our website: https://aier.org/​Facebook: https://facebook.com/aierdotorg/​Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aierdotorg/Twitter: https://twitter.com/aier​Instagram: https://instagram.com/aierdotorg/​#Inflation #inflationexplained #economics

Will Luther, director of AIER's Sound Money Project, discusses inflation and the Fed's response with Kate Wand.aier.orgAlso available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/O9UUhMFPdJc