Best Competitive Enterprise Institute Podcasts (2025)

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Energy Diversity and Abundance with Stephen Perkins 48:02

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2h ago48:02

48:02

This week we talk about the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economics, eliminating the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, why we don’t need a government agency for jobs data, how market trade builds social capital, and a new article on the managerial tyranny of Boomer environmentalism. Our interview this week is with Stephen Perkins, Chief Operating Officer…

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Celebrating Human Achievement with Ed Hudgins 48:59

7d ago48:59

48:59

This week we talk about the need to build more infrastructure in the UK, an award for public finance leadership in Oklahoma, teaching students to actually read in Mississippi, and shifting the Overton Window on corporate welfare. Our interview is with Ed Hudgins, founder of the Human Achievement Alliance. We’ll talk about innovation, optimism, tech…

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Reforming Social Security with Romina Boccia 41:02

14d ago41:02

41:02

This week we cover a new study on pharmaceutical tariffs, whether to expect a new Great Depression (via Phil Magness and Marc Wheat in National Review), and how the U.S. auto industry is souring on the electric vehicle revolution. Our interview this week is with Romina Boccia, director of budget and entitlement policy at the Cato Institute, editor …

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Emergent Abundance with Alex Trembath 56:42

22d ago56:42

56:42

This week we cover the future of financial regulation, the end of the left vs. right distinction in politics, and how we all just dodged a bullet on alcohol and public health. Our interview this week is with Alex Trembath, deputy director of the Breakthrough Institute. We’ll talk about energy, housing, bureaucracy, special-interest politics, and th…

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Empowering Patients with Vance Ginn 44:57

29d ago44:57

44:57

This week we cover potential changes to quarterly reporting for public companies, state-level AI regulations, spiking gas prices in California, and cosmetology licenses for sale in D.C. Our interview this week is with Vance Ginn, host of the Let People Prosper podcast, economist at Americans for Tax Reform, and co-author of the new book on health c…

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Tariffs and Economic Freedom with Matt Mitchell 44:12

1M ago44:12

44:12

This week we cover the latest jobs numbers, the emergent community of abundance fans, the limits to taxing billionaires, and eliminating an illegal federal agency. Our interview this week is with Matt Mitchell, senior fellow in the Centre for Human Freedom at the Fraser Institute. We’ll talk about tariffs, prosperity, international comparisons, and…

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Clear-But-False Ideas with Kevin Williamson 1:00:53

1M ago1:00:53

1:00:53

This week we cover the Trump tariffs being struck down, Biden’s competition order being vacated, and new research on housing affordability. Our interview this week is with Kevin Williamson, national correspondent at The Dispatch and host of the How the World Works podcast. We’ll have a wide-ranging discussion covering everything from restaurant foo…

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Ideological Diversity on the Right with Peter Lipsett 47:24

2M ago47:24

47:24

This week we cover Ray Dalio’s Big Debt Cycle, scandal in climate finance, jobs destroyed by tariffs, why AI can’t replace free markets, and the debut of the new publication "The Argument." Our interview this week is with Peter Lipsett, Vice President of DonorsTrust and host of the Giving Ventures podcast. We’ll talk about the right side of the mod…

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Subsidies for Billionaires with David McGarry 38:49

2M ago38:49

38:49

This week we cover White House intervention in corporate ownership, the nation’s falling economic freedom ranking, and welcome new reforms to the Endangered Species Act. Our interview this week is with David McGarry, Research Director at the Taxpayers Protection Alliance. We’ll talk about stadium subsidies, special interests, labor union favoritism…

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Welfare and Work with Kevin Corinth 49:54

2M ago49:54

49:54

This week we cover new inflation data, public attitudes about Social Security, and California’s self-inflicted energy crisis. Our interview this week is with Kevin Corinth, Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of the Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility at the American Enterprise Institute. We’ll talk about social welfare spending, early childhoo…

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Girlbossing the Discourse with Emma Camp 47:38

2M ago47:38

47:38

This week we cover controversy at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, myths of the auto industry, and a new SPAC from the Trump kids. Our interview this week is with Emma Camp, associate editor at Reason magazine and author of the forthcoming book "Good Boundaries: Essays on the Age of Risk-Aversion." We’ll talk about Zoomers, online culture, college c…

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Crushing Capitalism with Norbert Michel 46:26

3M ago46:26

46:26

This week we cover the Trump administration’s AI action plan, Detroit’s unlikely rebirth, pushing back on EU tech regulation, and why the golden age of air travel is now. Our interview this week is with Norbert Michel, vice president at the Cato Institute, director of the Institute’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives, and the author of…

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Costs and Benefits of Urban Transit with John Charles 40:54

3M ago40:54

40:54

This week we cover Dodd-Frank’s 15th anniversary, a victory for homeowners in Oregon, and an alternative to socialist grocery stores in New York City. Our interview this week is with John Charles, president of the Cascade Policy Institute in Portland, Oregon. We’ll talk about public transit, taxes, budgets, declining ridership, and what comes next …

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Corporate Responsibility and Taxpayer Protections with John Mozena 59:22

3M ago59:22

59:22

This week we cover Trump tariffs, Obama’s endorsement of housing abundance, and why the green energy industry needs more market discipline. Our interview this week is with John Mozena, president of the Center for Economic Accountability. We’ll talk about the new study by John and our host Richard Morrison, titled “Corporate Social Irresponsibility:…

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AI Frontiers with Corbin Barthold 1:05:59

3M ago1:05:59

1:05:59

This week’s episode features Corbin Barthold, Internet Policy Counsel at TechFreedom and host of the Tech Policy Podcast. This is a special dual episode of both shows, featuring a conversation about the frontiers of the artificial intelligence revolution. We’ll talk about LLMs, doomers, deepfakes, epistemic bubbles, and how to make art in the 21st …

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Alcohol Labels and Warnings with David Clement 43:03

4M ago43:03

43:03

This week we cover housing abundance in California, the meaning of a market economy, union privileges for government workers, and the decline in heart attack deaths. Our interview this week is with David Clement, North American Affairs Manager for the Consumer Choice Center. We’ll talk about alcohol, cancer, public health, safety warnings, and risk…

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Shareholders vs. Stakeholders with Jerry Bowyer 59:59

4M ago59:59

59:59

This week we cover the failure of postal banking, Trump (again) pausing the TikTok ban, and the political crack-up between unions and the Democratic party. Our interview this week is with Jerry Bowyer, CEO of Bowyer Research and host of the Meeting Minds podcast. We talk about ESG investing, fiduciary duty, Blackrock, Bud Light, and the difference …

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The Reagan Legacy in the 21st Century with Dan Rothschild 38:25

4M ago38:25

38:25

This week we cover FreedomFest 2025, the FDA’s block on effective sunblock, good news about critical minerals, and Walmart’s expanding drone fleet. Our interview this week is with Dan Rothschild, director of the Center for Civics, Education, and Opportunity at the Ronald Reagan Institute. We’ll talk about political leadership, U.S. history, taxes, …

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Drug Costs and Benefits with Sally Pipes 41:48

4M ago41:48

41:48

This week we cover reforms to the Endangered Species Act, attacks on U.S. tech firms, nuclear power innovation, and an exciting new book on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing. Our interview this week is with Sally Pipes, President and CEO of the Pacific Research Institute. We’ll talk about healthcare, pharmaceutical drugs, price …

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Tariffs and Corruption with Justin Callais 47:15

4M ago47:15

47:15

This week we cover donor privacy, the DOGE legacy, and the impact of import taxes on the auto industry. Our interview this week is with Justin Callais, chief economist at the Archbridge Institute. We’ll talk about tariffs, exemptions, cronyism, inefficiencies, and regulatory capture. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Keep up with new …

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Protecting Consumer Credit with Caroline Melear 39:38

5M ago39:38

39:38

This week we cover new research on trade and tariffs, how to understand market forces, and good news for coral reefs. Our interview this week is with Caroline Melear, Resident Fellow in Finance at the R Street Institute. We’ll talk about consumer finance, interest rates, the Credit Card Competition Act, and why interest rates are just regular price…

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Next Steps for Nuclear with Deric Tilson 41:54

5M ago41:54

41:54

This week we cover Jamie Dimon on tariff jitters, the Tax Foundation on the One Big Beautiful Bill, Jesse Walker on Biden cheapfake accusations, and Devin Watkins on dishwasher freedom. Our interview this week is with Deric Tilson, senior nuclear energy analyst at The Breakthrough Institute. We’ll talk about the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, small…

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Mike Pence on Trump’s Second Term 29:33

5M ago29:33

29:33

Mike Pence, 48th Vice President of the United States, joins Robert to assess the first 100 days of President Trump’s second term. They discuss tariffs, the Middle East, Ukraine, and the differences from Trump’s first term. Mike Pence has served as a member of the House of Representatives, governor of Indiana, and Vice President over the course of h…

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Reforming Medicaid with Brian Blase 41:07

5M ago41:07

41:07

This week we cover farm tariffs, the decline in green investing, and the effort to stop state governments from regulating AI. Our interview this week is with Brian Blase, President of Paragon Health Institute. We’ll talk about healthcare, poverty, federalism, and the future of Medicaid. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Keep up with n…

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Dear Mr. President with Destry Edwards 44:31

5M ago44:31

44:31

This week we cover the economic slowdown from tariffs, more accountability for independent agencies in the federal government, and riding the rails with the Department of Transportation. Our interview this week is with Destry Edwards, director of the new documentary on American political history, Dear Mr. President: The Letters of Julia Sand. We’ll…

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Waste, Fraud, and Tax Hikes with Emily Ekins 47:06

6M ago47:06

47:06

This week we cover workplace injuries, MAGA antitrust in theory and practice, portable benefits for gig workers, and the new book Crushing Capitalism: How Populist Policies Are Threatening the American Dream. Our interview this week is with Emily Ekins, vice president and director of polling at the Cato Institute. We’ll talk about Cato’s 2025 Fisca…

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Episode 8: Prescriptions to Save the Internet 42:25

6M ago42:25

42:25

Our panel of experts — Charles C.W. Cooke from the National Review, trust and safety expert Dave Willner, Mike Masnick from Techdirt, and CEI’s Jessica Melugin — dissect this podcast’s raison d'être. What have we learned? Where are we now? And where are we going?

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Reforming Washington's 10,000 Commandments with Wayne Crews 47:52

6M ago47:52

47:52

This week we cover the political roots of totalitarianism, why we should put Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac out to pasture, the World Bank’s pivot on nuclear power, and human environmental impact in Medieval Europe. Our interview this week is with Wayne Crews, the Fred L. Smith Fellow in Regulatory Studies at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. We’ll…

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Episode 7: The Future of Speech Online 31:11

6M ago31:11

31:11

The rise of A.I. has ushered in a new era for the internet, right when Section 230 and its protections have never been more threatened. Today’s innovators look to the past for guidance.

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Economic Ideas for American Workers with Ryan Young 47:46

6M ago47:46

47:46

This week we cover teaching with AI, clearing the way for new nuclear development, and eliminating soda and candy from government food aid programs. Our interview this week is with Ryan Young, Senior Economist at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. He has plenty of problems with where economic, trade, and tariff policy is going right now, so we’l…

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Episode 6: The Rest of the World 24:29

6M ago24:29

24:29

The web gets big enough to impact presidential elections. And the rest of the world grapples with speech on the internet.

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Trade Myths (and Facts) with Prof. Michael Coon 44:06

6M ago44:06

44:06

This week we cover smartphones for kids, insomnia and anxiety in pre-industrial times, and a blueprint for modernizing the Environmental Protection Agency. Our interview this week is with Michael Coon, Associate Professor of Economics in the Sykes College of Business at the University of Tampa. We talk about everything tariff-related, including com…

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Episode 5: Blowback, and the Dust Settles 30:05

6M ago30:05

30:05

The first real attempt to regulate the internet goes down in flames. But what remains is a structure to support the new, more interactive world of Web 2.0.

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An Affordable and Reliable Future with Gabriella Hoffman 49:00

7M ago49:00

49:00

This week we cover Republicans for the Green New Deal, diminishing returns from industrial policy in China, and the bottleneck on nuclear development in the United States. Our interview this week is with Gabriella Hoffman, Director of the Center for Energy & Conservation at the Independent Women’s Forum and the host of the District of Conservation …

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Episode 4: The Solution 24:34

7M ago24:34

24:34

A bill intended to keep smut off the internet threatens to undo everything Representatives Christopher Cox and Ron Wyden have accomplished. How will their compromise play out?

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Colin Dueck on Trump's Foreign Policy 35:28

7M ago35:28

35:28

Colin Dueck joins Robert to discuss the historical contexts and animating ideas behind the Trump administration's reorientation of American foreign policy. They discuss the evolution of the Republican Party, the effects on Canada and Europe, and the need to confront China. Colin is a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute wh…

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Working for a Better Tomorrow with Vinnie Vernuccio 39:02

7M ago39:02

39:02

This week we cover America’s founding principles, the Cato Institute’s recommendations for reforming financial regulation, why Republicans shouldn’t be busting the SALT cap, and declining egg prices in historical perspective. Our interview this week is with Vinnie Vernuccio of the Institute for the American Worker. We talk about labor unions, indep…

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Episode 3: Law and Disorder 29:23

7M ago29:23

29:23

Enter the dotcom era. Dueling lawsuits leave early web companies with a massive question — can they moderate speech without getting sued off the face of the earth? Two tech-savvy Congressman just might have an answer.

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Tariffs, Tax Cuts, and Trustees with Dominic Pino 54:40

7M ago54:40

54:40

This week we cover retirement investing, pivoting to India, housing on federal land, and priorities for slashing federal spending. Our interview this week is with Dominic Pino of National Review. We talk about tariffs, labor unions, tax cuts, pensions, congressional politics, and why we love our nation’s hard-working farmers. Free the Economy is ho…

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Episode 2: The Dawn of the Internet 25:32

7M ago25:32

25:32

We travel back in time to the birth of the world wide web to hear how the earliest forums sparked a war over the future of free speech on the internet.

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Broadcasting Liberty with Jeff Westling 56:44

7M ago56:44

56:44

This week we cover Trump tariffs, the death of the climate hawks, and California’s experiment with fast food wages. Our interview this week is with Jeff Westling, Director of Technology and Innovation Policy at the American Action Forum. We talk about broadcast media, the Federal Communications Commission, news distortion, the First Amendment, and …

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Episode 1: The Most Misunderstood Law on the Internet 41:22

7M ago41:22

41:22

Pundits and politicians blame an obscure law for everything bad that happens online. What exactly is Section 230, and how did it spark a debate that could change the internet forever?

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Kimberly Kagan on Ukraine and Russia 43:40

7M ago43:40

43:40

Kimberly Kagan joins Robert to explore breaking developments in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. They discuss weapon systems, strategies, and the toll of the war on both countries. Dr. Kimberly Kagan is the founder and president of the Institute for the Study of War. Read more about her work here.…

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Striving for Shareholder Value with Matt Cole 43:28

7M ago43:28

43:28

This week we cover executive branch powers at the Supreme Court, BP’s pivot back to being an oil and gas company, and the trials and tribulations of Bud Light. Our interview this week is with Matt Cole, CEO of Strive and CIO of Strive Asset Management. We talk about protecting the retirement savings of Americans, corporate purpose, financial regula…

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Zack Cooper on Competition with China 28:42

7M ago28:42

28:42

Zack Cooper joins Robert to talk about strategic competition with China and his new book Tides of Fortune: The Rise and Decline of Great Militaries. They discuss the balance of military power, the kinds of weapon systems the US should invest in, and the Trump administration's approach to Taiwan. Zack Cooper is a senior fellow at AEI where he studie…

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Alabama Does DOGE with Stephanie Smith 43:47

8M ago43:47

43:47

This week we cover poverty in Illinois, J.D. Vance on AI, the future of the Jones Act and the limits of the president’s impoundment powers. Our interview this week is with Stephanie Smith, president and CEO of the Alabama Policy Institute. We talk about spending taxpayer dollars, budget reform, cost-sharing with the feds, and the state-level swamp …

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Introducing Otherwise Objectionable 2:00

8M ago2:00

2:00

In 1996, two Congressmen drafted a bill that would give us the internet as we know it. Now Democrats and Republicans want it gone. Follow the true story of the most misunderstood law on the internet starting March 12.

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Defend Yourself from Debanking with Nick Anthony 48:44

8M ago48:44

48:44

This week we cover public confidence in the economy, California’s electric vehicle mandate, the prospect of a sovereign wealth fund for the U.S., and what investors talk about when they gather in Las Vegas. Our interview this week is with Nicholas Anthony, policy analyst with the Cato Institute’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives. We’l…

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Pivot or Die with Gary Shapiro 49:23

8M ago49:23

49:23

This week we cover DEI mandates, financial surveillance at the Securities and Exchange Commission, medical fraud among Alzheimer's researchers, and why Congress should defund green energy subsidies. Our interview this week is with Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association and the man behind the #1 trade show in the world, the legenda…

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Improving State Finances with OJ Oleka 37:01

8M ago37:01

37:01

Our interview this week is with OJ Oleka, CEO of the State Financial Officers Foundation. We’ll talk about how the new administration will affect state financial officers, what states can do about ESG, and the varied ways financial officers can have an impact in their states. Free the Economy is hosted and produced by Richard Morrison and co-produc…