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Cato Daily Podcast

Cato Institutewww.cato.org
The Cato Daily Podcast allows Cato Institute scholars and other commenters to discuss relevant news and libertarian thought in a conversational, informal manner. Hosted by Caleb O. Brown.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episodes

Ending the Inflation Reduction Act Could Save Trillions in Handouts

The Inflation Reduction Act didn't do much to stem inflation, but it did commit taxpayers to decades of special handouts for preferred technologies. Cato's Travis Fisher and Joshua Loucks discuss their new paper describing the budgetary impact. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Mar 11, 202511 min

Capping Credit Card Interest Is Another Bad Idea That Won't Die

Capping credit card interest would punish less creditworthy people and breed new life into the ranks of more unsavory lenders. Nick Anthony and Norbert Michel comment on the new proposal from Senators Sanders and Hawley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 10, 202513 min

Trade, Tariffs, and Our Big Spending Congress

The tariff policies preferred by President Trump will be a "disaster" for the United States according to Republican Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. We discussed trade, tariffs, and his hope to make spending cuts identified by DOGE permanent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 07, 202516 min

Corporate Welfare in the Federal Budget

“Corporate welfare” programs burden taxpayers and undermine economic growth. Chris Edwards has identified $181-billion in these useless subsidies. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mar 04, 202511 min

The Federal Trade Commission Gears up to Punish Tech Platforms

The Federal Trade Commission appears to be preparing multiple lines of attack against the autonomy of big tech firms in the name of cracking down on content moderation . Why? David Inserra and Jenniffer Huddleston comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Mar 03, 202516 min

Modern Libertarianism

In Modern Libertarianism , the new book from Libertarianism.org , Brian Doherty details the people and groups that defined libertarian thinking and advocacy in the 20th century. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Feb 27, 202525 min

How Deporting Immigrants Harms American Workers

The popular narrative that American workers' job prospects improve when illegal immigrants are deported deserves more scrutiny. Scott Lincicome explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 26, 202513 min

Your Body, Their Rules

When police lean on medical professionals to violate their oaths, there is good news about how seriously those professionals take that pledge. Jeff Singer and Mike Fox comment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 25, 202513 min

Government Racial Categories Are (at Best) Pointless

There are many examples of governments using racial categories in nefarious ways, and the upside for cataloging people by race seems vanishingly small. Cato's John Early explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 24, 202510 min

Texas Top Cop Shop, Inc. v. Garland

The feds want millions of businesses and other corporations to turn over sensitive information so they can snoop for evidence of crimes. It’s an affront to financial privacy, anonymous association, and other liberties. The requirement is laid out in the Corporate Transparency Act, now the subject of litgation at the Fifth Circuit. Caleb Kruckenberg represents the Texas Top Cop Shop and others in the case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Feb 20, 202514 min

Fentanyl Smugglers Don't Care about Your Stinkin' Laws

Lawmakers wouldn't truly change current federal fentanyl policy with the HALT Fentanyl Act; they'd simply continue a framework that has failed over the past seven years to stop sellers of illicit fentanyl from meeting market demand. Jeff Singer explains. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 19, 202516 min

Immigrants Still Use Less Welfare

Immigrants consumed 21 percent less welfare and entitlement benefits than native-born Americans on a per capita basis in 2022. Alex Nowrasteh explains why in a new paper . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Feb 18, 20259 min

To Shrink Government, DOGE Needs Congress

The Department of Government Efficency, such as it is, can't really do much to cut government without Congressional approval. Gene Healy discusses what a more serious approach to spending and regulatory reform will have to entail.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 17, 202518 min

The Good and Bad of Trump's Education Executive Orders

Some of what is implicated by President Trump's executive orders in the realm of education simply can't happen without Congress. Neal McCluskey breaks down what's in them. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 14, 202522 min

Considerations for the Near-Term Future of 'Debanking'

It's hard to function without a bank account, which is why "debanking" disfavored people and groups works so well. Nicholas Anthony explains how the feds encourage it, and how it can be used to punish ideological opponents. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feb 13, 202516 min

Tariffs, North American Carmakers, and EV Handouts

The long and winding supply chains inherent in auto manufacturing face signifcant threats from presidentially imposed tariffs. Reporter Christopher Otts at The Wall Street Journal discusses the impact on car prices and manufacturers decisions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Feb 12, 202519 min

Where Is State-Level Leadership on Housing Reform?

The American housing crunch demands some state-level legislative reform. Christian Britschgi of Reason identifies a few bright spots in state efforts to get government out of the way of housing creation.   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Feb 11, 202514 min

Tariff Threats and Real-World Impacts

Even the credible threat of a tariff can make businesses rethink their currently profitable trading relationships. Brian Albrecht of the International Center for Law & Economics evaluates the current tariff threats and how it may impact business decisions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Feb 10, 202513 min

When Sex Work Is Treated Like Sex Trafficking

The difference between prostitution and sex trafficking should be clear, but thinking among law enforcement and lawmakers seems to blur the distinction at every turn. Elizabeth Nolan Brown of Reason details the implications of Commonwealth v. Garafalo , a case in Massachusetts that may ultimately define all sex work as sex trafficking. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Feb 07, 202511 min

EPA and the Coming Water Fluoridation Fight

The EPA routinely uses punitive regulation on local water systems, and the costs are sometimes crippling for local governments. The benefits are less than clear. The Manhattan Institute's Judge Glock makes a case for ending federal control over municipal water systems just as a new fight over water fluoridation is set to emerge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Feb 06, 202517 min

What Congress Can Do for Financial Privacy, Innovation, and Freedom

Financial regulation comes in many forms, and freeing Americans from the most pernicious ones should be a high priority for Congress. Jennifer Schulp and Norbert Michel explain where to start .   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Feb 04, 202517 min

Would Wider Access to GLP-1s Throttle Addiction?

Drugs like Ozempic show potential to help those with addiction with little downside risk. How quickly can their availability be expanded? Nicholas Reville of CASPR makes his case. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 31, 202515 min

Cross Purposes: Christianity's Broken Bargain with Democracy

What does a Christian theology consistent with liberal values and institutions look like? Jonathan Rauch suggests something has gone wrong in communities of faith in the US, and hopes for a reckoning in Cross Purposes: Christianity's Broken Bargain with Democracy . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....

Jan 30, 202520 min

Libertarianism Oversimplified?

If you are a libertarian, odds are good that you started with a particular writer or thinker. Political philosopher Matt Zwolinski suggests you read more broadly before committing yourself to one particular vision for libertarian society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 29, 202518 min

Facebook, Content Moderation, and Federal Jawboning

Did Facebook roll over for the Trump administration? Content moderation at scale is incredibly difficult, and the company will be criticized no matter what it does. David Inserra and John Samples discuss the state of play. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jan 28, 202522 min