Ones and Tooze - podcast cover

Ones and Tooze

Foreign Policyforeignpolicy.com
Foreign Policy economics columnist Adam Tooze, a history professor and a popular author, is encyclopedic about basically everything: from the COVID shutdown, to climate change, to pasta sauce. On our new podcast, Tooze and FP deputy editor Cameron Abadi will look at two data points each week that explain the world: one drawn from the week’s headlines and the other from just about anywhere else Tooze takes us. Check out Adam Tooze’s column at https://foreignpolicy.com/author/adam-tooze/.

Episodes

Trump's Trade War with China

U.S. President Donald Trump reversed course this week as he announced a three month pause on "reciprocal tariffs" but increased tariffs on China to 125%. China responded with 84% retaliatory hikes. Hosts Cameron Abadi and Adam Tooze talk about the immediate and long term impacts of this trade war and look at the possible policy goals it might serve. And thank you to everyone who responded to our pitch for listener support last week! If you’d like to help support us make the show, please consider...

Apr 11, 202549 min

The U.S.-China Economic Relationship

U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest tariffs have raised questions about whether this will be the moment that an all-out trade war breaks out with China. Prior to Trump’s announcement, Adam and Cameron took an overall look at the current economic relationship between the two countries. And thank you to everyone who responded to our pitch for listener support last week! If you’d like to help support us make the show, please consider following this link to donate. Brought to you by: betterhelp.com...

Apr 04, 202543 min

The Business of Big Law in the United States

The legal services industry in the United States is a $300 billion business—bigger than any in the world. In recent weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump has targeted parts of the industry to further his own narrow agenda. Adam and Cameron discuss the possible impact. Also on the show: For the first time, Ones and Tooze is asking for listener support. Adam and Cameron describe the reasons—and the challenging economics of podcasts—in the episode. Once you’ve heard the pitch, please come back here an...

Mar 28, 202546 minSeason 1Ep. 184

A Conversation About Abundance

Adam and Cameron discuss Abundance, the new book by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 21, 202556 min

Trump's Economy

U.S. President Donald Trump's trade wars and other economic polices since his inauguration in January have helped wipe out some $4 trillion from U.S. stock markets. As of mid-March, the S&P 500 was more than 10 percent below its last record high. The idea some people had that tariffs would just be a threat by Trump, designed to get better trading terms from U.S. allies and adversaries, is flat-out wrong—at least for now. Adam and Cameron discuss what the impacts might be. Learn more about your a...

Mar 14, 202553 minSeason 1Ep. 182

Will the United States Go Broke One Day?

The U.S. budget deficit last year hit $1.8 trillion, bringing the overall level of American debt to some $36 trillion. The Trump administration will surely add to that figure with its plans to make current tax cuts permanent and spend more on the military and immigration enforcement. Is all this debt sustainable? Adam and Cameron discuss. Brought to you by: betterhelp.com/onestooze Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 07, 20251 hrSeason 1Ep. 181

Trump’s ‘Gold Card’ Path to Citizenship

U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a new aspect of his administration’s immigration policy: a path to citizenship for “high-level” people who can bypass the usual process by paying $5 million. Trump said the program will raise revenue for the government—but it might primarily attract Russian and Chinese oligarchs to the United States. Also on the show, Cameron and Adam discuss brutalism, an architectural style that emerged in the 1950s and is now the subject of an Oscar-nominated film. Br...

Feb 28, 20251 hr 5 minSeason 1Ep. 180

Ukraine and Germany

In a matter of weeks, the United States has shifted its position from supporting Ukraine in its war with Russia to falsely denouncing it as the aggressor and demanding mineral rights worth hundreds of billions of dollars. Adam and Cameron discuss the broad impact of the shift. Also on the show: what to expect from the upcoming elections in Germany. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 21, 20251 hr 1 minSeason 1Ep. 179

How Scary Is DOGE?

Billionaire Elon Musk and his DOGE team gained access to a sensitive Treasury Department payment system, setting off alarm bells in parts of the financial community. Adam and Cameron take a look at what the payment system does and what could possibly go wrong. Also on the show: Coffee has reached record-high prices around the world. This second segment focuses on the economics of coffee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 14, 202554 minSeason 1Ep. 179

Introducing Counterpoint

Every day, experts from around the globe present their arguments for solving the world’s biggest problems. And every day, these experts disagree in small and large ways. At Foreign Policy, our approach is to share a wide range of opinions, side by side, day by day. But what if people could hear those arguments tested, in real time, under pressure from an opposing view–by an international cast of diplomats, journalists, academics and activists? That’s the idea behind Counterpoint, a new debate sh...

Feb 13, 202540 minSeason 1Ep. 178

Tariff Man 2.0

The Trump administration has imposed a 10 percent tariff on all Chinese goods coming into the United States, prompting countermeasures by Beijing. What are the economic arguments that favor tariffs, and how could Trump's measure backfire on the United States? Adam and Cameron dig in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 07, 202550 minSeason 1Ep. 177

The Worldview of Elon Musk

For decades, billionaire Elon Musk has only had the kind of power that comes with great wealth. Now he has political power, as well. What is he after? And what does he truly believe? Adam and Cameron spend the episode talking about Musk and his role in the Trump administration. Brought to you by: betterhelp.com/onestooze Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 31, 202532 minSeason 1Ep. 176

Trump's First Week

About a dozen billionaires attended U.S. President Donald Trump's inauguration this past week, including the country's tech industry titans, in a sign of how he might govern—and who has his ear. After the inauguration, Trump signed a record 26 executive orders that will shape American life in the coming years, including the economy. Adam and Cameron dig in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 24, 202552 minSeason 1Ep. 175

Los Angeles Wildfires and Trump’s Play for Greenland

The wildfires in Los Angeles this month have already caused some $275 billion in damage—an unprecedented catastrophe by any measure. Adam and Cameron discuss the economic implications and the impact of climate change not just there but elsewhere. Also on the show: The economics of Greenland. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 17, 202551 minSeason 1Ep. 174

The Economic Legacy of Jimmy Carter

In this bonus episode, Adam and Cameron discuss the economic legacy of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, including his approach to inflation, deregulation, and fiscal issues. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 15, 202533 minSeason 1Ep. 174

The Planetary

In this first episode of 2025—and the first one recorded since Adam’s heart surgery—Cameron and Adam discuss a conceptual ecological framework called the Planetary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 10, 202540 minSeason 1Ep. 173

Heterodox Economists, Part 3: Hyman Minsky

This is the third and final episode in a miniseries on heterodox economists—people who embrace completely different approaches to economics than those of the standard thinkers. Adam and Cameron discuss Hyman Minsky, an American economist who wrote widely on financial crises but whose work received broad attention only around the collapse of 2008—more than a decade after his death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 03, 202535 minSeason 1Ep. 172

Introducing: Season 7 of The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women

Cameron and Adam are taking time off for the holiday. But don't despair! Instead of Ones and Tooze, you can listen to a recent episode of another Foreign Policy podcast: The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women (HERO). The show examines economic challenges facing women around the world but especially in developing countries of Africa. Ones and Tooze will be back next week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 29, 202455 minSeason 1Ep. 171

Heterodox Economists, Part 2: Joan Robinson

This is the second episode in a miniseries on heterodox economists—people who embrace completely different approaches to economics than the standard thinkers. Adam and Cameron describe the life and work of Joan Robinson, who worked with John Maynard Keynes on his hugely influential macroeconomics book The General Theory of Employment, Interest, and Money—but came to regard Keynesianism as a failed revolution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 20, 202438 minSeason 1Ep. 170

Heterodox Economists, Part 1: Michal Kalecki

This is the first episode in a miniseries on heterodox economists—people who embrace completely different approaches to economics than the standard thinkers. Adam and Cameron begin with Michal Kalecki, a Polish economist born in the late 19th century who believed that capitalism was not the solution to the human condition but the problem itself. Listen until the end to hear Adam’s message from the ICU after his open-heart surgery. Brought to you by: betterhelp.com/onestooze acorns.com/ones Learn...

Dec 13, 202438 minSeason 1Ep. 169

Adam’s Upcoming Heart Surgery

Adam has an aneurysm on his ascending aorta that requires major surgery. He and Cameron discuss the mechanics of the surgery itself and the economics of the U.S. health care system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 06, 202442 minSeason 1Ep. 168

The Thanksgiving Episode

Why are turkeys actually cheaper around Thanksgiving? And what is the origin of Black Friday? In this holiday rerun episode, Adam and Cameron talk turkey about the origins of Thanksgiving, how it’s celebrated today, and the things that they’ve been most thankful for in the past year. Brought to you by: betterhelp.com/onestooze Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 27, 202429 minSeason 1Ep. 167

Germany's Political Collapse

With the collapse of the ruling coalition in Germany, hosts Cameron Abadi and Adam Tooze take a deep dive into the future of the country from both a political and economic perspective. The two delve into what doomed the government of current chancellor Olaf Scholz and what lies ahead for likely future chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz is the head of the main opposition party in parliament, the center-right Christian Democrats. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 22, 202447 minSeason 1Ep. 166

Why Are Poor Americans Voting for the Party of the Rich?

One of the most surprising data points to emerge from the U.S. election last week was a significant swing toward Donald Trump among the poorest of U.S. voters—those who earn less than $50,000 a year. The shift seems to be part of a broader political trend, and it raises a question about class and politics in the United States: Why are poor people supporting a candidate whose policies have generally benefited the rich? Adam and Cameron dig in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/...

Nov 15, 202443 minSeason 1Ep. 165

Election Episode 2024

Adam and Cameron discuss how President-elect Donald Trump’s second term will affect U.S. policy around the world. In order to keep Ones and Tooze going, we’re planning to start a membership program. This is a chance for listeners to tell us what kind of extra content they’d want to hear. Interviews? Listener questions? A Ones and Tooze book club? Please click on the link below and fill out the survey. https://bit.ly/3NBskqM Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 06, 202438 min

How the U.S. Election Will Affect the Economy

The economic platforms of Harris and Trump contrast sharply. But will this election change the country's economic trajectory? Adam and Cameron dig in. Also on the show: Everything you wanted to know about the North Korean military. And a note from Adam and Cameron: In order to keep Ones and Tooze going, we're planning to start a membership program. This is a chance for listeners to tell us what kind of extra content they'd want to hear. Interviews? Listener questions? A Ones and Tooze book club?...

Nov 01, 202446 minSeason 1Ep. 163

The Economics of Asylum-Seekers

More than a million people applied for asylum in Europe last year—helping to stoke an immigration backlash on the continent. Even some centrist governments across Europe are adopting far-right policies on immigration and asylum. Adam and Cameron discuss. Also on the show: The World Bank and global poverty. You can find the link to our membership survey here: https://bit.ly/3NBskqM. We appreciate your input and ideas! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 25, 202450 minSeason 1Ep. 162

Will China’s Stimulus Efforts Work?

As China prepares a raft of stimulus measures to reboot the country’s domestic economy, Adam and Cameron discuss whether or not the measures will be effective. Also on the show: Adam and Cameron continue their tradition of discussing the annual Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences. The 2024 prize went to Daron Acemoglu, Simon Johnson, and James A. Robinson, whose work helped highlight differences in prosperity between nations. To learn more about their work, check out this paper by the thre...

Oct 18, 202451 minSeason 1Ep. 161

The Economics of Donald Trump

Weeks before the presidential election, Adam and Cameron discuss the state of Donald Trump’s financial empire. He got his start in the New York City real estate market and made more money—and became more famous—as the host of a reality television show. But Trump is also a social media executive and cryptocurrency trader. If elected, does he stand to benefit from his economic program of high tariffs and a weaker dollar? Also on the show: Pumpkin spice has become a billion-dollar industry worldwid...

Oct 11, 202451 minSeason 1Ep. 160

A Year to the War in Gaza

On Oct. 7, 3023, Hamas militants attacked southern Israel and killed some 1,200 people. Israel responded with an invasion of Gaza, killing more than 41,000 Palestinians so far, most of them civilians. On this episode, Adam and Cameron consider the economic impact of the war on Gaza, Israel, and other parts of the region. Brought to you by: betterhelp.com/onestooze Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 04, 202443 minSeason 1Ep. 159