As we navigate an era where corporate influence and political power are more intertwined, scrutinized, and tense than ever, Veronique de Rugy dives into the fascinating intersection of politics and business with her guest, Tevi Troy. Tevi Troy is a Senior Fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a former Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, and a best-selling author. See his latest book, released August 20th, The Power and the Money: The Epic Clashes Between Commanders in Chief and Tita...
Aug 21, 2024•54 min
In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a debate dividing conservatives. One side views IVF as a family-supporting technology that helps couples struggling with fertility, while the other side argues that IVF raises moral concerns about the sanctity of human life. What should we make of the debate? Vanessa Brown Calder joins Veronique de Rugy to discuss in this episode of Qualified Opinions. Vanessa Brown Calder is director of opportunity and family policy studies at the Cato Institute, where she foc...
Aug 14, 2024•51 min
What are the preconditions for a functional liberal democracy? How have our institutions lost their way? How can our divisive culture be put on the right track again? Yuval Levin joins the show to discuss. Yuval Levin is the director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he also holds the Beth and Ravenel Curry Chair in Public Policy. The founder and editor of National Affairs , he is also a senior editor at The New Atlantis , a contrib...
Aug 07, 2024•1 hr 4 min
Randy Barnett joins host Veronique de Rugy today to discuss the future of originalism, individual liberty, and his latest book, A Life for Liberty: The Making of an American Originalist . Randy E. Barnett is the Patrick Hotung Professor of Constitutional Law at the Georgetown University Law Center and is the Faculty Director of the Georgetown Center for the Constitution.
Jul 31, 2024•1 hr 3 min
The attempt on Donald Trump's life has shocked the country—so much so that the Director of the Secret Service has resigned. The shock and fear are understandable, given this is the first major assassination attempt since Ronald Reagan. But how does the modern period compare to the rest of American history? What can we learn from assassination attempts in the past, and how do they differ from now? Tevi Troy joins Veronique de Rugy to discuss. Tevi Troy is a Senior Fellow at the Bipartisan Policy ...
Jul 24, 2024•50 min
With protectionist policy on the rise both to the left and the right of American politics, we are left with a burning question: What happened to the free trade consensus? This week, Veronique de Rugy sits down with Scott Lincicome to discuss the modern state of trade policy and global economics. Scott Lincicome is the Cato Institute's Vice President of General Economics and the Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies ....
Jul 17, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Joining Qualified Opinions today is Nancy French, who discusses the changing political landscape, her career path, and being the writer behind the name. Nancy French is a best-selling ghostwriter and author of her memoir, Ghosted: An American Story .
Jul 10, 2024•57 min
To expand or not to expand the child tax credit is a key issue that consumes a lot of ink on the right and on the left. What is the best path forward? Kevin Corinth sits down with host Veronique de Rugy to discuss. Kevin Corinth is a senior fellow and the deputy director of the Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he researches economic mobility, poverty, safety net programs, homelessness, social capital, and other issues....
Jul 03, 2024•55 min
Is inflation really the product of greed? Do greater economic means equal less incentive for competition? What is the right approach to antitrust policy? Veronique de Rugy sits down with Brian Albrecht to discuss. Brian Albrecht is Chief Economist of the International Center for Law & Economics (ICLE), which he joined in February 2022. In his role, he is responsible for the application and integration of theoretical and empirical economic methodologies into ICLE's research....
Jun 26, 2024•50 min
America's economic dynamism attracts immigrants from all over the world and has served as a beacon of hope for decades—however, today, Americans are more pessimistic about the future than ever. What can be done about it? Host Veronique de Rugy sits down with Jeremy Horpedahl to discuss. Dr. Horpedahl is the Director of ACRE and an associate professor of economics at the University of Central Arkansas. His research has been published in Econ Journal Watch , Constitutional Political Economy , the ...
Jun 17, 2024•1 hr 2 min
The New Right and the Old Right are increasingly the major factions of conservatism today. Where do they diverge? And are there seldom spoken areas of convergence? Joining Veronique de Rugy is Charles Kesler, who will explore the landscape of American conservatism today. Charles Kesler is a Senior Fellow of the Claremont Institute, Editor of the Claremont Review of Books , host of Claremont's The American Mind video series, and the Dengler-Dykema Distinguished Professor of Government at Claremon...
Jun 05, 2024•1 hr 9 min
With Social Security and Medicare set to become insolvent in less than 10 years, the federal government is becoming increasingly desperate for new sources of revenue. The new big idea is to raise money by ending the tax treatment of 401k and other tax-deferred retirement plans. Veronique de Rugy sits down with Jason Fichtner to discuss the threat this poses to America's future retirement savings. Jason J. Fichtner is Chief Economist at the Bipartisan Policy Center and Executive Director of the R...
May 29, 2024•55 min
How real is greedflation? Do women actually pay a pink tax? Do price controls actually help make things more affordable? These are the questions Ryan Bourne seeks to answer with Veronique de Rugy on this episode of Qualified Opinions . Ryan Bourne is the R. Evan Scharf Chair for the Public Understanding of Economics at Cato and is the author of several books, including Economics In One Virus and The War on Prices . He also writes in many notable publications on topics including fiscal policy, in...
May 22, 2024•59 min
In a world increasingly tangled in regulatory red tape and bureaucratic inertia, many across the country have stood up to address the issue of housing shortages and affordability. The "Yes in My Back Yard" (YIMBY) movement is gaining momentum across the country, and Bryan Caplan's new book Build, Baby, Build captures its essence. Listen as Veronique de Rugy and Caplan discuss. Bryan Caplan is a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center and a professor of economics at George Mason University....
May 16, 2024•1 hr 4 min
Being middle class in America used to mean something. It was something socially transformative and even revolutionary. What happened? These are the ideas Christine Rosen writes on in her recent article for Commentary , "The Elite War on the American Middle Class—and How to End It." Christine sits down with host Veronique de Rugy to discuss what has happened to America's middle class and how we can turn the tide. Christine Rosen is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where she f...
May 02, 2024•56 min
With the U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio approaching 180%, Americans are getting increasingly concerned about the future of our economy. Strangely, however, Japan's debt-to-GDP ratio is over 250%, and it has not seen any inflationary crisis so far. What does this mean, and what should the takeaway be for America? In part two of his interview with host Veronique de Rugy, David Bahnsen delves deeper into Japan's historical economic landscape and what we can learn from it. David Bahnsen is the founder and m...
Apr 24, 2024•36 min
Newspapers have been reporting on demographic challenges and birth declines in nations across the world. How hard will these problems hit the United States, and what can be done to counter them? Host Veronique de Rugy sits down with social science trailblazer Dr. Catherine Pakaluk to discuss her research into the relationship between family structure and economic outcomes. Pakaluk is an Associate Professor at the Busch School of Business at the Catholic University of America, where she establish...
Apr 17, 2024•1 hr 3 min
Work-life balance has been in the news a lot in recent years. Young people have been quiet quitting. Bernie Sanders wants Americans to work only 32 hours per week. Gen Zers have surpassed Baby Boomers in the workforce and are demanding employers establish a company's purpose in a way that contributes to a better society. Veronique de Rugy sits down for a discussion with David Bahnsen to discuss these trends and cuts through the noise to pinpoint the true meaning of work. David Bahnsen is the fou...
Apr 09, 2024•52 min
Birth rates are falling. Parents and kids are stressed out. Mental health issues among kids are on the rise. What made raising kids much harder than it needs to be? Tim Carney joins host Veronique de Rugy to discuss the contemporary challenges facing parenting and what we can do about it. Timothy P. Carney is a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he works on civil society, family, localism, religion in America, economic competition, and electoral politics. He is concurrentl...
Apr 02, 2024•1 hr 6 min
California's top income tax rate stands at 13.3%, whereas Arizona's sits at 2.5%. When are income taxes so high that they become counterproductive? At what point is a state income tax rate high enough to incentivize leaving the state? Host Veronique de Rugy sits down with economist Joshua Rauh to discuss these questions and more. Joshua Rauh is the Ormond Family Professor of Finance at Stanford's Graduate School of Business and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. He leads the Hoover Insti...
Mar 26, 2024•55 min
The Republican Chairman of the House Budget Committee made news recently when he announced that if Republicans are serious about fixing Washington D.C.'s finances, they'll have to talk about raising taxes. But with how fast deficit spending has accelerated, how much would tax rates have to increase to solve the problem? Which areas of federal spending need a second look? What is the trajectory of entitlement spending? Host Veronique de Rugy sits down with Adam Michel to discuss America's finance...
Mar 15, 2024•51 min
Federal Trade Commission Chairwoman Lina Khan's meteoric rise turned antitrust and administrative precedent on its head. How did this rise come about? What impact has Khan already had on corporate America? How will her tenure as the top antitrust cop change the future of administrative precedent? Adam White joins host Veronique de Rugy to discuss these questions and more. Adam White is a Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and the Co-Director of Scalia Law School's C. Boyden Gray ...
Mar 07, 2024•53 min
