For decades, American men have been in crisis. Globalization has caused millions of jobs to disappear, divorce rates have increased, life expectancy has decreased, and deaths of despair have skyrocketed in many working-class communities.Amber Lapp, research fellow at the Institute for Family Studies and stay-at-home mom, began talking to her neighbors in her working-class community in southwestern Ohio over a decade ago to try to get to the bottom of it. She joins Oren to share the real stories of America’s missing men, and discuss why she felt called to leave Manhattan and move to Ohio to better understand working-class life in America. The two dive into the value of getting to know your neighbors in an atomized age and what can be done to begin to reverse this crisis.Further reading:“America's Missing Men” by Amber Lapp

The “China Shock”—triggered by the country’s entry into the World Trade Organization—devastated America’s heartland, causing a sudden exodus of manufacturing jobs and disrupting the communities that depended on them. Promoters of globalization promised “better” jobs would take their place. Nearly 25 years later, has that happened?David Autor, professor of economics at MIT and co-author of the famous “China Shock” paper, joins Oren to talk about the effects of free trade on America’s working class. They also examine Autor’s latest paper, which highlights that the new jobs in the hardest-hit communities often don’t provide the pay or stability that the jobs outsourced by globalization did—and, even worse, that many former workers lack access to these jobs altogether. Plus, they explore the rise of automation in manufacturing and the implications of AI for American workers.Further reading:"Places versus People: The Ins and Outs of Labor Market Adjustment to Globalization" by David Autor, David Dorn, et al. "The China Shock: Learning from Labor Market Adjustment to Large Changes in Trade" by David Autor, David Dorn, and Gordon Hanson

Ezra Klein, co-author of 'Abundance' and a prominent journalist, dives into how an abundance agenda can break the barriers in policy-making. He discusses the challenges blue cities face, particularly in California, due to progressive governance issues and infrastructure needs. Klein debates the political roadblocks that threaten this agenda, while examining how climate change and economic growth can coexist. He also explores the shift in the American Dream, advocating for productive capabilities and innovative policies that support families and communities, both urban and rural.

Jack Goldsmith, a Harvard Law professor and former Office of Legal Counsel member under George W. Bush, dives into the complexities of executive power. He discusses the historical expansion of the presidency, scrutinizing its roots and recent aggressive interpretations. The conversation navigates the relationship between the executive branch and Congress, the implications of the unitary executive theory, and the dual role of the take care clause in law enforcement. Goldsmith offers insights into how recent administrations have recalibrated executive authority amidst ongoing judicial challenges.

America isn’t the only place where the political Right is beginning to move in a new direction.On this episode, Michael Gove, the legendary former Conservative UK MP and cabinet secretary and current editor of the Spectator, joined for a discussion of trade, tariffs, and where conservatism is headed across the Atlantic.They talked through the challenges faced by the British Right to combat the legacy of free trade, which mirror fights in the American Right today. Following Vice President Vance’s remarks in Munich about our European allies, the two discuss how a nation founded to “get away from continental entanglements” and “ancestral quarrels” should approach foreign policy.For more, watch Gove and Cass’s dramatic victory in a debate at the recent Alliance for Responsible Citizenship’s conference in London about whether “protectionist policies make us poorer.” (Spoiler alert: they do not.)

Every app on your phone brags about being “AI-powered.” Policymakers and pundits predict that the technology will soon dominate every aspect of life. But what’s actually happening with AI, and what can America do to “win” the global race to activate the tech’s promise?On this episode, Colin Kahl, Biden’s former undersecretary of defense for policy and now co-director of Stanford’s Center for International Security and Cooperation, breaks down where things stand. He and Oren talk through what the AI debate gets wrong, whether “winning” the tech race with China is even a sensible goal, and the policy decisions that confront today’s leaders.Further reading:“Is It Interesting to Say That AI Isn’t That Interesting?” by Oren Cass “Here’s Why Oren Is Wrong About AI,” by Abigail Ball

Remember when the student loan market melted down during the George W. Bush administration? No? That’s because Karl Zinsmeister, Bush’s chief domestic policy advisor, kept it from happening. Every administration encounters this kind of near-calamity and relies on the steady hands of staff to address them.On this episode, Zinsmeister joins to tell that story for the first time, and explains how the Trump-Vance administration should think about its popular mandate. He and Oren talk about the ascendant populist wing of the Republican Party, why Zinsmeister believes it isn’t as different from the spirit of Bush 43 as some might think, and what Trump’s return portends for the country and conservatism.Further reading:Backbone: Maverick essays in praise of middle America—Why American Populism Should Be Welcomed, Not Feared by Karl Zinsmeister.

Join Chris Griswold, a policy director at American Compass, and guest host Drew Holden in a fascinating deep dive into tax policy. They dissect the implications of the expiring Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, revealing the flaws behind anti-tax ideologies. Expect insights on the recently cut corporate tax rates and the effects of trade policies that favor China. The conversation humorously unpacks common myths about tax cuts, advocating for a balanced, fiscally responsible approach to economic challenges and exploring innovative reforms in higher education funding.

Just in time for the Super Bowl, Jude Russo, managing editor at the American Conservative joins Oren to discuss the proliferation of online sports betting and the harm done by the technology.The two discuss the damaging consequences—from increased bankruptcies to upticks in domestic violence and beyond—we've seen in states that have allowed the practice and why it shouldn't be treated as just an innocent pastime. Finally, they talk through what can be done to rein in the now-ubiquitous apps undermining fans' enjoyment as we approach sports' biggest night.Further reading: "It's Not Too Late to Ban Online Sportsbook" by Jude Russo.

On this episode, Leah Sargeant, author of Other Feminisms, joins to debunk claims blaming pro-life state laws for the death of expecting mothers in the wake of the Dobbs decision.She and Oren Cass discuss the misleading reporting that ignited these false allegations and diagnose the real problem: the often tragically poor quality of maternal health care. The two unpack why the allegations not only side-step the real conversations needed around supporting pregnant women but also endanger all expecting mothers.And they talk about what a realigned conservative movement should do to support mothers during and, critically, after their babies are born.Further reading:"Pro-Life Laws Didn't Kill These Women" by Leah Sargeant