The American Compass Podcast

How has the American media gone from the days of Walter Cronkite to open hostility toward the president and his party?Mark Halperin, editor-in-chief of 2Way and host of the new program "Next Up" on the Megyn Kelly network, joins guest host and managing editor Drew Holden for a conversation about the state of the U.S. media. They discuss why the media so often gets the story wrong about President Trump, why the press refused to cover former President Biden's decline, and the incentive structure behind mainstream media's institutional descent into a liberal echo chamber. Plus, the two place bets on whether the media has any hope of internal reform.

If you’ve spent time on social media or watched cable news recently, you’ve almost certainly encountered some of globalization’s staunchest defenders, trotting out their favorite arguments against tariffs.On today’s episode, Mark DiPlacido, American Compass policy advisor, joins Oren to break down the worst of these arguments and share some handy responses for your next important meeting, debate in the office break room, or cocktail party. After spending the past couple weeks on the media circuit, Mark and Oren run through some of their favorites: Should you need a PhD to discuss economics? Does the trade deficit really not matter? These are only the tip of the bad-take iceberg.For more, check out our tariffs symposium, "After Liberation Day."

The congressman who introduced the bill to implement President Trump’s 10% global tariff wasn’t a member of his own party, but a conservative Democrat from a Trump-won district in Maine.Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME), the sponsor of the BUILT USA Act, which would set the 10% global rate, joined Oren to talk about why Congress needs to permanently codify the new trade policy. To spur long-term investment in American industry and lift its workers, Golden and Cass agree, requires a policy with more sticking power than an executive order. Congressman Golden also explains his path to championing this issue, why so many of his constituents in Northern Maine support Trump’s recent move, and whether it’s possible for tariffs to become a bipartisan issue once again.

Amber Lapp, a research fellow and stay-at-home mom, shares her insights from working-class communities in Ohio. She discusses the crisis facing American men, shedding light on issues like job loss and rising divorce rates. Through personal stories from her neighbors, she highlights the importance of community connections in combating loneliness and despair. Lapp emphasizes the resilience of men navigating challenges, cultural shifts, and the complexities of modern masculinity, while advocating for a supportive environment to foster healthier relationships.

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.