The American Compass Podcast

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 

On this episode, Ethics and Public Policy Center fellow Patrick T. Brown joins guest host and American Compass managing editor Drew Holden to discuss how COVID's remote-work baptism-by-fire led to a surprising boom in babies born during the pandemic.The two talk through the lessons that companies should take away from the experience in order to support working parents as well as why these companies, and society more broadly, should be expected to help share the burdens placed on new parents. And as President Trump returns to the White House, they take stock of the GOP's realignment on how best to support families.Further reading:"Remote Work Created a Baby Boom. Can We Keep It Up?" by Patrick T. Brown

Why would any sane parent subject themselves to the high costs and grueling hours of travel sports teams for their kids?In this episode, Michael Brendan Dougherty, senior writer at National Review, joins to discuss his feature essay on the subject for our just-launched magazine, Commonplace. As a dance and travel baseball dad himself, he explains that these teams are often the only ways kids and parents today can form high-trust communities in an atomized world much different from the one Dougherty grew up in.He and Oren also talk about the conservative media universe more broadly, and how Commonplace can offer an alternative to the legacy publications resistant to the changing interests and priorities of ordinary Americans on the new right-of-center.Further Reading:"In Defense of Travel Teams" by Michael Brendan Dougherty.

President-elect Trump campaigned on a fresh economic platform prioritizing ordinary Americans, departing considerably from the Old Guard Republican Party that came before him. But how much of that innovative thinking will actually become policy in his second term?Oren Cass appeared at the American Economic Association’s annual meeting on a panel alongside former Council of Economic Advisors Jason Furman (Obama admin) and Richard Burkhauser (Trump admin) as well as economist Kimberly Clausing, to make sense of what will come next, and the forces that could try to slow down the president-elect’s changes.This is the second in a two-part series from the discussion, focused on immigration and financial policy. To listen to part one, about trade and industrial policy, click here. And you can read the New York Times story about the panel here: "Economists Are in the Wilderness. Can They Find a Way Back to Influence?"

Guests Jason Furman, a Harvard professor and former economic advisor under Obama, and Kimberly Clausing, a UCLA law professor and former Treasury official, dive deep into trade and industrial policy. They critique past economic strategies, especially free trade agreements, and discuss the complexities of tariffs aimed at boosting domestic production. The conversation also touches on strategic sectors like microchips and the important balance between national security and economic growth. Expect enlightening insights on the evolving landscape of American economic policy!

Every political movement needs a home for its ideas. Commonplace is the answer for today’s right-of-center.On this episode, Helen Andrews, our new features editor, joins Oren to discuss the forthcoming launch of Commonplace—a new magazine from American Compass, making sense of the political, economic, and cultural concerns that shape America today.Helen unpacks how a conservative media universe dedicated to replaying the hits of the 1980s created the need for a new intellectual home. Looking ahead, she previews some of the pieces readers can look forward to reading later this month and explains how Commonplace will work to get to the heart of what matters in America.If you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to Commonplace for updates, and follow the magazine on X, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Has the devotion to unbridled free markets in recent decades benefited or harmed the United States? Earlier this month, Senator Phil Gramm (R-TX) and Oren Cass sat down for a live, wide-ranging discussion of the unintended consequences of America’s approach to manufacturing, and whether free trade is to blame for changes in our domestic industrial base. They explore how conservatives should think about trade and one potential policy response that’s getting lots of air time lately: tariffs.Plus: To be the first to hear about the launch of our new magazine in January, subscribe here: commonplace.org.

On this episode, Oren is joined by FTC Chair Lina Khan for a wide-ranging conversation about competition, antitrust, and why the lack of strong enforcement hurts American consumers, small businesses, and our politics.The two talk through the decline in competition in the U.S. economy and how it has created fragile markets prone to shortages and undermined our economic wellbeing. They explore opportunities for bipartisan cooperation on antitrust enforcement, and what principles should guide competition policy.Plus: Khan explains what chicken farmers taught her about corporate power and the role of fear in our economy.