The American Compass Podcast

On this episode, Institute for Progress senior editor Santi Ruiz joins Oren to talk about government efficiency, state capacity, and what President-elect Trump's focus on revitalizing the way government works could hope to accomplish in the swamp. The two discuss Trump's new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and how the effort can avoid the pitfalls of previous blue-ribbon commissions and other ineffective efforts to rein in the administrative state. And they walk through why optimizing government requires new investment, not just cutting red-tape.For more, read Ruiz's recent piece on the subject at Statecraft: "How to Fix Defense Procurement."

Dr. Leonard Sax, a physician and psychologist renowned for his work on youth well-being, delves into the perils of modern parenting. He critiques the rise of 'gentle parenting,' asserting it undermines kids' moral foundations. The discussion highlights how social media exacerbates parenting challenges and reshapes children's ties to authority. Sax stresses the need for nurturing strong family dynamics and self-control in an increasingly digital age. He presents insights on the necessity of recognizing gender differences in education for better engagement with children.

On this episode, coalition director Duncan Braid joins Oren to discuss American Compass's Back to Work agenda, which provides a comprehensive set of executive actions that the Trump-Vance administration should take to prioritize working families, domestic industry, and national economic strength when they take office.The two discuss how the president can deliver meaningful, rapid change on issues from the border and immigration to the economy and inflation. And the two talk through one of the most contentious battles on the Right today—the issue of tariffs—and how they can be used to put the wellbeing of the American people at the center of trade policy.For more, read Duncan's recent essay on The Commons, about where and how the administration can direct their electoral mandate, "'Great Again' is a Promise."

On this episode, Ethics and Public Policy Center senior fellow Henry Olsen joins Oren to unpack the demographic earthquake that led to the re-election of President Donald Trump and why it will force both parties to focus on Americans' real interests.The two discuss what the victory holds for the future of a Republican Party grounded in the interests of this multi-ethnic working-class coalition, from shutting down illegal immigration to shifting away from a devotion to free trade, as well as the "landmines" in doing so. And they explain why the win is a death knell for conservatives who want to return to the pre-Trump economic and political consensus. For more, read Olsen's recent piece on The Commons, "Mapping Out the 2024 Stakes."

On this episode, Newsweek opinion editor Batya Ungar-Sargon joins to explain the multi-ethnic working-class coalition that propelled Donald Trump to an electoral victory, and the types of policies that could support these forgotten Americans in Trump's second term.The two discuss the issues that animated the swing in nonwhite working-class voters and how Donald Trump can build an America that benefits everyone, economically and culturally. For more, read Ungar-Sargon's latest piece on The Commons, "Revolt of the Normies," and pick up her book that anticipated this political realignment, Second Class: How the Elites Betrayed America's Working Men and Women.

American Compass Chairman Michael Needham joins Oren Cass to share his reaction to former President Donald Trump's landslide election victory. The two explain why, even after all the claims about the "end of democracy" and Trump's supposed autocratic designs, the results shouldn't surprise anyone.And they discuss the political realignment—particularly among Hispanic voters, who turned out for Trump across numerous swing states—that made his victory possible, as well as the promise that his second term holds for a revitalized American economy. For more, read Oren's and Mike's pieces reacting to Trump's victory.

On this episode, Clare Morell, fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, joins Oren to discuss the consequences of a generation of kids addicted to smartphones and iPads. The two talk through how our society got to the point where kids have unlimited access to the internet and the problem with leaving parents to fight back against social media alone, as well as her forthcoming book on the subject. And they explain why conservatives have both the principles and the public policy tools needed to help kids—and society—break the addiction to tech.For more, read Morell's Compass Point essay on this subject, "America On-the-Line," and check out her newsletter, Preserving our Humanity, and her forthcoming book, The Tech Exit: A Practical Guide to Freeing Kids and Teens from Smartphones.

College has become the dividing line in America, not just economically, but socially, too. Sam Pressler, a practitioner fellow at the University of Virginia and a research affiliate at the Harvard Human Flourishing Program, joins Oren to discuss the crisis this is fueling for young Americans who don't go to college as they navigate the transition to adulthood alone.The two talk through the history of college as a communal exercise and how it's devolved into the "great sorter" of class in America, as well as the resulting "structural forms of loneliness" for young people who don't pursue a four-year degree and the "extracurricular arms race" for kids trying to get in. And they unpack the embryonic remedies various states have rolled out to address the situation.For more, read Pressler's recent essay on The Commons, "From the ‘Great Connector’ to the ‘Great Sorter’," and check out his full policy framework, "Connective Tissue," aimed at helping policymakers regenerate communities.

As the election approaches, both parties are trying to position themselves as the better choice for American families. But what is it that parents—particularly parents who stay home to take care of their children—actually want?Ivana Greco, a former family-law attorney turned homemaker, joins Oren to discuss her recent research on the topic, drawing on interviews with over 1,300 stay-at-home parents about their needs and challenges. She explains what she’s learned from those conversations, as well as how policymakers can support parents regardless of their employment status.For more, read the just-published report, Invisible Labor, Visible Needs: Making Family Policy Work for Stay-At-Home (And All) Parents.

On this episode, Oren is joined by journalist and best-selling author Sarah Smarsh to make sense of the ongoing political realignment in America's Heartland.Smarsh, who hails from rural Kansas, draws from her own upbringing to explain the forces pushing rural working-class voters away from the Democratic Party, often after decades of voting for it. She and Oren also discuss her new book, Bone of the Bone, which focuses on this shift and other aspects of life in rural America, and the two unpack how it all intersects with the rise of former President Donald Trump and changes in the Republican Party.For more, check out Smarsh's latest book, Bone of the Bone: Essays on America by a Daughter of the Working Class.