The American Compass Podcast

What does the right-of-center's economic debate mean for political leaders and how is it being translated into electoral politics in 2024 and beyond?From American Compass's  recent symposium on the New Conservative Story, Jerry Seib of the Wall Street Journal moderates a discussion with Michael Brendan Dougherty (National Review) and Tim Chapman (Advancing American Freedom) about what conservatism's shifting approach to economics means at the ballot box.

How is conservative thinking about economic policy and the role of government changing?From our recent symposium on the New Conservative Story, Rana Foroohar of the Financial Times moderates a discussion with Julius Krein (American Affairs) and Michael Strain (American Enterprise Institute) digging into how the American right-of-center is thinking about economic policies from trade to government spending to organized labor.

On this episode of the American Compass podcast, Oren Cass is joined by John A. Burtka IV, president and CEO of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute and author of the new book of old wisdom on governing, Gateway to Statesmanship. They discuss how to cultivate and educate a better elite, what the “mirrors for princes” tradition has to teach today’s leaders, and, of course, aristo-populism.Click here to check out Burtka's book, out today!

On this episode of Talkin’ (Policy) Shop, Oren and Chris weigh in on the ongoing fight over the Child Tax Credit in Congress and discuss more broadly the question of how conservatives should think about supporting families—without getting mired in 30-year-old fights about welfare.Further Reading:Our new survey: The Family Policy Renaissance, ExplainedIssues 2024: FamilyPutting the Money Where the Working Families Are (Oren Cass)Among US Conservatives, the Dial Is Shifting on Welfare (Oren Cass, Financial Times)Conservatives Should Embrace Child Tax Credit Expansion (Duncan Braid, Newsweek)

On this episode of Talkin’ (Policy) Shop, Oren and Chris discuss globalization—how we got here, the problems it has created, and what policymakers should do now. Drawing on our new survey (out today!), they dig into what voters think and how and why economists and policymakers are so disconnected from average Americans on this issue.Specifically, we find that:47% of Americans say that the nation has "suffered" from its embrace of globalization. Only 33% believe the nation has benefited.70% of Americans believe policymakers should focus on "trying to help struggling areas recover." Only 30% believe the focus should be on "trying to help people move to more prosperous areas."Read the full issue brief here: Issues 2024: Globalization, and read the full survey here: The American Rejection of Globalization

Oren Cass and the Heritage Foundation’s Steve Moore debate immigration and wages at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute’s American Economic Forum. The debate offers a stark illustration of the shift underway from a paradigm that celebrates cheap and plentiful labor to one that recognizes scarce labor and rising wages as drivers of productivity and prosperity has enormous implications for every facet of economic policy.Click here to watch the debate on YouTube.

On this episode of Talkin’ (Policy) Shop, Oren and Chris head to Wall Street to discuss our fourth Issues 2024 brief, exploring why 57% of GOP voters say that "Wall Street investors are getting rich doing things that weaken our economy"—and what policymakers can do to get things back on track.Financial markets have ceased to play their vital role channeling capital to productive uses. Instead, they more often take capital back out of businesses. While nearly all public companies used to be “sustainers” that both invested in their future and returned capital to shareholders, now nearly half are “eroders,” disgorging so much cash that they fail to maintain their own capital base.Some potential solutions: 1. Ban stock buybacks; 2. Impose a financial transaction tax; 3. Reform the bankruptcy process; and 4. Hold pension investors accountable.Read the full issue brief here: Issues 2024: Wall Street

On this episode of Talkin’ (Policy) Shop, we’re diving into all things industrial policy. Oren and Chris discuss our third Issues 2024 brief and the importance of a strong industrial base.In short: Making things matters. Domestic industry is vital to workers and their communities, technological and economic progress, and national security. Thanks to rapid offshoring in recent decades, America is now seeing both manufacturing output and productivity decline. Public policy that supports domestic investment is the only way to restore American industrial leadership.Read the full issue brief here: Issues 2024: Industrial Policy

On this episode of Talkin’ (Policy) Shop, Oren and Chris discuss the second brief in our Issues 2024 series. This one goes deep on worker power: why it matters for our economy, what voters think about it, and why conservative political leaders should make it a priority. Read the full issue brief here: Issues 2024: Worker Power

On this episode of Talkin’ (Policy) Shop, Oren and Chris discuss the first Issues 2024 brief on declining middle-class security in America. They cover what’s gone wrong in the American economy over the past generation, the financial pressure families are under, and what a compelling agenda on this issue would look like. Read the full issue brief here: Issues 2024: Middle-Class Security.