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Samuel Gregg, President at the American Institute for Economic Research, shares insights on the life of Michael Novak, a pivotal figure in Catholic thought and capitalism. They discuss the evolution of Catholic identity in 20th-century America and Novak's journey from journalist to public intellectual. Key topics include Novak's ideological shift from liberalism to a capitalist perspective, his critiques of liberation theology, and his lasting influence on the Acton Institute, enriched with personal anecdotes that highlight his passionate engagement with faith and economics.

In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with Dave Hebert, a senior research fellow at AIER and an affiliate scholar here at the Acton Institute. They discuss the American economy from all angles. What do the latest GDP numbers mean in the real economy? Why are the new tariffs announced by the White House troubling? How does the Bureau of Labor Statistics do its job—and are the latest jobs numbers “rigged”? Will new tariff revenue put a dent in the national debt? What are the economic consequences of erratic policies, undermining of the legitimacy of economic data, and suspicion of the science of economics by policymakers? Subscribe to our podcasts Watch this podcast here David Hebert | AIER No Jibbering | Dave Hebert | Substack Trump Administration Updates: White House Announces Sweeping New Tariffs for Much of the World | The New York Times Economy Updates: After a Weak Jobs Report, Trump Fires That Agency’s Commissioner | The New York Times U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics David Bahnsen on the State of the U.S. Economy Oren Cass Has Learned Just Enough Economics to Be a Nuisance | RealClearMarkets The Devil Went Down to Wall Street | Dan Hugger If you’d like to support this podcast, you can help by leaving a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. If you have questions or suggestions for a future episode, you can email us at podcast@acton.org.

This month on the Acton Rundown: Dan and Mark chat about upcoming Acton events and announce two new affiliate scholars. Subscribe to our podcasts Watch this podcast here Acton’s 2025 Emerging Leaders Marcel van Hattem on the Fight for Freedom in Brazil Why I Slept on the Streets for a Year – Religion & Liberty Online Why Brazil?: Pursuing Freedom in the Americas: Berlanza, Lucas, Catharino, Alex, Pinheiro, John C: 9798218700645: Amazon.com: Books 2025 Pittsburgh Dinner | Acton Institute Acton's 35th Annual Dinner | Acton Institute The Heart of a Machine: Technological Threats to Liberty in Adam Smith and Beyond The Meaning of Work: What Skilled Trades Can Teach About Forming Workers of Character Silicon Valley Revival? If you’d like to support this podcast, you can help by leaving a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. If you have questions or suggestions for a future episode, you can email us at podcast@acton.org.

On today’s episode, Noah Gould, Acton’s Alumni and Student Programs manager, speaks to three members of the Emerging Leaders Program. The Acton Emerging Leaders Program is an 8-week leadership-development internship in Grand Rapids, Mich. The program brings together a cohort of student leaders from across the nation and around the globe for a transformative experience. During the summer, Emerging Leaders will gain professional experience, grow their network, and go deeper into the ideas of a free and virtuous society. Subscribe to our podcasts Watch this podcast here Emerging Leaders Program | Acton Institute The Use of Knowledge in Society | F.A. Hayek Intellectuals and Socialism | F.A. Hayek The Disadvantages of Being Educated | Albert Jay Nock Dining with Judas: The Limits of Culinary Diplomacy | Abigail Ingram If you’d like to support this podcast, you can help by leaving a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. If you have questions or suggestions for a future episode, you can email us at podcast@acton.org.

Kevin Vallier, a philosophy professor at the University of Toledo and associate director at the Institute of American Constitutional Thought and Leadership, brings fresh perspectives on American conservatism's fusionist tradition. He discusses the critiques of fusionism and argues for its theoretical depth. Vallier emphasizes the timeless interplay of liberty and virtue, calling for renewed philosophical dialogue to address contemporary fragmentation. He also explores the moral implications of power and the role of public spirit in governance, advocating for a blend of rigorous ethical discourse and intellectual pluralism.

In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with Eric Kohn, CEO of America’s Future. They discuss just that—and what the organization Eric leads is doing to make that future a bright one. What are the ideas that animated America at its founding, and how do we best transmit them to a new generation? What are the sociological dimensions of building up the liberty movement in America? How can young people build skills and community—and have a good time doing so?Home — America's Future Writing Fellows — America's Future Gell-Mann amnesia effect | Wikipedia A Time to Build: From Family and Community to Congress and the Campus, How Recommitting to Our Institutions Can Revive the American Dream | Yuval Levin The Internet of Beefs

In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with David Bahnsen, founder, managing partner, and CIO of The Bahnsen Group. With an ever-shifting policy environment and ever-expanding public debt, what is the state of the American economy? How have tariffs and interest rate policy affected economic growth? Why is the housing sector so crucial to the economy? What are the prospects for economic growth in the near future, and will AI revolutionize the American economy? Subscribe to our podcasts Watch this podcast here Acton University Crisis of Responsibility: Our Cultural Addiction to Blame and How You Can Cure It  | David Bahnsen Capital Record | National Review Capital Matters Two dolls instead of 30? Toys become the latest symbol of Trump's trade war | AP News The Broken Window | Frédéric Bastiat Understanding the National Debt | U.S. Treasury Fiscal Data Powell Reiterates Fed’s Wait-and-See Approach Before Cutting Rates | The New York Times “The Counter-Revolution in Monetary Theory” | Milton Friedman Abundance | Ezra Klein, Derek Thompson If you’d like to support this podcast, you can help by leaving a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. If you have questions or suggestions for a future episode, you can email us at podcast@acton.org.

This month on the Acton Rundown: Dan and Mark recap Acton University 2025 and discuss Acton’s upcoming events and publications. Subscribe to our podcasts Watch this podcast here Religion and Liberty Online Acton University Acton On-Demand Marcel van Hattem on the Fight for Freedom in Brazil Silicon Valley Revival?

In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with Marcel van Hattem, a Brazilian politician, journalist, and political scientist who is an elected federal representative of the State of Rio Grande do Sul in Brasilia. They begin by discussing Brazil’s history, people, and culture. The conversation then turns to the ongoing constitutional crises and how the Supreme Court’s increasingly authoritarian tendencies have threatened the rule of law, a free press, and freedom of speech in Brazil. What is the best course of action for freedom-loving Brazilians? How are liberty-minded legislators trying to fulfil their duties in the face of authoritarian pressure? Why are the upcoming Senate elections so important for the future of freedom in Brazil? Subscribe to our podcasts Watch this podcast here Acton University Marcel van Hattem – Deputado Federal Marcel van Hattem (@marcelvanhattem) | Instagram photos and videos Marcel van Hattem (@marcelvanhattem) | X Delton Dallagnol on the fight against corruption in Brazil | YouTube Why Brazil?: Pursuing Freedom in the Americas | Lucas Berlanza & Alex Catharino

In this episode, Dan Hugger speaks with Dan Churchwell, director of programs and education at the Acton Institute, and A. Trevor Sutton, senior pastor of St. Luke Lutheran Church, about their essay “The Gospel According to Silicon Valley,” which is the cover story for the Summer 2025 issue of Religion & Liberty.   Is there a Christian revival going on in Silicon Valley? How might technology shape and be shaped by a renewal of Christian faith? Is the renewed interest in Christianity genuine? Is “cultural Christianity” merely ideological? What would the fruits of a genuine revival mean for Silicon Valley and the technology produced there? Subscribe to our podcasts Watch this podcast here The Gospel According To Silicon Valley | Religion and Liberty Online Christianity Was “Borderline Illegal” in Silicon Valley. Now It’s the New Religion | Vanity Fair The Silicon Valley Christians Who Want to Build ‘Heaven on Earth’ | WIRED Silicon Valley Is Embracing Christianity (With the Help of Peter Thiel) | The New York Times Come to Me, All You Networking Techies | Christianity Today ACTS 17 Collective Church in a Digital Age: Must We Worship Bodily to Worship at All? | Acton Lecture Series Darrell Bock and Jonathan Armstrong on virtual reality church | Acton Institute If you’d like to support this podcast, you can help by leaving a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. If you have questions or suggestions for a future episode, you can email us at podcast@acton.org.