Qualified Opinions

Michael F. Cannon, director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute, shares insightful perspectives on government involvement in healthcare. He explores the origins of medical licensing, arguing it creates monopolies that elevate costs and limit access. Cannon discusses the historical roots of tax breaks for employer-sponsored insurance, emphasizing how these distort markets. The conversation also highlights the impact of FDA regulations on drug safety, and the potential of market innovations like telehealth to improve care accessibility.

The Department of Government Efficiency is being tasked with reining in the frivolous government spending we have all grown to know as “the norm.” But where should those cuts be made? Alex Nowrasteh and Chris Edwards joined the show to discuss a new report from the Cato Institute that outlines where the waste is and how to cut it. Alex Nowrasteh is the vice president for economic and social policy studies at the Cato Institute.  Chris Edwards occupies the Kilts Family Chair in Fiscal Studies at the Cato Institute and is the editor of Down​siz​ing​Gov​ern​ment​.org.  Read the report.

At the end of 2024, the United States’ national debt has ballooned to $36 trillion, and the budget deficit hovers over $2 trillion. With spending only having the prospect of going up, the U.S. financial situation to be even more dire in 10 years, likely climbing another $22 trillion. Is there any way out of this crisis? Economic economist Joshua Rauh and policy researcher Jack Salmon joined Vero today to discuss. Joshua Rauh is the Ormond Family Professor of Finance at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution. He leads the Hoover Institution State and Local Government Initiative. Jack Salmon is the director of Policy Research at Philanthropy Roundtable. In Jack’s current role, he supports the Policy and Government Affairs team with research, commentary and analysis on issues facing the charitable sector and philanthropic freedom.

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are coming to Washington, DC, intending to cut $2 trillion in wasteful federal spending. Together, they will form the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. This ambitious project opens up many questions, and Tom Church and Danny Heil are joining Vero today to discuss. Tom Church is a policy fellow at the Hoover Institution, where he studies health care policy, entitlement reform, income inequality, poverty, and the federal budget. Daniel Heil is a policy fellow at the Hoover Institution whose focus is on the federal budget, tax policy, and federal antipoverty programs.

AIER Director of Research Samuel Gregg joins Qualified Opinions to discuss the fracturing of the conservative and libertarian movements, where free markets and ordered liberty go from here, and his new book, The Next American Economy.

Donald Trump’s win marks the first time a Republican has won the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004. What does this decisive election mean? How closely related are the political and policy realities? What can we expect under a Trump administration, and will Democrats make significant shifts in their own policy initiatives? Join Veronique de Rugy, Dominic Pino, and Akash Chougule break down the election and what we can expect under the new Trump administration.

Of the cherished liberties of a free society, economic liberty holds a special place. Personal choice, voluntary exchange, and the protection of private property sustain our political and civil liberties. Matt Mitchell joins the show today to discuss economic freedom and a new index from the Fraser Institute that maps economic freedom around the world. Matthew D. Mitchell is a Senior Fellow in the Centre for Economic Freedom at the Fraser Institute. Prior to joining the Fraser Institute, Mitchell was a long-serving senior fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, where he remains an affiliated senior scholar.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve likely already heard of Project 2025—but what is actually in it, should you care about it, and how much of it would a potential Republican government actually be capable of executing? Stephanie Slade recently wrote an article for Reason breaking it down, and today, she joins Veronique to discuss it. Stephanie Slade is a senior editor at Reason, the magazine of "free minds and free markets," and a fellow in liberal studies at the Acton Institute. Her writing has appeared in America magazine, The New York Times, U.S. News and World Report, the Online Library of Liberty, and elsewhere. She covers the intersection of religion and politics. Project 2025 Is No Match for MAGA Dysfunction

Though there have been several union wins in recent years, union membership is at historic lows. Where do unions fit in the future of America? Will they continue to decline, or will they see a comeback? How will automation play a role? Vinnie Vernuccio joins Qualified Opinions to discuss. Vincent Vernuccio, president and co-founder of the Institute for the American Worker, brings over 15 years of expertise in labor law and policy. Vernuccio holds advisory positions with several organizations, including senior fellow with the Mackinac Center.

Many Americans have forgotten about Grover Cleveland—but William Ruger believes Cleveland’s legacy of bridging the gap between populism and classical liberalism is increasingly relevant to today’s polarized political climate. William Ruger serves as the President of the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER).