Cato Event Podcast

Although cannabis (otherwise known as marijuana) is still classified as a Schedule I drug in the United States—meaning that it is illegal to possess, use, buy, sell, or cultivate under federal law—state laws in 23 states (plus the District of Columbia) allow for its medical use, and four states (plus the District of Columbia) allow for its recreational use. The trend towards legalization is likely to continue with polls routinely showing majority support for legalization from the American public. Despite a fair amount of legal confusion created by the conflicting patchwork of laws across the country (and even within the same municipalities), entrepreneurs are pouring into the industry, starting new stores, cafes, testing labs, consulting firms, and a myriad of other businesses spurred by the booming cannabis economy.Join the Cato Institute for panel discussion of the ways in which the newly (and increasingly) legal cannabis industry is harnessing the power of technology, as well as the legal barriers that still stand in their way.After the panel, mingle with speakers and guests—and enjoy drinks and appetizers—in Cato’s gorgeous roof garden overlooking downtown Washington, D.C.#CatoDigital is a regular event series at the Cato Institute highlighting the intersection of tech, social media, and the ideas of liberty.This event will be live-streamed at www.cato.org/live and questions may be submitted via Twitter using #CatoDigital. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Members of Congress in both houses have again introduced measures to repeal long-standing constraints on the ability of the Government Accountability Office to perform a program audit of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy actions. Auditing the Fed has become the topic of bitter debate, not along party lines, but instead pitting government transparency advocates against proponents of Federal Reserve political independence. Please join our panel as we try to answer these questions: What is “Audit the Fed” really about? What would it entail? And, most importantly, is it good public policy? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Since 2001 the Federal Bureau of Investigation has led a vigorous hunt for domestic terrorists. The results have been mixed. Several attacks have occurred, though not with the apocalyptic results officials predicted. Authorities have stopped other domestic terrorists and, arguably, manufactured more. Through informants and undercover agents, the FBI has essentially organized fake terrorist plots, some ensnaring individuals so inept that they seemed incapable of succeeding in terrorism without government assistance.One such case is featured in The Newburgh Sting, a 2014 documentary that aired on HBO. The film uses the FBI’s own secret recordings to show how an undercover informant induced four men to join a plot to blow up a Bronx synagogue and attack a nearby U.S. military base. The presiding judge said the government “came up with the crime, provided the means, and removed all relevant obstacles,” thus making a terrorist out of a man “whose buffoonery is positively Shakespearean in scope.”Please join us for a discussion with The Newburgh Sting’s creator, featuring segments of the film, along with experts from Cato and Amnesty. They will discuss why these sorts of investigations occur and what harm they might cause. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

10:30 – 10:55 a.m.Registration10:55 – 11:00 a.m. Welcoming Remarks John Allison, Former President and CEO, Cato Institute11:00 – 11:30 a.m. The Libertarian Mind in America David Boaz, Executive Vice President, Cato Institute11:30 a.m.– 12:10 p.m. Power to the People Johan Norberg, Senior Fellow, Cato Institute Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some tax reform plans would replace the "progressive" rate structure in the internal revenue code with a single, low rate. That's a big issue that warrants serious debate. But there's another important aspect of tax reform, which is whether some forms of income should be taxed more than one time. An expert panel will explain why this "tax base" issue has major implications for the ability of tax reform to generate faster growth and higher living standards. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What if, instead of heading down to your local liquor store, the next time you found yourself craving an alcoholic beverage, you could simply pull out your smart phone, place an order, and a short while later, get your drinks, all without leaving your home? That’s the concept behind Klink, an alcohol delivery app that brings the user-friendly connectivity of the sharing economy to one of the most heavily regulated industries in the nation.Join the Cato Institute for a lunchtime discussion of the role Klink is playing in the sharing economy, the tough regulatory landscape it must navigate, and what the app means for the future of alcohol delivery. #CatoDigital (formerly #NewMediaLunch) is a regular event series at the Cato Institute highlighting the intersection of tech, social media, and the ideas of liberty. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The law authorizing federal highway and transit programs expires on May 31, and Congress is currently debating where the money will come from for a new transportation bill and where it should be spent. But a third question is even more important: what are the incentives created by federal transportation spending and how can they be improved to provide Americans with faster, cleaner, and safer transportation? Randal O'Toole will describe the perverse incentives that currently govern federal transit programs; Baruch Feigenbaum will discuss federal policies that make infrastructure unnecessarily expensive; and Marc Scribner will explore other incentives created by federal regulation and ask, "Is there a future for federal transportation policy?" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On January 8, 1964, President Lyndon Johnson delivered a State of the Union address to Congress in which he declared an "unconditional war on poverty in America." Johnson’s goal was not only to "relieve the symptom of poverty, but to cure it and, above all, to prevent it." Since then, federal and state governments have spent more than $19 trillion fighting poverty. But what has really been accomplished with all of that funding?This special half-day conference brings together a wide range of experts from across the political spectrum to discuss whether the War on Poverty succeeded in reducing poverty in the United States, what remains to be done, and whether private charitable efforts would be a better alternative to government welfare programs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On January 8, 1964, President Lyndon Johnson delivered a State of the Union address to Congress in which he declared an "unconditional war on poverty in America." Johnson’s goal was not only to "relieve the symptom of poverty, but to cure it and, above all, to prevent it." Since then, federal and state governments have spent more than $19 trillion fighting poverty. But what has really been accomplished with all of that funding?This special half-day conference brings together a wide range of experts from across the political spectrum to discuss whether the War on Poverty succeeded in reducing poverty in the United States, what remains to be done, and whether private charitable efforts would be a better alternative to government welfare programs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On January 8, 1964, President Lyndon Johnson delivered a State of the Union address to Congress in which he declared an "unconditional war on poverty in America." Johnson’s goal was not only to "relieve the symptom of poverty, but to cure it and, above all, to prevent it." Since then, federal and state governments have spent more than $19 trillion fighting poverty. But what has really been accomplished with all of that funding?This special half-day conference brings together a wide range of experts from across the political spectrum to discuss whether the War on Poverty succeeded in reducing poverty in the United States, what remains to be done, and whether private charitable efforts would be a better alternative to government welfare programs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.