

Free The Economy
Competitive Enterprise Institute
Free The Economy is a weekly podcast hosted by Richard Morrison of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, examining the intersection of news, policy, and economics featuring guests that include writers, policymakers, explorers, contrarians, and free thinkers of all kinds.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Oct 8, 2026 • 1h 2min
Competition and Innovation with Jack Nicastro
This week we cover the case of Suncor v. Boulder County at the Supreme Court, the problems with the Los Angeles mansion tax, new polling on tariffs, and the latest job-creation numbers. Our interview is with Jack Nicastro, antitrust policy analyst at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. We’ll talk about antitrust law, the consumer welfare standard, how to be an entrepreneur, and the human value of economic growth.Keep up with new episodes by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episode summaries, with links to the stories we cover, at cei.org/blog. Interview transcripts are at greatcapitalism.substack.com.

Oct 1, 2026 • 50min
Real-World Economics with Paul Mueller
This week we cover spiraling healthcare costs, reforming state-level regulations, and how to keep asset managers accountable to shareholders. Our interview is with Paul Mueller, senior research fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research. We talk about teaching economics, debunking myths, applying theory to the real world, and seeing virtue and liberty at work together.Keep up with new episodes by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episode summaries, with links to the stories we cover, at cei.org/blog. Interview transcripts are at greatcapitalism.substack.com.

Sep 24, 2026 • 55min
Gen Z Capitalism with Sam Raus
This week we cover how data centers power our lives, how modern technology is fueling family togetherness, and the origins of America’s rebellious spirit. Our interview is with Sam Raus, the David Boaz Resident Writing Fellow at Young Voices. We’ll talk about capitalism, big government, AI, cultural criticism, and how Gen Z thinks about fairness and opportunity.Keep up with new episodes by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episode summaries, with links to the stories we cover, at cei.org/blog. Interview transcripts are at greatcapitalism.substack.com.

Sep 17, 2026 • 44min
The Overton Window with James Hohman
This week we cover Treasury yields, oil prices, U.S.-Taiwan security policy, and Trump’s $5,000 dividend checks. Our interview is with James Hohman, director of fiscal policy at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy and host of the Overton Window podcast. We’ll talk about political change, becoming a policy entrepreneur, networking with allies, and working for reform in your own backyard. Keep up with new episodes by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episode summaries, with links to the stories we cover, at cei.org/blog. Interview transcripts are at greatcapitalism.substack.com.

Sep 10, 2026 • 51min
The Search for Critical Minerals with Seaver Wang
This week we cover the latest employment data, a new award for academic courage, free speech versus native land acknowledgements, and polling on data center popularity. Our interview is with Seaver Wang, Director of the Climate and Energy program at the Breakthrough Institute. We’ll talk about rare earth elements, China’s export controls, permitting reform, friendshoring, and where to find tomorrow’s supply of critical minerals.Keep up with new episodes by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episode summaries, with links to the stories we cover, at cei.org/blog. Interview transcripts are at greatcapitalism.substack.com.

Sep 3, 2026 • 1h 2min
Maximum New York with Daniel Golliher
This week we cover climate collusion between California and Quebec, how luxurious college campuses are breeding socialists, and government regulation’s protection paradox. Our interview is with Daniel Golliher, Cities and AI Policy Fellow at the Manhattan Institute and the founder of the civics academy Maximum New York. We’ll talk about civic engagement, knowing the rules of politics, becoming a good citizen, and building your own career from the ground up.Keep up with new episodes by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episode summaries, with links to the stories we cover, at cei.org/blog. Interview transcripts are at greatcapitalism.substack.com.

Aug 27, 2026 • 49min
The Future of Financial Regulation with Thomas Hoenig
This week we cover the status of occupational licensing in the fifty states, the coming crack-up over entitlement spending, and how to bring supersonic flights back to the U.S. Our interview is with Thomas Hoenig, Federal Reserve alumnus and Distinguished Senior Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. We’ll talk about interest rates, big banks, the Securities and Exchange Commission, big data, and where U.S. financial regulation is going in the years ahead.Keep up with new episodes by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episode summaries, with links to the stories we cover, at cei.org/blog. Interview transcripts are at greatcapitalism.substack.com.

Aug 20, 2026 • 1h
Housing Abundance and Affordability with Luca Gattoni-Celli
This week we cover the advantages of a strong U.S. dollar, a dashboard for extreme weather events, and how to get infrastructure permitting moving again. Our interview is with Luca Gattoni-Celli, Senior Fellow for Housing at the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity (FREOPP). We’ll talk about affordability, zoning, fire codes, NIMBYism, discretionary review, and how to craft policy for housing abundance. Keep up with new episodes by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episode summaries, with links to the stories we cover, at cei.org/blog. Interview transcripts are at greatcapitalism.substack.com.

Aug 13, 2026 • 46min
The Future of Climate Science with Roger Pielke, Jr.
This week we cover unemployment data, stadium subsidies, and how Americans feel about the U.S. economy right now. Our interview is with climate scientist and American Enterprise Institute senior fellow Roger Pielke, Jr. We talk about climate science, academic politics, fossil fuels vs. renewables, and the future of energy policy.Keep up with new episodes by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episode summaries, with links to the stories we cover, at cei.org/blog. Interview transcripts are at greatcapitalism.substack.com.

Aug 6, 2026 • 56min
The Independence Index with Marc Wheat
This week we cover auto tariffs, electricity supply and demand, and the future of the trucking workforce. Our interview is with Marc Wheat, General Counsel of Advancing American Freedom (AAF). We talk about the latest major publication from AAF, the Independence Index, for which Marc wrote the foreword and to which many of his colleagues contributed content.Keep up with new episodes by following us on Twitter at @freethe_economy and read our episode summaries, with links to the stories we cover, at cei.org/blog. Interview transcripts are at greatcapitalism.substack.com.


