Free The Economy

This week we cover the economic slowdown from tariffs, more accountability for independent agencies in the federal government, and riding the rails with the Department of Transportation. Our interview this week is with Destry Edwards, director of the new documentary on American political history, Dear Mr. President: The Letters of Julia Sand. We’ll talk about the unlikely presidency of Chester A. Arthur, government corruption, civil service reform, and how one ordinary American changed the course of history. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. 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.

This week we cover workplace injuries, MAGA antitrust in theory and practice, portable benefits for gig workers, and the new book Crushing Capitalism: How Populist Policies Are Threatening the American Dream. Our interview this week is with Emily Ekins, vice president and director of polling at the Cato Institute. We’ll talk about Cato’s 2025 Fiscal Policy National Survey and how Americans feel about the economy, government spending, and prospect of higher taxes next year. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our co-producer and editor is Destry Edwards. 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.

This week we cover the political roots of totalitarianism, why we should put Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac out to pasture, the World Bank’s pivot on nuclear power, and human environmental impact in Medieval Europe. Our interview this week is with Wayne Crews, the Fred L. Smith Fellow in Regulatory Studies at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. We’ll talk about the costs of federal regulation, opportunities for reform, and how much of the DOGE revolution will survive court review. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our co-producer and editor is Destry Edwards. 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.

This week we cover teaching with AI, clearing the way for new nuclear development, and eliminating soda and candy from government food aid programs. Our interview this week is with Ryan Young, Senior Economist at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. He has plenty of problems with where economic, trade, and tariff policy is going right now, so we’ll talk about what to do instead. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our co-producer and editor is Destry Edwards. 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.

Join Michael Coon, an expert in trade policy and tariffs from the University of Tampa, as he unravels the intricacies of modern trade dynamics. He discusses the recent complexities of tariff policies and the surprising realities behind global supply chains, using the iPhone as a case study. Coon challenges nostalgic views of manufacturing jobs while promoting a focus on innovation and adaptability for displaced workers. He also explains why society prioritizes certain trades over others, bringing clarity to the often misunderstood world of trade.

This week we cover Republicans for the Green New Deal, diminishing returns from industrial policy in China, and the bottleneck on nuclear development in the United States. Our interview this week is with Gabriella Hoffman, Director of the Center for Energy & Conservation at the Independent Women’s Forum and the host of the District of Conservation podcast. We talk about affordable and reliable energy, economic growth, the history of conservation, the abundance agenda, and why time has run out for “all of the above” policy rhetoric. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our co-producer and editor is Destry Edwards. 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.

This week we cover America’s founding principles, the Cato Institute’s recommendations for reforming financial regulation, why Republicans shouldn’t be busting the SALT cap, and declining egg prices in historical perspective. Our interview this week is with Vinnie Vernuccio of the Institute for the American Worker. We talk about labor unions, independent contractors, right-to-work laws, port automation, and the future of the American workforce. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. Our co-producer and editor is Destry Edwards. 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.

This week we cover retirement investing, pivoting to India, housing on federal land, and priorities for slashing federal spending. Our interview this week is with Dominic Pino of National Review. We talk about tariffs, labor unions, tax cuts, pensions, congressional politics, and why we love our nation’s hard-working farmers.Free the Economy is hosted and produced by Richard Morrison. Our co-producer and editor is Destry Edwards. 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.

This week we cover Trump tariffs, the death of the climate hawks, and California’s experiment with fast food wages. Our interview this week is with Jeff Westling, Director of Technology and Innovation Policy at the American Action Forum. We talk about broadcast media, the Federal Communications Commission, news distortion, the First Amendment, and the future of streaming platforms. Free the Economy is hosted and produced by Richard Morrison. Our co-producer and editor is Destry Edwards. 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.

This week we cover executive branch powers at the Supreme Court, BP’s pivot back to being an oil and gas company, and the trials and tribulations of Bud Light. Our interview this week is with Matt Cole, CEO of Strive and CIO of Strive Asset Management. We talk about protecting the retirement savings of Americans, corporate purpose, financial regulation, and the role of capitalism in the modern world. Free the Economy is hosted and produced by Richard Morrison. Our co-producer and editor is Destry Edwards. 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.