Free The Economy

This week we cover weaponization of financial regulation, the Kroger-Albertsons merger, and a spirited defense of ultra-processed foods. Our interview this week is with Mark Calabria, former Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and author of the 2023 bookShelter from the Storm: How a COVID Mortgage Meltdown Was Averted. We talk about interest rates, affordability, the Fannie Mae conservatorship, housing policy in Trump’s second term, and the future of the mortgage market.Free the Economy is hosted and produced by Richard Morrison. Our co-producer is Destry Edwards, and the show is edited by Bilander Media. 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 new climate disclosure rules for public companies, the case against price controls on credit card networks, and why tariffs can’t pay for tax cuts. Our interview is with Erica York of the Tax Foundation. We talk about the big fight over tax cuts and the federal budget brewing in the new 119th Congress. We ask: Will the temporary provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act be extended? What about eliminating taxes on tips and Social Security income? Will Republican tax cutplans expand the deficit? And can Elon Musk really cut $2 trillion from the federal budget in one year?Free the Economy is hosted and produced by Richard Morrison. Our co-producer is Destry Edwards, and the show is edited by Bilander Media. 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 new leadership at the SEC, China’s ban on critical mineral exports, conservative fiscal reform ideas, and the health toll of not embracing nuclear power. Our interview is with David Bahnsen of the Capital Record podcast and the Bahnsen Group. We’ll talk about the value of work, whether Americans have gotten lazy, the work from home vs return to the office debate, and why retirement should be more than just a 30-year vacation.Free the Economy is hosted and produced by Richard Morrison. Our co-producer is Destry Edwards, and the show is edited by Bilander Media. 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 DOGE effort to reform government spending, survey results about transportation choices, and a sad loss for the liberty movement. Our interview is with Patrick Hedger of NetChoice. We talk about legal troubles and disputes in the tech world from Google and the Department of Justice to how both red states and blue states have decided to limit your privacy and freedom of expression (for the children).Free the Economy is hosted and produced by Richard Morrison. Our co-producer is Destry Edwards, and the show is edited by Bilander Media. 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 student loans, revenue from tariffs, democracy in Hong Kong, and the impact of podcasts on the 2024 election. Our interview is with Jarrett Dieterle of the R Street Institute. We talk about beer, wine, tequila, and all the government policies affecting the price and availability of your favorite drinks.Free the Economy is hosted and produced by Richard Morrison. Our co-producer is Destry Edwards, and the show is edited by Bilander Media. 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 death of ESG investing, next moves on regulatory reform, Wall Street enthusiasm for a new administration, and Saudi Arabia’s new city in the desert. Our interview is with Jack Salmon of Philanthropy Roundtable. We talk about what tax and budget reforms we might expect to see in 2025, from Social Security and Medicare to low-income housing, energy subsidies, and the Earned Income Tax Credit.Free the Economy is hosted and produced by Richard Morrison. Our co-producer is Destry Edwards, and the show is edited by Bilander Media. 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 a new vision for the Securities and Exchange Commission, affordable housing in Hong Kong, and how Millennials are killing it financially. Our interview is with Nick Loris of C3 Solutions. We talk about renewables, fossil fuels, transmission lines, and the emerging renaissance of nuclear power in the United States.Free the Economy is hosted and produced by Richard Morrison. Our co-producer is Destry Edwards, and the show is edited by Bilander Media. 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 whether Americans feel better off than they were four years ago, why we have more billion-dollar natural disasters than we used to, where tomorrow’s strategic minerals will come from, and why we shouldn’t subject new technology to obsolete rules. Our interview is with Thomas Savidge of the American Institute for Economic Research. We talk about public debt, government spending, interest rates, money printing, and the looming fiscal cliff.Free the Economy is hosted and produced by Richard Morrison. Our co-producer is Destry Edwards, and the show is edited by Bilander Media. 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 a new ranking of state governors, reforms to emergency powers, new research on working from home, misguided mining policy, and a podcast recommendation for people who like to have fun. Our interview is with Bill Wirtz of the Consumer Choice Center. We talk about farming, climate change, subsides, and international trade.Our co-producer is Destry Edwards, and the show is edited by Bilander Media. 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 record-high budget deficits, green trade wars, and what U.S. adults are watching on TikTok. Our interview is with Abundance Institute CEO and co-founder Chris Koopman. We talk about technology, optimism, artificial intelligence, barriers to growth, and the future of abundance.Free the Economy is hosted and produced by Richard Morrison. Our co-producer is Destry Edwards, and the show is edited by Bilander Media. 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.