

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

Mar 27, 2025 • 39min
Working for a Better Tomorrow with Vinnie Vernuccio
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.

Mar 20, 2025 • 55min
Tariffs, Tax Cuts, and Trustees with Dominic Pino
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.

Mar 13, 2025 • 57min
Broadcasting Liberty with Jeff Westling
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.

Mar 6, 2025 • 43min
Striving for Shareholder Value with Matt Cole
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.

Feb 27, 2025 • 44min
Alabama Does DOGE with Stephanie Smith
This week we cover poverty in Illinois, J.D. Vance on AI, the future of the Jones Act and the limits of the president’s impoundment powers. Our interview this week is with Stephanie Smith, president and CEO of the Alabama Policy Institute. We talk about spending taxpayer dollars, budget reform, cost-sharing with the feds, and the state-level swamp of special interests.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.

Feb 20, 2025 • 49min
Defend Yourself from Debanking with Nick Anthony
This week we cover public confidence in the economy, California’s electric vehicle mandate, the prospect of a sovereign wealth fund for the U.S., and what investors talk about when they gather in Las Vegas. Our interview this week is with Nicholas Anthony, policy analyst with the Cato Institute’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives. We’ll talk all about debanking, including questions about free expression, reputational risk, money laundering, cryptocurrency, and what happens when your bank account gets cancelled.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.

Feb 13, 2025 • 49min
Pivot or Die with Gary Shapiro
This week we cover DEI mandates, financial surveillance at the Securities and Exchange Commission, medical fraud among Alzheimer's researchers, and why Congress should defund green energy subsidies. Our interview this week is with Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association and the man behind the #1 trade show in the world, the legendary Consumer Electronics Show, held every January in Las Vegas. He’s also the author of the recent book, "Pivot or Die: How Leaders Thrive When Everything Changes." We talk about the impacts of Covid-19, succeeding as an entrepreneur, responding to market forces, and why the government does not know enough to plan tomorrow’s technologies.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.

Feb 6, 2025 • 37min
Improving State Finances with OJ Oleka
Our interview this week is with OJ Oleka, CEO of the State Financial Officers Foundation. We’ll talk about how the new administration will affect state financial officers, what states can do about ESG, and the varied ways financial officers can have an impact in their states.Free the Economy is hosted and produced by Richard Morrison and co-produced by 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.

Jan 30, 2025 • 46min
Trump vs. the Regulatory State with Susan Dudley
This week we cover how the feds are forcing your bank to spy on you, a new strategy for housing abundance, and a promising new policy on crypto and digital assets from the White House. Our interview this week is with Susan Dudley, founder and Senior Scholar at George Washington University’s Regulatory Studies Center and former administrator of the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs. We’ll talk about federal regulation, Trump’s executive orders, what to expect from Elon Musk and DOGE, and the potential legal challenges ahead.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.

Jan 23, 2025 • 39min
Able Americans with Rachel Barkley
This week we cover Trump’s executive orders, the demographics of the 119th Congress, our nation’s narrowing fiscal space, reforms to ESG investing, and a new White House appointee in the healthcare space. Our interview this week is with Rachel Barkley, director of Able Americans, a program of the National Center for Public Policy Research. We’ll talk about disability accommodations, family formation, occupational therapy, caregiver responsibilities, and healthcare resources for the differently abled.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.


