The Curious Task

Alex Aragona speaks with James Harrigan about U.S.-Canada relations, with a focus on tariffs, trade policy, and economic misunderstandings that shape political discourse. James critiques the expansion of tariffs under Trump and challenges the idea that protectionism helps domestic industries. The conversation highlights the historical benefits of free trade, the consequences of government intervention in markets, and the flawed assumptions underlying modern trade restrictions. References James on X: https://x.com/jamesrharrigan  The Centre for American Culture and Ideas: https://thecaci.org/  The Words And Numbers Podcast: https://wordsandnumbers.libsyn.com/  "Fair Trade Encourages Free Trade" by James Harrigan and Antony Davies: https://archive.triblive.com/opinion/featured-commentary/antony-davies-james-r-harrigan-fair-trade-encourages-free-trade/  Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.

Matt Bufton speaks with Don Boudreaux about tariffs, free trade, and the economic misunderstandings that drive protectionist policies. Don critiques the balance of trade doctrine, drawing from historical examples and economic theory to explain why tariffs harm both consumers and producers. The discussion covers the impact of tariffs on the U.S. and Canada, how politicians exploit economic misconceptions, and why a policy of unilateral free trade would be the best path forward. References Globalization by Don Boudreaux Paperback: https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/globalization-9780313342134/   The Essential Hayek by Don Boudreaux Free PDF: https://www.fraserinstitute.org/sites/default/files/essential-hayek_0.pdf   "The Case for Free Trade" by Don Boudreaux (Mercatus Center) https://www.mercatus.org/system/files/boudreaux-benefits-free-trade-ep-v2.pdf  "Don't Get Played By Protectionists" (Cafe Hayek) https://cafehayek.com/2025/03/dont-get-played-by-protectionists.html  "On America's Trade Deficit With China" by Don Boudreaux https://thedailyeconomy.org/article/on-americas-trade-deficit-with-china/  "Adam Smith Doesn't Like U.S. Trade Policy" by Stuart Anderson https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2018/07/18/adam-smith-doesnt-like-u-s-trade-policy/  Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.

Matt Bufton speaks with Ryan Manucha about interprovincial trade in Canada, focusing on the legal and economic barriers that hinder free trade between provinces. They discuss Ryan’s book Booze, Cigarettes, and Constitutional Dust-Ups, examining how constitutional law, historical disputes, and political inertia have shaped Canada’s fragmented trade landscape. The conversation explores key legal cases, the role of the Supreme Court, and potential reforms that could enhance economic cooperation across the country. References Booze, Cigarettes, and Constitutional Dust-Ups: Canada's Quest for Interprovincial Free Trade by Ryan Manucha https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0228014417 Gold Seal Ltd. v. Alberta (Attorney-General) (1921) – Key legal case on interprovincial trade barriers https://www.canlii.org/t/2f2ng R. v. Comeau (2018) – Supreme Court decision on cross-border alcohol sales https://decisions.scc-csc.ca/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/17059/index.do Interprovincial Trade Barriers in Canada: Options for Moving Forward by Alvarez et al. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/383376202_Interprovincial_Trade_Barriers_in_Canada_Options_for_Moving_Forward Provincial Red Tape Report Card by the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) https://www.cfib-fcei.ca/en/research-economic-analysis/provincial-red-tape-report-card Internal Trade in Canada: Case for Liberalization by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) https://www.imf.org/-/media/Files/Publications/WP/2019/WPIEA2019158.ashx Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.  

Matt speaks with Bart Wilson about what economists often overlook in their analysis—specifically, the role of morality, human cooperation, and language in shaping economic behaviour. Wilson argues that mainstream economics tends to focus too much on scarcity and efficiency while neglecting the deeper social and moral foundations that make trade and prosperity possible. Drawing on his book Meaningful Economics: Making the Science of Prosperity More Human, he explores how concepts like property, reciprocity, and justice emerge from human relationships rather than being imposed from the top down.  References: Meaningful Economics: Making the Science of Prosperity More Human by Bart Wilson https://global.oup.com/academic/product/meaningful-economics-9780197758151?cc=us&lang=en&  The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith https://a.co/d/j0nL0mY  The Theory of Moral Sentiments by Adam Smith https://a.co/d/iKwedtg  Knowledge and Decisions by Thomas Sowell https://a.co/d/cRgCwe4  The Invisible Heart: An Economic Romance by Russell Roberts https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0262681358  Frankenstein by Mary Shelley https://a.co/d/a7vAUsi  Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit our Patreon page.   

Alex Aragona speaks with Tim Thurley about gun policy in Canada, discussing the current state of firearm regulations, the shift away from a past political consensus, and whether recent legislative changes are effectively targeting crime. They explore the role of licensing, background checks, and storage laws, as well as the impact of smuggled firearms and high-profile policy changes like Bill C-21 and the handgun freeze. Thurley argues that recent policy shifts focus on legal gun owners while failing to address the main sources of gun crime in Canada. References "Aiming Off Target: Gun Policy in Canada" by Tim Thurley & Noah Schwartz (Macdonald-Laurier Institute) https://macdonaldlaurier.ca/aiming-off-target-gun-policy-canada/ "On gun control, Liberals opt for wedge politics over actual change" by Noah Schwartz https://nationalpost.com/opinion/noah-schwartz-on-gun-control-liberals-opt-for-wedge-politics-over-actual-change  "More Guns, Less Crime" by John R. Lott Jr. https://www.amazon.ca/dp/0226493660 "The Culture of Fear: Why Americans Are Afraid of the Wrong Things" by Barry Glassner https://a.co/d/4qXgBqf  "The Origins and Development of Canada’s Firearms Laws" by R. Blake Brown https://a.co/d/bMb4zyV  "Armed: New Perspectives on Gun Control" by Gary Kleck & Don B. Kates https://a.co/d/5xk3gUj  Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.

Matt speaks with Ethan Nadelmann about vaping, e-cigarettes, and pouch nicotine alternatives to cigarettes within the broader context of health policy and the drug war. They discuss the misconceptions surrounding nicotine, harm reduction strategies, and how opposition to non-combustible nicotine mirrors past drug war policies. Ethan highlights international case studies, the role of public health organizations, and the influence of figures like Michael Bloomberg in shaping the global discourse - and misinformation - around alternatives to cigarettes. References "Thinking Seriously About Alternatives to Drug Prohibition" by Ethan Nadelmann https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/20027122.pdf "The Global State of Tobacco Harm Reduction" (KAC Reports) https://gsthr.org/ "High Price" by Carl Hart https://a.co/d/inDX5Gi  "Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness" by Richard H. Thaler & Cass R. Sunstein https://www.amazon.ca/dp/014311526X "Ending the War on Drugs: A Solution for America" by Dirk Chase Eldredge https://a.co/d/bIGQpJ6  Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.  

Alex speaks with Eric Schliesser about the "freedom to" vs. "freedom from" debate in political theory, using Serene Khader’s book Faux Feminism as a central reference. They explore the historical distinction between negative and positive liberty, the role of hierarchy in structuring freedom, and how liberalism’s focus on removing restrictions can sometimes reinforce existing power structures. The discussion touches on feminist theory, liberal political thought, and broader critiques of market-based individualism. References Faux Feminism: Why We Fall for White Feminism and How We Can Stop by Serene Khader https://a.co/d/fFRt6op Liberal Legislation and Freedom of Contract by T.H. Green https://history.hanover.edu/texts/green.html Two Concepts of Liberty by Isaiah Berlin https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/liberty-positive-negative/ The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith https://a.co/d/6YWK7bA The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt https://www.amazon.ca/Origins-Totalitarianism-Hannah-Arendt/dp/0156701537 Capitalism and Freedom by Milton Friedman https://www.amazon.ca/Capitalism-Freedom-Milton-Friedman/dp/022673479X Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.  

Alex Aragona moderates a discussion with Ryan Thorpe and Matt Bufton about the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and its relevance in today’s world. They explore the CBC’s historical mission to promote Canadian culture and information, its struggles to meet its mandate, and the challenges posed by media fragmentation and perceived biases. The conversation also touches on the roles of private media, government funding, and the rise of independent outlets as alternatives to a state broadcaster. References Lament for a Nation: The Defeat of Canadian Nationalism by George Grant https://www.amazon.ca/Lament-Nation-Defeat-Canadian-Nationalism/dp/077353010X Peter Mansbridge Quote on CBC’s "Toronto Bias" https://youtu.be/8c0HWFg9dpw?si=3Uo8DXe7MPMNRWyY Canadaland https://www.canadaland.com/ The Hub https://thehub.ca/ The Narwhal https://thenarwhal.ca/ The Tyee https://thetyee.ca/ Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.

In this episode, host Matt Bufton interviews historian Steve Davies about the political realignment happening across the Western world. Steve explains how traditional divisions in politics, such as socialism versus capitalism, have been replaced by a new axis centered on nationalism versus globalism. He critiques both "national collectivism" and "technocratic liberal progressivism" while discussing the implications for classical liberalism. The conversation also touches on the influence of leaders like Donald Trump, Justin Trudeau, and Emmanuel Macron, and explores what the future holds for liberal ideas in a shifting political landscape. References "The Great Realignment: Understanding Politics Today" by Steve Davies (Cato Institute) https://www.cato-unbound.org/2018/12/10/stephen-davies/great-realignment-understanding-politics-today/ Steve Davies' talk at the IEA's THINK event https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GVMnQ4-_cQ "The Road to Serfdom" by Friedrich Hayek https://www.amazon.ca/Road-Serfdom-Friedrich-Hayek/dp/0226320553 "Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy" by Joseph A. Schumpeter https://www.amazon.ca/Capitalism-Socialism-Democracy-Joseph-Schumpeter/dp/0061330086 "The Origins of Political Order: From Prehuman Times to the French Revolution" by Francis Fukuyama https://www.amazon.ca/Origins-Political-Order-Prehuman-Revolution/dp/0374227349 "Leviathan" by Thomas Hobbes https://www.amazon.ca/Leviathan-Thomas-Hobbes/dp/0140431950 "The Constitution of Liberty" by Friedrich Hayek https://www.amazon.ca/Constitution-Liberty-Friedrich-Hayek/dp/0226320847 Thanks to our patrons, including Kris Rondolo, Amy Willis, and Christopher McDonald. To support the podcast, visit https://patreon.com/curioustask.  

In this conversation from 2021, Alex speaks with Jacob Levy about Montesquieu's role in shaping contemporary political science, the American revolutionary project, and the role of the separation of powers as a bulwark against despotism.  References 1. “Rationalism, Pluralism, and Freedom” by Jacob Levy Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Rationalism-Pluralism-Freedom-Jacob-Levy/dp/0198808917  2. “The Multiculturalism of Fear” by Jacob Levy Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Multiculturalism-Fear-Jacob-T-Levy/dp/0198297122  3. “Montesquieu’s Constitutional Legacies” by Jacob Levy Link: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1117087  4. “Beyond Publius: Montesquieu, Liberal Republicanism, and the Small-Republic Thesis” by Jacob Levy Link: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=739447  5. “The Spirit of Laws” by Charles Baron de Montesquieu Link: https://www.amazon.ca/Spirit-Laws-Charles-Baron-Montesquieu/dp/1616405287#:~:text=The%20Spirit%20of%20Laws%2C%20first,by%20the%20Roman%20Catholic%20Church.  6. “Leviathan” by Thomas Hobbes  Link: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/3207/3207-h/3207-h.htm  7. “Second Treatise of Government” by John Locke Link: https://www.gutenberg.org/files/7370/7370-h/7370-h.htm