Let People Prosper

Tariffs are a misguided way to raise revenue—and they’re already hurting Americans. Businesses warn that rising import costs are squeezing margins, consumers are paying more at the store, and uncertainty is growing as companies pause hiring and investment while they wait to see what tariffs come next. As of this recording, the Supreme Court has an opportunity to set an important precedent: the president cannot impose taxes by executive order. If the Court affirms this ruling, it will be a win for constitutional order and taxpayers alike.But this moment didn’t appear out of nowhere. For decades, Congress has steadily handed its trade and tax authority to the executive branch—granting presidents of both parties broad tariff powers with little oversight. What began as narrow tools has evolved into sweeping authority used to manage the economy, wage trade wars, and pressure allies. Administrations have leaned on tariffs as a fix for real concerns, and every time, Americans have paid the price.In this episode of This Week’s Economy, we’re going to break down how we got here, why tariffs create more problems than they solve, and the constitutional, economic, and strategic policy reforms that would actually help American workers, businesses, and families. For more insights, visit vanceginn.com. You can also get even greater value by subscribing to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com. Please share with your friends, family, and brader social media network. 

This Thanksgiving, I’m grateful to bring you a conversation that captures exactly why freedom matters so much for human flourishing. In this special holiday episode of the Let People Prosper Show, I sit down with Dr. Jason Sorens, Senior Research Fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research, whose work shows—again and again—that prosperity grows when government gets out of the way and lets people build, create, move, and thrive.We talk about housing affordability, zoning reform, migration trends, and the economic importance of local freedom. On this day of gratitude, Jason’s message is a needed reminder: America’s prosperity has always come from free people making free choices, not from bureaucratic micromanagement.If you’re thankful for liberty, opportunity, and the chance to build a better life, this episode fits the moment perfectly.For more insights, visit vanceginn.com. You can also get even greater value by subscribing to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com. Please share with your friends, family, and broader social media network. 

We’re entering the final days of the first year of Trump’s second term, and the economic picture looks very different from his first.Last time, America saw strong growth driven by pro-market reforms — tax cuts, regulatory reductions, and a broader effort to unleash productivity. This time, the administration led with the opposite approach: sweeping tariffs and industrial policy first, and only later moved to tax cuts and deregulation. That reversal in priorities has stalled, not strengthened, the economy.Now those tariffs are at a defining moment before the US Supreme Court, where the Justices are weighing whether any president can unilaterally impose “emergency” taxes on Americans. Yet even as SCOTUS debates the limits of executive power, the administration is doubling down with tariff rebate checks instead of simply lowering the taxes themselves.But there is good news amid the chaos: health policy is finally front and center. That opens the door to meaningful reforms that put patients — not bureaucracies, insurers, or federal mandates — at the center of care.In This Week’s Economy, I break down the challenges and the real opportunities ahead for economic growth and the issues that let people prosper. Tune in to the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify, and visit my website for more information.

Dr. Don Boudreaux, an economics professor at George Mason University and defender of free markets, joins the discussion to debunk common myths of capitalism. He challenges the idea that globalization harms the middle class and reveals that higher tariffs actually hinder industrial growth. Boudreaux emphasizes the importance of open trade for economic success and argues that technology, rather than trade, drives manufacturing job losses. With a blend of historical insight and economic clarity, he makes a compelling case for the benefits of economic freedom.

It goes by many names: cronyism, corporatism, political favoritism, corporate welfare, and more. No matter what you call it, it’s the same idea — government picking winners and losers in our economy. Some companies get special treatment through subsidies, tax breaks, loopholes, government contracts, low-interest loans, or in-kind support.In short, whenever the government promises a company a shortcut or special favor, that’s corporate welfare in action. It undermines competition, punishes smaller competitors, and costs taxpayers. It happens at every governmental level — local, state, and federal — and it’s always the public who pays the price.In today’s episode of This Week’s Economy, we’ll unpack the real costs of corporate welfare — who truly benefits, and who gets left behind. You can catch the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify. Visit: VanceGinn.com. Subscribe: VanceGinn.Substack.com

In a time when personal discipline and fiscal restraint feel out of fashion, Robert Ordway reminds us that the path to prosperity—both individually and nationally—still runs through faith, family, and responsibility.This week on the Let People Prosper Show, I’m joined by Robert Ordway, a writer, speaker, entrepreneur, and policy professional whose life story bridges small-town America and the halls of power in Washington. Robert currently serves as Senior Policy Advisor to Indiana Governor Mike Braun, supporting the Freedom & Opportunity Agenda. Previously, he worked in the U.S. Senate as Deputy Legislative Director and Senior Policy Advisor to then-Senator Braun, where he specialized in budget and tax issues, and with the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) advancing pro-growth policy across the states.Robert’s upcoming memoir, Mill Rat: A Memoir from the Multiethnic Working Class, tells the remarkable story of growing up in Gary, Indiana, caring for his father during a five-year battle with ALS, and overcoming profound family adversity through faith and perseverance. It’s a moving portrait of working-class America—and a lesson in personal agency that applies as much to the federal budget as to everyday life. We discuss the parallels between personal health and national spending, why faith and family remain the bedrock of freedom, and how fiscal conservatism is not just a policy preference but a moral necessity.For more insights, visit vanceginn.com. You can also get even greater value by subscribing to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com. Please share with your friends, family, and broader social media network. 

The federal government shutdown is still dragging on — now stretching into its second month — freezing key economic data and labor reports. This adds more uncertainty to already shaky markets, which are struggling under tariffs. Meanwhile, major developments are unfolding in the courts, from a pivotal Supreme Court case that could redefine presidential power over tariffs to an antitrust battle involving Pfizer and Novo Nordisk.At the state level, voters weighed in on key tax and spending measures that will shape local economies for years to come. A lot is happening across every level of government — and each of these stories ties back to one question: how do we keep America’s economy free, competitive, and growing? In This Week’s Economy, I explore this question in light of recent news. You can catch the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify.Visit: VanceGinn.comSubscribe: VanceGinn.Substack.com

In a world drowning in talk about government aid, redistribution, and populist “solutions,” it’s refreshing to hear from someone who has actually seen what works.This week on the Let People Prosper Show, I’m joined by Dr. Tom G. Palmer, one of the most respected and influential advocates for liberty around the globe. Tom serves as Executive Vice President for International Programs at Atlas Network, where he holds the George M. Yeager Chair for Advancing Liberty, and he’s a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute.He’s helped freedom movements in more than 100 countries—from Poland to Peru—and his work has shown time and again that free people, not foreign aid, drive prosperity. He’s the author of Realizing Freedom and the editor of The Morality of Capitalism and Why Liberty. His latest book, co-authored with Matt Warner, Development with Dignity: Self-Determination, Localization, and the End to Poverty, offers a roadmap for true, bottom-up progress.We talk about the moral foundations of capitalism, the failures of foreign aid, and how dignity and innovation—not dependency—lift people out of poverty. This conversation is a reminder that prosperity isn’t granted by governments—it’s earned by free individuals.For more insights, visit vanceginn.com. You can also get even greater value by subscribing to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com. Please share with your friends, family, and broader social media network. 

Last week, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates by a quarter percentage point, marking the second of what some expect to be a series of rate reductions in the coming months.The move came after new data showed consumer inflation rose 3% over the past year—slightly less than expected but above the Fed’s 2% inflation target. Traders are already betting on more cuts ahead.But the real question isn’t whether lower rates will boost the economy in the short term. It’s whether the Fed has learned from its mistakes—or is setting us up for yet another boom-and-bust cycle.In this episode of This Week’s Economy, we’ll break down what the Fed’s decision means, why it matters, and what real reform should look like if we want lasting prosperity. You can catch the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify.Visit: VanceGinn.comSubscribe: VanceGinn.Substack.com

Artificial intelligence isn’t just transforming industries—it’s redefining freedom, opportunity, and the future of human work. This week on the Let People Prosper Show, I talk with Kevin Frazier, the inaugural AI Innovation and Law Fellow at the University of Texas School of Law, where he leads their groundbreaking new AI Innovation and Law Program.Kevin’s at the center of the national conversation on how to balance innovation with accountability—and how to make sure regulation doesn’t crush the technological progress that drives prosperity. With degrees from UC Berkeley Law, Harvard Kennedy School, and the University of Oregon, Kevin brings both a legal and policy lens to today’s most pressing questions about AI, federalism, and the economy. Before joining UT, he served as an Assistant Professor at St. Thomas University College of Law and conducted research for the Institute for Law and AI. His scholarship has appeared in the Tennessee Law Review, MIT Technology Review, and Lawfare. He also co-hosts the Scaling Laws Podcast, bridging the gap between innovation and regulation.This episode goes deep into how we can harness AI to promote human flourishing, not government dependency—how we can regulate based on reality, not fear—and how federalism can help America remain the global leader in technological innovation.For more insights, visit vanceginn.com. You can also get even greater value by subscribing to my Substack newsletter at vanceginn.substack.com. Please share with your friends, family, and broader social media network.