Free The Economy
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
138 episodes
Ideological Diversity on the Right with Peter Lipsett
This week we cover Ray Dalio’s Big Debt Cycle, scandal in climate finance, jobs destroyed by tariffs, why AI can’t replace free markets, and the debut of the new publication "The Argument." Our interview this week is with Peter Lipsett...
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Episode 138
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47:24
Subsidies for Billionaires with David McGarry
This week we cover White House intervention in corporate ownership, the nation’s falling economic freedom ranking, and welcome new reforms to the Endangered Species Act. Our interview this week is with David McGarry, Research Director at the Ta...
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Episode 137
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38:49
Welfare and Work with Kevin Corinth
This week we cover new inflation data, public attitudes about Social Security, and California’s self-inflicted energy crisis. Our interview this week is with Kevin Corinth, Senior Fellow and Deputy Director of the Center on Opportunity and Soci...
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Episode 136
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49:54
Girlbossing the Discourse with Emma Camp
This week we cover controversy at the Bureau of Labor Statistics, myths of the auto industry, and a new SPAC from the Trump kids. Our interview this week is with Emma Camp, associate editor at Reason magazine and author of the forthcoming book ...
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Episode 135
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47:38
Crushing Capitalism with Norbert Michel
This week we cover the Trump administration’s AI action plan, Detroit’s unlikely rebirth, pushing back on EU tech regulation, and why the golden age of air travel is now. Our interview this week is with Norbert Michel, vice president at the Cat...
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Episode 134
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46:26
Costs and Benefits of Urban Transit with John Charles
This week we cover Dodd-Frank’s 15th anniversary, a victory for homeowners in Oregon, and an alternative to socialist grocery stores in New York City. Our interview this week is with John Charles, president of the Cascade Policy Institute in Po...
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Episode 133
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40:54
Corporate Responsibility and Taxpayer Protections with John Mozena
This week we cover Trump tariffs, Obama’s endorsement of housing abundance, and why the green energy industry needs more market discipline. Our interview this week is with John Mozena, president of the Center for Economic Accountability. We’ll ...
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Episode 132
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59:22
AI Frontiers with Corbin Barthold
This week’s episode features Corbin Barthold, Internet Policy Counsel at TechFreedom and host of the Tech Policy Podcast. This is a special dual episode of both shows, featuring a conversation about the frontiers of the artificial inte...
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Episode 131
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1:05:59
Alcohol Labels and Warnings with David Clement
This week we cover housing abundance in California, the meaning of a market economy, union privileges for government workers, and the decline in heart attack deaths. Our interview this week is with David Clement, North American Affairs Manager ...
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Episode 130
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43:03
Shareholders vs. Stakeholders with Jerry Bowyer
This week we cover the failure of postal banking, Trump (again) pausing the TikTok ban, and the political crack-up between unions and the Democratic party. Our interview this week is with Jerry Bowyer, CEO of Bowyer Research and host of the Mee...
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Episode 129
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59:59
The Reagan Legacy in the 21st Century with Dan Rothschild
This week we cover FreedomFest 2025, the FDA’s block on effective sunblock, good news about critical minerals, and Walmart’s expanding drone fleet. Our interview this week is with Dan Rothschild, director of the Center for Civics, Education, an...
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Episode 128
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38:25
Drug Costs and Benefits with Sally Pipes
This week we cover reforms to the Endangered Species Act, attacks on U.S. tech firms, nuclear power innovation, and an exciting new book on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing. Our interview this week is with Sally Pipes, Pres...
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Episode 127
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41:48
Tariffs and Corruption with Justin Callais
This week we cover donor privacy, the DOGE legacy, and the impact of import taxes on the auto industry. Our interview this week is with Justin Callais, chief economist at the Archbridge Institute. We’ll talk about tariffs, exemptions, cro...
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Episode 126
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47:15
Protecting Consumer Credit with Caroline Melear
This week we cover new research on trade and tariffs, how to understand market forces, and good news for coral reefs. Our interview this week is with Caroline Melear, Resident Fellow in Finance at the R Street Institute. We’ll talk about consum...
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Episode 125
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39:38
Next Steps for Nuclear with Deric Tilson
This week we cover Jamie Dimon on tariff jitters, the Tax Foundation on the One Big Beautiful Bill, Jesse Walker on Biden cheapfake accusations, and Devin Watkins on dishwasher freedom. Our interview this week is with Deric Tilson, senior nucle...
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Episode 124
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41:54
Reforming Medicaid with Brian Blase
This week we cover farm tariffs, the decline in green investing, and the effort to stop state governments from regulating AI. Our interview this week is with Brian Blase, President of Paragon Health Institute. We’ll talk about healthcare, pover...
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Episode 123
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41:07
Dear Mr. President with Destry Edwards
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 ...
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Episode 122
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44:31
Waste, Fraud, and Tax Hikes with Emily Ekins
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 Emi...
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Episode 121
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47:06
Reforming Washington's 10,000 Commandments with Wayne Crews
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 ...
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Episode 120
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47:52
Economic Ideas for American Workers with Ryan Young
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 Inst...
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Episode 119
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47:46
Trade Myths (and Facts) with Prof. Michael Coon
This week we cover smartphones for kids, insomnia and anxiety in pre-industrial times, and a blueprint for modernizing the Environmental Protection Agency. Our interview this week is with Michael Coon, Associate Professor of Economics in the Sy...
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Episode 118
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44:06
An Affordable and Reliable Future with Gabriella Hoffman
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 Cente...
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Episode 117
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49:00
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...
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Episode 116
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39:02
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, p...
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Episode 115
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54:40
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 tal...
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Episode 114
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56:44