Free The Economy

This week we cover AI development in China, how large investors recycle homes, and the need for reform of the Clean Air Act. Our guest this week is Josh Bandoch, Head of Policy at the Illinois Policy Institute and author of the new book How to Get What You Want: Mastering the Art and Science of Persuasion. We talk about putting other people first, understanding that values come before logic, cultivating our emotional intelligence, and investing in long-term professional relationships. 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. Interview transcripts are at greatcapitalism.substack.com.

This week we cover economic growth in China, the political legacy of Viktor Orban in Hungary, and the one-year anniversary of President Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs. Our guest this week is Travis Fisher, director of energy and environmental policy studies at the Cato Institute and previously our guest for Episode 49. We’ll talk about energy policy in a world of abundance, new demand from AI data centers, islands versus the grid, and how to create a large-scale reform of electricity regulation in the U.S. 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. Interview transcripts are at greatcapitalism.substack.com.

This week we cover deficit spending, the burdens of Total Boomer Luxury Communism, and how to renounce the villainization of business. Our guest this week is Jessica Melugin, director of the Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Center for Technology & Innovation. We’ll talk about social media platforms, keeping kids safe online, why we shouldn’t be following Europe’s example, and how to protect our constitutional rights from government encroachment. 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. Interview transcripts are at greatcapitalism.substack.com.

This week we cover income inequality, myths about homelessness, First Amendment protections for AI, and reforming unfunded mandates. Our guest this week is Gale Pooley of the Discovery Institute. We’ll talk about the death of Paul Ehrlich, the lives of Julian Simon and Norman Borlaug, the politics of population, and the ideas of growth, prosperity, innovation, and optimism. 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. Interview transcripts are at greatcapitalism.substack.com.

This week we cover housing affordability, train safety, Paul Ehrlich (1932-2026), and Brian Doherty (1968-2026). Our guest this week is Richard Stern, Vice President of the Plymouth Institute for Free Enterprise at Advancing American Freedom. We’ll talk about tariffs, the federal budget, tax policy, the national debt, and the North Star values that should guide economic policy. 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. Interview transcripts are at greatcapitalism.substack.com.

This week we cover the 250th anniversary of Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations, fighting fraud in broadband deployment, and cutting red tape to boost housing affordability. Our guest this week is James Copland, senior fellow and director of legal policy at the Manhattan Institute. We talk about stock, bonds, cryptocurrency, the SEC, the CFTC, and the future of financial regulation in the U.S. 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. Interview transcripts are at greatcapitalism.substack.com.

This week we cover housing abundance, capitalism’s approval rating, audits of state finances, and the consumer nostalgia of Stranger Things. Our guest this week is Douglas Carswell of the Mississippi Center for Public Policy. We talk about literacy, school choice, workforce development, taxes, and how the people of Mississippi are creating a new generation of prosperity for themselves and their neighbors. 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. Interview transcripts are at greatcapitalism.substack.com.

This week we cover the Supreme Court’s recent decision on tariff powers, myths of the Great Recession, and fiduciary duty for asset managers in Oklahoma. Our guest this week is Spence Purnell of the R Street Institute. We talk about Big Tech companies, European regulators, compliance costs, and the First Amendment. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. 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. Interview transcripts are at greatcapitalism.substack.com.

This week we cover the sneaky federal cause of high housing prices, record outflows from ESG investment funds, and why YouTube and Instagram shouldn’t be legally liable for the emotional problems of anxious teenagers. Our guest this week is Alex Durante of the Tax Foundation. We talk about the impact of Trump tariff policy on revenues, economic growth, and jobs. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. 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. Interview transcripts are at greatcapitalism.substack.com.

This week we talk about Consumer-Regulated Electricity, the amazing falling U.S. poverty rate, and how smart TVs are keeping us all connected. Our guest this week is Kevin Kosar, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. We’ll talk about the toxic Congress, the secret Congress, and how the legislative branch can reform itself (with our help). Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. 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 talk about satellite shot clocks at the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Reserve nominee Kevin Warsh’s digital-dollar beliefs, the burden of aluminum tariffs, and empowering state attorneys general to sue over credit card fees. Our guest this week is Justin Callais, chief economist of the Archbridge Institute. We’ll talk about education, entrepreneurship, taxes, federalism, and which state has the most social mobility. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. 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 talk about the last 50 years of regulatory reform, a new study on climate adaptation, and reforms to Kentucky’s property tax system. Our guest this week is Brian Albrecht, chief economist of the International Center for Law and Economics. We talk about economic growth, happiness, statistics, and the meaning of gross domestic product, or GDP. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. 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 talk about making a living in podcasting, confronting our mounting national debt, and assessing President Trump’s new healthcare plan. Our guest this week is Grant Dever of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, also known as FREOPP. We’ll talk about energy, abundance, permitting, affordability, and the SPEED Act. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. 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 talk about Trump’s 10% credit card interest proposal (and the dangers of populist economics in general), a new report on debanking from Cato Institute analyst (and previous Free the Economy guest) Nick Anthony, and, via previous guest Joey Politano, analysis of the blue-collar jobs that America is losing. Our guest this week is Russ Greene of the Prime Mover Institute. We talk about social security, taxes, retired workers, intergenerational equity, and what Russ has inspired the rest of us to start calling Total Boomer Luxury Communism. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. 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 talk about communist housing policy in New York City, the best economics and history books to read in 2026, a legal setback for unions in California and New York, and the hottest gadgets from CES in Las Vegas. Our guest this week is University of Alabama historian David Beito. We’ll talk about the New Deal, World War II, court packing, civil liberties, and his recent book, FDR: A New Political Life. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. 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 talk about corporate real estate investing, woke pension funds, changing fuel economy rules, and questions about a possible Trump Federal Reserve nominee. Our guest this week is Derek Scissors of the American Enterprise Institute and China Beige Book. We’ll talk about manufacturing, Trump policy, President Xi’s plans for Taiwan, and whether we should give up the Bill of Rights to get more bridges and high-speed trains. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. 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 talk about tariff refunds, Affordable Care Act subsidies, Ryan Young’s Books of the Year for 2025, and how Santa landed on Trump’s naughty list. Our guest this week is Marlo Lewis, Jr., senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. We talk about greenhouse gases, the Environmental Protection Agency’s “endangerment finding,” climate models, human health, and the future of environmental policy. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. 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 talk about the decline of electric vehicles, liberation for home appliances, the failure of tariffs to deliver new jobs, and the rise of climate realism. Our guest this week is James Erwin, Director of Innovation Policy at Americans for Tax Reform. We’ll talk about consumer finance, bank regulators, Elizabeth Warren’s view of the world, and when the government is allowed to violate your privacy. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. 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 talk about the economic impact of net-zero policies in blue states and Europe, top targets for environmental policy reform in 2026, a new report on digital debanking from Congress, and why 38% of Stanford students are claiming to be disabled. Our guest this week is Neil Bradley, executive vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. We’ll talk about taxes, regulation, free enterprise, innovation, and how we can create an economy where everyone can prosper. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. 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 talk about our 150th episode anniversary party, the documentary Dear Mr. President: The Letters of Julia Sand, the new $140,000-a-year poverty level, billionaire envy, and socialist deregulation of small businesses in New York City. Our guest this week is Kurt Couchman, senior fellow in fiscal policy at Americans for Prosperity and author of the excellent new book Fiscal Democracy in America: How a Balanced Budget Amendment Can Restore Sound Governance. We’ll talk about federal spending, the national debt and how it’s dragging down our economy, and why we need to add a balanced budget amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Free the Economy is hosted by Richard Morrison. 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.