David is joined by Richard Reinsch, the second guest to join Capital Record this year, for a discussion of the “new conservatives” and the “new right” movement toward populism. What you will hear in this discussion is that none of it seems very new at all.

Notes:
Reading the New Conservatives

David got very excited when a recent Wall Street Journal article said that “work-life balance will keep you mediocre.” He wrote a whole book tearing down the very concept of “work-life balance.” But this article’s rationale might be just as flawed as that of those who use this deplorable phrase.

Show Notes:
'Work-Life Balance' Will Keep You Mediocre

David takes on the state-capitalism idea that the right has been rightly critical of in China for many years (market forces that are highly directed by the state), but takes this cogent criticism to the idea of Nvidia revenue shares, Intel equity ownership, CEO selection, and other mystifying things that if a leftist president were doing the right would be losing their ever-loving minds over.

It appears from media reports that SiriusXM is done with their long-term, nine-figure (annual) relationship with Howard Stern, the former FM radio shock jock turned woke, politically correct bore. On today’s Capital Record, David walks through how the two Howard Sterns were both perfect encapsulations of the undermining of a free and virtuous society, only each Howard Stern did this in a totally different way. This is an unconventional Capital Record with a perspective you’re unlikely to hear anywhere else.

On today’s Capital Record, David looks at the issue of housing affordability and walks through Rahm Emanuel’s new op-ed in the Washington Post whereby a confused explanation of the financial crisis is given, and even more confused solutions are offered to a problem Rahm mostly identifies correctly. Few subjects in the American economy touch more people than housing, and if housing has become unaffordable for too many, the one thing we really cannot afford is to get this subject wrong.

Show notes:
What’s Really Depressing America’s Young Men

David looks at the unspeakable recent murder of the Blackstone Real Estate CEO and those who have celebrated the murder. Highlighting their despicable lack of moral clarity is the easy part. But unpacking the inexplicable economic ignorance embedded in their murderous hatred is perhaps an equally important subject. Fortunately, most people do not condone horrific murders; but unfortunately, far too many do buy the rationale that a Blackstone Real Estate CEO was doing something bad for regular people. And that assumption is what we will take to the woodshed in today’s Capital Record.

David is joined by his first podcast guest of 2025, and what a guest it is! The distinguished economist, Dr. Lacy Hunt, joins David to talk about a real assessment of the labor market; of economic growth; and of the second, third, and fourth order impact of tariffs. He transcends the mere first order inflationary impact to delve into the second order disinflationary impact. It is a fascinating conversation that is apolitical, objective, and vitally important.

Quarterly Review and Outlook

David responds to his National Review colleague Michael Brendan Dougherty's recent attack on free trade. David tries to be far more charitable in tone and content than protectionists appear willing to be, but seeks to hold the anti-free-trade crowd to the same thing all engaged in public argument ought to be held to, especially in an economic way of thinking: first principles, a limiting principle, and, most of all, the accountability of real life.

David takes a look at certain efforts to undermine the spirit of the law, whether or not the letter of the law is followed, and what it means for our financial markets. This is a golden issue for Capital Record, an optimal application of where freedom and virtue must be juxtaposed. 

This week, David unpacks some really important lessons on the current state of U.S. manufacturing: why the electoral and the political cannot be confused with the economic, and why neither should be confused with the cultural. There is something in here for everyone to be bothered by, so jump on in to a reality check about U.S. manufacturing.