Damage Control

Journalist and heterodox liberal Zaid Jilani joins the show to debate whether income inequality is a problem and discuss whether the progressive solutions championed by the AOCs of the world really make sense.

Should we even care about inequality? Should we define poverty as relative? Should billionaires exist?

We discuss all this and more.

Follow Zaid on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZaidJilani

Progressive Democrats and socialists claim that only more welfare programs can help the poor get ahead. The R Street Institute's Shoshana Weissmann joins the show to rebut this narrative and explain how free-market, pro-capitalism policy reforms can uplift the working class. We discuss occupational licensing reform, deregulation, cronyism, and how big government can stifle competition and lock poor and minority workers out of a job.

Oh, and we discuss whether my boyfriend broke the law by cutting my hair during quarantine, why some people mistake her for a senator from East Virginia (which doesn't exist), her love for Neil Gorsuch, tofu, and more.

Follow Shoshana on Twitter: https://twitter.com/senatorshoshana.

With the Dec. 10 execution of Brandon Bernard, the Trump administration is on track to execute more prisoners than any presidential administration in 130 years.

Conservative, pro-life activist, and commentator Hannah Cox joins the show to discuss why she believes conservatives should oppose the death penalty and this spree of executions. She tells her story of going from a staunch pro-death-penalty advocate to completely changing her mind and now running an organization called Conservatives Concerned About the Death Penalty.

Does the death penalty actually save money? Is it actually a deterrent for crime? Just how many innocent people get caught up and killed by the system? And do death penalty opponents sometimes downplay the atrocities of the crimes in question?

We discuss all this and more in a special bonus episode. (Oh, and Hannah offers up a spicy food take on pickles).

Follow Hannah on Twitter: https://twitter.com/HannahCox7.

Follow Brad on Twitter: https://twitter.com/brad_polumbo.

Knox County, Tennessee Mayor Glenn "Kane" Jacobs joins the show to discuss his unusual journey from being a WWE wrestling superstar to libertarian-Republican elected official.

We discuss the similarities between professional wrestling and politics and how the mayor came to hold libertarian political views and support free-market economics. What's the proper role of loyal government and states' rights? What has he been able to accomplish as mayor? We wrap up with his food take on pineapple on pizza.

Follow Mayor Jacobs on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GlennJacobsTN.

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Venezuelan expatriate turned free-market economist Daniel Di Martino joins the show to explain how socialism ruined his home country and forever altered his life trajectory. He explains how widespread nationalization of private industry, massive government spending, and money-printing led to runaway inflation that destroyed the economy.

Could this really ever happen in America? And what, if any, are the differences between the "democratic socialism" being advanced here in the U.S. by the likes of Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the movement that led to Venezuela's downfall?

Plus, we discuss Daniel's experience as a successful legal immigrant to the United States, as well as what the anti-immigration Right fails to understand about the social and economic benefits of legal immigration to the U.S. We wrap up with Daniel's hot take on Nutella, of all foods.

Follow Brad on Twitter: https://twitter.com/brad_polumbo.

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Episode 2 of BASED is here!

Join libertarian-conservative writer, commentator, and activist, Hannah Cox as she breaks down the ways public policy disrupted to the economy and led to skyrocketing tuition costs and a looming student loan bubble.

After being ranked the #1 most fiscally conservative governor in the country by the Cato Institute, New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu discusses the free-market policies that have led his state to success. We break down his commitment to keeping New Hampshire an income-tax-free state and why he believes that create an advantage for the Granite State. We also discuss his how his business background has informed his tenure as governor, the deregulatory efforts he's made across all industries, the minimum wage, and the proper role of state and local government in a free society.

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Follow Brad on Twitter: https://twitter.com/brad_polumbo.

Young Americans for Liberty President Cliff Maloney joins the show to break down YAL's massive success electing hundreds of libertarian-leaning state legislators and local officials including many victories this November. We discuss how this was largely achieved through the GOP and Rand-Paul-esque "liberty Republicans," in contrast to the ideologically purist but perennially unsuccessful approach of the Libertarian Party.

Follow Cliff on Twitter: https://twitter.com/LibertyCliff

Follow Brad on Twitter: https://twitter.com/brad_polumbo

Business Insider elections reporter Grace Panetta joins the show to break down President Trump's argument that widespread voter fraud means the 2020 election results were 'rigged' against him. We honestly engage with Republican and conservative concerns one-by-one, explaining why they simply are not true, or, in any case, would not change the outcome of the presidential election.

We wrap up the conversation with the eternal debate among Massachusetts natives: Dunkin Donuts or Starbucks? And Grace's hot take on pasta sauce will cause some controversy for sure.

Wasn't the Election Actually Pretty Good for Republicans? 1:35

Follow Grace on Twitter: https://twitter.com/grace_panetta

Follow Brad on Twitter: https://twitter.com/brad_polumbo

In a special bonus episode, Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist joins the show to recap the various state-level tax cut referendums that won big on Election Day. From Illinois to Colorado, blue-state voters rejected tax hikes even as they backed Joe Biden in wide margins. What can we take away from these state-level victories for the national debate?

So, too, we break down what Biden's tax hikes would mean for the economy. Is it true that he would only raise taxes on "the rich?" What about the Obamacare taxes? And who really bears the burden of corporate tax hikes?

Then, we discuss President Trump's strong record on tax cuts and deregulation. To what extent were the benefits undercut by harmful tariffs and "Trade War" fallout?

Finally, we analyze the right-of-center debate over a "carbon tax" to address climate change. Is it justifiable from a conservative perspective to address a negative environmental externality? Or are there free-market solutions?

Follow Grover on Twitter: https://twitter.com/GroverNorquist.

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