Mostly Economics

By Center for Economic and Policy Research and Dean BakerSociety & Culture News Government Politics

Mostly Economics episodes

October 08 Mostly Economics Podcast #55: Who pays when the AI bubble bursts with Ed Zitron
Today, Ed Zitron, renowned AI critic and writer of Where's Your Ed At, returns to Mostly Economics with Dean Baker to follow the money trail of today’s AI ‘revolution.’ They dig into Amazon's strange $8 billion chip deal, Oracle's mounting debt troubles, and the hundreds of billions in computing bills coming due for OpenAI and Anthropic. They warn that Wall Street made the bets and regular people will bear the losses. Why does it always seem to work out this way?
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45 min
October 02 Mostly Economics Podcast #54: Can the AI Bubble Wipe Out Your Retirement with Helaine Olen
Today, Dean Baker speaks with Helaine Olen of the American Economic Liberties Project about how regular people can protect their savings when the AI bubble bursts. Which index funds limit your exposure? Should you rebalance? Are bonds really safe? And why should crypto and private equity stay out of your 401(k)? If you have a retirement account (and even if you don’t), you should tune in._____
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54 min
September 24 Mostly Economics Podcast #53: Get Dark Money Out of American Politics with Tiffany Muller
In today's Mostly Economics episode, Dean takes a sobering look at the many levers of corruption shaping US politics with Tiffany Muller, president of End Citizens United. They discuss the influence of AI and big money on politics, the impact of the Citizens United decision, the consequences of a captured Supreme Court, and potential reforms to restore democracy. Muller also highlights the role of campaign finance, media control, and state-level initiatives in shaping America’s democratic future.
41 min
September 17 Mostly Economics Podcast #52: Rebuilding Worker Power with Heidi Shierholz
Dean Baker has a conversation with EPI president Heidi Shierholz about her new report, The Case for Tripling Union Membership. They discuss the economic benefits of boosting unionization rates, why employers can get away with union busting so often, and policy fixes like the PRO Act. This episode paints a clear picture of what is standing between workers joining unions and creating a world of greater economic equality.

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Read EPI's new report: https://tinyurl.com/ycx4ah68
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45 min
September 10 Mostly Economics Podcast #51: Boycott Starbucks with Vicente Martinez
Dean Baker speaks with Vicente Martinez, a Texas-based barista of eight years, about the Starbucks Workers Union new boycott campaign launched after five years of stalled talks with the company. Vicente recounts their own experience with understaffing, fighting to get enough hours to make a living wage and qualify for the basic benefits that Starbucks boasts it provides its workers. --
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33 min
September 03 Mostly Economics #50: Iran War, the West Bank, and Medicare for All with Ro Khanna
Rep. Ro Khanna joins Dean Baker to talk about the Iran war and his firsthand account of settler violence in the West Bank. He also makes the case for lowering the Medicare age to 50, calling it the kind of pragmatic, wage-boosting policy that would appeal to working class voters.
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31 min
August 27 Mostly Economics Podcast #49: The Economy We Deserve with Gerald Epstein
In a recent conversation, Dean Baker welcomed Gerald Epstein, PERI/UMass Professor of Economics, to discuss the innovative collection of policy essays titled Game Changers: Economic Policies for a Working America. This project, comprising contributions from around 40 experts, aims to propose transformative economic policies that could reshape the landscape for working Americans. These are ideas worth sharing with your home state's elected officials.
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46 min
August 20 Mostly Economics Podcast #48: US Control over the International Financial System with Mark Weisbrot
Dean Baker speaks with economist and CEPR co-founder and co-director Mark Weisbrot about the rare conditions that prompted the IMF to issue a lifeline to developing countries in the form of Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) in 2021, defying the US treasury. Allocating SDRs helped the global south, but it was just as much a rescue mission for the global economy, an action that had the support of Wall Street. Dean and Mark also discuss the US' deadly blockade and widespread sanctions regime that continues to immiserate the people of Cuba, Venezuela, and other sovereign nations opposed to US hegemony.
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41 min
August 13 Mostly Economics Podcast #47: Disposable Workers with Paul Osterman
Dean Baker talks with MIT economist Paul Osterman about his new book, Disposable Workers: The Transformation of Employment. Osterman explains how employers avoid W-2 responsibility for workers through contracting, freelancing, and "marginal" jobs, now affecting roughly 35% of the workforce, and what it means for pay, safety, and job security.

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40 min
August 06 Mostly Economics Podcast #46: Tariffs, Trade Deficits, and Vibes with Josh Bivens
Is AI spending the only thing keeping US growth alive? Dean Baker and EPI chief economist Josh Bivens dig into that question. They also explain how a financial transactions tax mainly eliminates wasteful Wall Street trading, plus tariff chaos and manufacturing's decline.
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54 min

About Mostly Economics

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Mostly Economics is a weekly show hosted by Center for Economic and Policy Research Senior Economist and co-founder, Dean Baker, about ways US economic policies affect everyday lives—from household…