The American Compass Podcast

On this episode, Oren Cass is joined by Scott Gatzemeier, Corporate Vice President of Front End U.S. Expansion at Micron Technology, to discuss the on-the-ground reality of the CHIPS Act rollout.

In this fascinating discussion, Scott shares details on Micron’s plans to build new semiconductor fabs in the U.S., enabled by the CHIPS Act. He and Oren dive into the economics of the site selection process, the expected economic impact and job creation, and what’s needed to sustain momentum in rebuilding this critical industry.

Further Reading:

• A Guide to the Semiconductor Industry
• America’s Microchip Slip (National Review)
• Pass the CHIPS, Please

This month, Oren Cass delivered the 2024 First Things Lecture in Washington, DC, on the topic, "Constructing Conservatism in the Secular Age." What should conservative politics look like at a time when many Americans are no longer religious?

In this episode of the American Compass Podcast, Oren Cass talks with Patrick Ruffini, founding partner of Echelon Insights, about his book "Party of the People," which examines the Republican Party's transformation in recent years.

Ruffini argues that the divide between college-educated and non-college voters has become the defining cleavage in American politics. Ruffini and Cass discuss the cultural and economic roots of this realignment, the unique political talents of figures like Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, and how both parties are struggling to build broad coalitions.

How can the media better understand the reality of American life outside the Beltway, and what are reporters missing about these shifting economic and political debates?

From American Compass's recent symposium on the New Conservative Story, David Leonhardt of the New York Times moderates a discussion with Emily Jashinsky (National Journalism Center and The Federalist) and Idrees Kahloon (The Economist) about the media's narrative and understanding of conservatism and American life outside DC.

What does the right-of-center's economic debate mean for political leaders and how is it being translated into electoral politics in 2024 and beyond?

From American Compass's  recent symposium on the New Conservative Story, Jerry Seib of the Wall Street Journal moderates a discussion with Michael Brendan Dougherty (National Review) and Tim Chapman (Advancing American Freedom) about what conservatism's shifting approach to economics means at the ballot box.

How is conservative thinking about economic policy and the role of government changing?

From our recent symposium on the New Conservative Story, Rana Foroohar of the Financial Times moderates a discussion with Julius Krein (American Affairs) and Michael Strain (American Enterprise Institute) digging into how the American right-of-center is thinking about economic policies from trade to government spending to organized labor.

On this episode of the American Compass podcast, Oren Cass is joined by John A. Burtka IV, president and CEO of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute and author of the new book of old wisdom on governing, Gateway to Statesmanship. They discuss how to cultivate and educate a better elite, what the “mirrors for princes” tradition has to teach today’s leaders, and, of course, aristo-populism.

Click here to check out Burtka's book, out today!

On this episode of Talkin’ (Policy) Shop, Oren and Chris weigh in on the ongoing fight over the Child Tax Credit in Congress and discuss more broadly the question of how conservatives should think about supporting families—without getting mired in 30-year-old fights about welfare.

Further Reading:

• Our new survey: The Family Policy Renaissance, Explained
• Issues 2024: Family
• Putting the Money Where the Working Families Are (Oren Cass)
• Among US Conservatives, the Dial Is Shifting on Welfare (Oren Cass, Financial Times)
• Conservatives Should Embrace Child Tax Credit Expansion (Duncan Braid, Newsweek)

On this episode of Talkin’ (Policy) Shop, Oren and Chris discuss globalization—how we got here, the problems it has created, and what policymakers should do now. Drawing on our new survey (out today!), they dig into what voters think and how and why economists and policymakers are so disconnected from average Americans on this issue.

Specifically, we find that:

• 47% of Americans say that the nation has "suffered" from its embrace of globalization. Only 33% believe the nation has benefited.
• 70% of Americans believe policymakers should focus on "trying to help struggling areas recover." Only 30% believe the focus should be on "trying to help people move to more prosperous areas."

Read the full issue brief here: Issues 2024: Globalization, and read the full survey here: The American Rejection of Globalization

Oren Cass and the Heritage Foundation’s Steve Moore debate immigration and wages at the Intercollegiate Studies Institute’s American Economic Forum. The debate offers a stark illustration of the shift underway from a paradigm that celebrates cheap and plentiful labor to one that recognizes scarce labor and rising wages as drivers of productivity and prosperity has enormous implications for every facet of economic policy.

Click here to watch the debate on YouTube.