The Cato Weekly Podcast

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Adam Michel, Michael Cannon, and Dominik Lett break down the One Big Beautiful Bill. Is it $3.4 trillion, or actually $6 trillion? Is Medicaid getting a cut or a trim? With spending cuts pushed to later years and tax benefits front-loaded, the scholars dissect the political calculations and baseline accounting that shaped this massive piece of legislation.

Show Notes:

Michael F. Cannon, “Congress Must Cut and Reform Medicaid,” Cato at Liberty (blog), July 18, 2023. https://www.cato.org/blog/congress-must-cut-reform-medicaid.

Chris Edwards, “The Senate’s Big, Beautiful Blunder Could Increase the Debt by $6 Trillion,” Cato at Liberty (blog), October 30, 2023. https://www.cato.org/blog/senates-big-beautiful-blunder-could-increase-debt-6-trillion.

“Senate Budget Serves Dessert First, Spinach Later,” Cato Institute, October 26, 2023. https://www.cato.org/news-releases/senate-budget-serves-dessert-first-spinach-later.

Romina Boccia, “Fiscal Hawks to the Defense of the GOP’s Deficit-Busting Budget Bill,” Cato at Liberty (blog), November 1, 2023. https://www.cato.org/blog/fiscal-hawks-defense-gops-deficit-busting-budget-bill.

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Michael F. Cannon and Neal McCluskey let us listen in on their ongoing 20-year debate over who has the more difficult job -- fixing health care or education. McCluskey argues that government's monopolistic control over K-12 education and compulsory schooling creates a more fundamental threat to freedom, while Cannon contends that health care is even more dysfunctional due to cascading government interventions that have created the world's most expensive and gap-ridden health system. Both scholars explore how government subsidies drive up costs in their respective sectors and outline their visions for more libertarian, market-based alternatives.

Show Notes:

https://www.cato.org/free-society/summer-2025/federal-failure-parental-freedom-story-movement 

https://www.cato.org/blog/supreme-court-right-reading-opt-outs-thats-not-enough

https://www.cato.org/blog/top-5-reasons-end-us-department-education

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Justin Logan and Jon Hoffman delve into Hoffman's latest policy analysis, "Aimless Rivalry: The Futility of U.S. China Competition in the Middle East." They debunk justifications for U.S. Middle East policy based on competition with China and challenge prevailing narratives in international relations. Tune in for a thorough discussion that puts threats in context and examines U.S. policy through a skeptical lens.

Show Notes:

Hoffman, Jon. Aimless Rivalry: The Flawed Assumptions Driving U.S. Middle East Policy. Policy Analysis no. 956. Washington, DC: Cato Institute, July 24, 2023. https://www.cato.org/policy-analysis/aimless-rivalry.

Gholz, Eugene, and Daryl G. Press. “Why the Middle East Still Doesn’t Matter.” Politico Magazine, October 15, 2014. https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/10/why-the-middle-east-still-doesnt-matter-111747/.

Ashford, Emma. The Case for Withdrawing from the Middle East. Washington, DC: Defense Priorities, 2019. https://www.defensepriorities.org/reports/the-case-for-withdrawing-from-the-middle-east/.

Preble, Christopher A., and Jon Hoffman. “Middle East Security.” In Cato Handbook for Policymakers, 9th ed., 406–13. Washington, DC: Cato Institute, 2022. https://www.cato.org/cato-handbook-policymakers/cato-handbook-policymakers-9th-edition-2022/middle-east-security.

Hoffman, Jon. “The U.S. Has Nothing to Fear from China in the Middle East.” Cato Institute, June 20, 2023. https://www.cato.org/commentary/us-has-nothing-fear-china-middle-east.

Hoffman, Jon. “Jon Hoffman Participates in Event: U.S.-China Competition and the Value of the Middle East.” Cato Institute, April 25, 2023. https://www.cato.org/multimedia/media-highlights-tv/jon-hoffman-participates-event-us-china-competition-value-middle.

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What are stablecoins, how do they work, and what does the future hold for these innovative financial instruments? Join Norbert Michel and Jennifer Schulp from the Cato Institute's Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives as they delve into the evolving landscape of stablecoin legislation. Whether you're a seasoned crypto enthusiast or just curious about digital currencies, this discussion will provide valuable insights into the regulatory environment and the potential impacts on the financial system.

Show Notes:

Norbert J. Michel and Jack Solowey. “Stablecoin Bills Galore: How Do They Stack Up?” Cato at Liberty (blog), July 27, 2023. https://www.cato.org/blog/stablecoin-bills-galore-how-do-they-stack.

Jack Solowey. “Stablecoin Legislation Must Ensure Financial Privacy.” Cato Institute, August 15, 2023. https://www.cato.org/commentary/stablecoin-legislation-must-ensure-financial-privacy.

Nicholas Anthony. “The GENIUS Act Is a Good Start. Congress Could Make It Smarter.” Cato Institute, June 6, 2023. https://www.cato.org/commentary/genius-act-good-start-congress-could-make-it-smarter.

“Stablecoins, Market Structure, and More: Evaluating the Crypto Legislative Landscape.” Cato Institute Video, August 29, 2023. https://www.cato.org/multimedia/cato-video/stablecoins-market-structure-more-evaluating-crypto-legislative-landscape.

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In this episode, Alex Nowrasteh and Ryan Bourne delve into the intriguing journey of Doge 1.0 under Donald Trump's administration. From Elon Musk's ambitious overhaul to the eventual departure of key figures, they explore the chaotic, amusing, and concerning facets of this government efficiency experiment. With insights into the economic impacts, legislative hurdles, and potential future in Doge 2.0, this discussion sheds light on the complexities of attempting a bureaucratic revolution. Join Alex and Ryan as they dissect the promises, failures, and hopes of a libertarian downsizing dream.

Show Notes:

Alex Nowrasteh and Ryan Bourne, "Cato Institute Report to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)" White Paper, December 11, 2024

Ryan Bourne and Alex Nowrasteh, "Small-Government Conservatives Should Give DOGE a Chance" The Dispatch, December 30, 2024

Ryan Bourne and Alex Nowrasteh, "DOGE Can’t Just Trim Waste. It Has to Cut Government — A Lot" U.S. News & World Report, January 7, 2025

Ryan Bourne, "DOGE: Efficiency Requires Elimination" The War on Prices, March 14, 2025

Alex Nowrasteh and Ryan Bourne, "Six Ways to Understand DOGE and Predict Its Future Behavior" cato.org, March 17, 2025

Ryan Bourne, "Does DOGE Show That There’s Little Government Waste?" The War On Prices May 9, 2025

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Is misinformation really a new crisis—or just the latest chapter in a centuries-old debate over truth, speech, and power? In this episode, Cato Institute’s Jennifer Huddleston and David Inserra unpack the cultural and policy panic surrounding misinformation and disinformation in the age of AI, deepfakes, and viral tweets. Who should decide what counts as truth online? Plus, why humility, media literacy, and a competitive internet might be better solutions than censorship.

Show Notes:

Jennifer Huddleston, "AI and the Future of Our Elections" Testimony, September 27, 2023

Jennifer Huddleston and David Inserra, "Oversight Board Comment on Misinformation and Manipulated Media: The Importance of Free Expression in the Debate over Misinformation" cato.org, October 25, 2023

Jennifer Huddleston, "The Rush to Regulate AI Coule be the Death of Parody" National Review (Online), January 26, 2024

David Inserra and Jennifer Huddleston, "Actually, Tim Walz, the First Amendment Does Protect Misinformation and ‘Hate Speech’" National Review, August 11, 2024

Jennifer Huddleston and Emma Hopp, "What the Past Can Teach Us about Our AI Fears" Reason, October 29, 2024

David Inserra and Brent Skorup, "Comments in Response to FCC “Delete, Delete, Delete” Initiative" cato.org, April 11, 2025

David Inserra, "The Misleading Panic over Misinformation" Policy Analysis No. 999, June 26, 2025

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Is your financial life really private? In this eye-opening episode, Cato Institute's Norbert Michel and Nicholas Anthony take us deep into the world of financial surveillance, starting with the 1970 Bank Secrecy Act. What was originally sold as a tool to catch tax cheats has quietly evolved into a sprawling system of government oversight—with banks and financial institutions acting as unwitting watchdogs. From suspicious activity reports to the third-party doctrine, Norbert and Nicholas explain how the erosion of Fourth Amendment protections has happened largely out of public view. They break down the law’s legacy, how it expanded post-9/11, and why $10,000 isn’t the large sum it once was. But there's reason for optimism. With growing public awareness, privacy-focused tech, and new reform legislation finally on the table, change might be within reach. If you thought your bank account was your business, think again—this episode will make you see it in a whole new light.

Show Notes:

Norbert Michel and Jennifer J. Schulp, "Revising the Bank Secrecy Act to Protect Privacy and Deter Criminals" Policy Analysis No. 932, July 26, 2022

Nicholas Anthony, "The Right to Financial Privacy" Policy Analysis No. 945, May 2, 2023

Norbert Michel, "The Bank Secrecy Act Is a Bigger Threat than FISA" Forbes, April 17, 2024

Nicholas Anthony and Naomi Brockwell, "The Illusion of Financial Privacy" Reason.com, May 30, 2024

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In this episode, Cato Institute's Scott Lincicome and Adam Michel dive deep into the sweeping new legislation—dubbed "The One Big Beautiful Bill"—moving through Congress. They break down what’s at stake as key provisions of the 2017 tax reform are set to expire, unpack the bill’s complex mix of tax cuts, new carve-outs, and industrial subsidies, and examine why temporary tax policy and policy uncertainty could derail economic growth. Plus, they confront the fiscal fiction behind tariffs as a reliable revenue source and make the case for a cleaner, more permanent pro-growth tax system. If you're looking for a sharp, honest take on where tax and trade policy stand in 2025—and where they should go—this one’s for you.

Show Notes:

Adam Michel, "Republicans’ One, Big, Beautiful Tax Bill Needs a Makeover" Cato.org, May 14, 2025

Adam Michel, "Four Things the Senate Can Do to Improve the House Tax Bill" Cato.org, May 22, 2025

Scott Lincicome, "Republicans Can’t Pay for Their Tax Cuts with Fantasy Revenue Sources" The Washington Post, May 27, 2025

Scott Lincicome, "Trump’s Latest Tariff Idea Is Dangerously Foolish" The Dispatch, June 19, 2025

Adam Michel, "Senate Big Beautiful Bill: More Growth, More Subsidies, More Debt" Cato.org, June 30th, 2025

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