In this episode of The Future of Liberty, Governor Mitch Daniels sits down with Neal B. Freeman—author, broadcaster, and founding figure of modern American conservatism. Freeman recounts his early work at National Review alongside William F. Buckley, reflects on the movement’s intellectual origins, and discusses the enduring tension between ordered liberty and state overreach.

• Freeman’s Upbringing & Introduction to William F. Buckley (1:30)
• The Debate over the Iraq War (12:23)
• Producing Firing Line (21:48)
• The Defunding of Public Broadcasting (30:12)
• Young Leaders & The Future of Liberty (34:43)

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Governor Mitch Daniels sits down with Vice President Mike Pence to discuss lessons in preserving freedom in the midst of a global pandemic, faith traditions and self-governance, DOGE, and January 6th.

• The Preservation of the Republic & Secular Society (13:42)
• Essential versus Overrated Personal Character (17:35)
• Reflections on COVID-19 (20:09)
• The Federal System, DOGE, & National Debt (31:29)
• Recalling January 6 (45:17)

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Governor Mitch Daniels and Charles Murray, the F.A. Hayek Emeritus Chair in Cultural Studies at the American Enterprise Institute discuss the changing landscape of achievement in America, the widening gap between classes, and the interplay of liberty, responsibility, and self-respect.

• Family Structure & Changing Social Culture (8:45)
• Baby Boomers & The New Upper Class (19:58)
• College Saturation & The Gifted’s Role in National Success (26:33)
• The Precipitous Drop in Religiosity (37:17)
• Finding Tocqueville’s America & The Future of Liberty (44:56)

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On this episode of The Future of Liberty, Governor Mitch Daniels and Yuval Levin explore the vital role of hope as an active virtue in sustaining a free society. They discuss the pressing need to rebuild trust, reconnect with one another, and form coalitions that transcend disagreement. The conversation delves into the enduring importance of the Constitution, the often-overlooked "everyday work" of Congress, and thoughtful ideas for reforming America’s political party system.

• Civil Discourse & Productive Disagreement (4:46)
• Majority Rule & Minority Rights (14:59)
• The Constitution as a Political Framework (21:56)
• Critiques & Institutional Change (31:54)

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Governor Mitch Daniels and historian Amity Shlaes discuss misconceptions about the Great Depression and the New Deal; reevaluate the reputations of Presidents Coolidge, Hoover, and FDR; and consider the idea of the Forgotten Man.

• The Government Playing God (2:21)
• Hoover, The Laissez-faire Champion (8:01)
• Crafty Politicians versus Committed Ideolouges (18:57)
• The Forgotten Man (31:33)
• Why Not Socialism and Youth (40:01)

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Governor Mitch Daniels and renowned historian and author Sir Niall Ferguson discuss pressing current events including political polarization, the disturbing rise of violent antisemitic incidents, and the societal impact of aging populations. They also delve into the United States spending more on debt interest than on national security for the first time in history, the geopolitical threats and China's internal struggles, and a renewal of the U.S. national spirit with the emergence of new forms of American innovation and entrepreneurship.

• The reading ratio to understand and make history (2:02)
• Political polarization and woke culture (5:02)
• The new University of Austin (14:32)
• Gerontocracy and its impact on youth (21:30)
• Ferguson's Law on national debt and security (27:21)

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Governor Mitch Daniels and Reason magazine Senior Editor Stephanie Slade consider the changing factions of the American political landscape, the history and future of fusionism, and how college students became such big fans of big government. They also consider the contrast between the hopelessness of a static society and the hope and fears of a dynamic one and give us some reasons to be hopeful for the future of liberty.

• The American political shift and public opinion polling (2:02)
• The roots of fusionism and its modern interpretation (14:18)
• Youth and the appeal of the administration state (22:27)
• Limitations in a free market and punishing dynamism (30:43)

You can find The Future of Liberty with Gov. Mitch Daniels podcast wherever you get your podcasts including on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

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Governor Mitch Daniels and Senator Todd Young (R-Ind) discuss current threats to liberty, the state of the American military, the national debt, and the importance of continuing to invest in science and technology. They also consider the complex process of getting legislation passed, the impact of AI on military operations, and they close their discussion with some reasons to be hopeful about America in 2050.

• Global Threats & Liberty (00:44)
• Industrial Policy, the CHIPS Act, & Semiconductor Investment (12:22)
• Artificial Intelligence & TikTok (27:05)
• Chevron Deference & the Administrative State (33:30)

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Governor Mitch Daniels and constitutional law professor Randy Barnett discuss what it's like to be a conservative or libertarian on a liberal college campus, the changes in Barnett's political philosophy over time, and his development as a public meaning originalist. They also explore Barnett's interest in the ninth amendment and his theory that "first come rights and then comes government," as well as the idea that sometimes private property and liberty can be in conflict.

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Governor Daniels and Joe Lonsdale, the founder and managing partner of 8VC, discuss the prospects for liberty in the technology sector, challenges to liberty in public education, and the difficulty of starting a defense company when your competition is the government. They also discuss Lonsdale’s work with the University of Austin, the perils of DEI, the proper role of government, the way to a better future, and why Lonsdale likes Xenophon.

You can find The Future of Liberty with Gov. Mitch Daniels podcast wherever you get your podcasts including on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.

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