In this episode of The Future of Liberty, Mitch Daniels speaks with journalist and author Matthew Yglesias about affordability, the social safety net, and the conditions required for economic dynamism in a free society. Their wide-ranging conversation examines housing, energy, transportation, education, and entitlement policy, with attention to the “sacred cows” that often shape political debate and influence approaches to reform.

• Civil Discourse & the Search for Truth (02:31)
• Energy Policy, Environmental Tradeoffs, & Reality (13:25)
• Artificial Intelligence & the Future of Learning (26:24)
• Work, Human Dignity, & Universal Basic Income (28:27)
• Liberty, Rule of Law, & National Prosperity (41:40)

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In this episode of The Future of Liberty, Gov. Mitch Daniels speaks with economist and writer Allison Schrager about the misunderstood legacy of neoliberalism, the real effects of tariffs and fiscal policy, and the growing risks posed by public pensions and entitlement programs. They explore America’s shifting relationship to risk, the rise and fading of the “virtue economy,” the persistence of DEI in institutions, and the politicization of universities and scientific research. Schrager also reflects on generational attitudes toward freedom and what the country must do to remain innovative, prosperous, and free.

• The Meaning of Neoliberalism (01:00)
• Trade, Tariffs & Political Discretion (09:10)
• The “Virtue Economy” & Market Distortions (19:40)
• Politicization of Universities & Science (26:45)
• The Decline of Risk-Taking in America (38:13)

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In this episode of The Future of Liberty with Governor Mitch Daniels, Walter Russell Mead argues that America’s security and prosperity are inseparable from the freedom of other nations. He explores how U.S. engagement in maintaining a balance of power has long supported global liberty, and examines how a new era—defined by rapid technological change, shifting economic power, and the resurgence of authoritarian rivals like China and Russia—is reshaping the relationship between American and global freedom.

• American Principles in a Changing World (02:07)
• A New Era of U.S. & Global Leadership (07:40)
• Democracy in the African Continent (29:31)
• Innovation v.s. U.S. Institutions (34:59)
• The Future of Affordable Healthcare (42:36)

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Mitch Daniels and George Will examine the ambitions and limits of American power—from the restless energy of the executive branch to the resilience of the republic’s institutions. Drawing on his decades of political observation, Will examines the overreach of executive power, the fatigue of America’s two-party system, and the civic virtues that uphold the republic. Together, they reflect on the creative ferment of a free society, the cyclical nature of history, and the moral limits that protect liberty from ambition and fatigue.

• Caging the “Ambitious Executive Lion” (1:36)
• The Exhausted Middle and Two-Party System (11:38)
• The Republic, Virtuous People, & Creative Ferment (21:50)
• The Tone of Presidential-Centric America (27:17)
• Cyclical History & the Role of Luck (33:11)

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In this episode of The Future of Liberty, Governor Mitch Daniels sits down with Matthew Continetti, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and founding editor of the Washington Free Beacon, to examine the evolving landscape of American conservatism in the age of Trump. Drawing on historical context, Continetti explores whether the MAGA movement represents a natural evolution of conservative thought—or a populist departure from its traditional principles.

• Columbia’s Ideological Legacy & Campus Unrest (1:37)
• Populism vs. Conservatism: Trump’s Challenge to the Right (7:47)
• Can MAGA Outlast Trump? Institutionalizing a Movement (20:15)
• Gen Z’s Rightward Shift & the Future of American Politics (27:44)
• Does Character Still Matter in Politics? (38:16)

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Tyler Cowen joins Mitch Daniels to explore AI’s promise, economic threats from debt and regulation, and the need for bold, intelligent policy to secure economic growth, innovation, and individual liberty. Cowen discusses his views on immigration, COVID lockdowns and addresses societal fear of confronting rapid technological change.

• U.S. Economic Growth & Fiscal Concern (7:32)
• Artificial Intelligence, Energy Demand, & the Labor Market (13:26)
• Cryptocurrency & Dangers of State-Run Digital Currency (21:54)
• Cowen's The Complacent Class (31:13)
• Rising Authoritarianism & the Future of Liberty (36:43)

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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In this episode of The Future of Liberty, Governor Mitch Daniels sits down with longtime strategist and writer David Keene for a wide-ranging conversation on the evolution of the conservative movement. From his early mentorship under Frank Meyer and work with Barry Goldwater to leading the American Conservative Union and the NRA, Keene reflects on fusionism, ideological shifts within the GOP, the rise of populism, cultural realignment, and the importance of civic virtue.

• Influential Leaders & Early Conservatism (2:40)
• The Dawn of Populism (11:57)
• Forecasting the Election & "The Problem" (25:36)
• Religious Decline & Free People (41:08)
• Shifts in News & Political Media (49:39)

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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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)

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 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)

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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