The Cato Weekly Podcast - Cato Institute

Latest Episodes:

Is the US Already Quasi-Socialist? Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

Socialism is making a comeback in American politics, but do people actually know what "socialism" means?

In this episode of the Cato Weekly Podcast, Paul Meany sits down with Marian Tupy to unpack the rise of “democratic socialism,” the growth of the welfare state, and the crucial difference between government assistance and government control.

Read Marian's article here:

https://www.cato.org/commentary/bill-mahers-category-error-socialism

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The Controversy Over Flock Cameras Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

Flock cameras and other forms of surveillance technology are spreading across America, promising to help police solve crimes. But the technology has also created a vast network for tracking where Americans go.

Join Laura Bondank-Harmon and Clark Neily as they discuss how much privacy and freedom we’re giving up in the name of security.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Hard Is It to Rig an American Election? Sep 22, 2026

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How Hard Is It to Rig an American Election?

Election fraud claims are increasingly more common.

Walter Olson joins Stephen Rowe to separate genuine election irregularities from viral fraud claims. They explain what the evidence tells us about mail-in voting, voter ID, foreign interference, and the integrity of the US election system.

Read Walter's work here:

https://www.cato.org/people/walter-olson

Producer: Barbara Galletti

Post Production: Sedona LaMarre

Audio Engineer: Cecil Sherman

Original Music: Cecil Sherman

Director of Photography: Darren Walker

Assistant Producer: Elcid Demonteverde

Assistant Editor: Lester Romero

Motion Graphics: Jonathan Fields

Executive Producer: Kristina Kendall

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Uncle Sam Owning Private Companies? Sep 15, 2026

Show notes

In an unprecedented expansion of its role in the marketplace, the Trump administration has acquired ownership interests in dozens of firms.

Cato's Scott Lincicome joins Laura Bondank-Harmon to discuss this radical move from the US government, the seen and unseen costs of intervening in the private sector, and how should Congress act if they want to put a stop to it before it's too late.

Read more of Scott's work here:

https://www.cato.org/free-society/winter-2026/conspicuous-fist-trumps-state-corporatism

Executive Producer: Kristina Kendall

Producer: Barbara Galletti

Post Production: Sedona LaMarre

Audio Engineer: Cecil Sherman

Original Music: Cecil Sherman

Director of Photography: Darren Walker

Assistant Producer: Elcid Demonteverde

Assistant Editor: Lester Romero

Motion Graphics: Jonathan Fields

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Much Would the DSA's Agenda Cost? Sep 08, 2026

Show notes

Free health care, housing, college, paid leave, and retirement benefits may sound appealing... but how would we pay for them?

Rikki Schlott sits down with Cato’s Adam Michel to unpack the Democratic Socialists of America’s ambitious agenda and the staggering cost of its proposals. If taxing the rich and corporations is not enough to foot the bill, who would be paying next?

Access Adam Michel's research here:

https://www.cato.org/blog/who-will-pay-democratic-socialisms-200-trillion-cost

Executive Producer: Kristina Kendall

Producer: Barbara Galletti

Post Production: Sedona LaMarre

Audio Engineer: Cecil Sherman

Original Music: Cecil Sherman

Director of Photography: Darren Walker

Assistant Producer: Elcid Demonteverde

Assistant Editor: Lester Romero

Motion Graphics: Jonathan Fields

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coming Soon: The Cato Weekly Podcast Sep 01, 2026

Show notes

Every Tuesday on The Cato Weekly Podcast, leading scholars and policymakers from the Cato Institute delve into the big ideas shaping our world: individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Whether unpacking current events, debating civil liberties, exploring technological innovation, or tracing the history of classical liberal thought, we promise insightful analysis grounded in rigorous research and Cato’s signature libertarian perspective.

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How to Spot a Wrong Number Aug 27, 2026

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A number that's precise, dramatic, and politically convenient should raise your suspicion, not lower it. Aaron Brown, author of Wrong Number:

How to Extract Truth from a Blizzard of Quantitative Disinformation, joins Cato's Ryan Bourne to break down the warning signs of a bad statistic, from missing context to claims that arrive straight from a press release.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heller's Sequel Has a New Weapon Aug 25, 2026

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The Supreme Court has agreed to hear Vermont versus Cook County, its biggest Second Amendment case since Heller. The Cato Institute's Clark Neily, who worked on the original Heller case, joins Rikki Schlott to explain what's at stake for the 20 to 25 million Americans who already own an AR-15 style rifle.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How Do You Solve A Problem Like Affordability? Aug 20, 2026

Show notes

Rep. Kevin Fitzpatrick (R) and Rep. Thomas Suozzi (D) lead one of Washington's only bipartisan caucuses, the Problem Solvers Caucus, and they've teamed up on an affordability agenda that touches housing, energy, health care, and immigration. Ryan Bourne walks through where their plan overlaps with Cato's own affordability handbook, and where free market and interventionist solutions still diverge.

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Can Government Run a Grocery Store? Aug 18, 2026

Show notes

New York City Mayor Mamdani wants five city owned grocery stores selling staples 30% below cost, at $70 million to build and $100 million a year to run. Cato's Rikki Schlott talks with Don Boudreaux about why private supermarkets survive on 2% profit margins, and what actually happens when government tries to run a store.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.