Words & Numbers

Latest Episodes:

Episode 441: A Budget Surplus? Really? Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

In this week's Words & Numbers, Ant and James tackle the misunderstood world of corporate stock buybacks—are they economic malpractice or just savvy business? The duo then pivots to publicly funded media, taking aim at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and questioning its continued reliance on taxpayer dollars in an age of abundant private alternatives. They also examine the federal government's rare (and tiny) budget surplus in June, dissecting whether it's a meaningful trend or a statistical blip. Along the way, Steve Miller cancels his tour for baffling reasons, Trump forgets he appointed Powell, and the guys reflect on why government tax revenue stubbornly sticks to 18% of GDP—no matter the policy. As always, they ask: what’s the data say, and so what?

Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now!http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com

See More Ant and James!http://www.wordsandnumbers.org

Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers

Quick Hitshttps://loudwire.com/steve-miller-cancels-tour-natural-disasters/

Foolishness of the Weekhttps://www.npr.org/2025/07/17/nx-s1-5469904/npr-pbs-cuts-rescission-senate-vote

Words & Numbers Backstagehttps://youtu.be/i73H047bID8?si=zUTcXrBYDolwTVgl

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MSPUS

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LES1252881500Q

https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/average-home-size/#space

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CUUR0000SETA01

More James at Smoke & Storieshttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig

More Ant on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/antonydavies

Let Us Know What You Thinkmailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com

Antony Davies on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

#AntonyDavies #JamesRHarrigan #WordsAndNumbers #economics #government #politics #policy #libertarian #classicalliberal #podcast #educational

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Episode 440: Debunking the Religion of Decline Jul 16, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Words & Numbers, James and Ant announce their new partnership with CiVL and reflect on the state of modern life. Using Jurassic World and a Nobel Prize winner’s comments as a springboard, they unpack the economics of innovation, incentives, and monopolies. They take on popular claims that life has gotten worse—breaking down the real costs of housing, cars, and higher education over time—and challenge the doom-and-gloom narrative with hard data and perspective.

The debut of the new “So What?” segment offers concrete takeaways: count your blessings, question the media’s distortions, and don’t believe everything “everybody knows.”

Words and Numbers is a CiVL Original Podcast.

Join CiVL for member-exclusive access to our show, bonus content, and live Q&As. https://civl.com/

Get 50% off your annual subscription with code: WORDSANDNUMBERS

Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now!

http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com

See More Ant and James!

http://www.wordsandnumbers.org

Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon

https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers

Quick Hits

https://www.jurassicworld.com

https://english.elpais.com/science-tech/2025-07-04/charles-rice-nobel-prize-winner-in-medicine-its-a-crime-that-a-drug-exists-that-could-cure-everyone-yet-not-everybody-has-access-to-it.html

https://www.thetimes.com/world/latin-america/article/gringo-go-home-why-mexico-is-turning-against-us-immigrants-cmq2qsv2j

Foolishness of the Week

https://www.yahoo.com/news/fema-removed-dozens-camp-mystic-111716138.html

Words & Numbers Backstage

https://youtu.be/i73H047bID8?si=zUTcXrBYDolwTVgl

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/MSPUS

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LES1252881500Q

https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/average-home-size/#space

https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/CUUR0000SETA01

More James at Smoke & Stories

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig

More Ant on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/antonydavies

Let Us Know What You Think

mailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com

Antony Davies on Twitter

https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter

https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

#AntonyDavies #JamesRHarrigan #WordsAndNumbers #economics #government #politics #policy #libertarian #classicalliberal #podcast #educational

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Episode 439: The America Party Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

Words and Numbers is a CiVL Original Podcast.

Join CiVL for member-exclusive access to our show, bonus content, and live Q&As. https://civl.com/

Get 50% off your annual subscription with code: WORDSANDNUMBERS

Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now!http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com

See More Ant and James!http://www.wordsandnumbers.org

Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers

Quick Hitshttps://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/tours/ozzy-osbourne-takes-to-the-stage-for-the-last-time/news-story/4ca30c3eb598a7b97f6735e975c9da91

Foolishness of the Weekhttps://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/ar-AA1I2tzC

Words & Numbers Backstagehttps://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/

More James at Smoke & Storieshttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig

More Ant on YouTubehttps://www.youtube.com/antonydavies

Let Us Know What You Thinkmailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com

Antony Davies on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitterhttps://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

#AntonyDavies #JamesRHarrigan #WordsAndNumbers #economics #government #politics #policy #libertarian #classicalliberal #podcast #educational

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Episode 438: Do We Need an 8 Hour Work Day? Jul 02, 2025

Show notes

Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com

See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org

Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers

Quick Hits https://www.pgpf.org/article/the-ratio-of-workers-to-social-security-beneficiaries-is-at-a-low-and-projected-to-decline-further/ https://www.ssa.gov/OACT/TR/TR02/lr5A3-h.html https://www.newsweek.com/mcdonalds-june-boycott-what-know-2087469

Foolishness of the Week https://apnews.com/article/chemtrail-louisiana-ban-conspiracy-e7562efe0251588978153cef30034e63 https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2025/06/09/louisiana-among-at-least-12-states-seeking-chemtrail-ban

Topic https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/20/workers-are-stuck-in-infinite-workday-according-to-microsoft-report.html

Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/

More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig

More Ant on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/antonydavies

Let Us Know What You Think mailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com

Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

#AntonyDavies #JamesRHarrigan #WordsAndNumbers #economics #government #politics #policy #libertarian #classicalliberal #podcast #educational

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Episode 437: Rosy Projections Jun 25, 2025

Show notes

Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com

See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org

Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers

Quick Hits https://www.cbo.gov/publication/60392 https://sciencenews.dk/en/the-stem-cell-race-to-rewire-the-parkinsons-brain

Foolishness of the Week https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/19/politics/trump-non-working-holidays-juneteenth https://polyhymnia.org/2025/06/19/juneteenth-2025/ https://polyhymnia.org/2025/06/19/of-patriots-and-freedom/ https://www.10tv.com/article/news/nation-world/juneteenth-12-federal-holidays/507-6955e5af-770e-416f-ac0a-e8db360032f7

Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/

More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig

More Ant on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/antonydavies

Let Us Know What You Think mailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com

Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

#AntonyDavies #JamesRHarrigan #WordsAndNumbers #economics #government #politics #policy #libertarian #classicalliberal #podcast #educational

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Episode 436: What About Buying From China? Jun 18, 2025

Show notes

Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com

See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org

Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers

Quick Hits https://www.pcmag.com/news/chatgpt-gets-absolutely-wrecked-in-chess-match-with-1978-atari https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/564133/marines-carry-out-first-known-detention-of-civilian-in-los-angeles Foolishness of the Week https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/14/business/trump-income-crypto-licensing

Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/

More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig

More Ant on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/antonydavies

Let Us Know What You Think mailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com

Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

#AntonyDavies #JamesRHarrigan #WordsAndNumbers #economics #government #politics #policy #libertarian #classicalliberal #podcast #educational

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Episode 435: End of a Bromance Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com

See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org

Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers

Quick Hits https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/trading-investing/us-debt-downgrade https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/world/social-cohesion-poverty-top-agenda-at-milei-pope-meeting.phtml https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/democrats-young-male-voters-2024-rcna210085 Foolishness of the Week https://www.foxnews.com/politics/dems-drop-20m-bizarre-american-men-strategy-plan-study-effort-dig-out-2024-political-hole

Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/

More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig

More Ant on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/antonydavies

Let Us Know What You Think mailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com

Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

#AntonyDavies #JamesRHarrigan #WordsAndNumbers #economics #government #politics #policy #libertarian #classicalliberal #podcast #educational

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 434: The Moon! Jun 04, 2025

Show notes

Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com

See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org

Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers

Quick Hits https://thehill.com/business/housing/5326389-homesellers-outnumber-buyers-housing-market/

Foolishness of the Week https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/gabbard-considering-ways-revamp-trumps-intelligence-briefing-rcna209805

Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/

More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig

More Ant on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/antonydavies

Let Us Know What You Think mailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com

Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

#AntonyDavies #JamesRHarrigan #WordsAndNumbers #economics #government #politics #policy #libertarian #classicalliberal #podcast #educational

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 433: Whence Shame? May 28, 2025

Show notes

Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com

See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org

Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers

Quick Hits https://x.com/TopShelfSports0/status/1923122877366161873

Foolishness of the Week https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/pennsylvania-kindergartener-jello-shots-rcna207337

Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/

More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig

More Ant on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/antonydavies

Let Us Know What You Think mailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com

Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

#AntonyDavies #JamesRHarrigan #WordsAndNumbers #economics #government #politics #policy #libertarian #classicalliberal #podcast #educational

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 432: Where Are the Democrats? May 21, 2025

Show notes

Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com

See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org

Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers

Quick Hits https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/ais-threat-to-google-just-got-real-8280b4ee

Foolishness of the Week https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/09/trump-intelligence-briefing-frequency-00338946

Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/

More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig

More Ant on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/antonydavies

Let Us Know What You Think mailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com

Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies

James R. Harrigan on Twitter https://twitter.com/JamesRHarrigan

#AntonyDavies #JamesRHarrigan #WordsAndNumbers #economics #government #politics #policy #libertarian #classicalliberal #podcast #educational

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