Podcast
Future of Freedom
Hosted by The Center Square · EN
Future of Freedom is your antidote to cable news brawls and social media shouting. A podcast for serious, good-faith conversations about liberty and the ideas that shape it. Hosted by Scot Bertram, each episode explores a single topic and brings together two guests with opposing views. But this isn’t a debate show: no interruptions, no dunking, just thoughtful, civil discourse. It’s compelling, challenging, and refreshingly real. Subscribe now and join the conversation.
29episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Chris Edwards & Jerry Theodorou: Should FEMA Be Eliminated?
Sep 2400:33:36Summary readyOn this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). First on the show is Chris Edwards, Kilts Family Chair in Fiscal Studies at the Cato Institute and is the editor of DownsizingGovernment.org. Later, we hear from Jerry Theodorou, Director of the Finance, Insurance and Trade Policy Program at the R Street Institute. You can find Chris on X at @CatoEdwards and the R Street Institute at @RSI. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
SummaryDavid Dunmoyer & Joe Lancaster: Should a 'Ban' on TikTok Be Enforced?
Sep 1000:32:47Summary readyOn this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about enforcing the law that could ban TikTok in the United States. First on the show is David Dunmoyer, Associate Vice President of Campaigns at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Later, we hear from Joe Lancaster, an assistant editor at Reason. You can find David on X at @DDDunmoyer and Joe at @JoeRLancaster. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
SummaryJ.D. Tuccille & Mark Krikorian: How Should the U.S. Enforce Illegal Immigration Laws?
Jul 28, 202500:33:16Summary readyOn this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about the Trump administrations’ handling of immigration enforcement. First on the show is J.D. Tuccille, a former managing editor of Reason.com and current contributing editor. Later, we hear from Mark Krikorian, Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies. You can find J.D. on X at @JD_Tuccille and Mark at @MarkSKrikorian. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
SummaryHenry Olsen & Alex Muresianu: Should University Endowments Be Taxed?
Jul 10, 202500:27:19Summary readyOn this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about taxing endowments of American colleges and universities. First on the show is Henry Olsen, senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and host of the Beyond the Polls with Henry Olsen podcast. Later, we hear from Alex Muresianu, Senior Policy Analyst at the Tax Foundation. You can find Henry on X @HenryOlsenEPPC and Alex at @ahardtospell. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
SummaryJohn Yoo & Charles C. W. Cooke: Who Decides When America Goes to War?
Jul 3, 202500:35:44Summary readyOn this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints concerning when the President needs the approval of Congress to engage in military action. First on the show is John Yoo, the Emanuel Heller Professor of Law at the University of California at Berkeley, Senior Research Fellow at the Civitas Institute, University of Texas at Austin, and a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Later, we hear from Charles C. W. Cooke, Senior Writer at National Review and host of The Charles C. W. Cooke Podcast. You can find AEI on X @AEI and Charles at @CharlesCWCooke.
SummaryTobias Peter & Judge Glock: How Should Zoning Be Viewed & Reformed?
Jun 16, 202500:33:05Summary readyOn this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about zoning laws and America’s housing supply. First on the show is Tobias Peter, a senior fellow at AEI and the codirector of the American Enterprise Institute’s Housing Center. Later, we hear from Judge Glock, director of research and a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a contributing editor at City Journal. You can find Tobias on X @TobiasPeterAEI and Judge at @JudgeGlock.
SummaryKeith E. Whittington & Charles Fain Lehman: Does Federal Involvement Safeguard or Endanger Free Speech on College Campuses?
May 21, 202500:33:51Summary readyOn this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about whether federal involvement safeguards or endangers free speech on college campuses. First on the show is Keith E. Whittington, is the David Boies Professor of Law at Yale Law School and founding chair of the Academic Freedom Alliance. Later, we hear from Charles Fain Lehman, fellow at the Manhattan Institute and senior editor of City Journal. You can find Keith on X @kewhittington and Charles at @CharlesFLehman. Both have written essays at The Dispatch on this topic. Whittington’s can be found here while Lehman’s can be found here.
SummaryOren Cass & Iain Murray: Can the Use of Tariffs Help Improve the U.S. Economy?
May 6, 202500:37:02Summary readyOn this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about tariffs. First on the show is Oren Cass, Chief Economist at American Compass. Later, we hear from Iain Murray, Vice President for Strategy and senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. You can find Oren on X @oren_cass and Iain at @ismurray.
SummaryJohan Norberg & Derek Scissors: How Should the U.S. Economically Engage With China?
Apr 15, 202500:34:45Summary readyOn this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about trade with and investment in China. First on the show is Johan Norberg, senior fellow at the Cato Institute. Later, we hear from Derek Scissors, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. You can find Johan on X @johanknorberg and Derek at @DerekScissors1.
SummaryBrian Rankin & Howard Husock: Should the Federal Government Fund Public Broadcasting?
Apr 3, 202500:33:27Summary readyOn this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about federal funding for public broadcasting. First on the show is Brian Rankin, an Adjunct Fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Later, we hear from Howard Husock, senior fellow in Domestic Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute. You can find the Competitive Enterprise Institute on X @ceidotorg and the American Enterprise Institute at @AEI.
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