Cato Podcast

The U.S. departure from Afghanistan proceeds, but how much of the bloodshed and other bungling was avoidable? William Ruger was the Trump Administration nominee for Ambassador to Afghanistan and is a Cato Institute research fellow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We should admit to ourselves and each other that harm reduction will be a far less destructive strategy for dealing with COVID-19 than harsh lockdowns and other mandates. Jeff Singer is author of the new Cato paper on the subject. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The sticking point over policing reform in Congress is qualified immunity, the court-invented doctrine that regularly lets cops off the hook when they violate Americans' rights. Cato’s Clark Neily and Jay Schweikert discuss the negotiations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the new book, Eyes to the Sky: Privacy and Commerce in the Age of the Drone , essayists detail both the promising and troubling potential uses of drone technology. Matthew Feeney is the book's editor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The War on Terror was an ill-defined campaign that eroded the safeguards built into American institutions, enhanced execute power, and gave federal agencies license to engage in torture and other crimes. Spencer Ackerman is author of Reign of Terror . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Social media companies have differing ideas about allowing the Taliban on their platforms. Will Duffield explains what social media means for the people and (new) government of Afghanistan. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Taliban has taken over Afghanistan. Is there any reason to think their assurances to Afghans are worth anything? Mustafa Akyol comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The expanding influence of the Taliban in Afghanistan, a decade or more of American government lies about “progress” in the war, and a fast U.S. military exit contributed to the Taliban’s speedy takeover of the country. Justin Logan offers perspective. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How much of the election reform passed this year in states makes sense? Walter Olson disentangles some of the motivations. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the immediate wake of U.S. departure from Afghanistan and the rapid collapse of the government there, the U.S. owes something to the people who helped sustain this ill-fated war. Alex Nowrasteh details some history and offers ideas for the future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Culture war battles, however seductive in the moment, are a distraction to the long-term fight for liberty, and broader perspective can help focus our attention. Wolf von Laer of Students for Liberty comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The attack on the Capitol in January was serious, but it's important not to overstate the size of the threat the groups involved pose. Abigail Hall comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Creating new cities or countries on the ocean has long been just a dream. Is seasteading getting closer. Joe Quirk of the Seasteading Institute thinks so. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The next school year looks to be as uncertain or more uncertain than the last one. Kerry McDonald discusses what the pandemic has changed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Louisiana regulators have sharply limited competition in special-needs childcare because, well, it would make their jobs more difficult if they allowed it. Anastasia Boden of the Pacific Legal Foundation says that's not a good enough reason. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Drug War marks its 50th year this year. That's five decades too long. Democratic Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman of New Jersey has a few ideas about how to jumpstart the process. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Biden has been surprisingly frank in his belief that the eviction moratorium he's just extended probably won't hold up to legal scrutiny. In fact, it's what courts and his own legal counsel have told him. Walter Olson comments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does our own government's propaganda shape our views of efforts to fight wars or to even go to war in the first place? Abigail R. Hall is coauthor of Manufacturing Militarism: U.S. Government Propaganda in the War on Terror . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Regulation has the potential to stop new business before it starts. What if it didn't? Connor Boyack of the Libertas Institute details "the regulatory sandbox" experiment in Utah. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Supporters of ranked-choice voting argue that it might reduce partisanship and compel candidates to be less polarizing. New York’s recent confusing experience with ranked-choice voting offers some lessons. How does it work? Is it ready for greater adoption? Adam Kissel of the Cardinal Institute offers his take. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jarrett Skorup of the Mackinac Center explains some of the reasons why unionization in Michigan has fallen so dramatically after the Supreme Court's Janus decision in 2018 and what that might mean for unionization elsewhere. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The processes that have given rise to so much new knowledge show signs of sputtering. Jonathan Rauch, author of The Constitution of Knowledge argues that it's time to restore respect for the "how" of creating new knowledge. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When New York decided to stop cracking down on sex workers, it maintained harsh policing of sex workers' customers. Kaytlin Bailey of The Old Pro Project explains why New York should just decriminalize the whole enterprise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Bacchus is author of the new paper, " Trade is Good for Your Health .” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Members of Congress continue to fight against large technology platforms, and many hope antitrust claims will give them sway that the First Amendment does not. Elizabeth Nolan Brown of Reason discusses the contours of this new fight. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.