The Future of Liberty with Mitch Daniels

With the nation's 250th anniversary upon us, Mitch Daniels sits down with historian Ryan Cole, author of The Last Adieu: Lafayette's Triumphant Return, the Echoes of Revolution, and the Gratitude of the Republic , to explore what that extraordinary homecoming meant to Americans then and what it can teach us now. They discuss Lafayette's role in winning independence, "informed patriotism" and the d...

Tocqueville warned that one of the greatest dangers to American democracy was the tyranny of the majority. Few have taken that warning more seriously than Lamar Alexander. Governor Mitch Daniels sits down with the former Senator, Governor, and Secretary of Education on what it takes to keep a republic free. The Portrait Test: What Makes a Consequential President (0:58) The Filibuster & Tyranny of...

Dr. Michael Auslin joins Mitch Daniels to discuss his new book National Treasure and the remarkable story behind the Declaration of Independence as it turns 250. They explore the document's improbable physical survival, myths about July 4th, Jefferson's lost "fair copy," and the passages Congress removed. The conversation moves to the Declaration's enduring power as a statement of natural rights,...

Historian Lord Andrew Roberts joins Mitch Daniels to challenge one of America’s most enduring narratives: that King George III was a tyrant. Drawing on his book The Last King of America, Roberts argues for a more complex (and surprising) view of the monarch at the center of the Revolution. The discussion explores constitutional government, the power of political myth, and the lasting significance...

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Mitch Daniels sits down with legal scholar and author Dr. Jeffrey Rosen to explore the enduring constitutional debate that has shaped the nation from its founding to today. Drawing from his new book The Pursuit of Liberty, Rosen traces the long-running clash between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson over national power and states’ rights, executiv...

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 a...

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 DE...

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...

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 cr...

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 cons...

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 Intelligen...

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...

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...

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) Reca...

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 &...

On this episode of The Future of Liberty, Governor Mitch Daniels and Yuval Levin explore the vital role of hope as an active virtue in sustaining a free society. They discuss the pressing need to rebuild trust, reconnect with one another, and form coalitions that transcend disagreement. The conversation delves into the enduring importance of the Constitution, the often-overlooked "everyday work" o...

Governor Mitch Daniels and historian Amity Shlaes discuss misconceptions about the Great Depression and the New Deal; reevaluate the reputations of Presidents Coolidge, Hoover, and FDR; and consider the idea of the Forgotten Man. The Government Playing God (2:21) Hoover, The Laissez-faire Champion (8:01) Crafty Politicians versus Committed Ideolouges (18:57) The Forgotten Man (31:33) Why Not Socia...

Governor Mitch Daniels and renowned historian and author Sir Niall Ferguson discuss pressing current events including political polarization, the disturbing rise of violent antisemitic incidents, and the societal impact of aging populations. They also delve into the United States spending more on debt interest than on national security for the first time in history, the geopolitical threats and Ch...

Governor Mitch Daniels and Reason magazine Senior Editor Stephanie Slade consider the changing factions of the American political landscape, the history and future of fusionism, and how college students became such big fans of big government. They also consider the contrast between the hopelessness of a static society and the hope and fears of a dynamic one and give us some reasons to be hopeful f...

Governor Mitch Daniels and Senator Todd Young (R-Ind) discuss current threats to liberty, the state of the American military, the national debt, and the importance of continuing to invest in science and technology. They also consider the complex process of getting legislation passed, the impact of AI on military operations, and they close their discussion with some reasons to be hopeful about Amer...

Governor Mitch Daniels and constitutional law professor Randy Barnett discuss what it's like to be a conservative or libertarian on a liberal college campus, the changes in Barnett's political philosophy over time, and his development as a public meaning originalist. They also explore Barnett's interest in the ninth amendment and his theory that "first come rights and then comes government," as we...

Governor Daniels and Joe Lonsdale, the founder and managing partner of 8VC, discuss the prospects for liberty in the technology sector, challenges to liberty in public education, and the difficulty of starting a defense company when your competition is the government. They also discuss Lonsdale’s work with the University of Austin, the perils of DEI, the proper role of government, the way to a bet...

Governor Mitch Daniels and Katherine Mangu-Ward, Editor in Chief of Reason Magazine, discuss why it’s so hard for third parties to gain ground in American politics, whether not voting is a responsible choice, the role of technology in education, and the place of traditional and new media in the modern political landscape. The Case for Not Voting: A Libertarian Argument (09:18) Government Pressure,...

In this episode Governor Daniels and legal scholar and founder of the New Civil Liberties Alliance, Philip Hamburger, discuss the origins of the administrative state in classism, the use of it as an "irregular pathway" around the Constitution, and a series of cases about topics from fishing boats to social media that demonstrate the dangers to liberty that arise from an overreaching administrative...