Qualified Opinions

Earlier this month, Donald Trump's tariffs on Mexico and Canada, along with their retaliatory tariffs, were paused for one month after a deal was made. But with that month coming to an end soon, tariffs will be back on the table.  Today, Veronique de Rugy sits down with Erica York to discuss the economics of these tariffs. Erica York is Vice President of Federal Tax Policy with Tax Foundation's Ce...

With some provisions of the 2017 tax cuts set to expire in 2025, legislators are scrambling to make sure their preferred cuts are getting an extension. Add to that Donald Trump's demand for no taxes on tips and you are left with a very uncertain future for taxation policy. What should we expect? Adam Michel joins to discuss. Adam N. Michel is director of tax policy studies at the Cato Institute, w...

For the first time since Grover Cleveland, Donald Trump has been sworn in for his second non-consecutive term—and in many ways, he is off to a much different start than his first administration. What do these initial days tell us about what to expect over the next four years? Joining the show today is Dominic Pino to discuss. Dominic is a Thomas J. Rhodes Journalism Fellow at the National Review I...

Healthcare spending is the single largest item in the federal budget and the fastest-growing one, too. It is the main driver of our future debt. Reform isn't just necessary but urgent. Vero is joined today by two of the sharpest minds in healthcare policy to discuss solutions. Michael F. Cannon is the Cato Institute's director of health policy studies.  Washingtonian magazine named Cannon one of W...

It can be intimidating to wrap your head around the relationship between healthcare, government, and the economy. From finances to regulation, the web is complex and wide-spanning. Joining Qualified Opinions today to make better sense of this is Michael F. Cannon. Cannon is the Cato Institute's director of health policy studies. Washingtonian magazine named Cannon one of Washington, DC's Most Infl...

The Department of Government Efficiency is being tasked with reining in the frivolous government spending we have all grown to know as "the norm." But where should those cuts be made? Alex Nowrasteh and Chris Edwards joined the show to discuss a new report from the Cato Institute that outlines where the waste is and how to cut it. Alex Nowrasteh is the vice president for economic and social policy...

At the end of 2024, the United States' national debt has ballooned to $36 trillion, and the budget deficit hovers over $2 trillion. With spending only having the prospect of going up, the U.S. financial situation to be even more dire in 10 years, likely climbing another $22 trillion. Is there any way out of this crisis? Economic economist Joshua Rauh and policy researcher Jack Salmon joined Vero t...

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are coming to Washington, DC, intending to cut $2 trillion in wasteful federal spending. Together, they will form the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. This ambitious project opens up many questions, and Tom Church and Danny Heil are joining Vero today to discuss. Tom Church is a policy fellow at the Hoover Institution, where he studies health care policy,...

AIER Director of Research Samuel Gregg joins Qualified Opinions to discuss the fracturing of the conservative and libertarian movements, where free markets and ordered liberty go from here, and his new book, The Next American Economy .

Donald Trump's win marks the first time a Republican has won the popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004. What does this decisive election mean? How closely related are the political and policy realities? What can we expect under a Trump administration, and will Democrats make significant shifts in their own policy initiatives? Join Veronique de Rugy, Dominic Pino, and Akash Chougule break down...

Of the cherished liberties of a free society, economic liberty holds a special place. Personal choice, voluntary exchange, and the protection of private property sustain our political and civil liberties. Matt Mitchell joins the show today to discuss economic freedom and a new index from the Fraser Institute that maps economic freedom around the world. Matthew D. Mitchell is a Senior Fellow in the...

Unless you've been living under a rock, you've likely already heard of Project 2025—but what is actually in it, should you care about it, and how much of it would a potential Republican government actually be capable of executing? Stephanie Slade recently wrote an article for Reason breaking it down, and today, she joins Veronique to discuss it. Stephanie Slade is a senior editor at Reason, the ma...

Though there have been several union wins in recent years, union membership is at historic lows. Where do unions fit in the future of America? Will they continue to decline, or will they see a comeback? How will automation play a role? Vinnie Vernuccio joins Qualified Opinions to discuss. Vincent Vernuccio, president and co-founder of the Institute for the American Worker, brings over 15 years of...

Many Americans have forgotten about Grover Cleveland—but William Ruger believes Cleveland's legacy of bridging the gap between populism and classical liberalism is increasingly relevant to today's polarized political climate. William Ruger serves as the President of the American Institute for Economic Research (AIER).

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris faced off this week in the second Presidential Debate—and it was as lively as you'd expect. But when we cut through the noise, what do we see in terms of policy and programs? What policy direction would each candidate take the country? National Review Institute fellow Dominic Pino and Americans for Prosperity Vice President Akash Chougule join Veronique to break it d...

Joining the show today is Vance Ginn. Vance is the founder and president of Ginn Economic Consulting, where he leverages data-driven insights to shape economic policy discussions across the nation.  Over the course of the show, Veronique and Vance discuss state and local government spending, federal spending, and the connection between the two.

The right and the left seem to have a lot of opinions about women and fertility, most of them not super productive. What would be a productive way to approach these conversations? Veronique is joined by Clara Piano, Susannah Barnes, and Anna Claire Flowers to discuss.

For all the buzz about the Harris Walz 2024 campaign, the policy substance of the campaign has been light to non-existent thus far. What would policy look like under a Kamala Harris presidential administration? In this special episode of Qualified Opinions, Veronique sits down with Dominic Pino and Akash Chougule to break down the potential policy direction of Harris and what we saw at the DNC thi...

As we navigate an era where corporate influence and political power are more intertwined, scrutinized, and tense than ever, Veronique de Rugy dives into the fascinating intersection of politics and business with her guest, Tevi Troy. Tevi Troy is a Senior Fellow at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a former Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services, and a best-selling author. See his latest book,...

In vitro fertilization, or IVF, is a debate dividing conservatives. One side views IVF as a family-supporting technology that helps couples struggling with fertility, while the other side argues that IVF raises moral concerns about the sanctity of human life. What should we make of the debate? Vanessa Brown Calder joins Veronique de Rugy to discuss in this episode of Qualified Opinions. Vanessa Br...

What are the preconditions for a functional liberal democracy? How have our institutions lost their way? How can our divisive culture be put on the right track again? Yuval Levin joins the show to discuss. Yuval Levin is the director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), where he also holds the Beth and Ravenel Curry Chair in Public Policy. The...

Randy Barnett joins host Veronique de Rugy today to discuss the future of originalism, individual liberty, and his latest book,  A Life for Liberty: The Making of an American Originalist . Randy E. Barnett is the Patrick Hotung Professor of Constitutional Law at the Georgetown University Law Center and is the Faculty Director of the Georgetown Center for the Constitution.

The attempt on Donald Trump's life has shocked the country—so much so that the Director of the Secret Service has resigned. The shock and fear are understandable, given this is the first major assassination attempt since Ronald Reagan. But how does the modern period compare to the rest of American history? What can we learn from assassination attempts in the past, and how do they differ from now?...

With protectionist policy on the rise both to the left and the right of American politics, we are left with a burning question: What happened to the free trade consensus? This week, Veronique de Rugy sits down with Scott Lincicome to discuss the modern state of trade policy and global economics. Scott Lincicome is the Cato Institute's Vice President of General Economics and the Herbert A. Stiefel...

Joining Qualified Opinions today is Nancy French, who discusses the changing political landscape, her career path, and being the writer behind the name. Nancy French is a best-selling ghostwriter and author of her memoir, Ghosted: An American Story .