PODCAST · news
Independent Conversations
by Independent Institute
Brought to you by the Independent Institute, Independent Conversations is a regular round-table conversation that provides timely insights and cutting-edge commentary on the most pressing issues of the day. It features Independent’s Graham H. Walker (President), Williamson M. Evers (Senior Fellow), and as well as additional Independent Institute fellows and other special guests.
Episodes
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The Policies Hiding Behind the Ballot
The 2026 election may look like a fight between parties, but some of the biggest questions cut straight across those labels. In this episode of Independent Conversations, Graham H. Walker sits down with Phillip W. Magness and Williamson M. Evers to examine the policy fights beneath the ballot:...
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The Inequality Crisis Myth Built on Bad Research
Is income inequality really worse than ever, or are influential statistics overstating the problem? In this episode of Independent Conversations, Graham H. Walker sits down with economist Phillip W. Magness to examine the research behind America’s inequality debate, including Thomas Piketty’s...
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The High-Tech Fix That Is Not Fixing Gun Violence
Does acoustic gunshot detection actually make cities safer, or does it send police chasing false alarms while draining resources from proven public safety work? In this episode of Independent Conversations, Graham H. Walker sits down with Jonathan Hofer and Brian Hofer to examine…
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Why Birthright Citizenship Is More Complicated Than We Think
Is birthright citizenship really guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment, or has America misread the fine print of one of its most important clauses? In this episode of Independent Conversations, Graham H. Walker is joined by Richard A. Epstein, Ilya Somin and Williamson M. Evers for a sharp...
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The Redistricting Debate After Louisiana v. Callais
What happens when courts shape elections? And, is redistricting ever actually fair? In this episode of Independent Conversations, we attempt to answer these questions as Graham H. Walker sits down with Williamson M. Evers and Phillip W. Magness for a discussion on the fallout of Louisiana v....
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The Economists You Probably Don’t Know—But Should
You know Adam Smith and Milton Friedman—but what about the economists whose ideas quietly kept the free market running? These overlooked thinkers shaped modern economic life, yet rarely receive the recognition they deserve. "Unsung Heroes of the Market: The 24 Underrated Economists You Need to...
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End California’s Nuclear Energy Ban!
With California electricity demand growing exponentially, why is the state holding so tenaciously to its ban on new nuclear power plants? Why has California closed itself off from the largest source of carbon-free power generation in the United States? On this episode of Independent…
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Is the Constitution the First Casualty of the Iran War?
When U.S. and Israeli bombs fall on Iran, and Iranian bombs then strike American regional bases and even ritzy hotels in Dubai, it sure looks like war. Did the President have the authority for this war under the Constitution? Defenders of Trump’s power say it’ll be worth a little constitutional...
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Deleting The State: Fear, Power, and Political Authority
Could society manage if we didn’t have a government forcing us to do things? Would everything descend into chaos? Or are there resources in our human nature that enable us to adjust ourselves lawfully to one another, even when state enforcement is not looming in the background? In this episode of...
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Slaying Tariffs: From Declaration to Supreme Court Victory
The U.S. Supreme Court has invalidated President Trump’s use of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act of 1977 to implement tariffs. What does the Court’s ruling mean? And what’s next for tariffs, and for presidential powers more generally? We explore these questions on this episode of...
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The Obamacare Trainwreck…and the way out
Our own Christopher Briggs has been on a crusade to save his daughter from, not only cancer, but also Obamacare, the disastrously expensive government health insurance program that also denied her coverage twice in a three-year period. What can be done to get the government out of the business of...
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Minneapolis Maelstrom
Between the onslaught of federal immigration enforcement, and organized resistance to it, Minneapolis is being pushed to the brink. What made Minneapolis more of a crucible than other cities? Do anti-ICE protestors have a right to carry arms into the turmoil? Does the State of Minnesota have a...
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Reclaiming the Constitution: The People and the Bill of Rights
Drawing on insights from his forthcoming book, The Independent Guide to the Constitution: Original Intentions, Modern Inventions, author William J. Watkins, Jr. will explore the history and distortions of key constitutional provisions with Independent Institute President Graham Walker.
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Venezuela on the Brink
Does a U.S. President have the authority to order a military raid on a foreign capital like Caracas, Venezuela? Is the United States really going to “run” Venezuela as President Trump said, or will it take some slightly more modest role as Marco Rubio seems to suggest? And what will happen to...
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L.A. Wildfires: Looking Back, Looking Ahead
There's been time to reflect on the horrific wildfires in Los Angeles of January 2025. What have we learned about the fires’ origins? And more importantly what have we learned about what could have been done—and what still could be done—to reduce the risks of such devastating fires in the future?...
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Year in Review: How Did Liberty Fare in 2025?
For those who care about liberty, 2025 was a mixed bag. On the down side, socialism was embraced explicitly by some Americans on the left, and implicitly by some on the right. On the up side, the principle that people should be treated even-handedly without reference to their race—especially by…
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Crackup on the Right, BBC Bias, Rent Control Revisited
What’s going on at the Heritage Foundation and elsewhere, with confusion about how to deal with antisemitism and more broadly with what is being called “post-liberalism”? And also, why is President Trump suing the BBC for bias? We take on these issues, and more, in this episode.
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How NIMBYism Worsens California’s Housing Crisis | Christopher Calton
Due to their persistent interference with much-needed housing projects, the Independent Institute is awarding the seventeenth California Golden Fleece® Award to the many NIMBY groups and individuals that have contributed to the state’s housing crisis. The list of recipients includes environmental...
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Shutdown Blues; Trumpy Tariffs; "Regime Change" War with Venezuela?
What makes government shutdowns drag on? On the other hand, how much does it matter? Shutdown or no shutdown, President Trump’s tariffs are about to go before the Supreme Court; and in the meantime, the President keeps adjusting them pretty much every week. He also seems to be taking liberties in...
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Beyond Homeless: What Really Works To End Homelessness?
Entire neighborhoods across the U.S. have become open-air asylums, drug markets, and impoverished wastelands—despite billions poured into homelessness programs. The tragic truth? The prevailing “solutions,” like Housing First, are failing—failing those experiencing homelessness, and failing the...
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Does the L.A. Metro System Have to Be a Waste of Time and Money? | Baruch Feigenbaum
Los Angeles has a metropolitan transit system—the L.A. Metro for short—but few people want to ride it because it’s dirty and unsafe, and doesn’t go where they want to go. Taxpayer advocates balk at the billions of tax dollars spent on dubious Metro expansions. Los Angeles is one of the greatest...
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Free Speech vs. Left and Right Cancel Culture | Nadine Strossen
After an assassin killed Charlie Kirk for his ostensibly hateful views, millions grieved. Others mocked Kirk. But now some of the mockers are losing their jobs as payback for their vindictiveness, raising a question: Are we seeing a kind of right-wing “cancel culture” at odds with the American...
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Is a Multipolar World Better for the U.S.?
Could the United States be stronger and safer while spending only about half as much on national defense? In this episode of Independent Conversations, defense strategist Ivan Eland says the surprising answer is “Yes”— as explained in his new book, A Balance of Titans: Peace and Liberty in the…
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Tariffs on Trial
President Trump’s tariffs are extensive, complex, and unprecedented. Are they legal? A series of courts are about to decide, and the entire edifice of Trump's tariffs is hanging at the edge of legal precipice. Will the federal courts, and ultimately SCOTUS, invalidate Trump's tariff regime? We...
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Ukraine Endgame, Redistricting Drama, etc.
Has President Trump set things up to bring Russia’s war in Ukraine to a decent end? Or is the peace puzzle falling apart? Closer to home, will President Trump’s push to redraw congressional districts in Texas backfire in California? We discuss these issues and more on this episode. Buy "A Balance...
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Trump Strikes Iran: Turning Point or Mistake?
When President Trump deployed America’s B-2 bombers to attack Fordow mountain and other nuclear sites in Iran, it marked a turning point in war, diplomacy, and American decision-making. And it raised many questions. Did the President have the legal authority to launch the bombers? Did the bombing...
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Race, Liberty, and the Future of Meritocracy in America
Research Fellow Jonathan Bean and contributors from the updated edition of "Race & Liberty in America: The Essential Reader" gathered for a rigorous and thought-provoking conversation. They tackled controversial topics such as immigration, “systemic” racism, and the politics of intermarriage....
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Why Tariffs Are Toxic
What exactly are tariffs, and how do they work? How do they drive up prices? Are tariffs a way to protect the U.S. economy from hostile powers like the Communist Party of China? No, not really. Or a way to protect the supply chains on which U.S. military supremacy depends? No, not that either. In...
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Executive Orders Galore! Birthright Citizenship, DEI, Energy, and More
Within minutes of his swearing in, President Donald Trump shot out of the starting gate with a burst of executive orders covering everything from immigration, to DEI, to energy, and more. Keeping up with all this, much less making sense of it all, feels kind of like drinking from a fire hydrant....
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It Didn’t Have To Be This Bad: Southern California Firestorms
Californians will be in shock for a long time over the vast firestorms in Los Angeles. We don’t yet know what ignited each fire. But Santa Ana winds are a regular, predictable, feature of regional weather. California environmentalism discourages clearing of public and private land, and stymies...
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The New Syria and Civil Liberties. Trump's Team
How will civil liberties survive Syria’s convulsions? Do Trump’s national security appointees form a coherent team? Why is healthcare taking the spotlight now…but in such a sick way? And what about Trump’s economic team? Are these guys primed to deliver low inflation and prosperity? With special...
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Judy Shelton: Money and Inflation in the New Trump Era
Is the upcoming new presidential era finally our opportunity to slay the beast of inflation, shrink federal spending, and stabilize the value of our currency? We talk with Judy Shelton, Senior Fellow with Independent, former Trump nominee to the Fed Board, and author of a new book explaining how...
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Election 2024: Policy Issues That Matter Most
In an election season, there are always personality issues, and everybody has personal favorites. But then there are policy issues—and there are a lot of big ones on the table for the 2024 election: economic populism, inflation, immigration, abortion, higher ed, and more. In this episode, we give...
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Free Speech / Free Prices: Deepfakes, Hurricanes, Port Strikes, Hate Speech
In the wake of hurricanes, we need to ask an uncomfortable question: has federal flood insurance policy made the damage more extensive? The East Coast port workers strike is temporarily settled, but the effort to kill port automation is still on the table; does automation kill jobs? California…
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Yes We Can Cure the Healthcare Crisis!
Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, health care in America has not improved in the ways we were promised. In fact, inequalities in care have grown, and for many people health coverage is worse. But the errors can still be reversed. John C. Goodman's new book, Priceless: Curing the…
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Economic Illiteracy of Trump and Harris
Both our presidential candidates, and their policy teams, seem to be suffering from a bad case of economic illiteracy, in somewhat different ways … or maybe not so different. With two aspiring leaders both saying they want to make things better for middle class and lower-income Americans, it’s...
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SCOTUS Review: Latest Supreme Court Decisions Explained
The Supreme Court has been busy! By the end of June 2024, the Court had issued a welter of decisions ranging from presidential immunity to guns to federal agency regulatory power. In this episode, a variety of Independent Institute experts will give you the scoop, and a quick assessment of the…
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How to Run Wars — Meet the Authors
A copy of a secret memo on national security issues has recently come into our hands, and we thought we should bring it to your attention! It tells the national security elite how to keep the public from balking at endless wars, and at the endless costs of the military-industrial complex. Well,...
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Hunter Biden & Gun Laws. Pandering To Young Voters! Voter-Approved Taxes?
Joe Biden says recent Supreme Court rulings on the Second Amendment are dangerous. Hunter Biden could rely on those rulings to appeal his gun conviction. What’s going on here? Also, will young voters love President Biden because he’s going after Ticketmaster while forgiving their student loans?…
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Is Higher Ed Going Off the Rails?
Why are all the campus protests so ideologically one-sided? Was Claudine Gay the tip of the iceberg on plagiarism? Is scientific objectivity passé among the faculty? And will all this educational malpractice lead to financial problems that will put colleges out of business?
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Why Campus Chaos? Ban Lab-Grown Meat? Biden Clueless on Economics
Campuses are overtaken by protest encampments, Jewish students are targeted, and higher ed leaders can’t manage to condemn antisemitism while protecting free speech. But the problems go deeper—like the plagiarism that university faculty would never tolerate in their students. On other fronts,...
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Trump Touts Tariffs. Fast Food Workers Hit. RFK Jr. Chides Big Government.
Trump tried tariffs, he wants to try them some more, in order to help workers; what’s wrong with that? California wants to help workers by enforcing a new “fast food” wage law; what could go wrong? Hint in both cases: things can backfire. Did RFK, Jr. get the hint? Probably not, but he’s sure...
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Social Media Free Speech? Biden’s "Shrinkflation" Ploy. IVF Liberties?
When a state, like Texas or Florida, tries to protect people’s free speech rights against biased social media companies, is the state then violating the free speech rights of the social media companies? How’s President Biden doing at shrinking inflation? And what’s going on with Alabama’s IVF laws?
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The California Golden Fleece Award vs. the Bureaucrats!
Ever wonder why California gas prices are perpetually higher than in other states? Or why residential real estate in California is overwhelmingly more expensive than elsewhere? Or why wildfires got so out of control in recent years? Or why a visit to a California DMV office has been such an...
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The New Antisemitism—from the Left
What’s behind the ugly antisemitism on campuses and elsewhere that surged up after the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023? The viciousness against Jews took a lot of people by surprise, but it did not surprise Dr. Benjamin Ginsberg, author of The New American Anti-Semitism. He talks with...
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Can Milei Succeed? Argentina at the Start of a New Era
Can Javier Milei overcome resistance to fulfill his free-market reform vision for Argentina? We find out on this episode, by consulting two Independent Institute experts with extensive knowledge of Latin American affairs: Alvaro Vargas Llosa and Gabriel Gasave.
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The Untold Story of FDR's War on the Bill of Rights | David Beito and Amity Shlaes
In this episode of Independent Conversations, historians Amity Shlaes and David Beito discuss FDR's policies of Japanese internment, spying on Americans, and violations of free speech and reveal a troubling portrait of FDR much different from the standard orthodoxy found in today’s historical...
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Free Speech a Casualty of Israeli War? DEI Under Scrutiny. Ban TikTok?
Will free speech in America end up being a casualty of the war between Hamas and Israel? What does the domestic American DEI industry’s posture on the war reveal about their ideology? On other fronts, do we need to regulate Artificial Intelligence and how about banning TikTok? And why is Josh...
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Biden Admin Pressured Tech Companies to Violate Free Speech; D.C. Budget Showdown
When the feds lean on social media firms to take down alleged misinformation, it turns out that’s government censorship—according to the Federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. That ruling is worth celebrating, but there are cautionary side issues. Also, it looks like we’re heading into another...
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New Mexico Governor Suspends Gun Rights, Hunter Biden Faces Gun Charges
Guns are in the news, and nobody’s happy about it. First son Hunter Biden has been indicted on gun charges. Probably more significantly, the Governor of New Mexico has reacted to gun violence in her state by suspending 2nd Amendment gun rights in Albquerque and surrounding areas. Can she do that?...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Brought to you by the Independent Institute, Independent Conversations is a regular round-table conversation that provides timely insights and cutting-edge commentary on the most pressing issues of the day. It features Independent’s Graham H. Walker (President), Williamson M. Evers (Senior Fellow), and as well as additional Independent Institute fellows and other special guests.
HOSTED BY
Independent Institute
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How many episodes does Independent Conversations have?
Independent Conversations currently has 113 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Independent Conversations about?
Brought to you by the Independent Institute, Independent Conversations is a regular round-table conversation that provides timely insights and cutting-edge commentary on the most pressing issues of the day. It features Independent’s Graham H. Walker (President), Williamson M. Evers (Senior Fellow),...
How often does Independent Conversations release new episodes?
Independent Conversations publishes regularly with 113 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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You can listen to Independent Conversations on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Independent Conversations?
Independent Conversations is created and hosted by Independent Institute.
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