Recent Podcast Episodes
European Environmentalists Have Made Energy Independence Impossible
Europe wants cheap and abundant energy, but politicians demonize nuclear, gas, and oil. All the interventionist proposals that are put forward by European politicians entail a higher cost for long-suffering consumers.
What Causes Exceptionally Low Inflation in Japan and Switzerland?
Do the low inflation rates mean that the purchasing power of Japanese and Swiss citizens has increased relative to other countries over time? The answer seems to be no.
NATO: Our International Welfare Queens
The states of Europe have more than enough wealth and military potential to deal with a second-rate power like Russia. The American taxpayers, on the other hand, deserve a break from Europe's grifting.
Rothbard on Today’s Progressive War Jingoism
Rothbard the historian explained so well how the true progressive goal was always to remake America domestically by promoting war.
Inflation Isn’t What the “Experts” Say It Is. The Confusion in Terms Is Deliberate
The usual "experts" claim inflation is a general increase in the price level. Wrong. Prices rise because of inflation, which is a government-caused increase in the amount of money in circulation.
Commodities Do Not Cause Inflation. Money Printing Does.
Some blame high prices, wages, the Ukraine war, or the weak recovery. The fact is currency destruction is at the heart of generalized price rises everywhere.
Lockdowns, Not the Pandemic, Created Havoc
Those responsible for locking down much of the US during covid blame the pandemic itself for the economic and social havoc that followed. Perhaps they should look at the lockdowns themselves.
American Oligarchs? Elon, Twitter, and Unnatural Elites
Jeff and Bob discuss whether America has its own oligarchs instead of what Hoppe terms "natural elites."
The State: It’s Oligarchs All the Way Down
Lenin called World War I a war among the capitalists of Europe. He was wrong. It was a war among oligarchs, statists who extract wealth from legitimate economic activity at the barrel of a gun.
The End of the Unipolar World and the Myth of “Rules-Based International Order”
Ryan McMaken and Tho Bishop mock the self-awareness of beltway foreign policy experts.
Keith Weiner on the Role of Gold in Today’s Economy
Jeff talks to Keith Weiner of Monetary Metals about why gold still plays a major role in the global economy.
Why Saudi Arabia Won’t Abandon Dollars for Yuan
Saudi Arabia could flee to gold or cryptocurrencies to escape the money-printing machine, but it won't replace the US dollar with an inferior fiat currency.
What’s in a Name? Why the Definition of Capitalism Matters
Capitalism is often blamed for the effects of policies that aren't capitalism. This is why we need a better definition of capitalism.
Keith Weiner on the Gold Market and How to Replace Government Paper Money
Keith Weiner is founder and CEO of Monetary Metals, an investment firm that pays interest on gold, and the founder of the Gold Standard Institute USA.
No, More Bureaucracy Would NOT Have Saved Trump’s Paycheck Protection Program
The standard bureaucratic line after a program's failure is that the government agents didn't have enough authority or resources to handle the job. Neither explains the failure of Trump's Paycheck Protection Program.
Why Are American Taxpayers Paying for Europe’s Defense?
Ryan McMaken and Tho Bishop discuss how American taxpayers are subsidizing European militaries.
How Agriculture Bureaucrats Are Manipulating Food Prices—and Our Diets
The agriculture industry is largely running as a planned economy. When the power to make decisions is delegated to bureaucrats rather than to those impacted, mismanagement is a given.
The Economics of Woke Disney
Bob and Jeff get into the weeds of Disney's shareholders, revenues, and holdings in light of the company's recent spat with Florida governor Ron DeSantis.