IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews explains how those of us who believe in free markets and limited government are cheered by the reforms being enacted by new Argentina President Javier Millei, and IPI President Tom Giovanetti wishes him well.Af Merrill Matthews, Tom Giovanetti

IPI has been involved in pushing back against federal regulation of broadband networks since the late 1990s. IPI President Tom Giovanetti explains to IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews how the Biden administration is planning to once again resurrect net neutrality from the dead.Af Merrill Matthews, Tom Giovanetti

Barbara Kolm of the Hayek Institute in Vienna, Austria is our special guest as IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews interviews Barbara about Hayek and his important contributions to economic and individual liberty.Af Merrill Matthews, Tom Giovanetti, Barbara Kolm

Taking advantage of the visit of Barbara Kolm of the Hayek Institute to Dallas, IPI President Tom Giovanetti and IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews discuss the comparison between EU regulation and competition policy with that of the US, and Barbara explains that these policy differences help explain the gap in economic growth between EU coun…

IPI President Tom Giovanetti and Research Fellow Dr. Dan Garretson discuss the basics of artificial intelligence and recent developments, including the rollout of Google's Gemini AI engine.Af Tom Giovanetti, Dan Garretson

A few days ago, Republican Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH) praised extreme progressive activist Lina Khan as "one of the few people in the Biden administration that I think is doing a pretty good job." Is J.D. Vance right? Or is J.D. Vance an example of the "horseshoe theory" of politics in action, where the extremes of populism and the extremes of progr…

Counterfeit drugs has always been a serious problem, and a problem we've worked on here at IPI for many years. And it's a topic that is back for a return engagement as demand for "miracle" weight loss drugs is creating opportunity for counterfeiters. IPI's Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews guides us on the problems with counterfeit drugs and wh…

A mysterious warning about a possible Russian nuclear space weapon set off consternation and stern warnings last week, and inspired IPI to chat with our favorite genuine rocket scientist, Dr. Dan Garretson. We talk space debris, the inevitable use of space for military purposes, Star Wars, and related issues. With space nerds Dr. Merrill Matthews a…

Merrill Matthews joins the Don Kroah Show to discuss the hypocracy and unintended consequences of artifically altering the environmen with "scientific" experiments.Af Merrill Matthews

We're not afraid of AI, as just another technological innovation and tool, and we don't think we need massive new federal regulation, but we agree with the FCC applying existing law and regulation to prevent deceptive use of AI to impersonate public persons in political advertising and robocalls. With IPI President Tom Giovanetti and Resident Schol…

IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews explains the harms to the nation of our burgeoning budget deficits and national debt, and IPI President Tom Giovanetti tries to put debt into context.Af Merrill Matthews, Tom Giovanetti

Taking advantage of IPI Research Fellow Bartlett Cleland's presence in-studio, we discuss the problems with the state and federal legislative attempts to "protect children online" through age verification and other schemes. Hint: The problems are overwhelming and underappreciated. With IPI President Tom Giovanetti and Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill M…

We discuss today's Supreme Court arguments on Colorado's case for denying Donald Trump ballot access, and agree with the apparent leanings of SCOTUS that Colorado's arguments are unsustainable. Nevertheless, it's a great opportunity to nerd-out on constitutional law and federalism. With IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews, IPI Research Fellow…

In a single week the Biden administration announced a number of spending projects targeted at states and demographic groups considered vulnerable and critical to Biden's re-election campaign. Huge federal spending is bad enough in and of itself, says IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews. But when Republicans sign on to massive spending project…

As the anniversary of the East Palestine, Ohio freight derailment arrives on February 3rd, proponents will use the anniversary to try to renew support for the Railway Safety Act. But the proposed legislation is nothing more than a grab bag of demands from the 12 rail labor unions. It's not surprising that liberal Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) …

IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews and IPI President Tom Giovanetti discuss how the border crisis and its related impacts have become the number one issue in American politics, and how this is liable to affect not only current legislative debates, but also the upcoming election.Af Merrill Matthews, Tom Giovanetti

There was a rash of stories in the early days of 2024 about how, finally, Mickey Mouse had entered the public domain, and that this was somehow a triumph for the general public. Sounds like time for an explainer about the public domain, and why, for the most part, consumers are better off when creativity, distribution and promotion of creative work…

IPI's Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews explains how increasing vaccine skepticism threatens outbreaks of dreaded diseases that have been under control for decades. With IPI President Tom Giovanetti.Af Merrill Matthews, Tom Giovanetti

The Biden administration has yielded to pressure from labor unions to restrict the qualifications for independent contractor status, which is intended to make it easier to unionize "gig economy" workers. But this is a terrible idea, and when California tried the same thing it forced many independent contractors out of work. The modern economy shoul…

With a polar vortex bearing down on much of the nation, IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews reminds us that electric vehicles (EVs) suffer significant performance deficits in very cold weather. So the current generation of EVs may not be the best choice for residents of cold states. As with everything else, choice should be left to consumers …

IPI President Tom Giovanetti explains why every year the country is faces with the issues of tax extenders, why they are important but also why they are a symptom of a dysfunctional congressional process. With IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews.Af Merrill Matthews, Tom Giovanetti

Switzerland is dropping almost all its tariffs, in order to reduce prices to consumers. Having enjoyed time in Switzerland, both IPI President Tom Giovanetti and IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews use this opportunity to discuss tariffs, why consumers rather than exporters pay them, and why in general tariffs should be avoided.…

Recently Donald Trump posted on his Truth Social media platform that "Obamacare sucks." We at IPI don't always agree with Trump's sentiments, but in this case, IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews explains why Trump is right, and Obamacare has only made healthcare worse. With IPI President Tom Giovanetti.…

Today the Biden administration announced a proposal to aggressively use federal "march in" rights to seize patents from pharmaceutical companies and "other inventions." IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews explains what march in rights are, and why what the Biden administration is proposing is very, very bad. With IPI President Tom Giovanetti.…

IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews points out that Biden's agenda to fundamentally change and direct the U.S. economy from the Executive Branch mirrors the mistakes of authoritarian governments like China's trying to run the economy through command and control. And the conversation inspires IPI President Tom Giovanetti to rant about the impo…

We discuss Argentina, its tremendous natural resources and its history of terrible governance, in light of the recent election of self-proclaimed libertarian Javier Milei. IPI President Tom Giovanetti and Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews wish Milei the very best and praise the Argentine people for making the choice for change from Peronism.…

When you elect a president, you don't just elect a single person--you elect a team of 3,000+ appointed bureaucrats and staffers. And Joe Biden's team is comprised of progressive left radicals like the Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Lina Kahn. In addition to going after companies like Google and Amazon, and in addition to opposing even…

By neglecting the border crisis, Joe Biden has created jobs--jobs with the cartels in Mexico and Central America. When there is a vacuum of law enforcement, criminal elements fill the void and find ways to profit. Cartels are now moving migrants as well as drugs across the border. With IPI President Tom Giovanetti.…

Mathematical economist John Early joins IPI's Dr. Merrill Matthews to discuss President Biden's federal spending spree, his new spending proposals, and what, if anything, can be done to keep the country from falling off a fiscal cliff.Af Merrill Matthews, John Early

Technology expert Dr. Dan Garretson joins IPI's Dr. Merrill Matthews to discuss President Biden's new executive order seeking preemptive regulation of artificial intelligence and Vice President Kamala Harris's AI speeches in Great Britain.Af Merrill Matthews, Dan Garretson

IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews shares data on how almost all U.S. states actually maintain rainy day funds, and also manage to balance their budgets and even run surpluses. So why can't Washington DC? With IPI President Tom Giovanetti.Af Merrill Matthews, Tom Giovanetti

IPI President Tom Giovanetti provides a backgrounder on the debate around the regulation of major internet platform companies, in anticipation of IPI's October 20th Distinguished Lecture Series luncheon. With IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews.Af Merrill Matthews, Tom Giovanetti

Merrill Matthews joins Greg Truax OnThePoint radio show to discus his recent publications about the demise of the wealth effect and the consequences of our broken border.Af Merrill Matthews

IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews discusses why labor actions and strikes have returned. Hint: Inflation, technological change, and a pro-union administration. With IPI President Tom Giovanetti.Af Merrill Matthews, Tom Giovanetti

With the shocking news that the Biden administration has resumed building a border wall (!), IPI President Tom Giovanetti wonders if Democrats are finally getting mugged by the reality of the results of their policies. Tom talks about the border crisis, the crime spike, and persistent inflation with IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews.…

IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews explains the (mostly) psychological phenomenon of the Wealth Effect, which can accelerate either a good economy or a bad economy. And he uses "Bidenomics" as an illustration of an attempt to turn the reverse wealth effect into the wealth effect. With IPI President Tom Giovanetti.…

IPI has been involved with the "net neutrality" debate from the very beginning almost two decades ago. And now with the Biden administration, it's back. But what IS net neutrality, and why would it be harmful to the internet and to the US economy? IPI President Tom Giovanetti pontificates and IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews patiently list…

With a federal government shutdown looming, IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews discusses his recent op/ed in The Hill reviewing the history of recent government shutdowns, and how the politics tends to play out. Hint: Republicans always get blamed. With IPI President Tom Giovanetti.Af Merrill Matthews, Tom Giovanetti

With both Hollywood writers and United Auto Workers engaging in labor strikes, IPI President Tom Giovanetti and Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews discuss the declining power of labor unions, why unions strike during inflationary times, the Wage-Price Spiral, and the attitude conservatives should have toward labor unions.…

IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews leads a fascinating discussion about a recent analysis by Doug Sosnik of current and emerging trends among the American electorate. With IPI President Tom Giovanetti.Af Merrill Matthews, Tom Giovanetti

The latest effort to keep Donald Trump from running for president is to invoke Section 3 of the Constitution's 14th Amendment which prohibits certain individuals who have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the government of the United States from holding high office. In this podcast, IPI's Addie Crimmins and Merrill Matthews discuss the h…

Suspended Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment trial has drawn nationwide attention. In this podcast, Austin-based political analyst and Quorum Report editor Scott Braddock joins IPI's Addie Crimmins and Merrill Matthews to discuss ongoing developments in the Senate trial and how that may play out in the coming days.…

Galen Institute President Grace-Marie Turner joins IPI's Merrill Matthews to discuss various conservative health care reform proposals that, if passed, would provide people with more insurance-coverage options and patients with more freedom to choose the care that's best for them.Af Merrill Matthews, Grace-Marie Turner

The story of economist Art Laffer drawing what's come to be known as the Laffer Curve on a napkin in a Washington bar in 1974 has become legendary among free market advocates. In this podcast, Galen Institute President Grace-Marie Turner, who was one of three other people watching Laffer draw his graph, tells IPI's Merrill Matthews what happened--a…

IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews, Director of Development & Events Addie Crimmins, and President Tom Giovanetti share our thoughts and reactions to the first Republican Presidential Debate of the 2024 cycle. We discuss overall impression, FoxNews' production, who helped themselves, who hurt themselves, and who surprised. And we wonder if o…

IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews joins radio talk show host Bill Meyer (KMED) to run the numbers on the myth of the gender pay gap. When equalizing factors are added into the equation, the current gap reduces from the claimed 84 cents to a 1.5-cent pay gap. That's a positive economic sign, but it won't get much attention because some polit…

Income inequality has become a progressive rallying cry, asserting that income inequality has exploded. Proponents claim government data show that the top 20% of workers earn 16.7 dollars for every dollar the bottom 20% earn. True? NO! A new book by former Senator Phil Gramm, Robert Ekelund and John Early explain that when all transfer payments to …

What's the truth about the gender pay gap? Is it explained by misogyny and discrimination, or by the choices women make? Maybe a combination of the two? Is it getting better? And with women outnumbering men in colleges, universities, and graduate programs, is it about to disappear altogether? IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews shares some in…

Ronald Reagan put together an astonishing coalition that led to not only election and reelection, but also sweeping improvements to both America's domestic economy and international standing. What was it about Reagan that attracted such a winning and successful coalition, and do any of the current Republican presidential candidates resemble him in …

IPI Resident Scholar and healthcare policy expert Dr. Merrill Matthews explains a new-ish effort on the part of some conservative policy experts, which sound to IPI President Tom Giovanetti an awfully lot like the same sound healthcare policies conservatives have been pushing for the last two decades.…