Cato Event Podcast

t his 2022 State of the Union address, President Biden focused the nation’s attention on “a national mental health crisis.” Mood disorders and suicidal thoughts and behaviors have been rising at alarming levels for years. The pandemic and government‐​mandated lockdowns increased anxiety, isolation, and despair while also reducing access to mental health services. Approximately 40 percent of Americans currently cannot access mental health services, particularly services requiring drug‐​based therapy.Clinical psychologists can play a greater role in meeting those needs. Some federal agencies, five states, and the territory of Guam authorize competent clinical psychologists to prescribe medications that affect mood and mental functions. Those jurisdictions refer to such psychologists as prescribing psychologists, medical psychologists, or RxPs. However, most states prohibit competent clinical psychologists from prescribing such medication. To address the mental health crisis, should state lawmakers expand t

The public’s reliance on social media platforms has created new opportunities for censorship by proxy, despite the First Amendment’s prohibition on government speech regulation. Will Duffield’s recent policy analysis “Jawboning against Speech: How Government Bullying Shapes the Rules of Social Media” details how government officials increasingly use informal pressure to compel the suppression of disfavored speakers on platforms like Facebook and Twitter.However, the specifics of this bullying, and what to do about it, remain contested. Does jawboning require a threat? When can coordination between platforms and government be voluntary? Solutions to jawboning must respect platforms’ rights and cannot inhibit congressional debate. What, then, can be done?Please join Will Duffield, Adam Kovacevich, and Jenin Younes at the Cato Institute or online for a conversation about this novel threat to free speech. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 2001 there were only 12 private school choice programs in the country, including vouchers, tax credit scholarships, and personal tax credits and deductions. College prices were rising at “crisis” rates and calls for “free” government pre‐​kindergarten were regularly heard. During that same year, the idea to create Cato’s Center for Educational Freedom (CEF) was born, and in 2002 CEF came to life.In this special event, we will examine the changing state of American education over the past 20 years. What has improved? What has gotten worse? What has CEF’s impact been? And what might the next 20 years have in store?We hope you’ll join CEF analysts and friends past and present as they tackle 20 years of change in American education. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol and the related attempt to overturn the election results featured elements of three white supremacist or militia‐​type elements: the Oath Keepers, the Three Percenters, and the Proud Boys. The rise of such groups was a cause for concern well before January 6, and that concern has only intensified since.What has not received as much attention is the reaction from the far left to these developments.Groups such as the Socialist Rifle Association, Latino Rifle Association, Yellow Peril Tactical, and the multichapter John Brown Gun Clubs are populated with Americans with decidedly leftist—and even Marxist—political outlooks. Coupled with a facility with the latest versions of the popular AR-15 sporting rifle, precision rifle optics, body armor, and other gear normally seen on police or military personnel, they offer—in their own words—a direct response to the likes of the Patriot Front, Proud Boys, and anti‐​LGTBQ activists. These developments raise the sp

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We typically think of school choice as something that benefits students by helping them find the educational options that work best for them. But teachers also benefit from more options. In the past, the vast majority of teaching jobs have been in conventional public schools. But educational entrepreneurship—encouraged by expanded school choice programs—is changing the landscape.A recent Morning Consult teacher survey found high levels of support for a variety of school choice programs. For education savings accounts, which let parents use a portion of state education funding for a variety of education‐​related expenses, 76 percent of teachers expressed support—including 73 percent of district school teachers. But many teachers are unfamiliar with school choice programs and alternative education opportunities or don’t realize how they can benefit from these options. Red tape, lack of autonomy, and inability to serve kids’ needs are some of teachers’ biggest complaints. School choice would

In the more than 50 years that the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) has been on the books, it has helped revolutionize Americans’ understanding of how their government works in practice. But the agencies and departments of the executive branch that are covered by the FOIA have persistently attempted to thwart its effective implementation.The most recent statutory update to FOIA took place in 2016, and with several years of experience with the revised law behind us, it’s fair to ask: Is FOIA working better now? If not, why not? What is it like to battle federal agencies and departments weekly to pry loose information dealing with immigration policy, telecommunications policy, and the national security establishment? What additional changes to FOIA are needed to truly make the law work as intended? Join our expert panel as we discuss these and related issues. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With massive U.S. debt and deficits, inflation at a 40‐​year high, and popular/​political pressure for expanding the Fed’s mandate, it’s time to assess the Fed’s performance and future. Please join leading scholars and policymakers to discuss “The State of Monetary Policy after 40 Years.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.