Cato Event Podcast

A new wave of age-verification laws for app stores and internet services like social media have been proposed at both state and federal levels. These laws raise pressing constitutional concerns about privacy, free speech, and the proper role of government in regulating online behavior. The Supreme Court decided Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, a pivotal case challenging a requirement that users verify their age, such as by uploading government-issued identification, to access online adult content. While well-meaning adults may want to protect young people from certain harms both online and off, these proposals could also threaten to chill lawful speech, compromise privacy, and set dangerous precedents. Requiring age verification for online content could open the door to broader government controls over political speech and dissent. These burdens are felt not only by “Big Tech” but also by smaller companies that may be providing services for more specific communities. Furthermore, it’s unclear if these pr

In this episode, Erec Smith speaks with Andrew Hartz, a practicing clinical psychologist and Founder, President, and Executive Director of the Open Therapy Institute. Hartz and Smith discuss the detrimental effect that identity politics have had on talk therapy and how the Open Therapy Institute works to remedy that effect. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the hottest topics on the Hill is the future of the Department of Education and the current administration’s education priorities. As national conversations grow around school choice, federal overreach, and the role of states in shaping curricula and standards, many in Congress are reevaluating the federal government’s place in our educational system. Join us for a fireside chat with Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota and the Cato Institute’s Director for the Center for Educational Freedom, Neal McCluskey, on Congress’ role in dissolving the Department of Education. This conversation will explore efforts to return control of education to the states, empower local school districts, and ensure that parents and communities have a greater say in their children’s education. The speakers will examine policy frameworks behind dismantling the department, the feasibility of such a move, and what a post–Department of Education future might look like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo

The current administration has enacted the most active immigration policy in American history, issuing unprecedented executive orders, attempting to deport one million people a year, and imposing new restrictions on legal immigration. David J. Bier, director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, and Stuart Anderson, executive director of the National Foundation for American Policy, will provide analysis of the current administration’s policies on deportation, the rule of law, legal immigration, and the role of Congress. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us for an afternoon dedicated to discussing barriers to capital formation and the solutions to break through them. Small businesses are central to the US economy. Not only are small businesses the primary generators of new jobs, but they are also the incubators of innovation and the pipeline for future large businesses. Small businesses rely on many different sources of financial support, but the capital markets play an important role in helping small businesses grow. Unfortunately, tapping the equity markets can be difficult, owing in part to the complex web of regulations and exemptions that stand between an entrepreneur and raising capital in a securities market. Small businesses face obstacles from the tiny start-up stage through the time that a company is considering accessing the public markets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us for an afternoon dedicated to discussing barriers to capital formation and the solutions to break through them. Small businesses are central to the US economy. Not only are small businesses the primary generators of new jobs, but they are also the incubators of innovation and the pipeline for future large businesses. Small businesses rely on many different sources of financial support, but the capital markets play an important role in helping small businesses grow. Unfortunately, tapping the equity markets can be difficult, owing in part to the complex web of regulations and exemptions that stand between an entrepreneur and raising capital in a securities market. Small businesses face obstacles from the tiny start-up stage through the time that a company is considering accessing the public markets. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us at the Cato Institute for an in-depth fireside chat featuring Congressman Rich McCormick and Matt Mittelsteadt, Cato policy fellow in technology. This timely conversation will explore the evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity policy, and the state of AI in Congress.Join us for a discussion on the current state of AI governance at the federal and state levels, the proposal for a 10-year moratorium on state and local AI regulations (what it means, and what’s at stake), and the long-term vision for responsible, innovation-friendly AI policy in the United States.Whether you’re a policymaker, tech professional, academic, or simply interested in the future of AI regulation, this is a must-attend conversation on how to balance innovation, security, and civil liberties in the age of artificial intelligence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From declining enrollments and skyrocketing tuition to the stifling of intellectual diversity, Richard Vedder’s Let Colleges Fail exposes how centralized control, administrative bloat, and ideological orthodoxy have corroded our college campuses. But rather than lament, Vedder’s book proposes market-oriented reforms that could revive academic freedom and restore genuine competition in the world of ideas.Can higher education be saved from the grip of bureaucracy and groupthink? What policies might unleash its true potential? Don’t miss this urgent conversation between Cato research fellow Andrew Gillen and Vedder about tackling the rot and dysfunction plaguing American higher education. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

NATO member states will gather June 24–26 in the Netherlands for the 2025 NATO Summit. This comes as NATO member states’ disparate interests, competing priorities, and varying perspectives on the future of Ukraine threaten the cohesion of the alliance.For both domestic and strategic reasons, US leaders from across the political spectrum seek a rebalanced alliance in which European states would take increasing responsibility for conventional deterrence on the continent. Yet while many European leaders pay homage to this idea, steps toward this objective remain halting. European officials reportedly want a cordial meeting to avoid any perceptions of disunity, while US leaders have continued to pressure allies to boost defense spending and take more responsibility for the defense of their continent.Will the United States follow through with plans to withdraw troops from Germany and Eastern Europe? How will European members respond to the US demand that they spend 5 percent of their gross domestic product on

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Proposals to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) at the state level continue to increase. Unfortunately, these proposals could potentially disrupt advances in this important technology, even if there is strong federal policy. This policy forum, which is related to an upcoming policy analysis on the topic, will explore the potential economic costs of state-level AI regulation as well as the potential barriers in the market it creates for both consumers and innovators. Are there ways state AI policy conversations may discourage or encourage the important policy conversations around AI innovation? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Competencies in Civil Discourse, Erec Smith speaks with attorney Kaitlin Puccio, Director at the UNESCO Chair in Bioethics and Human Rights. They discuss the ethical foundations of human dignity, bioethics in a pluralistic world, and how civil discourse can guide policy across cultural and ideological divides. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Competencies in Civil Discourse, I speak with Chris Bush and Joia Houheneka, the co-founders of 1776 Forward and hosts of the Free Speech Forward Podcast. 1776 Forward is a for-profit organization dedicated to sparking a cultural-political-philosophical revolution based on Philosophical Liberalism—an ideal that maximizes human freedom, flourishing, and greatness. They host the podcast "Free Speech Forward" in partnership with the Institute for Liberal Values and publish "The Philosophical Liberal" on Substack. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One hundred years ago, the US Supreme Court famously wrote, “The child is not the mere creature of the State; those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations.” That ruling was Pierce v. Society of Sisters, which launched the parental rights movement that has become especially ascendant, but also controversial, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.In this special conference, we will first tackle the idea of parental rights broadly, including its application in everything from health care to public school transparency. In the second panel, we will focus on the movement perhaps most influenced by Pierce: school choice. We will conclude with a lunch and keynote speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One hundred years ago, the US Supreme Court famously wrote, “The child is not the mere creature of the State; those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations.” That ruling was Pierce v. Society of Sisters, which launched the parental rights movement that has become especially ascendant, but also controversial, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.In this special conference, we will first tackle the idea of parental rights broadly, including its application in everything from health care to public school transparency. In the second panel, we will focus on the movement perhaps most influenced by Pierce: school choice. We will conclude with a lunch and keynote speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One hundred years ago, the US Supreme Court famously wrote, “The child is not the mere creature of the State; those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with the high duty, to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations.” That ruling was Pierce v. Society of Sisters, which launched the parental rights movement that has become especially ascendant, but also controversial, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.In this special conference, we will first tackle the idea of parental rights broadly, including its application in everything from health care to public school transparency. In the second panel, we will focus on the movement perhaps most influenced by Pierce: school choice. We will conclude with a lunch and keynote speaker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Can the president unilaterally impose tariffs under his emergency powers? In this webinar, legal scholars Ilya Somin, a professor at Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University who is co-counsel in the pending tariffs case VOS Selections v. Trump, and Walter Olson explore the constitutional and statutory limits of presidential authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and other statutes. They’ll discuss President Trump’s recent efforts to justify sweeping trade measures under IEEPA, examine the historical role of Congress in setting tariffs, and consider broader stakes for the separation of powers. Whether you’re a lawyer, policymaker, or interested observer, this conversation will shed light on one of the most important trade and constitutional questions of our time. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon has been given an unusual mandate: to end the department she has been tasked with overseeing. As out of the ordinary as that might be, it is the right mission, because the Constitution gives the federal government no authority to govern in education, and the department’s practical track record has been terrible.Join us for a very special fireside chat—shortly after the department celebrated its 45th birthday, on May 4th—where we will discuss why the department needs to go, how that can be done, the steps taken so far, and what American education would look like without a federal Department of Education. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

School and district leaders are uniquely positioned to implement interdisciplinary civil discourse as schoolwide practices that empower educators and allow for each student’s voice to be heard. By doing so, leaders build positive school cultures where students and staff bridge diverse viewpoints and have space for discussion, understanding, and reflection.In this webinar, you will hear from a panel of current educational leaders on how they build and foster civil discourse practices. They will discuss supporting educators and students and addressing concerns and challenges. Learn tips for supporting educators and planning the next steps for your community.You’ll also learn about Sphere’s new Leadership Toolkit for Civil Discourse, a collection of free resources designed to support you in getting started, planning action steps, setting goals, and more to foster civil discourse and empower educators. Our suite of new resources is designed for administrators, instructional coaches, department chairs, a

Tech policy has created more opportunities for entrepreneurship than just Silicon Valley startups. The availability of online platforms has empowered a new wave of entrepreneurs who might never reach household fame but who are contributing both to their own households and the greater economy. Jennifer Huddleston, a senior fellow in tech policy, speaks with two content creators about how these platforms and tech policy have impacted their businesses and changed their lives.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.