You Better Sit Down -- CBO's Ten Year Budget Deficit Projections (Audio: Podcast)
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.
President Biden Says, 'Let the Vote Buying Begin' (Audio: Podcast)
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 projects like the infrastructure bill, they create opportunities for the President to use the money as an indirect contribution to his re-election campaign. Discussion led by IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews, with IPI President Tom Giovanetti.
IPI Policy Basics: What Are Tax Extenders and Why Do They Matter? (Audio: Podcast)
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.
Spending, Spending and Even More Spending: A Closer Look at Federal Debt and Deficits (Audio: Podcast)
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.
States Have Rainy Day Funds--Why Can't Washington? (Audio: Podcast)
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.
Four Strikes and You're Out (Audio: Podcast)
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.
Lessons from Government Shutdowns (Audio: Podcast)
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.
America's Credit Rating Gets Downgraded (Audio: Podcast)
IPI President Tom Giovanetti and Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews discuss this week’s news that at least one bond analyst firm has downgraded the debt of the US Treasury. Is this the canary in the coal mine? For how long can we expect people to keep buying US debt on favorable terms despite our unfavorable fiscal behavior?
Bidenomics: Embracing the Failure (Audio: Podcast)
Talk about embracing the suck. This week President Biden announced he is attempting the impossible by running on his economic accomplishments. But there’s a slight problem: The American people are very unhappy about the economy and rate the President very low on his handling of the economy. And while IPI President Tom Giovanetti begrudgingly gives Biden points for audacity, IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews goes through the statistics and the news ain’t good. Here’s a tip: Be alert to the lie that Biden came into office during a terrible economy. In fact, the economy was robustly recovering when Biden took office, and he poured trillions of stimulus on an already demand-constrained economy.
How Government Is Wasting Your Green Dollars (Audio: Podcast)
IPI Resident Scholar Dr. Merrill Matthews explains how taxpayer dollars pledged to help vulnerable and developing countries cope with climate change are instead being used as a slush fund for project with little or no connection to climate change, and for projects that should be able to find adequate financing from the usual financial markets. Seems to IPI President Tom Giovanetti that this is yet another example of how the concern about climate change seems to be little more than an excuse for spending money on pet projects.
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