Red Tape

Red Tape

Did you know that you commit up to three felonies on an average day? Ever wonder why we don't have clean energy yet? Or why you can't just make TikToks and be left alone? One answer: the government! Red Tape, a new podcast from the R Street Institute, explores the surprising ways the government often gets in the way of solving today's biggest problems. From good-paying jobs to TikTok and electric vehicles, normal Americans often find themselves in need of a real solution that fits the real world. But more often than not, bureaucratic red tape gets in their way. In every episode, hosts Kelli Pierce and Shoshana Weissmann will explore some of today's most pressing issues and talk with R Street Institute experts about possible solutions. The show will cover everything from birth control to social media to election misinformation. The problems might be more absurd and the answers far simpler than you'd think.

Episodes

Introducing Red Tape From R Street

May 11, 2023 • 1 min
Did you know that you commit up to three felonies on an average day? Ever wonder why we don’t have clean energy yet? Or why you can’t just make TikToks and be left alone? One answer: the government!  Red Tape, a new podcast from the R Street Institute, explores the surprising ways the government often gets in the way of solving today’s biggest problems. From good-paying jobs to TikTok and electric vehicles, normal Americans often ...
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You’re Not As Free As You Think

May 24, 2023 • 49 mins
How free are we really? In the first episode of Red Tape from R Street, hosts Kelli Pierce and Shoshana Weissmann pull back the curtain on some of the ways that the government is getting in the way of your day-to-day freedom. Host Kelli Pierce first speaks with Jill Snider, a retired New York City Police Officer and R Street's Policy Director for Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties, who talks about the consequences of cash bail an...
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It Ain’t Easy Being Green

June 7, 2023 • 38 mins
Why is the government getting in the way of green energy initiatives? Join hosts Kelli Pierce and Shoshana Weissmann as they navigate some of the red tape that is slowing down clean energy projects. R Street’s Josiah Neeley speaks with host Kelli Pierce about the crucial role of our nation’s power grid in our pursuit of green energy goals. He talks about how wind and solar have become the cheaper options, why utilities are monopol...
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Ban It All!

June 21, 2023 • 54 mins
Don’t like or understand something? Just ban it! In this episode of Red Tape from R Street, host Kelli Pierce is joined by Brandon Pugh, R Street's Resident Fellow and Policy Director for the Cybersecurity and Emerging Threats Program. They discuss the potential implications of a Tik Tok ban in the United States and examine the delicate balance between data security and tech policy. Kelli also speaks with Mazen Saleh, R Street’s P...
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South Park Explains Why We’re Trillions in Debt

July 5, 2023 • 54 mins
What can we learn about the U.S. debt crisis from a classic South Park episode? Turns out, almost everything. In this episode of Red Tape, Kelli and Shoshana dissect the classic Margaritaville episode from Season 13 of South Park in 2009.  Host Kelli Pierce is then joined by Nan Swift, a Resident Fellow for R Street’s Governance Program, to examine the complexities of the U.S. budget and why bad ideas persist in government. Also, ...
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They Took Our Jobs!

July 19, 2023 • 52 mins
What will happen to our jobs when the robots take over? Kelli and Shoshana navigate the world of artificial intelligence and jobs with R Street’s Resident Senior Fellow for Technology and Innovation, Adam Thierer. An expert on AI, he explains why you shouldn’t worry so much about the robots taking your job.  Kelli also speaks with Dr. Christi Smith who explains why a criminal record shouldn’t always prevent you from getting a job....
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Where’s The Lie?

August 2, 2023 • 58 mins
The Pope was wearing what?! Get ready to find out as we navigate the murky waters of misinformation. R Street's Resident Elections Fellow, Matt Germer, joins host Kelli Pierce to talk about election misinformation and the strengths and weakness of states' voting infrastructures that have been revealed by the last few elections. Kelli also speaks with Stacey McKenna, R Street's Resident Senior Fellow for Integrated Harm Reduction a...
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It’s 230. Do you know where your children are?

August 16, 2023 • 39 mins
The internet as we know it exists today thanks to an obscure law called Section 230. On this week’s episode, Kelli interviews Red Tape’s very own Shoshana Weissmann about Section 230’s crucial role in our digital liberty. Shoshana discusses how this legislation empowers individuals to voice their opinions freely online without fear of litigation, a pivotal element in today’s social media-driven world. Kelli also speaks with Josh Wi...
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Build high where it’s dry

August 30, 2023 • 47 mins
What do California and Florida have in common other than beaches and Disney? Natural disasters and insurance markets that are in shambles. Kelli Pierce interviews Caroline Melear, R Street’s resident fellow on Insurance and Trade policy. Caroline, a Florida resident, breaks down the state’s years long struggle with massive hurricanes, insurance, and why the crisis recently came to a head. The situation in California is no less chao...
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Humble Beginnings

September 13, 2023 • 45 mins
Not many organizations can say they were founded because of a billboard, or that they have a “no ninjas” policy. But there is one organization that can claim both, plus they love South Park. In today’s episode, host Kelli Pierce dives into the story of R Street. She interviews our President and Co-Founder, Eli Lehrer and the Executive Director and very first hire, Erica Schoder.  First, Eli and Kelli talk about the controversial b...
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You stepped on my patent!

September 4, 2024 • 27 mins
On this special episode of Red Tape, host Kelli Pierce interviews Wayne Brough, R Street Institute resident senior fellow for the Technology and Innovation Program. They discuss why drug prices are sky-high, how the United States’ outdated patent system lets pharmaceutical companies block competition that could lead to lower prices, and the real-life solutions that could help Americans get the drugs they need for less money.
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“Who’s Running the Government? Budgets, Congress, and Chaos” with Washington Post's Megan McArdle

May 9, 2025 • 50 mins
What happens when Washington Post Columnist Megan McArdle and R Street Expert Nan Swift try to figure out who is running the government? A live episode of Red Tape! On this episode, co-hosts Kelli Pierce has a live, wide-ranging conversation about budgets, Congress, power, and the government as part of the R Street Institute's 2025 Real Solutions Summit. (The conversation begins with co-hosts Pierce and Shoshana Weissmann talki...
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