Future of Freedom

Future of Freedom

Future of Freedom is your antidote to cable news brawls and social media shouting. A podcast for serious, good-faith conversations about liberty and the ideas that shape it. Hosted by Scot Bertram, each episode explores a single topic and brings together two guests with opposing views. But this isn’t a debate show: no interruptions, no dunking, just thoughtful, civil discourse. It’s compelling, challenging, and refreshingly real. Subscribe now and join the conversation.

Episodes

Henry Olsen & Alex Muresianu: Should University Endowments Be Taxed?

July 10, 2025 • 27 mins
On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about taxing endowments of American colleges and universities. First on the show is Henry Olsen, senior fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and host of the Beyond the Polls with Henry Olsen podcast. Later, we hear from Alex Muresianu, Senior Policy Analyst at the Tax Foundation. You can find Henry on X @HenryOlsenEPPC...
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John Yoo & Charles C. W. Cooke: Who Decides When America Goes to War?

July 3, 2025 • 35 mins
On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints concerning when the President needs the approval of Congress to engage in military action. First on the show is John Yoo, the Emanuel Heller Professor of Law at the University of California at Berkeley, Senior Research Fellow at the Civitas Institute, University of Texas at Austin, and a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the America...
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Tobias Peter & Judge Glock: How Should Zoning Be Viewed & Reformed?

June 16, 2025 • 33 mins
On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about zoning laws and America’s housing supply. First on the show is Tobias Peter, a senior fellow at AEI and the codirector of the American Enterprise Institute’s Housing Center. Later, we hear from Judge Glock, director of research and a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a contributing editor at City Journal. You c...
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Keith E. Whittington & Charles Fain Lehman: Does Federal Involvement Safeguard or Endanger Free Speech on College Campuses?

May 21, 2025 • 33 mins
On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about whether federal involvement safeguards or endangers free speech on college campuses. First on the show is Keith E. Whittington, is the David Boies Professor of Law at Yale Law School and founding chair of the Academic Freedom Alliance. Later, we hear from Charles Fain Lehman, fellow at the Manhattan Institute and senior e...
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Oren Cass & Iain Murray: Can the Use of Tariffs Help Improve the U.S. Economy?

May 6, 2025 • 37 mins
On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about tariffs. First on the show is Oren Cass, Chief Economist at American Compass. Later, we hear from Iain Murray, Vice President for Strategy and senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. You can find Oren on X @oren_cass and Iain at @ismurray.
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Johan Norberg & Derek Scissors: How Should the U.S. Economically Engage With China?

April 15, 2025 • 34 mins
On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about trade with and investment in China. First on the show is Johan Norberg, senior fellow at the Cato Institute. Later, we hear from Derek Scissors, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. You can find Johan on X @johanknorberg and Derek at @DerekScissors1.
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Brian Rankin & Howard Husock: Should the Federal Government Fund Public Broadcasting?

April 3, 2025 • 33 mins
On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about federal funding for public broadcasting. First on the show is Brian Rankin, an Adjunct Fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Later, we hear from Howard Husock, senior fellow in Domestic Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute. You can find the Competitive Enterprise Institute on X @ceidotorg and the ...
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Charles Fain Lehman & Jacob James Rich: Should Online Sports Gambling Be Legal?

March 21, 2025 • 35 mins

On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about the legalization of internet sports gambling. First on the show is Charles Fain Lehman, fellow at the Manhattan Institute and senior editor of City Journal. Later, we hear from Jacob James Rich, policy analyst at Reason Foundation. You can find Charles on X, formerly Twitter, at @CharlesFLehman and Jacob at @JacobJamesRic...

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Grover Norquist & Jessica Riedl: Evaluating the Effectiveness of DOGE

March 5, 2025 • 38 mins
On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). First on the show is Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform. Later, we hear from Jessica Riedl, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, focusing on budget, tax, and economic policy. You can find Grover on X, formerly Twitter, at @GroverNorquist and Jessica ...
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Neal McCluskey & Rick Hess: How Should the Department of Education Be Addressed?

February 14, 2025 • 38 mins
On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about the Department of Education. First on the show is Neal McCluskey, the director of Cato’s Center for Educational Freedom. Later, we hear from Frederick M. Hess, Senior Fellow and Director of Education Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute. You can find Neal on X, formerly Twitter, at @NealMcCluskey and Rick a...
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Joe Lancaster & Thomas J. Healey: How Should the IRS Be Reformed?

December 20, 2024 • 31 mins
On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about possible reform of the Internal Revenue Service. First on the show is Joe Lancaster, an assistant editor at Reason. Later, we hear from Thomas J. Healey, the former assistant secretary of the U.S. Treasury under President Ronald Reagan, a senior fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School and the founder of Healey Development LLC....
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Robert VerBruggen & Adam White: Should SCOTUS Be Reformed?

October 28, 2024 • 33 mins
On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about the need for reform of the U.S. Supreme Court. First on the show is Robert VerBruggen, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute and writer for City Journal. Later, we hear from Adam White, Laurence H. Silberman Chair in Constitutional Governance and senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and former member of the Pr...
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Stephen Miran & Scott Lincicome: Should the United States Prioritize Reindustrialization?

October 7, 2024 • 37 mins
On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about the need for a reindustrialization policy for America. First on the show is Stephen Miran, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute and former senior advisor for economic policy at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Later, we hear from Scott Lincicome, vice president of general economics at the Cato Institute and Cato’s Herb...
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Andy Puzder & Allison Schrager: Should Tips Be Taxed?

September 16, 2024 • 23 mins
On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about a “No Tax on Tips” policy. First on the show is Andy Puzder, the chief executive officer of CKE Restaurants for more than 16 years and currently a distinguished visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation and a senior fellow at the America First Policy Institute. Later we hear from Allison Schrager, senior fellow at the Ma...
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Mackenzie Eaglen & John G. Ferrari: How Should Military Recruiting Efforts Be Improved?

August 30, 2024 • 35 mins
On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about how to improve military recruitment efforts. First on the show is Mackenzie Eaglen, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI). Later we hear from John G. Ferrari, a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. You can find Mackenzie on X, formerly Twitter, at @MEaglen and AEI at @AEI.
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Alex Reinauer & Greyson Gee: Should 'Right to Repair' Laws Be Enacted?

August 16, 2024 • 33 mins
On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about “Right to Repair” laws. First on the show is Alex Reinauer, research fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Later we hear from Greyson Gee, policy scholar at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. You can find Alex on X, formerly Twitter, at @Alex_Reinauer and Greyson at @GreysonTGee.
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Alexandra DeSanctis & Philip Klein: Should Abortion Be a State or Federal Issue?

July 31, 2024 • 30 mins
On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about the wisdom of federal pro-life legislation in the wake of the Dobbs decision. First on the show is Alexandra DeSanctis, fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center and co-author of the book Tearing Us Apart: How Abortion Harms Everything and Solves Nothing. Later we hear from Philip Klein, editor of National Review Onli...
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Jay P. Greene & Tanner Aliff: How Should the Doctor Shortage Be Addressed?

June 21, 2024 • 33 mins
On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about how to address the doctor shortage in the United States. First on the show is Jay P. Greene, PhD, a Senior Research Fellow in The Heritage Foundation’s Center for Education Policy. Later, we hear from Tanner Aliff, Policy Director for the Center on Health and Families at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. You can find Ja...
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C. Jarrett Dieterle & Brian Albrecht: Should Non-Compete Clauses Be Banned?

June 4, 2024 • 32 mins
On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about the recent FEC decision to ban noncompete clauses in employment agreements. First on the show is C. Jarrett Dieterle, resident senior fellow at the R Street Institute. Later, we hear from Brian Albrecht, chief economist of the International Center for Law and Economics. You can find R Street on X, formerly Twitter, at @RS...
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John Hood & Andrew T. Walker: What Should Be the Future of Conservatism?

May 23, 2024 • 35 mins
On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints on the future of conservatism. First on the show is John Hood, president of the John William Pope Foundation and one of the organizers of the Freedom Conservative Statement. Later, we hear from Andrew T. Walker, Associate Professor of Christian Ethics and Public Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fellow at t...
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