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

February 18, 2026 29 mins

On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about ICE immigration enforcement efforts in the country. First on the show is Cameron Abrams, policy analyst for Next Generation Texas at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Later, we hear from Ilya Somin, B. Kenneth Simon Chair in Constitutional Studies at the Cato Institute, and a professor of law at George Mason University....

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On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about the country’s debt and annual deficit. First on the show is John Tamny, President of Parkview Institute, Editor at RealClearMarkets, and author of The Deficit Delusion. Later, we hear from Adam Michel, director of tax policy studies at the Cato Institute and author of the recent essay, “The Deficit Trap.” You can find Joh...
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On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about New York City’s congestion pricing program. First on the show is Nicole Gelinas, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a contributing editor of City Journal. Later, we hear from Diana Furchtgott-Roth, Director of the Center for Energy, Climate, and Environment and The Herbert and Joyce Morgan Fellow in Energy and...
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On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about the country’s H-1B visa program. First on the show is Simon Hankinson, Senior Research Fellow in the Border Security and Immigration Center at the Heritage Foundation. Later, we hear from Brent Orrell, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. You can find Simon on X @WatchfulWaiter1 and AEI at @AEI. Hosted by S...
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On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about recent actions taken by the United States against cartels. First on the show is Jacob Sullum, senior editor at Reason. Later, we hear from Ammon Blair, a Senior Fellow for the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s ‘Secure & Sovereign Nation’ Initiative. You can find Jacob on X at @JacobSullum and the Texas Public Policy Founda...
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On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about American strategy in the Middle East. First on the show is Daniel J. Samet, a Jeane Kirkpatrick Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, where he focuses on US-Israel relations and Middle East policy. Later, we hear from Doug Bandow, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, specializing in foreign policy and civil liber...
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On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about eliminating the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). First on the show is Chris Edwards, Kilts Family Chair in Fiscal Studies at the Cato Institute and is the editor of Down​siz​ing​Gov​ern​ment​.org. Later, we hear from Jerry Theodorou, Director of the Finance, Insurance and Trade Policy Program at the R Street In...
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On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about enforcing the law that could ban TikTok in the United States. First on the show is David Dunmoyer, Associate Vice President of Campaigns at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Later, we hear from Joe Lancaster, an assistant editor at Reason. You can find David on X at @DDDunmoyer and Joe at @JoeRLancaster. Hosted by Simpl...
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On this episode of Future of Freedom, host Scot Bertram is joined by two guests with different viewpoints about the Trump administrations’ handling of immigration enforcement. First on the show is J.D. Tuccille, a former managing editor of Reason.com and current contributing editor. Later, we hear from Mark Krikorian, Executive Director of the Center for Immigration Studies. You can find J.D. on X at @JD_Tuccille and Mark at @MarkS...
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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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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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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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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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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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.co...
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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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm...
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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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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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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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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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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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