Best David S Wright Podcasts (2025)

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Whitney Baker on the End of ‘Buy the Dip’ & the American Bubble | #586 1:46:05

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9h ago1:46:05

1:46:05

Today we’re joined by Whitney Baker, founder of Totem Macro and one of the sharpest minds in macro investing. Whitney was previously the head of Emerging Markets at Bridgewater Associates and worked at Soros Fund Management under current Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. In today’s episode, Whitney discusses the current macroeconomic landscape, emp…

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Laura Powell: Who's Most To Blame for the Latest L.A. Riots? 1:07:39

3d ago1:07:39

1:07:39

Former leftwing public defender Laura Powell unpacks the political chaos behind LA’s immigration riots, criticizing both federal overreach, and California’s state dysfunction.SubscribeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonJustAskingQuestions/featuredApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-asking-questions/id1719355507Spotify: https://op…

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Debating the Science and Ethics of IVF: Emma Waters vs. Ruxandra Teslo 1:37:21

7d ago1:37:21

1:37:21

How should the government treat in vitro fertilization (IVF)? Should they regulate it more? Should they subsidize it? Just asking questions. The above are all questions that the Trump administration is actively considering in the wake of an executive order seeking to expand access to IVF. President Donald Trump previously declared himself "the fert…

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Kim Flynn - Unlocking Alternative Investments | #585 56:34

7d ago56:34

56:34

Today’s guest is Kim Flynn, President of XA Investments, which helps provide access to alternative investments. She was previously the Head of Product Development for Nuveen Investments Global Structured Products Group. In today’s episode, Meb and Kim discuss the democratization of alternative investments in relation to the recent explosion of inte…

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Musician Nicole Zuraitis 49:39

9d ago49:39

49:39

Rodney Veal interviews artist Nicole Zuraitis, a Grammy-winning jazz vocalist and composer, about the challenges of breaking genre boundaries and the importance of persistence in the arts. Learn more about the Nicole Zuraitis on her website: https://www.nicolezmusic.com/ Follow Nicole on Instagram: @NicoleZMusic…

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Helen Lewis: The Dark Side of Genius 1:35:13

9d ago1:35:13

1:35:13

Today's guest is Helen Lewis, a British journalist and podcaster who is a staff writer for The Atlantic. Her new book is The Genius Myth: A Curious History of a Dangerous Idea, and it explores how the definition of what it means to be a genius has changed radically over the centuries, how it became linked to all sorts of weird biological theories, …

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Polling, ex-PMs, dickheadery and a goat sacrifice 42:50

10d ago42:50

42:50

We're officially in the second half of the term, a milestone marked by the historic handover of the hallowed deputy prime minister amulet from Winston Peters to David Seymour. The moment comes with pageantry, a flurry of interviews and a pair of new polls, which deliver intriguing, and sometimes divergent results. Toby Manhire, Annabelle Lee-Mather…

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Artificial Intelligence Is Making Everything Weird 1:07:45

11d ago1:07:45

1:07:45

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is already reshaping jobs, education, politics, and personal identity—sharing examples from scam calls and students cheating to Darth Vader swearing in Fortnite. The panel also discusses how Democrats are failing to attra…

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Edwidge Danticat Reads Zadie Smith 44:06

13d ago44:06

44:06

Edwidge Danticat joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “Two Men Arrive in a Village,” by Zadie Smith, which was published in The New Yorker in 2016. Danticat, a MacArthur Fellow and a winner of the Vilcek Prize in Literature, has published six books of fiction, including “Breath, Eyes, Memory,” “The Farming of Bones,” “Claire of the Sea Light,…

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Cole Wilcox on The Power Law of Investing | #584 1:05:02

15d ago1:05:02

1:05:02

Today’s guest is Cole Wilcox, CIO of Longboard Asset Management, a boutique asset manager specializing in alternative investment strategies. In today’s episode, Cole walks through one of my favorite papers of all time, Does Trend-Following Still Work On Stocks? Hint: it does. Cole explains why you have to be a good loser to be a good investor, how …

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David Stockman: Trump Is a 'Faker' on the Debt 1:09:16

15d ago1:09:16

1:09:16

How will we ever get the national debt under control? Just asking questions.The U.S. national debt stands at a staggering $36 trillion. And while President Donald Trump assures us he's a "fiscal hawk," the GOP's latest fiscal plan, dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, is a fiscal time bomb, says today's guest. David Stockman, the director of the …

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The GOP Budget Is Big, Bloated, B.S. 1:17:28

16d ago1:17:28

1:17:28

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch critique President Donald Trump's proposed tax legislation and its fiscal irresponsibility, discuss the national deficit and credit rating downgrade, examine the media and political cover-up of former President Joe Biden's cognitive decline, and highlight the br…

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Lawrence Wright: America’s Misadventures in Wars, Cults, and Panics 1:03:45

16d ago1:03:45

1:03:45

Today's guest is the legendary journalist and New Yorker staffer Lawrence Wright. He is the author of Going Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief; The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda and the Road to 9/11; and The Plague Year: America in the Time of Covid.Wright talks with Reason's Nick Gillespie about The Human Scale, his new novel set in…

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Trump's War on Harvard 1:04:22

17d ago1:04:22

1:04:22

In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch are joined by The Gist's Mike Pesca to discuss the Trump administration's escalating campaign against Harvard. The conversation explores how government overreach in education threatens civil liberties and stable institutional governance. They also dis…

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C. Bradley Thompson and Jeremiah Johnson: Rise of the 'MAGA Manosphere' 1:01:43

21d ago1:01:43

1:01:43

Did mainstream conservatives and libertarians lose a generation of young men to the post-liberal, reactionary right?Reason's Nick Gillespie talks with C. Bradley Thompson, author of the Substack newsletter The Redneck Intellectual, and Jeremiah Johnson of the Center for New Liberalism, who wrote the article "Weak Men Create Hard Times: And Weak Men…

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Apollo's Alex Wright on The Role of Private Markets in Modern Portfolios | #583 50:06

22d ago50:06

50:06

Today’s guest is Alex Wright, Global Wealth Strategist at Apollo. In today’s episode, Alex discusses the fragility of public markets, citing high valuations, rising correlations, and limited diversification opportunities, which prompt a need to reassess traditional 60/40 portfolios. Then he walks through the opportunity in private markets, includin…

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Dave Smith and Alex Nowrasteh Debate Immigration 1:44:07

22d ago1:44:07

1:44:07

Dave Smith and Alex Nowrasteh debate the resolution, "Government restrictions on the immigration of peaceful and healthy people make sense from a libertarian standpoint, especially in present-day America."Comedian and host of the podcast, Part of the Problem, Dave Smith defends the resolution. Taking the negative is Alex Nowrasteh, the Vice Preside…

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Gary Winslett: The American Dream Has Migrated South 1:05:59

22d ago1:05:59

1:05:59

Middlebury professor Gary Winslett argues the South—not China—poached the Rust Belt’s manufacturing base by out-competing it on policy.SubscribeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonJustAskingQuestions/featuredApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-asking-questions/id1719355507Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5SpySKAH3LuVyxXk0MF7…

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Artist Susan Byrnes 56:47

23d ago56:47

56:47

Rodney Veal interviews artist Susan Byrnes about the importance of transferable skills in the world of art, how the two of them came together on a piece for The Contemporary Dayton, and how sometimes the best way to ingest a piece of art is with patience. Learn more about the Susan Byrnes on her website: https://www.susanbstudio.com Follow Susan on…

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Budget special: When The Facts Change x Gone By Lunchtime 28:46

23d ago28:46

28:46

In the year of growth, Nicola Willis has presented a growth budget. But does the Investment Boost initiative, which speeds up depreciation for businesses, promise the kind of growth that the economy needs? In this special Spinoff pod for budget day, Toby Manhire asks Bernard Hickey for his take on the headline changes, and whether or not David Seym…

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Brian Brushwood: Why We Fall for Scams 51:29

23d ago51:29

51:29

"You don't get conned because you're stupid—you get conned because you're human."That's the message of this week's guest, Brian Brushwood. He's an Austin-based magician, podcaster, and professional skeptic. With shows like Scam Nation and The Modern Rogue, he's taught millions of us how to upgrade our B.S. detectors in a world where truth is more u…

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House of C**** 54:33

24d ago54:33

54:33

Unprecedented punishments imposed on Te Pāti Māori MPs, and the scramble to avoid banning them from the budget debate, is top of the agenda this week. Annabelle Lee-Mather, Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire assess the fallout, before rewinding to last week’s theatrical parliamentary controversy, all of which stemmed from a C-word in a newspaper column, a…

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Robert Rosenkranz: How To Use Stoicism To Build a Meaningful Life 51:58

28d ago51:58

51:58

Are you part of the growing stoicism movement? Built on virtue, reason, and self-control, the ancient Roman philosophy is gaining popularity in a world that just seems to get crazier and crazier.Today's guest is a self-described stoic. Robert Rosenkranz is the author of The Stoic Capitalist: Advice for the Exceptionally Ambitious, which takes a dee…

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BCG’s Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak on Global Macro: Recession Risk, Tariffs, Debt Dynamics | #582 46:35

29d ago46:35

46:35

Today’s guest is Philipp Carlsson-Szlezak, Global Chief Economist at BCG and author Shocks, Crises, and False Alarms: How to Assess True Macroeconomic Risk. In today’s episode, Philipp starts by sharing his framework to assess macroeconomic risk, emphasizing the importance of adapting to changing global conditions. Then he applies that framework to…

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Noah Smith: I Owe Libertarians an Apology 1:17:20

29d ago1:17:20

1:17:20

The econ blogger explains why libertarians might have been (kind of) right all along—and why our ideas are more necessary than he thought in the age of Trump.https://reason.com/podcast/2025/05/15/noah-smith-i-owe-libertarians-an-apology/Noah Smith, an economic commentator and Substack writer, once dismissed libertarianism as a relic of the past. Bu…

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Do These Libertarians Regret Voting for Donald Trump? 1:28:01

29d ago1:28:01

1:28:01

Three libertarians—Dave Smith, J.D. Tuccille, and Liz Wolfe—revisit their reluctant votes for Trump, weighing the promises, chaos, and consequences of his second term so far.https://reason.com/podcast/2025/05/09/do-these-libertarians-regret-voting-for-donald-trump/During the 2024 presidential election, a contingent of libertarians cast strategic, o…

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Richard Dawkins: Why Atheism Is Winning 1:34:06

1M ago1:34:06

1:34:06

Today's guest is evolutionary biologist and outspoken atheist Richard Dawkins, whom Reason's Nick Gillespie interviewed last fall in Milwaukee as part of his "Final Bow" tour. Gillespie and Dawkins talked about why he believes science can't thrive without freedom, why gender ideology is starting to look a lot like Soviet Lysenkoism, and why some tr…

1
What did we learn from DOGE? 1:01:32

1M ago1:01:32

1:01:32

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch critique the apparent wind down of Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiative, highlighting its lack of transparency and failure to achieve meaningful spending cuts. They also analyze the GOP's new tax plan, which contradicts promises of f…

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Billionaire Cliff Asness: Can Technology Outrun 'Stupider and Stupider' Government? 51:56

1M ago51:56

51:56

"I feel fear… because they're somewhat vindictive people. I don't care who you are, having this set of people mad at you is not comfortable." That's today's guest, Cliff Asness, talking about President Donald Trump, his administration, and his supporters. Asness is the outspoken billionaire co-founder of AQR Capital Management. He is also a pioneer…

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Comedian Lori Graves 47:06

1M ago47:06

47:06

Rodney Veal interviews Lori Graves, a comedian from Chillicothe, about how she first joined the world of comedy on a dare and, since then, has found a real joy in using her talents to give back to her community. Learn more about the Lori Graves on her website: https://www.lorigcomedy.com/By ThinkTV

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Steven Pinker: Can Harvard Be Saved? 59:25

1M ago59:25

59:25

Today's guest is Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker. Pinker and Reason's Nick Gillespie discuss recent shifts at Harvard toward greater institutional neutrality and free speech, while warning that threats to academic freedom now come from both internal ideologies and external political forces—including pressure from the federal government under Pre…

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Really, really urgent 52:31

1M ago52:31

52:31

An overhaul of the pay equity process has been whisked through parliament under urgency. The changes, which tighten the criteria for making a claim for workers in female-dominated sectors and summarily halt 33 existing claims in the pipeline, have prompted a major backlash, in part for their substance and in part for the decision to push the reform…

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Trump's War on Childhood 1:03:36

1M ago1:03:36

1:03:36

In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch are joined by Reason reporter Christian Britschgi to discuss President Donald Trump's proposal for a 100 percent tariff on foreign-made films and his broader attacks on cheap consumer goods, arguing that it represents a bipartisan slide into anti-cons…

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Should Libertarians Prioritize Their Own Communities? 1:12:23

1M ago1:12:23

1:12:23

Eric Brakey and Andrew Heaton debate whether libertarians should prioritize building local liberty-focused societies like the Free State Project or focus on reforming the federal government.https://reason.com/podcast/2025/05/02/should-libertarians-prioritize-their-own-communities/Eric Brakey and Andrew Heaton debate the resolution, "Libertarians sh…

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Jeremy Grantham, John Arnold & Sam Zell Share Their Most Memorable Investments | #581 19:54

1M ago19:54

19:54

Today’s episode features the most memorable investments from Jeremy Grantham, John Arnold and Sam Zell. (0:00) Starts (0:53) Jeremy Grantham (5:25) John Arnold (8:24) Sam Zell To listen to the full episodes, click the links below: Jeremy Grantham I: Apple, Spotify, YouTube Jeremy Grantham II: Apple, Spotify, YouTube John Arnold: Apple, Spotify, You…

1
Ross Douthat: Why digital life threatens freedom and family 1:03:33

1M ago1:03:33

1:03:33

New York Times conservative columnist Ross Douthat warns that digital life may be eroding the cultural foundations needed to sustain meaning, family, and community.SubscribeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonJustAskingQuestions/featuredApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-asking-questions/id1719355507Spotify: https://open.spotify.…

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Yiyun Li Reads William Trevor 1:11:01

1M ago1:11:01

1:11:01

Yiyun Li joins Deborah Treisman to read and discuss “The Piano Tuner’s Wives,” by William Trevor, which was published in The New Yorker in 1995. Li has published eight books of fiction, including the novels “Must I Go” and “Book of Goose,” a winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, and the story collection “Wednesday’s Child,” which was a fina…

1
John Arnold: Government Can’t Be Trusted To Fix Any Problems 51:02

1M ago51:02

51:02

Today's guest is John Arnold—the former Enron wunderkind turned billionaire philanthropist who's determined to hack America's most expensive and least accountable public sector systems in areas such as criminal justice, education, and pensions. (Fun fact: He was once called "the most hated man in pensionland" by Governing magazine due to his reform…

1
Australian election special with Ben McKay 38:01

1M ago38:01

38:01

This Saturday Aussies will (compulsorily) head to the polls. At the start of the year, Labor under Anthony Albanese was staring down the barrel of defeat and the first one-term government for almost 100 years. But with a few days to go, the pollsters are all picking that he'll return to power. What changed? Where did Peter Dutton's makeover go wron…

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Trump’s Independent Voter Problem 1:09:51

2M ago1:09:51

1:09:51

In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch discuss how many current political frustrations— with tariffs, executive overreach, and economic stagnation—are vindicating longstanding libertarian critiques, even as the public resists identifying as libertarian. They also explore Ro…

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Carl Kawaja – Navigating the Investment Landscape: AI, Tariffs, Sports Gambling & More| #580 1:07:13

2M ago1:07:13

1:07:13

Today’s guest is Carl Kawaja, a Portfolio Manager with Capital Group for over three decades. In today’s episode, Carl shares insights into his investment philosophy, early experiences, and the current market landscape. He discusses the transformative impact of AI on semiconductor demand, the challenges posed by tariffs and supply chain dynamics, an…

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Glenn Greenwald: Americans' Liberties are in Danger 1:28:35

2M ago1:28:35

1:28:35

Journalist Glenn Greenwald joins the show to discuss due process, immigration enforcement, and the growing tensions between the courts and executive power.SubscribeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonJustAskingQuestions/featuredApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-asking-questions/id1719355507Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/…

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David Crean - Music Director, Bach Society of Dayton 53:52

2M ago53:52

53:52

Rodney is joined by Dr. David Crean, Music Director for the Bach Society of Dayton, to discuss his lifelong dedication to music (starting with piano at age six) as he emphasizes the importance of intrinsic value in the arts, not just as a means to other ends. Learn more about the Bach Society of Dayton: https://www.bachsocietyofdayton.org…

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Jeffrey Singer: Get Government Out of Health Care 52:04

2M ago52:04

52:04

Jeffrey Singer, a Cato Institute fellow and longtime surgeon, argues that government overreach in health care undermines patient autonomy, which should be the guiding principle in medical decision making. Drawing from historical examples and personal experience, he critiques licensing laws, the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) drug approval mon…

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Christopher, champion of the free trade world 42:19

2M ago42:19

42:19

The PM’s speech and free-trade phone tree with like-minded leaders in response to Trump’s tarrif binge impressed many commentators, but not all of them: leading pundit and deputy prime minister Winston Peters was indignant and he said so. Christopher Luxon said it was media beatup, but was he right? Should he have consulted more thoroughly with his…

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Why Due Process Matters 1:06:27

2M ago1:06:27

1:06:27

In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch discuss how President Donald Trump is de-prioritizing due process by not adhering to a ruling from the Supreme Court. They also talk about how Harvard University's tax status could be in jeopardy and reflect on the legacy of Pope Franc…

1
Michael Beckley: China is Dangerously Weak 1:18:17

2M ago1:18:17

1:18:17

AEI's Michael Beckley joins the show to discuss China's peaking power, and why that actually makes them more dangerous.SubscribeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonJustAskingQuestions/featuredApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-asking-questions/id1719355507Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5SpySKAH3LuVyxXk0MF7tlText and links…

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Jason Furman: Why Everyone Is Wrong About the Economy 53:23

2M ago53:23

53:23

Today's guest is Harvard economist Jason Furman, who was one of former President Barack Obama's chief economic advisers and an architect of the Affordable Care Act. These days, he's in the news for his withering critique of former President Joe Biden's dismal economic record and two-fisted attacks on President Donald Trump's trade policy. We talk a…

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Why Trump's China Tariffs Won't Work 1:13:04

2M ago1:13:04

1:13:04

In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Peter Suderman, Nick Gillespie, Matt Welch, and special guest Mary Katharine Ham discuss President Donald Trump's trade war with China. They also talk about the taxes they hate the most—just in time to celebrate Tax Day.4:30—Trump's trade war with China15:36—How will Trump's tariffs affect the U.S. manu…

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Derek Thompson: Democrats Must Change 1:07:00

2M ago1:07:00

1:07:00

Derek Thompson of The Atlantic urges Democrats to embrace pro-growth policies in his new book.SubscribeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@reasonJustAskingQuestions/featuredApple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/just-asking-questions/id1719355507Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5SpySKAH3LuVyxXk0MF7tlText and links to sources available her…