Free The Economy is a weekly podcast hosted by Richard Morrison of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, examining the intersection of news, policy, and economics featuring guests that include writers, policymakers, explorers, contrarians, and free thinkers of all kinds.
…
continue reading
Technology has become increasingly important to policy debates, but these debates won’t be productive without an understanding of how the technology in question works. AEI Visiting Fellow Shane Tews interviews tech industry experts to explain how the apps, services, and structures of today's information technology systems work, and how they shape our social and economic life.
…
continue reading
The true story of the most misunderstood law on the internet. Tech journalist Mike Masnick brings you inside the making of Section 230 of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, featuring witnesses to Silicon Valley’s Wild West era, the Congressmen who wrote the law, and innovators who benefited from its balance of freedom and responsibility. Why do so many people hate this law, how does the rest of the world deal with these issues, and how can it be used to take on new challenges like A.I.? Listen ...
…
continue reading
Tune in to “One on One with Robert Doar” as the President of the American Enterprise Institute brings you exclusive access to in-depth discussions on pressing policy issues. Dive into stimulating conversations with AEI's foremost experts that will challenge political preconceptions, explore innovative ideas, and shape our world.
…
continue reading
The Payments Podcast from Bottomline
…
continue reading

1
Tariffs, Tax Cuts, and Trustees with Dominic Pino
54:40
54:40
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:40This week we cover retirement investing, pivoting to India, housing on federal land, and priorities for slashing federal spending. Our interview this week is with Dominic Pino of National Review. We talk about tariffs, labor unions, tax cuts, pensions, congressional politics, and why we love our nation’s hard-working farmers. Free the Economy is ho…
…
continue reading
We travel back in time to the birth of the world wide web to hear how the earliest forums sparked a war over the future of free speech on the internet.
…
continue reading

1
The Spectrum Exchange: Networks, Security, and Innovation (with Peter Rysavy)
31:01
31:01
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:01Amid debates over spectrum allocation, critical questions about national security, communication infrastructure, and connectivity continue to take center stage. What does spectrum sharing involve? How does spectrum sharing enhance the efficiency of limited spectrum resources? And what impact does it have on deploying emerging technologies like 5G a…
…
continue reading
This week we cover Trump tariffs, the death of the climate hawks, and California’s experiment with fast food wages. Our interview this week is with Jeff Westling, Director of Technology and Innovation Policy at the American Action Forum. We talk about broadcast media, the Federal Communications Commission, news distortion, the First Amendment, and …
…
continue reading

1
Episode 1: The Most Misunderstood Law on the Internet
41:22
41:22
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
41:22Pundits and politicians blame an obscure law for everything bad that happens online. What exactly is Section 230, and how did it spark a debate that could change the internet forever?
…
continue reading
Kimberly Kagan joins Robert to explore breaking developments in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. They discuss weapon systems, strategies, and the toll of the war on both countries. Dr. Kimberly Kagan is the founder and president of the Institute for the Study of War. Read more about her work here.…
…
continue reading

1
Fraud: The collusion between internal and external bad actors
19:44
19:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:44On the back of recent payment fraud research, our host chats with Eliza Thompson of digital financial crime platform Themis, on how fraudsters exploit the interplay between insider access and external attack vectors with payment fraud. This issue is increasingly concerning, with over 45% of respondents identifying collusion as a primary threat. Eli…
…
continue reading

1
Striving for Shareholder Value with Matt Cole
43:28
43:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
43:28This week we cover executive branch powers at the Supreme Court, BP’s pivot back to being an oil and gas company, and the trials and tribulations of Bud Light. Our interview this week is with Matt Cole, CEO of Strive and CIO of Strive Asset Management. We talk about protecting the retirement savings of Americans, corporate purpose, financial regula…
…
continue reading
Zack Cooper joins Robert to talk about strategic competition with China and his new book Tides of Fortune: The Rise and Decline of Great Militaries. They discuss the balance of military power, the kinds of weapon systems the US should invest in, and the Trump administration's approach to Taiwan. Zack Cooper is a senior fellow at AEI where he studie…
…
continue reading

1
Accelerate Action: Progressive mindsets and inclusive behaviors
19:35
19:35
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:35In this episode, we celebrate International Women's Day by acknowledging women's achievements and advocating for gender parity. Champions Julie Ashmore-Dann, Carrie White, and Zhenya Winter share their thoughts and experiences on positively accelerating action to support women's advancement.By Bottomline
…
continue reading
This week we cover poverty in Illinois, J.D. Vance on AI, the future of the Jones Act and the limits of the president’s impoundment powers. Our interview this week is with Stephanie Smith, president and CEO of the Alabama Policy Institute. We talk about spending taxpayer dollars, budget reform, cost-sharing with the feds, and the state-level swamp …
…
continue reading
In 1996, two Congressmen drafted a bill that would give us the internet as we know it. Now Democrats and Republicans want it gone. Follow the true story of the most misunderstood law on the internet starting March 12.
…
continue reading

1
Embedding a B2B Payments Network into Digital Banking
18:33
18:33
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
18:33ACH and same-day ACH payments are common in B2B, but the integration of digital banking with private B2B payment networks is a brand-new concept, giving businesses the chance to leverage advanced features from within one single, automated platform. Bottomline’s Jessica Cheney explores what incorporating a B2B payments network into digital banking m…
…
continue reading

1
Defend Yourself from Debanking with Nick Anthony
48:44
48:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:44This week we cover public confidence in the economy, California’s electric vehicle mandate, the prospect of a sovereign wealth fund for the U.S., and what investors talk about when they gather in Las Vegas. Our interview this week is with Nicholas Anthony, policy analyst with the Cato Institute’s Center for Monetary and Financial Alternatives. We’l…
…
continue reading
Web browsers are built for convenience—prioritizing speed, compatibility, and ease of use. But what happens when a browser isn’t for just an individual user but for an entire enterprise? In today’s cybersecurity landscape, where threats are constant and data breaches can be catastrophic, organizations need more than just a traditional browser. They…
…
continue reading
This week we cover DEI mandates, financial surveillance at the Securities and Exchange Commission, medical fraud among Alzheimer's researchers, and why Congress should defund green energy subsidies. Our interview this week is with Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association and the man behind the #1 trade show in the world, the legenda…
…
continue reading
Our interview this week is with OJ Oleka, CEO of the State Financial Officers Foundation. We’ll talk about how the new administration will affect state financial officers, what states can do about ESG, and the varied ways financial officers can have an impact in their states. Free the Economy is hosted and produced by Richard Morrison and co-produc…
…
continue reading
Our host chats with Bottomline’s Chief Technology Officer, Eve Aretakis, on some of the major tech advancements impacting B2B payments in 2025. In this episode, we cover top tech priorities in business payments, the advantages and perils of AI, the benefits of integrating and embedding payment technologies to drive added value, and the ever-present…
…
continue reading

1
Trump vs. the Regulatory State with Susan Dudley
45:55
45:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:55This week we cover how the feds are forcing your bank to spy on you, a new strategy for housing abundance, and a promising new policy on crypto and digital assets from the White House. Our interview this week is with Susan Dudley, founder and Senior Scholar at George Washington University’s Regulatory Studies Center and former administrator of the …
…
continue reading

1
James Capretta on Reducing Health Care Spending
46:50
46:50
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:50James Capretta joins Robert to talk about how the US can address increasingly unsustainable spending on Medicaid and Medicare. They discuss actions the executive branch and Congress can take to drive down prices; limit waste, fraud, and abuse; and increase revenue. James Capretta is a senior fellow and Milton Friedman Chair at AEI where he studies …
…
continue reading
This week we cover Trump’s executive orders, the demographics of the 119th Congress, our nation’s narrowing fiscal space, reforms to ESG investing, and a new White House appointee in the healthcare space. Our interview this week is with Rachel Barkley, director of Able Americans, a program of the National Center for Public Policy Research. We’ll ta…
…
continue reading

1
Taking on DMV Bureaucracy (with Shane Bigelow)
31:25
31:25
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:25Digital solutions for vehicle titling and registration are transforming how DMVs operate, replacing slow bureaucratic processes with efficient blockchain-based systems. Through successful partnerships with state governments, companies offering these digital services have demonstrated significant time and cost savings in vehicle-related transactions…
…
continue reading

1
Welfare Costs and Benefits with Scott Winship
50:16
50:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:16This week we cover the Los Angeles wildfires, reforms to high-skilled immigration, new leadership at the Department of Energy, legal peril for ESG investing, and a new agenda for the 119th Congress. Our interview this week is with Scott Winship, director of the Center on Opportunity and Social Mobility at the American Enterprise Institute. We talk …
…
continue reading

1
Top 5 Trends Shaping B2B Payments in 2025
12:53
12:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
12:53As we approach 2025, it's an excellent time for finance leaders to take stock, reassess, and plan for the upcoming year. Finance teams of all sizes will strive to achieve more with fewer resources while adapting to external technology advancements, economic shifts, payment regulations, and fraud prevention measures. In this episode, we interview BN…
…
continue reading
This week we cover fake endangered species, Pennsylvania’s climate policy showdown, a robust defense of property rights in New York, and Biden’s lame-duck attack on offshore energy development. Our interview this week is with journalist, author, and legendary public policy hooligan Jim Bovard. We talk about government reform, freedom of speech, the…
…
continue reading

1
Changes in Financial Regulation and ESG with Hester Peirce
34:06
34:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:06This week we cover how Americans feel about their jobs, the minerals we’ll need to build the future, and lingering inflation fears. Our interview this week is with Hester Peirce, Commissioner at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We talk about environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing, climate-related disclosures, regulatory h…
…
continue reading
In the second of two episodes on the US tax policy outlook, Alex Brill joins Robert to talk about the political dynamics of tax legislation in 2025. They discuss how the reconciliation procedure will shape legislation, what issues could divide Republicans, and what role Donald Trump could play in negotiations. Alex Brill is a senior fellow at AEI w…
…
continue reading

1
2025 Payment Trends: The Next Wave in Corporate Payments
24:17
24:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
24:17As we look to 2025, Finance Teams–-from treasury to accounts payable (AP) and accounts receivable (AR)—look to take advantage of new payment innovations and automation, tightening fraud prevention measures and driving greater efficiencies from their business payments lifecycle. In this episode, we chat with two of Bottomline’s corporate payments ex…
…
continue reading

1
Mortgage Market Analysis with Mark Calabria
44:07
44:07
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
44:07This week we cover weaponization of financial regulation, the Kroger-Albertsons merger, and a spirited defense of ultra-processed foods. Our interview this week is with Mark Calabria, former Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency and author of the 2023 book Shelter from the Storm: How a COVID Mortgage Meltdown Was Averted. We talk about int…
…
continue reading
In the first of two episodes on the US tax policy outlook, Kyle Pomerleau joins Robert to talk about the impending expiration of many provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. They discuss what policies are at stake, from the individual rate cut to the child tax credit, and how Congress could balance cutting taxes with the US's deteriorating fi…
…
continue reading

1
The Fight against Drug Shortages (with Laura Bray)
46:56
46:56
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:56The United States faces a critical drug shortage crisis every day that jeopardizes patient care across medical specialties. The problem is staggering: 83 percent of oncologists cannot prescribe their preferred chemotherapy treatments, and a shocking 96 percent of these drug shortages stem from human manufacturing issues. In 2023, drug shortages rea…
…
continue reading

1
Tax and Budget Showdown 2025 with Erica York
38:30
38:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
38:30This week we cover new climate disclosure rules for public companies, the case against price controls on credit card networks, and why tariffs can’t pay for tax cuts. Our interview is with Erica York of the Tax Foundation. We talk about the big fight over tax cuts and the federal budget brewing in the new 119th Congress. We ask: Will the temporary …
…
continue reading

1
AI: A Smart Way to Simplify Accounts Payable
21:03
21:03
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
21:03In this episode, we explore how AI-powered invoice ingestion and coding for billing and payments can revolutionize accounts payable (AP) teams, particularly in the real estate industry, which deals with high volumes and complex transactions. Podcast guest David Stifter, CEO and Founder of PredictAP, emphasizes the significance of using artificial i…
…
continue reading

1
Navigating India's Digital Competition Landscape (with Shruti Rajagopalan and Shreyas Narla)
32:42
32:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
32:42As India's economic landscape evolves amid population growth, crafting regulations that foster progress is critical. But how can India leverage its advanced digital infrastructure and young workforce to drive innovation and create sustainable job opportunities? What regulatory reforms could help create an environment that encourages start-up growth…
…
continue reading
This week we cover new leadership at the SEC, China’s ban on critical mineral exports, conservative fiscal reform ideas, and the health toll of not embracing nuclear power. Our interview is with David Bahnsen of the Capital Record podcast and the Bahnsen Group. We’ll talk about the value of work, whether Americans have gotten lazy, the work from ho…
…
continue reading

1
2025 Payment Trends: What’s Next for Banks?
27:20
27:20
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
27:20In celebration of International Day of Banks, Bottomline’s banking experts, Jessica Cheney and Frederic Viard, share their insights on payment trends and predictions for 2025. Amid significant innovation and disruption in the payments landscape, banks are striving to stay current, competitive, and compliant. In this episode, our experts discuss key…
…
continue reading

1
Big Tech, Antitrust, and the Courts with Patrick Hedger
46:44
46:44
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:44This week we cover the DOGE effort to reform government spending, survey results about transportation choices, and a sad loss for the liberty movement. Our interview is with Patrick Hedger of NetChoice. We talk about legal troubles and disputes in the tech world from Google and the Department of Justice to how both red states and blue states have d…
…
continue reading
This week we cover student loans, revenue from tariffs, democracy in Hong Kong, and the impact of podcasts on the 2024 election. Our interview is with Jarrett Dieterle of the R Street Institute. We talk about beer, wine, tequila, and all the government policies affecting the price and availability of your favorite drinks. Free the Economy is hosted…
…
continue reading

1
AI and the Future of Civics (with Adam Hinds, Michael Champigny, and Will Foster-Nolan)
29:34
29:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:34In an era when civic literacy is at concerning lows, the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate’s Senate Immersion Module (SIM) is revolutionizing civic education by transforming students into senators for a day, complete with an innovative AI policy simulation. What can experiential learning reveal about students’ capacity to eng…
…
continue reading

1
Fighting a Fraught Financial Landscape (#FraudWeek)
19:09
19:09
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:09International Fraud Awareness Week, a global initiative started by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), takes place every November. Shining a light on better fraud prevention across businesses and banks, podcast guest John Gill, President of the ACFE, chats to us about the landscape of payments fraud. He explores the role of AI and …
…
continue reading
This week we cover the death of ESG investing, next moves on regulatory reform, Wall Street enthusiasm for a new administration, and Saudi Arabia’s new city in the desert. Our interview is with Jack Salmon of Philanthropy Roundtable. We talk about what tax and budget reforms we might expect to see in 2025, from Social Security and Medicare to low-i…
…
continue reading

1
Special Episode: Leader Mitch McConnell on His Career and Legacy
16:23
16:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:23In this special episode recorded at AEI’s 2024 Annual Dinner, outgoing Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell joins Robert to talk about his almost 40 years in Congress. They discuss the past and continuing importance of the Senate and the challenges facing the next Senate Republican Leader. Leader McConnell has represented Kentucky in the Senate…
…
continue reading

1
The Power of Pivots: How Smart Companies Change the Game (with Gary Shapiro)
29:35
29:35
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
29:35What separates the companies that successfully pivot from those that become cautionary tales in business history? How do government regulations either foster or hinder innovation in today’s tech landscape? And what can business leaders learn from the countless pivots that shaped America’s tech dominance? Joining me to address these questions, which…
…
continue reading
This week we cover a new vision for the Securities and Exchange Commission, affordable housing in Hong Kong, and how Millennials are killing it financially. Our interview is with Nick Loris of C3 Solutions. We talk about renewables, fossil fuels, transmission lines, and the emerging renaissance of nuclear power in the United States. Free the Econom…
…
continue reading

1
Frederick Kagan on the Future of the Ukraine War
41:51
41:51
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
41:51As Americans head to the polls, Frederick Kagan joins Robert to talk about what the next administration can do to deliver victory in Ukraine. They discuss current conditions on the battlefield, the arrival of North Korean troops, and the global stakes of the conflict. Frederick Kagan is a senior fellow and director of the Critical Threats Project a…
…
continue reading

1
5 Ways Automating AP Optimizes Working Capital
16:42
16:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
16:42This episode dives into how accounts payable (AP) automation optimizes working capital and achieves cost savings. Our guest, Mark Brousseau from Brousseau & Associates, who collaborates closely with the Institute of Finance and Management (IOFM), shares his insights on leveraging AP automation to reduce overhead costs, enhance visibility into cash …
…
continue reading

1
Understanding the National Debt with Thomas Savidge
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55This week we cover whether Americans feel better off than they were four years ago, why we have more billion-dollar natural disasters than we used to, where tomorrow’s strategic minerals will come from, and why we shouldn’t subject new technology to obsolete rules. Our interview is with Thomas Savidge of the American Institute for Economic Research…
…
continue reading
We’re joined by Luke Sculthorp from The Chartered Institute of Credit Management (CICM) to talk about the trends they’re seeing in Accounts Receivable (AR) automation, credit risk management, the future of B2B direct debits, and getting the most from your inbound business payments.By Bottomline
…
continue reading
Hal Brands joins Robert to talk about the foreign policy challenges around the world facing the United States. They discuss the escalating conflict between Iran and Israel, the future of the war in Ukraine, and the looming threat from China. Hal is a senior fellow at AEI where he studies US foreign policy and defense strategy. Read his latest piece…
…
continue reading
This week we cover a new ranking of state governors, reforms to emergency powers, new research on working from home, misguided mining policy, and a podcast recommendation for people who like to have fun. Our interview is with Bill Wirtz of the Consumer Choice Center. We talk about farming, climate change, subsides, and international trade. Our co-p…
…
continue reading