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Cato Podcast

Cato Institute
Cato Institute
Tariffs
Trump Administration
Donald Trump
Libertarianism
China
First Amendment
Social Security
Artificial Intelligence
United States
Venezuela
Fourth Amendment
Supreme Court
Government Shutdown
Congress
Trade Policy
Federal Reserve
Social Media
JD Vance
Obamacare

Each week on Cato Podcast, leading scholars and policymakers from the Cato Institute delve into the big ideas shaping our world: individual liberty, limited government, free markets, and peace. Whether unpacking current events, debating civil liberties, exploring technological innovation, or tracing the history of classical liberal thought, we promise insightful analysis grounded in rigorous resea... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes4835Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsGovernmentPolitics

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Latest Episodes

A new Global Justice Report associated with Thomas Piketty urges near-zero growth for rich countries, sweeping redistribution, global wealth taxes, shorter working hours, and rapid decarbonization. Cato’s Ryan Bourne talks to Marian Tupy about what d... more

Social Security crowds out private savings, the tax code penalizes investment, and Trump accounts can leave families worse off than a plain brokerage account. Cato's Romina Boccia and Adam Michel break down what's wrong with Trump accounts and why un... more

Ticket prices, scalpers, tourists, visas, turf, trade, and politics: the 2026 FIFA World Cup is a rich case study for economists. Cato’s Ryan Bourne talks with AEI’s Stan Veuger about why match prices are so high, why hosting the tournament rarely de... more

The Anti-Weaponization Fund started as a $10 billion lawsuit Trump filed against the IRS in his personal capacity and ended as a $1.776 billion slush fund with no appeals, no transparency, and a tax immunity addendum that looks a lot like a self-pard... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Timothy Sandefur
Vice President of Legal Affairs at the Goldwater Institute, author and constitutional scholar
Goldwater Institute
Episode: What "All Men Are Created Equal" Actually Meant
Naomi Brockwell
President and founder of the Ludlow Institute, creator of NBTV
Ludlow Institute
Episode: Get a Warrant!
Jeff Clemens
Economist and minimum wage expert, UC San Diego
University of California, San Diego
Episode: Out to Lunch: California’s $20 Fast-Food Wage
Chris Edwards
Kiltz family chair in fiscal studies at Cato Institute
Cato Institute
Episode: The Growing Farm Subsidy Boondoggle
Clark Packard
Research fellow in Cato's Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies
Cato Institute
Episode: The Growing Farm Subsidy Boondoggle
Helen Redmond
Harlem-based filmmaker, journalist and licensed clinical social worker; author of Liquid Handcuffs
Author/Advocate
Episode: Rethinking How America Treats Opioid Addiction
Roger Bate
Fellow at the International Center for Law and Economics and the Brownstone Institute; panel member behind the International Health Reform Project
International Center for Law and Economics; Brownstone Institute
Episode: The Cure for the WHO
Jeffrey Singer
Senior Fellow in Cato's Department of Health Policy Studies
Cato Institute
Episode: Subsidize a Diagnosis, Get More Diagnoses
Adam Omary
Research fellow at the Cato Institute Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity
Cato Institute
Episode: Subsidize a Diagnosis, Get More Diagnoses

Hosts

Ryan Bourne
Host of Cato Podcast; multiple entries listed as Host
Jeff
Host of the Cato Podcast
Katherine Thompson
Senior Fellow on the Defense and Foreign Policy Team

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.2k ratings
  • David Bier

    Is a must-follow on Twitter

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Portland Antifasist
    United States3 months ago
  • Protest, Carry, Die episode is poor.

    Protest, carry, die episode is the Mainstream media version only. This is not the normal CATO quality I expect.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    DF987@
    United States4 months ago
  • Sometimes misleading.

    While usually balanced, I do find that some of the journalists are misleading in their representation of the facts.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    H82W8
    United States4 months ago
  • Once Great. Now Poor.

    Since the departure of Caleb Brown, this podcast has been in a death spiral. Caleb brought clarity, coherence, and a disciplined commitment to intellectual honesty. His absence exposes how much of the podcast’s credibility rested on his stewardship.

    Discussions that once challenged assumptions with sharp inquiry now drift through MAGA talking points with little depth.

    The shift in tone is disappointing. This show increasingly sounds apologetic toward the current administration, softening criti... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Eat Drink Fun
    United States7 months ago
  • Expected better

    I gave this a try expecting thoughtful, libertarian discussion—but it came across as oddly partisan and more conservative than I anticipated. Hard to tell if this was just a bad sample or if the tone has shifted overall, but it wasn’t what I expected from Cato.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    CitiCustomer
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some listeners feel coverage has shifted in tone or emphasis over time and critique perceived partisanship.
Guests are typically highly credible, with tight, research-backed arguments.
Listeners appreciate concise, data-driven policy discussions with strong expert guests.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#38
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#81
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#182
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#159
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#180
France/Government
Apple Podcasts
#219
Australia/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Get a Warrant!
Q: What is the practical takeaway for individuals concerned about data privacy today?
Individuals should reduce data sharing by choosing privacy-preserving technologies, demand stronger warrants for searches, and support legislative efforts like the Surveillance Accountability Act to create enforceable privacy protections.
Get a Warrant!
Q: Where can listeners learn more about privacy tools and how to implement them?
Listeners can start at ludlowinstitute.org for tutorials, then explore practical tools like end-to-end encrypted services (Signal), and privacy-friendly alternatives (Proton, Brave, Tuta, and alternatives to Gmail and Google products) to reduce government access to private data.
Get a Warrant!
Q: What do you say to the claim that obtaining warrants slows law enforcement and hinders catching criminals?
A warrant is not an insurmountable barrier; it requires a solid case, but it is a necessary safeguard. Half an hour to prepare a warrant is feasible, and it prevents the government from acting with unchecked power while still allowing effective policing under proper oversight.
What "All Men Are Created Equal" Actually Meant
Q: Why is the Jefferson-Adams pairing important for understanding the Declaration and its impact?
Jefferso n as the author and Adams as the elder leader provided complementary perspectives—Jefferson's theoretical articulation of rights and Adams's institutional drive to push the declaration through the Continental Congress—demonstrating how both philosophical foundations and practical political action were necessary to shape the movement for independence.
What "All Men Are Created Equal" Actually Meant
Q: What do you think is something that most Americans take for granted about the Declaration of Independence?
The host and guest discuss how the document is often treated as a national credo without fully examining its empirical claim that all humans possess inalienable rights and that governments derive legitimacy from consent, which requires ongoing interpretation and application in law.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Cato Podcast

What is Cato Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show features sharp, policy-focused conversations with researchers and policymakers from a libertarian-leaning think tank. Episodes routinely dissect immigration, trade, domestic policy, and national security through a rigorous, evidence-based lens, often challenging conventional wisdom with historical context and economic reasoning. Listeners can expect concise debates, detailed policy analysis, and guest perspectives from experts who prioritize limited government, individual liberty, and free markets. Noteworthy is the consistent emphasis on practical reforms that aim to improve efficiency, accountability, and policy outcomes, rather than partisan rhetoric. Potential sponsors and guests may find a fit with topics on regulatory reform... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Cato Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Cato Podcast:

1. The Reason Roundtable
2. The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
3. The Libertarian
4. The Soho Forum Debates
5. EconTalk

How many episodes of Cato Podcast are there?

Cato Podcast launched 20 years ago and published 4835 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

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What guests have appeared on Cato Podcast?

Recent guests on Cato Podcast include:

1. Timothy Sandefur
2. Naomi Brockwell
3. Jeff Clemens
4. Chris Edwards
5. Clark Packard
6. Helen Redmond
7. Roger Bate
8. Jeffrey Singer

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