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Cato Podcast

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

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 weeklyEpisodes4841Founded20 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
GovernmentNewsPolitics

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Latest Episodes

Americans know the Declaration’s soaring opening case for natural rights and government by consent. Fewer remember its long list of “injuries and usurpations” against King George III. Cato’s Tommy Berry joins Ryan Bourne to discuss Cato's new book - ... more

Golf courses and factories use just as much water and electricity as data centers, yet only the latter draws local protests and construction bans. Cato's Rikki Schlott sits down with Travis Fisher and Jennifer Huddleston to make the case for energy a... more

60% of Americans say their rights and freedoms are at risk. Yet nearly two thirds still call America the land of opportunity and three quarters believe the American dream is personally achievable. Cato's Stephen Rowe and Emily Ekins dig into Cato's n... more

Republicans and Democrats are finding rare common ground: taxing AI. But should they? Cato's Adam Michel and Daniel Bunn of the Tax Foundation dismantle the three biggest arguments around the idea: showing why the data doesn't support the claims that... more

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Recent Guests

Thomas Berry
Director of the Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies at the Cato Institute
Cato Institute
Episode: What the Declaration Still Has to Say in 2026
Stan Veuger
Economist, World Cup course instructor Johns Hopkins; affiliated with American Enterprise Institute
American Enterprise Institute; Johns Hopkins University
Episode: Economics In One World Cup
Alvin Roth
Nobel Prize–winning economist and expert on market design
Harvard University (Professor)
Episode: The Markets We Love to Ban
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
David Bier
Director of Immigration Studies, Celts Foundation Chair in Immigration Policy
Cato Institute
Episode: The Immigration Crackdown You’re Not Hearing About
Clark Packard
Research fellow in Cato's Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies
Cato Institute
Episode: The Growing Farm Subsidy Boondoggle
Chris Edwards
Kiltz family chair in fiscal studies at Cato Institute
Cato Institute
Episode: The Growing Farm Subsidy Boondoggle

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 States4 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 States5 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 States5 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 States9 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
#29
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#39
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#123
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#59
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#160
Australia/Government
Apple Podcasts
#175
Germany/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Economics In One World Cup
Q: Do you think it's coming home?
I'm not sure that it's coming home.
What the Declaration Still Has to Say in 2026
Q: Why should a modern reader care about a document from 1776?
Because it anchors a persistent standard for universal rights and the structure of government that protects minorities from majority tyranny, guiding debates on executive power, free speech, and representation.
What the Declaration Still Has to Say in 2026
Q: How alive is the Declaration today in law?
It isn't itself law, but its rhetoric and principles shape constitutional development and subsequent rights protections, especially visible in the Civil War amendments and the ongoing rights framework.
The Markets We Love to Ban
Q: What is the role of evidence when deciding whether to allow repugnant transactions?
Evidence and counterfactual analysis matter greatly: look at historical natural experiments, compare jurisdictions, and evaluate unintended consequences rather than relying solely on moral intuitions.
The Markets We Love to Ban
Q: How should policymakers think about markets like kidney exchanges or prostitution?
Policymakers should focus on frameworks that reduce harms and coercion, such as careful regulation and market design (e.g., kidney exchanges) that expand welfare without broad bans, and consider targeted safeguards rather than blanket prohibitions.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

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 Interview With Nick Gillespie
2. The Libertarian
3. The Reason Roundtable
4. Uncommon Knowledge
5. Breaking History

How many episodes of Cato Podcast are there?

Cato Podcast launched 20 years ago and published 4841 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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What guests have appeared on Cato Podcast?

Recent guests on Cato Podcast include:

1. Thomas Berry
2. Stan Veuger
3. Alvin Roth
4. Timothy Sandefur
5. Naomi Brockwell
6. Jeff Clemens
7. David Bier
8. Clark Packard

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