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Facing the Future

The Concord Coalition
Federal Budget
Social Security
Medicare
Inflation
Fiscal Policy
National Debt
Concord Coalition
Congressional Budget Office
Economic Growth
Congress
Tariffs
Medicaid
Debt
Bipartisan Policy Center
Deficit
Tax Cuts
Interest Rates
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
Affordable Care Act
Tax Policy

How the nation’s fiscal and economic challenges, and possible solutions, impact current and future generations.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes100Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Non-ProfitGovernmentBusiness

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Artwork for Facing the Future

Latest Episodes

This week on Facing the Future, we hear why the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) is warning the President and Congress that urgent and sustained action is needed to improve the nation's fiscal outlook. Jeff Arkin, Director of Strate... more

This week on Facing the Future, Mark Warshawsky of the American Enterprise Institute explains why the projected finances of both Social Security and Medicare were substantially worse in the 2026 trustees report than they were last year and why early ... more

YouTube

This week on Facing the Future, G. William Hoagland, Senior Vice President of the Bipartisan Policy Center, lays out the case for public engagement on major budget decisions, gives an update on the federal budget and reacts to the new Social Security... more

YouTube

This week on Facing the Future, host Bob Bixby joins Maya MacGuineas of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Jonathan Silver of Affinity Solutions and Andrew Lewis of the University of Cincinnati's Portman Center in a panel discussion on s... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Maya MacGuineas
President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget
Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget
Episode: Mobilizing the Public on the Deficit and Debt
Jonathan Silver
CEO of Affinity Solutions
Affinity Solutions
Episode: Mobilizing the Public on the Deficit and Debt
Todd Harrison
Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute
American Enterprise Institute
Episode: Defense Increase Ask Is Short On Details
Kent Conrad
Former United States Senator, North Dakota
United States Senate (former)
Episode: Congress Should Stop Fast-Tracking Higher Debt
Alexandra Nica
Professor of Instruction, Economics, University of Iowa
University of Iowa
Episode: College Students Are Up To The Fiscal Challenge
Mike Aguilar
Founder and President, Fiscal Challenge
Fiscal Challenge
Episode: College Students Are Up To The Fiscal Challenge
Ti Nguyen
Fourth-year student, economics and international relations
University of Iowa
Episode: College Students Are Up To The Fiscal Challenge
Tim Otteson
Fourth-year student, economics and finance
University of Iowa
Episode: College Students Are Up To The Fiscal Challenge
Jack Kewell
Junior, finance
University of Iowa
Episode: College Students Are Up To The Fiscal Challenge

Host

Bob Bixby
Host of Facing the Future

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 11 ratings
  • Dennis D. Karpf

    Necessary podcast for analysis of one of the greatest long-term challenges of our great constitutional republic.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    dennis.karpf
    United States4 months ago
  • Smart discussions for smart people

    This is informative thoughtful content by and for people who actually care about substance. Some really terrific inside experts and great explanations about the challenges facing our country.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jfkfdr
    United States5 years ago
  • Real information information

    The folks that create this contact, as the intro says, are really great people. There is no mention of party affiliation or dogmatic beliefs only a presentation of ideas and suggestions. This podcast is about future ideas for policy and using our funds to make things work most beneficially.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    new nicknamed
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Thoughtful, data-driven policy discussions with experts
High-caliber guest roster that informs decision-making for sponsors
Some episodes can be dense and academic for casual listeners
Shows a commitment to nonpartisan, long-term solutions
Accessible explanations of complex fiscal issues

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#216
United States/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Economic Fallout from the Shutdown
Q: How could the subsidies and health policy be resolved given the political divide?
Possible pathways include a clean CR with written guarantees on subsidies or a side deal that promises written commitments to fix subsidies, though both sides worry about trust and enforcing such deals across administrations.
Economic Fallout from the Shutdown
Q: What are the immediate political bottlenecks keeping the government funded?
The two parties are stuck on finalizing a year-long funding package; Republicans want quicker funding with concessions on subsidies, while Democrats want guarantees and a broader agreement that includes health subsidies, with Senate dynamics requiring bipartisan support.
The Urgency of Social Security Reform
Q: Is a commission a viable route to force action on Social Security reform?
A BRAC-style solvency commission could be effective by presenting Congress with a clear up-or-down choice, creating political accountability, and avoiding protracted negotiations that delay reform, though it would require political buy-in and careful design to be credible.
The Urgency of Social Security Reform
Q: What reform approaches should be on the table to keep Social Security solvent without sacrificing its insurance character?
A mix of options should be considered, including raising the retirement age, adjusting or removing the payroll tax cap, indexing taxes or benefits to longevity, means-testing considerations, and potentially general-revenue financing or targeted investments; the key is maintaining a strong minimum benefit while ensuring long-term solvency.
The Urgency of Social Security Reform
Q: Have we come so close to insolvency that Congress may have to tap general revenues as part of a solution?
Yes. As the trust fund nears depletion, there is growing discussion about using general revenues, possibly alongside tax increases or benefit adjustments, to shore up Social Security's finances, though such moves are politically challenging and could reshape public perceptions of the program.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Facing the Future

What is Facing the Future about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show centers on the nation's fiscal and economic challenges, with a focus on policy implications for current and future generations. Episodes frequently dissect the federal budget, debt, entitlement programs, and how political dynamics shape reform or inaction. Guests are typically policy researchers, former policymakers, and think-tank experts who bring data-driven analysis on budgets, tax policy, healthcare funding, and economic growth. The program tends to emphasize bipartisan considerations and practical solutions, often highlighting the trade-offs of reforms and the potential long-term consequences for households. A notable strength is deploying high-profile economists and fiscal policy professionals to illuminate complex issues in... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Facing the Future?

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1. Moody's Talks - Inside Economics
2. School of War
3. Thoughtful Money with Adam Taggart
4. The Focus Group Podcast
5. PBS News Hour - Segments

How many episodes of Facing the Future are there?

Facing the Future launched 8 years ago and published 100 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 Facing the Future?

Recent guests on Facing the Future include:

1. Maya MacGuineas
2. Jonathan Silver
3. Todd Harrison
4. Kent Conrad
5. Alexandra Nica
6. Mike Aguilar
7. Ti Nguyen
8. Tim Otteson

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