Best Coalition for Fiscal Health Podcasts (2024)

1
Is There Hope on Healthcare Costs? 44:48

5h ago44:48

44:48

This week on Facing the Future, Josh Gordon, Director of Health Policy at the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), joined the show to discuss healthcare spending, prescription drug prices, and more. At CRFB, Gordon heads the Health Savers Initiative.Concord Coalition Chief Economist Steve Robinson joined the healthcare conversation, a…

1
Appropriations Deadlines, Tax Changes, and The Debt 43:45

3h ago43:45

43:45

This week on Facing the Future, Bob is joined by Bill Gale, Senior Fellow at The Brookings Institution. A well respected expert in the subject of debt and taxes, Gale recently wrote a piece for Brookings called Back to the Future: Can the Government Reduce Its Debt Again? which discussed the future of federal debt management in the United States. L…

1
Social Security's 89th Birthday 44:21

8h ago44:21

44:21

This week on Facing the Future we celebrated Social Security’s birthday. Wednesday, August 14th marked 89 years since President Franklin Delano Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. Bob and Concord Coalition Chief Economist Steve Robinson assessed Social Security’s accomplishments, future challenges, and some myths about reform. Later …

1
Depolarization Needed for Debt Solutions 44:39

26d ago44:39

44:39

This week on Facing the Future, Bob Bixby switched from the host chair to the guest seat to talk about his 25-year career as Executive Director of The Concord Coalition. National Field Director Phil Smith asked Bob questions about the importance of the federal budget, the fiscal outlook, and The Concord Coalition over the years. Later in the show, …

1
Debt Solutions are Possible 44:56

1M ago44:56

44:56

This week on Facing the Future we’ll talk with Jeff Holland of the Peterson Foundation about a series of papers released last week called Solutions Initiative 2024. It features seven plans from prominent think tanks, including one from our second guest, Andrew Lautz of the Bipartisan Policy Center.By The Concord Coalition

1
Tax Policy on the Campaign Trail 44:26

1M ago44:26

44:26

This week on Facing the Future, we'll take a preliminary look at the tax policy proposals of former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. In addition, we'll consider the tax policy implications of a case recently decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. Our guest is Steven Rosenthal, senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Cent…

1
Should the Fed Cut Interest Rates? 44:13

2M ago44:13

44:13

This week on Facing the Future we'll look at whether the Fed has seen enough progress on inflation to begin cutting interest rates? Our guest is Gordon Gray, executive director of the Pinpoint Policy Institute. Then, we'll say farewell to frequent co-host Tori Gorman as she takes up a new job with the Congressional Research Service.…

1
NH Boys State Tackles the Debt 44:21

2M ago44:21

44:21

This week on Facing the Future we'll get perspectives from high school students who negotiated their own budget plans at a recent New Hampshire Boys State conference. Then we'll review what Presidents Biden and Trump said about the debt and Social Security at the debate.By The Concord Coalition

1
Washington's Do Nothing Plan 44:12

2M ago44:12

44:12

This week on Facing the Future, Bob was joined by Concord Coalition Co-Chairs and former U.S. Senators Bob Kerrey (D-NE) and Jack Danforth (R-MO). Thirty years ago they co-chaired a bipartisan commission on entitlement and tax reform that warned of unsustainable budget trends. Reflecting back upon the past three decades, the bright spots are oversh…

1
Federal Budget Numbers Take a Turn for the Worse 44:39

3M ago44:39

44:39

This week on Facing the Future, Bob Bixby was joined by Concord Coalition Policy Director Tori Gorman and Chief Economist Steve Robinson to discuss the latest 10-year Budget and Economic Outlook from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The CBO report projects that the federal budget deficit will grow from $2 trillion this year to $2.8 trillion b…

1
What Have We Learned From COVID? 44:49

3M ago44:49

44:49

This week on Facing the Future, Bob Bixby was joined on the show by Dr. Michael T. Osterholm, Director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. He also served as one of thirteen COVID-19 advisors on President-elect Biden’s pandemic advisory board in 2020. Osterholm provided insights into where we curr…

1
World Hotspots Challenge U.S Defense Budget 44:51

3M ago44:51

44:51

This week on Facing the Future we’ll examine developments on the national security front with Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution. Topics include the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza as well as competition with China.By The Concord Coalition

1
Tough Fiscal Choices Today Will Protect Future Generations 43:27

3M ago43:27

43:27

This week on Facing the Future Bob was joined by George Mason University Professor Sita Slavov to discuss her recent essay Making Tough Fiscal Choices to Protect Future Generations and the relevance of long term sustainability to younger generations. Slavov has previously worked with the White House Council of Economic Advisors and was a member of …

1
Jason Furman on Inflation, Interest Rates and Debt 44:58

3M ago44:58

44:58

This week on Facing the Future we'll talk with Jason Furman, a former top economic advisor to Presidents Clinton and Obama. He now teaches economics at Harvard University. We discussed the prospects of a "soft landing" for the economy and the crucial role of interest rates in projecting future debt.By The Concord Coalition

1
Better Budgeting Is Not Gloom and Doom 44:07

4M ago44:07

44:07

This week on Facing the Future, we'll hear first from two UNH professors, Dr Carolyn Arcand and NH State Senator Dan Innis, about the relevance of fiscal policy to their students' future. Then we'll take another look at GAO's new estimate of government-wide fraud with Rebecca Shea, co-author of the report.…

1
Social Security and Medicare Trustees Urge Prompt Action 44:52

4M ago44:52

44:52

This week on Facing the Future we took a close look at Social Security and Medicare, the two largest programs in the federal budget. Between them they cost nearly $2.2 trillion dollars in 2023, roughly 36 percent of total federal spending. They also affect the retirement income and healthcare of millions of Americans. On Monday, May 6, the Social S…

1
Saving Social Security 44:57

4M ago44:57

44:57

This week on Facing the Future we’ll look at the future of Social Security with former U.S. Representative Reid Ribble (R-WI), who served in Congress from 2011-2017. In 2016, Ribble released the Save Our Social Security Act (S.O.S.) with a bipartisan group of co-sponsors. We discussed that plan with him and why he thinks Social Security reform is e…

1
How Much Does the U.S. Government Lose in Fraud? 44:51

4M ago44:51

44:51

This week on Facing the Future, we'll discuss a new report on fraud by the Government Accountability Office, along with a review of the foreign aid spending bill and the latest news on the economy.By The Concord Coalition

1
Students Rise to the Fiscal Challenge 44:43

5M ago44:43

44:43

This week on Facing the Future, we'll get some policy ideas from three college students who recently took part in an annual Fiscal Challenge competition where teams from around the country devise and defend their own plans for putting the federal budget on a sustainable path. Dr. Mike Aguilar, founder and president of the Fiscal Challenge also join…

1
The 2025 Tax Blob 44:51

5M ago44:51

44:51

This week on Facing the Future, we'll look at what happens at the end of 2025 when many of the tax cuts enacted in 2017 are scheduled to expire. What should Congress be doing to prepare for this fiscal cliff? How much would it cost to extend the tax cuts? Are there viable options to offset the revenue loss? We’ll get some perspectives on all these …

1
Rhetoric and Reality of Taxing the Rich 45:30

5M ago45:30

45:30

This week on Facing the Future, Concord Coalition Chief Economist Steve Robinson discusses his new issue brief, "The Rhetoric and Reality of Taxing the Rich." Then we'll talk with Eugene Steuerle of the Urban Institute about his new column explaining that "Major Budget Reform Must Accommodate Legislators' Need to Give Money Away."…

1
The Economics of Immigration 44:22

5M ago44:22

44:22

This week on Facing the Future, we'll look at the economics of immigration reform with Teresa Cardinal Brown, Senior Advisor for Immigration and Border Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center. With the U.S on track to have more deaths than births by 2040, immigration is an increasingly necessary component for a growing economy. Is there a way forwar…

1
A Democrat's Case for Fiscal Responsibility 44:54

6M ago44:54

44:54

This week on Facing the Future we hear from Zach Moller, director of the economic program at Third Way, a center-left think tank. He'll discuss his recent report called, "A Democratic Case for Fiscal Responsibility." We'll also look at the latest numbers on jobs and inflation.By The Concord Coalition

1
Pros and Cons of the Biden Budget 44:58

6M ago44:58

44:58

This week on Facing the Future, we look at President Biden's new budget. It has a plausible deficit reduction path but are the policies used to get there plausible as well? Our guests are Josh Gordon of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget and Brian Riedl of the Manhattan Institute.By The Concord Coalition

1
What to Look for in Biden's Budget 43:27

6M ago43:27

43:27

This week on Facing the Future our in-house panel of experts, policy director Tori Gorman and chief economist Steve Robinson, will preview the president’s State of the Union Address, scheduled for Thursday, March 7, and the president’s budget submission, scheduled for Monday, March 11.By The Concord Coalition

1
Budget Politics Risk a Shutdown (Again) 44:57

6M ago44:57

44:57

This week on Facing the Future we’ll talk about the long drawn-out Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations process in Washington, which may be finally wrapping up in the next two weeks — or maybe not. With a partial shutdown looming on March 1st, we'll talk to Bill Hoagland, Senior Vice President of the Bipartisan Policy Center and former Republican staff …

1
Monetary Policy at a Crossroads 44:57

7M ago44:57

44:57

This week on Facing the Future we'll examine how policies of the Federal Reserve Board affect the economy and the budget. Did the Fed's "quantitative easing" go too far and last too long? Our guest is Thomas Hoenig, former President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City and a member of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) from 1991 to 2011…

1
CBO - U.S. Fiscal Path is Unsustainable 43:53

7M ago43:53

43:53

This week on Facing the Future, our guest was Dr. Phillip Swagel, Director of the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The CBO just released its Budget and Economic Outlook for 2024-2034. Spoiler alert: It's not great news.By The Concord Coalition

1
January Jobs Jolt 43:46

7M ago43:46

43:46

This week on Facing the Future, we’ll look at the latest economic numbers with a focus on jobs, wages and interest rates. The January jobs report showed a very robust, and surprising, gain of 353,000 jobs, up from 333,000 in December. Gordon Gray, Vice President for Economic Policy at the American Action Forum will give us his take on what it means…

1
Biden's Dubious Tax Pledge 43:43

7M ago43:43

43:43

This week on Facing the Future, we’ll take a close look at President Biden’s pledge not to raise taxes on households with annual income below $400,000. Our guest is Ben Ritz, Director of the Center for Funding America’s Future at the Progressive Policy Institute. Ritz explains why that pledge is difficult to implement and how it undermines policyma…

1
A Bipartisan Tax Bill Takes Shape 44:56

7M ago44:56

44:56

This week on Facing the Future, we’ll look at the congressional tax agenda, both in the next few weeks and into 2025 when a number of provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are set to expire at the end of the year. Our guide through the congressional tax thicket is Rohit Kumar, Co-Leader of Washington National Tax Services at Pricewate…

1
Looming Fiscal Cliffs in 2025 and Beyond 45:05

8M ago45:05

45:05

This week on Facing the Future, our guest is Rachel Snyderman, Director of Economic Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center. We’ll ask her about the fiscal challenges awaiting the winner of the 2024 presidential election and the more immediate challenge of finally passing the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bills – something that is now four months …

1
Consequences of a Broken Budget Process 44:57

8M ago44:57

44:57

This week on Facing the Future, we talked with Molly Reynolds, Senior Fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution, about the breakdown of the congressional budget process. With another partial shutdown looming on January 19, we discussed why Congress never passes its annual appropriations bills on time, the problems this creates and w…

1
Fiscal Challenges for the Next Administration 44:51

8M ago44:51

44:51

Fiscal Challenges for the Next AdministrationBy The Concord Coalition

1
The 2023 Fiscal Review: Running in Place 44:40

8M ago44:40

44:40

This week on Facing the Future, we looked back on budget and economic policy in 2023, which was mostly about avoiding crises, and where things stand heading into 2024. Our discussion featured a panel of Concord Coalition experts, including policy director Tori Gorman, chief economist Steve Robinson, national field director Phil Smith, deputy direct…

1
The Fed Pivots With a Soft landing in Sight 44:24

9M ago44:24

44:24

This week on Facing the Future, we’ll focus on the latest economic projections from the Federal Reserve Board. Their last meeting, which concluded on December 13, certainly made some news with the projection that the Fed might actually begin to reduce interest rates in 2024. To guide us through the economic news, our guest this week is Robert Carro…

1
A Tax Case That Could Upend the Code 41:34

9M ago41:34

41:34

This week, on Facing the Future, we began with a review of the oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court in Moore vs. United States, a case that could have a big effect on federal government revenues. Our guest was Steven Rosenthal, Senior fellow at the Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center. Then, Tori Goman, Steve Robinson and I looked at some new …

1
Storm Clouds on the Economic Horizon 44:39

9M ago44:39

44:39

This week on Facing the Future we got an update on the latest inflation and economic growth numbers from Douglas Holtz-Eakin, President of the American Action Forum and former Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). Despite some encouraging short-term numbers, Holtz-Eakin sees a few warning signs for 2024. We also discussed his new issue…

1
Conrad and Portman Push for a Bipartisan Fiscal Commission 44:45

9M ago44:45

44:45

This week on Facing the Future our guests were former U.S. Senators, Kent Conrad (D-ND) and Rob Portman (R-OH). They have been lending their voices to the push for a new bipartisan fiscal commission that would propose solutions to our nation’s unsustainable budget outlook. Conrad chaired the Senate Budget Committee from 2001 to 2003, and again from…

1
An Alarming Population Projection and Taxes as a Sleeper Issue 44:52

9M ago44:52

44:52

This week on Facing the Future, we’ll do a round-up of topics including new Census Bureau population projections, the road ahead for FY 2024 appropriations following passage of a new CR (continuing resolution) and a case now before the U.S. Supreme Court, Moore v. United States, that could have a big effect on federal government revenues. Concord C…

1
Strategies for Fiscal Sustainability in a Divided Congress 45:00

10M ago45:00

45:00

This week on Facing the Future we heard from three members of Congress who took part in a virtual discussion on November 13 titled, “Working Toward a Sustainable Fiscal Future in a Divided Congress.” The three congressmen, Don Bacon (R-NE), Jared Golden (D-ME), and Scott Peters (D-CA) were recipients of The Concord Coalition’s 2023 Economic Patriot…

1
Is COVID Coming Home for the Holidays? 44:58

10M ago44:58

44:58

This week on Facing the Future, we’ll get an update on COVID-19 as we enter another holiday travel season. Our guest is Dr. Jodie Guest, an epidemiologist and professor at Emory University in Atlanta who also serves as an advisor to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Then, we’ll switch gears to discuss the latest developments on the economic fr…

1
New Speaker. Same Problem. 43:41

10M ago43:41

43:41

This week on Facing the Future, we begin with a status check on the stalled appropriations process on Capitol Hill now that a new Speaker of the House has been selected by the Republican caucus. Our guest for that segment is Tom Kahn who served as Democratic House Budget Committee staff director from 1997 to 2016. He now teaches budget policy at Am…

1
Deficit Ballooned in Fiscal Year 2023 44:50

10M ago44:50

44:50

This week on Facing the Future, we looked at the final federal budget numbers for Fiscal Year 2023 and why the deficit shot up. Then we discussed President Biden’s $106 billion supplemental spending request for Ukraine, Israel and other international priorities. And finally, we heard from Brian Riedl of the Manhattan Institute and Marc Goldwein of …

1
Congress Should Reclaim Its Power of the Purse 44:50

11M ago44:50

44:50

This week on Facing the Future, we talk with former Congressman and Ambassador Richard Swett about the work he’s been doing with a Princeton University initiative on restoring the Constitutional powers of Congress. Swett serves on a subcommittee dealing with the power of the purse, something of great interest to The Concord Coalition. Then, we’ll g…

1
Congress Again Kicks the Can on Funding Bills 45:05

11M ago45:05

45:05

This week on Facing the Future we’ll look at how Congress avoided a government shutdown on September 30 and whether they’ll be able to do it again by November 17 when the short-term deal they reached comes to an end. Then we'll look at the latest economic numbers and consider what they mean for the federal budget. Concord Coalition policy director …

1
A Fiscal Policy Day of Reckoning 44:49

11M ago44:49

44:49

This week on Facing the Future, we look at the “day of reckoning” that our guest Eugene Steurele of the Urban Institute, says is coming for U.S. fiscal policy. And we’ll also get Steuerle's take on why the budget is, and has been, transferring resources from America’s youth to richer, older generations. Concord Coalition policy director Tori Gorman…

1
What’s Up With Swing Voters? 45:17

11M ago45:17

45:17

This week on Facing the Future we talk with Rich Thau, President of Engagious, a leading firm in scientifically testing and refining the effectiveness of business and issue-advocacy content. The firm has been conducting a series of focus groups across the country with people who voted for Trump in 2016 and for Biden in 2020. What these key voters h…

1
Why Can’t Congress Get It’s Work Done? 44:58

12M ago44:58

44:58

This week on Facing the Future, we examine the possibility of a government shutdown. If Congress fails to agree on funding levels for the next fiscal year, which begins on October 1st, many government offices will need to close their doors. With less than two weeks to go, negotiators seem far apart and it's not just Democrats vs Republicans. Divisi…

1
Questions the Candidates Need to Answer 45:00

12M ago45:00

45:00

This week on Facing the Future, we look at some key questions about the federal budget that voters should ask candidates in the 2024 election cycle. With The federal budget deficit rising again and our national debt already on an unsustainable long-term trajectory, voters should expect candidates to explain how they intend to deal with the huge cha…

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Coalition For Fiscal Health Podcasts

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