Power and Market
Join Mises Institute staffers Ryan McMaken, Tho Bishop, and Connor O'Keeffe for weekly roundtable discussions that dive into current events, economics, politics, and the ideas shaping our world. Less formal than typical interviews and focused on lively, timely conversation, Power and Market draws from the week's most compelling articles and topics featured on mises.org, providing insightful analysis and free market perspectives.
The Most Important Elections You Aren't Hearing About
On this episode of Power and Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho look past the political circus of midterm candidate campaigns to the state ballot initiatives on the ballot around the country. What do these debates over issues such as taxes, voting, and culture war say about the state of American politics?
The Great Social Security Ponzi Scheme
On this episode of Power and Market, Patrick Newman joins Ryan and Tho for a discussion on Social Security, generational economic tensions, and the latest inflation numbers (spoiler: they're bad.)
Mises the Man
On this episode of Power & Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho toast to Mises's 145th birthday by discussing his life and legacy.
Has Libertarianism Suffered a Strange Death?
On this episode of Power and Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho discuss a recent article from Daniel McCarthy that both criticizes the irrelevance of libertarianism and laments its influence on modern America.
The Real AI Threat
On this episode of Power and Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho discuss what appears to be a coordinated call to regulate AI. Is this a benevolent plea to save humanity, or a thinly veiled attempt to establish a cartel?
Breaking Bessent
On this episode of Power & Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho talk about new highs in bond yields, why that matters, and whether or not a new round of $5,000 Trump bucks will solve America's affordability crisis.
Flock is Down in Florida, Protests are Up in Spain, and Oil is Pumping in Venezuela
On this episode of Power & Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho hit on a variety of topics, including meaningful rollbacks of Flock in the south, a look at immigration protests in Spain, and Washington's new corporate oil deals in Venezuela.Â
The Anti-Flock Revolution
On this episode of Power and Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho talk about the growing populist backlash to Flock cameras and the AI-powered security state. Are these simple private companies fulfilling a market for security, or a simple extension of federal surveillance? Â
Scott Bessent: New Prince of the Yen?
On this episode of Power & Market, Ryan and Tho are joined by Dr. Jonathan Newman to discuss recent economics headlines, including interventions to prop up the yen, a bad jobs report, and troubling signs in bond markets.
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The Burritoflation Debate
On this episode of Power and Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho discuss the social debate this week focused on Gen Z economic anxiety. How did a discussion over the price of burritos become a mask-off moment over generational contempt, foreign policy, and neoliberal economics?Â
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Graham, McConnell, and America's Late-Soviet Politics
On this episode of Power and Market, Ryan, Tho, and Connor discuss the death of Lindsey Graham, the questions around Mitch McConnell, and provide a preview of next week's Mises University.
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Justice Thomas's Rothbardian Phase and the Hamiltonian Vance
On this episode of Power and Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho discuss the recent SCOTUS decisions as well as JD Vance's recent praise for the economic views of Alexander Hamilton.
The Death of Greenspan and Rise of Mamdanism
On this episode of Power & Market, Tho, Connor, and special guest Ryan Turnipseed pay tribute to the Maestro, consider whether Democratic Socialists are part of Greenspan's legacy, and embrace Justice Clarence Thomas as a Rothbard respecter.
The Warsh Era Begins
On this episode of Power and Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho discuss the first FOMC meeting under new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh. Out? Forward Guidance. In? Task forces! What should we take away from Warsh's first time addressing the financial press, and will his tenure be an improvement from the past, or present new dangers to the public?
The NDAA's Attempt to Election-proof US-Israel Relations
On this episode of Power and Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho look at the debate over the latest National Defense Authorization Act.
Post-Massie America
On this episode of Power and Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho discuss the results of the most expensive Congressional race in American history. What does the defeat of Thomas Massie tell us? What does this mean for libertarian strategy? Should we blackpill? Tune in for this and more.
Bad Inflation Data Drops While Trump's in China (And Other Headlines)
On this episode of Power & Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho break down a variety of headlines from the week, including bad inflation data, Trump's trip to China, Kevin Warsh's Senate confirmation, and the political theatre of Spencer Pratt and Zohran Mamdani.
The Great Gerrymander War
On this episode of Power & Market, Ryan, Tho, and Connor discuss the escalating battle over Congressional districts. As Republicans and Democrats engage in an arms race over gerrymandering, assisted by a new Supreme Court ruling over racial districts, is the facade of "representative democracy" finally slipping?
Stuff that Fed Officials Say
Ryan McMaken, Jonathan Newman, and Joshua Mawhorter of the Mises Institute take a look at the politics of "fedspeak" and what officials at the Federal Reserve really mean when they say they're going to fix the Fed.
Related:
Jonathan's Article, "A Look Behind the Fed’s Curtains": Mises.org/PM43aNYT, "How Kevin Warsh Could Shrink the Fed’s Footprint in Financial Markets": Mises.org/PM43bWar Doesn't Stop the Casinofication of the American Economy
On this episode of Power and Market, Ryan, Tho, and Connor discuss Fed drama, plummeting consumer sentiment, and how the American economy is becoming increasingly like a casino.Â
Why The Crash Was Delayed by Robert Aro
Is a Ceasefire Happening? + Should Christians be Socialist?
On this episode of Power and Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho look at the updates on the Iran war front, including whether or not a ceasefire will last and recent reporting on Israel's influence on Trump's war decision. Plus, discussion about a recent Tucker Carlson Show guest and his view that Christianity is inherently socialist.
Trump Is Right on Birthright Citizenship
On this episode of Power and Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho discuss Pam Bondi being fired, the SCOTUS taking up Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship, and the difference between realist and naive libertarians.Â
America's TSA Meltdown
On this episode of Power and Market, Ryan, Tho, and Connor talk about the historic waits thanks to DC's monopoly on airport security, and Joe Kent's resignation over the Iran War.
The Strait of Hormuz is On Fire
On this episode of Power & Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho look at the economic fallout from the war in Iran. How has Iran been able to control the Strait of Hormuz? How might central bankers react? And draft talk out of Washington? Tune in to hear about this and more, as well as a preview of next week's Libertarian Scholars Conference and Austrian Economics Research Conference.
The War We've Been Waiting For
Trump has brought the US into war with Iran. Ryan, Tho, and Connor talk about the initial execution, the domestic fallout, the global costs, and what may come next.Â
What Is the State of the Union?
On this episode of Power and Market, we feel compelled to discuss this week's State of the Union speech. Ryan and Tho are joined by Dr. Jonathan Newman to provide some historical context to the event and what, if anything, actually matters from the speech.
Presidential Power Rankings
On this episode of Power & Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho celebrate Presidents' Day by talking about the best and worst presidents in American history.Â
Bad Bunny, Bad Jobs Revisions, and Trump’s Bad Immigration Operation in Minnesota
Joshua Mawhorter joins Ryan and Connor to talk about the dueling Super Bowl Halftime Shows, the latest jobs report, and Trump’s deadly and counterproductive deportation operation in Minnesota.
Don't forget, the Mises Institute's first event is coming up on February 21st in Oklahoma City. Join us for a look at Entrepreneurship Beyond Politics.
Are you a grad student interested in Austrian economics? Consider the Mises Institute Summer Fellowship program this summer. Click here for more details.
Are the Epstein Files the Chernobyl of the West?
On this episode of Power and Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho discuss the fallout from the release of the Epstein Files and what it means for how the masses view the elite.
Don't forget, the Mises Institute's first event is coming up on February 21st in Oklahoma City. Join us for a look at Entrepreneurship Beyond Politics.
Are you a grad student interested in Austrian economics? Consider the Mises Institute Summer Fellowship program this summer. Click here for more details.
The Fed Does Nothing
Dr. Jonathan Newman joins Tho and Connor to discuss Jerome Powell's favorite type of FOMC meeting: a boring one. No cuts, no concerns, no drama in the eyes of the soon-to-be-former Fed Chair. The guys try to bust his bubble on this episode of Power and Market.
Don't forget, the Mises Institute's first event is coming up on February 21st in Oklahoma City. Join us for a look at Entrepreneurship Beyond Politics.
Are you a grad student interested in Austrian economics? Consider the Mises Institute Summer Fellowship program this summer. Click here for more details.
Davos Calls For A New World Order
On this episode of Power and Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho look at the headlines coming out of Davos, including Mark Carney's speech calling out the lie of a "rules-based international order," the European reaction to Trump's plans for Greenland, and the political fallout on both sides of the Atlantic.
Don't forget, the Mises Institute's first event is coming up on February 21st in Oklahoma City. Join us for a look at Entrepreneurship Beyond Politics.
Are you a grad student interested in Austrian economics? Consider the Mises Institute Summer Fellowship program this summer. Click here f...
The United States v. Jerome Powell
On this episode of Power and Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho discuss the reported probe into Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Is this actual accountability for malfeasance, or a petty battle of DC egos? At the end of the day, does the difference matter? And should Powell be encouraged that central banks around the world are standing in solidarity with him? The panel dives into these questions and more.Â
The Donroe Doctrine and Its Consequences
On this episode of Power & Market, the panel kicks off 2026 with a conversation about the arrest of Maduro. What's next for Venezuela? What's DC's next target? Does America really need a 1.5 trillion dollar defense budget? We look at these questions and more.
The Death of DOGE and the Triumph of the Establishment: A Review of 2025
On this episode of Power and Market, Ryan, Tho, and Connor reflect on what they view as the biggest stories and themes of the year.
Don't miss your chance to get a copy of Ryan McMaken's The Fight For Liberty: Past, Present, and Future during our year-end fundraising campaign. Donate before December 8th and have it doubled! Learn more here.
Trump is Winning Over the Fed
On this episode of Power and Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho break down the latest FOMC meeting, the real takeaways from Powell’s Fed talk, and the continuing realities of Obamacare.
Don't miss your chance to get a copy of Ryan McMaken's The Fight For Liberty: Past, Present, and Future during our year-end fundraising campaign. Donate before December 8th and have it doubled! Learn more here.
War Drums for Venezuela and the Financialization of College Football
On this episode of Power and Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho discuss military escalation with Venezuela, more troubling jobs data, and how college football offers an example of how financialization, politicalization, and bad economy theory can undermine great American traditions.
Don't miss your chance to get a copy of Ryan McMaken's The Fight For Liberty: Past, Present, and Future during our year-end fundraising campaign. Donate before December 8th and have it doubled! Learn more here.
Jobs Numbers, Dick Cheney, and Thanksgiving Turkey
On this episode of Power & Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho discuss the latest jobs number data, what it means for the affordability crisis, the legacy of Dick Cheney, and Thanksgiving favorites."
Trump's 50 Year Mortgage Mistake
On this episode of Power & Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho talk about Trump's FDR-like proposal of a 50-year mortgage and the unfortunate reality that it seems to be one of the only actual policy ideas Republicans have left to "address" affordability.
Election Fallout: Is Inflation Radicalizing Our Politics?
On this episode of Power & Market, Ryan, Connor, and Tho take a look at this week's off-year elections. Were any of the outcomes a real surprise? Does Mamdami reflect the future of the left? Will affordability bring down MAGA? The roundtable discuss these questions and more.
Jerome Powell's Just Making Things Up
On this episode of Radio Rothbard, Jonathan Newman joins Ryan and Tho to discuss this week's Fed rate cut, and to breakdown down Jerome Powell's most recent press conference.