Shows
The Valley Labor ReportOVERTIME: Is This Conservative Twitter Guy Right About Unions? w/ Matt Bruenig - TVLR 2/14/26In OVERTIME, we talk to Matt Bruenig about some dumb comments from Richard Hanania. ALSO: UAW member who heckled Trump gets NO DISCIPLINE, and Nebraska Senator Pete Ricketts doesn't care about Tyson closing its Lexington plant. ✦ ABOUT ✦The Valley Labor Report is the only union talk radio show in Alabama, elevating struggles for justice and fairness on the job, educating folks about how they can do the same, and bringing relevant news to workers in Alabama and beyond.Our single largest source of revenue *is our listeners* so your support really matters and helps...
2026-02-191h 24
The Dumb Zone FREEDZ 12-30-25 | Subathon Replay #2Get every episode of The Dumb Zone by subscribing to the show at DumbZone.com or Patreon.com/TheDumbZoneWhile the show is off this week, enjoy segments from the 2025 Dumb Zone Subathon! Today, we check in with the part of the Bruenig duo that was awake. Dumb Zone Easter eggs were aplenty during high school football state championships and we've got a KT game show that pits Dan and Jake versus Ben and Skin
(00:00) - Matt Bruenig: Oklahoma housing
(22:27) - Matt Bruenig: Cartoon virgins
(52:34) - Dumb Zone Easter Eggs
(01:13:59) - KT Game Show: Ben & Skin...
2025-12-302h 21The Dumb Zone FREEDZ 10-16-25 | Brian Schottenheimer has pictures of the Sun and DeeZ Picks with Cirque Du SiroisGet every episode of The Dumb Zone by subscribing to the show at DumbZone.com or Patreon.com/TheDumbZoneRemember this when the Cowboys lose to the Commanders because of the Sun: Schotty says they have satellite images of the Sun and knows what it looks like. Picks with Cirque and Viewer Mail with our labor attorney, Matt Bruenig
(00:00) - Open: Our Denver trip
(17:35) - Schotty is prepared for the Sun
(30:56) - DeeZ Picks Week 7 with Cirque Du Sirois
(01:04:00) - Sports Sesh: Jonathan Gannon, Tua, and Brad Sham
(01:33:57) - Matt Bruenig: Tortilla follow-up
(01:59:27) - Big Thursday...
2025-10-162h 59The Dumb Zone FREEMatt Bruenig on our social experiment and Brian Schottenheimer will be fired in the first month of the season | DZ 6-13-25 PREVIEWHear the entire episode by subscribing to the show at DumbZone.com or Patreon.com/TheDumbZoneDan comes out of the gate hot with the opinion that teachers should make less because they don't work for two months. Matt Bruenig joins us to talk about Blake's Angelo situation. Then Dan has moved the line up on the firing of Brian Schottenheimer and has some Sch-audio to back it up. Finally, we chat with the "hey dill" guy and if his tiff with Corby was on purpose or not
★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★
2025-06-1326 min
Give Them An ArgumentSeason 7 Episode 10: Matt Bruenig & Luke Savage on "Abundance"Matt Bruenig and Luke Savage join Ben Burgis to talk about their reviews of Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson's book, "Abundance," and what it all signifies about the drift of contemporary liberalism. Before that, Ben does an Opening Argument about why we should reject the false dichotomy of having to either support Donald Trump's "liberation day" insanity or neoliberal free-trade absolutism. Last but definitely not least, Victor Bruzzone and Ethan from Confronting Capital join for the postgame for patrons.Ticket link for the San Francisco live show on April 17th:https://www.universe.com/events...
2025-04-182h 14
Bad FaithEpisode 461 Promo - Suing Bryan Johnson, the Health Tech Mogul (w/ Matt Bruenig)Subscribe to Bad Faith on Patreon to instantly unlock this episode and our entire premium episode library: http://patreon.com/badfaithpodcast Friend of the show and People's Policy Project wonk Matt Bruenig returns to Bad Faith to give the insider perspective on the lawsuits against health tech CEO Bryan Johnson. You may know Johnson as the guy who used his kid as a "blood bag" (i.e., injected himself with his son's plasma) and who goes to great lengths to "live forever." As it turns out, he has also gone to great lengths to prevent his employees fro...
2025-03-3007 min
Chapo Trap House919 - Abruendance Agenda feat. Madinah Wilson-Anton & Matt Bruenig (3/24/25)Delaware state rep Madinah Wilson-Anton returns to the show to brief us on Elon Musk’s attempts to rewrite the state laws of Delaware to help him secure a $50 billion+ compensation package. We discuss the “race to the bottom” in state business laws, and the new wave of assaults on basic legal legitimacy in pursuit of complete oligarchical control.
Then, Matt Bruenig joins us to discuss the hot new word on all the wonks’ lips: ABUNDANCE. We review the Abundance Agenda, Matt gives us his takes on the policies, and we evaluate the Abundance potential as a viable organizing principle for the...
2025-03-241h 21The Dumb Zone FREECowboys picking up former first rounders, Spanish Stars broadcast, and Matt Bruenig on Cracker Barrel guy | DZ 3-17-25Get every episode of The Dumb Zone by subscribing at DumbZone.com or Patreon.com/TheDumbZoneBig Saint Patty's show involving a weekend check featuring a near Facebook fight. We go around DFW sports and touch on ALL 4 teams. Matt Bruenig, a member of our lawyer dream team, checks in with an audio grab bag which introduces us to Cracker Barrel guy. Then Jasmine Sadry takes you inside the sales pitch for a possible resort coming to Irving.
(00:00) - Open: Weekend check
(45:26) - Sports: DFW sports today today
(01:25:50) - Matt Bruenig: Cracker Barrel guy
(02:00:02) - News...
2025-03-172h 46
Krystal Kyle & FriendsEpisode 205: Matt BruenigWith this week’s guest, Matt Bruenig, we debunk the biggest misconceptions and lies about single-payer healthcare.
2024-12-221h 32
Krystal Kyle & FriendsEpisode 205 Audio: Matt BruenigWith this week’s guest, Matt Bruenig, we debunk the biggest misconceptions and lies about single-payer healthcare. After the 2020 election, so many of us can mindlessly rattle off the most pernicious lines used among both conservatives and liberals to keep our healthcare system private. From zingers about wait times for care in Canada to (more than anything, it always comes down to this) the argument that we can’t afford to keep everybody insured, the case for private healthcare sure isn’t creative, but (among our representatives, if not among the American people) it’s held on for dear life.
2024-12-221h 32
Bridges PodcastEP029 - Matt BruenigIn this episode of Bridges, Steven sits down with Matt Bruenig, founder of the People’s Policy Project, to dive deep into socialism and the mechanics of welfare states. Together, they explore how wealth distribution, social safety nets, and progressive policy frameworks can reshape societies. Whether you're an advocate for economic reform or just curious about the Nordic model, this episode provides a compelling look at the intersection of policy and ideology.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MattBruenig
People's Policy Project: https://www.peoplespolicyproject.org
2024-11-182h 33
WPKN: Politics, Policy, and Planet PodcastAssessing Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris’ Economic Policy Proposals Interview with Matt Bruenig, president of People’s Policy Project, a left-wing think tank, conducted by Scott HarrisMatt Bruenig discusses the important issues examined in his recent article, “Our Verdict on Kamala Harris’s New Plans,” and issues related to economic policies being debated by Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election campaign.
2024-10-1025 min
Conversing with Mark LabbertonBeauty, Horror, and the Human Condition, with Elizabeth Bruenig"It's sort of strange to think about beauty and horrible circumstances together. But I try, probably clumsily at times, to bring beauty to a thing that's really horrible. … But in terms of covering executions, there is just a void there. The main character always dies." (Elizabeth Bruenig, from the episode) Despite sin, there remains an inherent beauty and goodness throughout creation … including humanity. And even in the most divisive circumstances, when we appeal to the beauty and horror in our shared human condition, we might be able to find common ground for mutual understanding and coll...
2024-10-0844 min
Lefty SpecialistsEpisode 49: NBA vs. NLRB (ft. Matt Bruenig)Today the Lefty Specialists are joined by Matt Bruenig, author of labor newsletter NLRB Edge, and together we discuss whether the rule the NBA uses to fine players is illegal, how unions can fight for free speech in general, and the connections between sports union fights and labor movement in general. (We also, of course, discuss podcast favorite Chris Paul…) As always, listen, enjoy, like, subscribe, and share!Thanks for reading Undrafted! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would li...
2024-08-2059 min
Talkin‘ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each OtherElizabeth Bruenig: Staff Writer at The Atlantic and Contributor to the Left, Right and Center radio showWhat does it mean to be a Christian Social Democrat? Can one be pro-life and align with the political left? How Christian is American Christendom or a Trumpified Evangelicalism? Has contemporary American Christendom shaken your own faith? We asked these questions and discussed a great deal more with the brilliant writer, Elizabeth Bruenig. (Please note, this conversation was recorded prior to when President Biden opted out of the 2024 presidential race.)
We're on Patreon! Join the community:
https://www.patreon.com/politicsandreligion
It would mean so much if you could leave u...
2024-07-2555 minTalkin‘ Politics & Religion Without Killin‘ Each OtherElizabeth Bruenig: Staff Writer at The Atlantic and Contributor to the Left, Right and Center radio showWhat does it mean to be a Christian Social Democrat? Can one be pro-life and align with the political left? How Christian is American Christendom or a Trumpified Evangelicalism? Has contemporary American Christendom shaken your own faith? We asked these questions and discussed a great deal more with the brilliant writer, Elizabeth Bruenig. (Please note, this conversation was recorded prior to when President Biden opted out of the 2024 presidential race.)
We're on Patreon! Join the community:
https://www.patreon.com/politicsandreligion
It would mean so much if you could leave u...
2024-07-2555 min
The BruenigsGuest Mark Paul on his new bookGuest Mark Paul on his new book by Elizabeth and Matt Bruenig
2023-06-2758 min
Krystal Kyle & FriendsEpisode 111 Audio: Matt BruenigWe know we can’t flip a switch and institute socialism. But how long that process will take and what its end result will be is a debate that often polarizes the American left. Matt Bruenig and others have spoken and written in favor of adopting something like the Nordic model, which centers on a strong welfare state. He also sees value in the example of Alaska’s social wealth fund and in worker co-ops, supporting ownership of your own workplace. This is to say that in Matt’s view, we can find elements of the socialist society we want t...
2023-02-121h 31Krystal Kyle & FriendsEpisode 111: Matt BruenigMatt Bruenig joins us to debunk myths about socialism.
2023-02-121h 31
Give Them An ArgumentSeason 4 Episode 14: Talking Socialism w/Matt BruenigMatt Bruenig joins Ben Burgis to talk about what a viable fully socialist society might look like and how we could get there. Before that, Naomi Karavani comes on to talk about Bolsonaro's openness to consuming human flesh, Biden's hollow pardon announcement, and a clip of a comedian having a full beer can thrown at her by an angry Trump supporter. In the postgame for patrons, Djene Bajalan discusses how the revolution going on right now in Iran is all the result of every single Iranian being mind-controlled by the CIA. (Or is that his position? ONLY ONE WAY T...
2022-10-151h 50
RABBITHOLEIs MMT Real? #3: Matt BruenigIn this third episode of our in-depth MMT series, Pete and Sparky look for a dissenting view. They find one in People's Policy Project founder Matt Bruenig (@MattBruenig). This episode was originally published on December 3, 2020 on the Current Affairs podcast feed, and is being republished now as the Rabbithole podcast picks up the question of "is MMT real?" Please excuse any outdated references, and stay tuned as we continue our investigations down the rabbithole. This episode was edited by Dan Thorn (@danieljtvthorn) of Pink Noise Studios in Somerville, MA, and it fe...
2022-02-152h 02
Unproductive LaborCompany Unions and Why Voters Don’t Care about Policy: An Interview with Matt BruenigThis episode, I’m talking with Matt Bruenig, founder of the People’s Policy Project or 3Ps, a think tank in Washington D.C. We discuss Marco Rubio’s and Jim Banks’ proposed Teamwork for Employees and Managers bill, a piece of legislation that would make it easier for corporations to establish “employee involvement organizations. The bill is not likely to go anywhere or change very much if it did, so what was the point? Matt and I discuss this bill, company unions, and conservative attempts to appeal to working class voters. The patreon page for 3Ps is here: htt...
2022-02-1140 min
The Katie Halper ShowRichard Wolff & Matt BruenigFull chat with Richard Wolff is here (https://www.patreon.com/posts/audio-richard-61093872)
This episode of the Katie Halper show combines two interviews! One with Richard Wolff and one with Matt Bruenig.
Richard Wolff is the host of #EconomicUpdate, Professor of Economics Emeritus
at @UMassAmherst, visiting professor at The New School, founder of @democracyatwrk and the author of several books including Democracy at Work, Understanding Marxism, and Capitalism Hits the Fan: The Global Economic Meltdown and What to Do About It. He's been called "America's most prominent Marxist economist" by The New York Times.
Matt Bruenig is the founder of...
2022-01-1550 min
The BruenigsMatt on The Nordic Model podcastMatt appeared on The Nordic Model podcast earlier this week. I am crossposting the audio here for your enjoyment. You can follow them on:
* Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/2bWggCJikcvBQdtduvF7sa
* YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq-6BFMXDhBV4zlWWcAqguw
* Twitter https://twitter.com/TheNordicModel
This is not our episode for the week. We will have a special xmas episode out soon.
2021-12-2552 min
TheNordicModelSpecial Episode - Build Back Better with Matt BruenigWelcome to a special episode of The Interview. We sit down with People's Policy Project founder Matt Bruenig to talk about the Democrat's Build Back Better bill, its problems, and what liberals seem to get consistently wrong about the design of a welfare state. Thank you for listening, and Merry Christmas.
Follow Matt Bruenig: https://twitter.com/MattBruenig
Follow Chad: https://twitter.com/ChadNotChud
Follow Sid: https://twitter.com/lilbabygandhi
Follow Us: https://twitter.com/TheNordicModel
Consider dropping us a follow if you enjo...
2021-12-2452 min
Jacobin RadioWeekends: What's Wrong with an "Entitlement Society"? w/ Matt BruenigMatt Bruenig discusses Joe Manchin's remarks about the US becoming an "entitlement society" and explains why so-called entitlement societies like the Nordic states somehow still seem to function.Weekends with Ana Kasparian and Nando Vila features free-flowing and humorous commentary on current events and political strategy. This is the podcast version of the show from October 8, 2021.Verso book club: https://www.versobooks.com/bookclubSubscribe to Jacobin for just $10: https://jacobinmag.com/subscribe/?code=JACOBINYTMusic provided by Zonkey: https://linktr.ee/zonkeyPatreon: https...
2021-10-122h 02The BruenigsThe Devastating Power of Sympathy Strikes; Paid Leave Ranting and RavingMatt pods solo on this one, talking about his hit piece about what happened when McDonalds went to Denmark and tried to run without a union. Talk includes details not in the piece and a telling of a similar story of what happened when Toys R Us went to Sweden in 1995 and tried the exact same shit.
At the end of the podcast, Matt uses Lee Harris's article about paid leave in The Prospect to rant and rave about the insanity of what is going on with House Dems when it comes to paid leave.
2021-09-231h 14
The Nomiki ShowKehinde Andrews, Ryan Grim & Matt Bruenig | The Nomiki Show 09-15-21On today’s program, Nomiki Konst speaks with academic, author and activist Kehinde Andrews about his book The New Age Of Empire: How Racism and Colonialism Still Rule the World. Kehinde is Professor of Black Studies at Birmingham City University as well as Chair of the Harambee Organization of Black Unity.
Link to Kehinde’s book: https://www.boldtypebooks.com/titles/kehinde-andrews/the-new-age-of-empire/9781645036906/
Next Nomiki is joined by Ryan Grim to talk about his recent article in The Intercept, “Biden’s Basic Question In A 2009 White House Meeting Exposed The Folly Of The Afghanistan War.” Ryan Grim...
2021-09-231h 09The BruenigsMatt Solo Ep on the Welfare State & MMTPeople seem to like these. So here we go again. Matt discusses the mistake everyone makes about what the welfare state is for. Then he talks about the recent MMT punditry. In the middle is Jarrod's Corner.
2021-09-1855 min
SuperstructureComforted & Chastened : A Liz Bruenig SpecialIn this special episode, hosts Natalie Smith and @moltopopulare take on the austere sexual politics promulgated by cultural critic and commentator Elizabeth or “Liz” Bruenig. Mirroring the tacit zero-sum logics built into her spouse Matt Bruenig’s analyses of political economy, Liz regularly weaponizes social conservatism and conformity in cruel efforts to shore up a problematic vision of a proper social democratic populace. Natalie and Charlotte lay bare the sadistic violation of sexual freedom and identity that forms the core of Liz's project by examining a wide range of articles on topics such as queer celibacy, the politics of pornography, and 50...
2021-09-041h 40
Money on the LeftSuperstructure: Comforted & Chastened : A Liz Bruenig SpecialIn this special episode, hosts Natalie Smith and @moltopopulare take on the austere sexual politics promulgated by cultural critic and commentator Elizabeth or “Liz” Bruenig. Mirroring the tacit zero-sum logics built into her spouse Matt Bruenig’s analyses of political economy, Liz regularly weaponizes social conservatism and conformity in cruel efforts to shore up a problematic vision of a proper social democratic populace. Natalie and Charlotte lay bare the sadistic violation of sexual freedom and identity that forms the core of Liz's project by examining a wide range of articles on topics such as queer celibacy, the politics of pornog...
2021-09-041h 40The BruenigsMatt Dives into TikTok; Social Media Pogram; OctopussySubscribe at patreon.com/thebruenigs
2021-07-011h 08
DeconstructedMatt Bruenig on Joe Biden's American Families PlanOn Wednesday night, Joe Biden gave his first presidential address to a joint session of Congress, though it was sparsely attended so that social distancing could be observed. Biden was there to pitch what he’s calling the American Families Plan, and as Deconstructed guest Matt Bruenig has long noted, support for families and children has been a blind spot in the United States. Bruenig founded the progressive think tank People's Policy Project, which relies largely on small donors. In early 2019, he put out what he called the Family Fun Pack, a sweeping set of policies aimed at making raising kids in...
2021-04-2938 minThe BruenigsMatt's Dad Comes on to Discuss Qanon and Warehouse Laboring ConditionsMatt's dad joins the podcast via the telephone to discuss HBO's six-hour documentary on Q and in the process discusses his 45 years of working in a distribution warehouse.
2021-04-0858 minThe BruenigsMatt Debates Oren Cass About Child BenefitsMatt went onto the Solidarity Policy Center's podcast to debate Oren Cass on the question of providing cash child benefits to all kids (including the very poor!). I'm cross-posting the whole thing here in case you are a big enough sicko to do 103 minutes of this.
Please subscribe to patreon.com/thebruenigs to get all our episodes.
2021-03-091h 43
The Katie Halper ShowFired By Neera Tanden With Matt BruenigToday we welcome back to the program Matt Bruenig. Matt is an American lawyer, blogger, policy analyst, commentator, and founder of the left-wing think tank people's Policy Project. He was a blogger for the American think tank Demos covering politics and public policy — and has written on issues including income distribution, taxation, welfare, elections, and Scandinavian economic models.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
2021-02-2749 min
The New Liberal PodcastCreating a Child Allowance with Matt Bruenig and Sam HammondPatreon-only episode, now public by popular demand! Which of the Child Allowance plans would most help families? Matt Bruenig of the People's Policy Project and Sam Hammond of the Niskanen Center join the show to discuss both Mitt Romney's and the Democrat's child benefit plans. We discuss the benefits of universal plans vs targeted benefits, which programs and tax breaks might be ended to pay for these plans (and whether or not that's appropriate, and why simple, easy to understand programs often succeed where complex programs fail. Read Sam's work - https://www.niskanencenter.org/wp-c...
2021-02-081h 04The BruenigsBest Takes of the Trump Era, Featuring Matt Christman, aka @cushbombThe gang is back with special guest Matt Christman to reminisce over the top 5 takes of the Trump era, including Eric Garland, Louise Mensch, Ian Millhiser, and the intelligence agency plot to set off fireworks in New York City.
Subscribe for all the episodes: https://www.patreon.com/thebruenigs
2020-11-2656 minThe BruenigsMatt Debates Job Guarantee with Mark PaulThis is the audio from a debate hosted by Philly DSA about the JG. Matt argues against the JG. Mark Paul argues for.
There is a video of the recorded zoom call here, though I thought some might prefer to have it in audio podcast form as well. Apologies for audio quality which obviously is not as good as usual due to the format.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiI8Ai4RsL4&feature=emb_title
2020-11-021h 18The BruenigsTrump Updates; Trial Run of Brue Crime: The Chris Watts StoryThe gang is back.
The first half of the episode is an update on Trump happenings: the debates; the covid; etc.
In a very special second half, we debut content from a possible new podcast called Brue Crime. Brue Crime would be The Bruenigs discussing true crime, which Liz and Matt both love but for very different reasons. The true crime discussed in this episode is the Chris Watts story, which was recently told in an incredible documentary titled ‘American Murder: The Family Next Door' currently on Netflix.
2020-10-231h 09The BruenigsThe Job Guarantee ft. Aussies David Sligar, Hugh Sturgess, and Michael Hiscox (fixed)Matt brings on three smart guests to talk about the Job Guarantee proposal and political developments, both in Australia and more generally. The conversation covers things like Bill Mitchell (top JG advocate in Australia), Noel Pearson (Mitchell's newest ally, one of the most prominent anti-welfare advocates in the country), Work for the Dole, Jobseeker Payment, the Phillips Curve/NAIRU/Wage-Price Inflation, what jobs JG can actually do, Giuliani's TANF workfare program and its impact on unions, among other things.
A must listen!
2020-09-161h 25
New Left RadioTax 'em Where it Hurts, Double Standard of White Terrorism, & Matt Bruenig, People's Policy ProjectThis week we look at a new policy paper from the Broadbent Institute on the need for a wealth tax in Canada, we discuss Resource Movement, a coalition of Millenials & Zoomers in the top 10% begging the government to tax them. Then we look at the attack on Rideau Hall and attempt on PM Trudeau's life and discuss the double standard of white terrorism and the political messaging that's to blame for motivating such violence.We'll spend some time w/ guest Matt Bruenig, Founder of the People's Policy Project, a crowd funded socialist policy think tank, co-host of...
2020-07-091h 16
Highlands BunkerBONUS EPISODE - EITC's Unearned Credit (w/Matt Bruenig)People's Policy Project founder Matt Bruenig joins Rob in the virtual bunker to talk about his latest paper on the Earned Income Tax Credit, and how shoddy statistics can help make mediocre policies look like panaceas.Show Notes:Myths of the EITC paperMadinah's Plan for Working FamiliesFamily Fun Pack
2020-06-0952 min
The BruenigsMatt and Liz on It's Just BanterMatt and Liz on It's Just Banter by Elizabeth and Matt Bruenig
2020-05-301h 28The BruenigsGuest Marshall Steinbaum On Recent Developments in Tax Credit DiscourseSUBSCRIBE TO GET ALL EPISODES
SUPERCAST: https://thebruenigs.supercast.tech/
PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/thebruenigs
Matt is here with a special midweek bonus episode, talking to returning guest Marshall Steinbaum about the advanced tax rebate in the Coronavirus emergency legislation and the interesting ways in which that rebate was handled in the discourse. Ultimately we learn the EITC is bad, once again.
2020-04-0751 min
Hear the Bern48 - Say It Ain't So, Joe (w/ Matt Bruenig)With the race down to Bernie versus Joe, Briahna digs into the specifics (or lack thereof) of Biden's health care plan with Matt Bruenig of the People's Policy Project.
The People's Policy Project: https://www.peoplespolicyproject.org/
The Bruenigs Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/thebruenigs
Matt on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MattBruenig
2020-03-1000 min
Hear the Bern48 - Say It Ain't So, Joe (w/ Matt Bruenig)With the race down to Bernie versus Joe, Briahna digs into the specifics (or lack thereof) of Biden's health care plan with Matt Bruenig of the People's Policy Project.
The People's Policy Project: https://www.peoplespolicyproject.org
The Bruenigs Podcast: https://www.patreon.com/thebruenigs
Matt on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MattBruenig
2020-03-1057 minThe BruenigsLyin' Liz; Joe Biden Wants to Cut Social SecurityThe full gang is back (liz and matt) with some fresh content. The first half is Matt melting down over fact checking about Joe Biden's Social Security record. The second half is a discussion of the Warren saga, mostly led by Liz (as Matt discussed his take earlier).
2020-02-121h 00
Current AffairsUNLOCKED! Student Debt Special (feat. Allie Conti, Marshall Steinbaum and Matt Bruenig)Unlocked from our Patreon feed, here's a little bonus for you all!
Current Affairs finance editor Sparky Abraham sits down with Vice writer Allie Conti, economics professor Marshall Steinbaum and People's Policy Project founder Matt Bruenig to discuss the question of cancelling student debt, in light of Bernie Sanders' and Elizabeth Warren's recent plans for college debt forgiveness.
This episode was originally made available for Patreon subscribers in July 2019. To gain full access to more episodes like this, please consider becoming one of our supporters at www.patreon.com/CurrentAffairs!
Allie on student debt forgiveness: https://www.vice.com/amp...
2020-01-151h 072020-01-1441 minThe BruenigsSpecial Guest: Matt StollerMatt Stoller, author of the book Goliath, hater of monopolies, sits in for the entire hour to talk about his new book with Matt Bruenig.
The first 20 minutes are so is a summary of the book provided by Stoller, the rest is a back and forth about whether this anti-monopoly stuff is really that important.
2019-11-1457 min
The Katie Halper Show243 - Warren's Middle Class Tax with Matt Bruenig and Tim HigginbothamPareon only ep: https://www.patreon.com/posts/244-shredded-bod-31421316 Matt Bruenig and Tim HIgginbotham talk about why Warren's plan to cover #MedicareForAll actually is a tax on the middle class and why Sanders' plan to pay for it is both better and not his focus. On bonus, Matt answers your twitter questions, talks about the Bernie Bro narrative and how Working Families Party membership almost certainly voted for Sanders.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
2019-11-081h 01
The Gray Area with Sean IllingMatt Bruenig’s case for single-payer health careThe Democratic primary has been unexpectedly dominated by a single question: Will you abolish private health insurance?Wrapped in that question are dozens more. Why, if private health insurance is such a mess, do polls show most Americans want to keep it? What lessons should we take from the failure of past efforts at health reform? What does it mean to say “if you like your health insurance plan, you can keep it?”Matt Bruenig, the founder of the People’s Policy Project, is firmly in support of true single-payer. No compromise, no chaser. He’s frustr...
2019-08-122h 02Current AffairsPREVIEW: Student Debt Special (feat. Allie Conti, Marshall Steinbaum and Matt Bruenig)Current Affairs finance editor Sparky Abraham sits down with Vice writer Allie Conti, economics professor Marshall Steinbaum and People's Policy Project founder Matt Bruenig to discuss the question of cancelling student debt, in light of Bernie Sanders' and Elizabeth Warren's recent plans for college debt forgiveness.
This episode will be unlocked in full soon, but is available now in full for Patreon subscribers. To receive early access to episodes like this, as well as exclusive bonus content, consider becoming one of our patrons at www.patreon.com/CurrentAffairs.
2019-07-1101 minThe BruenigsThe individual versus the collective under socialismMatt is here with a solo episode where he tackles a philosophical tension that runs through much socialist thinking and posting: how can socialism be both individually liberating while also relying on collective control and ownership?
This winding (don't call it rambling) episode covers many topics including Distributism, Jeffersonians, Rawls's property-owning democracy, and various socialist tendencies. And most importantly, it offers a real solution to the conundrum.
2019-06-2446 minThe BruenigsSpecial Guest Donté StallworthSpecial Guest Donté Stallworth by Elizabeth and Matt Bruenig
2019-06-061h 00The BruenigsThe Bruenigs Interview the Gravel TeensThe Bruenigs Interview the Gravel Teens by Elizabeth and Matt Bruenig
2019-05-2044 minThe BruenigsThe gang take your questionsSo many questions, including why Matt was kicked off his college debate team market socialism v. planning, dealing with isolation, relationship conflict, and so on and so on.
2019-05-121h 04The BruenigsTricked by Measurement: The Story of the EITC and Baby BondsMatt is here with a solo ep (dual ep releasing soon) about one of his great wonk irritations: policies that seem to have a big impact only because they take advantage of quirks in the way we measure certain things like poverty and wealth inequality. These policies achieve great "success" defined as getting a certain statistic to move a lot but actually do not meaningfully address the bigger evil -- the reduction of material deprivation in the case of the Earned Income Tax Credit and the wealth difference between the black and white community in the case of baby bonds.
2019-02-2747 minThe BruenigsWorking Women and the Conundrums of Family BenefitsThe dynamic duo discuss the interesting philosophical and policy questions that flow from the fact that some people (disproportionately women) prefer to be stay-at-home parents. Is this a preference that should be respected and with benefit systems built around it or is it a preference that should be discarded as patriarchal? If you do build a benefit system around it, how should you do so?
These become important questions when talking about paid leave and child care policy and were both questions Matt had to confront when writing his Family Fun Pack paper.
2019-02-181h 00The BruenigsReview of Liz Warren's Book: The Two-Income TrapThe gang (mostly Matt, apologies in advance) talk about Elizabeth Warren's book The Two-Income Trap. As with most things, the book errs in not recognizing the superiority of the welfare state in solving the problems identified.
2019-02-0751 minThe BruenigsThe World According to MattIn this rare solo episode, Matt outlines his whole vision of what's the chief problem with capitalism and how best to tackle it. He starts with a discussion of capital's share and wealth ownership and then turns towards his neo-Hilferdingist vision of exploiting finance capital to socialize the means of production.
It's truly wonderful listening.
2019-01-081h 01The BruenigsChristmas Special ft. Lapland Santa (Antti Jauhiainen & Joona-Hermanni Mäkinen)Liz and Matt are joined by Antti and Joona of Parecon Finland.
2018-12-2550 minThe BruenigsThe GOAT Ralph NaderLiz and Matt have a wide-ranging discussion with citizen advocate and former presidential candidate Ralph Nader. We ask him about his views on recent trends in the Democratic party and play a game: Nader 2000 Platform Item or Fresh New Democratic Idea.
Nader has a new humor book out called How The Rats Reformed Congress here: https://ratsreformcongress.org/.
2018-12-201h 04The BruenigsMatt is Cancelled + Will Butler of Arcade FireThe gang discuss Matt's cancellation over his blog post about student debt forgiveness in the first half of the episode.
Will Butler of Arcade Fire comes on in the second half of the program to discuss the suburban gothic, Betomania including The Beto Tweet, and his experiences with Canada Medicare system and welfare state.
2018-12-061h 04The BruenigsThe Hedonic BlitzkriegIn their thanksgiving special, Liz and Matt eschew hot topics in favor of a full episode on the pitfalls of consumer markets. The jumping off point for the discussion is the recent writing about the Decline of Sex, but your wacky hosts think these articles miss the fact that the Decline of Sex is not a sui generis phenomenon, but is instead an outgrowth of consumer capitalist encroachment that we see in many areas of life.
Theme song was created by Tom Weyman (@tomweyman on Twitter).
2018-11-301h 01The BruenigsGeneration Wealth, NationalizationLiz and Matt discuss hot topics, Lauren Greenfield's Generation Wealth, and the underrated policy instrument of self-regulation via nationalization threats.
Along with the bonus episode, The Bruenigs produced a record 1 hour and 20 min of content this week. This extra productivity does not get recorded in the national accounts however.
Generation Wealth Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyfC1AVhfb8
Kids + Money on Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/ondemand/22811/55556079
2018-11-1639 minThe BruenigsHello, It's HalloweenLiz and Matt discuss Halloween happenings, the DC elections (poorly), the strange socialist posturing in climate policy, a philosophical tension in competition, among other things.
The gas company (aka the Russians) interrupt the podcast midway through by jackhammering the street outside our dwelling. But Matt powers through to finish the episode.
2018-11-081h 04The BruenigsDems Love Amazon; Bernie v. Warren; Catholic Sex AbuseLiz and Matt discuss a recent poll showing Democrats have more confidence in Amazon than any major US institution, the opening shots in the pundit effort to distinguish Bernie from Warren, geoengineering, some the Catholic sex scandal, and the CEA's socialism report.
Bernie v. Warren pieces
1. Dayen: https://newrepublic.com/article/151871/essential-difference-bernie-sanders-elizabeth-warren
2. Sunkara: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/23/bernie-sanders-elizabeth-warren-democratic-party-2020-differences
3. Pollitt: https://www.thenation.com/article/elizabeth-warren-meets-the-lefts-circular-firing-squad/
2018-11-021h 01The BruenigsWarren DNA Debacle and Child Allowance > *We discuss the hot topic of the Warren DNA debacle, our 5 year old run in with Gavin McInnes, the Kamala Harris LIFT credit, the superiority of the child allowance over other welfare state programs, Matt's political platform he calls the Family Fun Pack, and then finally Christmas decorations and our struggling plants.
2018-10-251h 03The BruenigsPolitical Correctness and Alcoholic Free WillLiz and Matt go through the usual hot topics, discuss an inane survey about "political correctness," and talk about how Liz got in trouble with the internet for saying alcohol consumption contributes to a lot of social problems.
2018-10-1958 minThe BruenigsListen to Our Newest Episode on Patreon (For Real)After joking about it for a dozen or more episodes, Liz and Matt now does have a Patreon for the podcast. Episodes will now release on Patreon first and then after a delay to the public. Please support us on Patreon to get the episodes when they are released, to get bonus tidbits, and to support our work. https://www.patreon.com/thebruenigs
2018-10-1301 min
The Basic Income PodcastDesigning an American Social Wealth Fund, feat. Matt BruenigOne of the leading ideas on how to implement a basic income is a social wealth fund, similar to Alaska's Permanent Fund, in which a government maintains a fund of various assets and provides dividends to everyone who lives within its borders. Matt Bruenig, President of the People's Policy Project, recently designed a detailed proposal for implementing a social wealth fund in the US that would be financially and politically stable. He spoke with Jim about how he crafted this design and how he plans to advance it.
2018-10-1025 min
Podcast Archive - The Basic Income PodcastDesigning an American Social Wealth Fund, feat. Matt BruenigOne of the leading ideas on how to implement a basic income is a social wealth fund, similar to Alaska's Permanent Fund, in which a government maintains a fund of various assets and provides dividends to everyone who lives within its borders. Matt Bruenig, President of the People's Policy Project, recently designed a detailed proposal for implementing a social wealth fund in the US that would be financially and politically stable. He spoke with Jim about how he crafted this design and how he plans to advance it.
The post Designing an American Social Wealth Fund, feat...
2018-10-1000 min
The Basic Income PodcastDesigning an American Social Wealth Fund, feat. Matt BruenigOne of the leading ideas on how to implement a basic income is a social wealth fund, similar to Alaska's Permanent Fund, in which a government maintains a fund of various assets and provides dividends to everyone who lives within its borders. Matt Bruenig, President of the People's Policy Project, recently designed a detailed proposal for implementing a social wealth fund in the US that would be financially and politically stable. He spoke with Jim about how he crafted this design and how he plans to advance it.
2018-10-1023 minThe BruenigsKavanaugh, Amazon's $15 Min Wage, Accountable CapitalismLiz and Matt discuss the silly discourse around the Kavanaugh confirmation process (Liz wrote a WaPo piece on it), what Amazon's $15 min wage teaches us (Matt's wrote a WaPo piece on it), and some disappointments in a new paper on "accountable capitalism."
2018-10-0553 minThe BruenigsThe Amber Wyatt Story and Our High SchoolLiz discusses her blockbuster story about a rape at our high school: https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/opinions/arlington-texas/?utm_term=.af69b738f075
We also talk about the high school generally, including some of the antics Matt got up to, including both times he was disqualified from running for student body president for "offensive campaigning materials" (really a pretense to keep him out of power).
2018-09-2150 minThe New Liberal PodcastA Social Wealth Fund for America ft. Matt BruenigMatt Bruenig comes on the podcast to discuss the intricacies of a social wealth fund for America.
2018-09-1826 minThe BruenigsFinland, Batman, and Sportsradio 1310 the TicketMatt discusses his trip to Finland. Liz gives her hot sports opinions on Batman and his impending marriage. And both discuss Sportradio 1310 the Ticket, which has influenced them greatly.
2018-09-1455 min
Podcast Archives - The DigMatt Bruenig Spreads the Wealth AroundWhat socialism should offer is freedom by way of power and democratic control over our polity and economy—and thus over our future as a society. Matt Bruenig has one proposal out at his People’s Policy Project on how to begin to do just that, and it’s called a social wealth fund. The idea is that the state gradually socializes the assets of every single publicly-traded company in the United States by purchasing their stocks.
Thanks to Verso Books. Check out their huge catalogue of left-wing titles at versobooks.com
Please support this podcast...
2018-09-0900 minThe DigMatt Bruenig Spreads the Wealth AroundWhat socialism should offer is freedom by way of power and democratic control over our polity and economy—and thus over our future as a society. Matt Bruenig has one proposal out at his People’s Policy Project on how to begin to do just that, and it’s called a social wealth fund. The idea is that the state gradually socializes the assets of every single publicly-traded company in the United States by purchasing their stocks.
Thanks to Verso Books. Check out their huge catalogue of left-wing titles at versobooks.com
Please support this podcast...
2018-09-0900 min
The Katie Halper ShowMatt Bruenig & Cara McClure on Doug Jones and rapping senators (free bonus)Bonus with Matt Bruenig https://www.patreon.com/posts/21259124This free bonus is a blast from the past! We revisit the election of Alabama Senator Doug Jones, given that Jones hasn't decided whether he will vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh. Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominee. Gabe and I talk about how Doug Jones should go full "Bullworth," and why he can't. Then I play an interview I recorded in December on the even of Jones' election with Cara McClure, a Poor People's Campaign and Black Lives Matter organizer from Birmingham Alabama, who predicted Jones would be a disappointment. McClure is...
2018-09-0731 minThe BruenigsMarket Socialism and Taylor Swift ConfrontationMatt and Liz discuss the basics of market socialism and make the pitch that decommodifiers and dealienaters have a weak case. They discuss the Catholic Church's newest rape problems and end with a story about a time Matt almost got into a fight at a Taylor Swift concert.
2018-08-3159 min
Hyvinvointivaltion vastaiskuHaastattelu: Matt Bruenig Yhdysvaltojen sosiaalipolitiikastaHyvinvointivaltion vastaisku -podcastin jaksossa haastatellaan yhdysvaltalaista sosiaalipolitiikan asiantuntija Matt Bruenigia.Haastattelussa keskitytään muutamaan aiheeseen: Trumpin hallinnon sosiaalipolitiikkaan, perustuloon, julkisiin rahastoihin ja siihen, mikä sai Bruenigin kiinnostumaan alunperin Pohjoismaisesta hyvinvointivaltiosta.Bruenigin perustama People's Policy Project -instituutti on lyhyessä ajassa tuottanut useita Yhdysvaltojen taloustilannetta ja yhteiskuntapolitiikkaa käsitteleviä julkaisuja. Avauksia on käsitelty mm. New York Timesissa, Forbesissa, Current Affairsissa ja Bloombergin, Vicen ja CNBC:n talousuutisissa.Bruenig on myös yksi Hyvinvointivaltion vastaisku -kirjan haastateltavista, ja hänen kommentaarejaan on aiemmin julkaistu Parecon Finlandin blogissa (mm. täällä ja täällä).
2018-08-1000 minThe BruenigsMedicare for All Fact-checking Debacle and AutismMatt and Liz tell the story of the Mercatus M4A study and all of the ridiculous fact-checking that has followed it. And, after covering the mind of Liz last episode, they turn to the mind of Matt, which is to say autism.
2018-08-101h 10The BruenigsSocialism Semantics and the Bruenig Book CanonWe discuss hot topics, including the newest Jacobin socialism piece lighting up the internet. Then, upon listener request, we turn towards some of the key books we have read.
2018-08-031h 02
We The PodcastSocial Wealth Funds with Matt BruenigMatt Bruenig, founder of the People's Policy Project, joins We The Podcast to discuss wealth inequality and a potential solution: a social wealth fund. With similar concepts already implemented in Alaska and Norway, is a social wealth fund the answer to our inequality crisis?
2018-07-3022 minThe BruenigsUndercover BossLiz and Matt talk about the greatest show in 21st century television: Undercover Boss.
2018-07-201h 06The BruenigsDr. Phil and Social MobilityLiz and Matt discuss Dr. Phil, daytime TV generally, The Last Kingdom, and, as our main topic, the pitfalls of so-called "social mobility."
2018-07-081h 07The BruenigsCivility and JanusLiz and Matt discuss how civility is bad again and the Supreme Court case Janus v. AFSCME, which threatens to kill public sector labor unions.
2018-06-2258 minThe BruenigsDistrust The ProcessElizabeth and Matt discuss the way in which public reason forces everyone to make up fake procedural arguments about why people should be fired or not.
2018-06-0252 min2018-05-0444 minThe BruenigsSlacker and the Job GuaranteeSlacker and the Job Guarantee by Elizabeth and Matt Bruenig
2018-04-2340 minThe BruenigsBatman And MonopolyMatt discusses Batman en route to discussing monopoly, socialism, and 7-11.
2018-04-2140 minThe BruenigsMatt Tries to Understand Harry PotterMatt has never read or seen Harry Potter. Here, he tries to reconstruct what the story is about based on political journalism written using Harry Potter analogies.
2018-03-3124 min
DOOMED with Matt Binder9: Pod Save The U.S. Healthcare System (w/ Matt Bruenig)Matt Bruenig of the People's Policy Project joins us to discuss why healthcare should be completely free, Obamacare and Obama's healthcare legacy, how women’s health and universal healthcare are political entwined, the insane scheme (that healthcare companies rig) that decides your healthcare subsidy, breaking down Andy Slavitt’s United States of Care and the attack on the Medicare for all movement, what’s Pod Save America’s play here?, taking a look at Medicare Extra Premium Plus Supreme (For Amazon Prime Members Only) plan by the Center for American Progress…is it good? (The answer may surprise you!)
2018-03-091h 16
Dorothy's PlaceEpisode #6: Matt Bruenig and the People's Policy ProjectPete and I interview Matt Bruenig, founder of the People's Policy Project, a think tank which hopes to avoid corporate capture by using crowd-funding for support. We gab about stuff like universal basic income, social wealth funds, and why libertarianism seems cool when you're in high school. Pete and I also talk about James Keenan's Moral Wisdom and the L.A. Kitchen project. Get full access to Solidarity Hall at solidarityhall.substack.com/subscribe
2017-09-1852 minPodcast Archives - The DigMatt Bruenig on Why Welfare is Great and Why We Need MoreMedicaid expansion saved Obamacare from repeal. There’s a lot to hate about Obamacare, but that expansion did something very good on a very large scale — and it made just enough Republicans very nervous about taking it away. It’s an important lesson about economic policy generally: the more universal a program is, the greater the number of Americans who become advocates for its preservation — a fact conservatives know and fear thanks to Medicare and Social Security but that many liberals don’t.
Today, my guest is Matt Bruenig, a writer who is one of most incisive analysts o...
2017-04-0400 minThe DigMatt Bruenig on Why Welfare is Great and Why We Need MoreMedicaid expansion saved Obamacare from repeal. There’s a lot to hate about Obamacare, but that expansion did something very good on a very large scale — and it made just enough Republicans very nervous about taking it away. It’s an important lesson about economic policy generally: the more universal a program is, the greater the number of Americans who become advocates for its preservation — a fact conservatives know and fear thanks to Medicare and Social Security but that many liberals don’t.
Today, my guest is Matt Bruenig, a writer who is one of most incisive analysts o...
2017-04-0400 min
The Katie Halper ShowMatt Bruenig on liberals who are actually conservative + Get Out!I make guest co-host Jesse Myerson very uncomfortable through my analysis of the film Get Out. Then guest Matt Bruenig talks about why liberals are like conservatives but without the coherence. Also, check out our bonus ep with Nando Vila in which we talk about the #BernieAllIn Town Hall with coal miners in Kentucky & #MaddowGate https://www.patreon.com/posts/8465126Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy
2017-03-1656 min