In an election season, there are always personality issues, and everybody has personal favorites. But then there are policy issues—and there are a lot of big ones on the table for the 2024 election: economic populism, inflation, immigration, abortion, higher ed, and more. In this episode, we give you our rough survey—and short analysis—of the policy territory facing voters. Advance warning: policy wisdom does not line up neatly with one party or the other!

In the wake of hurricanes, we need to ask an uncomfortable question: has federal flood insurance policy made the damage more extensive? The East Coast port workers strike is temporarily settled, but the effort to kill port automation is still on the table; does automation kill jobs? California and Minnesota are outlawing political AI deepfakes. Is this a victory against hate and disinformation? And what about California’s new law banning legacy admission at even private colleges? We discuss these subjects and more on today's episode of Independent Outlook.

Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, health care in America has not improved in the ways we were promised. In fact, inequalities in care have grown, and for many people health coverage is worse. But the errors can still be reversed. John C. Goodman's new book, Priceless: Curing the Health Care Crisis, maps out a better way, one that frees patients, doctors, and employers from the regulatory traps and perverse incentives that hold everybody back.