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Data centers are a hot topic right now, and for good reason: the costs and benefits are complicated. As one panelist put it, what's true for one city may not apply to another. This episode is a recording of a panel discussion that Russ moderated.  Dr. Paul Byrne, an economist, and Josh Svaty, a data center consultant, were the panelists.  Audience Q&A is at the end and wrapped up an engaging conversation about the costs, benefits of data center development in our communities. One takeaway: The property tax benefit to Ottawa, KS households is significant.  Listen in for all the details.

Winner of Nobel Prize in Economics, Friedrich von Hayek is one of the 20th century’s greatest intellectuals.   His work is widely cited by libertarians, conservatives, and classical liberals, all of whom claim him as a major influence. So, what did Hayek have to say, and why is he still relevant?  Tune in to find out!

Justin leads a discussion centered on one of his favorite philosophers, the 19th Century’s Great Dane, Soren Kierkegaard. Kierkegaard is a difficult, perceptive, and prescient philosopher whose popularity has steadily been on the rise, and whose insights inform many contemporary debates across many disciplines.  Find out what all the fuss is about!

Peter leads a discussion centered on the upcoming midterm elections here in the US of A.  Is there a blue wave incoming?  A red one?  Why? Join in for an informative discussion about political coalitions and disappointment.

What does Costco have to tell us about America? The Gwartney Institute's leading Costco Fanboy, Justin, leads a discussion about all things Costco.  The episode includes some mind-boggling information about all the ways Costco benefits Americans who don't even shop there (even though he thinks they should). So, scrounge up six quarters, get yourself a hot dog and a soft drink, and settle in for a discussion of the wonders of American capitalism as seen through America's best retailer: Costco Wholesale.

Peter leads a discussion about a recent fiasco involving AI agents acting autonomously and in concert to fulfill their own goals. Is artificial intelligence coming for us all next, or is this just more hysteria about new technology?  Tune in to find out!

Justin and Russ discuss an article titled '10 Things Classy People Never Do', which of course implicates them both.   Are you, like Justin and Russ, inadvertently advertising your low class to those around you?  Join in for a fun discussion and learn how to pass as someone with class (especially if you aren't!).

The proliferation of Flock cameras in the USA has reinvigorated discussions around surveillance, freedom, and what exactly constitutes public space.   If we’re doing nothing wrong, should we welcome Flock cameras as a means of fighting crime?   Or does this development represent one step forward on the road to authoritarianism?   Tune in to find out!

Data Centers are going to drink all our water, use all our electricity, and then kill us all!" -  so say an awfully large number of domestic coalitions.  But if nobody wants these things, why are they trying to build them?  What's going on? Join Russ and Justin while they discuss how to think about the costs and benefits of data centers.

The rising force on the left wing of American politics appears to be Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).   The charge from the right is that these are communists. But…what is socialism?  What is communism?  And if there’s a difference, how can we tell? Join the Gwartney Team for a timely discussion!

Aging ex-bureaucrat Anthony Fauci stood before congress last week to testify with regard to his actions during the COVID pandemic.   Fauci, who received a blanket pardon during the last gasps of the Biden Administration, refused to answer questions for almost the entirety of the hearing.   What does this mean?  Where do we go from here?   Join the Gwartney Team for a(nother!) pandemic discussion.  We have a feeling this won’t be the last

The Sun has risen every day so far, so we feel confident it will rise tomorrow as well.  We all use inductive reasoning every day, and we depend on the future resembling the past.  However, unlike deductive reasoning, inductive reasoning seems to be on shaky logical footing.What is inductive reasoning, and why is this so?  Join the Gwartney team for a discussion of the pleasures and perils of induction.

After decades of elite fearmongering concerning overpopulation, a new terror has lifted its head and is slouching toward us: underpopulation.   What will the world look like when the population begins to crater?  Should we be worried?  Peter leads a discussion about the trend of declining birth rates, why this is bad, and some possible solutions.

The rise of Quantum Computing (QC) is increasingly deployed as a fatal threat to bitcoin.  Is this accurate?  And also... what exactly is QC, and what exactly is quantum about it? Join the Gwartney Institute for a discussion that begins with cryptocurrency, glances at issues in the foundational debates of 20th century physics, and bumps into a lot else along the way!

Elon Musk is now officially a trillionaire, and some people are now officially mad. Where is Elon keeping all this money, and why hasn’t he given any of it to me?  Find the answer to this and other pressing questions by joining in!