In this episode of Capital Idea, Mike and Mitch discuss recent tariff actions by the Trump administration, why tariffs function as taxes on American consumers, and how emergency powers have been used to impose them.

They examine Congress’s constitutional role in taxation, recent House votes to challenge tariffs, and the economic impact on families and free trade principles.

Mike Williams interviews TerryJosiah Sharpe about his journey from skepticism about capitalism to embracing it as a tool for freedom, and how the Leadership Program of the Rockies helped shape that understanding.

TerryJosiah shares how he founded Anthem Music Enterprises to use music and entertainment to address mental health, scale community programs for youth, and create career opportunities for artists.

He recounts the impact of the program, the loss of a student whose recorded voice lives on, and his decision to step down as CEO to reclaim creative time while continuing to pursue projects that promote freedom and healing.

Mike Williams interviews Dr. Steve Crews, the 2025 Defenders of Capitalism Award winner, about his journey from a small farming town to West Point, a PhD in robotics, and leadership in the Leadership Program of the Rockies. Cruz explains how a commitment to reason and individual rights forms the moral foundation for capitalism.

The conversation covers science vs. faith, education and accreditation, the promise and risks of AI, and the “free market of ideas.” Cruz shares practical advice for using AI responsibly and making principled, persuasive cases for freedom and opportunity.