Is immigration chaos at the border a failure of libertarian ideals—or government itself? Host Doug Stuart is joined by Alex Nowrasteh, Vice President for Economic and Social Policy Studies at the Cato Institute, to tackle the heated issues around immigration policy and American history.

Fresh off his Soho Forum debate with Dave Smith, Alex reflects on why the immigration conversation keeps evolving, how Congress uses “hearings” more as political theater than for honest dialogue, and what actually went wrong during the Biden administration’s approach to immigration and border security.

Doug and Alex dive deep into the shifts over the past decade in how Americans (especially conservatives and libertarians) perceive legal and illegal immigration, and whether the “open borders” label is even useful. They explore how the welfare of global citizens fits—or doesn’t fit—into Christian and libertarian arguments, the nuances of rhetoric vs. principle, and how immigration intersects with everything from labor unions to the welfare state.

Alex candidly addresses the most common libertarian objections—from welfare and roads to claims about immigrants’ voting patterns and threats to freedom—and even steel-mans the best arguments against liberalizing migration.

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On this episode of the Libertarian Christian Podcast, host Cody Cook sits down with author and journalist Ross Benes to discuss his latest book, 1999: The Year Low Culture Conquered America and Kickstarted Our Bizarre Times. The conversation dives deep into how the most sensational and “trashy” pop culture of the late 90s—think Jerry Springer, pro wrestling, Insane Clown Posse, Pokémon, and Beanie Babies—not only shaped our current media landscape, but also influenced today’s political and cultural divides.

Ross explores the ascent of “low culture,” tracing how it blurred the boundaries between entertainment and politics—culminating in a world where reality TV tactics rule the public sphere. They talk about the rise of populism, the persistence of elitism, and why figures like Trump are both symptoms and products of this cultural shift. Cody and Ross also debate whether democracy is better off now that the “facade of respectability” is gone, or if we’ve lost something essential along the way.

Ross Benes’ work can be found at rossbenes.com, and his book 1999 is available in paperback, Kindle, and Audible formats.

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In this episode of the Libertarian Christian Podcast, host Cody Cook welcomes Dr. Caleb S. Fuller, Associate Professor of Economics at Grove City College and co-author of Mere Economics. Together, they explore the foundational concepts of economics through a Christian lens, drawing on the new book Fuller co-authored with Art Carden.

Dr. Fuller explains why basic economic principles are widely shared among economists regardless of their political leanings, and why these ideas matter for both economic policy and everyday life. The conversation takes a deep dive into the role of markets, trade, and private property, as well as common misunderstandings about self-interest, selfishness, and the supposed morality of government intervention.

The episode also grapples with thought-provoking questions often posed to Christians: Should prosperity make us feel guilty? Is suffering better for spiritual growth? Do economic systems like capitalism promote or hinder spiritual and material well-being? Fuller unpacks myths about capitalism versus other systems, discusses the pitfalls of unintended consequences in public policy, and shares practical insights on how exchange, specialization, and entrepreneurship reflect both human dignity and biblical stewardship.

Perfect for listeners curious about the intersection of faith, economics, and liberty, this episode offers a clear, accessible, and principled look at why understanding economics isn’t just for “numbers nerds,” but for anyone who wants to make intelligent, faithful choices in a world of scarcity.

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