Last week featured a surprisingly taciturn Vice Presidential debate that was notable more for what the candidates didn’t say than what they did. But make no mistake: Health care, the federal budget, infrastructure and energy are all going to be subjects of intense legislative wrangling over the next four years, no matter who wins in November.
Democrats in particular have a far-reaching agenda that they will attempt to enact should they win back control of the White House and the Senate, as election odds-makers now believe is likely. But are Democrats and Republicans really so far apart?
On this week’s Reason Roundtable podcast, Nick Gillespie, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Peter Suderman, and Eric Boehm discuss what comes next if Democrats take the Senate, and President Donald Trump’s plans for a second term. Also before the panel: Last week’s debate, the fate of the filibuster, what to expect from the battle over Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination, COVID-era baseball, and the decline of Saturday Night Live.
Audio production by Ian Keyser and Regan Taylor.
Music: “government funded weed” by Black Ant.
Relevant links from the show:
“Why Can’t They Both Lose?” by Katherine Mangu-Ward
“The Case Against Trump: Donald Trump Is an Enemy of Freedom,” by Matt Welch
“The Pence-Harris Debate Was a Model of Civility, Evasion, and Obfuscation,” by Jacob Sullum
“The Case Against Biden: Joe Biden’s Politics of Panic,” by Jacob Sullum
“Debt Reckoning,” by Peter Suderman
“Mike Pence Says Joe Biden Will Repeal Trump’s Tariffs. That’s a Good Idea!” by Eric Boehm
“Both Pence and Harris Dodged the Only Important Question at the Vice Presidential Debate,” by Eric Boehm
“Coronavirus in Congress Won’t Stop Barrett Confirmation Hearings, Which Start Today,” by Elizabeth Nolan Brown
Founded in 1968, Reason is the magazine of free minds and free markets. We produce hard-hitting independent journalism on civil liberties, politics, technology, culture, policy, and commerce. Reason exists outside of the left/right echo chamber. Our goal is to deliver fresh, unbiased information and insights to our readers, viewers, and listeners every day. Visit https://reason.com