Very Serious

Home
Podcast
Notes
The Mayonnaise Clinic
Archive
About
A Centrist Look at Trump Week One
Ben Dreyfuss, Megan McArdle, and Mike Pesca join me for a lively conversation about pardons, eggs, the '3-3-3' plan, 'Section Guy,' and much more.
 • 
Josh Barro
, 
Mike Pesca
, 
Megan McArdle
, and 
Ben Dreyfuss
28
1:16:58
Trump's Promise to 'Rapidly Bring Down Costs and Prices' Is His Achilles Heel
Trump is promising big changes and may well deliver them on immigration and 'wokeness.' But on the economy, he's making promises he can't keep.
 • 
Josh Barro
12
Meta Is Right to Fire the Fact-Checkers
The fight against 'misinformation' is plagued by error and liberal bias. It's not an appropriate pursuit for a neutral platform.
 • 
Josh Barro
22
Now It's Republicans' Turn to Try for Abundance
Our country needs a more productive economy and especially a more productive public sector. Can either party deliver that?
 • 
Josh Barro
7

December 2024

Trump Is Quickly Being Reminded He Must Work With Democrats
Republicans 'won' the election, but there is little they can do legislatively without at least some help from Democrats.
 • 
Josh Barro
5
Jordan Neely Needed to Be Institutionalized
Progressives are right to point out that he needed housing and care. But he only would have gotten it if forced to accept it.
 • 
Josh Barro
24
Deficits Matter Now Even If You Pretend Not to See Them
Republicans are exploring a budget gimmick to make tax cuts politically easier, but gimmicks won't save them from inflation.
 • 
Josh Barro
8
Joe Biden Knew It Was Wrong to Pardon Hunter
If this was an appropriate and justified act, why did the president lie about his intention not to do it?
 • 
Josh Barro
63

November 2024

Democrats Will Not Win By Changing the Subject
Progressive activists can't conceive of a problem that can't be fixed by talking about 'billionaires and corporate greed,' but that's what Democrats…
 • 
Josh Barro
40
Here Are Nine Economic Policy Stories I'll Be Watching Next Year
Whatever else happens, Congress will make major fiscal moves in 2025, including a significant new tax law.
 • 
Josh Barro
10
'What Will John Thune Allow' Is the Wrong Question
Any handful of Republican lawmakers can stop Trump's insane nominations, as they sometimes did in his last term.
 • 
Josh Barro
11
The Conversation About Which Voters Are to 'Blame' Makes Me Want to Stick My Finger Through My Eyeball
This is not a morality play, there is no demographic Electoral College, and exit poll data is garbage.
 • 
Josh Barro
53
© 2025 Very Serious Media, LLC
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start WritingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture