WSJ Opinion: Free Expression

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Based on his Wall Street Journal Opinion column "Free Expression," Editor-at-Large Gerry Baker speaks every week with some of the world's leading writers, influencers and thinkers about a variety of subjects. Baker will welcome his guests from the worlds of politics, philosophy, and culture for wide-ranging dialogues that will enlighten and fascinate listeners. Episodes will be released each week.

19 NOV

The Economy in A Second Trump Term

Donald Trump has been quickly filling his cabinet and senior administration positions with a flurry of nominations to his cabinet. The key members of his economics team are still unclear, however. On Tuesday we learned Howard Lutnick will be nominated for Commerce Secretary, taking him out of the contest for Treasury, where the names of Scott Besent, Kevin Warsh, and Marc Rowan continue to circulate. Who will get the top jobs and what will they mean for economic policy in the second Trump term? On this episode of the Free Expression podcast, Fox Business host and former chairman of the National Economic Council Larry Kudlow discusses with Gerry Baker the Trump economic policy team, and explains why he decided not to pursue being Treasury Secretary himself after meeting with Donald Trump, why extending the Trump tax cuts will be the “first order of business” when the new administration takes over, and why tariffs are the way to fix a broken global trading system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

32 min
14 NOV

Donald Trump’s Plan to Shake up America’s Military

President - Elect Trump is rapidly rolling out his team for his second administration. Controversy swirls around some of his picks, most notably his selection of Congressman Matt Gaetz for attorney general and Robert F. Kennedy Jr for health and human services secretary. But he plans some of his biggest changes for the national security apparatus. On this episode of Free Expression, The Wall Street Journal's Editor at Large, Gerry Baker sits down for a conversation with former Secretary of Veterans Affairs under the previous Trump administration, Robert Wilkie. Sec. Wilkie is heading up the Pentagon transition team and tells us about some of the new administration’s radical plans including removing some of the top military officers and overhauling the culture of the Pentagon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

28 min
6 NOV

Donald Trump’s Triumphant Return to the White House

In one of the greatest comebacks in political history, Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election, winning all seven battleground states and seemingly scoring a popular vote victory over Kamala Harris. And with a Republican majority in the Senate and possibly the House as well, a second Trump administration will come into office with the expectation of a robust legislative mandate to roll back the progressive policies of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris and chart a new populist course. On this episode of the Free Expression podcast, RNC Chairman Michael Whatley gives Gerry Baker an inside look into how this victory was secured despite Donald Trump’s felony convictions and other challenges, how Trump’s outreach to the Latino community become a major factor on Election Day, and how the Republican party is once again the “Donald Trump, America First ” party. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

25 min
30 OCT

The Final Stretch - or is it?

With less than a week before polls close, the presidential race seems as close as ever and the contest for control of Congress is also on a knife edge. In a race this competitive almost anything could swing the vote one way or the other - from Joe Biden calling Trump voters "garbage” to the Democrats' traditional advantage in last minute get out the vote efforts. On this episode of the Free Expression podcast, veteran pollster and political consultant Doug Schoen tells WSJ editor at large Gerry Baker about the messages being sent by Donald Trump and Kamala Harris’s closing statements, why Trump might have an edge in the battleground states, what both candidates might do to grab remaining undecided voters and what the contentious post-election climate might look like and how long it will continue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

23 min
24 OCT

Is Donald Trump Closing In on Victory?

With less than two weeks left to Election Day, the polling in the battleground states suggest the contest between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is a dead heat. But there's a growing sense among the political classes that it seems the Republican candidate has a small but decisive edge. Early voting trends, voter registration and suggestions from both campaigns all seem to point - by a whisker - in Trump's favor. So what's the mood among Republicans? On this episode of the Free Expression podcast, North Dakota Governor and one-time candidate for president Doug Burgum tells Gerry Baker why he is confident of a Trump win, but also talks about his concerns about the integrity of the ballot and what might happen in the days after the election if it is as close as it seems. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

27 min
14 OCT

The Economy At and After the Election

The economy, stupid? Or maybe not? As Americans cast their votes for President they will be in part both passing judgment on the economic record of the last four years and signaling the type of policies they want for the next four. Donald Trump is promising solutions through tariffs and a range of tax cuts, while Kamala Harris says she will offer handouts for first-time homebuyers, middle-class tax cuts and what she calls “the opportunity economy.” More importantly Republicans point to inflation and interest rates higher than they were four years ago and say Bidenomics has failed while Democrats claim continuing growth and low unemployment vindicate their policies. On this episode of the Free Expression podcast, economist and head of global research at the Carlyle Group Jason Thomas tells Wall Street Journal editor at large Gerry Baker about how it would take “an outside shock” for the economy to fall into recession, where interest rates might move next and why Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on China could be a successful strategy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

36 min
9 OCT

Peace Through Strength? Foreign Policy in a Second Trump Term

What will a second Trump term's foreign policy look like? How will it differ from the first term? On this episode of the Free Expression podcast, former Trump National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien looks at the multiple challenges that Trump would face if he wins the election next month and how his “America First” approach might play out with multiplying tensions around the world. He tells Wall Street Journal Editor at Large Gerry Baker it would “make sense” for Israel to attack Iran’s nuclear facilities as it seeks to reduce Teheran’s threat. He also says a deal to settle the Russia-Ukraine war is possible but that the U.S. must show support for Kyiv to bring pressure on Moscow. And he responds to claims in a new book by Bob Woodward that Donald Trump personally sent Vladimir Putin American Covid tests during the pandemic, and that the two world leaders had multiple conversations after the election of Joe Biden. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

33 min
3 OCT

Debates, October Surprises and the Coin-Flip Election

JD Vance and Tim Walz took to the debate stage for a substance-heavy debate that was in contrast, not only to the highly personalized debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris last month but also to all the rancorous presidential debates of the last few election cycles. Still, it's unlikely to make an iota of difference to the outcome of the election now just a month away. So what will decide the outcome of this coin-flip election? On this episode of the Free Expression podcast, Gerry Baker speaks with veteran pollster and consultant Whit Ayres about whether the polls will be accurate this time, whether Donald Trump is facing not just a gender gap, but a “gender chasm” with women voters, and how much race will be a factor in the 2024 Election. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

28 min

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Based on his Wall Street Journal Opinion column "Free Expression," Editor-at-Large Gerry Baker speaks every week with some of the world's leading writers, influencers and thinkers about a variety of subjects. Baker will welcome his guests from the worlds of politics, philosophy, and culture for wide-ranging dialogues that will enlighten and fascinate listeners. Episodes will be released each week.