Episodes

2 days ago
Tax Cuts are Easy. Offsets are Hard.
2 days ago
2 days ago
This week on Facing the Future, tax expert Andrew Lautz, Associate Director for Economic Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, discusses tensions between House and Senate Republicans as they rush to pass a major deficit-financed tax cut bill before July 4th.

Wednesday Jun 18, 2025
A High Noon Moment for the Power of the Purse
Wednesday Jun 18, 2025
Wednesday Jun 18, 2025
This week on Facing the Future, Prof. Philip Joyce of the University of Maryland School of Public Policy, explains the high stakes in Washington's battle over the power of the purse and why protecting the Congressional Budget Office matters.

Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
Debt Concerns Haunt "Big Beautiful Bill"
Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
Tuesday Jun 10, 2025
This week on Facing the Future we talked with Bill Hoagland, Senior Vice President of the Bipartisan Policy Center, about the growing debt fears that cloud the prospects of Republicans' budget bill in the Senate.

Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
What's Behind the Greenland Pitch?
Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
Tuesday Jun 03, 2025
This week on Facing the Future, we talked with Richard Swett, former U.S. Congressman from New Hampshire and Ambassador to Denmark. He discussed President Trump's desire to acquire Greenland from Denmark and why it's vital to restore trust in government.

Wednesday May 28, 2025
The Budget is Big, but is it Beautiful?
Wednesday May 28, 2025
Wednesday May 28, 2025
This week on Facing the Future we focused on the One Big Beautiful Bill that has now passed the House and is headed to the Senate. Our guest was Douglas Holtz-Eakin, President of the American Action Forum and former Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). We also discussed interest rates, tariffs and budget scoring.

Tuesday May 20, 2025
Is Trump Repeating Biden's Mistakes?
Tuesday May 20, 2025
Tuesday May 20, 2025
This week on Facing the Future we’ll discuss developments on Capitol Hill as Republicans try to pass what is now officially called, the “One Big Beautiful Bill.” Our guest is Ben Ritz, Vice President of Policy Development at the Progressive Policy Institute and Director of PPI’s Center for Funding America’s Future. Concord Coalition Executive Director Carolyn Bourdeaux joins the conversation.

Wednesday May 14, 2025
House Republicans Show Their Cards on the Tax Bill
Wednesday May 14, 2025
Wednesday May 14, 2025
This week on Facing the Future, Marc Goldwein, Senior Vice President of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, guides us through the tax cut bill rolled out by House Ways and Means Committee Republicans. We'll discuss how big it is, whether it's good tax policy and will it be paid for?

Thursday May 08, 2025
As Students Tackle the Debt, Congress Blinks
Thursday May 08, 2025
Thursday May 08, 2025
This week on Facing the Future, we'll talk with students who participated in the annual collegiate fiscal challenge, a competition that seeks to stabilize the debt and economy. Then, Carolyn Bourdeaux and I assess President Trump's "skinny budget" and check in on reconciliation in Congress.

Thursday May 01, 2025
Assessing the Risks of Rising Debt
Thursday May 01, 2025
Thursday May 01, 2025
This week on Facing the Future we'll assess the risks and costs of rising federal debt with Ben Harris, vice president and director of Economic Studies at the Brookings Institution. We’ll also get his take on congressional negotiations over a major spending and tax bill and whether the economy is headed for a recession.

Thursday Apr 24, 2025
High Tariffs Are High Risk
Thursday Apr 24, 2025
Thursday Apr 24, 2025
This week on Facing the Future the guest is Alex Durante, senior economist at the Tax Foundation. We'll discuss the economic effects of President Trump's tariffs and whether Republicans in Congress can find a way to extend about $4 trillion worth of expiring tax cuts without adding it all to the debt.