The Charles C. W. Cooke Podcast

On episode 98, Charles offers a brief apology to Ohio, and then talks to Scott Winship about whether everything is awful. Has the middle class disappeared? Is it impossible for young people to buy a home? Why do people say that one can have a '1950s living standard if one wants one' when regulations make that tough? Is society worse than it was in the 1950s or 1970s? Is the new poverty line really $140,000? If not, where is it? Is the poverty line a useful measure? Is it likely that there will be a political war between the generations? Is there a 'two income trap'?

On episode 97, Charles talks to Luther Ray Abel about the Best and Worst of many things: American cars, American holidays, American fast food chains, American restaurant chains, Beatles albums, American states, Christmas songs, rollercoasters, alcoholic drinks, non-alcoholic drinks, movies, American roads, and desserts.

On episode 96, Charles briefly praises a tiki bar in Grand Rapids, MI, and then talks to Shawnna Morris about her fascinating new book, 'The Cambridge Spy Ring: The Treachery of the Five Who Got Away.' Among the topics they discussed were: Who were the Cambridge Spies? Why were they susceptible to recruitment? How did they get away with it? Why were none of them prosecuted or executed? Why does Shawnna find the Cold War so interesting?

On episode 95, Charles takes his last chance to talk to Dominic Pino as a colleague before Dominic heads to the Washington Post. Among the topics they discuss are whether free markets are superior to the alternatives; whether tariffs are a good or a bad idea—and what the exceptions should be; whether industrial policy can work; what to do about America's massive national debt; whether it's a bad move to keep cutting taxes; and whether Dominic is optimistic about our economic future.

On episode 94, Charles talks to Peter Just about his book on the post-premiership career of Margaret Thatcher: 'Margaret Thatcher: Life After Downing Street.' Was she happy? Did she think she could do a better job than her successors? Was she aware how ill she was? Was she "playing a role"? Why did she mostly stay away from Parliament? Would today's British public vote for someone like Thatcher now?