Reasonably Optimistic

Host Megan McArdle breaks down why the corporate tax system is so complex, costly and potentially inefficient — and explores a bold idea: What if we eliminated it altogether? From hidden economic trade-offs to who really pays corporate taxes, this episode challenges how we think about fairness, efficiency and the future of taxation.

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In recent years, the idea of a “crisis of men and boys” has taken center stage in the cultural conversation. That can feel like a pendulum swing: from making space for women to examining men’s struggles, rarely holding both in view at the same time. Some see this moment as a reaction to the 2010s — an era shaped by “girlboss” ambition, #MeToo and a renewed focus on women’s advancement and autonomy. So, what gets missed when these struggles are framed as separate?

Host Megan McArdle is joined by Leah Libresco Sargeant, senior policy analyst at the Niskanen Center and author of "The Dignity of Dependence: A Feminist Manifesto." Sargeant offers a different lens — challenging the idea that independence is the ultimate goal and instead pointing toward a more interconnected understanding of men and women.

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From AI-generated scams that cost Americans hundreds of dollars to voice cloning schemes, the line between real and fake is becoming harder to detect. At the same time, technology companies are setting their own limits on how these artificial intelligence tools can be used. This is raising new questions about who really controls this technology — and what that will mean for our future.

Host Megan McArdle is joined by Dean Ball, a senior fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation and former White House AI policy advisor, to unpack the rapidly shifting landscape of AI governance, what it will take to rein it in — and what comes next.

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When UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was killed on a Manhattan sidewalk in December 2024, the nation was stunned. But the act of violence exposed the fury simmering beneath America’s health care debate. For many, the system feels impossibly expensive, confusing and unfair — especially when compared to other countries.

Host Megan McArdle is joined by Dr. Ashish Jha — physician, public health expert and former White House covid-19 response coordinator — to unpack what’s really going on inside the U.S. health care system. They explore why costs are so high and what it would actually take to build a system that works better for everyone.

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Until recently, universities were widely seen as places for asking questions, debating ideas and accessing upward mobility. Now, they’re just as likely to be seen as battlegrounds in the culture wars. As public trust eroded and political scrutiny intensified, a bigger question emerged: When did this shift happen? And more importantly, can it be repaired?

Host Megan McArdle is joined by Daniel Diermeier, chancellor of Vanderbilt University. He is trying to answer those questions not just in theory but in practice. Drawing on his experience leading a university, Diermeier shares where he thinks universities have gone off course, what needs to change and what’s still worth protecting — and whether they can once again become places where more people feel they belong.

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