Red Tape

What happens when Washington Post Columnist Megan McArdle and R Street Expert Nan Swift try to figure out who is running the government? A live episode of Red Tape!

On this episode, co-hosts Kelli Pierce has a live, wide-ranging conversation about budgets, Congress, power, and the government as part of the R Street Institute's 2025 Real Solutions Summit. (The conversation begins with co-hosts Pierce and Shoshana Weissmann talking briefly about if social media really runs the government before they are joined by Swift and McArdle.)

The 2025 Real Solutions Summit brought together leaders in public policy, media, philanthropy, and the private sector who believe our best days are still ahead if we can unleash American innovation, bolster competition, and safeguard individual liberty. Learn more at: https://www.rstreet.org/summit2025/

On this special episode of Red Tape, host Kelli Pierce interviews Wayne Brough, R Street Institute resident senior fellow for the Technology and Innovation Program. They discuss why drug prices are sky-high, how the United States’ outdated patent system lets pharmaceutical companies block competition that could lead to lower prices, and the real-life solutions that could help Americans get the drugs they need for less money.

Not many organizations can say they were founded because of a billboard, or that they have a “no ninjas” policy. But there is one organization that can claim both, plus they love South Park. In today’s episode, host Kelli Pierce dives into the story of R Street. She interviews our President and Co-Founder, Eli Lehrer and the Executive Director and very first hire, Erica Schoder. 

First, Eli and Kelli talk about the controversial billboard that started it all, why working with those who disagree with you is important, and why we should be optimistic about the future. Kelli then speaks with Erica about her love of books, that first R Street job ad, maintaining R Street’s quirky culture, and the importance of transparency, credibility, and diversity in safeguarding the independence of think tanks.

What do California and Florida have in common other than beaches and Disney? Natural disasters and insurance markets that are in shambles.
Kelli Pierce interviews Caroline Melear, R Street’s resident fellow on Insurance and Trade policy. Caroline, a Florida resident, breaks down the state’s years long struggle with massive hurricanes, insurance, and why the crisis recently came to a head.
The situation in California is no less chaotic. Kelli also speaks to Steve Greenhut, R Street’s western region director and a California resident, about California’s recent wildfires and floods, the political decisions that have caused major insurance companies to leave the state, and what can be done to prevent California from having the same insurance problems as Florida.

The internet as we know it exists today thanks to an obscure law called Section 230. On this week’s episode, Kelli interviews Red Tape’s very own Shoshana Weissmann about Section 230’s crucial role in our digital liberty. Shoshana discusses how this legislation empowers individuals to voice their opinions freely online without fear of litigation, a pivotal element in today’s social media-driven world.
Kelli also speaks with Josh Withrow, R Street’s Innovation and Technology Fellow, about how to keep kids safe on the internet. Josh talks about how to create a safe and responsible online environment for their kids, and brings to light the potential pitfalls of laws designed to protect children that might inadvertently lead to greater harm.