How much of America’s affordability crisis is being driven by government policy? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” James Hohmann talks with Scott Lincicome, the Cato Institute's vice president of general economics about the policies keeping everyday costs high. They discuss the viral debate over $20 burritos, how tariffs and trade restrictions raise prices, the politics behind food and energy costs, the Trump administration’s mixed record on free trade, the rise of economic populism in both parties and why affordability is likely to remain a major issue heading into 2028.

Why the right is fighting about $20 burritos

Jared Polis: Why school choice is a no brainer

How did Colorado become one of the country’s top states for education? And should other states follow its lead? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Kate Andrews talks with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) about school choice, universal pre-K, Trump’s new education tax credit, alternatives to four-year college, AI in the classroom, workforce training and the future of education policy.

Should Washington ban superintelligence and establish strict safety standards for advanced AI? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Carine Hajjar sits down with Rep. Ro Khanna (D-California) to discuss federal AI oversight, wealth taxes, Hasan Piker's influence on the Democratic Party and how Democrats can regain the trust of middle-class voters.

Should America ban superintelligent AI? | Ro Khanna

As murder rates plummet to a 20-year low, why are so many American cities still grappling with disorder? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Carine Hajjar sits down with Manhattan Institute fellow Heather Mac Donald to explore "teen takeovers," the root causes of urban anarchy, pushback against progressive prosecutors and whether President Donald Trump deserves credit for the nationwide drop in crime.

Is crime really down?

Is Los Angeles's progressive "mansion tax" actually destroying the city's real estate market and worsening the housing crisis? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Kate Andrews talks with Jason Oppenheim, star of Netflix's "Selling Sunset" and founder of the Oppenheim Group, about the disastrous unintended consequences of California's housing policies, the reality of the homelessness crisis and why he believes the artificial intelligence boom will ultimately save the state.

Jason Oppenheim: L.A.’s mansion tax is a disaster

What sparked the rise of progressive candidates within the Democratic Party? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," Kate Andrews talks with Evan Barker, author of "Nothing Left: Confessions of a Democratic Operative," about why the establishment hasn’t been able to stop DSA-aligned candidates, the controversial influence of figures like Hasan Piker and how "woke" culture issues haunt the party.

Why a former Democratic operative thinks the party needs a reckoning

Can San Francisco’s turnaround offer a model for other American cities? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Kate Andrews talks with San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie about his efforts to move the city beyond years of concerns over crime, homelessness and public disorder. They discuss falling crime rates, budget challenges, the city’s approach to drug addiction, and the role of artificial intelligence and tech in its recovery.

Mayor Daniel Lurie on how San Francisco got back on track

Is the massive investment in artificial intelligence creating a catastrophic economic bubble? In this episode of “Make It Make Sense,” Damir Marusic sits down with Impact Theory co-founder Tom Bilyeu to break down the risks of AI-driven debt, shadow banking and fast-depreciating GPU hardware. They examine how an AI market correction could ignite political extremism, critique U.S. fiscal policy under President Donald Trump and discuss what it will take to rebuild the American middle class.

Will the AI bubble break American politics?

Are the 2026 midterms shaping up to be a massive blue wave, or will severe polarization keep the government divided? In this episode of "Make It Make Sense," James Hohmann and former White House political director Doug Sosnik break down the changing working-class vote, the rise of the DSA and what it all means for the 2028 election.

Doug Sosnik's Substack: https://opiniontoday.substack.com/

Democrats have a 2028 problem

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