Manhattan Insights is an intellectual engine for advancing economic opportunity, individual liberty, and the rule of law in America and its great cities. Featuring the nation's sharpest scholars, journalists, activists, and civic leaders, this show offers a deeper understanding of the policy issues and cultural challenges shaping our future.
Hosted by Reihan Salam and the scholars of the Manhattan Institute.
Capitalism Can Save the Environment | Benji Backer
Progressives have long dominated the environmental movement, advocating government spending and bureaucratic oversight as the solution to climate change. Countless local and federal regulations have been aimed at mitigating environmental harm, often hampering productivity. Is this really the best way to preserve our planet? Some conservatives believe we should instead turn to innovative, market-driven solutions that balance environmental protection with economic growth.
Our guest, self-described “conservative environmentalist” Benji Backer, proposes new ways to discuss climate issues and encourages conservatives to contribute to the environmental debate. By engaging private landowners—who play a pivotal role in environmental stewardship—and implementing local solutions, Backer believes we can reduce waste and address the root of environmental degradation. Instead of looking to government to dictate our climate response, he says we should foster individual responsibility and focus on practical solutions, like opting for reusable items, improving recycling infrastructure, and encouraging thoughtful consumer behavior.
Benji Backer is the author of the new book, “The Conservative Environmentalist: Common Sense Solutions for a Sustainable Future.” He is the founder and executive chairman of the American Conservation Coalition (ACC), the largest right-of-center environmental organization in the country. A graduate of the University of Washington, Benji has been named to the Fortune 40 Under 40, Forbes 30 Under 30, GreenBiz 30 Under 30, and Grist 50 lists.
Follow Benji on X (formerly Twitter): @BenjiBacker
*Related reading*
https://benjibacker.com/
https://manhattan.institute/article/climate-change-work-is-a-reminder-that-the-basel-committee-has-outlived-its-usefulness
https://www.nbcnews.com/now/video/conservative-environmentalist-discusses-the-politics-of-climate-change-209125445666
11 Apr 2024
Shifts in the Housing Market & the YIMBY Movement | Salim Furth
The pandemic transformed urban housing markets, prompting increased demand for residential space and spurring a shift toward remote work. Many remote employees have left large cities for smaller ones, but housing demand remains strong in major urban centers. As cities' populations fluctuate, the pro-development YIMBY (Yes In My Backyard) movement has gained momentum with supporters advocating for more residential construction to bring down housing costs in major cities.
Judge Glock and Salim Furth discuss the pandemic's impact on housing and cities, touching on urban density's appeal in the time of remote work, heightened interest in suburban living, the value of city amenities, and the YIMBY movement's efforts to address housing affordability. They explore the need to expand the national housing supply, the advantages of building up versus building out, and who might benefit from upzoning. They also examine the motivations of NIMBYs (Not In My Backyard) who oppose infrastructure development, and the importance of fiscal incentives in promoting residential construction.
Salim Furth is a Senior Research Fellow and Director of the Urbanity project at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. His research focuses on housing production and land use regulation. He frequently advises local governments and testifies before state and federal legislatures. He earned his Ph.D. in economics from the University of Rochester.
Follow Salim on X (formerly Twitter): @SalimFurth
*Related reading*
https://twitter.com/judgeglock/status/1767575049517625449
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-07/at-austin-s-yimbytown-fans-of-zoning-reform-seek-common-ground
https://manhattan.institute/article/the-perfect-storm-hitting-homebuyers
https://www.mercatus.org/scholars/salim-furth
27 Mar 2024
How Technological Transformation Can Make a Conservative Vision Possible | Jon Askonas
Rapid advances in artificial intelligence, genome editing, and materials science are poised to dramatically change the way we live, work, and learn—but is that a good thing, or is it a prospect we should dread? As it stands, conservatives are divided on that question, with some embracing technological breakthroughs and others fearing the threat they pose to human dignity.
Jon Askonas has been urging conservatives to embrace the technological transformations of our time — and to use them to advance a distinctly conservative vision for human flourishing. This includes farming, the growth of families, work-from-home jobs, and even subscription-based media that addresses everyday Americans’ concerns.
Jon Askonas is a politics professor at the Catholic University of America where he works on the connections between the republican tradition, technology, and national security, and a senior fellow at the Foundation for American Innovation. He is also a contributor to American Affairs, The New Atlantis, and Compact magazine.
Follow Jon on X (formerly Twitter): @JonAskonas
Related reading
https://www.compactmag.com/article/why-conservatism-failed/
https://americanaffairsjournal.org/2023/11/technological-stagnation-is-a-choice/
https://politics.catholic.edu/faculty-and-research/faculty-profiles/askonas-jonathan/index.html
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
13 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Contact Manhattan Insights
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Manhattan Insights?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
