Mark Leonard's World in 30 Minutes The rise of a worker friendly Republican Party
Oct 3, 2025
Oren Cass, chief economist at American Compass and author of The Once and Future Worker, delves into America's shifting political right. He discusses the move from Reagan-era free trade to a pro-worker economic agenda, emphasizing the importance of manufacturing for job quality and national security. Cass critiques the consumption-focused economic model and advocates for policies like balanced trade and industrial investment. He further connects family stability with economic success, proposing a reimagined approach to education and social policy that supports family flourishing.
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Production Underpins Innovation
- Manufacturing drives R&D, capital investment and productivity gains that sustain broader economic health.
- Cass warns losing production reduces innovation capacity, using Andy Grove's battery example.
Supply Chains And National Security
- Dependence on adversaries for supply chains undermines national security and strategic depth.
- Cass highlights risks from losing a defense industrial base and switchable commercial capacity.
Use Tariffs With Industrial Policy
- Pursue balanced trade with targeted tariffs to favour domestic production and counter foreign subsidies.
- Combine tariffs with industrial policy and workforce investment to restore productive capacity.
