GoodFellows: Conversations on Economics, History & Geopolitics Tiny Cars and 70’s Problems with Ben Sasse | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution
31 snips
Dec 17, 2025 
Ben Sasse, former U.S. Senator from Nebraska and university president, dives into the declining trust in Congress and academia. He discusses the growing power of the executive branch, blaming social media for undermining deliberation. Sasse also examines the crisis in higher education, revealing many students lack basic math skills. Additionally, he critiques the administrative state’s rise since the 1970s and proposes reforming tenured positions to enhance faculty accountability. Light-heartedly, the guests humorously debate tiny cars and the unique identity of American football.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Public Cameras Hurt Deliberation
- Cameras and social media distort congressional hearings by incentivizing soundbites over substantive questioning.
- Sasse highlights the Intelligence Committee's effectiveness partly because it meets without cameras.
Decades-Long Decline In Institutional Trust
- Public trust has declined across most institutions for decades, with higher education and Congress falling fastest recently.
- Social media amplifies marginal voices and exposes institutional failures, demanding more institutional humility.
Limit Tenure To Restore Purpose
- Limit congressional careers to fixed terms to prevent perpetual incumbency and encourage focused service.
- Sasse recommends a 12-year Senate term so members run with a defined agenda and then return home.
