Home
/
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
/
Acton Line podcast: The reality of a $15 minimum wage; Should big tech be regulated?
Acton Line podcast: The reality of a $15 minimum wage; Should big tech be regulated?
Feb 11, 2026 7:46 AM

On July 18, the Raise the Wage Act passed the U.S House of Representatives, a bill that would double federal minimum wage by 2025. Members of Congress who support the bill believe it will increase pay for 27 million workers and lift over one million people out of poverty, but those opposed to the bill say it would cause millions more to lose their jobs. Dave Hebert, professor of economics at Aquinas College, joins the podcast to dispel some of the biggest misconceptions of raising federal minimum wage and what real effects the bill would have.

On the second segment, Glenn Harlan Reynolds, professor of law at the University of Tennessee and author of the new book, “The Social Media Upheaval,” joins the show to examine the benefits and drawbacks of social media. Glenn argues that social media and especially Twitter is increasingly “poisoning” journalism and politics. How can we reduce big tech censorship and the toll of social media while also respecting free speech?

Check out additional resources for this episode:

CBO projects $15 minimum wage would cost 1.3 million jobs

Raise the Wage Act will only raise more barriers for American workers

Here Are 6 Ways a New Report Devastates the $15 Minimum Wage

How the minimum wage affected workers during (and after) the Great Recession

Economists agree: Don’t raise the minimum wage to $15

I deleted my Twitter account. It’s a breeding ground for thoughtlessness and contempt.

Buy: The Social Media Upheaval

Glenn Harlan Reynolds Makes The Case For Trust-Busting Big Tech Companies

New to the Acton Line podcast? Subscribe here! We also mend starting with these episodes:

Mourning the Notre-Dame cathedral inferno; Rev. Robert Sirico on education

F.A. Hayek’s Road to Serfdom; The media vs. ‘Unplanned’

Rev. Robert A. Sirico on the reality of socialism; Interview with a Venezuelan dissident

Do you have feedback for the Acton Line podcast team? We want to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]. If you like Acton Line, don’t forget to leave a rating and review on iTunes!

Comments
Welcome to mreligion comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
RELIGION & LIBERTY ONLINE
Acton University – Day 2 Audio Roundup
Today’s lectures from Acton University 2007 (updated as more audio es available): Protestantism and Natural Law: Dr. Stephen GrabillTheology and History of Globalization: Dr. Samuel GreggThe Catholic Social Encyclical Tradition: Kishore JayalabanKnowing Good Works: Guidelines for Effective Compassion: Dr. Fred DeJongThe Political Economy of Globalization: Michael MillerSubsidiarity and Effective Private Charity: Ismael HernandezEconomics and Human Action: Jeff TuckerCatholic Social Teaching: Basic Principles: Stephen Haessler ...
Acton University – Day 1 Audio Roundup
A sampling of today’s lectures at Acton University – Bumped – additional lectures added: Market Economics and the Family: Dr. Jennifer Roback MorseLord Acton’s Histories of Liberty: Father Peter LairdEconomic Thought Before the Enlightenment: Michael MillerThe New Deal and the Great Society: Moral and Economic Failure: Anthony BradleyTechnology, Culture, and the Market: Dr. Jay W. RichardsEvangelical Social Thought: Justice Grounded in Love: Anthony BradleyWealth in Scripture: Father Peter LairdPope Benedict XVI and His Vision for Europe: Dr. Samuel Gregg Bonus:...
Christian Education in Ministry
Last Friday afternoon I attended workshops on the theme, “Christian Education in Ministry,” at the Assembly of World-Wide Partners conference. Facilitated by John DeJager, two speakers were featured in these workshops. Comfort Enders is a lead-teacher at an educational initiative in Liberia, Kingdom Foundation Institute. Dr. Gaylen Byker is president of Calvin College and an expert in Christian education around the world. Comfort Enders provided an account of her efforts to engage in ministry through Christian education. Enders describes a...
Integrity, Virtue and Vision in the World of Business
Acton PowerBlogger John H. Armstrong is with us this week in Grand Rapids for Acton University. He is founder and director of ACT 3, a ministry aimed at “encouraging the church, through its leadership, to pursue doctrinal and ethical reformation and to foster spiritual awakening.” Here’s his post on Wednesday’s conference activities: The relationship between integrity, virtue and vision is not often developed in the business world. Yesterday the Acton University experience afforded me a unique opportunity to understand better...
A Firsthand Taste of Maggot-Free Capitalism
Kris Mauren (far right) and African guests get ready to visit GFS. Acton University is now well underway, and on Wednesday a group of seven African attendees joined Kris Mauren on a visit to Gordon Food Service’s Grand Rapids headquarters for an up-close look at ethical capitalism. Mauren called it a great opportunity for people from countries with barren and corrupt markets to see an efficient, principled business for themselves. “The management of GFS also has a strong concern for...
Together in Missions in the 21st Century
The Friday morning plenary address at last week’s Assembly of World-Wide Partners was given by Ruth Padilla deBorst, a 15-year veteran of work with Christian Reformed World Missions. Padilla deBorst’s talk focused on relations between the global north and global south, “Together in Missions in the 21st Century.” In the following I’ll summarize her talk and intersperse the summary with some of my own reflections. One ment, with Acton University beginning today: the valuable uniqueness of a conference like Acton...
Partnering in a Global Context
Last Friday evening, Rev. Setri Nyomi, general secretary of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC), gave a joint plenary address to the Assembly of World-Wide Partners and to the CRC Multiethnic Conference. The talk was titled, “Partnering in a Global Context: Principles and Patterns that will Shape Us,” and focused on three main sets of issues. What is the meaning of being called to mission in partnership today? What are the characteristics of the global contexts that we find...
Acton University 2007 – Opening Night
Diet Eman talks with Rev. Robert Sirico at Acton University Acton University 2007 got underway last night with Rev. Robert A. Sirico’s traditional opening address, which was delivered with a major twist – the participation of Diet Eman, who joined Father Robert to describe her experiences as part of the Dutch Resistance to Nazi occupation during World War II. Eman’s presence and perspectives added a very powerful element to what was already a very stirring address. You can listen to...
Trivial Pursuit
Here’s a map of the US that replaces state names with the names of countries with similar GDPs. Pretty fascinating stuff in that it allows a look at just how huge the US economy really is. And it’s a gold mine for trivia buffs… ...
Speaking of Christian Education…
Speaking of Christian education, here are some relevant thoughts plucked out of Richard Baxter’s most excellent treatise, How to Do Good to Many (London, 1682): A general observation about the importance of knowledge: Goodness will never be enjoyed or practised without knowledge. Ignorance is darkness, the State of his Kingdom, who is the Prince of darkness, who by the works of darkness leadeth the blind World to utter darkness: God is the Father of Lights, and giveth wisdom to them...
Related Classification
Copyright 2023-2026 - www.mreligion.com All Rights Reserved