The Real Political Divide in America Today
Leave Us Alone with Grover Norquist
Release Date: 12/22/2025
Leave Us Alone with Grover Norquist
What do federal regulations really cost American families? In this episode of the Leave Us Alone podcast, Americans for Tax Reform President Grover Norquist sits down with Kent Lassman, President & CEO of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, to examine the hidden costs of the federal regulatory state. While taxes are easy to see, regulations quietly raise the price of nearly everything Americans buy, from housing and banking to transportation and everyday consumer goods. Lassman explains how federal regulations function as a hidden tax on families, why those costs are often overlooked,...
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The average American family pays roughly $4,200 every year because of lawsuit abuse. In this episode of the Leave Us Alone Podcast, Grover Norquist sits down with Lauren Zelt of Protecting American Consumers Together and Ryan Patrick of Texans for Lawsuit Reform to discuss how lawsuit abuse drives up the cost of car insurance, home insurance, healthcare, and everyday goods. They examine recent reforms in Florida and Georgia, why insurance rates are falling in some states, how trial lawyers influence state politics, and what policymakers can do to reduce costs for consumers. If you've ever...
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Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt joins Grover Norquist on the Leave Us Alone podcast to discuss Oklahoma’s “Path to Zero” plan to eliminate the state income tax, build long-term taxpayer protections, and keep government spending under control. Stitt explains how Oklahoma built billions in savings while cutting taxes, why economic growth accelerates when taxpayers keep more of their own money, and how the state is using spending discipline to move toward a zero income tax future. The conversation also covers school choice, limited government, free markets, tort reform, and why Oklahoma is...
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Governments at home and abroad are finding new ways to tax Americans while families struggle with inflation, housing costs, and affordability. In this episode of Leave Us Alone, Mike Palicz and James Erwin break down Europe’s digital taxes targeting American tech companies, rising energy costs, Virginia Democrats pushing new taxes, and why taxing inflation is making the housing market worse.
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What does it take to eliminate a state income tax? Grover Norquist sits down with Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert to discuss how Oklahoma is charting a path to a 0% income tax and why other states are beginning to follow. Oklahoma has reduced rates, simplified its tax code, and established a trigger-based path to zero as revenues grow. The goal is to lower the burden on taxpayers while maintaining responsible budgeting. They also discuss: How Oklahoma built the coalition to pass tax reform Why a phased approach to zero is gaining traction Tort reform and its impact on insurance costs ...
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Inflation is driving up costs. But there’s a simple policy change that could make a real difference. Right now, the IRS taxes inflation as if it were real income. When your home, retirement savings, or small business increases in value because of inflation, you still pay taxes on the full gain. That means millions of Americans are being taxed on “phantom gains.” Grover Norquist of Americans for Tax Reform explains how indexing capital gains for inflation would fix this problem by ensuring taxpayers only pay taxes on real gains. He outlines how this reform could be implemented, why it...
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Gavin Newsom’s administration is targeting “Trump Accounts,” tax free savings accounts designed to help families invest in their children’s future. Critics are calling the move California’s “Toddler Tax.” In this special staff takeover episode of the Leave Us Alone podcast, the ATR team breaks down: • Why California wants to tax contributions to Trump Accounts • How these accounts help families build long term savings • Why blue states are resisting pro growth tax reforms • The latest push to index capital gains for inflation • Major Senate race developments and...
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The latest jobs report shows 172,000 private sector jobs added while the federal workforce shrinks by 327,000. Congress delivers a net discretionary spending cut, CBO projects stronger GDP growth, and Washington debates credit card interest rate caps and price controls. Grover Norquist, James Erwin, and Mike Palicz break down job growth, federal spending cuts, tax reform, Medicaid savings, and why price controls historically lead to shortages.
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Ronald Reagan’s legacy continues to shape American politics, economic policy, and national security. In this episode of Leave Us Alone, Grover Norquist is joined by David Trulio, President and CEO of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, and Rachel Loren of the Ronald Reagan Legacy Project for a wide-ranging conversation on Reagan’s enduring principles and why they remain relevant today. The discussion explores Reagan’s role in restoring economic growth, winning the Cold War, and rebuilding American confidence. It also looks at how the Reagan Library, Institute, and...
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In this episode of Leave Us Alone, Grover Norquist sits down with former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm for a wide-ranging conversation on tax policy, economic growth, and the role of government in shaping economic outcomes. The discussion spans the stagflation and economic crisis of the late 1970s, Gramm’s role in passing the Reagan tax cuts, and the long-term effects of those reforms on inflation, growth, and opportunity. The episode also examines welfare spending, poverty statistics, and claims about economic inequality. Gramm explains how government benefits are often excluded from official...
info_outlineThe real political divide in America is not left versus right.
It is the Leave Us Alone Coalition versus the Takings Coalition.
In this episode of Leave Us Alone, Grover Norquist explains how these two coalitions compete over tax policy, spending, and the size of government. The discussion breaks down who belongs to each coalition, why the Takings Coalition constantly pushes for higher taxes, and why the Leave Us Alone Coalition must stay united to protect taxpayers.
This episode explains politics the way it actually works, through incentives, not slogans.