The conservative movement is growing. In the days since the assassination of Charlie Kirk, many have stepped forward to advance traditional values and conservative ideals. There is much to elevate in this renewed movement.

But it must remain anchored in the pro-growth principles that have fueled conservative victories throughout American history. Conservatives have long resisted government spending and control. Yet today, too many conservatives support tariffs, industrial policy, and special favors for select businesses. These are forms of economic socialism—central planning that shifts power from the people to politicians.

What we need instead is a principled, practical defense of free markets—and the courage to press leaders to embrace it, even when it’s politically inconvenient. That’s why I’ve put together a list of basic economic principles.

In today’s episode of This Week’s Economy, join me for Econ 101 as we explore whether markets ever truly fail.

You can catch the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify.

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Today’s guest is David Ditch, Senior Analyst in Fiscal Policy at the Economic Policy Innovation Center (EPIC). With over a decade of experience examining the federal budget, David has worked at the Senate Budget Committee and at The Heritage Foundation, where he helped launch the Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget. His work has been published in outlets like FoxNews.com, the Los Angeles Times, and the Chicago Tribune.

David’s reputation is clear: he cuts through Washington spin with data-driven analysis, showing how Congress, bureaucrats, and special interests have fueled a debt crisis that threatens the future. In our conversation, we dive into the national debt as a failure of elites, the false fights over discretionary vs. mandatory spending, and what Washington could learn from low-tax, low-spend states. We also cover the gimmicks that dominate appropriations and the challenge of making fiscal responsibility popular again.

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In the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, many are asking what comes next. Free speech feels under attack. Policy debates feel more heated than ever. But now is not the time to retreat—it’s the time to fight for truth. We need clarity about which policies work and which don’t, and we must pursue those that let people prosper.

Part of that fight is advancing pro-growth policies that get government out of the way. The latest economic data paint a troubling picture: inflation is running hot, the national debt is soaring, the labor market is weakening, and a third of U.S. states are slipping into recession. Now more than ever, we need policies that can steady the ship and put America back on the path to prosperity.

In this episode of This Week’s Economy, I’ll break down what all this data means—and what solutions can move us forward.

You can catch the full episode on YouTube, Apple Podcast, or Spotify.

Visit: VanceGinn.com

Subscribe: VanceGinn.Substack.com