Topic: What Is Socialism?
When: Tuesday 9/1/2026 at 2:00 pm ET
Young Americans are embracing socialism in record numbers. A recent survey by the Cato Institute and YouGov finds that 62 percent of Americans aged 18–29 say they hold a “favorable view” of socialism, while a recent Gallup poll shows that 39% of all Americans have a positive view of socialism. Do Americans who embrace socialism understand what it actually is?
In this week’s podcast, we’ll take a closer look at what socialism is vs. what many Americans think it means. Joining us for this important discussion is one of our country’s foremost economic experts, Mr. Lawrence W. Reed, President Emeritus at the Foundation for Economic Education. Sign up now for an insightful discussion on socialism: what it is and isn’t – and the dangers a lack of economic and civic education poses for our freedom.
Constitutional Chats are hosted by Janine Turner, Cathy Gillespie, student ambassadors, and experts who join us weekly to discuss hot-topic issues! The audience is not on camera, but you may ask questions!
Meet the Guest
Lawrence W. (“Larry”) Reed
Lawrence W. (“Larry”) Reed became President of the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) in 2008 after serving as chairman of its board of trustees in the 1990s and both writing and speaking for FEE since the late 1970s. He previously served for 21 years as President of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, Michigan (1987-2008). He also taught economics full-time from 1977 to 1984 at Northwood University in Michigan and chaired its economics department from 1982 to 1984.
In May 2019, he retired to the role of President Emeritus at FEE and assumed the titles of Humphreys Family Senior Fellow, and Ron Manners Global Ambassador for Liberty. The 2020 Chairman of the prestigious Mont Pelerin Society, Linda Whetstone of Britain, says “Larry is a rarity in the liberty movement. From scratch, he built one fantastic think tank (Mackinac Center), engineered a perfect succession transition after 21 years, then went on to save and rebuild another great organization (FEE). He pioneered a leadership program that trained think tank executives and staff from all over the world and he writes some of the movement’s best and most enduring materials. His ‘Seven Principles’ and ‘Great Myths of the Great Depression’ are two of the most popular essays among lovers of liberty in country after country. He is in constant demand as a powerful speaker. He is a success wherever he goes and in whatever he does. And he’s a genuine gentleman, always a joy to work with.”
He holds a B.A. in economics from Grove City College (1975) and an M.A. in history from Slippery Rock State University (1978), both in Pennsylvania. He holds two honorary doctorates, one from Central Michigan University (public administration, 1993) and Northwood University (laws, 2008).
Reed has authored more than 2,000 columns and articles in newspapers, magazines and journals in the United States and abroad. His writings have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Examiner, Christian Science Monitor, Eurasia Review, Intellectual Takeout, USA Today, The American Spectator, The Epoch Times, Informe Orwell, The Stream, Detroit News, and Detroit Free Press, among many others. He has authored or co-authored eight books, including Was Jesus a Socialist? (a major expansion in 2020 of an earlier essay) and Real Heroes: Inspiring True Stories of Courage, Character and Conviction. Additionally, he co-authored and edited five e-books. See the “Books” section of this website for more info. He is frequently interviewed on radio talk shows and has appeared as a guest on numerous television programs.
His most recent book (available Summer 2026) is a history of ideas, events and key people in American history from the Mayflower Compact to the Bill of Rights, titled Born of Ideas: How Principles, Faith, and Courage Forged America.
Reed delivered at least 75 speeches annually between 1985 and 2019 in virtually every state and in dozens of countries from Bulgaria to China to Bolivia. His best-known lectures include “Seven Principles of Sound Policy” and “Great Myths of the Great Depression,” both of which have been translated into over a dozen languages and distributed worldwide.
His interests in political and economic affairs have taken him as a freelance journalist to 92 countries on six continents. He is an adviser to numerous organizations around the world. He served for 15 years as a member of the board (and for one term as president) of the State Policy Network. His numerous recognitions include the Champion of Freedom Award from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, the Distinguished Alumni Award from Grove City College and the Citizen Warrior Award from Heirs of the Republic.
Over his nearly 11 years as the 10th President of FEE, the organization experienced explosive growth by all measures of output and impact—in contributions, seminar attendance, web page visits (www.fee.org), online courses, school and campus events, online content, publications, videos, etc. His presidency was the longest and most consequential of any since that of the organization’s founder, Leonard E. Read. He served a second time as FEE president, on an interim basis, from October 2023 until March 2024.
In 2022, Reed was named by the President of Poland as a recipient of the highest honor that Poland bestows upon a foreigner, the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. U.S. President Ronald Reagan is among past recipients.
He serves on the Free Society Coalition executive committee, and on numerous advisory boards around the world.
He is a native of Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania and a 30-year resident of Midland, Michigan. Since 2010 has resided in Newnan, Georgia, where he writes a column for The Newnan Times-Herald.
Follow on LinkedIn and Like on Facebook (Lawrence Reed public figure page) and X (@LawrenceWReed1). Website: www.lawrencewreed.com.