Next Round

Canada is once again the focus of the new US administration. The threat of tariffs lingers, and there's a more sinister suggestion of border changes around the Great Lakes. Is Canada being pushed to become the 51st state?

Forecasts for recession in the United States are picking up, driven by the government slowdown. The new administration is talking about excluding the government from its GDP calculation. But does this really work?

The Irish housing crisis continues to bubble in the background amid all this global tension. David has a new article in the Irish independent on the topic of RPZ rent controls. We discuss the merits of lifting this policy and the impact on renters.

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Dale McDermott

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David W. Higgins

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Europe is now scrambling. The decades-long US security guarantee is falling apart. The US is siding with Russia and elbowing out its ally in Ukraine. Must Europe now build a common military force to fill the void? What’s Ireland’s role in all this?

The CSO reports that wage growth remains high. As inflation has lowered, we’re now in a period of real wage growth. However, wage growth is still behind house price growth. New data also shows harmony between workers and employers. Has the WRC and Labour Court crushed the need for strikes?

You’ve heard of the Coppers Gold Card, but what about one for America? That’s Trump’s latest idea. Many countries have similar schemes for a golden visa. You invest in a country, and citizenship rules are eased. But does it actually work?

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Dale McDermott

http://linktr.ee/dalemcdermott

David W. Higgins

https://linktr.ee/higginsdavidw

WATCH & LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

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With Irish government spending surpassing €100bn this year, we ask whether a body for “government efficiency” is needed. David fills us in on an article he wrote in the Irish Independent this week. DOGE may not be the best fit for Ireland, but something is needed.

US Vice President JD Vance spoke at the Munich Security Conference this week. In a landmark speech, he attacked democracy in Europe, sided with local right-wing parties, and called for more spending on defence. But is this hypocrisy from an administration which doesn’t believe it lost the 2020 election?

Diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programmes are being rolled back across organisations. We debate whether this is right, or just perpetuating the same people hiring people like them. Maybe there’s some merit in organisations hiring staff that reflects their customers?

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Dale McDermott

http://linktr.ee/dalemcdermott

David W. Higgins

https://linktr.ee/higginsdavidw

WATCH & LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

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Make Ireland Poor Again. David tells us why he now uses this phrase to describe a new group of people in Ireland. They’re the voices that have resurfaced to once again call on the Taoiseach to boycott a meeting with the US President on St. Patrick’s Day. With thousands of jobs on the line from tariffs, the last thing any country should consider is ignoring the new US administration.

The CSO’s latest release of the Growing Up in Ireland (GUI) survey shows a challenging picture for 25-year-olds in Ireland. 7-in-10 report still living with their parents. But this is considerably higher than at the 2022 census. We discuss the different measures of this data and what is or isn’t included in each.

The UK’s economic woes are once again on our minds. Their wide government deficit and current account deficit (twin deficits) paints a bleak picture. Growth remains sluggish and the Bank of England has cut by 25bps, citing this growth as a key concern. Some BoE members even voted for a 50bps cut. We discuss the bleak picture, but also consider ways for the UK to pull through.

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Dale McDermott

http://linktr.ee/dalemcdermott

David W. Higgins

https://linktr.ee/higginsdavidw

WATCH & LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

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www.youtube.com/@NextRoundPod

Spotify

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https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/next-round/id1739658716

Amazon

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What’s really happening in Ireland’s housing market? Despite a flood of recent data—housing starts rising, completions falling, and mortgage approvals surging—the picture remains murky.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration is turning the heat on its closest neighbours with fresh tariff threats against Canada and Mexico. We dive into what this means and how incoming Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick’s philosophy could reshape U.S. trade policy.

Plus, a major “vibe shift” in social media: Mark Zuckerberg is scrapping Meta’s fact-checkers in favour of an X-style community notes system. What does this mean for the future of online engagement?

Follow us on social media:

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Dale McDermott

http://linktr.ee/dalemcdermott

David W. Higgins

https://linktr.ee/higginsdavidw

WATCH & LISTEN TO THE PODCAST

YouTube
www.youtube.com/@nextroundpod

Spotify
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Apple
https://podcasts.apple.com/ie/podcast/next-round/id1739658716

Amazon
https://music.amazon.ca/podcasts/5b7d4187-ee8c-4494-bbf9-f6e5465d1ee9/next-round

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.