Episode #10
Ep. 10 - Rep. Steve Bartlett
In Episode 10 of The Republican Legacy Podcast , hosts Merrill Matthews, Lynn Schmidt, and Greg Wilson are joined by certified financial planner Paul Auslander, President of Seabridge Private Wealth, for a wide-ranging discussion about the economy, financial markets, and the importance of separating political noise from economic reality. Auslander discusses the independence of the Federal Reserve, inflation and interest rates, the national debt, the stock market's resilience, artificial intelligence, the growing dominance of major technology companies, and the balance between free enterprise and government intervention. The conversation also explores Americans moving from blue states to red states and what those demographic shifts could mean for future elections. Later, Merrill and Greg are joined by former Congressman and Dallas Mayor Steve Bartlett, a founding member of Our Republican Legacy and author of AH HA! The Power and Purpose: Family, Faith and a Life Well Lived . Bartlett reflects on his career in local government, Congress, and the financial services industry, and shares lessons about leadership, purpose, persistence, and public service. The conversation turns to the decline of bipartisanship in Congress, the importance of character and constitutional principles in public life, and the challenges facing Republicans who put governing and principle ahead of partisan loyalty. Bartlett also discusses why he became involved with Our Republican Legacy and what it will take to rebuild a Republican Party grounded in the rule of law, fiscal responsibility, free enterprise, and effective governing. Chapters 00:00 Welcome and introduction of Paul Auslander 02:29 Investing through political and economic uncertainty 04:53 Lessons from Senators Moynihan and Danforth 06:31 Federal Reserve independence, inflation, and interest rates 09:48 What investors are watching in today’s market 12:01 AI, the Magnificent Seven, and market concentration 14:45 Free markets, industrial policy, and national security 17:11 Migration from blue states to red states 20:06 Florida, Texas, and the next elections 24:03 The biggest economic and geopolitical risks ahead 26:19 Introducing Steve Bartlett and The Power and Purpose 31:30 City politics and the changing political landscape 35:37 Why bipartisan governing has become so difficult 37:57 Rebuilding constitutional conservatism 43:52 Advice for future members of Congress 46:17 Banking regulation and the importance of enforcement 51:20 Is there reason for optimism about the country? Links Our Republican Legacy Website ORL’s Policy Statements Make a Contribution to Our Republican Legacy Merrill Matthews’ Latest Articles Lynn Schmidt's Latest Articles Steve Bartlett’s Book: AH HA! The Power and Purpose: Family, Faith and a Life Well Lived
