Each show is filmed before a studio audience and edited to fit the hour long format. Experts are brought in from both sides to discuss the issues with John Stossel, who sometimes plays devil's advocate with the guests whose views mirror his own. Stossel often films small clips from outside the studio to supplement the show. At the end of the show, the studio audience is allowed to ask questions of some of the guests.
Beginning with the August 5, 2010 show, Fox Business renovated and expanded the Stossel studio in order to allow larger audiences to attend the show.
| Title |
Guest(s) |
Airdate |
Ep. # |
| "Global Climate Change" |
Jerry Taylor, Stephen Dubner |
December 10, 2009 |
1 |
| The premiere episode deals with the Global warming controversy.[1] Stossel talks with Jerry Taylor, an energy analyst at the Cato Institute, who explains the economic impact of global warming and expresses his belief the impact will be fairly minimal. He also interviews Stephen Dubner, author of SuperFreakonomics. |
| "Paying for Healthcare" |
John Mackey |
December 17, 2009 |
2 |
| The discussion includes “reformers” who say they will improve American health care. The studio audience includes single-payer activists and members of the NYU Young Communist Club. Stossel interviews Whole Foods CEO John Mackey, who discusses the positive effects of a boycott by progressives after he wrote an Op Ed that was critical of Government-Care. |
| "Atlas Shrugged" |
John Allison, Yaron Brook, Nick Gillespie |
January 7, 2010 |
3 |
| Stossel analyzes the impact of the book Atlas Shrugged and why it is more popular today than when it was released. He also asks who is today's Wesley Mouch and the audience overwhelmingly chooses Barney Frank.[2] |
| "Crony Capitalism" |
Jonathan Blake and Annette Meeks of Freedom Foundation of Minnesota, Denis Calabrese (former Chief of Staff for Dick Armey), Tim Carney author of The Big Ripoff |
January 14, 2010 |
4 |
| Discusses examples where Big Business has used the clout of Big Government to get special privileges or protect themselves from competition, known as crony capitalism. The show examines government support of Serious Materials and using regulations to prevent new competition in the toy industry. |
| "Energy Independence" |
T. Boone Pickens, Robert Bryce |
January 21, 2010 |
5 |
| Stossel speaks with T. Boone Pickens, an oilman and advocate of becoming energy independent. Video is shown of Stossel challenging his guest T. Boone Pickens to a $10,000 bet about the price of oil that will end May 22, 2010. Author Robert Bryce debates Pickens on the merits of energy independence. |
| "Food Police" |
Nick Gillespie |
January 28, 2010 |
6 |
| The panel discusses efforts to regulate food by taxing and banning salt, trans fat, and sugary drinks. The discussion turns heated as Nick Gillespie debates a trial lawyer who brings class-action lawsuits against makers of fast food. |
| "Things Are Getting Better" |
Alan Tonelson, Arthur C. Brooks, Christopher Flavin, Steven F. Hayward, Clark Ervin, John Mueller |
February 4, 2010 |
7 |
| Stossel interviews people who think things are getting worse, and then looks at four areas of life that are arguably getting better for people due to free markets: the economy, pollution, terrorism, and culture. Each segment features a debate from both sides of the argument. |
| "The Road to Serfdom" |
Dave Low, Paul Ryan, Arthur C. Brooks, Matt Welch |
February 11, 2010 |
8 |
| This show examines the welfare state, predicted in Hayek's The Road to Serfdom, in which serfs are allowed to work and keep some of their money, but must give the rest to their rulers to keep them safe. Stossel confronts Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and asks him why, if he supports free markets, he voted for the Troubled Asset Relief Program and automaker bailouts. Stossel examines the Kurt Vonnegut short story Harrison Bergeron and sees parallels today. |
| "Imprisoning Kids" |
Kevin P. Chavous, Eva Moskowitz, Scott Stringer, James Tooley |
February 18, 2010 |
9 |
| Stossel discusses the failure of government run schools and ballooning costs, and explores ways to increase competition through private charter schools or school voucher programs. Harlem Success Academy founder Eva Moskowitz debates Scott Stringer about charter schools versus government schools. The $166 billion cost of Head Start Program and failure to provide lasting results past Grade 1 is also discussed. |
| "Hands Off My Meds" |
John Crowley, Montel Williams, Dr. Arnold Relman, Alan Chow |
February 25, 2010 |
10 |
| John Stossel asks the audience if they think the FDA keeps us safer. He interviews John Crowley, who is portrayed in the film Extraordinary Measures. Regulation supporter Dr. Arnold Relman debates Stossel's brother Dr. Thomas Stossel of Harvard Medical School. Alan Chow, an eye surgeon who developed an implant to allow blind people to see, describes the FDA process which took seven years and $50 million before he ran out of funds. Montel Williams explains why he requires medical marijuana to manage pain caused by multiple sclerosis. |
| "Prohibition" |
Jacob Sullum, Wendy Murphy |
March 4, 2010 |
11 |
| Stossel discusses American prohibitions and illegal acts that are actual voluntary and/or consensual.[3] He discusses prohibitionists who claim their rules are necessary for the public or individuals' own good. He discusses unintended side effects of drug prohibition with Jacob Sullem. Former prosecutor Wendy Murphy debates a former sex-trade worker about whether or not prostitution is a form of slavery. |
| "Licensing Madness" |
Chip Mellor, Andrew Napolitano |
March 11, 2010 |
12 |
| Stossel interviews two unlicensed florists who are breaking the law by selling flowers. They debate Mike Rome of the Louisiana State Florists Association. Chip Mellor of the Institute for Justice explains how his organization sues states with unconstitutional laws. David Price discusses how he was imprisoned for over a year for writing a legal letter on behalf of a volunteer.[4] New Jersey State lawyer Albert Cohn argues for legal licensing against Judge Andrew Nepolitano. |
| "Saving Cleveland" |
Drew Carey, Dennis Kucinich, Nick Gillespie, Steven Malanga, Stephen Goldsmith, Randal O'Toole |
March 18, 2010 |
13 |
| A supplement to the reason.tv online series Reason Saves Cleveland, hosted by Nick Gillespie and Drew Carey. The show deals with Cleveland, once America's 6th largest city, now reduced to less than half the previous population, which libertarians believe is due to overtaxation and central planning. Stossel interviews author J.C. Bradbury, who says there is no economic benefit to taxpayer subsidized sports stadiums. Drew Carey speaks with former Cleveland mayor Dennis Kucinich, who believes state owned institutions are better than private business. |
| "The Biggest Rip-Off" |
Paul Ryan, David Certner, Veronique de Rugy |
March 25, 2010 |
14 |
| Representative Paul Ryan and Mercatus Center economist Veronique de Rugy talk about the current financial outlook. David Certner of the AARP believes entitlement programs must continue. Author Joel Kotkin explains how other countries have it worse. Stossell confronts a lawyer who helps people hide assets so that they can collect Medicaid benefits meant to go to the poor. |
| "Junk Science" |
Jerry Taylor, Christina Hoff Sommers, Roy Spencer |
April 1, 2010 |
15 |
| This episode discusses junk science. As an example, Stossel convinces New Yorkers to sign a ban on dihydrogen monoxide, better known as water. He examines global warming myths, alternate energy sources, nuclear energy, and the lack of women in engineering, physics and mathematics. |
| "What Am I?" |
P. J. O'Rourke, Andrew Napolitano, Jeffrey Miron, Deroy Murdock, Wendy McElroy, David Boaz |
April 8, 2010 |
16 |
| Stossel examines what it is to be a libertarian. |
| "Tax Insanity" |
Neal Boortz |
April 15, 2010 |
17 |
| Stossel examines the current American income tax code and the proposed FairTax. |
| "Lies, Myths and Stupidity" |
Michael Medved, Stephanie Soechtig, Scott Bullock, and Richard Tren |
April 22, 2010 |
18 |
| Stossel examines lies, myths and stupidity about capitalism, bottled water, property seizure and DDT. |
| "Free Trade" |
Lou Dobbs, Tom G. Palmer, June Arunga, Johan Norberg, Donald J. Boudreaux |
April 29, 2010 |
19 |
| Stossel debates Lou Dobbs, who believes in balanced trade as opposed to free trade. |
| "Government Bullies" |
Anya Kamenetz |
May 6, 2010 |
20 |
| This episode looks at bans for charging carry-on baggage fees, bans on chewing tobacco, union attempts to force kids into attending only government-run schools, and unpaid internships. Stossel debates Village Voice writer Anya Kamenetz and author of "DIY U" about unpaid internships. He also talks to some of his former interns to describe their experiences. |
| "Bans on Betting" |
Chad Hills |
May 13, 2010 |
21 |
| Stossel looks at government bans on gambling. |
| "Free Speech" |
Ayaan Hirsi Ali |
May 20, 2010 |
22 |
| Stossel interviews two people who speak their mind about Islam despite death threats and prosecution, including Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who produced a film about Islam's subjugation of women with Dutch moviemaker Theo Van Gogh. |
| "Going Green" |
Robert Bryce, Heather Rogers, Bjorn Lomborg, Greg Kutz |
May 27, 2010 |
23 |
| Stossel examines the green movement, including claims that wind power, solar power, and electric cars will make a significant impact on energy use. He discusses these issues with Robert Bryce, the author of "Power Hungry," and Heather Rogers, a progressive environmentalist and author of "Green Gone Wrong." Bjørn Lomborg, a self-professed leftist and environmentalist, talks about the top 30 problems facing the world, and claims that global warming is 14th, 29th, and 30th on the list. The Energy Star program is also dissected. |
| "Free to Choose" |
Benjamin Barber, David Boaz, Johan Norberg |
June 10, 2010 |
24 |
| A look back at Milton Friedman's Free to Choose and the impact it has had on other countries. Includes an interview with Benjamin Barber, a critic of Friedman. |
| "Drug War Disaster" |
Sean Hannity |
June 17, 2010 |
25 |
| Stossel examines the War on Drugs and its critics. He debates Sean Hannity, who argues that legalizing drugs would result in more problems for America. |
| "More Guns Less Crime" |
Denis Hannigan |
June 24, 2010 |
26 |
| Stossel debates gun control with Brady Campaign vice president Dennis Hannigan. They look at statistics which show that crime actually decreases when conceal and carry laws are abandoned. |
| "The Trouble with Lawyers" |
Geoffrey Fieger |
July 8, 2010 |
27 |
| The show covers personal injury lawyers who claim to be protecting the little guy but keep up to 40% of what they win. Stossel examines what these lawsuits do to the cost of products, which has a built in cost to cover what lawyers take. He interviews Geoffrey Fieger, a trial lawyer, and people from the US Chamber Institute for Legal Reform tell stories of small businesses that are harassed and sometimes even forcced out of business by dubious lawsuits. |
| "Freedom Under Siege" |
|
July 15, 2010 |
28 |
|
| "The Immigration Debate" |
|
July 22, 2010 |
29 |
|
| "Sex & The Law" |
|
July 29, 2010 |
30 |
|
| "Planes, Trains & Automobiles" |
|
August 5, 2010 |
31 |
| When a private company operates a public facility under contract to government, it must perform. Otherwise, it will be fired as its contract will not be renewed. Government is never fired. Contracting out to private enterprise is not the same thing as letting fully competitive free markets operate but still works better than government. |
| "The Americans with Disabilities Act" |
|
September 2, 2010 |
32 |
| When President George H. W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law 20 years ago, he had good intentions. Everyone wants to protect the disabled, but those good intentions had nasty, unintended consequences. |
| "Entrepreneurs Under Attack" |
|
September 9, 2010 |
33 |
| Everyone says he likes small business. Even big-government types. Then, they find all kinds of reasons to make business owners jump through hoops for the right to operate. |
| "Government Schools 2" |
|
September 16, 2010 |
34 |
|
| "The Trouble with Lawyers 2" |
|
September 23, 2010 |
35 |
|
| "Should Everyone Vote" |
|
September 30, 2010 |
36 |
|
| "Bankrupting America" |
|
October 7, 2010 |
37 |
|
| "The Power to Prosper" |
|
October 14, 2010 |
38 |
|
| "Election Myths" |
Matt Welch, Karl Rove, Joe Trippi, Angelo Codevilla |
October 21, 2010 |
39 |
| On the show, Stossel examines whether it matters if Republicans or Democrats are elected. Republicans claim to shrink government and Democrats claim to be "pro-choice," but Stossel believes those are myths. Karl Rove defends Republicans while Joe Trippi defends Democrats. |
| "Scare Stories" |
|
October 28, 2010 |
40 |
| To commemorate Halloween, Stossel examines scare stories by the media. He examines an actual death list with probabilities assigned to each type of death and finds that the media overreporting of certain causes of death and underreporting of others. |
| "Libertarians and the Election" |
Ron Paul, Matt Welch, Bill O'Reilly, Ellis Henican |
November 4, 2010 |
41 |
| Stossel analyzes the results of the November 2010 mid-term elections with the help of his guests. He attempts to find out if some voters shied away from certain candidates out of ignorance and a misconception of what libertarians are really about. |
|
| "Politically Incorrect" |
|
November 11, 2010 |
42 |
|
| "Food Fight" |
|
November 18, 2010 |
43 |
|
| "Public or Private Ownership" |
|
November 25, 2010 |
44 |
|
| "You Owe $200,000 To The Fed" |
|
December 2, 2010 |
45 |
|
| "Liberty 2010" |
|
December 09, 2010 |
46 |
|
| "Skepticism & Religion" |
|
December 16, 2010 |
47 |
|
| "Who is more charitable: Democrats or Republicans" |
|
December 30, 2010 |
48 |
|