How do decisions made in Washington impact Main Street America? Elaine Parker sits down with Caroline Melear of the R Street Institute to break down the economic forces shaping the future of small businesses. From banking regulations and lending access to inflation, interest rates, tariffs, and global conflicts, they connect policy decisions to everyday economic realities.

They also discuss the lasting effects of Dodd-Frank, uncertainty caused by shifting administrations, rising gas prices, Federal Reserve challenges, and why small businesses often feel the impact of regulations first.

How do decisions made in Washington impact Main Street America? Elaine Parker sits down with Caroline Melear of the R Street Institute to break down the economic forces shaping the future of small businesses. From banking regulations and lending access to inflation, interest rates, tariffs, and global conflicts, they connect policy decisions to everyday economic realities.
They also discuss the lasting effects of Dodd-Frank, uncertainty caused by shifting administrations, rising gas prices, Federal Reserve challenges, and why small businesses often feel the impact of regulations first.

Main Street Matters with Elaine Parker and Alfredo Ortiz explores the intersection of small business and government policy. With more than 90 million Americans either owning or depending on small business for their household income, policies like taxes, regulations, and access to credit have a huge effect on the American Dream. Elaine and Alfredo talk with small business owners, government officials and office holders, and experts about everything from education to the labor market on this interesting and entertaining podcast.

Main Street Matters with Elaine Parker and Alfredo Ortiz explores the intersection of small business and government policy. With more than 90 million Americans either owning or depending on small business for their household income, policies like taxes, regulations, and access to credit have a huge effect on the American Dream. Elaine and Alfredo talk with small business owners, government officials and office holders, and experts about everything from education to the labor market on this interesting and entertaining podcast.

Main Street Matters

How do decisions made in Washington impact Main Street America? Elaine Parker sits down with Caroline Melear of the R Street Institute to break down the economic forces shaping the future of small businesses. 

Inflation, Interest Rates & Small Business: What Happens Next?

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/d7ba3a65-ea38-487b-8e4d-b452001f0aaf/transcript

On this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker sits down with Breitbart economics editor John Carney for a deep dive into America’s inflation crisis, rising gas prices, mortgage rates, AI job disruption, and the Federal Reserve’s next move.

Carney explains why inflation is spreading beyond energy prices, how “demand destruction” could hit American families this summer, and why the Fed may not cut interest rates anytime soon. The conversation also explores the housing market slowdown, AI’s impact on jobs, soaring airline costs, and whether the economy is headed toward stagflation.

On this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker sits down with Breitbart economics editor John Carney for a deep dive into America&rsquo;s inflation crisis, rising gas prices, mortgage rates, AI job disruption, and the Federal Reserve&rsquo;s next move.
Carney explains why inflation is spreading beyond energy prices, how &ldquo;demand destruction&rdquo; could hit American families this summer, and why the Fed may not cut interest rates anytime soon. The conversation also explores the housing market slowdown, AI&rsquo;s impact on jobs, soaring airline costs, and whether the economy is headed toward stagflation.

On this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker sits down with Breitbart economics editor John Carney for a deep dive into America’s inflation crisis, rising gas prices, mortgage rates, AI job disruption, and the Federal Reserve’s next move.

Why Gas Prices, Mortgage Rates & Inflation Could Crush the Economy This Summer

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/427a6a62-4c4c-458f-8234-b44b002a74ef/transcript

On this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker speaks with Florida-based Caribou Coffee and Subway franchise owner Bill Mathis about how tax reform, no tax on tips, and overtime policy changes are impacting workers, hiring, and small business growth.

Bill shares his firsthand experience operating businesses in both Florida and Minnesota, revealing the dramatic differences in taxes, regulations, labor costs, and economic opportunity between the two states. The conversation also explores inflation, gas prices, hiring challenges, franchise expansion, employee retention, and why pro-growth policies matter for Main Street businesses across America.

On this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker speaks with Florida-based Caribou Coffee and Subway franchise owner Bill Mathis about how tax reform, no tax on tips, and overtime policy changes are impacting workers, hiring, and small business growth.
Bill shares his firsthand experience operating businesses in both Florida and Minnesota, revealing the dramatic differences in taxes, regulations, labor costs, and economic opportunity between the two states. The conversation also explores inflation, gas prices, hiring challenges, franchise expansion, employee retention, and why pro-growth policies matter for Main Street businesses across America.

On this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker speaks with Florida-based Caribou Coffee and Subway franchise owner Bill Mathis about how tax reform, no tax on tips, and overtime policy changes are impacting workers, hiring, and small business growth.

How No Tax on Tips & Overtime Changed This Small Business Overnight

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/72f3e717-d90a-4167-8751-b449002076c8/transcript

On this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker sits down with Daniel Kowalski, Director of the Herman Center for the Federal Budget at The Heritage Foundation, to break down the high-stakes budget reconciliation fight unfolding in Washington.

They explain how Republicans are using reconciliation to advance homeland security funding, spending reforms, tax relief, and efforts to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in programs like Medicaid and SNAP. Daniel also outlines what a potential “Reconciliation 3.0” could mean for small businesses—from healthcare price transparency and capital gains indexing to reducing federal deficits and easing borrowing costs.

What’s next for Congress? Can Republicans deliver another major legislative win before the midterms? And how could these reforms impact Main Street businesses across America?

On this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker sits down with Daniel Kowalski, Director of the Herman Center for the Federal Budget at The Heritage Foundation, to break down the high-stakes budget reconciliation fight unfolding in Washington.
They explain how Republicans are using reconciliation to advance homeland security funding, spending reforms, tax relief, and efforts to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in programs like Medicaid and SNAP. Daniel also outlines what a potential &ldquo;Reconciliation 3.0&rdquo; could mean for small businesses&mdash;from healthcare price transparency and capital gains indexing to reducing federal deficits and easing borrowing costs.
What&rsquo;s next for Congress? Can Republicans deliver another major legislative win before the midterms? And how could these reforms impact Main Street businesses across America?

On this episode of Main Street Matters, Elaine Parker sits down with Daniel Kowalski, Director of the Herman Center for the Federal Budget at The Heritage Foundation, to break down the high-stakes budget reconciliation fight unfolding in Washington.

Reconciliation 3.0: The Budget Battle That Could Change Taxes, Spending & Small Business

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/2decb5c6-6cb8-49f8-ae15-b4440045296c/transcript

Inflation, Interest Rates & Small Business: What Happens Next?

In 1 playlist(s)

Main Street Matters

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips