The Case for Public Electricity (with Ryan C. Smith)
February 21, 2026
54 min
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Episode 64 · February 21, 2026
The Case for Public Electricity (with Ryan C. Smith)
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Liberal Currents Episodes Around February 21, 2026
Episode 64 of 79 — walk the feed in the order it was published.
54:48This episodeThe Case for Public Electricity (with Ryan C. Smith)
Summary
<p>Samantha Hancox-Li and guest Ryan C. Smith, author and economic historian, discuss the possibility of publicly-owned electric utilities in America. Smith argues that there is a strong case for public power. Electricity distribution is a "natural monopoly," and existing private companies—like Pacific Gas and Electric—are often inefficient and incompetent. Meanwhile, Nebraska and other states already include some publicly-owned power companies, which provide affordable and reliable electricity. Is it time to switch to a new model of power?</p><p><br /></p>
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