The Political Orphanage

Sarah Isgur is a senior editor at SCOTUS Blog, host of the Advisory Opinions podcast, and a contributor at ABC News. She is the author of the forthcoming book "Last Branch Standing," which available for pre-order on Amazon. She joins to discuss the recent oral arguments before the Supreme Court on whether or not the Trump administration can invoke IEEPA to levy emergency tariffs.

Freddie deBoer is a writer, academic, and cultural critic. He is a widely-read author on Substack, an old-school Marxist, who has previously been on the program to explain what Marxists actually think. He's struggled with mental health issues and frequently discusses the intersection of culture and mental health. And he has a new book out which explores those issues, his debut novel, "The Mind Reels." LINK: "What Do Marxists Actually Think?" https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/what-do-marxists-actually-think

The real story of Thanksgiving is stranger, darker, and far more interesting than what you learned in kindergarten (or college). It's a tale of slavery, plagues, ecological engineering, diplomacy, betrayal, and realpolitik—and yes, an actual feast where everyone sucked down eel while negotiating an alliance that would hold for fifty years. We dive into the world of Tisquantum—better known as Squanto—a kidnapped teenager who crossed the Atlantic twice, lived among Spanish friars and English merchants, and returned to find his entire people gone. Only to reinvented himself as one of the most cunning political operators in early America.

Thousands of people need kidneys, right now. They are either on the precipice of death, or suffering through dialysis and low quality of life. Jeremiah Johnson of the New Liberal Podcast joins to discuss the End Kidney Deaths Act, introduced to the House by Republican Rep. Nicole Malliotakis of New York, and Democratic Rep. Josh Harder of California.

Tim Sandefur joins to discuss individualism in American culture. In this fun (but weird) conversation, we go through zombie shows, Westerns, and Star Trek, while invoking Hobbes, Ayn Rand, Epicurus, the Stoics, Plato and Aristotle. He is the author of the new book "You Don't Own Me: Individualism and the Culture of Liberty." Past Sandefur chats: ATA: The Last Policeman https://alienating.libsyn.com/the-last-policeman ATA: Let's Fight About the Undiscovered Country https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-fight-about-the-undiscovered-country/id1488171922?i=1000485799630 ATA: Is Life Worth Living in a Perfect Utopia? https://alienating.libsyn.com/is-life-worth-living-in-a-perfect-utopia ATA: Cold War Kirk vs. Picard the Moral Relativist https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cold-war-kirk-vs-picard-the-moral-relativist/id1488171922?i=1000456934729

Theater critic Clive Kripson of BBC Bolton joins to review "Shutdown: The Musical" in what is now the longest-running revival of the landmark Broadway favorite.

Legal and geographic quirks sometimes create "Terra Nullius"—land which no sovereign nation lays claim to. Literally, No Man's Land. In this weird geographic episode, we explore: Iceland, the Oklahoma Panhandle, Kowloon Walled City, Liberland, and the Kingdom of North Sudan.

Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton offered two contrasting visions of what America should be and how the Constitution applies to it. Jeffrey Rosen is a legal scholar and the President of the National Constitution Center. He's the author "The Pursuit of Liberty: How Hamilton vs. Jefferson Ignited the Lasting Battle over Power in America."

Can comedians ethically perform standup for a despotic regime without endorsing it? Recently the Riyadh Comedy Festival invited furor when some comics schlepped to Saudi Arabia to perform–at great expense–while others declined in protest of supporting human rights abuses. Turner Sparks and Michael Ira Kaplan join to discuss. Space Tractor: And Other Short Stories, by Josh Jennings https://www.amazon.com/SPACE-TRACTOR-Science-Fiction-Stories-ebook/dp/B0FJPDYMH8/ref=sr_1_5?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.zZeSAsnZLKSRxIo27_gcMnoklebwF1XE2-ktnBUZV6g0qkMExX8quDXpYFpppH_3e3LCflI4shlhv14uVcYX3v5kKwSxg-MAnHxFe_K4Enhl1N_fUVXYpy8MSYmhsEj4jdx1GXV95xe1mT1mGDJZdA.5O7WtgRE8WN-Z8xMnveA8g0rrXobxvheK2IS9TrnWq8&dib_tag=se&qid=1760124093&refinements=p_27%3AJosh+Jennings&s=digital-text&sr=1-5&text=Josh+Jennings

Okay, so what constitutes "cruel and unusual"? Why was it okay to brand horse thieves in the face in old timey days, but it's barbaric now? In the final installment of this year's Judge Week, we go over the history of cruel and unusual punishments; what scared the English into outlawing it in their Bill of Rights, and how America interpreted it for the first century of the Constitution. Then, landmark decisions which have further modified, narrowed, and evolved what constitutes as "cruel" in the United States.

Pornhub ceased operating in the Lone Star State after Texas implemented an age verification law. Pornhub, and other adult websites, said the compliance was too onerous, and the potential fines too staggering. In response, the Free Speech Coalition sued Texas in court for an injunction to block the law, on the grounds that by burdening protected (if offensive) speech it violated the first amendment. Texas responded by saying that requiring age verification online is no different than asking to see ID at a brick-and-mortar porno theater. In this episode we visit the Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, and the full history of American jurisprudence regarding pornography and protected speech. Ronnie London is general counsel of FIRE, and joins to discuss.

In Mahmoud v. Taylor the Supreme Court affirmed parents rights to remove their children from LGBTQ material used in public schools. The Court ruled that opt-outs preserve separation of church and state, and protect parental rights. The Dissent maintains that exposure is not the same thing as indoctrination, and opt-outs are at best going to be an administrative nightmare, at worst a religious veto on acceptable content. Anastasia Boden of PLF joins to discuss.

In Trump v. Casa the Supreme Court ruled that district judges cannot issue "universal injunctions" against the federal government… Well, what the hell does that mean? The ruling comes in regard to Trump's executive order on birthright citizenship. Is the Trump administration accurately "rediscovering" the true meaning of the Constitution, or just twisting and mangling it to make sure nobody here illegally can confer citizenship on their kids? Tim Sandefur of the Goldwater Institute joins to discuss.

I think I probably drink too much, and I ought to curb that before I wrinkle prematurely. Fortunately, there is Katie Herzog. You may know her as the host of the Blocked & Reported podcast, but she is also the author of "Drink Yourself Sober: The Science-Based Method to Break Free from Alcohol." LINKS: Addicted to Dopamine https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/addicted-to-dopamine/id1439837349?i=1000601229295

Daryl Davis is an African American musician responsible for de-radicalizing over 200 Klansmen and Neo-Nazis in his attempts to understand racism. He joins Heaton to talk about his experience, contact science, and the best ways to overcome bigotry. This episode has been corrected for an audio error which previously occurred. If you see two episodes in your player, go with this one! Original air date: July 8, 2020

Europe's GDP and purchasing power lag behind that of the United States. Why? Sam Bowman is the Editor of Works in Progress at Stripe, and the former Executive Director of the Adam Smith Institute. He recently wrote an article for Reason Magazine entitled "The Europoors Are Choosing to Have Less Then Americans. It Doesn't Have to Be this Way." He joins to discuss if Europe is actually poorer, and why.

Liberalism was once thought to be triumphant and inevitable, but at the moment it's losing ground across the globe. Cass Sunstein joins to discuss what liberalism is, why it's good, and some of the in-family debates. LINK: Cass Sunstein on Smarter Regulations https://www.thepoliticalorphanage.com/p/cass-sunstein-on-smarter-regulations-85e

Well, how do we respond after assassinations and political tragedies? Let's talk about it. Ugh. Link: Assassins Part II: A Loser Kills Garfield https://www.patreon.com/posts/130642450

If Iran's Islamic Republic collapsed—or got pushed out—who would pick up the pieces? This week we look at the recent history of Iran, and the coup perpetrated by the CIA and MI6. To understand Iran's broader political context, and the power players poised to seize leadership. Linked Bonus Episode: McKinley Dies and the Empire is Born On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-mckinley-131344006?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link On Substack: https://www.thepoliticalorphanage.com/p/assassins-part-iv-mckinley-dies-and?r=1moac&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

Is Sweden a socialist paradise? What do they do right and what have they screwed up on? Most importantly, what can Americans steal, replicate, and improve upon? To find out, I abducted the handsome and urbane intellectual Johan Norberg. Also I visit the ABBA Museum.

Finland routinely winds up at the top of global happiness surveys. Why? In this episode, I flew to Helsinki to wander around and chat up locals. Trying to figure out why: Their social trust is so teeteringly high How their social safety nets work How this combines to result in their contentedness. So that we can steal all that, and replicate it. Relevant Episode: The Nordic Theory of Everything https://www.thepoliticalorphanage.com/p/the-nordic-theory-of-everything-52a?r=1moac

It turns out, young voters (under fifty) are openly hostile to political parties, and are most likely to flip from election to election. This means the game is about to change as Millennials displace Baby Boomers as the largest voting bloc. So what happens? Adam Brandon is a senior advisor at The Independent Center, and the former and final president of FreedomWorks. He joins the show to discuss how an electoral surgical strike of a few house seats could introduce seismic waves to American politics.

Greg Lukianoff is the President of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, and along with Nadine Strossen, is the author of "The War on Words: 10 Arguments Against Free Speech--And Why They Fail."

Does the Fed achieve its own stated goals? What are underlying ethical or practical issues with it? Soho Forum founder and economist Gene Epstein joins to make the case against the Federal Reserve. The SoHo Forum: https://www.thesohoforum.org/ Uncut Gene Epstein interview on the Federal Reserve: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h_8wTj-0VrlMWsrtI6iIsewKvjZworu_/view?usp=sharing

What is the purported aim of the Federal Reserve? Why is it independent, or shoot for 2% targeted inflation? In part one of our series on the Fed, Jeremiah Johnson of the New Liberal podcast joins to explain, discuss, and field objections.

How can an unscrupulous person get elected to high office and make a buck by abusing public trust? To look into this matter we speak with former congressman (and former lobbyist) Scott Klug.

Melissa Chan and Badiucao have both been exiled from the People's Republic of China; the former as a journalist and the latter as an artist and political cartoonist. They join the show to discuss censorship and authoritarianism in China, and their new book, "You Must Take Part in Revolution: A Graphic Novel."

Ever wonder why Canada didn't become the 14th colony during the American War of Independence? It turns out, America invited Canada to join. Then, when they turned down the invitation, invaded. Then again in 1812. In this episode we return to States that Weren't: Canada. Plus, how Nova Scotia and Newfoundland almost became states. www.ThePoliticalOrphanage.com

America is littered with lots of almost-states, which very nearly joined the Union in their own right, but for some reason did not. In today's episode we cover Vandalia, Transylvania, Westylvania, Franklin, and Nickajack. By investigating these almost-states, we delve into constitutional law on matters of succession, and tap into a centuries-old conflict between populist hillbillies and English lordlings. www.ThePoliticalOrphanage.com

This week New York City Democrats held their primary for mayor, and nominated Zohran Kwame Mamdani. Mamdani is a Democratic Socialist who promises to implement free bussing, a $30 per hour minimum wage, universal childcare, and a government-run grocery store program. Hosts of the World's Smartest Podcast Network hosts, Turner Sparks and Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy join to discuss.

Iran is accused by Israel of pursuing a nuclear weapons program, and President Trump is weighing US military intervention. In this episode we chart the history of nuclear non-proliferation, and assess Iran in light of it.

A terrorist shot William McKinley at a World's Fair in Buffalo in 1901. In this episode, we go over the specter of anarchism in that era, why McKinley embodied the establishment, and how he died.

Andrew Jackson was the first U. S. president who experienced an assassination attempt. It didn't stick. In today's episode we learn about the most grizzled executive in American history from the vantage point of his last near-brush with death.

How does American housing stack up compared to other countries, specifically in terms of full-blown housing communism or free market Japanese housing Nirvana? In this episode we take a look at what makes housing cheap, what makes housing expensive, and lessons we can steal from foreigners. LINKS: Reason TV: "Heaton solves the Housing Crisis" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VmEOgC0CWM Alain Bertaud: Sim City Was Always Wrong https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/sim-city-was-always-wrong

Conventional wisdom is brimming with economic myths: the Industrial Revolution impoverished the masses; bobber barons were the scourge of the Gilded Age; the Great Recession was caused by irresponsible deregulation. Senator Phil Gramm and economist Don Boudreaux attempt to set the record straight in their new book, "The Triumph of Economic Freedom: Debunking the Seven Great Myths of American Capitalism."

Donald Trump is threatening to levy tariffs on films shot elsewhere, and actor John Voight is petitioning the federal government for taxpayer subsidies to protect Hollywood from foreign competition. Screenwriter C. Robert Cargill joins to discuss. https://www.scamstuff.com/products/brian-and-matt-june-2025

Rebecca Allensworth is the Associate Dean of Research at Vanderbilt Law, where she focuses on anti-trust and licensing. She is the author of "The Licensing Racket: How We Decide Who Is Allowed to Work, and Why It Goes Wrong." She joins to discuss licensing, and alternatives. Previous: Shoshanna Weissman on Grooming Licenses https://omny.fm/shows/something-s-off-with-andrew-heaton/ep-8-puppy-grooming-licenses-guest-shoshanna-weiss

Marc Beckman is a Senior Fellow of Emerging Technology at NYU, adjunct professor Stern, and the author of "Some Future Day: how AI is going to Change Everything." He joins to discuss practical implications of the unfolding AI Revolution.

Why do some people determine an action is racist, and others say nah? What are the mental protocols people use to exonerate or convict someone accused of beings sexist? Jessi Streib is the author of "Is it Racist? Is it Sexist? Why Red and Blue White People Disagree, and How to Decide in the Gray Areas."

Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson are the authors of "Abundance" a book about removing artificial scarcity and embracing a worldview that focuses on end goals, building, growth, and increasing the supply of everything we need and want. He joins to discuss the book, zoning, why America can't have nice trains, and how we can better lean into federal research funding.

Just what the hell is happening with tariffs? Are we entering a trade war? Are we negotiating? In today's show: A) An extended introduction about Napoleon III and Otto von Bismarck B) Austin Padgett, co-host of "History 102" on YouTube joins to discuss Trump's tariffs from the pro-Trump perspective C) Scott Lincicome of Cato takes a dim view of shenanigans

Cory Doctorow is a journalist, activist, and science fiction author known for his work on digital rights, monopolies, and the future of technology. He joins to discuss non-compete clauses, IP law, Right of Repair, and copyright regimes. His most recent book is "Picks and Shovels," available at www.mightyheaton.com/featured.

Sebastian Junger is a decorated war correspondent and author of books like "The Perfect Storm" and "Tribes: On Coming Home and Belonging." Heaton was going to interview him about his last book, "Freedom," but then Junger very nearly died, and they decided to talk about that instead. His most recent book is "In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife" Prior interview on "Tribes" https://omny.fm/shows/something-s-off-with-andrew-heaton/ep-50-what-your-hunter-gatherer-genes-really-want?in_playlist=something-s-off-with-andrew-heaton!podcast

Mahmoud Khalil has been detained, and will be potentially deported, by the Trump administration. Attorney Anna Gorisch joins to discuss the implications of this case, in terms of national security, immigration law, and the difference between protected and unprotected speech. Unabridged: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12QlJl8QgTKBffGXgtUjzMfLIrndTf3mW/view?usp=sharing

Andrea Jones-Rooy is a data scientist and former DEI consultant. She joins to discuss what DEI is, what DEI is not, and where it goes wrong.

What would happen if the Trump administration tried to abolish or defund the Department of Education? What does it do, and is it a net positive or net negative in terms of tax dollars and dispensing knowledge?

What is the government doing which is irritating, and what is irritating that the government can assist with? Topics covered today include: paper straws, low-flow toilets, pennies, nickels, mail, and quitting gym membership. Jeff Maurer, author of "I Might Be Wrong" on Substack joins to discuss.

Jonathan Rauch asserts that as the American Church has become increasingly concerned with the culture war and politics, it has become secularized and unappealing to its members, who are abandoning it. The result is a country increasingly spiritually adrift, churches distracted from their core missions, and a nation turning to politics as a substitute. He is the author of Cross Purposes: Christianity's Broken Promise with Democracy

Who's having sex, and how much of it are they having? Who's getting married and who's getting divorced? Does money, somehow, possibly, effect any of this? Cathy Reisenwitz of "Sex & The State" joins to discuss.

Trump erected, then delayed, tariffs on Canada and Mexico, but has levied tariffs on China–which is apt to escalate things shortly. What happens in a trade war and why are they bad? And what is happening now, specifically, in whatever's going on with Canada? Heaton breaks down the macroeconomics, and James Thatcher explains the unfolding situation. Discord: www.mightyheaton.com/discord