The Political Orphanage

Jeremiah Johnson of the New Liberal Podcast and Jeff Maurer of I Might Be Wrong join the show to make the case for why independents should vote for Kamala Harris.

The Green Party is America's fourth-largest party, and also has sufficient ballot access to have a legal path to an electoral victory. The party is a blend of environmentalism, socialism, and non-interventionist foreign policy. Jen Briney joins to discuss the latter.

Cornel West is a philosopher, former professor, and civil rights activist, running for president as the People's Party candidate.

Chase Oliver is the Libertarian Party's presidential candidate, and the standard bearer for America's third largest political party. He joins to discuss his campaign, and make his pitch to independent voters.

Why did politics become so nasty, so partisan, so... tribal? Well now. I wrote a book for you on this very subject: "Tribalism is Dumb: Where it Came From, How it Got So Bad, and What to Do About It." It's out now! This episode features the first two chapters. Please grab a copy, and enjoy! www.mightyheaton.com/books

Jonathan Ainslie is a law lecturer at the University of Aberdeen, with a focus on Roman Law. He joins the show to discuss free speech rules in the United Kingdom, and the broader topic of what role the government ought to play in protecting you from yourself.

Kevin Williamson is national correspondent at The Dispatch, and writer-in-residence at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. He joins to give a thousand-foot view of what our political era will look like in retrospect.

What if we're focusing on jobs too much? Guy Standing is the author of "The Politics of Time: Gaining Control in the Age of Uncertainty." He joins to discuss laborism, why GDP is a stupid economic indicator, and solutions to the economy's most vexing problems.

What is "woke" exactly? And why is it it irritating? Lawrence Titley joins to make the case that Wokeness is an older historical phenomenon of loudly drawing attention to cognitive dissonance and moral correction.

What's the difference between effective, ethical taxes vs. stupid stuff with a bunch of loop holes for rich people? Scott Hodge is President Emeritus & Senior Policy Advisor at the Tax Foundation. He is the author of "Taxocracy: What You Don't Know Abou Taxes And How They Rule Your Daily Life." Book at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured

How do the histories of countries set up the greater context in which they become rich or poor? Daron Acemoglu believes it boils down to whether or not they've been organized according to extractive or inclusive institutions. He joins to discuss his book, Why Nations Fail.

Final thoughts on attending the Democratic National Convention; the underlying ideology and policy goals, and who will win in the face off between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump.

Who's this Tim Walz guy? Live from the Democratic National Convention, we go into his National Guard record, his tenure in Congress and as governor of Minnesota, and explore the underpinnings of his political philosophy.

El Salvador used to be the murder capital of the world. Now it's arguably as safe as Canada. In 2019 Nayib Bukele became president, and initiated a draconian crackdown on drug cartels, suspending the Constitution and civil liberties. It knocked gangs out of neighborhoods, but flirted with tyranny to do so. Was the trade worth it? Peter Gietl of Frontier Magazine joins to discuss. Link to Chicago Live Show: https://ci.ovationtix.com/36644/production/1210915?performanceId=11512974

Scott Klug is a former representative from Wisconsin, and the host of the podcast Lost in the Middle. He joins to discuss partisanship, "both sideism" and electoral solutions to America's current, horrible political quagmire.

Why is college so expensive, and also, why do rich families keep trying to bribe their ways into the most elite schools? Sahaj Sharda is the author of "The College Cartel." He joins to discuss the underlying structures ruining higher ed. His book at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured

Matt Taibbi is an independent journalist and winner of the National Magazine Award. Formerly a gonzo journalist at Rolling Stone, he now runs Racket News. He joins to discuss the relationship between power and journalism, and the role of newsmakers in a chaotic era.

Thoughts on Donald Trump's acceptance speech at the 2024 RNC Convention. AND what happens next, at the forthcoming DNC bloodbath.

Donald Trump has tapped J. D. Vance of Ohio as his running mate, cementing the Republican Party as a populist movement--and ending the old balance between Goldwater and Rockefeller Republicans, or Reagan fusionists. In this episode we discuss the implications.

Some takes on bad takes following the assassination attempt, followed by rambling but heartfelt plea not to shoot each other.

The British Labour Party just picked up dizzying, historical amounts of seats in Parliament, at the expense of the Conservative Party. Is it just the pendulum swinging the other way around, or does it signify something more seismic? Douglas Carswell, President of the Mississippi Institute and former member of Parliament, and Lawrence Titley join to discuss. Discord Link: www.mightyheaton.com/discord

In City of Grants Pass v. Johnson the Supreme Court rejects Martin vs. Boise, which forbade cities from dispersing homeless encampments if there weren't sufficient beds around to go to instead. Anna Gorisch joins to discuss. "Homelessness and our Stupid Solutions" https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/homelessness-and-our-stupid-solutions "The Best Tiny House Village in America" https://www.patreon.com/posts/best-tiny-house-61663866

This week the United States Supreme Court ruled on Donald Trump, and subsequently, on immunities afforded to the president and former presidents. In this episode we explore the ramifications of that decision.

On this episode of Judge Week we tackle two Supreme Court decisions pertaining to firearms: United States v. Rahimi, and Garland vs. Cargill. Anastasia Boden of the Pacific Legal Foundation and Jacob Sullum of Reason join respectively to discuss. Support the show! Patreon.com/andrewheaton

The Chevron Doctrine is the longtime bete noir of conservatives and libertarians hostile to the administrative state. Tim Sandefur of the Goldwater Institute joins to discuss the reasoning behind it, and the reasoning that smite it. Support the show! patreon.com/andrewheaton Past Judge Weeks: https://www.patreon.com/collection/140707?view=expanded

Part 1: Debate: The Musical! Part 2: Andrew Heaton and Justin Robert Young give intial thoughts directly after the debate. Tips: Paypal: [email protected] Venmo: @andrew-heaton-1

Ryan Bourne is the former head of public policy at the Institute of Economic Affairs in the United Kingdom, an economist at the Cato Institute, and editor and contributing author of the new book The War on Prices. Book at: mightyheaton.com/featured

Is Robert Kennedy, Jr. a nutbag or a truth-telling disruptor? Can he actually win the presidency, or just spoil it? In this episode we tackle RFK. Part 1: Heaton's assessment of his politics, positives, and his position on vaccines. Part 2: David Drucker of The Dispatch joins to discuss his candidacy, campaign, impact, and spoilage.

Jonathan Rauch is a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a contributing writer at The Atlantic, and the author of the book "The Happiness Curve: Why Life Gets Better After Age Fifty." He joins to discuss the reality, economics, and neurology of midlife crises. Find his book at www.mightyheaton.com/featured

John Romulus Brinkley became wealthy, famous, and powerful as one of America's most colorful, ludicrous quacks. He made his fortune by "curing" male impotence by sewing goat testicles into clients. As well as becoming a radio tycoon, politician, and more. Check out more on the podcast Losers, Pretenders & Scoundrels

Last week a New York court found former president Donald Trump guilty on thirty-four felony counts. Is this rule of law in action, or a corrupt judiciary undermining the law? Paul Townsend and Anna Gorisch join to sort things out.

What are the insecurities of the Working Class, and what policies hurt or exploit them? Batya Ungar-Sargon is an editor at Newsweek and the author of Second Class: How the Elites Betrayed America's Working Men and Women. BOOK AT: www.mightyheaton.com/featured Batya's handle: @bungarsargon Heaton & Batya on Heaton's TV show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBh3sLlgRx4 Batya on The Political Orphanage: "Woke Hysteria is Actually Class Warfare" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/woke-hysteria-is-actually-class-warfare/id1439837349?i=1000557442141

Daniel J. Fox, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in Texas, international speaker, and multiple-award winning author. He has been specializing in the treatment and assessment of individuals with personality disorders for over 20 years in the state and federal prison system, universities, and in private practice.

Dr. Rainer Zitelmann is the author of "How Nations Escape Poverty: Vietnam, Poland, and the Origins of Prosperity." He joins to discuss the efficacy of international development aid, and what we can learn from the economic growth of Asia vs. that of Africa. Book at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured Dr. Zitelmann on Nazi Economics: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-nazis-thought-about-economics/id1439837349?i=1000577197764 Dr. Zitelmann on his book "In Defense of Capitalism" https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/capitalism-remains-undefeated Film: "Poland: From Socialism to Prosperity" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBIhsZ9GNHc&t=118s

Jeffrey Rosen is a legal scholar and the President of the National Constitution Center. He's the author "the Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America." Book at www.mightyheaton.com/featured

Protests over Israel and Hamas have become so heated at Columbia that it's canceled in-person classes the rest of the semester. Anti-Israel protests are becoming not just a flashpoint in America's culture war, but within Blue Team itself. What's happening? The World's Smartest Podcast Network assembles to discuss: Andrew Heaton, Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy, and Michael Ira Kaplan. We're Not Wrong Live Show: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/were-not-wrong-live-in-washington-dc-tickets-882962824577?aff=erelexpmlt

James Judkins started out as a circus worker, eating swords and fire, then working up to ringleader and manager. As a talent scout operating in other countries, he became professionally involved in sorting visas foreign countries, then eventually transitioned to a full-time visa agency. He joins the show to discuss 1) what it's like working at the circus, and 2) how temp visas work for seasonal workers, and how they could work better.

There's a pervasive idea that in the 1950s America had single-earner families who could more easily afford housing, car payments, groceries and college, so maybe we should go back to the political economy of that era? In this special, we visit Fiftiesland and see how it stacks up to modern America. Support the show! Patreon.com/andrewheaton Venmo: @andrew-heaton-1

Tom Merritt of Daily Tech News joins to discuss the underlying technology of AI and Large Language Models, and what people get wrong about both. Pre-order Tom's book at: www.tomsnewbook.com SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton Heaton and Nick sketch comedy: mightyheaton.com/vagabonding Bonus Episode: How to Use AI for Work https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-how-to-use-98003840?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Bonus: A.I. Wrote and Recorded An En Entire Episode https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-i-wrote-77020469?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Jennifer Doleac is Executive Vice President of Criminal Justice at Arnold Ventures, a major funder of criminal justice research and reform in the United States. She joins to discuss trends in crime, causes and deterents of crime, and cheap or easy ways we can make the country safer. Support the show! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton.

Adam Andrzejewski is CEO and Founder of Open The Books, an organization which files thousands of FOIA requests each year to document and expose government budgets and employee salaries, to identity waste and fraud. Website: https://www.openthebooks.com/

Jonathan Rauch of the Brookings Institution joins to discuss the most openly totalitarian period of American history: the Lavender Scare. And to point out that there are still people alive who suffered through it, and what restitutions can be made. Article at The Atlantic: "The U.S. Should Apologize to Gay People." https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/01/lavender-scare-gay-people-public-service-erasure/677236/

Donald Trump is being prosecuted under RICO law in Georgia, wherein District Attorney Fanni Willis has charged him and parts of his campaigns as criminal conspirators in a criminal enterprise. What is RICO law, and does Trump qualify for prosecution under it? Attorney Paul Townsend rejoins to discuss.

In this travel episode our intrepid hosts journeys to McAllen, TX on the US-border to see the river, the wall, and to interview employers who hire immigrants as well as US Border agents. Guests: Former Border Patrol chief Clem Clemson, and Lee Wicker, Deputy Director for the North Carolina Growers Association. Support the Show! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton Relevant Links: Bryan Caplan on Open Borders https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/bryan-caplan Anna Gorisch: Sucks to Legally Immigrate https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/if-i-want-to-naturalize-my-foreign-bastard-foreign

Xi Xinping, the leader of China, has dramatically consolidated power and extended his reign indefinitely. What does he think and what does he want? Steve Tsang is the Director of the SOAS China Institute at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. He is the author of "The Political Thought of Xi Xinping," and joins to discuss.

Rudyard William Lynch is the host of WhatifAlHist, a popular history channel on YouTube. He joins to discuss how the origins and circumstances of America's regions permanently imprinted on its cultures and political outlooks. Colin Woodard's Map: https://www.businessinsider.com/the-11-nations-of-the-united-states-2015-7 Rudyard's Map: https://preview.redd.it/cultural-map-of-america-done-by-whatifalthist-on-youtube-v0-7clddg9nunpa1.jpg?auto=webp&s=663b38b9434bdf7791fac983f0d5e5beb643b779 Relevant Book: American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America, by Colin Woodard

Alain Bertaud is a feted urbanist, who before becoming a professor at NYU, worked in city planning in communist China, as well as on projects in Algeria, Cuba, and his native France. He joins to discuss what work and results look like in top-down command economies. Alan Bertaud from City Week: https://www.patreon.com/posts/sim-city-was-79663680?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Is AI biased towards a particular viewpoint, and if so, how does it affect national sentiment and elections? Maxim Lott has built an AI tracking website that charts the political orientation of Large Language Models, and watches their development in real time. He joins to discuss. Maxim's Website: trackingai.org Maxim's Substack: https://maximumtruth.substack.com/ Political Compass Quiz: https://www.politicalcompass.org/test

I flew to New Hampshire to check out the primaries, and to visit this historically independent-minded state to see how independents think. In this episode we see a Nikki Haley concert, and get invited to a Libertarian Clubhouse. TPO: Don't Screw This Up, New Hampshire (Feb, 2020) https://five.libsyn.com/show/episodes/view/13086767

Donald Trump has been removed from the ballot in Colorado and in Maine, on the grounds that he is an insurrectionist ineligible to hold office under the U.S. Constitution. The Supreme Court will hear an appeal from the Trump campaign in the following weeks. Anna Gorisch comes to discuss the specifics and impacts of this case, and what will be of issue to the highest court in the land.