The Political Orphanage

Live from Des Moines, Iowa, Heaton transforms into a 'thinky travelogue' guide, unraveling the mysteries of state-by-state primaries, and the often confusing blend of direct democracy and representative democracy that characterizes American politics. This episode isn't just about the mechanics of the caucus; it's an exploration of the philosophical underpinnings of the American political system, drawing parallels between ancient Greece and Rome, and our modern-day practices. TPO: Glen Weyl on How Weighted Voting Could Actually Work https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/glen-weyl

Hey gang, I will be joining Jen Briney and Justin Robert Young for a live show of our podcast "We're Not Wrong" at 7:00 PM at the Share Brewing Company in Manchester, NH, this Saturday, January 20th. If you're in the area, this is a great alibi--come on out!

Zach Weinersmith is the author of "A City on Mars: Can we settle space, should we settle space, and have we really thought this through?" He joins to discuss the legal and economic feasibility of building settlements on Mars or the Moon SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.patreon.com.andrewheaton Robert Zubrin: Want to Build a Moon Base https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-98-i-want-to-build-a-moon-base-guest-robert-zubrin/id1439837349?i=1000434628317 Robert Zubrin on Mars https://alienating.libsyn.com/turns-out-were-all-probably-martians How to Make Money on Mars https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/alienating-the-audience/id1488171922?i=1000470956981 Lori Garber: Space Billionaires vs Space Bureucrats https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/space-bureaucrats-vs-space-billionaires

Greg Lukianoff is the President of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, and along with Rikki Schlott, is the author of "The Cancelling of the American Mind: Cancel Culture Undermines Trust, Destroys Institutions, and Threatens Us All--But There Is a Solution." Get the the book: www.mightyheaton.com/featured TPO: Greg Lukianoff discussing his last book, "The Coddling of the American Mind." https://omny.fm/shows/something-s-off-with-andrew-heaton/ep-19-the-coddling-of-the-american-mind-guest-greg?in_playlist=something-s-off-with-andrew-heaton!podcast TPO: "The Enemies of How We Know Stuff" with Jonathan Rauch https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/the-enemies-of-how-we-know-stuff TPO: "This Comedy Club Owner Un-Canceled Louis C. K." https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/getting-canceled-diet-death-penalty TPO: "How to Be A Better Vulcan" (Logical Fallacies) https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/logical-fallacies-main-feed

New York Times columnist David Brooks believes a basic breakdown in interpersonal skills is the origin of our current political rancor. His new book, "How to Know a Person: The Art of Seeing Others Deeply And Being Deeply Seen" aims to fix that. He joins to discuss how to better connect with people, and its implications. Support the show! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton Buy the book: www.mightyheaton.com/featured

Highlights from Christmas comedy specials of years gone by. Enjoy!

It's the sixth annual comedy Christmas special! Underwritten by Snuffy's (Off Route 44). This year's Christmas special includes: Muppets, Artificial Intelligence, circumcision, a robotic horse, and beloved English actors. Enjoy! Link for Christmas Zoom: www.mightyheaton.com/christmas Venmo: andrew-heaton-1 PayPal: [email protected] PREVIOUS CHRISTMAS SPECIALS Snuffy's Explosion-Proof Christmas - https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/snuffys-explosion-proof-christmas A Rather Snuffy's Christmas - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-political-orphanage/id1439837349?i=1000545755269 A Grander Snuffy's Christmas - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-grander-snuffys-christmas/id1439837349?i=1000503286243 Another Snuffy's Christmas - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/another-snuffys-christmas/id1439837349?i=1000460559897 A Very Snuffy's Christsmas - https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/ep-30-a-very-snuffys-christmas-0

Deed restrictions allow you to make contractual obligations with other homeowners–often, dead ones. How do deed restrictions and HOA's drive up housing costs and hurt density? How do we allow private contracts to exist without running into the downsides of neighborhood covenants. Chris Gannon works with the American Institute of Architects on their Housing Committee. He joins to discuss.

Chris Moody and his wife called their telecom provider, to ask that their Internet service be scrapped, and replaced by a landline. They do not have cell reception on the mountain where they live, so eschew wifi and the world wide web in favor of a single hardwired phone inside their home. Chris joins the show to discuss how the change affected his lifestyle and happiness, and offer advice on what others can do. REFERENCES: TPO: Would You Shut Down the Internet If You Could? https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/would-you-shut-down-the-internet-if-you-could The Atlantic: Life Is Really Better Without the Internet, by Chris Moody https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/11/home-internet-landline-amazon-smartphone/676070/ Reason: Essentials for Van Life, by Chris Moody https://reason.com/2023/11/09/17-essentials-for-van-life/ Funny! "When Life was Simple" from Harry & Paul https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqE9TS4jsJM How to Grayscale Your Phone https://www.makeuseof.com/how-to-enable-grayscale-on-iphone/#:~:text=Setting%20up%20grayscale%20on%20your,Color%20Filters%22%20in%20your%20settings.

Juries have the ability to vote "not guilty" even when it's clear the accused violated established law. If a jury judges a law as unjust and refuses to convict, is that a needed recourse within our judicial system, or contrary to objective and universal justice? Attorney Paul Townsend joins to discuss.

This Thanksgiving Brian Brushwood joins to discuss the many ways an average American's life is more comfortable, affluent, and magical than the vast majority of human history--including that of pharaohs and kings. BOOKS: This episode relies heavily on "The Rational Optimist" by Matt Ridley, "Ten Global Trends Every Smart Person Should Know" by Ron Bailey, and "The Better Angels of Our Nature" by Stephen Pinker, and "Abundance: The Future is Better Than You Think" by Peter H. Diamandis. All great books that present convincing stats on the positive trajectory of the world. They're all linked to at www.mightyheaton.com/featured RELATED INTERVIEWS: Matt Ridley on Rational Optimism Ron Bailey on Positive Trends

How many nuclear bombs do we actually need to sufficiently scare an enemy? How many is too many? If we agree to reduce our stockpiles… how can we trust that the other guy really did? Travis Halleman is an expert on nuclear deterrence, and joins to discuss. Links: Who Actually Survives a Nuclear War: https://www.patreon.com/posts/who-actually-war-71978682?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=postshare_creator Ward Wilson: Everything You Know About Nukes is Wrong https://podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/ep-133-everything-you-know-about-nukes-is-wrong-guest/id1439837349?i=1000440171975 Political Orphanage Primer on Foreign Policy: https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/liberals-realists-and-the-real-cause-of-war Mark Galeotti - https://warontherocks.com/author/mark-galeotti/

Cenk Uygur is a flame-throwing progressive pundit, host of The Young Turks, co-founder of Justice Democrats, and author of "Justice is Coming: How Progressives Are Going to Take Over The Country And America Is Going to Love It." He joins to discuss his book, polemics, and his possible presidential run. "Was Abraham Lincoln Leftwing or Rightwing?" https://podcasts.apple.com/gr/podcast/was-abraham-lincoln-leftwing-or-rightwing/id1439837349?i=1000613342722 Cenk's book at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured

Gene Epstein is the founder and moderator of the Soho Forum, a debate society, and is the former Economics editor at Barron's. He joins to discuss the nature of trickle down economics, its proponents and detractors, and the biggest factors in political economy which lead to inequality. LINKS : Soho Forum https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-soho-forum-debates/id1485021246

What happens when your religious, ethnic, and political identities converge into a mega identity? Dannagal Goldthwaite Young is the author of "Wrong: How Media, Politics, and Identity Drive our Appetite for Misinformation." She joins to discuss identity, and how it leads to misinformation. Her book at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured Previous appearance: "Late Night Comedy vs. The Outrage Industry" https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/late-night-comedy-vs-the-outrage-industry

Robert Sapolsky is a professor of biology and neurobiology at at Stanford University, and the recipient of a MacArthur Genius Grant. He is the author of "Determined: A Science of Life Without Free Will." He joins to discuss the case against free will, and its societal implications. Robert's Book at www.mightyheaton.com/featured Socrates Sketch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X2QrrYug_VQ&t=35s The Emperor Claudius https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/emperor-claudius-killed-a-whale/id1596616667?i=1000546859060&l=ru

Michael Glennon is the author of "National Security and Double Government." He joins to discuss the growth of America's national security apparatus, and how it functionally upends Madisonian democracy while leaving constitutional rhetoric in tact. Support the Show! Patreon.com/andrewheaton Glennon's book at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured LINKS: Charles Cooke on Abolishing the FBI https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-charles-to-75324382?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link Ron Paul on Foreign Policy and the Deep State https://www.patreon.com/posts/40187874/

Randy Barnett is one of America's foremost jurists, and a professor at Georgetown Law. He joins to discussed unenumerated rights, in the context of the 9th and 10th amendments. SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton Randy Barnett's books at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured Law Episodes Collection: https://www.patreon.com/collection/140707

Depending on whether society treats people primarily as individuals or as identity groups has deep ramifications for worldviews, government policy, and the long-term health of society. Yascha Mounk is the author of "The Identity Trap: A Story of Ideas and Power in our Time." He joins to discuss. Book at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured "When Wokes and Racists Actually Agree on Everything" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ev373c7wSRg

Antipathy towards communism tends to come from its consequences–liberal democracy and markets have yielded greater prosperity, so we should embrace them over socialism. Michael Malice posits a different argument–that regardless of consequence, the Soviet Union and allied communists were evil from the get go, and should be remembered and condemned for it. He is the author of "The White Pill: A Tale of Good and Evil." He joins to discuss. Michael's book at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured "Adults Are Talking with Andrew Heaton" on YouTube Adults Are Talking with Andrew Heaton | Ep 1 "Adults Are Talking with Andrew Heaton" on Twitter: https://twitter.com/i/status/1704993914900406574 REFERENCED EPISODES: "Who Actually Survives a Nuclear War?" https://www.patreon.com/posts/who-actually-war-71978682?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=postshare_creator "How to Destroy a Country in Four Years: Cambodia" https://www.patreon.com/posts/how-to-destroy-55904459

Emmy-award winning journalist John Stossel joins the Political Orphanage to talk about journalism and politics. Stossel's career spans work on ABC News, Fox Business, and Reason TV. He's the winner of five national press award and 19 Emmies. His YouTube show, Stossel TV, appears every Tuesday. Buck Shwartzmore for 7th Floor Fire Marshall https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdcRCj9QBtg&t=1s

Guy Standing stipulates that we should not think of property as either being private or state controlled, but ought to think of a third category: the commons. The commons is something wholly distinctive from either, and ought to be preserved. He joins to discuss this concept, outlined in his book, "Plunder of the Commons: A Manifesto For Sharing Public Weath." Support the show! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton Book at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured

What's life like for a high schooler who's home town gets invaded by a foreign army? Ali Ali was living in historic Babylon, in Iraq, during the War on Terror. He joins to discuss what an invasion is like, what life is like in a lawless state, and his interpretations of the United States as an immigrant to it. https://abzu.blog/

How do energy experts approach energy? Are there good sources and bad sources? What should we try to abolish and what should we lob subsidies at? Dr. Michael Webber is a professor of Energy Resources and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. He is the author of more than 500 scientific articles, columns, and books, including op-eds for the New York Times and Scientific American.

Recently former intelligence officer David Grusch appeared before Congress, and made the bold claims that the U.S. government owns multiple recovered extraterrestrial vehicles, as well as "biotics"--which is to say, alien bodies. How credible are these assertions, and how should the government respond to UFO's in general? Brian Dunning is the host of The Skeptoid podcast, and host of the new film "The UFO Movie THEY Don't Want You To See." Links: Brian Dunning's "The UFO Movie THEY Don't Want You To See" https://www.briandunning.com/ufo/ TPO: Why UFOs are in the News https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-ufos-are-in-the-news/id1439837349?i=1000489860085 Heaton's novel, Frank Got Abducted https://www.amazon.com/Frank-Got-Abducted-Andrew-Heaton-ebook/dp/B00HSE9OZI/?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=qNkeY&content-id=amzn1.sym.ed85217c-14c9-4aa0-b248-e47393e2ce12&pf_rd_p=ed85217c-14c9-4aa0-b248-e47393e2ce12&pf_rd_r=136-0886507-5175312&pd_rd_wg=1QCog&pd_rd_r=70c12931-a2c0-4e79-b4a1-130dac827ad2&ref_=aufs_ap_sc_dsk Orphan Meetup - Wings Edinburgh on Old Fishmarket Close in Edinburgh, Scotland at 7:00 PM, Wednesday Sept 6th.

Is nuclear power cheap and safe, or dangerous and expensive? Dr. Robert Zubrin is the author of "The Case for Nukes: How We Can Beat Global Warming and Create a Free, Open, and Magnificent Future." Zubrin holds Master of Science degrees in Nuclear Engineering and Aeronautics and Astronautics, and a doctorate in Nuclear Engineering, from the University of Washington. Prior to his work in aerospace, Dr. Zubrin worked in areas of radiation protection, nuclear power plant safety, thermonuclear fusion research, and as a secondary school science and math teacher. Find his book at: mightyheaton.com/featured SUPPORT THE SHOW! Patreon.com/andrewheaton LINKS: Zubrin on TPO: "I Want to Build a Moon Base" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-98-i-want-to-build-a-moon-base-guest-robert-zubrin/id1439837349?i=1000434628317 Zubrin on ATA: "Turns Out, We're All Probably Martians" https://podcasts.apple.com/dk/podcast/turns-out-were-all-probably-martians/id1488171922?i=1000474556038&l=da

Dr. Steve Fuller of Warwick University says the meaningful split in society is not Leftwing vs. Rightwing, but rather Upwing vs. Downwing. Both have radically different attitudes to both risk and human nature, which informs their policy decisions and the direction they want to steer society. SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton Dr. Fuller's book at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured Referenced in the show today: TPO: "Was Abraham Lincoln Leftwing or Rightwing?" https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/hyrum-lewis "Transcenant Man" – Documentary by Ray Kurzweill about the Singularity https://www.amazon.co.uk/Transcendent-Man-Ray-Kurzweil/dp/B016V7WCLA ATA: The Bioethics of Gattica – Discussed on Alienating the Audience https://alienating.libsyn.com/gattaca ATA: How Cryonics Works – Interview on Alienating the Audience https://alienating.libsyn.com/we-can-freeze-you-how-cryonics-works

Lawrence Lessig of Harvard University is the nation's foremost thinker and advocate for campaign finance reform around SuperPAC's. He joins the show to argue for governing political campaigns and SuperPAC's under the same rules. Lessig's website and contest: https://equalcitizens.us/crowdfund-video/

Statistics can be mangled to say whatever you'd like, and sometimes they're garbage to begin with. Aaron Brown teaches statistics at New York University and at the University of California. He joins to tip us off on statistical malfeasance.

America is less geographically-focused than ever, but her government is still foundationally built around land areas. What would politics look like if geography played less of a role? Max Borders joins to discuss. SUPPORT THE SHOW! Patreon.com/andrewheaton TOP TEN EPISODES: www.mightyheaton.com/bestof Max's Constitution writing contest: https://underthrow.substack.com/p/the-constitution-of-consent-contest Referenced Today: The Network State, by Balaji Srinivasan The Dawn of Everything, by David Graeber and David Wengrow

Thom Taylor is Los Angeles financial advisor who spent a decade writing for movie magazines. He knows the creative and business side of Hollywood, and how the current writer strike is apt to alter the trajectory of entertainment. Thom's website is www.delreycap.com Raymond Chandler article: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1945/11/writers-in-hollywood/306454/?fbclid=IwAR1_W5PZ_esxYb8WCRViCmsVfnEyyw8eedUhOVN1hiPrXQ3ji3nIYemTtOI

Last week the Supreme Court effectively banned race considerations in higher education admissions. Anastasia Boden returns to discuss the relevant constitutional law, and the underlying ideological issues. Support the show! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton Top Ten Episodes: mightyheaton.com/bestof Mugs at: www.mightyheaton.com/merch Anastasia's Twitter: @Anastasia_esq

The Harvard Study of Adult Development spans 83-years of health and happiness data analysis, and counting! Its director is Dr. Robert Waldinger, author of "The Good Life: Lessons from the World's Longest Scientific Study of Happiness." He joins to discuss his findings. Support the show! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton Top 10 Episodes! www.mightyheaton.com/bestof Discord Link: https://discord.gg/9JnUfp627n Find the Book at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured Waldinger's Sangha: http://newtonzen.org/teachers.html

The World's Smartest Podcast Networks convenes to ask: is Cancel Culture on its way out? Comedian Hannah Gadsby's art exhibit "Pablo-Matic" draws attention to the misogynist side of Pablo Picasso… but didn't seem to get much attention itself. Turner Sparks, Andrea Jones-Rooy, and Andrew Heaton combine forces to discuss the end of Cancel Culture and how funny comedy needs to be to be comedy. NYT piece: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/01/arts/design/hannah-gadsby-brooklyn-museum-picasso.html Poll: Who Gets Canceled? https://www.patreon.com/posts/poll-who-gets-84935788?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Attorney Anna Gorisch returns to explain the Commerce Clause, and how it's gone from a restraint on state-on-state protectionism to a trump card for federal oversight to subvert local control.

This episode we dive into animal suffering, big agriculture, and the laws Big Meat has on the books to restrict freedom of speech. As well as what basic animal welfare laws would look like, and how much they would cost. Guest Lewis Bollard leads Open Philanthropy's strategy for Animal Farm Welfare. TOP EPISODES: www.mightyheaton.com/bestof SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton

Bijoy Goswami is the author of "The Human Fabric: Unleashing the Power of Core Energy in Everyone." He joins the show to discuss the personalities that make teams flop or excel, and how they apply to politics. Bijoy's course: www.aviri.com/p/mre

The National Debt engorges daily--when does it collapse in on itself and crater the economy? In this special we tackle the nature of federal debt, the apocalyptic scenarios its current trajectory leads to, and the pitfalls along the way. Plus, where the train went off the rails, when deficits are smart or dangerous, and the solutions we could enact to ward off fiscal Armageddon. SAVE WALLACE! - https://mightyheaton.com/savewallace PayPal: [email protected] Venmo: @andrew-heaton-1 P.O. Box: Andrew Heaton, 1401 Lavaca Street, No. 594, Austin, TX 78701

Where would Lincoln fall on the Left-Right spectrum? Was Jefferson a radical leftist? Was Hamilton a reactionary conservative? If the whole Left-Right spectrum is bunk... where did it come from, and when did it become universal? Professor Hyrum Lewis joins to discuss his new book, "The Myth of Left and Right: How the Political Spectrum Misleads and Harms America." Top Ten Best Episodes: www.mightyheaton.com/bestof SUPPORT THE SHOW! Patreon.com/andrewheaton Featured Books at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured

Think tanks from the right and left regularly glorify Singapore's economy as either an exemplary free market or a progressive rockstar. Meanwhile, it's regularly lampooned as an authoritarian state with questionable democracy. What the hell is it?! Comedian Sam See, of Singapore, joins to discuss TOP TEN EPISODES: www.mightyheaton.com/bestof

What do military research boondoogles on astral projection, psychic boon-bending children, and extensive bouts of policy antics all have in common? Confirmation bias. Brian Brushwood and Justin Robert Young join the show to discuss confirmation bias vis a vis their hit podcast, "World's Greatest Con" World's Greatest Con: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/worlds-greatest-con/id1572307941

Jason Voiovich is a sales and marketing professional, and author of "Marketer in Chief." He joins the show to discuss how advertisers see politics, and what policy wonks and electioneers do not. TOP TEN EPISODES: Mightyheaton.com/bestof Bonus Episode: Pitch to Red and Blue States! https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-game-pitch-69066400?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton

Will Storr is the author of "The Status Game: On Human Life and How to Play It." He joins to discuss the never-ending scrum for status which defines human hierarchies. We're Not Wrong Live Show https://www.eventbrite.com/e/were-not-wrong-live-in-austin-alamo-drafthouse-on-south-lamar-tickets-616098586457

Rainer Zitelmann is the author of "In Defense of Capitalism: Debunking the Myths." He joins to make a plea for free markets and economic freedom, and counters the most common arguments against capitalism. "How Nazis Thought About Economics" https://www.patreon.com/posts/how-nazis-about-70960173?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Freddy deBoer is an author, academic, and Marxist. He joins the show to discuss the nature and worldview of Marxism. "Laughter is Better Than Communism" https://www.amazon.com/Laughter-Better-Communism-Andrew-Heaton-ebook/dp/B00IC4H1PS

What hoops do you have to jump through to work in America or become a citizen? Is it worse under Democrat or Republican administrations? What could make it better? Immigration attorney Anna Gorisch joins to discuss.

Media trust is on the decline, but what's causing it? If it's bias, what accounts for the perceived increase? Steve Krakauer is a long-time journalist from NBC, Fox, Mediate, CNN, The Blaze, and now the producer of the Megyn Kelley show. He's the author of the new book "Uncovered: How the Media Got Cozy with Power, Abandoned Its Principles, and Lost the People."

The Internet brings astonishing knowledge, convenience, and communication to modern society. But overall does it make us more or less happy than before we invented it? Rex Williams, host of The Whiskey Tribe, joins to ask: If you could pull the plug on the Internet, forever–would that really be so bad? "We Try to Match Churchill Drink for Drink... send help." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrbwvG0XeUQ

Robert Aldridge is the 258th Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Scotland. He previously served a Councilor in Edinburgh since 1984, focusing on city enviornment, recycling, refuse collection, street cleaning, parks, and homelessness. He is the former Chief Executive of the Scottish Council for Single Homeless and latterly Homeless Action Scotland.

Dave Amos is a the producer and host of "City Beautiful" on YouTube, and Assistant Professor of City Planning at Caly Poly San Luis Obispo. He joins to discuss urban design, and how to make cities more attractive and livable.