The Political Orphanage

How do we determine when to retire truly offensive words and replace confusing ones, against virtue signaling and shifting goal posts? Ron Hayden of "Worth Watching" and Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy of "Majoring in Everything" join to discuss.

Inflation is at an 11-year high--what's causing it! How do we solve it, and how does it effect us (and our bank accounts)? John Cochrane, "The Grumpy Economist" joins to discuss. Plus: Hyperinflation . . . via the French Revolution!

In "How to Change Minds: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion," science writer David McRaney explores proven ways to get people to unstuck themselves from entrenched opinions and think straight. Get "How to Change Minds" at www.mightyheaton.com/featured Relevant Episodes: Peter Boghassian on "How to Talk to Insufferable Ideologues" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-talk-to-insufferable-ideologues-featuring-peter/id1439837349?i=1000464778737 Andrea Jones-Rooy on "How to Unstuck Idiot Political Beliefs" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-unstuck-idiot-political-beliefs/id1439837349?i=1000463382249 Adaam Levin-Areddy on Cognitive Dissonance: https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/cognative-dissonance David McRaney on Groupthink https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-monkey-groupthink-beats-human-logic/id1439837349?i=1000556387655

Court Packing! In the wake of Roe v. Wade, Progressives want to insert new justices to tip back the majority. In this episode we explore the several times politicians have rigged the courts. And then analyze the best available reforms to make the Supreme Court less of a partisan volcano.

Let's talk to a treasure hunter about the laws and politics of finding old gold at the bottom of the ocean! Who owns the gold? Do governments squabble over it? What ratio of lawyers to diving equipment do you need to salvage and sell said gold? Chip Forsythe is establishing a multi-million dollar treasure hunting expedition along the Atlantic seafloor--in search of sunken gold.

Let's take a numbers-first approach to gun legislation. In the wake of horrible mass shootings, gun control and advocacy groups are digging their heals, and often relying on bumper sticker canards. Rather than approaching this issue ideologically, or even inductively, we're going to look at ways to dramatically reduce gun deaths by looking at the numbers. "Gun Deaths by the Numbers" with Guy Smith: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gun-deaths-by-the-numbers/id1439837349?i=1000508430461

"Demographic Winter" occurs when a nation's population growth is so bottlenecked that its labor is unable to sustain the economy in basics like tax revenue, health care services--and food. Much of the developed world, with laggardly birthrates, is poised to tumble off that demographic cliff. Ken Gronbach is an internationally lauded demographer. Analyzing population macrotrends, he forecasts calamities, upswings, and political and economic changes in the near future. He joins to discuss the "Demographic Winter" poised to afflict much of the world, plus what the United States can anticipate over the next two decades as Baby Boomers retire and a fresh generation steps up.

What happens when authorities try to shield their decisions by draping themselves in lab coats? What's the difference between the Scientific Method, and a religious "appeal to authority" where the authority is a scientist we agree with? Ron Hayden joins to discuss the difference between science and scientism, and the downsides of conflating the two.

Jamie Kilstein got canceled and canceled hard–in 2017 his marriage, podcast, standup comedy career, and social life all imploded in a fiery explosion. He joins the show to talk about what happens when you build a career around instigating the mob, and then the mob suddenly turns on you. And what rehabilitation looks like after. YouTube version: https://youtu.be/q5_EFZ7K-sM SUPPORT THE SHOW! Patreon.com/andrewheaton

Rerun from Judge Week! Originalism is the favored jurisprudence of conservative scions like Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas. It's predicated on the notion that laws have fixed meanings, determined at the moment of their ratification according to the language of their day. Professor Green is the H.L.A. Hart Scholar of Law & Philosophy at the University of Mississippi. A graduate of Princeton, Yale, and Notre Dame, he has clerked for the U.S. Court of Appeals on the Fifth Circuit, practiced as a private litigator, is the author of multiple books, and is a sought-after speaker about Originalism, executive power, and the 14th Amendment.

A rerun from Judge Week! When the Constitution says "cruel and unusual punishment" does it mean by the standards of the 18th century, or our own? How much latitude should jurists take when interpreting the law? Professor David Strauss of the University of Chicago has argued nineteen cases before the United States Supreme Court, formerly served as Special Counsel to the Committee on the Judiciary of the United States Senate, and sits on the Board of Directors of the American Constitution Society. He joins Heaton to discuss Living Constitutionalism: the school of jurisprudence favored by progressive judges.

Does the Constitution affirm a right to abortion? The Supreme Court is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade, removing federal protections on abortion. We explore this historic case, as well as the leaked Alito draft on Dobbs v. Jackson, and how constitutional law applies to abortion. YouTube at: https://youtu.be/7D2ozfZOab4

Larry Sharpe is running for governor in New York as a Libertarian, but may not even be able to get on the ballot. When third parties pick up steam, state governments erect barriers to keep them off the ballot and maintain the system. In this episode we explore the issue of ballot suppression, and how it stacks up alongside gerrymandering and voter suppression.

Comedians, television, and film all tend to lean Democrat. Why is that? Is there something inherently unfunny about Republicans, or do the powers that be just not let the funny ones inside the building? Comedians Jeff Maurer and Andrew Young discuss orthodoxy and anti-authoritarianism in comedy, and media scholar Matt Sienkiewicz discusses his new book "That's Not Funny: How the Right Makes Comedy Work for Them"

Cognitive dissonance occurs when our actions are out of sync with our perception of ourself or the world, or a new opinion or piece of data makes us question our worldview. It's an incredibly uncomfortable feeling, which most people wave away by dismissing the objection, redefining the situation, or sometimes outright violence. Adaam Levin-Areddy, host of the "Uncertain Things" podcast joins to discuss why we should plow directly into cognitive dissonance, rather than avoid it.

Does distributed power check tyranny, or simply empower petty tyrants? What's the relationship between efficiency, scale, and the size of government? In this episode we explore the pro's and con's of dispersed power. Join the Orphanage! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton

Batya Ungar-Sargon says liberal pieties have more to do with the managerial class's disdain for the poor and maintaining elite status than with actual racism in the country. She is the deputy opinion editor of Newsweek, and the author of "Bad News: How Woke Media is Undermining Democracy." JOIN THE ORPHANAGE: www.patreon.com/andrewheaton Paypal: andrew@mightyheaton Venmo: andrew-heaton-1

David McRaney is host of the "Your Are Not So Smart" podcast, and joins to discuss how our monkey brains are more wired to promote group cohesion than to think critically or logically--and what to do about it. JOIN THE ORPHANAGE! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton

Scuzzy businesses routinely try to regulate away competitors so they don't have compete in a free and open market. Those cads! Justin Pearson of the Institute for Justice joins to discuss the many ways in which dubious characters use the power of the state to stifle competition. Join the Orphanage! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton

Are you a Liberal or a Realist when it comes to geopolitics? This episode is a crash course in International Relations Theory: What is the fundamental nature of conflict between states? Naked power, relationships, or a clash of ideas? By the end of today's program, you'll grasp the fundamentals of IR Theory. JOIN THE ORPHANAGE: www.patreon.com/andrewheaton Venmo: andrew-heaton-1 PayPal: [email protected]

As the situation in Ukraine continues to escalate, it's important to keep our tribal impulses in check, and ensure we remain level-headed and credulous when everyone gets excited and starts bandwagoning.

Michael Weiss joins the show to discuss Russia's "Potemkin Military" and how a pratfall invasion coupled with global pariah status could lead to Putin's downfall. Michael Weiss on How Putin Thinks: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-vladimir-putin-thinks/id1439837349?i=1000473057626 Michael Weiss on Darth Vader: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/darth-vader-is-a-19th-century-supervillain/id1488171922?i=1000511538475

Jen Briney of "Congressional Dish" joins to discuss sanctions, economic warfare, and the underlying rationale for Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Support the show! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton Venmo: @andrew-heaton-1 Paypal: [email protected]

My new book "Inappropriately Human: 21 Short Stories" is now available as an audio book! You can listen to it via Audible.com. To pique your interest, here is a funny story from it: "RE: Your Timeline Infractions." Download your copy on Amazon.com, or mightyheaton.com/books

Why do some activist movements change the world, when others make a big bang and then fizzle out? Gal Beckerman is the author of "The Quiet Before: On the Unexpected Origins of Radical Ideas." You can find a copy at mightyheaton.com/featured

My hero just died. In this special episode, I talk about the beloved political satirist P. J. O'Rourke, and his impact on me personally. Then play a rerun of his final interview on this program, wherein we discuss his book "A Cry From the Far Middle."

Charles Cooke of National Review joins the show to discuss embattled podcast host Joe Rogan as the flashpoint between authoritarianism and free speech. And to elaborate on the difference between state censorship, and a culture of open expression against that of self-censorship.

Joe Biden has pledged to nominate a black woman to the forthcoming Supreme Court vacancy--should race and gender factor in at all? In politics, does ideology or identity weigh more heavily? Jeremiah Johnson and Andrea Jones-Rooy joins to discuss. Against Malaria Foundation https://www.againstmalaria.com/orphans Nita Fashions https://www.nitafashions.com/

What are the therapeutic benefits to psychedelics, like psilocybin mushrooms or LSD? What are their potential downsides? In this episode we talk to Sarah Rose Siskind of "Drug Test" comedy show, as well as Aella @Aella_Girl, who spent a year doing a colossal amount of LSD. Prior Drug War episode with Jeff Miron: "So What Would Happen if We Legalized Heroin"? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/so-what-would-happen-if-we-legalized-heroin/id1439837349?i=1000479373766 Join the Orphanage! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton

Alan Graham is the Founder of Community First Village, an innovative community that houses the homeless and integrates them into a vibrant community. It's a model that takes care of both the material and emotional needs of the downtrodden, and one which is replicable throughout the country. Community First: https://mlf.org/community-first/

What are the dumb ways we try but fail to solve homelessness, or even make it worse? In this episode we cover: * Economics * Housing Policy * Elizabethan History * Mental Health * Really stupid zoning laws In hopes of coming up with better solutions to the current homeless situation in the United States. JOIN THE ORPHANAGE AND SUPPORT THE SHOW! Go to www.patreon.com/andrewheaton

The World's Smartest Podcast Network returns for a roundtable discussion about: * What the hell is happening with Covid now? * What the hell are we supposed to do about Afghanistan? * Reddit's infamous r/AntiWork * Elizabeth Holmes vs Ghislaine Maxwell

I've got a new book! "Inappropriately Human: 21 Short Stories." An anthology of funny and/or scifi pieces from yours truly. Available at www.mightyheaton.com/books or on Amazon, or by shoplifting. To kick things off, I'm reading one of the stories therein: The Grammy for Best Alien Performance." Enjoy!

Bryan Caplan favors open borders--the idea that the United States should allow unlimited immigration into the country (save for disqualifying criminals or disease). He is an economist at George Mason University, and joins the show to discuss the humanitarian and economic case for open borders. "Open Borders: The Science And Ethics of Immigration" www.mightyheaton.com/featured JOIN THE ORPHANAGE: www.patreon.com/andrewheaton

Marty Mongiello is a former White House Chef and GM at Camp David, and joins the show to discuss what it's like working inside of the White House, and the astonishing amount of counter intelligence operations staff must deal with. Heaton's personal tailor, Nita Fashions: [email protected] Chef Marty's cooking class: mightyheaton.com/cooking My forthcoming book launch and reading will be at Cosmic Coffee in Austin, TX at 4:00 PM on Saturday, January 15th. See you then!

Hark! A Christmas special! Sponsored by a horse-themed diner. Contains swearing. Please enjoy this fourth Snuffy's Christmas, and go easy on the horsenog. "A Grander Snuffy's Christmas" https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/a-grander-snuffys-christmas "Another Snuffy's Christmas" https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/snuffys-christmas-2019 "A Very Snuffy's Christmas" https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/ep-30-a-very-snuffys-christmas-0

Released from behind the paywall: Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy joins to talk about the nature of gender, and what it's like for people who don't easily fit into the existing boxes. Join the Orphanage! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton

Jonathan Rauch is the author of "The Constitution of Knowledge: A Defense of Truth." He joins the show to talk about separating good ideas from bad ideas, and how their restriction leads to a dumber and dangerous society. The Constitution of Knowledge: www.mightyheaton.com/featured Nita Fashions: https://www.nitafashions.com/

Neil Postman postulated that society avoided the totalitarian nightmares of George Orwell, only to embrace the frivolous idiocy of Aldous Huxley. His book "Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business" questions the effects of television and infotainment on politics and culture. Andrew Young and Justin Robert Young join to discuss. New history podcast: Losers, Pretenders & Scoundrels https://link.chtbl.com/SvbVq0zp Nita Fashions: https://www.nitafashions.com/

John Mozena is an expert on crony capitalism, better known as "economic development subsidies." He is the President of the Center for Economic Accountability, and joins to discuss the abysmal economics of throwing money at corporations to attract them to states and towns. Reason TV's Amazon HQ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_eG7leM6ew Mostly Weekly: Stop Subsidizing Sports! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=652fdt5Razg&feature=emb_title

Margaret MacMillan is a war historian, and the author of "War: How It Shaped Us." She joins the show to discuss the nature of war, its history, what precipitates conflict, and how to avert it. Join the orphanage at: www.patreon.com/andrewheaton Tips: Venmo: andrew-heaton-1 PayPal: [email protected]

Matt Ridley is a science writer and member of the House of Lords, and Alina Chan is a scientist and molecular biologist. They are the authors of the new book "Viral: The Search for the Origin of Covid-19." They join the show to discuss the genesis of the pandemic, Chinese obfuscation, and how transparency is needed to forestall future plagues.

Andrew Yang just left the Democratic Party to form the Forward Party. He joins to discuss electoral reform, and his book "Forward: Notes on the Future of Our Democracy." Justin Amash interview: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/justin-amash-wants-to-unclog-congress/id1439837349?i=1000514178120 Katherine Gehl interview: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-spook-the-politics-industry/id1439837349?i=1000511386408 Pedde GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/4ad5fff1

Dave Chappelle's new Netflix special "The Closer" unleashed a cultural firestorm over transgender comments. Is it offensive? What makes a joke offensive? Comedian Jeff Maurer joins to discuss. Friday Release Valve (comedy podcast) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/friday-release-valve/id1573283082 "I Might Be Wrong" (Jeff's newsletter) https://imightbewrong.substack.com/

John McWhorter joins the show to discuss the mindset of victimhood, and Wokeness as a new religion. His new book is "Woke Racism: How a New Religion Has Betrayed Black America" Support the Show: www.patreon.com/andrewheaton Buy the book: mightyheaton.com/featured

Dr. Chuck Shipan is the author of "Why Bad Policies Spread (and Good Ones Don't)". He is joined by Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy, a comedian and political scientist, to discuss the forces and circumstances which lead to good and bad policy proliferation from state to state.

Perverse Incentives! Unintended Consequences! Today we explore how governments can screw things up by confusing incentives with dictating motivation or outcomes. Support the show: Patreon.com/andrewheaton Tip me! Venmo: @andrew-heaton-1

George F. Will is a Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist, and the author of "American Happiness and Discontents: The Unruly Torrent, 2008-2020." He joins the show to discuss the Culture War, failings of academia, jurisprudence, politics, and economics. Find Mr. Will's book at mightyheaton.com/featured Previous George Will interview: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/03-george-will-saves-america-baseball-the-gop-etc/id1439837349?i=1000445244846

Robby Soave is a senior editor at Reason, and the author of "Tech Panic: Why We Shouldn't Fear Facebook and the Future." He comes to discuss politicians' misplaced anger with large tech companies, and why their fears are unfounded. Find his book at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured

Jason Feifer is the host of "Build for Tomorrow" (formerly "The Pessimist Archives") and joins the show to discuss why we needlessly react to new technologies with fear. Did you know that society once balked at the dangerous technologies of radios, novels, and teddy bears? We get into all of them on today's show! SUPPORT THE SHOW: www.patreon.com/andrewheaton