The Political Orphanage

Alice Vaughn and Yvette d'Entremont return to explore the week's best, underserved headlines, including stuff about cannons, 90s video games, and pregnancy tests. You can watch this on YouTube! Head to: https://youtu.be/U3TKyZKoZzM "Inspired by Kevin MacLeod" Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3918-inspired License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license

Yuval Levin thinks our sclerotic government and alienated culture trace back to anemic, declining institutions. As Congress, the press, and think tanks all lose esprit de corps, and turn into platforms for individual self promotion, gridlock and disgust ensue. He's the author of "A Time to Build: From Family and Community to Congress and the Campus, How Recommitting to Our Institutions Can Revive the American Dream." He joins the show to discuss.

Jeremey Kareken and Andrew Young join the program to make sense of the week's greatest, underserved headlines. From a Scotsman who tries to cross the Irish Sea on a jet ski, to Adolf Hitler's alias, to an Austrian town sick of their inappropriate name. "Del Rio Bravo" by Kevin MacLeod, Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5706-del-rio-bravo, License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license "Alcohol, Diamonds, and Beef" by Kimarie Sky https://www.kimariesky.com/

Trump protestors stormed the U.S. Capitol today! Jen Briney of "Congressional Dish" and Justin Robert Young of "Politics Politics Politics" plus yours truly convene to try to inject some meaning into the landscape.

Larry Sharpe joins the program to talk about how the Covid pandemic will affect and depopulate major cities, why urban life naturally leads to a preference for strong government, and how a potential demographic reversal could result in a rural renaissance. Also: a good rant about the Federal Reserve!

American public schooling came into its own during the Industrial Revolution, with standardized age cohorts, bells signifying start and stop times, and predictable timelines. What models are apt to apply to our current era in the Digital Revolution? Lisa Snell is Director of K-12 Education Policy Partnerships at Stand Together. She comes on to discuss how technology is leading away from standardized to individualized education, and how the pandemic is likely to accelerate that trend.

Gather round for the 2020 Third Annual Snuffy's Christmas Special! Brought to you by your friends at Snuffy's, Off Route 44, who both sponsored and insisted on writing this episode. Not suitable for emotionally well-adjusted children. Cast: Andrew Heaton Josh Jennings Austin Bragg Justin Robert Young Ashley Paramour Brian Sack Jack Helmuth Kourtni Beebe Andrew Young

An all new Christmas special airs this Wednesday, Dec 23, 2020! Until then, enjoy the second Snuffy's Annual Christmas Special: "The Political Orphanage's oldest and most enthusiastic show sponsor, Snuffy's Off Route 44, has kindly offered to pay for this year's Christmas special. On the condition that the staff of Snuffy's write it in its entirety. Merry Christmas!" Featuring: Josh Jennings, Austin Bragg, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood. Season 2, Ep 25. Original air date December 2019

An all new Christmas special airs this Wednesday, Dec 23, 2020. Until then, enjoy the first Snuffy's Annual Christmas Special: The show's principle sponsor funds an entire holiday special, in exchange for allowing its waitstaff to write the entire script. Original air date: Dec 2018

Turner Sparks and Mike Kaplan, hosts of "Lost in America" rejoin the program to explore the week's funniest, underserved headlines. Including: the world's more efficient criminal, why Thai protests are aesthetically superior to all other protests, and novel ways to cook chicken and get arrested for it.

Dana Perino was the White House Press Secretary for George W. Bush, and is presently a co-host on the Fox News panel show "The Five" and the host of "The Daily Briefing." She joins the program to talk about what it's like to be a press secretary, representing both the president and the press corps, and what the job entails.

The WSPN roundtable--Andrea Jones-Rooy, Turner Sparks, Mike Kaplan, and yours truly--reassembles to discuss: * The Decline of American Hegemony * North Korean vaccine hacking efforts * What exactly is Rudy Giuliani up to? * Geothermal Power Turner and Mike's podcast is "Lost in America" https://www.turnersparks.com/lost-in-america-podcast Andrea Jones-Rooy's podcast is "Ask a Political Scientist" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ask-a-political-scientist/id1534440528

Matt Donnelly and Paul Mattingly return! The hilarious/reprobate hosts of Matt & Mattingly's Ice Cream Social join to discuss the week's funniest, underserved headlines. Including: the winner of the national mullet competition, nukes on the Moon, and bovine facial recognition software. Youtube Version: https://youtu.be/VB2Qp6NINXw SUPPORT THE PROGRAM Patreon - patreon.com/andrewheaton PayPal andrew@mightyheaton Venmo @andrew-heaton-1 PO BOX - Andrew Heaton, 1401 Lavaca Street #594, Austin TX, 78701

What's the landscape of political violence in the United States, and does that stack up against the groups we hear about in the news? Today we're going to explore Antifa, Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and also crunch the numbers on which groups in America are -actually- the most violent and deadly. SUPPORT THE PROGRAM Patreon - patreon.com/andrewheaton PayPal andrew@mightyheaton Venmo @andrew-heaton-1 PO BOX - Andrew Heaton, 1401 Lavaca Street #594, Austin TX, 78701

Scottish Comedian of the Year Leo Kearse triumphantly returns to the program to discuss the week's underserved headlines, including: Burning crematoriums, Hugh Jackman's flawed worldview of the animal kingdom, the oldest pregnant woman in America, and Bud Lite's new gaming venture.

Which is scarier: nuclear war or robots? Asteroid impact or climate change? Martin Rees is the founder of The Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at Cambridge University. He joins the program to talk about how to calculate the probability of threats to humanity, and what we should be sweating. He's also the Astronomer Royal of the United Kingdom, the country's foremost mathematician, and the author of "On The Future: Prospects for Humanity." Here's a link to his book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/069118044X?tag=mightyheaton-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1

Andrea Jones-Rooy and Kevin Seefried return to the program to discuss the week's underserved headlines, including: Spike Lee's next big film, a giant raccoon on the loose, Donkey Kong defamation lawsuits, and the Irish government. You can watch this episode on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/o9A_G8LpIPc

Niccolò Machiavelli and John Stuart Mill are two deeply impactful political thinkers on modern civilization. The former is the patron saint of ruthless realpolitik; the latter the godfather of classical liberalism. Classicist and lauded madman Brian Wilson rejoins the program to compare the two political philosophers and draw lessons for modern society.

Andrew Young and Nick Sperdute join the show to discuss the week's most under reported headlines: underwater scooter chases, the time a school of herring almost started a war with Russia, and Canadian pizza indulgences.

Let's investigate Trump's voter fraud allegations and his ensuing courtroom battles to flip swing states. Plus the danger to democracy imposed by the president undermining it, and the many points in American history when rule of law could have gone off the rails.

(Not Safe for Kids) Yvette d'Entremont and Alice Vaughn are the hosts of "Two Girls One Mic," a podcast that reviews the plots of porn films. They join Heaton to sort out the week's underserved headlines, including stuff about Godzilla, gay penguins, and naked sushi. You can find Two Girls One Mic at: https://www.twogirlsonemic.com/

Jen Briney is host of "Congressional Dish," a podcast that deep dives Congress, its legislation, and its shenanigans. She comes on to discuss what the election means for the next few months, and the gambits lawmakers employ to push their agendas through without actually having to publicly debate them.

Jack Helmuth and Brian Sack of "Questionable Material" return in neon glory to unpack the week's best headlines, including noctiginarian shootouts, the global importance of Belgian fishing adventures, and soliciting sex workers in graveyards.

Last night had a significant tell you can't gleam from polling or minute-by-minute vote counts. We don't know who's going to win, but I can tell you who both candidates think will. Plus: what the next few days of legal trench warfare are gonna look like.

If Trump wins, does he become the standard model for GOP candidates? If he loses, do Romneyites tiptoe back? Does a Biden victory forestall the ascent of his party's activist wing, or is he the last gasp of Democratic centrism, regardless? Justin Robert Young joins the program to talk about the long-term consequences of either outcome.

The World's Smartest Podcast Network roundtable convenes to bring you a guide to state ballot initiatives happening around the country: Reintroducing wolves to Colorado, reintroducing ethnic discrimination to California, voting and involuntary labor for felons, and Ranked Choice Voting in Massachusetts. The Roundtable includes: Turner Sparks and Michael Kaplan of the "Lost in America" podcast and Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy of "Ask a Political Scientist". Go to worldssmartestpodcastnetwork.com to check them out!

Comedians Brian Parise and Andrew Young join the show to discuss the week's best, underserved headlines. Including: how to bribe your way to superior wine, vampire swing voters, and newspaper heists. Brian's new comedy album is "Last Wishes," available here: https://800pgr.lnk.to/pariseWE

The Alliance Party is positioning itself to scoop up disaffected centrists from the two major parties, rather than establishing itself as a third ideological core. They're in the process of absorbing the Reform Party, which had the most successful third party track record since Teddy Roosevelt. Jim Rex is the founder and National Chairman of the Alliance Party, and Michelle Griffith is party Vice Chair.

The Libertarian Party is the only minor party that will be on all fifty state ballots this year, and Jo Jorgensen and Spike Cohen are its presidential and vice presidential nominees. They join the show to discuss free market health care, not bombing people, and libertarianism as an alternative to Republicans and Democrats. Jo Jorgensen at 12:20 Spike Cohen at 25:28

Don Blankenship is primarily concerned with protectionist trade and immigration policy, and federal spending--as well as fidelity to constitutional principles. He's running as the 2020 Constitution Party presidential candidate, a minor party more typically known for its socially conservative positions.

Howie Hawkins is the 2020 Green Party presidential nominee. He joins the program to talk to Heaton about the Green Party's environmental and economic agenda, non-interventionist foreign policy, and why he thinks running as an outsider is more effective than operating within a major party.

Kyle Mann and Ethan Nicolle, the Editor-in-Chief and Creative Director of The Babylon Bee, join Heaton to discuss political satire, why Christians are suddenly funny, and the week's best underserved headlines. Including: kidney drones, censored parrots, and why the planet Venus might lead to our total destruction.

John Fund is National Review's national-affairs editor, and the author of two books on voter fraud. He joins Heaton to discuss its prevalence and potential to effect election outcomes.

Brian Sack and Jack Helmuth of "Questionable Material with Jack and Brian" triumphantly return to the show to discuss the week's best, underserved headlines including: dinosaur statues, the worst dentist in America, and robot promises to not murder us all!

Jack Goldstone, an expert in revolutions and why and when they happen, joins the program to talk about the possibility of uprisings or civil unrest in the United States in the wake of the November 3rd election. He discusses what form revolutions would take in America, how likely such a movement is now or in our lifetimes, and why a calm election outcome on November 4th is all but impossible. Dr. Goldstone is a Professor of Public Policy at George Mason University, author of "Revolutions: A Very Short Introduction," and a 2020 Carnegie Fellow.

This episode is mostly about political graffiti in Oakland, as a means by which to explore the politics of the Bay Area, a progressive beacon in a Democratic state. However this travelogue has been overshadowed somewhat by getting robbed.

It's time for another installment of Friday Release Valve to wrap up Judge Week, including asking a former law professor about laws pertaining to crocodile ransom money! Comedians Myq Kaplan and Liz Glaser join the show to discuss that plus: formal hazmat suits, naked golf carts, and Alabama. Enjoy!

Is judicial activism bad if it's focused on protecting civil liberties from government incursion? Where do libertarians and conservatives diverge in jurisprudence? Tim Sandefur is Vice President of Litigation at the Goldwater Institute, and makes the case for judicial engagement in the defense of individual rights.

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.

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.

Judge Andrew Napolitano is a former Judge of the New Jersey Superior Court, a law professor, and prolific author. He's the Senior Judicial Analyst at Fox News. He joins the show to discuss Natural Law, and the idea that the role of the courts is predominantly to protect individual rights from government incursion.

It's Judge Week on The Political Orphanage! Where we learn the actual fault lines between judicial theories, and possibly even what "jurisprudence" means. This week we'll hear from preeminent progressive, conservative, and libertarian legal scholars about what actually happens behind the gavel. In this kickoff episode we talk about: * The role of judges * Why it's usually stupid to say "conservative judge" or "progressive judge" * What jurisprudence is * What precedent is

Andrew Young and John Devore join Heaton to sort out the week's best, underserved headlines, including stories about: Quebec, exhuming a dead president to prove a point, a poorly-named town in New York, and further evidence that New Hampshire is amazing.

You can't truly understand last night's Trump vs. Biden debate without hearing from comedians, because so much of the train wreck was performative or outright heckling. Comedians Turner Sparks, Andrea Jones-Rooy, Michael Kaplan, and Heaton discuss: Was there an actual strategy behind last night's antics? What's the balance of horror to petulance? The episode is the first joint venture of the brand new World's Smartest Podcasting Network, an alliance of independent comedians with the goal of making politics suck less! Other network shows are: "The Lost in America Podcast" with Turner Sparks & Michael Kaplan, and "Ask a Political Scientist" with Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy.

Comedian Darryl Charles and sex expert Dr. Timaree Leigh, hosts of DTF: Darryl & Timaree Fun Hour, join the program to sort out the week's underserved headlines. Including: Snake orgies! In defense of pandas! And penis gun antics

Dr. Loretta Breuning of the Inner Mammal Institute joins the show to discuss how status and neurochemicals prompt us to fight in politics, and the evolutionary roots of tribalism.

Jeremy Kareken and Joe Terwilliger join Heaton to sort out the week's best, under served headlines, including stories about: * Dennis Rodman * Bear bone vodka * Priests blessing nuclear weapons

Political satirist and personal hero P.J. O'Rourke triumphantly returns to discuss his latest book, "A Cry From the Far Middle: Dispatches from a Divided Land." In which he makes stirring defense of: classical liberalism, temperamental moderates, and governing through math instead of throwing wads of cash at problems. Support the program by going to patreon.com/andrewheaton

(Definitely Not Safe for Kids) Yvette d'Entremont and Alice Vaughn are the hosts of Two Girls One Mic, a podcast that reviews the plots of porn films. They join Heaton to sort out the week's under served headlines, including Swiss chocolate snow, fake languages, and if and when brothels in Berlin will finally reopen.

What is populism and where did it come from? Thomas Frank is the author of "The People, No: A Brief History of Anti-Populism". He joins the show to discuss populism as understood by populists--and specifically the populists who trace their lineage back to the original movement of the late 1800's.