The Political Orphanage

Matt Sienkiewicz and Andrea Jones-Rooy join the show to discuss the week's best, underserved headlines. Including: a scrupulous car thief, stealing playground components, and hopes of sending human body fluids to the moon.

Former Congressman Justin Amash thinks Congress has basically turned into two oligarchs and a bunch of mouthy rubber stamps who cue off them. He joins the show to talk about the dysfunction in Congress, why that's frightening, and the reforms needed to fix the institution. SUPPORT THE SHOW Patreon.com/andrewheaton Paypal: [email protected] Venmo: andrew-heaton-1 Crypto Currency: Mightyheaton.com/crypto

Alice Vaugh of "Two Girls One Mic" and comedian Mike Blejer join the show to investigate the week's best, underserved headlines. Including: Welsh goat contraceptives, an extremely helpful car thief, and rigged homecoming court elections.

Why is academia so progressive, and why are there so few conservatives or libertarian professors? Professor Matt Sienkiewicz is the Chair of the Boston College Communication Department, and Associate Professor of Communication and International Studies. He joins to explain why.

Comedians Turner Sparks, Michael Ira Kaplan, and Paul Morrissey join the show to explore the week's best underserved headlines, including: a guitar made out of an uncle, and why Yoda is getting Saudi Arabian history textbooks yanked.

Caleb O. Brown of the Cato Daily Podcast guest hosts this week, moderating the topic: is politics the new religion? Just how terrible is that, and how can we fix it?

NSFK - Nick Sperdute and Andrew Young rejoin the show to discuss the week's best, underserved headlines including: horrific Scottish street brawl and/or courtship injuries, corn flake narcotics, and the world's laziest guard dog.

Politicians fear their base, so they play to their base--and disregard moderates, independents, and members of the rival party. Elected leaders can store up campaign war chests, but they can't net excess votes or store them for the next election. What are the bad structural elements we've built into our system, and how do we rearrange them? Katherine Gehl is the author of "The Politics Industry: How Political Innovation Can Break Partisan Gridlock and Save Our Democracy"

We're gamifying funny headlines! Everyone on the show gets a funny headline, but some are real and some are fake news. Each team hears the headlines, asks probing questions, then guesses which is real and which is fictitious. Host: Andrew Heaton Team Captains: Andrew Young and Jeremey Kareken Guests: Nicholas Sperdute, Brian Sack, Jack Helmuth, Andrea Jones-Rooy

I swear I'm not evil. I have good reasons for believing we shouldn't spike the national minimum wage to $15 per hour. I'll explain why, as the U.S. Senate deliberates on whether or not to double it.

Justin Robert Young returns to go over the week's best, underserved headlines, including an octogenarian newspaper boy, the cannabis lounge which saves the day, and ridiculous French labor laws.

Economist Steve Horwitz joins the program to talk about the limits of markets and the state: what problems can they solve and what are they ill suited for? When do either go off the rails? Steve Horwitz is the Distinguished Professor of Free Enterprise at Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana; Senior Scholar at the Mercatus Center, Senior Fellow at the Fraser Institute, and Economics Editor at the Cato Institute. He's also the 2020 recipient of the Julian L. Simon Memorial Award.

Turner Sparks and Michael Ira Kaplan rejoin the show to discuss the world's best, underserved headlines--a surprising amount of which originate in Belgium this week. Including: a giggly way to endanger lives on the road, a disgraced Hungarian politico, and felons with strong opinions on parenting.

Hello orphans! Today we're doing a deep dive into gun crime statistics: where homicides are concentrated, what kind of guns are used, how we stack up to other countries, and so forth. The goal here is to puncture through pro gun and pro gun control rhetoric to glimpse the real landscape of weapons and death in America. So that we can skip bumper sticker aphorisms and have smart policy conversations. Guy Smith is the author of "Guns and Control: A Nonpartisan Guide to Understanding Mass Public Shootings, Gun Accidents, Crime, Public Carry, Suicides, Defensive Use, and More" TO DONATE TO THE SHOW: patreon.com/andrewheaton Venmo: Andrew-Heaton-1 PayPal: [email protected]

Nick Sperdute and Andrew Young return to discuss the week's best, underserved headlines. Including stories about Scottish stamp lickers, why a man lived in an airport for three months, and the button Joe Biden just removed from the desk in the Oval Office. You can hang out on the Discord server by going to mightyheaton.com/discord

Last week Robinhood suspended trades on volatile Gamestop stocks, halting Reddit gadflies from utterly destroying a hedge fund which had shorted it. Why'd they cap things off when so many regular folk were poised to make millions? A Wall Street conspiracy? Regulatory hurdles? Jen Briney of The Congressional Dish joins the show to discuss. YOU CAN DONATE TO THE SHOW: patreon.com/andrewheaton Venmo: Andrew-Heaton-1 PayPal: [email protected]

Negin Farsad of "Fake the Nation" and Cheddar's Congressional Correspondent JD Durkin join the show to kick around the week's best, funniest headlines. Including: rave in the bathroom, stripper mishaps, chastity belts gone awry, and ugly crocs.

Should the state interpolate itself into online QAnon conspiracy boards? Who gets the first vaccines? Are pardons a net benefit or vestigial monarchism? The World's Smartest Podcast Network reconvenes to discuss! Turner Sparks, Michael Ira Kaplan, Andrea Jones-Rooy, and Andrew Heaton. PLEASE DONATE TO THE SHOW Patreon.com/andrewheaton Paypal: [email protected] Venmo: Andrew-Heaton-1

Comedian Gianmarco Soresi joins the show to dive into the week's best, underserved headlines, including: Mexican love tunnels, aggressive squirrels, bed bugs, aggressive Facebook invites, and Viagra mixups. Gianmarco's new comedy album is "Shelf Life", available here: https://www.amazon.com/Shelf-Life-Gianmarco-Soresi/dp/B08M5PHDMN

In 1989 East Germans punctured through the Berlin Wall, reuniting the country after decades of bitter separation. In this episode we follow the creation and and destruction of the Berlin Wall--and look for its meaning in our own era. DONATIONS WELCOME! Patreon.com/andrewheaton Paypal: [email protected] Venmo: Andrew-Heaton-1

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.