The Political Orphanage

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/

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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: andrew@mightyheaton.com

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

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.

What should urban planners design, and what should they leave to citizens and markets? To answer that question we summon none other than Alain Bertaud, an urban planner who has worked in major cities across multiple continents. He is a senior fellow at NYU's Marron Institute of Urban Design, and was the principle urban planner for the World Bank. He's the author of "Order without Design: How Markets Shape Cities." 

SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton 

David Holt is Mayor of Oklahoma City, one of the top twenty largest cities in the United States. He joins to discuss the nature of his position, and the issues facing major cities.

SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton

American cities are prioritizing big box stores over small businesses, in a model predicated on permanent growth. But when growth hits a snag, will suburbs collapse? 

Charles Marohn is the founder and president of Strong Towns. He is a land use planner and (retired) professional engineer. He is the author of Strong Towns: A Bottom-Up Revolution to Rebuild American Prosperity

SUPPORT THE SHOW! Patreon.com/andrewheaton

What are the underlying economics and origins of tipping? Is the practice expanding to new sectors, and if so, is this good or just irritating? The World’s Smartest Podcast Network joins to discuss!

We’re Not Wrong is my other political podcast, with host fellows Justin Robert Young and Jen Briney.

On this episode we discuss “national divorce,” the rise and fall of James O'Keefe of Project Veritas, and the difference between journalism and activism. 

If you enjoy it, check out the podcast WE'RE NOT WRONG! 

Why is addiction (booze, drugs, and more) on the rise in the United States?

Dr. Anna Lembke is a professor of psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine, and chief of the Stanford Addiction Medicine Dual Diagnosis Clinic. She is the author of “Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence.”

Book at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured

Support the show! Patreon.com/andrewheaton

Alistair Smith proposes that the only real thing governments differ on is how many selectors are needed for a leader to gain and keep power–everything is window dressing.

He advocates for understanding politics realistically and strategically, and designing our systems around the idea that leaders are self interested.

Also Relevant: “Dr. Jeffrey Pfeiffer on The Rules of Getting and Keeping Power” https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/the-rules-of-getting-and-keeping-power

SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton

Kristaps Andrejsons is the host of "Eastern Borders" podcast, which formerly explored Soviet History, and is now an in-the-field news report on the conflict in Ukraine. 

Kristaps is a big NATO proponent and promotes strong American intervention in Ukraine. I've brought him on to contrast with the positions of this week's guest, Ben Abelow. 

Also--Kristaps got banned from Twitter when an argument about Ukraine and Russia got out of hand. We discuss the circumstances.

Stanford’s Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative includes everything from the words “brave” to “crazy.” The World’s Smartest Podcast Network assembles to read the list and mercilessly laugh at it. Then, turn their attention to the astonishing and hilarious lies of freshman representative George Soros.

LINKS: 

SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.Patreon.com/andrewheaton

Episode: “When To Scrap Politically Incorrect Words”

https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/when-to-scrap-politically-offensive-words

Stanford’s Elimination of Harmful Language Initiative

https://stanforddaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Stanford-EHLI-Harmful-Language-List.pdf

CROSSOVER EPISODE from Alienating the Audience

When does science fiction get "too political"? What separates a film with a strong point of view from stale publum or Woke pulpitry?

Josh Jennings joins to discuss how political messaging can derail or suffocate good storytelling. 

A new study shows that “affective polarization” is on the upswing: negative feelings about enemy parties is on the increase, even if policy positions and ideology are not. What’s the main drive behind the increase? Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy joins to discuss the primary factor in partisan rancor.

 Morris Fiorina: The Country Isn’t Polarized

https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/ep-28-the-country-isnt-polarized-guest-morris-fiorina-0

 Tim Carney: Loneliness is Worse for Cities Than Godzilla

https://podcasts.apple.com/ng/podcast/ep-109-loneliness-is-worse-for-cities-than-godzilla/id1439837349?i=1000436493673

 Amusing Ourselves to Death

https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/amusing-ourselves-to-death

 “The Origins and Consequences of Affective Polarization in the United States”

https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/pdf/10.1146/annurev-polisci-051117-073034

 Heaton on Andrea’s show:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-kKDkeauj4&list=PLoGqAxLE0kqxeilRQgba67-b45UCE9tQw&index=18 

Scott Horton wants America to go home. He does not think we should be the world’s policeman. And when we try to be, our foreign policy incites blowback, foreign chaos, and unnecessary bloodshed. He joins to discuss isolationism and non-interventionism.

His Soho Forum Debate with Bill Kristol

Bill Kristol interview

IR Theory: How to Prevent and Provoke Stupid Wars

Phil Gramm is the author of “The Myth of Inequality: How Government Biases Policy Debates.” He joins to discuss the metrics by which we identify poverty, and how otherwise sound data is frequently misinterpreted.

Should America actively promote democracy and liberalism abroad, to the point of destabilizing authoritarian regimes, or arming their enemies? Bill Kristol is a prominent Neocon, and proponent of muscular liberalism–the idea that a robust American presence abroad is integral to global peace and security. 

IR Theory Episode: “How to Prevent and Provoke Stupid Wars” https://www.patreon.com/posts/how-to-prevent-63903085?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

PATREON.COM/ANDREWHEATON to support the show and get weekly bonus episodes!

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 

The idea that we can eliminate poverty by outlawing greed is like trying to increase marriage rates by making people less horny. In this episode we go over the Medieval understanding of greed, against that employed by economists. 

Noam Dworman is owner of the Comedy Cellar in New York City. A huge critic of Cancel Culture, he caught flak for allowing Louis C. K. to perform at his club. He joins to discuss: should anyone ever be canceled?

SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton

Student Councils are meant to teach young people about democracy, but what lesson are they learning? Namely that elections are popularity contests with no stakes or results!

Turner Sparks and Michael Ira Kaplan join to discuss the abolition of student councils, and also give updates on Ruby Kaplan's elementary school candidacy

Jeremiah Johnson of The Neoliberal Podcast joins to discuss how NEPA and environmental impact reports stall construction pretty much everywhere, and alternatives to the red tape.

My recent speaking engagement at Oxford University, the various ne'er-do-wells claiming I am a fascist, and why politics attracts toxic personalities.

Plus, protocols to help us remain good faith actors and not drink deep of the bile.

Find the Heaton Protocols at: https://www.patreon.com/posts/so-i-got-at-73864329?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator

The government of Iran has shut down its Internet, and brutally clamped down on dissent. Why are the people protesting, and are they within striking distance of revolution? Should America root for them from the sidelines, or send guns?

Lisa Daftari of The Foreign Desk joins to discuss

Did Florida's fast-and-loose Covid policies fail compared to New York's strict lockdowns? How effective were mask mandates? How did the United States stack up against Europe and Australia?

Maxim Lott of "Maximum Truth" crunched the numbers on which regimes saved or lost lives during Covid 19. And offers a tool to asses if otherwise effective restrictions are actually worth it.

Lee Drutman is the author of “Breaking the Two-Party Doom Loop: The Case for Multiparty Democracy in America.” He joins to discuss electoral reform, multi-member districts, and proportional voting.

The British monarch reigns as the United Kingdom’s head of state, while war and taxes are carried out by the head of government, its Prime Minister. Meanwhile, in the United States of America, the President is both. In this episode we explore the nature and benefits of ceremonial monarchs.

Radiation, fallout, and perpetual winter – would you survive a nuclear war? What about the president, Australia, and modern civilization? In this episode we do a deep dive on nuclear warfare, how bad it might be, and what rebuilding civilization would entail. 

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

Patreon.com/andrewheaton

Venmo: @andrew-heaton-1

PayPal: andrew@mightyheaton.com REFERENCES & SHOW LINKS: https://www.patreon.com/posts/who-actually-war-71978682?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=postshare_creator 

Dr. Jeffrey Pfeffer is a Professor of Organizational Behavior at Stanford University, and the author of “7 Rules of Power: Surprising–but True–advice on how to get things done and advance your career.” He joins the show to talk about ways to increase your power in life and at work, and how to avoid stumbling blocks to its accumulation. 

Book at www.mightyheaton.com/featured

When does an ideology become a full-blown religion? Does Social Justice qualify? The World’s Smartest Podcast Network convenes a roundtable to discuss, including Andrea Jones-Rooy, Turner Sparks, and Michael Ira Kaplan.

Since this week's show and bonus episode both take place in Germany, we'll go ahead and throw in a rerun of my all-time favorite: "What Really Brought Down the Berlin Wall." Original air date: January 21, 2021 SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton

Heaton flies to Berlin to interview German historian Rainer Zitelmann, author of "Hitler's National Socialism," about the ideology and political economy of Nazi Germany.

Book at www.mightyheaton.com/featured