The Political Orphanage
Politics minus bile plus jokes. Comedian and avowed independent Andrew Heaton interviews authors and thought leaders about policy and big thinky stuff.
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How Nations Escape Poverty
05/16/2024
How Nations Escape Poverty
Dr. Rainer Zeitelmann is the author of "How Nations Escape Poverty: Vietnam, Poland, and the Origins of Prosperity." He joins to discuss the efficacy of international development aid, and what we can learn from the economic growth of Asia vs. that of Africa. Book at: Dr. Zitelmann on Nazi Economics: Dr. Zitelmann on his book “In Defense of Capitalism” Film: “Poland: From Socialism to Prosperity”
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Cicero and the Founding Fathers
05/08/2024
Cicero and the Founding Fathers
Jeffrey Rosen is a legal scholar and the President of the National Constitution Center. He’s the author “the Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America.” Book at
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College Campuses Are So Very Very Passionate (WSPN)
05/01/2024
College Campuses Are So Very Very Passionate (WSPN)
Protests over Israel and Hamas have become so heated at Columbia that it’s canceled in-person classes the rest of the semester. Anti-Israel protests are becoming not just a flashpoint in America’s culture war, but within Blue Team itself. What’s happening? The World’s Smartest Podcast Network assembles to discuss: Andrew Heaton, Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy, and Michael Ira Kaplan. We’re Not Wrong Live Show: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/were-not-wrong-live-in-washington-dc-tickets-882962824577?aff=erelexpmlt
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Understanding Immigration Through Circus Folk
04/24/2024
Understanding Immigration Through Circus Folk
James Judkins started out as a circus worker, eating swords and fire, then working up to ringleader and manager. As a talent scout operating in other countries, he became professionally involved in sorting visas foreign countries, then eventually transitioned to a full-time visa agency. He joins the show to discuss 1) what it’s like working at the circus, and 2) how temp visas work for seasonal workers, and how they could work better.
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Was Life Easier in the Fifties?
04/19/2024
Was Life Easier in the Fifties?
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
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What People Get Wrong About A. I.
04/10/2024
What People Get Wrong About A. I.
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: SUPPORT THE SHOW! Heaton and Nick sketch comedy: Bonus Episode: How to Use AI for Work Bonus: A.I. Wrote and Recorded An En Entire Episode
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Why Violent Crime is Up
04/03/2024
Why Violent Crime is Up
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! .
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Just How Much Fraud is in Government?
03/27/2024
Just How Much Fraud is in Government?
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/
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Totalitarianism and the Gays
03/20/2024
Totalitarianism and the Gays
Jonathan Rauch of the Brookings Institution joins to discuss the most openly totalitarian period of American history: the Lavender Scare. And to point out that there are still people alive who suffered through it, and what restitutions can be made. Article at The Atlantic: “The U.S. Should Apologize to Gay People.” https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/01/lavender-scare-gay-people-public-service-erasure/677236/
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Trump, RICO Law, and Lawyer Sex
03/13/2024
Trump, RICO Law, and Lawyer Sex
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.
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The Economics of Illegal Immigration
03/06/2024
The Economics of Illegal Immigration
In this travel episode our intrepid hosts journeys to McAllen, TX on the US-border to see the river, the wall, and to interview employers who hire immigrants as well as US Border agents. Guests: Former Border Patrol chief Clem Clemson, and Lee Wicker, Deputy Director for the North Carolina Growers Association. Support the Show! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton Relevant Links: https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/bryan-caplan https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/if-i-want-to-naturalize-my-foreign-bastard-foreign
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The New Mao
02/28/2024
The New Mao
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.
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America is Eleven Different Countries
02/21/2024
America is Eleven Different Countries
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: 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
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Working with Commies and Frenchmen
02/14/2024
Working with Commies and Frenchmen
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:
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The Politics of Artificial Intelligence
02/07/2024
The Politics of Artificial Intelligence
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: Maxim’s Substack: https://maximumtruth.substack.com/ Political Compass Quiz: https://www.politicalcompass.org/test
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The Two Kinds of Independents
02/01/2024
The Two Kinds of Independents
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
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Knocking Trump Off the Ballot
01/26/2024
Knocking Trump Off the Ballot
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.
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Iowa, Ancient Greece, and Rome
01/17/2024
Iowa, Ancient Greece, and Rome
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
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Announcement: Live Show in New Hampshire! Saturday, January 20th
01/16/2024
Announcement: Live Show in New Hampshire! Saturday, January 20th
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!
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Moon Base Economics
01/12/2024
Moon Base Economics
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! 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
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The Cancelling of the American Mind
01/03/2024
The Cancelling of the American Mind
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: TPO: Greg Lukianoff discussing his last book, “The Coddling of the American Mind.” TPO: “The Enemies of How We Know Stuff” with Jonathan Rauch TPO: “This Comedy Club Owner Un-Canceled Louis C. K.” TPO: “How to Be A Better Vulcan” (Logical Fallacies)
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David Brooks Wants To Know You Better
12/28/2023
David Brooks Wants To Know You Better
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! Buy the book:
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A Very Snuffy's Rerun
12/23/2023
A Very Snuffy's Rerun
Highlights from Christmas comedy specials of years gone by. Enjoy!
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A Rugged Snuffy's Christmas
12/21/2023
A Rugged Snuffy's Christmas
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: Venmo: andrew-heaton-1 PayPal: [email protected] PREVIOUS CHRISTMAS SPECIALS - - - - -
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Dead People Control Your House: Deed Restrictions
12/13/2023
Dead People Control Your House: Deed Restrictions
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.
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Life After Home Internet
12/06/2023
Life After Home Internet
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: https://reason.com/2023/11/09/17-essentials-for-van-life/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqE9TS4jsJM https://www.makeuseof.com/how-to-enable-grayscale-on-iphone/#:~:text=Setting%20up%20grayscale%20on%20your,Color%20Filters%22%20in%20your%20settings.
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Revolt of the Jury: Jury Nullification
11/29/2023
Revolt of the Jury: Jury Nullification
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.
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Rerun: Your Life Is Way Better Than King Louis XVI's
11/23/2023
Rerun: Your Life Is Way Better Than King Louis XVI's
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 All great books that present convincing stats on the positive trajectory of the world. They're all linked to at RELATED INTERVIEWS:
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How Nuclear Deterrence Works
11/21/2023
How Nuclear Deterrence Works
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: Ward Wilson: Everything You Know About Nukes is Wrong Political Orphanage Primer on Foreign Policy: Mark Galeotti -
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Cenk Uygur And Polemicism
11/15/2023
Cenk Uygur And Polemicism
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?” Cenk’s book at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured
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