Dad Saves America

Latest Episodes:

USAID Isn’t About Helping People. It’s About Political Influence. - Ian Vásquez Mar 07, 2025

Show notes

I sat down with Ian Vásquez, Vice President for International Studies at the Cato Institute, to unpack the failures of foreign aid and the true purpose of USAID. For decades, the U.S. has funneled billions into foreign assistance programs, yet these efforts have done little to spur economic growth. Instead, they have trapped countries in a cycle of dependence by subsidizing dysfunctional and corrupt regimes. Using Argentina as a case study, we explore how Javier Milei’s radical free market approach is steering his country away from perpetual hyperinflation and debt crises toward prosperity.

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Follow Ian on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/VasquezIan

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Outline:

[0:00] Does foreign aid work?

[15:14] DOGE’s crusade against USAID

[21:09] Foreign aid is political meddling

[29:56] Does economic freedom lead to political freedom?

[41:27] The economic effects of colonialism

[54:08] Argentina wasn't always a disaster

[1:04:24] FDR’s admiration for fascism

[1:09:32] Javier Milei’s war on inflation

[1:20:12] Price control ruin housing markets

[1:24:52] Are there downsides of Milei’s policies?

[1:29:51] America might not be the freest country

[1:33:33] How “libertarian” is the Trump administration?

[1:44:46] Is freedom in retreat around the world?

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GuRXZSqdWCU

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He Convinced Elon and Trump To Pursue a DOGE Dividend. Can He Convince Me? Feb 28, 2025

Show notes

I sat down with James Fishback, CEO of Azoria and founder of Incubate Debate, to discuss the merits of his “DOGE Dividend” proposal. Here’s the idea—take 20% of all DOGE savings and pay them out directly to American taxpayers. After sharing his idea on X (Twitter), Elon Musk brought it to the attention of President Trump, who quickly endorsed it. I have my reservations—namely, that we can’t spare a single penny that could otherwise pay down the national debt. However, James believes that by getting Americans directly engaged in the DOGE project, we can bring them on board for a new era of fiscal responsibility.

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Follow James on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/j_fishback

Read more about the DOGE Dividend: https://x.com/j_fishback/status/1891933120313663493

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Outline:

[0:00] Who is James and what is the DOGE Dividend?

[7:53] Running the numbers on the dividend

[15:06] Is this good politics, but bad policy?

[22:50] Not all deficit spending is created equal

[28:13] Will this undermine Trump’s plans for tax cuts?

[38:13] Wouldn’t a national snitch line just cause chaos?

[43:54] Is it even possible to avoid a national debt crisis?

[53:24] How are ‘public servants’ this entitled?

[59:16] Cutting spending isn’t about cutting benefits

[1:11:17] Economic statistics are fundamentally broken

[1:18:15] Is the free trade model too simplistic?

[1:33:29] What could derail the Trump administration?

[1:36:51] End DEI hiring and bring back meritocracy

[1:44:28] James’s work with Incubate Debate

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wQZHxNX7IgY

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Heritage Foundation President on Trump, Project 2025, and the Last Chance to Save America Feb 21, 2025

Show notes

I sat down with Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, to discuss the political backlash against Project 2025, President Trump’s vision for America, and what it means for the modern conservative movement. Historically, the conservative movement has lacked a strategy for cultivating future generations of public officials. Progressives have had their recruitment and training institutions in place for decades—you might know them as colleges, universities, and NGOs. For all the supposed upset over particular policy proposals found within Project 2025, the real concern stems from this. Never before have conservatives been prepared to actually staff the sprawling administrative state with effective, aligned individuals, rather than accepting political sabotage from career bureaucrats.

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Follow Kevin on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/KevinRobertsTX

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Outline:

[0:00] Why Kevin left Texas for D.C. to run the Heritage Foundation

[2:26] What was Project 2025 and why was it controversial?

[5:41] Successful presidential transitions require preparation

[9:50] The Trump coalition vs. the radical left

[15:14] Conservative, liberal, and leftist visions of freedom

[18:38] What are the necessary boundaries on freedom?

[28:40] DOGE is restoring the constitutional order

[38:13] Ending USAID is fully within the president’s power

[43:44] Can we have a useful expert class without technocracy?

[50:23] The Department of Education needs to go away

[56:54] Will accreditation and “accountability” ruin school choice?

[1:04:40] How did Trump win over so many former critics?

[1:12:46] Middle class immigrants built the new world elite

[1:15:42] Do the small things with excellence and gratitude

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/5Tv-x_c3gJM

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’Heretics’ Host Andrew Gold: DEI Ruined the BBC. Independent Journalism Is the Future. Feb 13, 2025

Show notes

I sat down with journalist and documentary filmmaker Andrew Gold to discuss our susceptibility cultish thinking, the dangers of ideological capture, and the disturbing rise of woke Islamism. Andrew shares his personal journey from a respected BBC presenter to an outspoken critic of the mainstream media and politics. He also digs into his experiences over the years reporting on exorcism, Scientology, and his more recent focus on gender ideology and Britain’s immigration crisis. Drawing on his extensive study of how cults capture and control people, Andrew makes a compelling case for independent thought and healthy skepticism when confronting the dark forces at work in the modern world.

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Follow Andrew on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/AndrewGold_ok

Watch ‘Heretics’ on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@andrewgoldheretics

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Outline:

[0:00] Andrew’s run-in with DEI at the BBC

[16:53] Cancel culture’s role in independent media

[22:05] Are cults an inevitable part of human society?

[28:05] Scientology, Tom Cruise, and Hollywood

[35:11] Hasidic Jews and urban ethnic enclaves

[38:45] Atheism, faith, and the evolution of morality

[51:40] Can liberalism survive without Christianity?

[59:20] How intelligence can fuel crazy beliefs

[1:09:59] Is exorcism real, and how can we know?

[1:18:55] Feminism set the stage for gender ideology

[1:35:33] Is ‘transgender’ a cover for predators?

[1:45:49] Liberalism, equality, and human nature

[1:52:35] Successful immigration requires assimilation

[2:03:04] Islamo-wokeism makes no sense

[2:15:37] Acceptance is the key to happiness

[2:19:15] Make people feel less alone

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/o94f3452XYQ

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ZeroHedge Debate: Should We Abolish Income Tax and Replace It With Tariffs? Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

I moderated a ZeroHedge debate between PhD economists and commentators Noah Smith and Peter St Onge on President Trump’s proposal to replace income taxes with tariffs to fund the federal government. As they unpack the economic theories behind these two tax systems, they also analyze the political dynamics involved, the moral justifications for our current spending, and the nature of government itself. Noah is a former professor at Stony Brook University with a popular Substack, “Noahpinion”, and Peter is a former Fellow at the Heritage Foundation who publishes daily economics videos on X (Twitter) and YouTube.

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Read Noah’s Substack: https://www.noahpinion.blog/

Follow Noah on X (Twitter): https://x.com/Noahpinion

Watch Peter on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Profstonge

Follow Peter on X (Twitter): https://x.com/profstonge

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Outline:

[0:00] Intro

[0:53] Meet the debaters

[3:44] The case for tariffs

[6:10] The case for income tax

[13:02] The politics of taxation

[26:20] Effects of the Trump tax cuts

[31:09] Trade deficits and budget deficits

[38:35] Where did the economic growth go?

[49:57] The economic effects of birth rates

[52:50] Can we separate the tax and budget debates?

[55:38] How progressive is our tax system?

[1:05:38] What’s the ideal tax system?

[1:10:29] How should government spend our money?

[1:21:49] Redistribution, democracy, and the Constitution

[1:37:56] The welfare state always grows

[1:41:57] Has government made our society better?

[1:47:11] We can’t theorize our way to utopia

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nkYwO0FlJW4

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Kennedy on Gen X, Embracing Religion, and the MTV Glory Days Jan 30, 2025

Show notes

I sat down with Kennedy, former MTV VJ and libertarian commentator, to explore the Gen X mindset, parenting, politics, and faith. She argues that the latchkey-kid upbringing, combined with the Cold War backdrop, instilled in our generation a deep skepticism toward authority—especially the government. Kennedy shares her journey from high school dropout to MTV and what that taught her about education, career, and adulthood. We also dive into the failures of modern government, the philosophical foundations of her faith, and her hopes for the current political realignment. She currently hosts the "Kennedy Saves the World" podcast for Fox News Radio.

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Follow Kennedy on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/KennedyNation

Listen to "Kennedy Saves the World": https://radio.foxnews.com/podcast/kennedy-saves-the-world/

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Outline:

[0:00] Reflecting on the Gen X upbringing

[8:05] Gen Z, COVID, and the cultural shift

[15:32] How Kennedy grew into her Eastern Orthodox faith

[24:54] Raising Gen Z girls in modern society

[27:41] Kennedy’s roundabout path to a college degree

[36:21] Studying religion, philosophy and science reaffirmed her faith

[48:23] Kennedy’s start in radio and getting a job at MTV

[53:19] How Kennedy coped with fame at a young age

[1:01:52] Lessons learned from surfing

[1:07:38] Having kids transforms you worldview

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eLXhP6msGU4

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Katharine Birbalsingh Is Leading the Charge Against Woke Schooling Jan 24, 2025

Show notes

I sat down with Katharine Birbalsingh, the controversial headmistress of Michaela Community School in London, to discuss why discipline, structure, and teaching “what to think” are essential for raising children into successful, independent adults. Clearly defined expectations empower students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to thrive both academically and personally. As someone who fondly recalls my more free-range, Gen X upbringing, her views present a welcome challenge to my biases toward freedom and independence. Katharine makes a compelling case for traditional, no-nonsense schooling that prioritizes basic skills, knowledge, and values over educators’ ideologically motivated experiments.

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Follow Katharine on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/Miss_Snuffy

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Outline:

[0:00] What is Michaela Community School?

[9:15] Our culture has forgotten the value of structure

[20:28] Free-range parenting doesn’t fit the inner city

[26:25] Actually, you should teach kids what to think

[38:57] Building habits frees you to pursue higher goals

[50:08] Are education debates really class debates?

[1:03:08] How do you keep school staff on the right track?

[1:20:19] Is traditionalism an actionable solution?

[1:34:36] Am I wrong about the Prussian school model?

[1:47:03] Freedom is not a complete value set

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uLmb3as-MQc

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Michael Shellenberger Exposes Who’s to Blame for the LA Fire Disaster Jan 17, 2025

Show notes

I sat down with Michael Shellenberger, journalist and author of “Apocalypse Never,” “San Fransicko,” and the upcoming “Pathocracy,” to unpack the true story of the LA fire disaster and what it reveals about California’s leadership crisis. Ever since the fires broke out, Michael has been on the case exposing the numerous failures of Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass. California’s entrenched political elite have neglected the basic functions of government, creating the perfect conditions for recurring catastrophes. A seemingly hypnotized voter base has allowed the problem to worsen with each election cycle, but perhaps this time around, the undeniable facts on the ground can trigger a renaissance in common-sense governance.

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Follow Michael on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/shellenberger

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Outline:

[0:00] Unpacking the official narrative lies

[12:39] LA’s systemic failure isn’t just one big coincidence

[17:35] The homeless crisis drained the firefighting budget

[27:02] Forest management failures aren’t the main story

[31:24] Why leftist radicals want to let Malibu burn

[42:43] Hollywood elites elected their own oppressors

[52:34] White voters in LA are hypnotized by identity politics

[59:25] Is the DEI criticism fair or just right-wing opportunism?

[1:05:59] Western civilization is sacrificing itself

[1:13:32] Did climate change play a role in the fires?

[1:22:15] Climate hysteria is a symptom of privilege

[1:28:19] Is the woke reign of terror truly over?

[1:33:22] Hazing matter for emergency preparedness

[1:38:34] Why Michael is optimistic for the future

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Z4JjmzuycRo

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I Hosted a Leadership Roundtable at Mar-a-Lago. President Trump Crashed Our Conversation. Jan 10, 2025

Show notes

Last month, I traveled to Mar-a-Lago and sat down with a group of business leaders to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping our economy and society at large. Technological disruption presents both challenges and opportunities, and the growing student debt crisis has rightfully called into question the value of higher education. It’s time to renegotiate our relationship with traditional institutions and focus on cultivating grit, curiosity, and first-principles thinking. These tools can build an adaptive workforce and foster a competitive environment where American entrepreneurship can flourish once again.

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/td5-Q_qTkcU?si=ddJpGO-k5qU7tTFi

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Economist George Selgin on Money, Inflation, and the Federal Reserve Jan 02, 2025

Show notes

I sat down with George Selgin, economist and Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute, to explore the complex world of money, banking, and monetary policy. George explains how money evolved from primitive barter systems to the sophisticated financial networks we rely on today. He breaks down the historical role of gold, central banking, and the Federal Reserve’s influence on inflation and interest rates. George also highlights competing economic theories of money creation, laying out his case for why they're wrong. Money isn't everything in life, but understanding how it works can help you avoid falling for the false promises of politicians and pundits.

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Follow George on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/GeorgeSelgin

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Outline:

[0:00] Money, currency, and the money supply

[11:04] Is modern money actually debt?

[23:58] Who invented the first money?

[30:11] Use value vs. exchange value of money

[36:39] Why do certain goods become money?

[42:03] How money reshaped our communities

[58:34] What is a bank? Can banks “create money”?

[1:12:54] The special power of central banks