Dad Saves America

Latest Episodes:

Emma Johnson: Equal Custody Works, Child Support Doesn’t Dec 19, 2024

Show notes

I sat down with Emma Johnson, author of "The 50/50 Solution," to discuss her advocacy for equal custody as the default in divorce. In most states, family courts try to determine the “best interest of the child,” incentivizing parents to portray one another as threatening or neglectful. Emma argues that the child support system perpetuates gender inequality and undermines parental rights, particularly disadvantaging dads. Although legal reform has only begun in a few states, she is optimistic that a significant cultural shift is underway, with more couples than ever voluntarily pursuing equal custody and establishing new norms around divorce. Drawing from her personal experiences with divorce and single motherhood, Emma offers practical advice for amicable co-parenting, ensuring that children maintain strong relationships with both parents after divorce.

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Follow Emma on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/JohnsonEmma

Purchase a copy of "The 50/50 Solution”: https://www.amazon.com/50-Solution-Surprisingly-Happier-Healthier/dp/172825454X

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Outline:

[0:00] How Emma discovered the 50/50 divorce

[10:58] Old feminists don’t want to accept that dads matter

[20:20] Family law incentivizes unnecessary conflict

[25:19] Welfare and child support complicate the situation

[33:02] Divorce norms are starting to fix themselves

[39:39] Does making divorce more civilized incentivize divorce?

[47:00] You can’t over-parent in a 50/50 divorce

[56:02] Can we counter the red-pill anti-marriage push?

[1:03:58] How divorce equality helps working class families

[1:14:37] It’s better to roll with the punches than seek out conflict

[1:18:35] Is “sacrifice” the right way to think about parenting?

[1:28:50] Men and women are different but can parent equally

[1:37:14] It’s hard to not think in stereotypes, even if you try

[1:42:28] You don’t need good policy if you have good culture

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Nick Gillespie on Conspiracy Thinking, Human Progress, and the Search for Meaning Dec 13, 2024

Show notes

I sat down with Nick Gillespie, editor-at-large at “Reason” and a leading voice in libertarian thought, to explore how we find meaning and purpose in a world defined by freedom and complexity. We examine the rise of conspiracy thinking, the role of religion in liberal societies, and the challenges to social and psychological stability amid rapid economic and technological progress. Nick reflects on the styles of RFK Jr., Trump, and Ron Paul and highlights the impacts of personality-driven politics. In an era of shifting cultural norms and institutional distrust, we need leaders who can confront the darker aspects of the world while also fostering genuine community and championing principled action.

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“Cultural Bell Curve” video essay: https://youtu.be/MTqtLDVsjSw

Follow Nick on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/nickgillespie

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Outline:

[0:00] How did RFK Jr. become a thought leader on the right?

[4:00] Conspiracy, emergent order, and leadership

[16:32] Is Trump’s personality his greatest strength?

[27:25] Abundant wealth and mental anguish

[39:02] Progress complicates our search for meaning

[48:14] Do healthy cultural norms take care of themselves?

[1:05:01] Freedom, institutions, and Catholicism

[1:10:53] Where do we go next after New Atheism?

[1:16:34] Religion is stronger without state involvement

[1:21:19] Can liberalism survive without Christianity?

[1:31:48] What work needs to be done to advance liberty?

[1:39:41] Parental authority requires responsibility

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Michael Munger on the Battle Between Liberalism and Populism Dec 05, 2024

Show notes

I sat down with Michael Munger, professor of political science and economics at Duke University, to explore the challenges facing classical liberalism, the collapse of trust in institutions, and how we can preserve the principles of tolerance and free inquiry in a rapidly changing world. He offers a nuanced perspective on the cultural crisis affecting younger generations on both the left and right, as well as the dangers of single-mindedly dismantling the elites authority structure. We also discuss the growing challenges posed by modern technologies, from social media to AI, and why cultivating intellectual curiosity and open dialogue is critical for the next generation. Michael’s vantage point as a college professor provides hope that a meaningful realignment toward universal ideals and timeless wisdom is already underway.

This interview was recorded on 7/31.

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

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Outline:

[0:00] What is America’s system of government?

[8:06] Liberalism, populism, and “our democracy”

[17:00] You can oppose elites and still support the Constitution

[26:01] Why the elite priesthood believes it knows best

[35:38] What do “left” and “right” mean in today’s politics?

[47:48] Freedom is about doing what you should, not what you want

[59:01] American federalism upgraded the English system

[1:07:06] Institutional authority is a necessary evil

[1:15:34] Can we pull our institutions back from the brink?

[1:24:41] Radicalism can be creative or destructive

[1:32:10] Most struggles are the same for each generation

[1:38:06] Do our brains fit the current economic transformation?

[1:48:35] How can we brace ourselves for the singularity?

[1:54:06] Should there be limits to tolerance?

[2:09:25] Does the American system require a Christian backdrop?

[2:15:36] Our patriotic obligation to debate and understand others

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What Modern Socialists Don’t Want You To Know About Hitler Nov 21, 2024

Show notes

I sat down with historian, sociologist, and author Dr. Rainer Zitelmann to learn about the misunderstood economic philosophy of Adolf Hitler and the true meaning of national socialism. Drawing from his book “Hitler’s National Socialism,” Rainer explains how Hitler’s economic policies blended the planned economy of Stalin’s Soviet Union with social Darwinist beliefs, attempting to harness the benefits of competition toward the single-minded objectives of the state. We explore the key differences between national socialism, fascism, and communism, and why many people today fail to grasp the lessons of 20th-century totalitarian regimes. While the battle between capitalism and socialism continues, Rainer highlights historical case studies in East and West Germany, North and South Korea, Venezuela, Vietnam, and China, proving that economic freedom is the key to human flourishing.

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Outline:

[0:00] National Socialism vs. Fascism vs. Communism

[13:00] There is no pure capitalism or pure socialism

[19:38] Even a little capitalism makes a big difference

[28:34] Economic crisis, shock doctrine, and liberal reform

[34:25] How Hitler developed his economic theory

[42:49] Hitler and Stalin competed to replace liberalism

[48:25] How Trump thinks about strength and weakness

[57:00] The poor need capitalism to survive

[1:10:45] Why does the idea of socialism survive its failures?

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yjkQZ3MmGgY

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Randy Barnett on Originalism, the Supreme Court, and Constitutional Law Nov 15, 2024

Show notes

I sat down with Randy Barnett, Professor of Constitutional Law at Georgetown University, to discuss the current state of America’s constitutional system and his mission to restore its original meaning. Despite the gradual erosion of constitutional limitations on federal government power, Randy believes that the document’s multiple fail-safes—especially federalism—have kept the flame of liberty alive, even through the trials of COVID lockdowns. Supreme Court justices appointed over the past 40 years have increasingly adopted an originalist approach to the Constitution and have begun to rein in the sprawling powers of the deep state and restore the core tenets of our founding documents.

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Follow Randy on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/RandyEBarnett

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Outline:

[0:00] Is today’s Supreme Court radically conservative?

[10:04] Progressives don’t really care about ‘democracy’

[13:27] The consequences of ending ‘Chevron deference’

[20:53] Why does judicial precedence matter?

[28:13] How ‘Roe v. Wade’ was overturned

[34:01] Is President Trump now immune from prosecution?

[42:31] What is common law? What are statutes?

[51:03] Private arbitration empowers normal people

[57:54] Why does the original meaning of the Constitution matter?

[1:11:04] The strongest criticism of originalism

[1:14:30] Has the Constitution failed to protect our freedoms?

[1:23:29] What is libertarianism and what are its blindspots?

[1:43:40] Why should we spend time arguing about ideals?

[1:48:40] Freedom is a practice, not just an abstract ideal

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FVPCwD5e8_I

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Immigration Policy Researcher on Border Chaos, Failed Leadership, and the Migrant Surge Nov 07, 2024

Show notes

I sat down with Simon Hankinson, an immigration expert and Senior Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, to tackle the pressing issues shaping America’s immigration landscape. We explored the impacts of the Biden administration’s immigration policies, how they compare to the Trump administration’s approach, and why the border crisis is an “unmitigated, man-made disaster.” The political and moral dilemmas involved in enforcing immigration law present serious challenges, but Simon lays out policy solutions that could finally bring order to the chaos.

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Follow Simon on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/WatchfulWaiter1

Check out Simon’s work with The Heritage Foundation: https://www.heritage.org/staff/simon-hankinson

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Outline:

[0:00] Unmitigated, man-made immigration disaster

[11:14] The role of child trafficking in the migrant wave

[15:33] Is this really that different than the Ellis Island era?

[26:12] What would good immigration policy actually look like?

[30:28] Welfare and public services create perverse incentives

[36:11] Doesn’t our economy rely on migrant labor?

[38:42] Open borders, immigration enforcement, and the Reagan amnesty

[51:17] Can supply and demand for immigrants reach equilibrium?

[1:03:07] Population collapse, Social Security, and Ponzi schemes

[1:10:58] Do immigrants or Gen Z radicals threaten our culture more?

[1:18:18] What are ‘sanctuary cities’? Do migrants commit more crimes?

[1:26:22] Most disagreement on immigration is about data, not values

[1:31:37] Free speech and open debate make America great

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

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Rudyard Lynch on Dating Apps, Moral Decline, and the Risk of Civil War Oct 31, 2024

Show notes

I sat down with Rudyard Lynch, host of “WhatIfAltHist” on YouTube, to discuss his provocative predictions about a brewing “incel revolution” among Gen Z men and how that could precipitate a second American civil war. Rudyard argues that American society is breaking down under pressures that prevent young men from achieving key milestones in life—economic mobility, family formation, and community connection. From dating apps to skyrocketing rent, young men are feeling increasingly alienated and hopeless, and our culture refuses to take their struggles seriously. Drawing on historical precedents from the Roman Republic to pre-revolutionary France, Rudyard believes that on our current course, civil conflict is inevitable and imminent.

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Follow Rudyard on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/whatifalthist

Check out Rudyard’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/Whatifalthist

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Outline:

[0:00] History, anthropology, and predicting the future

[9:57] Historical precedents for our current crisis

[21:20] The possible triggers of a 2nd American Civil War

[28:58] Plausible deniability and risk mitigation

[35:51] Hyperbole is necessary to convey psychological reality

[43:17] America has lost its moral backbone

[48:41] Has DEI hiring ruined the job market?

[54:35] Is this the “prosperity” we were promised?

[1:00:50] Mating, dating, and meaning

[1:10:21] Our culture panders to women and disempowers men

[1:23:09] Is everything really that broken?

[1:35:33] We’ve lost our moral boundaries

[1:41:42] Communism, fascism, and liberalism

[1:48:02] We’ve forgotten how to counter extreme voices

[1:56:04] Why should anyone listen to you, Rudyard?

[2:00:30] Boomer bureaucracies broke the American soul

[2:04:32] How individuals can thrive in a broken society

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Spike Cohen: Your Government Is Sponsoring Human Trafficking Oct 25, 2024

Show notes

I sat down with Spike Cohen, Libertarian activist and 2020 vice presidential nominee, to discuss why he rejects the Republican-Democrat duopoly and embraces alternative paths to make an impact. As a staunch advocate for individual freedom and former political candidate, Spike has been deeply involved in the Libertarian Party, but electoral politics isn’t the only way he’s working to put his beliefs into action. His organization, “You Are the Power”, informs and organizes individual Americans to successfully lobby politicians and bureaucrats to reverse unjust policies and enforcement practices. Rather than viewing elections as the only solution to deep institutional corruption, Spike focuses on the power of person-to-person communication. His approach has proven highly effective in opening the eyes of government officials to the harms they cause, putting them on notice that the public is watching, and successfully pressuring them to change their ways.

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Follow Spike on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/RealSpikeCohen

Learn more about “You Are the Power”: https://www.youarethepower.net/

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Outline:

[0:00] Why run for the Libertarian Party?

[6:31] Identitarianism, collectivism, and communism

[14:33] Didn’t we try libertarian economics already?

[19:52] The good-faith case for and agains progressives

[25:11] Is it possible to decentralize power?

[32:23] How Spike fights the government

[35:57] The government is trafficking children

[46:31] Government incentives are worse than perverse

[50:39] Programs “fighting” homelessness are no better

[57:56] We need to learn lessons from left-wing activists

[1:04:27] Being right isn’t enough, so get to work

[1:09:44] Human respect is the norm, unless it’s the government

[1:15:23] Profit, power, and self-interest

[1:23:37] Be grateful and treat others well

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The Impossible Choice: When a Crime Leads to Pregnancy Oct 18, 2024

Show notes

I sat down with former U.S. Senate candidate Kathy Barnette, whose personal story challenges the mainstream narrative of American society and politics. Born under circumstances often cited as the textbook argument for pro-choice advocates, she shares how her upbringing shaped her unwavering belief in the sanctity of life. Kathy reflects on the unraveling of America's moral foundation, turning once-common truths into political battlegrounds, and how the ongoing failures of Democratic leadership and policies are undermining the previously steadfast support among black Americans. As a black woman running for the Republican Party, she struggled to gain the attention of groups like BLM and the NAACP, which have monopolized the conversation around racial issues. However, by relentlessly reaching out to new audiences, she has seen the tides begin to turn against the past 60 years of Democratic Party dominance.

This interview contains adult themes and may not be suitable for younger listeners.

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Follow Kathy on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/Kathy4Truth

Check out Kathy’s YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@kathy4truth?si=MUWwDmpXiATvEPC3

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Outline:

[0:00] It’s time to talk about abortion

[3:44] Kathy’s conception and upbringing

[10:15] Choosing life under the hardest circumstances

[18:24] American liberty requires a moral foundation

[23:17] Her story disproves the pro-choice narrative

[31:48] The cultural value of boundaries and shame

[37:50] Kathy’s experience running for office

[44:37] Grabbing the mic at a BLM event

[54:16] Why have race relations collapsed?

[1:01:28] Admit the results of Democrat policies

[1:09:37] Black Americans are shifting to the right

[1:18:34] We’re electing a president, not a pastor

[1:29:57] Election irregularities in 2020

[1:43:03] Our division isn’t Democrat vs Republican

[1:49:14] Is this really a make-or-break election?

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2IlDP8wzSgU

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Robert Kiyosaki on Financial Literacy, Wealth Building, and the Failure of Education Oct 10, 2024

Show notes

I sat down with Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, to discuss his perspective on financial literacy, the future of the economy, and why most people have been misled about what it takes to build wealth. He explains how the traditional higher education path misleads average Americans about where to find real opportunity and leaves them unprepared for economic realities. Robert has found success leveraging debt to build assets that generate cash flow and highlights how the rich use these strategies to get wealthier while the middle class struggles. He also discusses the looming financial challenges for Baby Boomers and why the global economy is on the verge of a major shift.

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Follow Robert on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/theRealKiyosaki

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Outline:

[0:00] Our financial system is run by smart idiots

[4:01] The most important piece of financial literacy

[9:47] The rich don’t work for money, they create assets

[16:49] Marxist schools can’t teach financial literacy

[20:49] Assets, debt, and cash flow

[24:02] Financial success is about emotional strength

[28:57] Seek out the best teachers

[34:37] Leaders unite and focus the group