Saving Elephants | Millennials defending & expressing conservative values

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168 – The Perennial Burke with Daniel Klein Dec 17, 2024

Show notes

As Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is wont to do, here is yet another episode exploring the political and philosophical brilliance of Edmund Burke. But this time he is aided by scholar and professor Daniel Klein to examine the late writings of Burke's life as Europe was descending into revolutionary chaos. What was Burke's understanding of liberty and natural rights, and how did it differ from many of his more radical contemporaries? How did Burke distinguish between reforms that were constructive or destructive, and why did he seem so reluctant to use them in some circumstances and so adamant they should be employed in others? In what way did Burke inspire his audience to reinvigorate the "magic" of their world? And how might all this be applied to the politics of today?

About Daniel Klein

Daniel Klein is a Professor of Economics and JIN Chair at the Mercatus Center, George Mason University. He leads the Adam Smith Program at GMU Economics and is the chief editor of Econ Journal Watch. Dr. Klein holds degrees from George Mason University and New York University, where in both cases he studied the classical liberal traditions of economics. His teaching focuses on economic principles and public policy issues.

Professor Klein has published research on policy issues including toll roads, urban transit, auto emission, credit reporting, and the Food and Drug Administration. He has also written on spontaneous order, the discovery of opportunity, the demand and supply of assurance, why government officials believe in the goodness of bad policy, and the relationship between liberty, dignity, and responsibility.

Klein is the author of Smithian Morals, Central Notions of Smithian Liberalism, and Knowledge and Coordination: A Liberal Interpretation, as well as coauthor of Curb Rights: A Foundation for Free Enterprise in Urban Transit, editor of Reputation: Studies in the Voluntary Elicitation of Good Conduct, editor of What Do Economists Contribute?, and coeditor of Edmund Burke and the Perennial Battle, 1789–1797 and three volumes on Classical Liberalism by Country.

167 – The Woke Mind with Ryan Rogers Dec 03, 2024

Show notes

"I do not believe," wrote F. A. Hayek in his book The Fatal Conceit, "that the widely held conception of 'social justice' either describes a possible state of affairs or is even meaningful." Hayek would complain "social" was a sort of "weasel word" that carried a lot of unexamined prescriptions. To call something "social justice" is to advocate for something without bothering to fully explore what that something might even be.

What are the philosophical underpinnings of social justice? What does it practically mean, and how could it practically apply. And what ought we to do when the goals of "social justice" conflict with actual justice?

Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined by Ryan Rogers who shares his story of experiencing the social justice movement in graduate school and his efforts to fully understand it origins, merits, and faults.

About Ryan Rogers

Ryan Rogers is a graduate student in clinical mental health counseling. He has a bachelors degree in psychology and a work history in addiction treatment. His latest book, The Woke Mind, will be available in early 2025. It is the sixth book in his series on social justice fanaticism.

Roundtable - Bullish or Bearish on Trump 2.0? Nov 27, 2024

Show notes

Should conservatives be bullish or bearish on the incoming Trump administration? Will Trump 2.0 deliver us to the sunlit uplands of a prosperous free market economy, sensible immigration reform, and reductions in wasteful deficit spending and overbearing regulations? Or will America become a dreadful hellscape with an executive branch consistently thwarting its constitutional limits and a GOP-controlled congress refusing to hold them in check, federal departments and agencies run by charlatans and conspiracy theorists, trade wars and industrial policies that would make late 19th century populists blush, and a justice system whose primary focus is on retribution against those who "stole" the 2020 election?

Christopher Chesny and Blake Fischer join Josh to discuss and debate what awaits us over the next four years.

166 – Independent Idiosyncrasies with Brett Loyd Nov 19, 2024

Show notes

"The biggest takeaway from the 2024 election," writes Justin Longo of the Independence Center, is that "independents have officially broken the duopoly and now share the title of America's largest political group with Republicans." But what is an independent, exactly? What do they want and how are they different from those who proudly affiliate with the Republican or Democratic parties? And what might this portend for the future of American politics?

Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined by pollster Brett Loyd to make sense of the rise of the independents in the electorate.

About Brett Loyd

President and CEO of The Bullfinch Group, Brett Loyd is a leading researcher and campaign strategist, being one of the few political operatives to accurately forecast the 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020 presidential elections.

With his methods unswayed by external influences, Brett has built a reputation as a trusted and insightful partner to presidential, senatorial, congressional, and gubernatorial candidates; national political committees; and corporate and issue campaigns. His unbiased and data-first approach has delivered research, insights, analysis, and recommendations that have led to wins from the highest levels of U.S. campaign politics to local policy initiatives, and among his trade association, NGO, and Fortune 500 clients' efforts.

This extensive experience also allows Brett to serve as a reputable advisor to DC's embassy and foreign relations community, advising international government relations firms as well as ambassadors and their diplomatic staff in Washington and abroad.

Brett Loyd began his career in statistics and political science after graduating from Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa. Following his start in state politics, Brett moved to Washington, DC in 2007 where he and his wife still reside with their dog Falkor and goldfish Doug.

About The Independence Center

The Independence Center is an organization dedicated to building a movement of independent-thinkers with Leaders who support centrist common sense compromise. The Independent Center's mission is advocate for the millions of Americans who believe we share common ground and to promote and support candidates who share those values through research and outreach.

Have you heard? Saving Elephants is now on YouTube!

Saving Elephants now has YouTube channel, featuring full-length episodes, exclusive shorts, and even live events! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/@savingelephants

Roundtable - Election Night - Livestream Nov 06, 2024

Show notes

Sure, the major news networks had all the "experts", but how many of them opined on what Buckley, Burke, or Kirk would think of the election results? Listen to Saving Elephants' livestream on election night as results come in from another stellar panel of cross-partisan contributors: Josh Lewis, Eric Kohn, Justin Stapley, Calvin Moore, Kent Straith, Mike Taylor, John Giokaris, Elizabeth Doll, and Steve Phelps.

165 – Take Courage Nov 05, 2024

Show notes

Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis flies this election day episode solo to offer his thoughts on how your vote is more likely to impact yourself than it is the races, having grace for those who choose to vote differently than we do, and why conservatives should take courage in a profoundly discouraging time.

Special Election Night Livestream

You're already staying up late to watch the election results. Why not watch them with another august cross-partisan panel brought to you by Saving Elephants? Join us, beginning 9PM CST, as we analyze the results in real time. Sure, the national networks have professional pundits, but how likely are any of them to seriously discuss what Burke, Kirk, or Buckley would think about our political developments?

Here's the link for YouTube and another for Facebook where we'll be livestreaming.

Roundtable - Election 2024 - Home Stretch Oct 21, 2024

Show notes

The most [assuredly not] important election of our lifetime is a little more than two weeks away. The candidates are in the home stretch as each of them make their final pitch to the dwindling undecided voter. Join another venerable group of panelists as we share our thoughts on the state of the race and our hopes and fears with a coming Harris or another Trump administration.

Panelists include: Brooke Medina, Eric Kohn, Mike Taylor, and Nate Honorè

164 – What is a Woman with Kimberly Ross Oct 15, 2024

Show notes

Saving Elephants meticulously avoids many cringeworthy tropes in today's "conservative" media and opts instead for deeper conversations on the conservative worldview and what it can offer Millennials. As such, there is much low-hanging-fruit among the fruitier parts of the Left that isn't as vigorously explored as it is in the aforementioned "conservative" media. But that doesn't mean these topics are off limits—just that they're to be approached with conviction and clarity.

Josh Lewis welcomes Kimberly Ross back to the podcast for a wide-ranging discussion on what it means to be a woman, the place of feminism in conservatism, how both the Left and Right get the differences in the sexes wrong, and whether Andrew Tate is the "conservative's" answer to Che Guevara.

About Kimberly Ross

Kimberly Ross is a freelance conservative writer. Her work regularly appears in The Washington Examiner, both online and the print magazine, and The Mirror magazine, a monthly publication from Aid to the Church in Need. She is a freelance columnist at The Freemen News-Letter and co-host of The Right Thoughts podcast. Her archive of published work can be found at RedState, Arc Digital, The Bulwark, Rare, and USA Today.

As a mother of two and self-described "first wave feminist", she is most passionate about the rights of children, women, and the issue of abortion. She considers herself an independent conservative (not to be confused with conservative independent) and is beholden to no politician.

Kimberly has a B.A. in history with graduate work in political science. You can follow Kimberly on Twitter @SouthernKeeks

Roundtable - Vice Vice Baby Oct 02, 2024

Show notes

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Ohio Senator JD Vance square off for the first—and likely only—vice presidential debate that's sure to leave pundits chattering, social media accounts fighting, and late economists spinning in their graves. The debate begins at 9PM ET. Join us immediately following the debate for another livestream roundtable to restore some inkling of sanity back to this election.

Panelists include Scott Howard, Jeffery Tyler Syck, and John Giokaris.

163 – Where Does the Conservative Go from Here? Oct 01, 2024

Show notes

In a world where both political parties are moving away from free market oriented policy solutions, a robust defense of our international allies, and traditional social norms, where does the conservative go from here?

Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is joined by special returning guests Cal Davenport, Erik Kohn, and Justin Stapley for a roundtable discussion on what the future holds for the conservative movement.

This episode first dropped as a livestream on the new Saving Elephants YouTube channel., featuring full-length episodes, exclusive shorts, and even live events! Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/@savingelephants

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