The John Stossel Interviews

Ep. 23 Ezra Levant: Defending Free Speech in a Polarized World Oct 21, 2024

Open speech is under attack around the world. Canada’s Rebel News founder Ezra Levant warns what might happen if we lose free speech in America.

He points out that politicians in Canada plan to punish "hate speech" with life in prison. In England and Scotland, you can already get arrested for “hateful” posts. There, J.K. Rowling fights back – breaking Scotland’s law on purpose, daring police to arrest her. In Australia and Brazil, politicians tried to censor Twitter accounts. But Elon Musk refused. It’s good that both defend free speech.

Ep. 22 Jordan Peterson: On Free Speech, Responsibility, and the Radical Left Oct 07, 2024

This is my full interview with controversial psychologist Jordan Peterson. Protesters tried to shout him down, but they failed. Now millions buy his books about finding meaning in responsibility.

Why do people -- especially young people -- eagerly buy books about responsibility? "There's just an absolute starvation for the other side of the story," Peterson says. "There are no rights, technically speaking, without responsibilities. And all we've had for 60 years is a dialogue about rights. Well, that leaves a hole ... in people's hearts," he says. More of Peterson's philosophy -- and some tough questions from me.

Ep. 21 Viral Influencer Gloria Alvarez Fights Socialism Sep 16, 2024

Socialism always fails! But for some reason people still want it.

They should listen to Gloria Alvarez.

She’s a viral influencer from Guatemala who watched parts of Latin America get wrecked by socialism.

Now she says the “moochers and looters” are gaining ground in the USA.

I’m encouraged people like Gloria get it.

I interviewed her last year when she was running for President of Guatemala.

Ep. 20 RFK Jr: On Deficits, War, Green Energy, Chronic Disease and Vaccines Sep 02, 2024

Robert Kennedy Jr recently suspended his presidential campaign. He was a unique candidate, with some controversial ideas. While he was running, I talked with him for an hour. RFK Jr told me that he wants to cut government spending, and that he supports freer markets. I was skeptical. What about his previous proposal to ban fracking? His opposition to nuclear energy? To even wind energy? What about the environmental regulations he pushes regarding chemicals in food, and his fear of vaccines? When it comes to foreign policy, he says he supports fewer wars, but what about his support for US funding of Israel? I asked RFK Jr questions about all those things, and fact-checked a few claims at the end. While we often disagree, I am glad he was willing to debate. That’s too rare these days.

Ep. 19 Chase Oliver: On Immigration, War, Taxes, Welfare, School Choice and Star Trek Aug 19, 2024

Donald Trump or Kamala Harris? Well, what about Chase Oliver? He’s the Libertarian presidential candidate with some pretty interesting ideas. Thoughts you won’t hear from either major-party candidate.

Oliver believes in “the most local governance, which is self-governance.” He wants government to stay out of our lives. He plans to privatize welfare, end social security, cut federal spending, and much more! In this podcast, originally recorded on June 12th, he tells me his vision for America.

Ep. 18 Chris Rufo: On Wokeism in Schools, Critical Race Theory, & DEI Aug 05, 2024

Chris Rufo is known as an anti-woke crusader.

Why?

Because as a reporter, Rufo discovered that critical race theory is being taught in schools and that some teachers are forced to take white privilege training.

For covering that, his critics say he’s a villain. The New Yorker even argues he "invented the conflict over critical race theory.”

But Rufo seems to enjoy the criticism, and now he has real power in Florida because Gov. Ron DeSantis made him a trustee of a public university.

In this podcast, I ask Rufo about that, and whether he and DeSantis are “authoritarians.”

Ep. 17 Johan Norberg: On Sweden’s “Socialism,” the Loneliness "Epidemic,” Degrowth and other Myths Jul 15, 2024

Many people today want socialism.

They hate capitalism. They say it hurts the poor.

But that's just not true.

In this podcast, author and historian Johan Norberg explains how capitalism saves lives and why socialism always fails.

Norberg also busts other trending myths like the idea that loneliness is an "epidemic," economic growth is bad, and the widely repeated claim that his home country, Sweden, is a socialist success.

Ep. 16 Dave Rubin: On Free Speech, Leaving the Left and Identity Politics Jul 01, 2024

Dave Rubin, host of “The Rubin Report,” used to be a leftist, but now he says progressives are “totalitarian.”

He’s been shouted down when he speaks on college campuses.

“They think I am a right-wing extremist,” Rubin tells me.

He’s even lost friends for his political views.

But Rubin’s show is hugely popular. He rightly recognized that people have an appetite for longer, in-depth interviews.

“If there were more people having honest conversation,” Rubin tells me, "we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in.”

Rubin is on to something. We talk about free speech, idenity politics, his change in politics, and more.

Ep. 15 Bjorn Lomborg: On Climate Change, Poverty, and How Governments WASTE Your Money Jun 17, 2024

Governments spends trillions to fight climate change, but Environmentalist Bjorn Lomborg says many of these policies are a waste of money.

For saying this, Lomborg has been called "the devil." The Danish government even targeted him for his views on climate change.

"I'm not trying to do something that's immoral," he tells me, "I'm simply trying to make sure that we get it right."

Lomborg says there are better things society should spend money on like maternal and newborn health and improving education.

In this podcast he explains why.

Ep. 14 Mike Rowe on Lockdowns, Safety Third, Dignity of Work and College Loans Jun 03, 2024

You’ve heard the mantra “safety first.” Politicians used it as a justification for Covid lockdowns. But Mike Rowe, former host of "Dirty Jobs”, has his own slogan: “safety third.” Why “safety third?” It’s easy to save lives, says Rowe, but LIVING life is more important. I made a couple of short videos with Rowe. But he has a lot of other interesting things to say on lockdowns, why college is a waste of money, the dignity of work, and more. So here is our full interview.

Ep. 13 Jared Polis: On Legal Discrimination, Colorado Crime, Equity & School Choice May 20, 2024

Colorado Governor Jared Polis is more pro-freedom than many politicians.

He's a rare democrate who talks about economic freedom and individual liberty.

But I have problems with some things Polis believes.

He wants to force businesses to provide services for gay weddings. He signed universal pre-k, and Colorado lags in school choice.

Polis is also unusual because most Democrats won’t debate ideas with me. He will.

Ep. 12 Charles Murray: On Race and IQ, Government Welfare, and Crimes May 06, 2024

Many people hate Charles Murray. They call him “dangerous” because he wrote about racial IQ differences. But angry protestors fail to recognize that Murray is not a white supremacist. He’s a thoughtful researcher who has published more than a dozen scholarly books about things like the impact of welfare, the pursuit of happiness, and the meaning of libertarianism. Some of his work influenced presidents. One of his books influenced my way of thinking. Here is my full discussion with Murray.

Ep. 11 Alex Epstein: On the Moral Case for Fossil Fuels, Renewable Energy, and Green Deceptions Apr 15, 2024

Green activists want to BAN fossil fuels. I wish they’d listen to energy author Alex Epstein.

He explains how fossil fuels make the world better, and how banning them ruins lives.

How can fossil fuels be “moral" when activists tell us, “keep it in the ground?"

Because:

“3 billion people …. still use less electricity than a typical American refrigerator” says Epstein.

To allow them to have a modern life, “that's going to depend on fossil fuels.”

But what about pollution and climate change?

I push back throughout this podcast.

Ep. 10 The Babylon Bee Interview: On Censorship, Cancel Culture & Anti-Woke Comedy Apr 01, 2024

The conservative Christian satire group, the Babylon Bee, is part of a growing movement of new, anti-establishment comedy and anti-woke comedy.

“Leftists have become so…religiously zealous about their beliefs,” says Editor-in-chief Kyle Mann.

That preachy establishment comedy created a market for something new.

“We have to create our own platform,” says Bee actor Chandler Juliet.

It’s good that comedy like this exists.

Ep. 9 Ron Paul: On Ukraine, Runaway Inflation, Running for President, and End the Fed Mar 18, 2024

I don’t like talking to politicians. But Ron Paul is different.

Paul talked about free markets and limited government long before I had a clue how important they were.

When I interviewed Paul in 2007 for ABC News, ABC wouldn't put the interview on Broadcast TV; they only played it online.

Now everything we do is online— I like it better this way, we were able to have a long conversation and cover many more topics.

*Interview originally recorded February 14, 2022*

Ep. 8 Erec Smith: A Diversity Trainer Speaks Out Against DEI Mar 04, 2024

You’ve been hearing about DEI training. It’s supposed to make us aware of our unconscious prejudice. But Rhetoric Professor and former diversity trainer Erec Smith tells me today's DEI training does more harm than good. "If you can keep this race thing going," he explains, "then you will always have a business in getting rid of racism.”

Ep. 7 Enes Kanter Freedom: On China, NBA Hypocrisy, LeBron & Cena Feb 19, 2024

Basketball player Enes Kanter Freedom is outspoken about brutality in Turkey, China and elsewhere.

I’d think Freedom’s activism would be applauded by the NBA. Afterall, the league is a big supporter of activism from the Black Lives Matter movement.

But that wasn't the case.

When Freedom spoke out against China, he says it cost him his job.

Who is this principled player?

I wanted to learn more about what happened to him.

Ep. 6 Climate Scientist Judith Curry Says World Won't End Feb 05, 2024

Many politicians, and most climate scientists in the media, portray climate change as a crisis.

"People are dying!" shouts Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez.

Bill Nye "the Science Guy" says "The planet's on ****ing fire! ... This is an actual crisis!"

But climate scientist Judith Curry bravely tells me: There is NO "crisis."

Global warming is a problem, yes, but it's manageable. She explains how IPCC scientists recently admitted that their most extreme models won't become reality, and she notes that climate-related deaths are actually falling.

She also explains how the scientific community became corrupted by "fame and fortune."

Ep. 5 Megyn Kelly: On NBC, Fox, Trump and Her Life in Media Jan 17, 2024

If you follow the news, you know Megyn Kelly. But how much do you know about her?

I got to know Megyn Kelly when we worked together at Fox.

We, and our families, became friends.

Then I watched, sometimes in shock, as strange and nasty things happened to her.

We finally sat down to talk about that.

It’s easier to speak freely now that we’re both our own bosses.

Ep. 4 Ron DeSantis: On 2024, Donald Trump, COVID, the Border Crisis, Education and More Jan 01, 2024

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is running for President. I want to know what he'll do if he wins.

The Governor is both popular and controversial.

I like some of what he has done. But I also worry he may be an authoritarian.

We talk about the good he’s done, and I confront him on what troubles me.

Ep. 3 Vivek Ramaswamy: On Wokeness, Free Speech, Destructive ESG & the Climate Cult Dec 18, 2023

Vivek Ramaswamy is a successful entrepreneur who created a biotech company. Now he’s running for president. “As a businessperson, you're saving lives…why politics?” I ask. "I think there is an opportunity to drive a national revival in our country,” he tells me. "I couldn't think of a better way to do it than to...get elected U.S. president.” Ramaswamy is obviously a long shot, but his arguments--that America has become a nation of victims, and that some on Wall Street now collude with government to cripple capitalism--made me want to learn more about him.

Ep. 2 Adam Carolla: On Covid Fear-Mongering, AOC & Cancel Culture Dec 04, 2023

Adam Carolla is one of the most successful comedians around. Millions of people listen to his podcasts, attend his live shows, and read his books. In our full conversation, he goes much deeper into why he never apologizes for anything he says. He rails against the media’s Covid hysteria. He reacts to friends like Howard Stern and Jimmy Kimmel hammering his Covid opinions. And he tells me why overregulation in California is “insane."

Ep. 1 Rand Paul: On Covid, the Lab Leak, and Anthony Fauci Nov 20, 2023

Remember how government officials handled the pandemic? The so-called experts and media made lots of mistakes. Experts told us there was no way it could have leaked from a lab. Senator Rand Paul didn’t believe the experts. Now, his new book, “Deception: The Great Covid Cover-Up,” reveals details about the origins of Covid and the government's deceit. “So, evil Chinese scientists in a lab funded by America?” I ask. “It looks like it came from the lab,” Senator Rand Paul tells me. “America funded it. It was maybe not done with evil intentions. It was done with the misguided notion that gain of function research was safe.” In our interview with Senator Rand Paul, we discuss the evidence that Covid came from a lab, Fauci, vaccines, and more.

Ep. 0 - A New Podcast! Nov 17, 2023

I have a new podcast, “The John Stossel Interviews.”

I built my entire career shrinking news stories down to 5 or 10 minute segments because that’s usually my attention span.

But since I’ve started my online network, Stossel TV, I’ve learned something...many of you want longer conversations.

That's what I'll be posting here.

Subscribe to this show, and you’ll get extended interviews with newsmakers and people who I think have something important to say.

New episodes will release on the 1st and 3rd Monday of every month, and if you want to watch my weekly videos, you can find those at JohnStossel.com.

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