The Political Orphanage

Latest Episodes:

Ep 124 | These Damn College Kids! | Guest: Robby Soave May 16, 2019

Show notes

In the era of radical identitarian politics, where unthinking vitriol and sometimes even violence abounds, more and more we are in need of sane voices in political discourse. Robby Soave, author of 'Panic Attack: Young Radicals in the Age of Trump' joins Heaton in the studio to talk about the future of politics in the new generation.

Ep 123 | Alienating the Audience: Game of Thrones | Guest: Grant Carlisle May 15, 2019

Show notes

It's time for an industrial helping of high-grade nerd chat about Game of Thrones. Heaton talks to policy wonk and lifelong nerd Grant Carlisle about the deeper meaning of George R. R. Martin's books and HBO series.

Ep 122 | What the Hell is 'Dark Money'? | Guest: Dave Levinthal May 14, 2019

Show notes

How much do you have to pay to swing an ambassadorship? What is Citizens United and why do people loathe it? Heaton talks with Dave Levinthal, senior reporter at the Center for Public Integrity, about campaign finance and how money shapes politics.

Ep 121 | Mother's Day Special May 13, 2019

Show notes

It's that time of year again! The mistletoe is hanging in the doorway, all the snow has been shoveled, and there's a glass of wine just waiting on the kitchen counter for that special person. Snuffy's Diner is proud to sponsor this year's Mother's Day Special!

Ep 120 | The Spy Whale Who Loved Me | Guest: Lou Perez May 10, 2019

Show notes

Comedian Lou Perez joins Heaton for a Friday Release Valve episode to discuss the silliest headlines of the week: Some sheep go to school, chicken nugget ice cream, a guy crossing the ocean in a barrel, and a lot more fun on this week's episode!

Ep 119 | How Harlots Saved America | Guest: Thaddeus Russell May 09, 2019

Show notes

What if history isn't a string of great man biopics or a struggle between conservatives and progressives? What if it's a battle of disciplinarians against drunks and harlots? Thaddeus Russell comes on to talk about his book, "A Renegade History of the United States."

Ep 118 | A Great Way to Screw Up the Economy | Guest: Jeremy Kareken May 08, 2019

Show notes

The market tumbled yesterday after Donald Trump threatened to double down on tariffs. Heaton explains Comparative Advantage with a brilliant scotch analogy, and is then joined by playwright and comedian Jeremy Kareken to rant about protectionism.

Ep 117 | Criminology Lessons from a Prison Rodeo | Guest: German Lopez May 07, 2019

Show notes

It's expensive maintaining the largest prison population on the entire planet, but we've managed to do it for several decades. German Lopez, senior correspondent at Vox, joins Heaton to talk about criminal justice reform and how the 2020 candidates stack up on drug policy and sentencing.

Ep 116 | How We Beat Those Neanderthals | Guest: Natalia Reagan May 06, 2019

Show notes

Comedian and primatologist Natalia Reagan joins Heaton to talk about hominids, the human family tree, and the time when Homo sapiens weren't the only smart bipedal hominids running around.

Ep 115 | The World's Sexiest Accent | Guest: Brian Sack May 03, 2019

Show notes

Comedy writer Brian Sack joins Heaton for a Friday Release Valve episode to sort the world's better headlines: from the worst use of parking spaces ever, to a great education game about cow tuberculosis, to an effortless but irritating way to get abs.

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