Comedy

The Political Orphanage

Politics minus bile plus jokes. Comedian and avowed independent Andrew Heaton interviews authors and thought leaders about policy and big thinky stuff.

Latest Episodes:

Space Bureaucrats vs. Space Billionaires Aug 17, 2022

Show notes

How do we best get space tourism and moon colonies – big public projects, or cocky entrepreneurs? Lori Garver is the former Deputy Administrator of NASA, and the author of "Escaping Gravity: My Quest to Transform NASA and Launch a New Space Age."

Book at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured

Robert Zubrin on "How to Build a Moon Base": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEEgdmimSWg

The Supreme Court Messed Up on Prayer in Schools Aug 12, 2022

Show notes

In Kennedy v. Bremerton the Supreme Court revisited–and reversed–long-standing precedents on public teachers and administrators leading prayers in school and at events.

Paul Townsend, of "In Summation - The Final Word" joins to assess its impact and diagnose the decision.

Can I Eat Peyote if it's Religious? Aug 11, 2022

Show notes

What happens when a law affecting public safety or basic governance comes into conflict with someone's deeply-held religious beliefs?

In this episode we explore religious exemptions, and how the court addresses carveouts from otherwise applicable laws.

Hunting for Theocracy in America Aug 10, 2022

Show notes

The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but also forbids the establishment of religion. What happens when the two come into conflict?

In Judge Week 2: Separation of Church and State, we investigate the First Amendment, and how the courts balance its competing clauses.

Bad News About Humane Warfare Aug 03, 2022

Show notes

Civilization has made warfare more indirect, streamlined, technological, and distant.

What if making warfare nicer makes us less hesitant to begin conflicts, and slower to stop them?

Samuel Moyn is the author of "Humane: How the United States Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War."

America's Dueling Enlightenments Jul 27, 2022

Show notes

The Founding Fathers were all children of the Enlightenment, and they agreed on kicking King George out, but they never agreed on how to run the country.

Seth Radwell, author of American Schism: How the Two Enlightenments Hold the Secret to Healing Our Nation joins on to discuss these two halves of our Founding, and how they are ultimately complimentary.

When To Scrap Politically Incorrect Words Jul 20, 2022

Show notes

How do we determine when to retire truly offensive words and replace confusing ones, against virtue signaling and shifting goal posts?

Ron Hayden of "Worth Watching" and Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy of "Majoring in Everything" join to discuss.

Inflation Is Losing You Money Jul 14, 2022

Show notes

Inflation is at an 11-year high--what's causing it!

How do we solve it, and how does it effect us (and our bank accounts)? John Cochrane, "The Grumpy Economist" joins to discuss. Plus: Hyperinflation . . . via the French Revolution!

How to Change Your Idiot Uncle's Mind About Stuff Jul 06, 2022

Show notes

In "How to Change Minds: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion," science writer David McRaney explores proven ways to get people to unstuck themselves from entrenched opinions and think straight.

Get "How to Change Minds" at www.mightyheaton.com/featured

Relevant Episodes:

Peter Boghassian on "How to Talk to Insufferable Ideologues" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-talk-to-insufferable-ideologues-featuring-peter/id1439837349?i=1000464778737

Andrea Jones-Rooy on "How to Unstuck Idiot Political Beliefs" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-unstuck-idiot-political-beliefs/id1439837349?i=1000463382249

Adaam Levin-Areddy on Cognitive Dissonance: https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/cognative-dissonance

David McRaney on Groupthink https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-monkey-groupthink-beats-human-logic/id1439837349?i=1000556387655

Every Time We've Rigged the Supreme Court Jul 01, 2022

Show notes

Court Packing! In the wake of Roe v. Wade, Progressives want to insert new justices to tip back the majority. In this episode we explore the several times politicians have rigged the courts. And then analyze the best available reforms to make the Supreme Court less of a partisan volcano.

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