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:

Michael Malice on Anarchism Jul 07, 2021

Show notes

Michael Malice is the best-selling author of "The Anarchist Handbook". He joins to discuss the legitimacy of government action, and what society might look like in the absence of a state.

"The Anarchist Handbook" by Michael Malice https://amzn.to/3dS402h

On North Korea https://apple.co/36iKQi8

On the New Right https://bit.ly/2Utllb0

Authoritarianism On the Rise Jun 30, 2021

Show notes

Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Anne Applebaum is the author of "Twilight of Democracy: The Seductive Lure of Authoritarianism." She joins the show to discuss the rise of authoritarianism around the world, and the origins of the impulse.

Related episode: "You're Doing the Culture War Wrong" https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/youre-doing-the-culture-war-wrong/id1439837349?i=1000485699778

Don't Give Energy to Political Bullies Jun 23, 2021

Show notes

Brian Brushwood joins the show to discuss why people get their jollies from political bullying, and how to sidestep fruitless fights instead of getting drawn into them.

Past bonus episodes:

"How to Avoid Awkward Political Conversations"

"Advice from Brian Brushwood and Me"

How Weighted Voting Could Actually Work Jun 16, 2021

Show notes

What if instead of one vote per person, you had a whole bag of votes to distribute however you liked along the ballot? What if all property was up for auction, permanently?

Glen Weyl is the author of "Radical Markets: Uprooting Capitalism and Democracy for A Just Society." He joins the show to discuss where markets work well and where they do not, and how we could rethink society from the ground up to better utilize them.

The Difference Between Liberals and Leftists Jun 09, 2021

Show notes

Adam Gopnik is the author of "A Thousand Points of Sanity: The Moral Adventure of Liberalism" and joins the show to discuss what constitutes the temperament and foundations of liberalism.

Want to discuss the episode with fellow orphans? Head to www.mightyheaton.com/discord

This episode is sponsored by Ground News - The world's first news comparison platform. Download Ground News for free here: https://ground.news/orphanage

Why You Can't Drop Student Loans through Bankruptcy Jun 03, 2021

Show notes

Student loan debt is at a cool $1.7 trillion and growing. Should we forgive all the debt? Why can't we discharge it through bankruptcy? Policy deep dive episode!

Why College is So Freakin' Expensive? Jun 02, 2021

Show notes

In 1950 you could basically go to college for free if you promised to wear a necktie. Today, you need to hostage multiple children for a four-year communications degree. Why is college tuition skyrocketing?

SUPPORT THE SHOW:

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www.mightyheaton.com/discord

Chinese Social Engineering – WSPN Roundtable May 26, 2021

Show notes

The World's Smartest Podcast Network reassembles for a roundtable discussion, featuring Turner Sparks, Michael Ira Kaplan, and Andrea Jones-Rooy. Topics include: Chinese social engineering, red governors in blue states, private security, and space dust.

Less Nukes and More Prosperity May 19, 2021

Show notes

When we look at world metrics annually or on a ten-year basis, it turns out... everything is getting better. Literacy, poverty, the prospects of nuclear war, women's rights, children's rights, and so forth. Ron Bailey, co-author of "Ten Global Trends Every Smart Person Should Know: And Many Others You Will Find Interesting" joins to discuss the upswing, what's causing it, and what could derail it.

FRV: The Great State of Miscellaneous May 14, 2021

Show notes

Comedians Mike Larsen (writer for "The Drew Carey Show" and "Real Time with Bill Maher) and Travis Irvine join the show to discuss the best, least covered-headlines of the week.

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