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PODCAST

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.

news politics

All Episodes

01:37:32

China Hates These Two People

The Political Orphanage ·

2025/07/17

Melissa Chan and Badiucao have both been exiled from the People's Republic of China; the former as a journalist and the latter as an artist and political cartoonist. They join the show to discuss censorship and authoritarianism in China, and their new book, "You Must Take Part in Revolution: A Graphic Novel."

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31:44

The Two Times We Invaded Canada

The Political Orphanage ·

2025/07/10

Ever wonder why Canada didn’t become the 14th colony during the American War of Independence? It turns out, America invited Canada to join. Then, when they turned down the invitation, invaded. Then again in 1812. In this episode we return to States that Weren’t: Canada. Plus, how Nova Scotia and Newfoundland almost became states. www.ThePoliticalOrphanage.com

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01:09:56

Populist Hillbillies vs. Fake Lordlings: The...

The Political Orphanage ·

2025/07/02

America is littered with lots of almost-states, which very nearly joined the Union in their own right, but for some reason did not. In today’s episode we cover Vandalia, Transylvania, Westylvania, Franklin, and Nickajack. By investigating these almost-states, we delve into constitutional law on matters of succession, and tap into a centuries-old conflict between populist hillbillies and English lordlings. www.ThePoliticalOrphanage.com

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01:26:15

Government Grocery Stores and Free Bussing! (WSPN)

The Political Orphanage ·

2025/06/27

This week New York City Democrats held their primary for mayor, and nominated Zohran Kwame Mamdani. Mamdani is a Democratic Socialist who promises to implement free bussing, a $30 per hour minimum wage, universal childcare, and a government-run grocery store program. Hosts of the World's Smartest Podcast Network hosts, Turner Sparks and Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy join to discuss.

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01:13:51

Churchill, Non-Proliferation, and Iranian Nuclear...

The Political Orphanage ·

2025/06/19

Iran is accused by Israel of pursuing a nuclear weapons program, and President Trump is weighing US military intervention. In this episode we chart the history of nuclear non-proliferation, and assess Iran in light of it.

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01:04:09

Assassins Part III: An Anarchist Murders McKinley

The Political Orphanage ·

2025/06/12

A terrorist shot William McKinley at a World's Fair in Buffalo in 1901. In this episode, we go over the specter of anarchism in that era, why McKinley embodied the establishment, and how he died.

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28:14

Assassins Part I: Shooting Andrew Jackson

The Political Orphanage ·

2025/06/04

Andrew Jackson was the first U. S. president who experienced an assassination attempt. It didn’t stick. In today’s episode we learn about the most grizzled executive in American history from the vantage point of his last near-brush with death.

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56:09

How Godzilla Beat the Housing Crisis

The Political Orphanage ·

2025/05/28

How does American housing stack up compared to other countries, specifically in terms of full-blown housing communism or free market Japanese housing Nirvana? In this episode we take a look at what makes housing cheap, what makes housing expensive, and lessons we can steal from foreigners. LINKS: Reason TV: "Heaton solves the Housing Crisis" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VmEOgC0CWM Alain Bertaud: Sim City Was Always Wrong https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/sim-city-was-always-wrong

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01:25:16

This Book Will Upset Your Textbook

The Political Orphanage ·

2025/05/22

Conventional wisdom is brimming with economic myths: the Industrial Revolution impoverished the masses; bobber barons were the scourge of the Gilded Age; the Great Recession was caused by irresponsible deregulation. Senator Phil Gramm and economist Don Boudreaux attempt to set the record straight in their new book, “The Triumph of Economic Freedom: Debunking the Seven Great Myths of American Capitalism.”

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01:18:05

Make Hollywood Great Again?

The Political Orphanage ·

2025/05/15

Donald Trump is threatening to levy tariffs on films shot elsewhere, and actor John Voight is petitioning the federal government for taxpayer subsidies to protect Hollywood from foreign competition. Screenwriter C. Robert Cargill joins to discuss. https://www.scamstuff.com/products/brian-and-matt-june-2025

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01:33:04

Why You Need a License for Everything

The Political Orphanage ·

2025/05/07

Rebecca Allensworth is the Associate Dean of Research at Vanderbilt Law, where she focuses on anti-trust and licensing. She is the author of "The Licensing Racket: How We Decide Who Is Allowed to Work, and Why It Goes Wrong." She joins to discuss licensing, and alternatives. Previous: Shoshanna Weissman on Grooming Licenses https://omny.fm/shows/something-s-off-with-andrew-heaton/ep-8-puppy-grooming-licenses-guest-shoshanna-weiss

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58:44

A.I. Will Be Even More Awesome Than You Thought

The Political Orphanage ·

2025/05/01

Marc Beckman is a Senior Fellow of Emerging Technology at NYU, adjunct professor Stern, and the author of "Some Future Day: how AI is going to Change Everything." He joins to discuss practical implications of the unfolding AI Revolution.

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59:57

Is it Racist? Is it Sexist?

The Political Orphanage ·

2025/04/24

Why do some people determine an action is racist, and others say nah? What are the mental protocols people use to exonerate or convict someone accused of beings sexist? Jessi Streib is the author of "Is it Racist? Is it Sexist? Why Red and Blue White People Disagree, and How to Decide in the Gray Areas."

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54:38

Faster, Cheaper, Better Government: Derek Thompson on...

The Political Orphanage ·

2025/04/16

Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson are the authors of “Abundance” a book about removing artificial scarcity and embracing a worldview that focuses on end goals, building, growth, and increasing the supply of everything we need and want. He joins to discuss the book, zoning, why America can’t have nice trains, and how we can better lean into federal research funding.

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01:26:24

Trump, Napoleon III, and the Global Economic Order

The Political Orphanage ·

2025/04/10

Just what the hell is happening with tariffs? Are we entering a trade war? Are we negotiating? In today's show: A) An extended introduction about Napoleon III and Otto von Bismarck B) Austin Padgett, co-host of "History 102" on YouTube joins to discuss Trump's tariffs from the pro-Trump perspective C) Scott Lincicome of Cato takes a dim view of shenanigans

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01:20:43

Cory Doctorow on the Evils of Copyright Law

The Political Orphanage ·

2025/04/02

Cory Doctorow is a journalist, activist, and science fiction author known for his work on digital rights, monopolies, and the future of technology. He joins to discuss non-compete clauses, IP law, Right of Repair, and copyright regimes. His most recent book is "Picks and Shovels,” available at www.mightyheaton.com/featured.

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01:08:07

Near Death Experiences, with Sebastian Junger

The Political Orphanage ·

2025/03/26

Sebastian Junger is a decorated war correspondent and author of books like “The Perfect Storm” and “Tribes: On Coming Home and Belonging.” Heaton was going to interview him about his last book, “Freedom,” but then Junger very nearly died, and they decided to talk about that instead. His most recent book is "In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife" Prior interview on “Tribes”

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47:59

Deporting Khalil

The Political Orphanage ·

2025/03/21

Mahmoud Khalil has been detained, and will be potentially deported, by the Trump administration. Attorney Anna Gorisch joins to discuss the implications of this case, in terms of national security, immigration law, and the difference between protected and unprotected speech. Unabridged: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12QlJl8QgTKBffGXgtUjzMfLIrndTf3mW/view?usp=sharing

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01:49:18

I Talk to a DEI Consultant about DEI

The Political Orphanage ·

2025/03/12

Andrea Jones-Rooy is a data scientist and former DEI consultant. She joins to discuss what DEI is, what DEI is not, and where it goes wrong.

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43:31

Your Kids and The Department of Education

The Political Orphanage ·

2025/03/06

What would happen if the Trump administration tried to abolish or defund the Department of Education? What does it do, and is it a net positive or net negative in terms of tax dollars and dispensing knowledge?

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591 results

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