Claim OwnershipThe Political Orphanage
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© 2025 Andrew Heaton
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Politics minus bile plus jokes. Comedian and avowed independent Andrew Heaton interviews authors and thought leaders about policy and big thinky stuff.
588 Episodes
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Okay, so what constitutes "cruel and unusual"? Why was it okay to brand horse thieves in the face in old timey days, but it's barbaric now? In the final installment of this year's Judge Week, we go over the history of cruel and unusual punishments; what scared the English into outlawing it in their Bill of Rights, and how America interpreted it for the first century of the Constitution. Then, landmark decisions which have further modified, narrowed, and evolved what constitutes as "cruel" in the United States.
Pornhub ceased operating in the Lone Star State after Texas implemented an age verification law. Pornhub, and other adult websites, said the compliance was too onerous, and the potential fines too staggering. In response, the Free Speech Coalition sued Texas in court for an injunction to block the law, on the grounds that by burdening protected (if offensive) speech it violated the first amendment. Texas responded by saying that requiring age verification online is no different than asking to see ID at a brick-and-mortar porno theater. In this episode we visit the Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, and the full history of American jurisprudence regarding pornography and protected speech. Ronnie London is general counsel of FIRE, and joins to discuss.
1In Mahmoud v. Taylor the Supreme Court affirmed parents rights to remove their children from LGBTQ material used in public schools. The Court ruled that opt-outs preserve separation of church and state, and protect parental rights. The Dissent maintains that exposure is not the same thing as indoctrination, and opt-outs are at best going to be an administrative nightmare, at worst a religious veto on acceptable content. Anastasia Boden of PLF joins to discuss.
In Trump v. Casa the Supreme Court ruled that district judges cannot issue “universal injunctions” against the federal government… Well, what the hell does that mean? The ruling comes in regard to Trump’s executive order on birthright citizenship. Is the Trump administration accurately “rediscovering” the true meaning of the Constitution, or just twisting and mangling it to make sure nobody here illegally can confer citizenship on their kids? Tim Sandefur of the Goldwater Institute joins to discuss.
I think I probably drink too much, and I ought to curb that before I wrinkle prematurely. Fortunately, there is Katie Herzog. You may know her as the host of the Blocked & Reported podcast, but she is also the author of “Drink Yourself Sober: The Science-Based Method to Break Free from Alcohol.” LINKS: Addicted to Dopamine https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/addicted-to-dopamine/id1439837349?i=1000601229295
Daryl Davis is an African American musician responsible for de-radicalizing over 200 Klansmen and Neo-Nazis in his attempts to understand racism. He joins Heaton to talk about his experience, contact science, and the best ways to overcome bigotry. This episode has been corrected for an audio error which previously occurred. If you see two episodes in your player, go with this one! Original air date: July 8, 2020
Europe’s GDP and purchasing power lag behind that of the United States. Why? Sam Bowman is the Editor of Works in Progress at Stripe, and the former Executive Director of the Adam Smith Institute. He recently wrote an article for Reason Magazine entitled "The Europoors Are Choosing to Have Less Then Americans. It Doesn't Have to Be this Way." He joins to discuss if Europe is actually poorer, and why.
Liberalism was once thought to be triumphant and inevitable, but at the moment it’s losing ground across the globe. Cass Sunstein joins to discuss what liberalism is, why it’s good, and some of the in-family debates. LINK: Cass Sunstein on Smarter Regulations https://www.thepoliticalorphanage.com/p/cass-sunstein-on-smarter-regulations-85e
Well, how do we respond after assassinations and political tragedies? Let's talk about it. Ugh. Link: Assassins Part II: A Loser Kills Garfield https://www.patreon.com/posts/130642450
If Iran’s Islamic Republic collapsed—or got pushed out—who would pick up the pieces? This week we look at the recent history of Iran, and the coup perpetrated by the CIA and MI6. To understand Iran’s broader political context, and the power players poised to seize leadership. Linked Bonus Episode: McKinley Dies and the Empire is Born On Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-mckinley-131344006?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link On Substack: https://www.thepoliticalorphanage.com/p/assassins-part-iv-mckinley-dies-and?r=1moac&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Is Sweden a socialist paradise? What do they do right and what have they screwed up on? Most importantly, what can Americans steal, replicate, and improve upon? To find out, I abducted the handsome and urbane intellectual Johan Norberg. Also I visit the ABBA Museum.
Finland routinely winds up at the top of global happiness surveys. Why? In this episode, I flew to Helsinki to wander around and chat up locals. Trying to figure out why: Their social trust is so teeteringly high How their social safety nets work How this combines to result in their contentedness. So that we can steal all that, and replicate it. Relevant Episode: The Nordic Theory of Everything https://www.thepoliticalorphanage.com/p/the-nordic-theory-of-everything-52a?r=1moac
It turns out, young voters (under fifty) are openly hostile to political parties, and are most likely to flip from election to election. This means the game is about to change as Millennials displace Baby Boomers as the largest voting bloc. So what happens? Adam Brandon is a senior advisor at The Independent Center, and the former and final president of FreedomWorks. He joins the show to discuss how an electoral surgical strike of a few house seats could introduce seismic waves to American politics.
Greg Lukianoff is the President of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, and along with Nadine Strossen, is the author of "The War on Words: 10 Arguments Against Free Speech--And Why They Fail."
Does the Fed achieve its own stated goals? What are underlying ethical or practical issues with it? Soho Forum founder and economist Gene Epstein joins to make the case against the Federal Reserve. The SoHo Forum: https://www.thesohoforum.org/ Uncut Gene Epstein interview on the Federal Reserve: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1h_8wTj-0VrlMWsrtI6iIsewKvjZworu_/view?usp=sharing
What is the purported aim of the Federal Reserve? Why is it independent, or shoot for 2% targeted inflation? In part one of our series on the Fed, Jeremiah Johnson of the New Liberal podcast joins to explain, discuss, and field objections.
How can an unscrupulous person get elected to high office and make a buck by abusing public trust? To look into this matter we speak with former congressman (and former lobbyist) Scott Klug.
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."
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
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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you asked why can't Iran have nuclear weapon many times like you don't know Islamic republic is a totalitarian regime.
loved this episode
Again, good to interview all types of people. it is just notable that this interview is with yet another idiot who mistakes and misunderstands, he is either ignorant or is purposely twisting facts to support his progressive narrative. I won't judge him by saying that I know in what lane be should be put. I just know that he is wrong.
Happy that he brings on any guest. Thus guest is very dishonest about the origin and philosophy of wokism. It is not overly enthusiastic liberalism. It is anti-liberal in both its post-modernist and Marxist foundations. It removes the individual and replaces it with the group identity. It assumes every interaction is one of racial or gender power differential. It denies objective approximation of knowledge. It is power hungry instead of empowering.
Cenk couldn't handle Alex Jones even with the help of his team of old jerks youtube. He gonna take on the democrat party? Zzzz
I could have listened to another 2 hours of this guy!
Legion of skanks aren't alt right. What an incredibly dumb statement.
"Horses are stupid?" You wait until Snuffy's hears about this!
I appreciate your show
if you love something. privatize it
this one made me feal like an objectovist
I will be buying stock in Relentless Flowers international. I think this is a service the county needs.
spoiler. after his interview with Tapper on CNN I'm pretty sure he hasn't even read the LP platform.
Way too much peddling of the "big cities would control everything" myth in here. A straight popular vote would be terrible for the reasons stated otherwise but the math really isn't there for this one. Little reason to be considering how a state or a city would vote when it would be down to a question of individual votes of equal value.
If you're the Garfunkel of the group that means you're the one who can actually sing.
Two opposable thumbs way up. Thanks for all you've done, and will do.
You should work with Tom Woods
I am enjoying your show. I love the mix of humor and intellectual discussions.