Shows
ReImagining Liberty094: A New American Reconstruction (w/ Andy Craig and Shikha Dalmia)Welcome to ReImagining Liberty, a show about the emancipatory and cosmopolitan case for radical liberalism. I’m Aaron Ross Powell.It’s still possible Trump succeeds in his project of authoritarian consolidation, but between the dramatic losses the GOP suffered in the elections on November 4th, the infighting in the conservative coalition, and the Epstein scandal, the prospects for that consolidation are looking more remote.All this makes the “How do we rebuild when Trump is behind us?” question feel less like a pipe dream. Which is why I was so happy to see my friends...
2025-11-2457 min
ReImagining Liberty094: A New American Reconstruction (w/ Andy Craig and Shikha Dalmia)Welcome to ReImagining Liberty, a show about the emancipatory and cosmopolitan case for radical liberalism. I'm Aaron Ross Powell.It's still possible Trump succeeds in his project of authoritarian consolidation, but between the dramatic losses the GOP suffered in the elections on November 4th, the infighting in the conservative coalition, and the Epstein scandal, the prospects for that consolidation are looking more remote.All this makes the "How do we rebuild when Trump is behind us?" question feel less like a pipe dream. Which is why I was so happy to see my friends at...
2025-11-1457 min
Project LiberalThe End of Libertarian Fusionism | Aaron Ross PowellRadical liberal and former Cato Institute scholar Aaron Ross Powell joins hosts Joshua Eakle and Max Marty at the Watergate Hotel for an in-person conversation about the collapse of libertarian-conservative fusionism and what comes next for defenders of liberal democracy. Powell, who founded libertarianism.org and hosted the Free Thoughts podcast for nearly a decade, explains why he abandoned the libertarian label as it became associated with illiberal populism.The discussion explores how the libertarian movement fractured between cosmopolitan liberals seeking equal dignity for all and those using "liberty" rhetoric to defend traditional hierarchies. As President Trump's...
2025-09-2356 min
Zooming In at The UnPopulistHow Should We Respond to the MAGA Right's Embrace of the Cult of Cruelty? A Conversation With Radley Balko and Charlie SykesListen to Zooming In at The UnPopulist in your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | RSS | YouTubeLandry Ayres: Welcome back to Zooming In at The UnPopulist. I’m Landry Ayres.We find ourselves in a deeply troubling moment for American democracy, grappling with the stark realities of a political landscape increasingly defined by fear, performative cruelty, and a conscious assault on established norms and institutions.This special live recording from ISMA’s “Liberalism for the 21st Century” conference features host Aaron Ross Powell, as well as longtime observer of the militari...
2025-08-3149 min
Co je slyšet a co není slyšet#83 Donald Trump, MAGA, liberal society, and think tanks – Aaron Ross PowellAaron Ross Powell is an American philosopher, podcaster, author, and the host of the ReImagining Liberty podcast, a former scholar at the Cato Institut, where he founded the Libertarianism.org project.We discussed think tanks and the Cato Institute, Donald Trump and MAGA, and liberal society and its reaction to Trumpism.Aaron is active on Bluesky as @aaronrosspowell.com, his website is at aaronrosspowell.com.
2025-05-281h 56
ReImagining Liberty068: Navigating the Chaos of Trump's Second Term (w/ Anthony L. Fisher)In this conversation, Aaron Ross Powell and Anthony L. Fisher (Senior Editor at MSNBC Daily) discuss the political landscape following Trump's second inauguration, focusing on the rapid changes in governance, the Democratic response, and the fractured media environment. They explore the implications of these dynamics on public opinion and the importance of engaging in new media spaces, particularly podcasts, to effectively communicate liberal values and counteract authoritarian tendencies.If you enjoy ReImagining Liberty and want to listen to episodes free of ads and sponsorships, become a supporter. Learn more here: https://www.aaronrosspowell.com/upgrade
2025-01-3154 min
Zooming In at The UnPopulistFree Speech Means Allowing Full-Throated Condemnations of Odious Views: A Conversation with PopehatToday on Zooming In at The UnPopulist, we’re diving into one of the most pressing issues of our time: free speech. Our host Aaron Ross Powell is joined by a special guest, Ken White—better known online as Popehat—a First Amendment expert, seasoned criminal defense attorney, civil litigator, and cohost of the Serious Trouble podcast. Together, they’ll explore some of the most pressing questions in free speech discourse today: Have we become too quick to label some speech as offensive? Are we idealizing a past where free expression was supposedly more open? And, most importantly, how can we f...
2024-09-0836 min
ReImagining Liberty057: Remembering David Boaz: A Conversation with His Closest ColleaguesOn June 7th, David Boaz died. He was the Executive Vice President of the Cato Institute, author of *The Libertarian Mind*, and the most important figure in the libertarian movement in the last half century. He was also my mentor, my close friend, and, for twelve years, my boss.I had the privilege of holding, for the first two of those years, what is among the most exclusive, challenging, and rewarding jobs in Washington: Staff Writer at the Cato Institute, a role that primarily meant being David's right-hand man and primary conversation partner.
2024-07-2254 min
Cato PodcastDavid Boaz: The Libertarian ExponentDavid Boaz was an intellectual leader of the Cato Institute for four decades and a libertarian thinker of the first order. In addition to his speeches, books, and clear-headed communication of libertarian ideas in the public sphere, David was a friend and mentor. David passed away on June 7, 2024. Aaron Ross Powell, founding director of Libertarianism.org, and Cato Senior Fellow Tom G. Palmer discuss the work and legacy of David Boaz.Related:The Libertarian Mind by David BoazThe Libertarian Reader edited by David Boaz“David Boaz: Liberty’s North Star” by Aaron Ross Powell
2024-06-1234 min
Cato PodcastDavid Boaz: The Libertarian ExponentDavid Boaz was an intellectual leader of the Cato Institute for four decades and a libertarian thinker of the first order. In addition to his speeches, books, and clear-headed communication of libertarian ideas in the public sphere, David was a friend and mentor. David passed away on June 7, 2024. Aaron Ross Powell, founding director of Libertarianism.org, and Cato Senior Fellow Tom G. Palmer discuss the work and legacy of David Boaz.Related:The Libertarian Mind by David BoazThe Libertarian Reader edited by David Boaz“David Boaz: Liberty’s North Star” by Aaron Ross Powell
2024-06-1234 min
Zooming In at The UnPopulistYes, Virginia, There Is Structural Racism in America: A Conversation with Richard RothsteinOn today episode, Aaron Ross Powell is joined by guest Richard Rothstein, a Distinguished Fellow of the Economic Policy Institute and a Senior Fellow (emeritus) at the Thurgood Marshall Institute of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. He is the author of The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America. His latest book is Just Action: How to Challenge Segregation Enacted Under the Color of Law.He and Aaron discuss the root of America's modern segregation, the role of the Supreme Court in its development, and what we can do to remedy it. W...
2024-04-2130 min
ReImagining Liberty043: Liberalism, Buddhism, and the Politics of ImpermanenceEarly access release: 12/9. Public release: 12/16. Become a supporter and get early access to all new episodes.I am a liberal. I’m also a Buddhist. In a recent essay at The UnPopulist, I wrote about the intersection of the two, which I see as more than compatible, and in fact mutually reinforcing. Buddhist ethics gives us not just the best way to live happy and harmless lives, but also a strong foundation for a genuinely liberal society.While Buddhist philosophy informs much of the perspective I bring to conversations at ReImagining Liberty, I haven’t yet...
2023-12-1649 min
Zooming In at The UnPopulistHow Not to Reform the "Deep State": The UnPopulist Editor's RoundtableAaron Ross Powell: Welcome to Zooming In, a project of The UnPopulist. I'm Aaron Ross Powell. I'm joined today by my colleagues, Shikha Dalmia and Akiva Malamet for our editors' round table. Recent reporting has uncovered plans by Trump allies, and Trumpist think tanks, and other organizations to deconstruct the administrative state.A transcript of today’s podcast appears below. It has been edited for flow and clarity.Aaron Ross Powell: I think all of us agree that the administrative state is unaccountable and too large, so what's wrong with Trump's plans to reform it?...
2023-12-0331 min
ReImagining Liberty042: Hinduism and Liberalism (w/ Kat Murti)Years go, I put together an edited volume called Arguments for Liberty. Every chapter took a different school of moral philosophy and made the case for liberalism within it. The point wasn’t just to be an introduction to moral philosophy by way of being an introduction to liberalism, but also to show that the case for liberty isn’t limited to a single philosophical school. It's much more universal than that.But it's not limited to academic philosophy, either. Religion informs the ethical worldview of most of people, and discussing the case for liberalism within religious cont...
2023-12-0259 min
Freedom: Ideas that Matter10: Politics and the Question of IntentBad policies are sometimes made with the best of intentions. In today’s conversation, Trevor and Aaron look at the moral questions this raises. How much should intent matter when we judge people’s actions in the political sphere? How much of an obligation to each of us have to make sure the policies we vote for will actually accomplish what they want them to?Freedom: Ideas that Matter is a listener supported show. If you’d like to get early access to all our episodes, consider becoming a supporter: https://freedom.audio/subscribe This i...
2023-11-3047 min
Zooming In at The UnPopulistDemocracies Are Waking Up to Transnational Repression: A Conversation with Freedom House's Annie BoyajianListen to Zooming In at The UnPopulist in your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | RSSAaron: Welcome to Zooming In, a project of The UnPopulist. I'm Aaron Ross Powell. Repressive regimes don't like critics, and they aren't satisfied to let their repression stop at the border. When they set their sights on threatening, coercing, or even killing critics who have fled to other countries, it's called transnational repression. My guest today is Annie Boyajian, Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Freedom House, which tracks instances of transnational repression and helps governments prevent it.
2023-11-2731 min
ReImagining Liberty041: What is Liberalism? (w/ Chandran Kukathas)We talk a lot about liberalism on this show, but to date haven't done an episode on just what liberalism is. So it is my pleasure to have Chandran Kukathas join me today to fix that. He is Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Lee Kong Chian Chair Professor of Political Science at Singapore Management University, and the author of many books, including the classic The Liberal Archipelago, and his most recent, Immigration and Freedom.We set out the basic principles of liberalism, explore the nuances and complicated application, and dig into critiques that have...
2023-11-1848 min
Zooming In at The UnPopulistPreserving A Liberal Society Requires Better Public Discourse: A Conversation with Berny BelvedereListen to Zooming In at The UnPopulist in your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | RSSAaron Ross Powell: Welcome to Zooming In from The UnPopulist. I'm Aaron Ross Powell. Joining me today is Berny Belvedere, the new senior editor at The UnPopulist. We're going to chat today about the state of politics and the defense of liberalism.A transcript of today’s podcast appears below. It has been edited for flow and clarity.Aaron Ross Powell: Berny, let's maybe start with a bit about you.Berny Belvedere: Thanks, Aa...
2023-11-1237 min
ReImagining Liberty040: The Future is a Conversation (w/ Jason Kuznicki)The future is a conversation. What the future looks like, and how and which technologies will shape it, isn’t something we can plan, or dictate, or demand in advance, but rather something that emerges from the back-and-forth bargaining of everyone with a stake in it.That’s the argument presented by my guest today, Jason Kuznicki, Editor in Chief of TechFreedom. Jason recently published an essay responding to the venture capitalist Marc Andreessen’s “The Techno-Optimist Manifesto,” which presents the future as under assault by enemies of progress. Jason and I talk about what it means to be a fu...
2023-11-0450 min
Freedom: Ideas that Matter009: America's Extremist Violence (w/ Patrick Eddington)The January 6th insurrection was the most conspicuous recent example of homegrown extremist violence, but America has a sad history of this stuff.
To discuss the emergence and evolution of America's contemporary wave of politically motivated violence, we're joined by Patrick Eddington, former CIA analyst and now Cato Institute senior fellow.
Here's the article of Pat's we discussed on the episode.
2023-10-2552 min
Freedom: Ideas that Matter009: America's Extremist Violence (w/ Patrick Eddington)The January 6th insurrection was the most conspicuous recent example of homegrown extremist violence, but America has a sad history of this stuff.To discuss the emergence and evolution of America's contemporary wave of politically motivated violence, we're joined by Patrick Eddington, former CIA analyst and now Cato Institute senior fellow.* Here's the article of Pat's we discussed on the episode.Freedom: Ideas that Matter is a listener supported show. If you'd like to get early access to all our episodes, consider becoming a supporter. This is a public episode...
2023-10-2552 min
ReImagining Liberty039: Finding Meaning In Liberalism (w/ Akiva Malamet)Today’s conversation is a companion to our prior episode. I’m joined again by Akiva Malamet, managing editor of The UnPopulist.Last time we talked about identity within liberalism. Now we turn to meaning. Everyone wants to lead a meaningful life, but one of the critiques of liberalism is that a liberal society takes away traditional sources of meaning, and so leaves its citizens feeling detached, either unable to find meaning, or seeking it in frivolous, and so ultimately unmeaningful, pursuits. How compelling is this objection? And what should we, as liberals, do about it?Re...
2023-10-2254 min
ReImagining Liberty038: Is There a Place for Identity Politics? (w/ Akiva Malamet)It seems like everyone has an opinion about identity politics, but far fewer people have a clear definition of it. This is a problem, not just because arguing about vaguely defined terms is rarely productive, but also because identity plays a important role in how we ought to think about liberalism and the role of liberal institutions.My guest today is , managing editor of . Our discussion digs into the nature of identity politics, the nature of identity itself, what it means to validate versus merely tolerate identities, and how that all plays into liberalism.* Read...
2023-10-0754 min
Zooming In at The UnPopulistCritiquing the Critique of the Supreme Court: A Conversation with Ilya SominListen to Zooming In at The UnPopulist in your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | RSSAaron Ross Powell: Welcome to Zooming In, a project of The UnPopulist. I’m Aaron Ross Powell. My guest today is George Mason University law professor and B. Kenneth Simon Chair in Constitutional Studies at the Cato Institute, Ilya Somin. Ilya recently wrote an article for The UnPopulist about the state of the Supreme Court—whether it’s become more politicized than it used to be, and why many of the proposals to fix it could be counterproductive, even danger...
2023-09-3038 min
ReImagining Liberty037: How Corporations Govern (w/ Alexei Marcoux)Governments rule our lives, but quite a lot of us believe corporations do as well. And just like we can ask questions about how the states are governed, we can ask similar questions about corporations. How ought they to run themselves? Whose interests should they take into account? What social responsibilities, if any, do they have?To help us think through these questions about corporate governance and the role of corporate institutions, I’m joined by Alexei Marcoux. He’s a Professor of Business, Ethics and Society and Institute for Economic Inquiry Senior Scholar at Creighton University’s Heid...
2023-09-2458 min
Freedom: Ideas that Matter008: How to Think About ReligionTrevor and Aaron discuss their views of religion and religious faith, as well what role, if any, religious beliefs should play in political decision making.Freedom is a listener supported show. If you'd like to get early access to all of our episodes, as well as bonus content, become a Freedom supporter. Learn more here: https://support.freedom.audio/ This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit freedom.audio
2023-09-1951 minFreedom: Ideas that Matter008: How to Think About ReligionTrevor and Aaron discuss their views of religion and religious faith, as well what role, if any, religious beliefs should play in political decision making.
Freedom is a listener supported show. If you'd like to get early access to all of our episodes, as well as bonus content, become a Freedom supporter. Learn more here: https://support.freedom.audio/
2023-09-1951 min
Zooming In at The UnPopulistThe UnPopulist Turns TwoListen to Zooming In at The UnPopulist in your favorite podcast app: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | RSSAaron Ross Powell: Welcome to The UnPopulist Editor's Roundtable at Zooming In. I'm Aaron Ross Powell. It's our birthday. The UnPopulist is now in its terrible twos, and so today I'm joined by my colleagues Shikha Dalmia and Akiva Malamet to give a progress report on what we've accomplished in these last two years and where we see the current state of liberalism.A transcript of today’s podcast appears below. It has been edited for flow an...
2023-09-1848 min
ReImagining Liberty036: When You Think Your God Wants You to Be an Authoritarian (w/ Kevin Vallier)People have all kinds of reasons, none of them good, for opposing liberalism. Recently, among intellectuals on the right, we've seen the reemergence of a particular religious anti-liberalism that goes by the term “integralism.” It most often comes in a Catholic flavor, but you can find versions of it across pretty much every faith.Kevin Vallier, Associate Professor of Philosophy at Bowling Green State University, has a new book out that’s the first to offer a thorough explanation and sustained critique of this new integralist ideology. It’s called All the Kingdoms of the World and it’s my...
2023-09-0950 min
Freedom: Ideas that Matter007: Just Policing (with Jake Monaghan)Today's episode features Jake Monaghan, an assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Southern California. His new book is Just Policing. We discuss the philosophical nuances around the police. Many people now talk about abolishing the police, but is that even possible or desirable? And if we need police, how do we make them better?Freedom is a listener supported show. If you'd like to get early access to all of our episodes, as well as bonus content, become a Freedom supporter. Learn more here: https://support.freedom.audio/ This is a public e...
2023-08-2549 minFreedom: Ideas that Matter007: Just Policing (with Jake Monaghan)Today's episode features Jake Monaghan, an assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Southern California. His new book is Just Policing. We discuss the philosophical nuances around the police. Many people now talk about abolishing the police, but is that even possible or desirable? And if we need police, how do we make them better?
Freedom is a listener supported show. If you'd like to get early access to all of our episodes, as well as bonus content, become a Freedom supporter. Learn more here: https://support.freedom.audio/
2023-08-2549 min
The Great AntidoteAaron Ross Powell on Visions of Liberty - RerunSend us a textAaron Ross Powell, formerly of the Cato Institute (at the time of this interview), and currently the host of podcasts ReImagining Liberty and Zooming In, talks to us about his new book with Paul Matzko called Visions of Liberty.Support the showNever miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
2023-08-2544 minFreedom: Ideas that Matter[Preview] 007: Just Policing (with Jake Monaghan)This is a preview of our upcoming episode of Freedom. If you'd like to listen to it now, you can get early access to all our episodes by becoming a Freedom supporter. Learn more: https://support.freedom.audio/
Today's episode features Jake Monaghan, an assistant professor of philosophy at the University of Southern California. His new book is Just Policing. We discuss the philosophical nuances around the police. Many people now talk about abolishing the police, but is that even possible or desirable? And if we need police, how do we make them better?
2023-08-2101 min
Freedom: Ideas that Matter006: Public Health and the Drug War (with Jeffrey A. Singer)Today’s episode features Dr. Jeffrey A. Singer, a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and works in the Department of Health Policy Studies. He is President Emeritus and founder of Valley Surgical Clinics Ltd., the largest and oldest group private surgical practice in Arizona, and has been in private practice as a general surgeon for more than 35 years.Today we discuss public health and the drug war. In some ways the drug war is a massive public health program, but that only raises the question of what public health is and what it should be.
2023-08-1148 min
ReImagining Liberty034: The Liberal Virtues (w/ Peter Boettke)In a series of essays on my website, I’ve been setting out the case goodwill and what I call sympathetic joy within the liberal project. These virtues not only strengthen liberalism, but help us to be happier and more content within a diverse and dynamic liberal society.I haven’t discussed this much on the podcast so far. And so I was happy that my friend Peter Boettke, a University Professor of Economics and Philosophy at George Mason University, gave me an excuse to do so by raising some critiques of my arguments. I’ve brought him on...
2023-08-0357 min
Freedom: Ideas that Matter005: The Liberty Movement's Radicals and Reactionaries (w/ Matt Zwolinski)There’s an old joke that if you ask two libertarians their opinions about something, you’ll get three different answers. The liberty movement has always had its disagreements—and infighting—but is there a core idea common to all libertarians? Something that defines libertarianism?In the new book, The Individualists: Radicals, Reactionaries, and the Struggle for the Soul of Libertarianism, Matt Zwolinksi and John Tomasi set out their own answer, and use it to trace the history of the libertarian movement.Zwolinski, a philosophy professor at the University of San Diego, joins us today to talk...
2023-07-2854 min
ReImagining LibertySurround Yourself With Those Who Are Admirable, and Distance Yourself From Those Who Aren’t.This is an audio version of my essay "Surround Yourself With Those Who Are Admirable, and Distance Yourself From Those Who Aren’t.," originally published on my website on July 20, 2023. The essay discusses the place of admirable friendship in an ethical life.Original link: https://www.aaronrosspowell.com/p/surround-yourself-with-those-whoIf you'd like to receive all of my essays a week early, as well as get access to the community Discord and reading group, consider becoming a supporter. Head to www.aaronrosspowell.com/subscribe to learn more. Get full access to Aaron Ro...
2023-07-2711 min
48 Minutes48 Minutes: Shaun Powell of NBA.com and NBA TV0:00 ... Opening and welcome
0:22 ... Ross dedicates episode #57 to former NBA official Greg Willard who passed away in 2013 and wore that number on his jersey.
1:40 ... Bet Online live read from Ross
2:20 ... Bruce introduces this week's guest Shaun Powell of NBA TV and NBA.com
4:02 ... World B's opening comment is on basketball in Los Angeles with uncertain futures for both the Lakers and Clippers.
5:40 ... Bruce's opening comment is on LeBron James not retiring as a player, but he is retiring the #6 jersey in honor of Bill Russell.
7:22 ... Shaun's opening comment...
2023-07-201h 01
ReImagining Liberty033: Why the Right Hates Equality (w/ Matthew McManus)Over the last decade, the political far right has roared back into power, not just with Trumpism in the US, but with populist movements around the globe. Understanding why this is happening—and what we can do about it—requires understanding the nature of the right, as well as its history.That’s why I was so happy to learn that my friend and frequent guest Matthew McManus has a new book, The Political Right and Equality, in which he traces the philosophical development of right-wing ideas. Matt is a Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Mic...
2023-07-1955 min
Freedom: Ideas that Matter004: Philosophy, Morality, and ReasonRead a transcript of this episode: https://www.freedom.audio/p/freedom-transcript-philosophy-moralityPolitical philosophy is applied ethical philosophy. All political questions have their foundations in matter of right and wrong, of how we ought to live—and how we can live together.On today’s episode, Trevor and Aaron discuss their differing approaches to thinking about ethical theories and the role moral philosophy plays in how we approach thinking about thorny political issues. We begin, however, with the question of human reason and its limits. What we can know, and how we can know it, and...
2023-07-1455 min
Freedom: Ideas that Matter003: The Truth About Sex Work (with Kaytlin Bailey)Read a transcript of this episode.On today’s episode, we get into the difficult and interesting questions around sex work. Our guest is Kaytlin Bailey, a sex worker rights advocate, comedian, and writer. Kaytlin is the founder and executive director of Old Pros, a nonprofit media organization, creating conditions to change the status of sex workers in society. She's also the host of the Oldest Profession podcast and the creator of W***e’s Eye View, a 75-minute mad dash through 10,000 years of history from a sex worker’s perspective.Are you enjoying Freedom and wa...
2023-06-3056 min
Freedom: Ideas that MatterBonus: Extended Conversation with Peter Van DorenAfter wrapping our episode with Peter Van Doren, Trevor and Aaron continued the conversation a bit longer. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit freedom.audio
2023-06-1614 min
Freedom: Ideas that Matter002: How to Think About Public Policy with Peter Van DorenRead a transcript of this episode.On today's show, we bring back our favorite guest from Free Thoughts, our friend Peter Van Doren. Peter came on Free Thoughts over 20 times and we gave him his own music as we've done again. Peter is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute and editor of Regulation Magazine. Today, we're going to take a step back and try to learn how Peter thinks about the world and how he came to those views.Listen to fifteen bonus minutes of our conversation with Peter.Are you enjoying...
2023-06-1653 min
ReImagining Liberty032: The Patriarchal Christian Right (w/ Kristin Kobes Du Mez)White evangelicals overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump in his campaigns and presidency. White Christian nationalism was a driving force in efforts to overturn the 2020 election. And many of the worst reactionary movements in the country, powering the growth of the far right’s influence, have their source in evangelical America.This is all, frankly, a little perplexing, given the peaceful, love thy neighbor core of Jesus’s moral teachings. But it’s nothing new. In her fascinating and troubling book Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation, Kristin Kobes Du Mez traces...
2023-06-1450 min
Freedom: Ideas that MatterBonus: A Conversation About FreedomWe discuss our goals for the show, how our ideas and approach have evolved over the last few years, and how Freedom will carry forward the values of Free Thoughts while being its own, unique podcast. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit freedom.audio
2023-06-0215 min
Freedom: Ideas that Matter001: The Idea that Explains the Political Order w/ Jason KuznickiRead a transcript of this episode.Welcome to the inaugural episode of Freedom, a show about ideas that matter. For our first conversation, we wanted a big idea. One that has the potential to reconfigure how we think about politics and political institutions. And that meant bringing back one of our favorite guests, our good friend Jason Kuznicki. Jason is the author of the fascinating book, Technology and the End of Authority: What Is Government For?, and was a frequent guest on Free Thoughts. Today he introduces us to the domus mindset, a way of understanding the...
2023-06-0255 min
Freedom: Ideas that MatterA Preview of Freedom, from Trevor Burrus and Aaron Ross PowellFor eight years and 400+ episodes, Aaron Ross Powell and Trevor Burrus hosted Free Thoughts. Now, we want to welcome you to our new show, Freedom, a place for conversations about ideas that matter. Launching soon.Freedom is a listener supported show. If you'd like to get episode transcripts, bonus content, and access to our Discord community, become a supporter. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit freedom.audio
2023-05-2501 min
ReImagining Liberty030: The Politics of Immigration and Demographic Change (w/ Justin Gest)Immigration has meant that America's demographics, throughout the whole of the nation's history, have been in constant flux. Today, the percent of the population that’s foreign born is the highest it’s ever been, and we'‘e headed, over the next couple of decades, to a majority minority status.This is all good news for the country, in terms of our dynamic economy and culture. But it’s also led to a significant social and political backlash, the rise of nativism, and a decided turn to reactionary populism among Republicans.I’m joined today by Justin...
2023-05-1750 min
ReImagining Liberty029: Markets and Social Justice (w/ Nick Cowen)We can take the social and economic concerns of the left seriously while still embracing free markets. In fact, if we understand the nature and effects of markets correctly, it can become compelling to view them not as antagonistic to those concerns, but as the most powerful solution to them available.I’m joined today by Nick Cowen. He’s a Senior Lecturer in the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Lincoln in the UK and author of the book Neoliberal Social Justice, which defends commercial society on progressive grounds.ReImagining Libe...
2023-04-2658 min
ReImagining LibertySocial Conservatism is SufferingThis is an audio version of my essay "Social Conservatism is Suffering," originally published on my website on April 7, 2023. The essay discusses how we cannot make permanent what is inevitably impermanent, and so insisting otherwise brings distress. It is better to embrace dynamism and social diversity.If you'd like to receive all of my essays a week early, as well as get access to the community Discord and reading group, consider becoming a supporter. Head to www.aaronrosspowell.com/subscribe to learn more. Get full access to Aaron Ross Powell at www.aaronrosspowell.com...
2023-04-2108 min
ReImagining Liberty028: Religion in a Liberal Society (w/ Deirdre McCloskey)Read a transcript of this episode.Deirdre McCloskey is probably my favorite contemporary liberal scholar. Her work ranges widely across disciplines, is always fascinating, and builds its defense of free markets and the open society in a deeply humane and compassionate fashion.I've talked with her on podcasts before, but today's a little different. Our topic isn't economics, but religion. Deirdre is a committed Anglican, and her next book sets out the case that religious faith is an important component of a thriving liberal society—and that those who think Christianity points in a more re...
2023-04-1247 min
ReImagining Liberty027: Fascism and the American Right (w/ Shane Burley)On the one hand, it seems like everyone today is calling everyone else a fascist. On the other, genuine fascism is clearly on the rise, and fascist ideas have found increasing purchase, even mainstream purchase, on the right.Taken together, these two statements mean that not only should we be serious about the work of combating fascism, but we also need to be very clear on what it is, and what it isn’t.To help work through these important questions, I’m joined by Shane Burley. He’s a writer and filmmaker based in Portla...
2023-03-2955 min
ReImagining Liberty026: The Necessity of Digital Free Speech (w/ Matthew Feeney)It seems like everyone is mad at “Big Tech.” Progressives dislike it because they think it’s too permissive of the spread of mis- and disinformation. Conservatives dislike it because they think it’s biased against them. Both sides agree that government should do something about it. Which, if you care about a free, open, and innovative internet, is a terrible idea.To discuss the state and future of digital expression, I’m joined by my good friend Matthew Feeney, Head of Technology and Innovation at the London-based Centre for Policy Studies.ReImagining Liberty is a project...
2023-03-1551 min
ReImagining Liberty025: Tolerance and Liberalism (w/ Andrew Jason Cohen)A liberal society is a tolerant one. It's a society that allows for pluralism in preferences, lifestyles, religions, and approaches to life. But how far does tolerance go, what are the exceptions, and how can we better cultivate it?To discuss these questions, I'm joined today by Andrew Jason Cohen. He is is Professor of Philosophy and Founding Director of the Interdisciplinary Studies Program in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) at Georgia State University. He is the author most recently of Toleration and Freedom from Harm: Liberalism Reconceived and is working on a new book on civil d...
2023-03-0151 min
ReImagining Liberty024: What Democracy Demands of Us (w/ Kevin J. Elliott)My guest today is Kevin J. Elliott, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Murray State University. He's the author of the upcoming book, Democracy for Busy People, and that's the jumping off point for today's conversation, which digs into what it means to be a good democratic citizen, and what democracy demands of us.Read a transcript of this episode.ReImagining Liberty is a project of The UnPopulist, and is produced by Landry Ayres. Podcast art by Sergio R. M. Duarte.Get full access to Aaron Ross Po...
2023-02-1548 min
ReImagining Liberty023: The Four Corners of Liberalism (w/ Emily Chamlee-Wright)This is a show about liberalism, but liberalism is a bit of a contested term, slippery, evolving, and claimed by lots of people with rather diverse views about what it means.My guest offers a helpful framework for clarifying what liberalism is by dividing it in what she's called "The Four Corners of Liberalism": related and overlaping, but still distinct, approaches to the the liberal idea.Emily Chamlee-Wright, the president and CEO of the Institute for Humane Studies, has made a career of defending the liberal tradition, and her...
2023-02-0155 min
ReImagining LibertyIt’s Not Policy Disagreements But Wrong-Headed Means That Are Polarizing AmericaWelcome to the first episode of ReImagining Liberty at its new home with The UnPopulist. This is a show about the emancipatory and cosmopolitan case for radical social, political, and economic freedom. With every episode, host Aaron Ross Powell explores and defends liberalism by talking with scholars, activists, and others working to build a freer world.For this first episode at The UnPopulist, Aaron talks about why America’s political culture seems so broken, and why this has led to rising illiberalism. He traces the problems to what he calls an “unskillful” approach to politics, and a widesp...
2023-01-1945 minZooming In at The UnPopulistIt’s Not Policy Disagreements But Wrong-Headed Means That Are Polarizing AmericaWelcome to the first episode of ReImagining Liberty at its new home with The UnPopulist. This is a show about the emancipatory and cosmopolitan case for radical social, political, and economic freedom. With every episode, host Aaron Ross Powell explores and defends liberalism by talking with scholars, activists, and others working to build a freer world.For this first episode at The UnPopulist, Aaron talks about why America’s political culture seems so broken, and why this has led to rising illiberalism. He traces the problems to what he calls an “unskillful” approach to politics, and a widesp...
2023-01-1945 min
ReImagining LibertyBonus Episode: How to Do Politics WellWelcome to the first episode of ReImagining Liberty at its new home with The UnPopulist. This is a show about the emancipatory and cosmopolitan case for radical social, political and economic freedom. With every episode, host Aaron Ross Powell explores and defends liberalism by talking with scholars, activists and others working to build a freer world.For this first episode at The UnPopulist, Aaron offers a monologue about why America's political culture seems so broken, and why this has led to rising illiberalism. He traces the problems to what he calls an “unskillful” approach to politi...
2023-01-1845 min
Non Serviam MediaNSMIRL #1 - Aaron Ross Powell on LibertyWe recently had the opportunity to sit down and catch up with a fellow traveler many of you probably know, Aaron Ross Powell. Aaron has been deeply involved in the libertarian thought scene for years. Most notably as a Cato fellow, and founder and director of libertarianism.org. Lately, Aaron has refocused his work by stepping away from previous projects to focus on new ones!
Stick around to learn all about what Aaron is up to, about his political journey, and his thoughts on political action.
Aaron Ross Powell is a writer and podcast host. His current shows are ReImagining...
2023-01-0839 min
ReImagining Liberty022: What's Wrong with Anarcho-Capitalism (w/ William Gillis)I sometimes hear market anarchists say that "Anarcho-capitalism isn't anarchism." This claim, and the disagreements about the nature and values of a free society underpinning it, raises a lot of fascinating questions about liberty, radical liberalism, the characteristics of capitalism, how you even define that term, and the broader movement for liberty.My guest today is William Gillis (@rechelon). He a fellow at the Center for a Stateless Society and one of the most interesting writers out there on radical politics.We talk about freedom and coercion, the legitimacy of...
2022-12-1459 min
ReImagining Liberty021: The Reasonableness of Radicalism (w/ Jason Lee Byas)Years ago, a then colleague and I pitched the idea of a book called "The Reasonableness of Radicalism," which would've set out the case for an unapologetically radical political liberty and defended it against calls for moderation. The project never went anywhere, though, because we were told by the people making decisions that they didn't like to use the word "radical," because it might turn people off.Clearly, that's not a worry I share, and neither does my guest today. Jason Lee Byas is a PhD Candidate in Philosophy at the University of Michigan...
2022-11-301h 00
ReImagining Liberty020: Liberty in a Changing World (w/ David Boaz)I've spent my entire career as what you might call a professional liberty advocate. But the last six or seven years have forced a lot of re-thinking on my part about how best to discuss these ideas in the evolving political landscape. The fundamental case for freedom, grounded in shared dignity and mutual respect, remains strong, but it feels like Americas, and much of the world, have proven more willing to reject it recently. Liberalism is ceding ground to the base desire to use power to reward friends and punish enemies.To help me...
2022-11-1654 min
ReImagining Liberty019: What to Do About Poverty (w/ Michael Tanner)We all want to alleviate poverty, and help those living with it. The hard question is how. The left has a set of ideas, focused on redistribution and the welfare state. The right tends instead to view poverty as the result of moral and cultural failings. Libertarians have their own set of answers, but have often been pretty bad at talking about them in persuasive ways, developing a reputation for just not caring about the poor.My friend Michael Tanner (@MTannerCato), senior fellow at the Cato Institute, has the kinds of ideas we need...
2022-11-0246 min
ReImagining Liberty018: Critical Race Theory (w/ Sam Hoadley-Brill)Few terms in our contemporary political scene provoke stronger reactions than “critical race theory.” If you listen to much of the right, CRT is a Marxist plot to literally destroy America by teaching children to hate the country, its founding principles, and even themselves. The resulting moral panic has led to anti-CRT legislation, and acted as a precursor to the growing anti-trans and anti-gay backlash among reactionary conservatives.But what is critical race theory? Because few of those people with strong opinions seem to have much of an idea.Toda...
2022-10-191h 04
ReImagining Liberty017: Don Lavoie and the Case Against Planning (w/ Pete Boettke)Chances are, you've never heard of Don Lavoie. I certainly didn't run across him when I was getting into libertarianism in college, and it wasn't until years into my time working for the Cato Institute that I learned about him from my boss, David Boaz.But Lavoie is arguably the North Star for what the liberty movement needs to become if it wants to reestablish itself in America's shifting political landscape, and if it wants to be more than just a somewhat limited government version of conservatism.So for...
2022-10-0558 min
ReImagining Liberty016: Growing the Liberty Movement (w/ Trevor Burrus)Across nearly a decade, and over four hundred episodes, of the Free Thoughts podcast, Trevor Burrus and I talked a lot about liberty.Today I invited him on ReImagining Liberty to continue that conversation. At issue is the question of how to approach being an advocate for radical liberalism in a political environment that seems to have lost its taste for it.We range, as we often do, rather broadly, from how not to talk about liberty, to how to start fruitful arguments, to the dangers of contrarianism and over...
2022-09-2156 min
ReImagining Liberty015: Liberalism vs. Leftism (w/ Akiva Malamet)What's the relationship between libertarianism or radical liberalism and the ideas of the left? Most place them in clear and direct opposition, and argue that liberty advocates should have more affinity for conservatism, at least in its American variety.My guest today argues otherwise. Akiva Malamet (@akiva_malamet), a writer and philosopher, and contributor to my old website, Libertarianism.org.We discuss the shared concerns those of us who see radical liberty have with the political left, but also draw important distinctions between socialism and liberalism.
2022-09-0749 min
ReImagining Liberty014: Making Criminal Justice More Just (w/ Radley Balko)We can argue at length about the proper role of government. But if we're to have any state at all, one of its clear jobs is to protect us from crime, and to punish criminals.And yet the American criminal justice system is anything but just, and a full accounting of just how bad it is can be pretty harrowing. The criminal justice system is the most direct application of violence by government on its citizens, and it's overrun by corruption, self-interest, racism, and brutality.To talk about just...
2022-08-2447 min
Zooming In at The UnPopulistCan Liberalism Make Peace Between the Future and Its Enemies?: An Interview With Virginia PostrelSubscribe to Reactionary Minds: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTubeReactionary Minds is a project of The UnPopulist. Hosted by Aaron Ross Powell. Produced by Landry Ayres.The following is a transcript of Reactionary Minds’ interview with Virginia Postrel, author of many books, including The Future and Its Enemies. The transcript has been lightly edited for flow and clarity.Aaron Ross Powell: I’m Aaron Ross Powell, and this is Reactionary Minds, a project of The UnPopulist. We’re used to thinking about politics as a battle between left and right, progre...
2022-08-1057 min
Zooming In at The UnPopulistWhy Donald Trump Poses a Unique Threat to AmericaSubscribe to Reactionary Minds: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | YouTubeReactionary Minds is a project of The UnPopulist. Hosted by Aaron Ross Powell. Produced by Landry Ayres.The following is a transcript of Reactionary Minds’ interview with writer Damon Linker, founder of Eyes on the Right, a Substack newsletter. The transcript has been lightly edited for flow and clarity. Aaron Ross Powell: I'm Aaron Ross Powell, and this is Reactionary Minds, a project of The UnPopulist. The mainstream of the American right, as well as the Republican Party, looks quite a bit different to...
2022-07-1356 min
Zooming In at The UnPopulistWhy Did Staunchly Democratic Counties Go for Trump?Subscribe to Reactionary Minds: Apple Podcasts | SpotifyThe following is a transcript of Reactionary Minds’ interview with Stephanie Muravchik and Jon A. Shields, authors of the book Trump’s Democrats. The transcript has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity.Aaron Ross Powell: I’m Aaron Ross Powell, and this is Reactionary Minds, a project of The UnPopulist. A good way to understand the appeal of Donald Trump is to talk to the people who voted for him. One of the most interesting ways to approach that is to talk to voters and counties that flippe...
2022-06-161h 02
ReImagining Liberty007: (Re)Assessing Nozick's "Anarchy, State, and Utopia" (w/ Matt McManus and Julian Sanchez)Today we're looking at Robert Nozick's classic work of libertarian philosophy, Anarchy, State, and Utopia. Released in 1974, it's the book that put libertarianism on the map within contemporary academic philosophy. Nozick argued for a strong conception of rights and then traced out what that means for government, including whether rights allow for any government at all. Anarchy, State, and Utopia deserves its classic status and is a genuine delight to read. But that doesn't mean that its arguments are air tight or that it's the best defense of libertarianism. To he...
2022-06-101h 10
Zooming In at The UnPopulistThe Past, Present and Future of Populist Politics in AmericaSubscribe to Reactionary Minds: Apple Podcasts | SpotifyWelcome to the inaugural episode of Reactionary Minds, a podcast from The UnPopulist that I’ll be hosting every month. This is a show about why some people reject liberalism and what the rest of us can do about it. This first episode is all about introducing the problem Reactionary Minds exists to address. In it, Shikha Dalmia, the editor of The UnPopulist and fellow at the Mercatus Center's Program on Pluralism and Civil Exchange, discusses the biggest challenge of our times: The resurgent threat of populist authoritarianism he...
2022-05-0600 min
Zooming In at The UnPopulistTrailer - Reactionary Minds PodcastI am very excited to announce that on May 6, Friday, The UnPopulist will roll out a new feature, a monthly podcast hosted by Aaron Ross Powell called Reactionary Minds.The series will open with a wide-ranging conversation between Aaron and yours truly that takes stock of the world as it is right now — and how this podcast will advance the mission of The UnPopulist, defending liberal principles — pluralism, toleration, freedom — from the resurgent threat of populist authoritarianism here and abroad. Neutralizing this threat requires the readiness to call out its protagonists whether Viktor Orban in Hungary, Narendra Modi i...
2022-05-0207 min
Portraits of LibertyWhere Buddhism & Libertarianism Intersect (with Aaron Ross Powell)Discussions of Buddhism typically revolve around lofty topics like reincarnation and the nature of the self. Policy debates about tax rates and international trade seem to be outside of the Buddhist focus. Aaron Ross Powell joins to discuss how the ethical principles of Buddhism apply to the world of politics. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
2021-01-2823 minThe Great AntidoteAaron Ross Powell on the Libertarian VisionSend us a textAaron Ross Powell, director and editor of Libertarianism.org and the cohost of the Free Thoughts podcast, talks to us about his new book with Paul Matzko called Visions of Liberty.Support the showNever miss another AdamSmithWorks update.Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
2020-07-3045 min
Aaron Ross Powell ShowTalking about the Marvel Cinematic Universe with Lee HerrigeThe movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe set records with their popularity. But are they any good?
My feelings about the movies have always been lukewarm. They’re fun, competently made, and consistent. But none of them have wowed me, and while I’ve enjoyed every Marvel movie I’ve seen, I haven’t felt a desire to watch any of them a second time.
My friend Lee Herridge disagrees and offered to come on the show to explain to me how I’ve gone wrong in evaluating the MCU. We talked about the quality of the fil...
2020-07-1351 minAaron Ross Powell ShowTalking about Star Wars with Paul CriderI didn’t much like the Last Jedi. And I rather love the Rise of Skywalker. Which puts me at odds with a lot of Star Wars fans, including my guest today.
Paul Crider is an editor at Liberal Currents, with interests in political philosophy and social justice, as well as Star Wars. He lives with his family in Silicon Valley and daylights as a semiconductor engineer.
On today’s episode, we discuss all things a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, including our assessments of the new films, Disney’s stumbles with t...
2020-06-111h 09Aaron Ross Powell ShowTalking about Batman with Cory MassiminoYou can make a strong case that Batman is the most famous western fictional character of all time. He's also pretty clearly the coolest.
On today's episode, I'm joined by Cory Massimino. He's the Students for Liberty Academics Coordinator and a fellow at the Center for a Stateless Society. But what matters most for our purposes here is that he's thought a lot about Batman, and has a ton of interesting things to say about him.
If you enjoyed our conversation, or any of the conversations I've had on this podcast, and want to hear...
2020-05-151h 10Aaron Ross Powell ShowTalking about Tabletop Games with PJ HambrickSocial distancing is an odd time for tabletop games. On the one hand, these are by nature social, in-person activities, the players sitting around the table pushing cardboard and dice. On the other, a great many of us suddenly have a lot of time on our hands to play them. So we're making do, with Zoom and Tabletop Simulator, but it's not the same.
On today's episode, I talk with my friend PJ Hambrick, who I met through our shared love for tabletop games, about why these things are so great.
If you enjoyed our...
2020-05-1257 min
Aaron Ross Powell ShowTalking about Narrating Audiobooks with Scott FeighnerI grew up listening to my dad play to audiobooks on road trips, and I've always loved what a good narrator can do with a good text. But the process--how you actually go about bringing a story to life in audio form--has been mostly unknown to me. And I'm sure to a lot of us. All I know is it must be more complicated than "Read it out loud."
Which is why today it's my pleasure to talk with not just a good narrator, but a great one. Scott F. Feighner has narrated dozens of books, mostly...
2020-04-211h 58Aaron Ross Powell ShowTalking about Ancient Literature with Brian Wilson and Paul MeanyToday Brian Wilson, host of Combat & Classics, and Paul Meany, host of Portraits of Liberty, join me to talk about the value and appeal of ancient philosophy and literature.
Combat & Classics
http://combatandclassics.org/
Portraits of Liberty
https://www.libertarianism.org/podcasts/portraits-liberty
2020-04-1357 minAaron Ross Powell ShowTalking about Video Games with Adam BatesOn today's show, I'm joined by my friend Adam Bates. Each of us made a list of our top five video games of all time--and there's only a couple of points of agreement.
2020-04-021h 21Aaron Ross Powell ShowTalking about Authority and the StateWelcome to the very first episode of my show! I kick things off with a discussion of one of my favorite topics: the remarkable difficult question of whether we’re obligation to obey the law. Plus, I manage to work in a Star Wars reference.
2020-04-0247 minAaron Ross Powell ShowTalking about Postmodernism with Akiva MalametIt feels like nobody knows what postmodernism is, yet everyone has an opinion about it. Today’s conversation with Akiva Malamet is an effort to bring some clarity to an unclear topic. We explore the basic ideas of postmodernism and then move on to their implications for culture, society, politics, and individuals.
About my guest:
Akiva Malamet is completing his degree in Government at the Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) in Herzliya, Israel, where he was a long-time senior member of the RRIS Debate Society. He is a contributor to the sites Liberal Currents and Sweet Talk Conversation. His paper “Spontaneous Order as S...
2020-04-0155 minAaron Ross Powell ShowTalking about Science Fiction with Will DuffieldToday I'm joined by my friend Will Duffield. We discuss our favorite science fiction novels.
2020-04-011h 02Aaron Ross Powell ShowTalking about Buddhism with Jason KuznickiJason Kuznicki talks with Aaron about Buddhism, its appeal, what we think is true about it, what might be questionable, and our own practices.
At the end of the episode, Jason recommends two books by Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu. Both are available as free downloads.
"With Each & Every Breath: A Guide to Meditation"
https://www.dhammatalks.org/ebook_index.html#eachandeverybreath
"The Wings to Awakening: An Anthology from the Pāli Canon"
https://www.dhammatalks.org/ebook_index.html#wings
2020-03-231h 04
Free ThoughtsHow to be Epicurean (with Catherine Wilson)Catherine Wilson teaches us that there is more to Epicureanism than eating, drinking, and being merry. Epicureanism is not an excuse for having a good time, it stresses the importance of living a good life. Epicureans maintain a philosophy that promotes reason, respect for the natural world, and respect for fellow human beings.What is Epicureanism? Who was Epicurus? How did Epicureans become utilitarians? Is Epicureanism just utilitarianism? Was Epicurus an atheist? What is the scope of Epicurean influence?Further Reading:How to be Epicurean, by Catherine WilsonUsing Epicurean Philosophy...
2019-11-2250 minFree ThoughtsFinding Meaning in an Age of Individualism (with Clay Routledge)Clay Routledge joined the show today to talk about how our society has become increasingly individualistic, and how we are still learning the consequences of that. It is human nature to look for some sort of meaning in life. We are social animals, but that isn’t what makes us particularly unique. What makes us unique is that we maintain cultures and practices that make us seem, at least in part, larger than ourselves.Why do we search for meaning in our lives? How do we know if our life actually means something? Do people feel lonelier th...
2019-11-0145 min
Building TomorrowCellphones in the Fight Against Cholera (with Katherine Clayton)If you had to choose one technology that has done the most to transform peoples’ lives for the better in the past forty years, you could make a strong argument for cellphones. While people in the US have the first world privilege to complain about wasting time on their phones, millions of people in the developing world are using their cellphones to pull themselves out of poverty, move from subsistence farming to global markets, access credit and bank the unbanked, and learn about the broader world.In this episode, Paul is joined by Katherine Clayton, fo...
2019-10-3135 minFree ThoughtsWhat's Wrong with National Conservatism?The National Conservatism Movement is trying to continue Trumpism long after Trump is out of the White House. Recently, they held a conference in D.C. in order to streamline their message. The keynote speakers were Tucker Carlson, John Bolton, Josh Hawley, Peter Thiel, and Yoram Hazony, whose speech announced that “today is our independence day”. In this episode, Aaron Ross Powell, Paul Matzko, Jason Kuznicki, & Matthew Feeney analyze Josh Hawley’s America’s Epicurean Liberalism by defining what it means to be an American. What is the religious angle to national conservatism? What civic virtues does Joshua Ha...
2019-08-3046 minBuilding TomorrowWhat Made the Internet Possible?As the threat of government regulation of the internet mounts from both the political Left and Right, Paul and Matthew sit down to talk about the foundational law that made the internet as we know it possible. Ironically, Section 230 was one of the few bits of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 that wasn’t struck down by the courts as a violation of the First Amendment, giving the internet more legal protection than it would have if the moral scolds of the 1990s hadn’t passed the law in the first place. Then, Paul talks with Jennifer Hudd...
2019-08-0144 minBuilding TomorrowFacebook Friends LibraFacebook and a coalition of major tech and financial companies are planning on creating a new crypto-currency called Libra that promises to make online payment processing swifter, safer, and less expensive. Diego Zuluaga joins Paul to discuss how Libra differs from other crypto-currencies and to provide some calm, rational analysis about a topic that has provoked intense knee-jerk reactions.What is Libra? What are the constitutional behaviors of Libra? What is Libra’s structure of governance? How do you switch from U.S. dollars and your Libra account? How can Libra help you send money to...
2019-07-1842 minBuilding TomorrowWhat Lawmakers Don't Understand About Tech PolicyBuilding Tomorrow isn’t in the business of encouraging government bloat, but in this episode we consider whether, sometimes, eliminating a government agency might be a penny wise, pound foolish decision. In particular, Paul and Will are joined by Zach Graves and Daniel Schuman as they discuss proposals to resurrect the Office for Technology Assessment, which had advised Congress on tech policy until getting the axe in the mid-1990s. Just as the Congressional Budget Office provides ostensibly non-partisan estimates of the cost of proposed legislation, the OTA would provide non-partisan reports weighing the costs and benefits of...
2019-05-2344 minBuilding TomorrowDebunking OverpopulationOne of the things that folks in the 22nd century will find bizarre about their ancestors in the early 21st century will be that we were arguing about immigration when a global depopulation crisis loomed on the horizon. Darrell Bricker and John Ibbitson argue that by the middle of this century the world population will start to decline as the final major developing nations have their birth-rates fall below the replacement rate of 2.1 per woman. Although various governments have tried to arrest the trend, those efforts have proven largely ineffective and unsustainably expensive. The only method of...
2019-04-1150 minBuilding TomorrowHow Online Games Shape Our Real LivesEvery new entertainment medium—from the 17th century novel to 21st century video games—has had its share of scolds who panic about the social implications. Those moral panics are always misguided, but entertainment can indeed shape its consumers. This week, Aaron, Paul, and Will debate the ways that video games, by engaging players with compelling narratives and giving them a feeling of player agency, can change peoples’ beliefs and values. Along the way, they discuss what features would make a game ‘libertarian’ and what makes games fun.What is player agency in video games? Are video...
2019-02-0752 min
Fuel Your Mind With A Full Audiobook That Is Simply Edge-Of-Your-Seat.Arguments for Liberty by Aaron Ross Powell, Grant BabcockPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/2/audible/163157to listen full audiobooks.
Title: Arguments for Liberty
Author: Aaron Ross Powell, Grant Babcock
Narrator: Voicebunny
Format: mp3
Length: 9 hrs and 45 mins
Release date: 01-18-19
Ratings: 5 out of 5 stars, 4 ratings
Genres: Political
Publisher's Summary:
What's the best political system? What standards should we use to decide, and why? Arguments for Liberty is a guide to thinking about these questions. Two schools of thought have long dominated libertarian discussions about ethics: utilitarianism and natural rights. Those two theories are important, but they're not the only ways people think about ethics and political philosophy. In...
2019-01-189h 45Building TomorrowRanked Choice Voting, A Better Way to Vote?Tired of voting for a political candidate you don’t particularly like who represents a major political party you don’t particularly like so that another candidate who you dislike a little bit more won’t win office? If so, then ranked choice voting might be the electoral reform for you.Ranked choice voting is a system in which voters don’t just vote for a single candidate for each listed office on their ballot. Instead, they rank all of the candidates running for that seat, 1-2-3 and so on. Then, if no candidate wins a m...
2019-01-0357 minBuilding TomorrowThe Brave New World of DNA DatabasesDNA databases, which have long been used by amateur genealogists, have burst into the headlines as law enforcement uses them to solve cold case murders. For instance, detectives used an open source database called GEDmatch to catch the Golden State Killer, who murdered and raped dozens of women during the 1970s-80s.Yet while solving crimes is obviously good, there are concerns about violations of genetic privacy. It is now possible to identify the overwhelming majority of Americans, without their consent, based on merely two DNA samples from second or even third cousins. That said...
2018-08-1642 min