Shows
Words & NumbersDebunking the Religion of DeclineIn this episode of Words & Numbers, James and Ant announce their new partnership with CiVL and reflect on the state of modern life. Using Jurassic World and a Nobel Prize winner’s comments as a springboard, they unpack the economics of innovation, incentives, and monopolies. They take on popular claims that life has gotten worse—breaking down the real costs of housing, cars, and higher education over time—and challenge the doom-and-gloom narrative with hard data and perspective.
The debut of the new “So What?” segment offers concrete takeaways: count your blessings, question the media’s distortions, and don’t be...2025-07-1655 min
Words & NumbersThe America PartyWords and Numbers is a CiVL Original Podcast.
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Quick Hitshttps://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/tours/ozzy-osbourne-takes-to-the-stage-for-the-last-time/news-story/4ca30c3eb598a7b97f6735e975...2025-07-0934 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 419: Pop Culture PresidentGet Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/01/att-complies-with-law-requiring-cheap-internet-by-ending-a-service-in-ny/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/city-killer-asteroid-odds-hitting-earth-increase-webb-telescope/ https://www.newsweek.com/fact-check-chelsea-clinton-foundation-usaid-2027947 Topic of the Week https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHXVeLVHWuY Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig 2025-02-1931 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 418: Mere EconomicsGet Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Topic of the Week https://www.samford.edu/business/directory/Carden-Art https://www.amazon.com/Mere-Economics-Lessons-Ordinary-Business Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig More Ant on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/antonydavies Let Us Know...2025-02-1234 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 417: What Makes Us Red and Blue?Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.npr.org/2025/01/03/nx-s1-5247840/net-neutrality-fcc-struck https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2025/01/02/net-neutrality-rules-struck-down/77412883007/ Foolishness of the Week https://nypost.com/2025/01/02/opinion/jonathan-lesser-hochuls-fracking-foolishness-locks-1t-of-energy-underground/ Topic of the Week https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/statistics/elections/2020 https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/president/general/2016/trump-vs-clinton https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2014/08/08/chart-of-the-week-the-most-liberal-and-conservative-big-cities...2025-02-0529 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 416: Who Did It Better: Obama, Trump, BidenGet Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.history.com/news/why-do-we-have-daylight-saving-time https://apnews.com/article/trump-daylight-saving-time-36ccbf61bea70aaac0f5c43b8029957c https://apnews.com/article/college-tuition-cost-5e69acffa7ae11300123df028eac5321 Foolishness of the Week https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/ar-AA1xaq1M Words & Numbers Backstage...2025-01-2927 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 415: Learning to Love LobbyistsGet Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/last-year-boston-murder-rate-was-lowest-ever-this-year-it-was-cut-nearly-in-half-again/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/191223/reported-murder-and-nonnegligent-manslaughter-rate-in-the-us-since-1990/ https://www.vice.com/en/article/onlyfans-models-are-usuing-ai-chatbots-to-talk-dirty-for-them/ Foolishness of the Week https://www.bu.edu/english/graduate/spring-2024-graduate-courses/500-level-graduate-courses-spring-2024/ Topic of the Week https://aegpa.com Words & Numbers Backstage https://www...2025-01-2239 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 414: Robovacs to RichesGet Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/last-year-boston-murder-rate-was-lowest-ever-this-year-it-was-cut-nearly-in-half-again/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/191223/reported-murder-and-nonnegligent-manslaughter-rate-in-the-us-since-1990/ https://www.vice.com/en/article/onlyfans-models-are-usuing-ai-chatbots-to-talk-dirty-for-them/ Foolishness of the Week https://www.bu.edu/english/graduate/spring-2024-graduate-courses/500-level-graduate-courses-spring-2024/ Topic of the Week https://aegpa.com Words & Numbers Backstage https://www...2025-01-1524 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 413: Power and Denial: Biden, Cognitive Decline, and the 25th AmendmentGet Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/investing/2024/12/27/yellen-says-treasury-to-hit-new-debt-limit-in-mid-january/ Foolishness of the Week https://www.themirror.com/news/us-news/bible-removed-texas-school-district-876267 Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig More Ant on YouTube https...2025-01-0837 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 412: What Do We Owe Each Other?Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig More Ant on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/antonydavies Let Us Know What You Think mailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com Antony Davies on Twitter https://twitter.com/antonydavies 2025-01-0129 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 411: Tax Cuts: The Good, the Bad, and the IrrelevantGet Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/11/apple-launches-its-chatgpt-integration-with-siri.html Foolishness of the Week https://studyfinds.org/846-million-genital-herpes/ Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig More Ant on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/antonydavies Let...2024-12-2533 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 410: Mercantilism 2.0Episode 410: Mercantilism 2.0 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-promises-25-tariff-products-mexico-canada-2024-11-25/ https://studyfinds.org/political-views-chocolate-choices/ Foolishness of the Week https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/average-home-buyers-calif-metro-afford-2-homes-19936861.php Topic of the Week Phil Magness https://www.independent.org/ab...2024-12-1830 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 409: Buy, Borrow, DieGet Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/united-pilot-orders-30-pizzas-to-feed-passengers-after-emergency-landing-for-medical-care/ https://x.com/tomselliott/status/1857891563776487434 Foolishness of the Week https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14104559/Switzerland-Church-AI-Jesus-confession.html Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ...2024-12-1133 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 408: Be Thankful!Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-promises-25-tariff-products-mexico-canada-2024-11-25/ https://studyfinds.org/political-views-chocolate-choices/ Foolishness of the Week https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/average-home-buyers-calif-metro-afford-2-homes-19936861.php Topic of the Week Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ M...2024-12-0432 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 407: Words & Numbers Live: After the Election (part 2)Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Clark Neily https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00E93GZCG Phil Magness https://www.amazon.com/stores/Phillip%20W.%20Magness/author/B004IA7HBI Mikhail Rasner https://mirunited.com Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Stories https://www...2024-11-2725 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 406: Words & Numbers Live: After the ElectionGet Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Clark Neily https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00E93GZCG Phil Magness https://www.amazon.com/stores/Phillip%20W.%20Magness/author/B004IA7HBI Mikhail Rasner https://mirunited.com Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Stories https://www...2024-11-2036 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 405: $22,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/nov/1/mushrooms-hit-ballots-researchers-grapple-dangers-/ https://www.newsweek.com/genz-millennials-young-people-dont-want-children-birth-rate-declining-1977238 Foolishness of the Week https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/careersandeducation/ar-AA1tpJyX Topic of the Week https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2024/10/31/russia-fines-google-20-decillion-many-times-larger-than-global-gdp-for-blocking-state-media-channels-heres-what-to-know/ https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/contracts/2024-11-1330 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 404: Dangers of DemocracyGet Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/IEAMGSN https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/FGRECPT https://taxpolicycenter.org/briefing-book/what-are-sources-revenue-federal-government https://www.cnn.com/2024/10/26/politics/trump-income-taxes-tariffs/index.html https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/oct/27/bezos-washington-post-non-endorsement-election Foolishness of the Week https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/marine-veteran-temporarily-booted-off-delta-flight-wearing-threatening-shirt-report Topic of the Week Words...2024-11-0532 min
L'invité du matin (Hérault)Pierre Bories, président du CIVLOn le sait, dans la région, le vin, c'est sacré !Picpoul de Pinet, Pic St-Loup, Limoux...la liste est longue. Mais comment valoriser ces vins à l'international ? C'est une des grandes questions que se pose Pierre Bories, président du CIVL, le Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Languedoc. Il vient de publier feuille de route sur la question. On en parle avec lui ce matin.Distribué par Audiomeans. Visitez audiomeans.fr/politique-de-confidentialite pour plus d'informations.2024-11-0405 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 403: Crime Data: Revising History?This week, we address listener comments that the FBI crime data we reported in an earlier episode was flawed. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://brownox.com https://www.facebook.com/reel/427922503036846 https://www.thefp.com/p/female-psychedelic-users-ketamine-mushroom-mommies Foolishness of the Week https://apnews.com/article/trump-arnold-palmer-closing-arguments-latrobe-pennsylvania-2bea9620c523e531...2024-10-3029 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 402: Project LiberalGet Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Topic of the Week https://www.projectliberal.org Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig More Ant on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/antonydavies Let Us Know What You Think mailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail...2024-10-2332 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 401: 20-to-1, Political Indoctrination in Higher EducationEconomist and author Bryan Caplan joins us to discuss how higher education has become a bastion of extreme leftist thought - so much so that professors that self-identify as Democrat outnumber professors that self-identify as Republican by 20-to-1. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://nypost.com/2024/10/03/lifestyle/revealed-the-staggering-amount-of-time-gen-z-spends-watching-tv-during-the-workday/ https://www.mediaite.com/politics/they-can-control-the-weather-claims-marjorie-taylor-greene-after-deadly-hurricane-helene-kills-more-than-200/ ...2024-10-1638 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 400: Population ProblemsIt was just a couple of decades ago that experts were wringing their hands over the coming population explosion that was going to kill us all. Now they are wringing their hands over the coming population crash that is going to kill us all. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.polygon.com/news/457071/new https...2024-10-0926 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 399: Lying PoliticiansGet Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://cheezburger.com/36843013/employer-cancels-flexible-work-policy-after-employee-cuts-their-finger-at-home-cut-my-finger-working https://bjs.ojp.gov https://www.policemag.com/patrol/news/15310860/half-of-surveys-very-liberal-respondents-believe-1000-or-more-unarmed-black-men-killed-by-police-in-2019 Foolishness of the Week https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a61793292/ford-cop-cars-speed-detector-patent/ Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube...2024-10-0326 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 398: Alliteration Time: Trump, Tariffs, and Taxes Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/13/politics/pope-francis-trump-harris-abortion/index.html Foolishness of the Week https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a61793292/ford-cop-cars-speed-detector-patent/ Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig More An...2024-09-2533 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 397: More on the FedThis week, we address listener questions from our earlier episode on the Fed. We also make incorrect predictions about whether the September cut in interest rates. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.theguardian.com/technology/article/2024/sep/08/goodbye-tinder-hello-strava-have-hobby-apps-become-the-new-social-networks Foolishness of the Week https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/chase-bank-says-it-is-aware-of-viral-glitch-inviting-people-to-commit-check-fraud/ar-AA1pW1OW?ocid=BingNewsSerp ...2024-09-2033 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 396: Unrealized Capital GainsThe idea of an unrealized capital gains tax gains momentum every election season of late. This week, we take a look at what it is and why even the middle class should be very afraid. Foolishness of the Week: 07:34 Main episode: 11:12 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/people-seen-as-wise-share-these-characteristics-all-over-the-world/ Foolishness of the Week https...2024-09-1126 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 395: The FedEpisode 395: The Fed What does the Fed do and how does it do it? Foolishness of the Week: 06:38 Main episode: 08:51 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://apnews.com/article/harris-walz-apostrophe-possessive-grammar-967c0bbefc09be6c804588daabed7ec9 Foolishness of the Week https://apnews.com/article/benjamin-benji-cranford-thomson-mayor-alcohol-inmates-8a60ee1ca581a6a219cd29cc273f2758 2024-09-0432 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 394: Candidates’ AttitudesEpisode 394: Candidates’ Attitudes Unfortunately, when it comes to elections, often a smile is all it takes. Foolishness of the Week: 06:55 Main episode: 11:32 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.complex.com/life/a/backwoodsaltar/donald-trump-says-he-doesnt-want-pronouns Foolishness of the Week https://apnews.com/article/kamala-harris-price-gouging-ban-inflation-65dc8844bb41159d76886f752b6cab28 https://www.fo...2024-08-2930 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 393: Why Is Economics Important?This is a conversation James and I had concerning various topics in economics and current events. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers The School of Ireland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByBussFxezk Join the Conversation Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ Let Us Know What You Think mailto:wordsandnumberspodcast@gmail.com Antony Davies...2024-08-2151 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 392: Could Unemployment Be a Good Thing?Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://colombiaone.com/2024/08/05/brazilian-prison-replaces-guard-dogs-with-geese/#:~:text=At%20the%20S%C3%A3o%20Pedro%20de,with%20a%20group%20of%20geese https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/friend-ai-artificial-intelligence-new-b2590345.html https://www.independent.co.uk/tech/friend-ai-artificial-intelligence-b2588853.html Foolishness of the Week https://www.nbcnews.com/news/rcna165147 Words & Numbers Backstage https://www...2024-08-1429 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 391: Attacked by a Gang Wearing Lab CoatsThis week James shares some first-hand experience with the magic that comes out of modern health care. Foolishness of the Week: 10:22 Main episode: 12:43 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.cybertruckownersclub.com/forum/threads/raccoon-damages-cybertruck-bed-vault-tonneau-cover.20349/ Foolishness of the Week https://www.dailydot.com/debug/nullbulge-hackers-leak-disney-slack-hack/ Words & Numbers Backstage...2024-08-1143 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 390: Personal FinanceJames is recovering from surgery this week, so we offer you this special episode on personal finance so as to not to leave you sad and alone on Words & Numbers Wednesday! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices2024-07-311h 02
Words & NumbersEpisode 389: Recession?Are we in a recession? Americans say we are. The data say we aren’t. Who’s right? Foolishness of the Week: 05:30 Main episode: 10:50 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/michael-bloomberg-donates-1-billion-to-provide-free-tuition-for-future-doctors-at-johns-hopkins/ https://apnews.com/general-news-4db3fb7fa202234b220c803626464a3f https://www.philanthropyroundtable.org/resource/seven-stories-of-donor-intent-violations-in-higher-education-giving/ Foolishness of the...2024-07-2430 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 388: Supply Chain IIISupply chain insider Mikhail Razner joins us again for what has come to be an annual update on the state of supply chains. Want to know why your boysenberry pie is more expensive? Listen in! Foolishness of the Week: 10:24 Main episode: 13:20 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2024/06/06/why-global-gdp-might-be-7trn-bigger-than-everyone-thought https...2024-07-1749 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 387: The Supremes' One-Two PunchGet Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Topic of the Week Clark Neily on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00EJKBKOC Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig More Ant on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/antonydavies Let...2024-07-1047 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 386: Chase Oliver 2024Foolishness of the Week: 05:13 Main episode: 12:18 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://viewfromthewing.com/hertz-nightmare-customer-fined-436-before-they-even-rented-the-car/comment-page-1/ https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2022/03/04/rental-car-consumer-rights/9365841002/ https://www.thedrive.com/news/hertz-is-charging-tesla-model-3-renter-277-fee-for-gas-wont-back-down https://viewfromthewing.com/divine-retribution-or-corporate-policy-hertz-imposes-biblical-ban-on-a-customers-descendants/ https://www.investopedia.com/nearly-1-in-4-generation-x-workers-say-they-wont-retire-survey-shows-8666276 Foolishness of the Week2024-07-0344 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 385: GamingMany of our listeners, and at least one of our hosts, are avid gamers, so it's natural that we'd come around to this topic eventually. Gaming companies are known to employ economists (often game theorists) to help design games because economists understand how to think about how people behave when their unlimited desires collide with their limited abilities. Games are nothing more than artificial environments in which these very real behaviors play out. Foolishness of the Week: 10:06 Main episode: 17:27 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More...2024-06-2638 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 384: A Difference in Interest RatesCanada’s central bank cut its interest rate. The European central bank cut its interest rate. But the Fed continues to hold its interest rate high. This will create a cascade of effects - some good, some bad, depending on who you are. Foolishness of the Week: 09:43 Main episode: 13:11 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.ne...2024-06-1933 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 383: The Justice and Practicality of ReparationsIf people who call for reparations for slavery want to be taken seriously, they must take their own arguments seriously first. And that requires bringing to bear the same scrutiny and law that we currently apply to any case in which someone is seeking to be made whole following the actions of another. Foolishness of the Week: 11:57 Main episode: 15:01 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon...2024-06-1244 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 382: The Value of CollegeWe’ve argued before that the value of a college degree was questionable. That was before covid. Since then, the value proposition has deteriorated markedly. Foolishness of the Week: 05:15 Main episode: 07:07 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://cwbchicago.com/2024/05/chicago-fake-robbery-visa-scam.html https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2024/05/microsoft-ai-recall-feature-records-everything-secures-far-less Foolishness of the Week...2024-06-0531 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 381: $1 Trillion in InterestThe annual gross interest on the debt exceeded $1 trillion for the first time in history. Years ago, we warned that the combination of on-going deficits and inevitably higher interest rates would give us exactly what we have now. Foolishness of the Week: 08:16 Main episode: 09:31 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jared_Bernstein2024-05-2925 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 380: Population ShrinkA generation or two ago, people wrung their hands over the population explosion. What will happen, they said, when we finally have too many people! It turns out that, not only was overpopulation not a problem, underpopulation has become one. Foolishness of the Week: 8:25 Main episode: 14:19 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.yourtango.com/news...2024-05-2234 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 379: Of Millionaires and HomelessFoolishness of the Week: 11:09 Main episode: 16:35 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://twitter.com/amyklobuchar/status/1786794183312748959 Foolishness of the Week https://www.the-express.com/news/us-news/136485/america-civil-war-five-years-poll Topic of the Week https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/scf/dataviz/scf/chart/#series:Net_Worth;demographic:all;population:1;units:median;range:1989,2022 2024-05-1646 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 378: The One Branch of GovernmentClark Neily joins us again this week. This time, we’re talking about how we have come to muddle the separation of powers among the three branches of government. As Congress has largely fallen asleep at the wheel, the executive branch has come to play the roles of all three branches, all by itself. Foolishness of the Week: 04:46 Main episode: 05:49 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.pa...2024-05-0847 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 377: Real Estate InsiderThe National Association of Realtors recently agreed to pay almost half a billion dollars in a class action suit involving sellers fees. This week’s guest, Judd Bristo, is unique in being a listener, an economist, and a realtor. We asked Judd to come on to talk about the settlement and the complex world of real estate commissions. Foolishness of the Week: 04:38 Main episode: 07:03 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at...2024-05-0134 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 376: Interest Rates Up, Down, or Sideways?Foolishness of the Week: 06:30 Main episode: 09:25 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1183025683040361&id=100039988210787&mibextid=oFDknk&rdid=38pxUZNFlwwAi8YH https://nypost.com/2024/04/15/us-news/californians-arming-themselves-over-border-issue/ Foolishness of the Week https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/12/politics/biden-student-loan-forgiveness/index.html Topic of the Week https://rumble...2024-04-2436 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 375: Google and FedEx Anger JamesJames has an ax to grind. Google made him mad. FedEx made him mad. Many things make James mad. But this week, he tells us why. Foolishness of the Week: 16:22 Main episode: 20:01 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/constance-bay-man-loses-bid-to-recover-cost-of-life-saving-u-s-brain-surgery/ https://www.beeculture.com/deregulating-honey-in-missourithere-are-19-ways-to-kill-a-bill-and-only-one-way-to-pass-it/ https://www.cnbc...2024-04-1740 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 374: The Price of BaseballJames recently wrote an article on the price of admission and food at baseball fields over the years. To look at the prices, it appears that baseball has shifted from entertainment for the working classes to entertainment for the middle and rich classes. Or perhaps we’ve simply all become richer and baseball has simply followed along. Foolishness of the Week: 13:07 Main episode: 16:09 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Pa...2024-04-1032 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 373: FDA: Friend or Foe?We all know that the FDA saves lives by keeping bad drugs off markets. But far fewer of us understand that the FDA costs lives by keeping good drugs from markets. Often all it takes to see this other side of the FDA is to be confronted with a life threatening disease for which there are treatments - just not FDA-approved treatments. Foolishness of the Week: 08:38 Main episode: 14:53 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your S...2024-04-0341 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 372: Where’s the Middle Class?Each election cycle, we’re treated to politicians and their supporters crying about the disappearing middle class. So many people repeat the mantra that most of us just accept it as fact. It turns out that those people are right - the middle class is disappearing. Where they get the story wrong is that it isn’t bad news. It’s excellent news. Foolishness of the Week: 09:12 Main episode: 15:32 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your S...2024-03-2732 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 371: An Interview with Spike Cohen, pt. 2Spike Cohen, 2020 Libertarian Party Vice-Presidential nominee, joins us this week for a two part series in which we discuss the upcoming election, the Libertarian Party, the future of politics in America, and his work in single-issue activism - You Are the Power. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Topic of the Week https://www.youarethepower.net https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_Cohen2024-03-2038 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 370: An Interview with Spike Cohen, pt. 1Spike Cohen, 2020 Libertarian Party Vice-Presidential nominee, joins us this week for a two part series in which we discuss the upcoming election, the Libertarian Party, the future of politics in America, and his work in single-issue activism - You Are the Power. Foolishness of the Week: 11:05 Main episode: 13:14 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.thecollegefix.com/gmu-economist-reported-to-dei-office-for-criticizing-plan-to-mandate-dei-courses/2024-03-1327 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 369: A One-Party System?The United States has been a two party system almost since its inception. In modern times, this has led to the Democrats and Republicans having a virtual monopoly on the political landscape. Despite the fact that a plurality of Americans don’t identify with either party, they won’t allow a third party to compete. And what’s the only thing worse than a two-party system? A one-party system. Foolishness of the Week: 06:08 Main episode: 09:41 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wo...2024-03-0624 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 368: Hampden-Sydney College Q&ALast week, we recorded live from Hampden-Sydney College. This week’s episode is the Q&A from that recording. Foolishness of the Week: 09:21 Main episode: 10:05 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://studyfinds.org/is-everyone-angry-toxic-outrage-culture-consuming-society-like-never-before/ Foolishness of the Week https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13119241/Trump-threatens-biggest-stock-market-crash-HISTORY-loses-Biden-claims-five-things-DOJ-investigate-Haley-wild-speech-MAGA-fans-South-Carolina-primary.html Topic of the We...2024-02-2833 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 367: Live from Hampden-Sydney CollegeLast week, we talked about the incongruity of not only having a majority of voters not like either major party candidate, but to have those two candidates appear twice in back-to-back elections. This week, we explore what happens when a President is incapable of fulfilling the duties of the office. Foolishness of the Week: 11:01 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick...2024-02-2134 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 366: What’s Up With the President?Last week, we talked about the incongruity of not only having a majority of voters not like either major party candidate, but to have those two candidates appear twice in back-to-back elections. This week, we explore what happens when a President is incapable of fulfilling the duties of the office. Foolishness of the Week: 09:59 Main episode: 12:50 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers 2024-02-1430 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 365: Democracy Might Not Be a Good Thing The Trump vs Biden election of 2020 was noteworthy because, for so many voters, it wasn’t a matter of selecting the person they thought was best suited for the job so much as a matter of selecting the person they thought was least ill-suited. As if it isn’t weird enough that, out of 200 million or so adults, the best we could do was to bring Trump and Biden to the fore, here we are in 2024 apparently set to do the same thing all over again. Foolishness of the Week: 09:10 Main episode: 13:33 Get Your...2024-02-0734 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 364: $34 TrillionPeople used to scared about the federal debt. But it's been so huge for so long that people have lost interest. Yet, despite people's lack of attention - or perhaps, in part, because of it - the debt has continued to grow. For the past 50 years or so, it has been doubling every 8 to 9 years. Foolishness of the Week: 09:10 Main episode: 13:36 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.c...2024-01-3129 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 363: Labor and MarxMany people share an intuition that “excess” profits are a sign of something having been stolen from labor. Karl Marx shared this intuition and formalized it in his writings on the surplus value of labor. Foolishness of the Week: 05:48 Main episode: 11:55 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPkJH6BT7dM ht...2024-01-2441 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 362: Shareholders and StakeholdersFor whom does the corporation exist: investors, workers, customers, the community? Economists tend to answer, "investors." That's not to say that workers, customers, and the community aren't important, but rather that the corporation exists to further the interests of the investors. Where the interests of the workers, customers, and community coincide with those of investors, the corporation also cares about those groups. But where their interests conflict with those of investors, the interests of investors take precedence. That's the principle of "shareholder value." The principle of "stakeholder value" holds that the corporation should consider the interests of workers, consumers...2024-01-1732 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 361: DegrowthEconomic "degrowth" seems to be the new socialism. Like the old, it promises all manner of wonderful things, from equality to a cleaner environment. And like the old, it will deliver nothing but misery. Foolishness of the Week: 10:24 Main episode: 13:35 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.ambito.com/politica/ley-omnibus-el-gobierno-busca-que-ya-no-se-use-la-palabra-gratis-prestacion-estatales-n5908723 https://constitution.congress...2024-01-1030 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 360: Time is MoneyIntuitively, people understand the value of time. We consider it every time we decide to put off something we want now for something better later. Psychologists call it, “delayed gratification.” But when we think about things like banks and landlords and Wall Street, we fail to see the time value of money driving people’s behaviors. Foolishness of the Week: 14:15 Main episode: 18:13 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https...2024-01-0337 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 359: A Conflict of Moral PrinciplesColleges and universities, for years now self-proclaimed bastions of “safe spaces,” are allowing some students to express anti Semitism and call for genocide. Should colleges allow this in the name of free speech, or should it disallow it in the name of protecting students? Congressional hearings into prominent universities appear to reveal administrators picking a third and worse option: selectively allowing or disallowing free speech depending on at whom the speech is directed. Foolishness of the Week: 08:15 Main episode: 11:36 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant...2023-12-2729 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 358: The Cost of the Good LifeWe respond to an article that claims that “the good life” has become so expensive as to be beyond the reach of most Americans. We conclude that what is beyond the reach of at least some Americans is the ability to perform simple math. Foolishness of the Week: 05:33 Main episode: 09:16 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www...2023-12-2034 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 357: Biden’s Wealth TaxMore frequently, politicians are talking about a wealth tax. As with the income tax back in the early 1900s, politicians promise that the tax will only be one or two percent and will only apply to the rich. But, as with the income tax, if politicians can convince voters to allow the government to impose a tax on wealth, it will be less than a decade before that new tax hits the middle class. Foolishness of the Week: 15:15 Main episode: 19:45 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See...2023-12-1331 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 356: Social Distancing and Masks: Again?A new outbreak of a communicable disease in China has officials there calling for masks and social distancing. This week, we talk about what lessons we learned from the last go around and how people might respond in this country to a reprise of social distancing and masking. Foolishness of the Week: 07:23 Main episode: 11:23 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick H...2023-12-0626 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 355: It's Time for Libertarians to Grow UpWe recently moderated the South Carolina Libertarian Party’s Presidential debate. We had a great time and the candidates were serious people. But the contrast between our excellent experience in South Carolina and Libertarian party hijinx we’ve seen in the past spurred this conversation. Is the Libertarian Party a political party or a philosophical society? The latter’s goal is to delve deeply into important questions about the economy and polity. The former’s goal is to win elections. Foolishness of the Week: 08:37 Main episode: 14:05 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.coop...2023-11-2942 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 354: Academic FraudThree former professors discuss the fraud that universities are perpetrating on students and taxpayers.. Foolishness of the Week: 11:59 Main episode: 15:20 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Topic of the Week https://www.aier.org/people/phillip-w-magness/ Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...2023-11-2249 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 353: What’s a Few Trillion Among Friends?Over ten years ago, we predicted that, as the Federal government approached insolvency, the Federal Reserve would start printing money to monetize the government spending, and that that would give us sustained inflation in the 5% plus range. We saw the 5% plus inflation and, as the Fed fought it, we then saw interest rates skyrocket. Trillion dollar plus deficits are the new normal, Social Security is within a decade of becoming insolvent, and that will mean even more borrowing. It appears that people are just now becoming aware of the problem. Unfortunately, it's almost too late to do anything about...2023-11-1538 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 352: Fraud, Fairness, and ValueAn elderly couple, an antiques dealer, and an African mask spark a conversation about fraud, fairness, and value. Foolishness of the Week: 11:00 Main episode: 13:14 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.kpbs.org/news/local/2023/11/02/california-regulators-put-off-a-decision-on-solar-rules-again https://www.bbc.com/news/health-67295526 Foolishness of the Week https://www.nationalreview.com/2023/11...2023-11-0851 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 351: The Snooty StuffComposer and musician Josh Nichols was annoyed when, on an earlier episode, James referred to “high culture,” and Ant said, “you mean the snooty stuff?” Being a classical composer and, importantly, making money at it, Josh joins us to set the record straight as to why we should all be more appreciative of “the snooty stuff.” Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Topic of the Week2023-11-0138 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 350: The Economics of Taylor SwiftFans are applauding Taylor Swift for contributing billions to the country’s GDP. Yet Taylor Swift (three-quarters of a billionaire) is doing less for the economy than what many billionaires, who we vilify, do. Why do we applaud one business person and vilify the other? Foolishness of the week: 09:33 Main episode: 14:24 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits ht...2023-10-2531 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 349: Should Experts Dictate What Teachers Teach?More than a decade ago, experts decided to change how students are taught to read. Without testing whether the new method worked or, apparently, even checking in with actual teachers, the experts forced the change. What resulted was a generation of children with reduced reading abilities. The experts have now reversed course. People make mistakes like this all the time. When the people who are making the decisions are the same people who live with the consequences of the decisions, errors get detected and fixed relatively quickly. There's nothing wrong with experts weighing in on the best way to...2023-10-1824 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 348: Error CorrectionsFrom time to time, listeners write to tell us what we’ve gotten wrong. This week, we go back through predictions and analyses we’ve made that have turned out to be wrong. Main episode: 12:09 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...2023-10-1149 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 347: Workplace Harassment with Vince WhiteAttorney Vince White joins us this week. Vince’s law firm does more workplace harassment and sexual discrimination cases than any other US law firm. His firm also handled some of the Harvey Weinstein cases. Interestingly, Vince is James’ former student. Foolishness of the week: 05:30 Main episode: 08:39 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/for...2023-10-0439 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 346: Are the Rich Killing Social Security?Robert Reich (not an economist) recorded a video recently in which he claims that the rich are not paying their fair share of Social Security. But the calculations he uses to prove his point are fundamentally flawed. Foolishness of the week: 09:54 Main episode: 12:57 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/nasa-solid-state-battery-development-research-breakthrough/ https...2023-09-2729 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 345: Did Masks Save Lives?Economist Bryan McCannon gives us two things to think about this week: his research into whether covid mask mandates saved lives, and that journal editors were afraid to publish his results. Foolishness of the week: 08:04 Main episode: 11:49 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/california-fast-food-workers-20-minimum-wage-new-103099258 https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings...2023-09-2036 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 344: Burning ManBurning Man, a modern day Woodstock, occurs each year in the desert. This year brought 87,000 people together to live, if only for a few days, in a cooperative nirvana. We take some time to look at the Burning Man principles for living and ask whether they make any sense. Foolishness of the week: 05:21 Main episode: 11:44 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers ...2023-09-1331 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 343: What About Unions?Union membership in the private sector has been declining for decades, while union membership in the public sector has been increasing. This is consistent with workers voluntarily choosing not to unionize to the point that unions must turn to government jobs where it is easier to force workers to unionize. Foolishness of the week: 04:20 Main episode: 10:03 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers 2023-09-0628 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 342: The Start of the SeasonThe Republicans held their first primary debate. What they said wasn’t interesting. What they didn’t say was. Foolishness of the week: 07:00 Main episode: 09:10 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/4171633-ceiling-fan-efficiency-rule-draws-ire-of-house-republicans/ https://finance.yahoo.com/news/urban-doom-loop-could-pose-105045782.html Foolishness of the Week https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/joe-biden/biden-advisers-bristle-newsoms-plan-debate-desantis-rcna101799 2023-08-3028 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 341: Strangers With CandyEconomist Art Carden joins us this week to talk about his popular book, Strangers With Candy. Foolishness of the week: 04:27 Main episode: 18:01 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://fortune.com/2023/07/06/wealthy-leaving-china-education-school-sisb-stock-surge-singapore-thailand/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/372900/number-of-chinese-students-that-study-in-the-us/ https://www.fraserinstitute.org/economic-freedom/map?geozone=world&page=map&year=2020&countries=THA,CHN,USA2023-08-2333 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 340: Wrongfully ConvictedMichael Semanchik, Director of the Innocence Center, joins us to talk about freeing the wrongfully imprisoned, and reforming the criminal justice system to reduce the likelihood of wrongful convictions. Foolishness of the week: 06:13 Main episode: 07:09 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqSA-SY5Hro https://www.staradvertiser.com/2023/08/07/hawaii-news/emergency-declaration-prohibits-price-gouging-lawyer-says/2023-08-1637 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 339: The Meanings of WordsThe point of communicating is to transfer thoughts from one person’s brain to another. In most forms of human communication, words are the tools we use. But if the two people don’t share common definitions of words, then communication becomes clouded. The most extreme case is when two people speak very different languages. But miscommunication often happens when both people speak the same language. If we hope to resolve, or at least come to peaceful disagreement, over topics from gun control to gender, we have to make a concerted effort to agree on definitions before debating the topi...2023-08-0935 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 338: Age, Ability, and IncumbencyThe Constitution sets lower age limits for members of Congress and the President, but sets no upper limits. Before modern medicine, this wasn’t as much of a problem as people’s bodies tended not to outlive their minds. Today, it’s becoming a problem. Foolishness of the week: 05:30 Main episode: 09:35 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Topic of the Week https...2023-08-0232 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 337: The (Hollow) Sound of FreedomJames and I both went to see the recent box office hit, The Sound of Freedom. I liked it. James didn’t. But we both were appalled at what appear to be seriously distorted claims made in the film about human trafficking. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Topic of the Week Human trafficking defined https://www.state.gov/reports/2023-trafficking-in-persons-report/ Wo...2023-07-2638 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 336: A Fireside Chat Without the FireHowie Baetjer, Rob McDonald, James Stacey Taylor, and Clark Neily join us to talk about gun rights, canceling the Founders, and animal rights. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig More Ant on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/antonydavies2023-07-1951 min
Words & NumbersEncore Episode 335: When Benevolence BackfiresThis encore performance is of our most popular episode. This episode, in which we explore unintended consequences, first aired in September of 2019. Foolishness of the week: 06:19 Main episode: 10:54 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://slate.com/technology/2019/08/maryland-sk-court-case-teen-sexting-child-pornography.html https://www.blackbusiness.com/2019/05/roy-allela-black-engineer-invents-gloves-turn-sign-language-audible-speech.html Foolishness of the Week https://reason.com/2019/08/28/de-blasio-advisory-group-wants-to-abolish-gifted-classes-in-nyc-public-schools/ https...2023-07-1234 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 334: Live at Brookfield Academy, pt.2James and Ant field questions from students at Brookfield Academy on possible fixes for Social Security, the politics of taxation and spending, and how we’ve broken the separation of powers, Foolishness of the week: 06:41 Main episode: 03:53 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...2023-07-0548 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 333: Live at Brookfield Academy, pt.1James and Ant field questions from students at Brookfield Academy on possible fixes for Social Security, the politics of taxation and spending, and how we’ve broken the separation of powers, Foolishness of the week: 06:41 Main episode: 08:18 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...2023-06-2831 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 332: Should Speech be Free?This week’s episode is a live recording of a panel discussion on free speech at the University of Washington. Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Christin Gilmer https://www.linkedin.com/in/christingilmer Words & Numbers Backstage https://www.facebook.com/groups/130029457649243/ More James at Smoke & Stories https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLjILow4-ZJpBV-NnmSusZJ_vCuzKUJ4Ig Mo...2023-06-2145 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 331: A Fireside ChatThis week, historian Rob McDonald, Constitutional scholar and lawyer Clark Neily, philosophy James Stacey Taylor, and economist Howard Baetjer join James and Ant around a fire to discuss the indictments against former President Donald Trump. To accommodate the extended conversation, this week we forego our usual quick hits and foolishness of the week. We think you'll agree that, regardless of on which side you fall on the topic, the whole business with Donald Trump qualifies as foolishness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices2023-06-1437 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 330: What’s Up in the Economy?Weird things are happening. Retail sales have stagnated, savings are markedly down, yet unemployment is low, inflation isn’t as bad as it was. Have we reached a “new normal?” Foolishness of the week: 05:00 Main episode: 06:41 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2023/05/federal-judge-makes-history-holding-border-searches-cell-phones-require-warrant https://www.msn.com/en-us/autos/news/his-township-spied-on-his-car-collection-with-a-drone-now-the-state-supreme-court-will-decide-if-they-violated-his-rights/ar-AA1c2djX https://www.bbc.com/news/s...2023-06-0726 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 329: The Chevron DoctrineFor decades and where the law is ambiguous, courts have invoked the Chevron doctrine in allowing regulatory agencies to decide for themselves the meaning of the ambiguous language. Unsurprisingly, agencies invariably interpret ambiguous language in their own favors. The Supreme Court recently agreed to reconsider the Chevron doctrine. Overturning the doctrine could call into question decades’ worth of regulatory rulings. Clark Neily joins us this week to discuss. Foolishness of the week: 06:10 Main episode: 08:37 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org...2023-05-3132 min
Dynasty Podcasts: ChicagoverseChicagoverse 300 - Emily Robinson (DMBO) x Nick Heineman (CIVL)In an interview recorded at Chicago's 21c Museum Hotel, Emily Robinson, President at the DePaul Music Business Organization (DMBO) and Nick Heineman, Executive Director at the Chicago Independent Venue League (CIVL), come together to talk about live music in Chicago.Robinson and Heineman talk about their respective orgs, and speak on DMBO and CIVL's Venue Chats Instagram interview series with Chicago's live music professionals. They also delve into the return of live music in the wake of the pandemic, and emphasize the importance of behind the scenes talent in making live productions happen.
2023-05-2439 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 328: Artificial IntelligencePeople are saying that artificial intelligence will destroy jobs and enslave humans. We’ve heard this many times before. Before artificial intelligence, people said it about computers. Before computers, they said it about machines. Not only were people wrong before, they were spectacularly wrong. They’re likely wrong again. Foolishness of the week: 09:15 Main episode: 10:16 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits 2023-05-2430 min
Words & NumbersEpisode 327: To Vote or Not To VoteEpisode 327: To Vote or Not To Vote This week’s episode comes live from Sandy High School in Sandy Oregon where James and I give arguments for and against voting. Foolishness of the week: 07:56 Main episode: 08:37 Get Your Copy of Cooperation and Coercion Now! http://www.cooperationandcoercion.com See More Ant and James! http://www.wordsandnumbers.org Show Your Support for Words & Numbers at Patreon https://www.patreon.com/wordsandnumbers Quick Hits https://apnews.com/article/facial-recognition-airport-screening-tsa-d8b6397c02afe16602c8d34409d1451f Foolishness of...2023-05-1738 min
Car Con CarneHideout co-owner Tim Tuten: From Saturday’s CIVL fundraiser into the future (Episode 633)Tim Tuten, Hideout owner/activist/CIVL member, comes on Car Con Carne for a spirited talk about the state of local independent venues, this weekend’s Pine Valley Cosmonauts fundraiser at the Hideout, and what the future looks like for the industry and fans. Car Con Carne is sponsored by Siren Records McHenry2021-07-1535 min
Si Dionysos était une femme !#9 | Miren de Lorgeril | Domaines Lorgeril -Présidente du CIVLPourquoi écouter cet épisode ?
Miren de Lorgeril est, en France, la première femme élue à la présidence d’une interprofession : le CIVL.
Le comité interprofessionnel du Languedoc réunit toutes les appellations (AOP) et les Indications Géographiques Protégées de territoires du Sud (dites IGP)(hors Pays d’oc): 75000 hectares et 27000 entreprises.
Découvrez une femme qui est ni fille de vigneron, ni du sérail et qui parvient à dépasser les préjugés, à bâtir une entreprise qui aujourd’hui réunit 6 domaines et emploie 70 salariés.Elle qui aurait dû être dir...2021-02-2257 minDynasty Podcasts: ChicagoverseChicagoverse 267 - Chicago Independent Venue League (CIVL) PanelcastChicago's live music community is represented in a special Dynasty Panelcasts roundtable live stream. Representatives from the Chicago Independent Venue League (CIVL) speak about the present and future of Chicago's music venues in the age of COVID-19, and why the city's live music rooms are community epicenters and economic engines.
The venue owners also share steps that music fans can take to help support Chicago's live venues, which can be found at https://www.civlchicago.com/relief and https://www.civlchicago.com/relief.
Featuring: Dane Roth (Shure), Joe Shanahan (Metro, Smart Bar, Gman Tavern), Robert Gomez (Subterranean, Beat Kitchen), Tim Tuten...2020-06-1041 min