The Political Orphanage Grover Norquist at Burning Man (Rebroadcast)
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Feb 19, 2026 Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform and longtime anti-tax activist, joins to discuss Burning Man, its camps and culture, and how it compares to elite gatherings. He also talks about his foray into standup comedy and the origins of his anti-tax pledge. Short, lively conversations jump between desert parties, political organizing, and comedy stages.
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Burning Man Is A Planned Temporary City
- Burning Man evolved from a beach effigy burn into a planned temporary city with roads, art, and rules.
- Grover Norquist says its layout and preparation distinguish it from festivals like Woodstock.
Republican Outreach Helped Secure Permits
- Grover recounts how he and allies educated Republican officials to reduce Interior Department pressure on Burning Man.
- That outreach led to support for longer permits and less bureaucratic extortion.
Radical Inclusion Trumps Political Labels
- Burning Man's 'radical inclusion' prevents political vetting and keeps the event ideologically open.
- Norquist notes the festival functions as a small-l libertarian space of voluntary cooperation.