

The Political Orphanage
Andrew Heaton
Politics minus bile plus jokes. Comedian and avowed independent Andrew Heaton interviews authors and thought leaders about policy and big thinky stuff.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 17, 2022 • 54min
Space Bureaucrats vs. Space Billionaires
How do we best get space tourism and moon colonies – big public projects, or cocky entrepreneurs? Lori Garver is the former Deputy Administrator of NASA, and the author of "Escaping Gravity: My Quest to Transform NASA and Launch a New Space Age." Book at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured Robert Zubrin on "How to Build a Moon Base": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEEgdmimSWg

Aug 12, 2022 • 1h 17min
The Supreme Court Messed Up on Prayer in Schools
In Kennedy v. Bremerton the Supreme Court revisited–and reversed–long-standing precedents on public teachers and administrators leading prayers in school and at events. Paul Townsend, of "In Summation - The Final Word" joins to assess its impact and diagnose the decision.

Aug 11, 2022 • 43min
Can I Eat Peyote if it's Religious?
What happens when a law affecting public safety or basic governance comes into conflict with someone's deeply-held religious beliefs? In this episode we explore religious exemptions, and how the court addresses carveouts from otherwise applicable laws.

Aug 10, 2022 • 54min
Hunting for Theocracy in America
The Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, but also forbids the establishment of religion. What happens when the two come into conflict? In Judge Week 2: Separation of Church and State, we investigate the First Amendment, and how the courts balance its competing clauses.

Aug 3, 2022 • 60min
Bad News About Humane Warfare
Civilization has made warfare more indirect, streamlined, technological, and distant. What if making warfare nicer makes us less hesitant to begin conflicts, and slower to stop them? Samuel Moyn is the author of "Humane: How the United States Abandoned Peace and Reinvented War."

Jul 27, 2022 • 57min
America's Dueling Enlightenments
The Founding Fathers were all children of the Enlightenment, and they agreed on kicking King George out, but they never agreed on how to run the country. Seth Radwell, author of American Schism: How the Two Enlightenments Hold the Secret to Healing Our Nation joins on to discuss these two halves of our Founding, and how they are ultimately complimentary.

Jul 20, 2022 • 1h 17min
When To Scrap Politically Incorrect Words
How do we determine when to retire truly offensive words and replace confusing ones, against virtue signaling and shifting goal posts? Ron Hayden of "Worth Watching" and Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy of "Majoring in Everything" join to discuss.

Jul 14, 2022 • 1h 41min
Inflation Is Losing You Money
Inflation is at an 11-year high--what's causing it! How do we solve it, and how does it effect us (and our bank accounts)? John Cochrane, "The Grumpy Economist" joins to discuss. Plus: Hyperinflation . . . via the French Revolution!

Jul 6, 2022 • 1h 9min
How to Change Your Idiot Uncle's Mind About Stuff
In "How to Change Minds: The Surprising Science of Belief, Opinion, and Persuasion," science writer David McRaney explores proven ways to get people to unstuck themselves from entrenched opinions and think straight. Get "How to Change Minds" at www.mightyheaton.com/featured Relevant Episodes: Peter Boghassian on "How to Talk to Insufferable Ideologues" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-talk-to-insufferable-ideologues-featuring-peter/id1439837349?i=1000464778737 Andrea Jones-Rooy on "How to Unstuck Idiot Political Beliefs" https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-unstuck-idiot-political-beliefs/id1439837349?i=1000463382249 Adaam Levin-Areddy on Cognitive Dissonance: https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/cognative-dissonance David McRaney on Groupthink https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/why-monkey-groupthink-beats-human-logic/id1439837349?i=1000556387655

Jul 1, 2022 • 1h 3min
Every Time We've Rigged the Supreme Court
Court Packing! In the wake of Roe v. Wade, Progressives want to insert new justices to tip back the majority. In this episode we explore the several times politicians have rigged the courts. And then analyze the best available reforms to make the Supreme Court less of a partisan volcano.


