

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

Jan 22, 2019 • 45min
Ep. 42 | Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Death of Math | Guest: Liz Wolfe
Socialism has returned to America in the form of a crotchety senator from Vermont and a vivacious young lady from the Bronx. Liz Wolfe, managing editor at The Federalist and Playboy contributor, joins Heaton to discuss the more egregious aspects of AOC's policy proposals, and the irritating potshots her detractors make instead of solid arguments.

Jan 21, 2019 • 35min
Ep . 41 | Let's all Jump to Explosive, Unbridled Hate over the MAGA Boy | Guest: Rep. Thomas Massie
America briefly considered firebombing Kentucky this weekend after video of a sixteen-year-old smirking at a Native American elder showed a hateful display of racism and bullying. However it turns out that the three minute video is selectively taken from two hours of additional footage, which tells a different story. Congressman Thomas Massie of Kentucky joins Heaton to correct the record.

Jan 18, 2019 • 55min
Ep. 40 | The Politics of Star Wars | Guest: Stephen Kent
Stephen Kent, host of the "Beltway Banthas" podcast, joins Heaton to discuss droid slavery, imperial apologists, and the galaxy's fascist dark age. Plus: how to expose children to the proper film sequence to avoid emotional trauma.

Jan 17, 2019 • 49min
Ep. 39 | The Secret Conservative Hollywood Speakeasy | Guest: Michael Loftus
Comedian Michael Loftus has written for "Anger Management" with Charlie Sheen and "Kevin Can Wait" on CBS. He's also the former host of the conservative political satire show "The Flipside". He joins Heaton to talk about working in Hollywood as a conservative, and how he hopes the next few years will shake out culturally.

Jan 16, 2019 • 58min
Ep. 38 | Can Robots Save Us From Gerrymandering? | Guest: Eric Boehm
Gerrymandering is a time-honored and artistic craft wherein politicians get to pick their voters instead of having an actual competitive election. Reason's Eric Boehm joins Heaton to discuss ways to neuter the skullduggery. (Possibly involving robots.)

Jan 15, 2019 • 38min
Ep. 37 | Please Topple Steve King | Guest: Chad Prather
Heaton tries to convince comedian Chad Prather to run against Representative Steve King in Iowa. King has been removed from committee assignments (and presumably GOP happy hours) after his latest dip into white nationalism.

Jan 14, 2019 • 51min
Ep. 36 | Reasons to Avoid Saying "Uppity" | Guest: Deanna Easley
Deanna Easley, host of the "Black in the Day" podcast, returns to talk about microaggressions, and also to tell Heaton specific words and phrases he should quit using.

Jan 11, 2019 • 50min
Ep. 35 | What Do Your Morals Taste Like? | Guest: Jonathan Haidt
Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist and the author of several books, including "The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion." He joins Heaton to talk about how progressives, conservatives, and libertarians have different "moral tastebuds," and about his concerns for the future of academia. Plus, Heaton takes a morality test and is revealed to be a deeply empathetic person who also has no gag reflex, tribal loyalty, or deference to authority.

Jan 10, 2019 • 40min
Ep. 34 | Hello Gridlock, meet Trench Warfare | Guest: Andrea Jones-Rooy
Is congressional gridlock related to trench warfare? Apparently. Andrea Jones-Rooy returns to discuss. Plus, Heaton invents a new chamber of Congress

Jan 9, 2019 • 44min
Ep. 33 | Dale Brown Doesn't Need a Gun | Guest: Commander Dale Brown
Commander Dale Brown is the founder and operations director of the Detroit Threat Management Center, a private security firm. He talks to Heaton about the difference between the police and private security, why he doesn't use guns at work, and common misperceptions about urban crime.


