The Political Orphanage

The first Movie Club episode! Brian Brushwood and Heaton review "Vice," the Dick Cheney biopic. Brian makes the case that it's a great film, if understood as a ghost story told inside of an echo chamber.

Justin Young of "Politics Politics Politics" joins to discuss the government shutdown, how alarmed and/or irritated citizens should be, and what can be done to fix it. Plus a brand new show sponsor!

The show's principle sponsor funds an entire holiday special, in exchange for allowing its waitstaff to write the entire script.

Comedian Chad Prather and Heaton try to stay on topic about Facebook and shenanigans involving privacy and Russia, but mostly meander into talking about accents and identity politics.

There's a standard narrative that America has become hyper-polarized, and people only consume media they agree with. Dr. Morris Fiorina joins Heaton to explain why both assumptions are incorrect--parties are getting more homogenous, but voters themselves haven't significantly changed.

Top Ten finalist Vicki Barbolak joins Heaton to talk about starting comedy in her forties, America's Got Talent, and the in's and out's of trailer park humor.

The show's sponsor unveils new and practical gift ideas, plus a peak into Snuffy's yuletide charity. Then Reason's Christian Britschgi joins to discuss the Farm Bill boondoggle and how it really benefits landowners (and not farmers).

Brian Brushwood joins Heaton to discuss New York's minimum wage increase for Uber drivers, and to hate on civil asset forfeiture. Plus Heaton gives unsolicited advice to the new White House Chief of Staff.

Heaton's economics mentor Gene Epstein (moderator of the SOHO forum) joins to discuss how socialism can comfortably exist within a capitalist framework, and also to relentlessly yell at Heaton for his ongoing support of NASA.

Comedian and host of "Lost in America" podcast Turner Sparks returns to discuss who's heading to prison and who's not. Criminals include: Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen, sex offender billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, and a Chinese heiress who might be hostage for trade negotiations. Plus: Nick of Nick's Horseless Diner comes on with a horrifying story about a murderous horse.