How Vladimir Putin Thinks
How does Russian propaganda work now, compared to the Soviet era? What power structures have kept Putin in place for decades? And what does Putin think about democracy, subverting American media, and Trump? Michael Weiss is Director of Special Investigations at the Free Russia Foundation, a columnist for Foreign Policy, and editor-at-large at The Daily Beast. He joins Heaton to peer into the mind of the Russian state. Season 2, Ep 48
29 Apr 20201h 7min
Desperately Needed Optimism from Matt Ridley
Matt Ridley is a science writer, member of the House of Lords, and author of the amazing book, "The Rational Optimist: How Prosperity Evolves." He joins Heaton to talk about how, overall, life is dramatically and empirically better than the rest of recorded history--and why. Season 2, Ep 47
22 Apr 20201h 7min
Bernie Sanders is the Ron Paul of Socialism
Last week Bernie Sanders dropped out, ending the closest bid to an outright socialist presidency in American history. Brian Brushwood and Justin Robert Young join the program to talk about the impact of Sanders, student loan forgiveness, and Medicare for All. Season 2, Ep 46
16 Apr 202044min
What the Hell is Happening with the Economy?
Are we sliding into a Great Depression, or just a quarantine-induced slump? What did the stimulus bill do, how big was it, and might it capsize the national debt? Colin Mortimer, director of the Neoliberal Project at the Progressive Policy Institute and host of The Neoliberal Podcast, along with Ben Ritz, Director of the PPI Center for Funding America's Future, join Heaton to explain what's happening with the economy and what the federal government has been doing to help or hinder it. Season 2, Ep. 45
9 Apr 202059min
PSA: What To Expect the Next Two Weeks
I want to share a resource that will help frame what to expect in your state as April unfolds: Covid19.healthdata.org . This website will tell you when to expect peak hospital usage in your state, and also what to brace yourself for. But I'll also top of the episode with some of the best quarantine humor I've encountered on the internet. Season 2, Ep 44
2 Apr 202013min
Three Ways to Stop Corrupt Congressmen
Senator Richard Burr is catching fire (and possible prosecution) about selling $1.7 million of stock days before the market tumbled. How do members of Congress profit from insider information and power, and what can we do to stop them? Brian Sack and Jack Helmuth join Heaton to discuss. Season 2, Episode 43
1 Apr 202058min
What Your Life Costs, According to Uncle Sam (Bonus)
At the request of Patreon listeners, I'm releasing this bonus episode to the main feed--go to Patreon.com/andrewheaton if you want a weekly bonus episode like this on top of the main show! This week I explain why the government calculates a monetary price of what an individual American's life is worth, and why that's actually a useful tool for making cold, deliberative policy determinations. Which is unfortunately something we might have to do if confronted with the two bad options of "risk lives to pandemic" or "hurl the country into another Great Depression." If and when we get to that point, we'll need rational people operating the levers of power. Season 2, Ep 42
28 Mar 202031min
Politicians Make Poor Superheroes
Should people wielding the levers of power be pragmatists who get things done, or idealists with firm convictions and boundaries? Which political opinions attract the most elitists? Jeremy Kareken and Tom Brennan join the program for an astonishingly fun episode given how long we've all been in quarantine. Season 2, Ep 41
25 Mar 202044min
