Spouting Off with Karen Kataline Borders, Western Memory, Medicine, and the Green Energy Fight in a Post–Alan Nathan Era Guests, Mark Krikorian, James Hankins, Dr. Toby Watson and Steve Goreham Carrying Forward the Alan Nathan Tradition In this episode of Spouting Off, host Karen Kataline continues what she describes as a new era for The Alan Nathan Show and the Alan Nathan All-Stars following Alan Nathan’s untimely passing. She explains that the show will continue in his memory and honor, with her likely continuing to host many Monday editions. The program includes a mix of political commentary, interviews, tribute references, sponsor segments, and closing reflections on the Main Street Radio Network’s transition after Alan Nathan’s death. Mark Krikorian on Immigration, Libertarianism, and Sanctuary Policies Karen’s first major guest is Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies. They discuss immigration policy, libertarian support for open immigration, and the conflict between open borders and a welfare state. Krikorian argues that libertarians once aligned more often with conservatives on taxes, regulation, and government size, but now often align with the left on issues of sovereignty, borders, and immigration. Karen presses the question of whether open immigration can coexist with government benefits and public services. Chicago, Illinois, and Immigration Enforcement The conversation then focuses on Chicago, Cook County, and Illinois as sanctuary jurisdictions. Krikorian says local law enforcement is prevented from cooperating with immigration enforcement, even when people arrested for local crimes are found to be deportable. He says ICE primarily wants local authorities to hold such individuals long enough for federal agents to take custody, but sanctuary policies interfere with that process. Karen and Krikorian also discuss Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, and conflicts involving ICE facilities and federal officers. Karen’s Commentary on Communism, Democracy, and the Mayoral Race After the first interview, Karen turns to commentary about an upcoming mayoral race and expresses concern about a candidate she describes as Marxist, communist, or democratic socialist. She argues that communist movements often misrepresent their intentions and that terms such as democracy, republic, socialism, and communism are being confused or misused. Her commentary frames the political moment as one in which the left has embraced ideas she sees as hostile to private property, constitutional government, and individual liberty. James Hankins and the Lost Western Tradition Karen then interviews James Hankins, Harvard University historian and co-author of The Golden Thread: A History of the Western Tradition. Hankins describes the book as an effort to recover the history of Western civilization from the ancient Greeks and Romans through the Middle Ages and into the modern world. He argues that Western civilization has not been adequately taught in schools or universities for decades and says that ignorance of history contributes to political confusion, especially around communism, democracy, and republican government. Harvard, Communism, and Historical Amnesia Karen asks Hankins about teaching at Harvard, which she criticizes as politically hostile to conservative viewpoints. Hankins responds that he does not believe the entire university is corrupt, but says some of the loudest voices tend to come from administrators and graduate students rather than the whole institution. The short interview emphasizes the importance of understanding the past, learning clear definitions, and recognizing that terms like democracy and republic carry meanings rooted in Western history. Dr. Toby Watson on Psychiatric Medication and Violence Another major guest is Dr. Toby Watson, a clinical psychologist from Wisconsin. He describes his background researching psychotropic medications, presenting data to the FDA, working on black-box warning labels for SSRIs, and consulting in forensic cases where medication may be connected to violent or self-destructive behavior. Karen asks whether antidepressants and psychiatric medications can fuel violence, and Watson says that SSRIs are known to increase suicidal thoughts and behavior in some patients, especially through a condition he identifies as akathisia, which involves intense restlessness, agitation, and emotional distress. Politics, Medication, and Social Contagion Karen asks whether the issue may involve more than money and whether political motives could be connected to the suppression of information about medication risks. Watson says he believes political factors are involved and connects the issue to broader claims about family breakdown, poverty, medication use among vulnerable populations, and disability outcomes. Karen also raises gender ideology, social contagion, and the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Watson says he does not have direct knowledge of that case but suggests the profile could fit someone who had used psychiatric medication, while making clear he cannot confirm it. Steve Goreham on Climate Policy and Rising Energy Costs The final interview features Steve Goreham, executive director of the Climate Science Coalition of America and author of Green Breakdown: The Coming Renewable Energy Failure. Karen asks him about rising electricity prices and green-energy mandates. Goreham argues that wind, solar, and other renewable-energy policies are driving costs higher, particularly in blue states. He contrasts states such as California, Maine, New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Connecticut with states that still rely more heavily on natural gas or coal, saying the latter have seen lower electricity-price increases. Green Energy, Pipelines, and the AI Power Demand Goreham also discusses the effects of federal policy, the “one big beautiful bill,” pipeline politics, and Donald Trump’s opposition to green-energy mandates. He says Trump is using leverage over offshore wind and pipeline approvals, particularly involving New York and New England energy access. The discussion then shifts to artificial intelligence and the rapid growth of data centers, which Goreham says require reliable twenty-four-hour power that cannot be supplied by wind and solar alone. He argues that the AI energy demand may overwhelm net-zero and green-energy policies. A Show in Transition Karen closes the program by emphasizing that the Alan Nathan All-Stars are entering a new chapter while keeping Alan Nathan as their guiding star. Across the episode, she uses interviews and commentary to connect immigration, political ideology, Western civilization, psychiatric medication, climate policy, energy costs, and media narratives. The program remains strongly opinion-driven, with Karen and her guests framing current events through themes of sovereignty, liberty, historical memory, institutional mistrust, and resistance to centralized control.
