493 episodes

Politics minus bile plus jokes. Comedian and avowed independent Andrew Heaton interviews authors and thought leaders about policy and big thinky stuff.

The Political Orphanage World's Smartest Podcast Network

    • News
    • 4.9 • 901 Ratings

Politics minus bile plus jokes. Comedian and avowed independent Andrew Heaton interviews authors and thought leaders about policy and big thinky stuff.

    Cicero and the Founding Fathers

    Cicero and the Founding Fathers

    Jeffrey Rosen is a legal scholar and the President of the National Constitution Center. He’s the author “the Pursuit of Happiness: How Classical Writers on Virtue Inspired the Lives of the Founders and Defined America.”

    Book at www.mightyheaton.com/featured

    • 1 hr 8 min
    College Campuses Are So Very Very Passionate (WSPN)

    College Campuses Are So Very Very Passionate (WSPN)

    Protests over Israel and Hamas have become so heated at Columbia that it’s canceled in-person classes the rest of the semester.
    Anti-Israel protests are becoming not just a flashpoint in America’s culture war, but within Blue Team itself.
    What’s happening?
    The World’s Smartest Podcast Network assembles to discuss: Andrew Heaton, Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy, and Michael Ira Kaplan. 
    We’re Not Wrong Live Show: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/were-not-wrong-live-in-washington-dc-tickets-882962824577?aff=erelexpmlt
     

    • 1 hr 18 min
    Understanding Immigration Through Circus Folk

    Understanding Immigration Through Circus Folk

    James Judkins started out as a circus worker, eating swords and fire, then working up to ringleader and manager. As a talent scout operating in other countries, he became professionally involved in sorting visas foreign countries, then eventually transitioned to a full-time visa agency. He joins the show to discuss 1) what it’s like working at the circus, and 2) how temp visas work for seasonal workers, and how they could work better. 

    • 1 hr 5 min
    Was Life Easier in the Fifties?

    Was Life Easier in the Fifties?

    There’s a pervasive idea that in the 1950s America had single-earner families who could more easily afford housing, car payments, groceries and college, so maybe we should go back to the political economy of that era? In this special, we visit Fiftiesland and see how it stacks up to modern America.
    Support the show! Patreon.com/andrewheaton
    Venmo: @andrew-heaton-1
     

    • 2 hr 44 min
    What People Get Wrong About A. I.

    What People Get Wrong About A. I.

    Tom Merritt of Daily Tech News joins to discuss the underlying technology of AI and Large Language Models, and what people get wrong about both. 
    Pre-order Tom’s book at: www.tomsnewbook.com
    SUPPORT THE SHOW! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton 
    Heaton and Nick sketch comedy: mightyheaton.com/vagabonding
    Bonus Episode: How to Use AI for Work https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-how-to-use-98003840?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
    Bonus: A.I. Wrote and Recorded An En Entire Episode
    https://www.patreon.com/posts/bonus-i-wrote-77020469?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
     

    • 1 hr 24 min
    Why Violent Crime is Up

    Why Violent Crime is Up

    Jennifer Doleac is Executive Vice President of Criminal Justice at Arnold Ventures, a major funder of criminal justice research and reform in the United States. She joins to discuss trends in crime, causes and deterents of crime, and cheap or easy ways we can make the country safer. 

    Support the show! www.patreon.com/andrewheaton.

    • 1 hr 13 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
901 Ratings

901 Ratings

If gib ,

99% awesome podcast

Started following the show probably 6 months ago and have become a huge fan! Heaton routinely brings in diverse voices and construct hypotheses to take difficult problems. That being said, on the campus protest episode his guest Kaplan starting the discussion saying the protest was about dressing up as Hamas and supporting the Oct 7th massacre, which is disingenuous at best. There’s nothing wrong with letting someone voice that opinion on your podcast, but Heaton seemed to just go along with it in agreement. Might avoid these “round table” episodes in the future.

Jeffgoddard ,

If you are smart and still think farts are funny, this is your podcast.

Andrew is a master interviewer who is happy to listen to all sides of a topic. Funny, smart, and informative.

gameninja2589 ,

Interesting topics, thoughtful discussion, funny

Nice variety of topics with well reasoned and logical discussion of different viewpoints. Long format allows for nuanced and differing perspectives. Love the light, comedic style as well.

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