The Political Orphanage

Ever wonder why Canada didn’t become the 14th colony during the American War of Independence? It turns out, America invited Canada to join. Then, when they turned down the invitation, invaded. Then again in 1812. In this episode we return to States that Weren’t: Canada. Plus, how Nova Scotia and Newfoundland almost became states. www.ThePoliticalOrphanage.com

Transcribed - Published: 10 July 2025

America is littered with lots of almost-states, which very nearly joined the Union in their own right, but for some reason did not. In today’s episode we cover Vandalia, Transylvania, Westylvania, Franklin, and Nickajack. By investigating these almost-states, we delve into constitutional law on matters of succession, and tap into a centuries-old conflict between populist hillbillies and English lordlings. www.ThePoliticalOrphanage.com

Transcribed - Published: 2 July 2025

This week New York City Democrats held their primary for mayor, and nominated Zohran Kwame Mamdani. Mamdani is a Democratic Socialist who promises to implement free bussing, a $30 per hour minimum wage, universal childcare, and a government-run grocery store program. Hosts of the World's Smartest Podcast Network hosts, Turner Sparks and Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy join to discuss.

Transcribed - Published: 27 June 2025

Iran is accused by Israel of pursuing a nuclear weapons program, and President Trump is weighing US military intervention. In this episode we chart the history of nuclear non-proliferation, and assess Iran in light of it.

Transcribed - Published: 19 June 2025

A terrorist shot William McKinley at a World's Fair in Buffalo in 1901. In this episode, we go over the specter of anarchism in that era, why McKinley embodied the establishment, and how he died.

Transcribed - Published: 12 June 2025

Andrew Jackson was the first U. S. president who experienced an assassination attempt. It didn’t stick.  In today’s episode we learn about the most grizzled executive in American history from the vantage point of his last near-brush with death. 

Transcribed - Published: 4 June 2025

How does American housing stack up compared to other countries, specifically in terms of full-blown housing communism or free market Japanese housing Nirvana? In this episode we take a look at what makes housing cheap, what makes housing expensive, and lessons we can steal from foreigners. LINKS: Reason TV: "Heaton solves the Housing Crisis" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VmEOgC0CWM Alain Bertaud: Sim City Was Always Wrong https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/sim-city-was-always-wrong

Transcribed - Published: 28 May 2025

Conventional wisdom is brimming with economic myths: the Industrial Revolution impoverished the masses; bobber barons were the scourge of the Gilded Age; the Great Recession was caused by irresponsible deregulation. Senator Phil Gramm and economist Don Boudreaux attempt to set the record straight in their new book, “The Triumph of Economic Freedom: Debunking the Seven Great Myths of American Capitalism.”

Transcribed - Published: 22 May 2025

Donald Trump is threatening to levy tariffs on films shot elsewhere, and actor John Voight is petitioning the federal government for taxpayer subsidies to protect Hollywood from foreign competition. Screenwriter C. Robert Cargill joins to discuss.   https://www.scamstuff.com/products/brian-and-matt-june-2025  

Transcribed - Published: 15 May 2025

Rebecca Allensworth is the Associate Dean of Research at Vanderbilt Law, where she focuses on anti-trust and licensing. She is the author of "The Licensing Racket: How We Decide Who Is Allowed to Work, and Why It Goes Wrong."   She joins to discuss licensing, and alternatives.   Previous: Shoshanna Weissman on Grooming Licenses https://omny.fm/shows/something-s-off-with-andrew-heaton/ep-8-puppy-grooming-licenses-guest-shoshanna-weiss

Transcribed - Published: 7 May 2025

Marc Beckman is a Senior Fellow of Emerging Technology at NYU, adjunct professor Stern, and the author of "Some Future Day: how AI is going to Change Everything." He joins to discuss practical implications of the unfolding AI Revolution.

Transcribed - Published: 1 May 2025

Why do some people determine an action is racist, and others say nah? What are the mental protocols people use to exonerate or convict someone accused of beings sexist?  Jessi Streib is the author of "Is it Racist? Is it Sexist? Why Red and Blue White People Disagree, and How to Decide in the Gray Areas."

Transcribed - Published: 24 April 2025

Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson are the authors of “Abundance” a book about removing artificial scarcity and embracing a worldview that focuses on end goals, building, growth, and increasing the supply of everything we need and want. He joins to discuss the book, zoning, why America can’t have nice trains, and how we can better lean into federal research funding.

Transcribed - Published: 16 April 2025

Just what the hell is happening with tariffs? Are we entering a trade war? Are we negotiating? In today's show: A) An extended introduction about Napoleon III and Otto von Bismarck B) Austin Padgett, co-host of "History 102" on YouTube joins to discuss Trump's tariffs from the pro-Trump perspective C) Scott Lincicome of Cato takes a dim view of shenanigans

Transcribed - Published: 10 April 2025

Cory Doctorow is a journalist, activist, and science fiction author known for his work on digital rights, monopolies, and the future of technology. He joins to discuss non-compete clauses, IP law, Right of Repair, and copyright regimes. His most recent book is "Picks and Shovels,” available at www.mightyheaton.com/featured. 

Transcribed - Published: 2 April 2025

Sebastian Junger is a decorated war correspondent and author of books like “The Perfect Storm” and “Tribes: On Coming Home and Belonging.” Heaton was going to interview him about his last book, “Freedom,” but then Junger very nearly died, and they decided to talk about that instead. His most recent book is "In My Time of Dying: How I Came Face to Face with the Idea of an Afterlife" Prior interview on “Tribes” https://omny.fm/shows/something-s-off-with-andrew-heaton/ep-50-what-your-hunter-gatherer-genes-really-want?in_playlist=something-s-off-with-andrew-heaton!podcast

Transcribed - Published: 26 March 2025

Mahmoud Khalil has been detained, and will be potentially deported, by the Trump administration. Attorney Anna Gorisch joins to discuss the implications of this case, in terms of national security, immigration law, and the difference between protected and unprotected speech. Unabridged: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12QlJl8QgTKBffGXgtUjzMfLIrndTf3mW/view?usp=sharing

Transcribed - Published: 21 March 2025

Andrea Jones-Rooy is a data scientist and former DEI consultant. She joins to discuss what DEI is, what DEI is not, and where it goes wrong.

Transcribed - Published: 12 March 2025

What would happen if the Trump administration tried to abolish or defund the Department of Education? What does it do, and is it a net positive or net negative in terms of tax dollars and dispensing knowledge? 

Transcribed - Published: 6 March 2025

What is the government doing which is irritating, and what is irritating that the government can assist with? Topics covered today include: paper straws, low-flow toilets, pennies, nickels, mail, and quitting gym membership. Jeff Maurer, author of “I Might Be Wrong” on Substack joins to discuss.

Transcribed - Published: 27 February 2025

Jonathan Rauch asserts that as the American Church has become increasingly concerned with the culture war and politics, it has become secularized and unappealing to its members, who are abandoning it. The result is a country increasingly spiritually adrift, churches distracted from their core missions, and a nation turning to politics as a substitute.  He is the author of Cross Purposes: Christianity’s Broken Promise with Democracy  

Transcribed - Published: 19 February 2025

Who’s having sex, and how much of it are they having? Who’s getting married and who’s getting divorced? Does money, somehow, possibly, effect any of this?  Cathy Reisenwitz of “Sex & The State” joins to discuss.

Transcribed - Published: 12 February 2025

Trump erected, then delayed, tariffs on Canada and Mexico, but has levied tariffs on China–which is apt to escalate things shortly. What happens in a trade war and why are they bad? And what is happening now, specifically, in whatever’s going on with Canada? Heaton breaks down the macroeconomics, and James Thatcher explains the unfolding situation. Discord: www.mightyheaton.com/discord

Transcribed - Published: 6 February 2025

The Trump administration is reclassifying federal workers as Schedule F, making them easier to fire, and put a stop to remote work. In hopes of compelling federal employees to quit, and thereby shrink the government workforce. Heaton makes the case that if your goal is to shrink government, this is a counter productive way to do it.

Transcribed - Published: 30 January 2025

Kirsten Brink is pen pals with prisoners who have been sentenced to death in Texas, as well as other people currently incarcerated in our penitentiaries. She joins to discuss how she got into the program, what it’s like having friendships with people inside the klink, and how others can get involved and help. Write A Prisoner: https://writeaprisoner.com/ Wire of Hope: https://wireofhope.com/inmate-penpal-listings/ The Justice Network: https://www.thejusticenetwork.com/

Transcribed - Published: 24 January 2025

Laura and John Arnold are the founders and co-chairs of Arnold Ventures. Started in 2008, Arnold Ventures is a self-funded philanthropy hyper-focused on pinpointing the root causes of our country’s most pressing ills, whether that be disparities in health care and education, or dysfunction in our public finance systems. They advocate for evidence-based policy proposals that yield the kind of transformative change really only possible at the government level. They’re also signatories of the Giving Pledge.

Transcribed - Published: 23 January 2025

Pause for Paws is a charity in Tulsa, OK that fosters dogs on behalf of owners who need to seek help at a homeless shelter, rehab clinic, or mental health services. By giving people piece of mind with their pets during their absence, Pause for Paws takes care of two things–the pets in that moment, but also the people trying to get their affairs in order, to return to normal life. Evan Taylor and Cindy Webb join to discuss their organization. LINKS:  Pause for Paws: https://www.pause4pawsok.org/ Charity Week: www.mightyheaton.com/charity Episodes Pertaining to Homelessness:  “Homelessness, And Our Stupid Solutions” https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/homelessness-and-our-stupid-solutions “The Best Tiny House Village in America” https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-best-tiny-house-village-in-america/id1439837349?i=1000549032659  

Transcribed - Published: 22 January 2025

Morgan's Wonderland is an ultra-accessible amusement park in which all of the rides have been engineered so that no one is excluded, no one is ever sitting on the sidelines. If your child has special needs, is in a wheel chair, is Autistic, has hearing or vision loss, or some other issue--take them to Morgan's Wonderland. Gordon Hartman is Morgan's dad and the founder of Morgan's Wonderland. He joins to discuss. 

Transcribed - Published: 21 January 2025

Love Notes Chorus in Austin, Texas is a choir for people with Alzheimer's disease, dementia, or their caregivers.  Directors Edie Elkjer and Susie Higley join to discuss how music effects people with cognitive issues, and how their organization assists.  Links:  Love Notes Austin: www.lovenoteschorus.com The Giving Voice: www.givingvoice.com Charity Week: www.mightyheaton.com/charity  

Transcribed - Published: 20 January 2025

In an effort to challenge some of my priors, I bring Justin Robert Young to discuss stadium subsidies, and political action oriented around effectiveness and maximizing happiness, instead of focusing on what the government should or shouldn’t do. Tickets to We’re Not Wrong:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/were-not-wrong-inauguration-special-live-tickets-1135133608179?aff=oddtdtcreator  

Transcribed - Published: 15 January 2025

Russell Napier is the Keeper of the Library of Mistakes, in Edinburgh, Scotland. Napier has worked in the investment business for 30 years and has been advising global institutional investors on asset allocation since 1995. He also is the author of the book “Anatomy of The Bear: Lessons From Wall Street’s Four Great Bottoms” and he is founder and course director of The Practical History of Financial Markets course that is part of the Edinburgh Business School MBA.

Transcribed - Published: 8 January 2025

Turner Sparks and Phil Duckett are comedians who host the "Black and White Advice" podcast. They come on to crack jokes and talk about racial friction, and what to do about it. 

Transcribed - Published: 31 December 2024

Rebroadcast of the cult classic 1987 Christmas special of “Heaton and Monkey: Crimesolvers,” a groundbreaking police drama.  Cast: Andrew Heaton, Andrew Young, Josh Jennings, Brian Sack, Jack Helmuth, Justin Robert Young, Anna Gorisch, Hilary Mann, Austin Bragg, Brett Weaver, and Brian Brushwood. Previous Specials:  A Rugged Snuffy’s Christmas - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-rugged-snuffys-christmas/id1439837349?i=100063936198 Snuffy's Explosion-Proof Christmas - https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/snuffys-explosion-proof-christmas  A Rather Snuffy's Christmas - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-political-orphanage/id1439837349?i=1000545755269  A Grander Snuffy's Christmas - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/a-grander-snuffys-christmas/id1439837349?i=1000503286243 Another Snuffy's Christmas - https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/another-snuffys-christmas/id1439837349?i=1000460559897  A Very Snuffy's Christmas - https://politicalorphanage.libsyn.com/ep-30-a-very-snuffys-christmas-0

Transcribed - Published: 24 December 2024

Jeff Belanger is a journalist, historian, and paranormal investigator. He’s the author of “The Fright Before Christmas: Surviving Krampus and Other Yuletide Monsters, Witches, and Ghosts.” He joins to discuss the history of Christmas, and why we put trees in our living room to celebrate Jesus.  

Transcribed - Published: 17 December 2024

Crossover episode from my other podcast, Alienating the Audience: Brian Brushwood and I discuss the ethics of punishment and rehabilitation in "A Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess.

Transcribed - Published: 13 December 2024

Syrita Stieb was incarcerated between ages 19 and 29. Today she’s the executive director of Operation Restoration, an organization designed to eradicate the roadblocks people leaving incarceration face as they re-enter society. She joins to discuss how we can help or hinder people’s reintegration.

Transcribed - Published: 12 December 2024

Dr. Sarah Brosnan is a primatologist and Director of the Primate Cognition, Evolution and Behavior Program at Georgia State University. She joins to discuss what we can learn about human society by observing primate behavior.

Transcribed - Published: 5 December 2024

Musa al-Gharbi is the author of “We Have Never Been Woke: The Cultural Contradictions of a New Elite.” He join to discuss Elite Overproduction, and how it results in mass movements. Book at: www.mightyheaton.com/featured

Transcribed - Published: 27 November 2024

James Thatcher (a.k.a “Big Jim”) is a trade and logistics expert. He joins the program to discuss what the president can and cannot do when it comes to trade policy, and what we might reasonably expect to happen under the forthcoming Trump administration.

Transcribed - Published: 20 November 2024

Andrea Jones-Rooy voted for Kamala Harris. Josh Jennings voted for Donald Trump. We invite both onto our program to air out what they are afraid of, and what they’re worried or hopeful about over the next four years.

Transcribed - Published: 14 November 2024

A full-scale musical comedy about Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and the ill-fated 2024 election. Enjoy! If you'd like to follow along with the lyrics, go to www.mightyheaton.com/music

Transcribed - Published: 5 November 2024

A full-scale musical comedy about Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and the ill-fated 2024 election. Enjoy! If you'd like to follow along with the lyrics, go to www.mightyheaton.com/music Tips: Venmo: @mightyheaton Paypal: [email protected]

Transcribed - Published: 5 November 2024

So does America suck if your candidate loses? In this live episode of the show, we hear an uplifting Nazi story, what POW treatment says about American character, domestic terrorism, and why America is ultimately pretty awesome.  Musical guests: Toothy Gibbons; Mister Jenkins and the Hoofbeats ENJOY THE SHOW? BUY MY BOOK! "Tribalism is Dumb: Where It Came From, How it Got So Bad, and What to Do About It." https://www.amazon.com/Tribalism-Dumb-Where-Came-about/dp/B0DJKSZP6J

Transcribed - Published: 1 November 2024

Austin Petersen joins to make the case for why independents should cast their vote for Donald Trump.

Transcribed - Published: 23 October 2024

Jeremiah Johnson of the New Liberal Podcast and Jeff Maurer of I Might Be Wrong join the show to make the case for why independents should vote for Kamala Harris.

Transcribed - Published: 23 October 2024

The Green Party is America's fourth-largest party, and also has sufficient ballot access to have a legal path to an electoral victory. The party is a blend of environmentalism, socialism, and non-interventionist foreign policy. Jen Briney joins to discuss the latter.

Transcribed - Published: 17 October 2024

Cornel West is a philosopher, former professor, and civil rights activist, running for president as the People’s Party candidate.

Transcribed - Published: 16 October 2024

Chase Oliver is the Libertarian Party’s presidential candidate, and the standard bearer for America’s third largest political party. He joins to discuss his campaign, and make his pitch to independent voters.

Transcribed - Published: 15 October 2024

Why did politics become so nasty, so partisan, so... tribal? Well now. I wrote a book for you on this very subject: "Tribalism is Dumb: Where it Came From, How it Got So Bad, and What to Do About It."  It's out now! This episode features the first two chapters. Please grab a copy, and enjoy! www.mightyheaton.com/books  

Transcribed - Published: 10 October 2024

Jonathan Ainslie is a law lecturer at the University of Aberdeen, with a focus on Roman Law. He joins the show to discuss free speech rules in the United Kingdom, and the broader topic of what role the government ought to play in protecting you from yourself. 

Transcribed - Published: 3 October 2024