490 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 • 897 Ratings

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

    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
    Just How Much Fraud is in Government?

    Just How Much Fraud is in Government?

    Adam Andrzejewski is CEO and Founder of Open The Books, an organization which files thousands of FOIA requests each year to document and expose government budgets and employee salaries, to identity waste and fraud.
    Website: https://www.openthebooks.com/

    • 1 hr 23 min
    Totalitarianism and the Gays

    Totalitarianism and the Gays

    Jonathan Rauch of the Brookings Institution joins to discuss the most openly totalitarian period of American history: the Lavender Scare. And to point out that there are still people alive who suffered through it, and what restitutions can be made.
     

    Article at The Atlantic: “The U.S. Should Apologize to Gay People.” https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/01/lavender-scare-gay-people-public-service-erasure/677236/

    • 54 min
    Trump, RICO Law, and Lawyer Sex

    Trump, RICO Law, and Lawyer Sex

    Donald Trump is being prosecuted under RICO law in Georgia, wherein District Attorney Fanni Willis has charged him and parts of his campaigns as criminal conspirators in a criminal enterprise.
    What is RICO law, and does Trump qualify for prosecution under it? Attorney Paul Townsend rejoins to discuss.
     

    • 1 hr 30 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
897 Ratings

897 Ratings

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.

Todd Liles ,

Funny, Educational, and Irreverent

This is fun worth having.

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