The Independent with Scott Atlas

In this episode of The Independent with Scott Atlas, Scott speaks with Jacques Pitteloud, a veteran Swiss diplomat, intelligence expert, and foreign policy leader who currently serves as Switzerland’s Ambassador to Belgium and Head of Mission to NATO. Jacques explains how Switzerland has built one of the world's most stable and prosperous societies through decentralized governance, direct democracy, strong civic participation, and a culture of national responsibility.

In this episode of The Independent with Scott Atlas, Scott speaks with bestselling author and Senior Editor at The Federalist, Mollie Hemingway, about the lasting influence of Samuel Alito on the modern Supreme Court. The conversation explores Alito’s practical originalism, his commitment to constitutional limits, and how his background shaped his judicial philosophy. Hemingway explains why Alito has become one of the Court’s most consequential voices, the intense political pressure surrounding the Dobbs decision, and how his coalition-building approach differs from fellow originalists Scalia and Thomas while reshaping constitutional law and judicial restraint.

Scott welcomes Iranian-American historian, educator, and author Abbas Milani, who was imprisoned by the Shah of Iran in 1975. He is now a research fellow and co-director of the Iran Democracy Project at the Hoover Institution and the Hamid and Christina Madam Director of Iranian Studies at Stanford University. He was born in Iran, came to California when he was 16 years old, and was educated at UC Berkeley and got a PhD from University of Hawaii. He's published many books including The Myth of the Great Satan: A New Look at America's Relations with Iran and The Shah. They have a fascinating discussion on the state of affairs in Iran and the Middle East.

Scott welcomes Donald Boudreaux, Senior Fellow with the F.A. Hayek Program for Advanced Study in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. They have a conversation about free market economics, especially relating Hayek's fundamental points from almost a hundred years ago to what we see in America today and its relevance to the most important point of economic freedom - that it's the basis for all freedoms in America today.

Scott welcomes Chad Wolf, Executive Vice-President and Chair of Homeland Security and Immigration at the America First Policy Institute. He previously served as acting Secretary of Homeland Security during President Trump's first term. He has received numerous awards and accolades for his service to the nation, including the US Secretary of Transportation 911 Medal, the US Secretary of Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal, and the National Intelligence Distinguished Service Medal. They have a conversation about immigration, national security issues, and the work being done in the Trump administration to ensure safety and freedom in America today.