The Argument

For this month’s book club, Jerusalem Demsas and Matt Yglesias read Friedrich von Hayek’s “The Road to Serfdom,” the 1944 book that argued central planning inevitably leads to totalitarianism and became one of the most cited books in American and British politics. Jerusalem and Matt get into whether Hayek’s central thesis actually explains Nazi Germany, the similarities between socialism and fascism, and why authoritarian regimes are always run by scumbags instead of nice-guy technocrats.(00:00) Are we on the road to serfdom?(02:25) Hayek's real argument: central planning leads to dictatorship(05:26) Britain puts Hayek's theory to the test(08:20) What's the line between socialism and the welfare state?(14:49) Why this 80-year-old debate keeps coming back(20:45) The viral tweet about life before Uber(31:49) What does "economic freedom" actually mean?(48:22) Decentralizing power: philanthropy, federalism, and price controls(56:45) When regulation goes too far(01:15:28) Why the worst people always end up on topSupport the Show: Get a full transcript, show notes, and an ad-free version: TheArgumentMag.comNew episodes every Thursday — subscribe so you never miss a debate!The Argument is produced by Justin Zuckerman, fact-checked by Eli Richman, with music by Breakmaster Cylinder and art by Ben Tousley.

As the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks approaches, Jerusalem Demsas and Matt Yglesias look back at the day itself, the warning signs that preceded it, and the 25 years of politics that followed. They trace how the response reshaped foreign policy, launched the global War on Terror, and set the Republican Party on a path that eventually led to Donald Trump and the rise of MAGA. They also get into the intelligence failures before the hijackings, the Patriot Act, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and how the Republicans and Democrats have flipped on issues like security and surveillance. Plus a peer review on how private tutoring centers like Kumon affect student performance.(00:00) The difference between George W. Bush and Donald Trump(03:53) The World Trade Center bombing(07:02) Why the towers didn't collapse right away(11:58) The many red flags(15:55) Bush, Saddam, and the Gulf War(24:40) How today's GOP would have responded differently(29:05) The hate crime surge, and who it actually hit(33:06) Neocons, hawkish Democrats, and the case for war(45:55) Why right liberalism is in retreat(57:06) Somalia, Black Hawk Down, and intervention fatigue(01:09:04) Explaining 9/11 to people who don't remember it(01:13:07) If a Democrat was president on 9/11(01:22:52) Peer review: How much do private tutors really help?Support the Show: Get a full transcript, show notes, and an ad-free version: TheArgumentMag.comNew episodes every Thursday — subscribe so you never miss a debate!The Argument is produced by Justin Zuckerman, fact-checked by Eli Richman, with music by Breakmaster Cylinder and art by Ben Tousley.

Nate Silver thinks the center-left might be right about a lot of policy questions, but they're still losing the political argument. He joins Jerusalem Demsas, Matt Yglesias, and special guest Jeremiah Johnson (staff writer at The Argument and host of the New Liberal Podcast) to dive into his recent article, "12 questions for the center-left." They get into whether liberalism and centrism are actually the same thing, why liberals need to be more vocal about their accomplishments, and whether many "anti-establishment" politicians like AOC, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders are actually part of the establishment. Plus a peer review of a new paper on AI-assisted decision-making in child protective services and what it reveals about human and algorithmic bias.(00:00) Nate Silver's questions for the center-left(03:48) Vibe check for the center-left(07:44) Liberalism vs. centrism: not the same thing(09:48) Zohran Mamdani and sewer socialism(19:45) Answering Hasan Piker: do centrists believe in anything?(24:52) Why the Democratic establishment won't get overthrown(46:31) Why the center-left won't get angry(50:36) What happened to the center-right?(57:29) Is the DSA a threat to liberalism?(59:57) California, LA, and the failure of one-party rule(01:08:04) Peer review: Can AI make CPS decisions less biased?Support the Show: Get a full transcript, show notes, and an ad-free version: TheArgumentMag.comNew episodes every Thursday — subscribe so you never miss a debate!The Argument is produced by Justin Zuckerman, fact-checked by Eli Richman, with music by Breakmaster Cylinder and art by Ben Tousley.

Americans are spending more time alone than ever before. Derek Thompson, author of "The Anti-Social Century" and co-author of Abundance, joins Jerusalem Demsas and Matthew Yglesias to argue that this isn't loneliness in the traditional sense. This new brand of loneliness is a choice, and Derek fears it's spreading across the world. Jerusalem presses him on whether the data actually supports the trend, and Matt talks about how social technology has helped him stay connected to friends.Plus a peer review of a new paper on joint custody after divorce in Sweden, and why both hosts are skeptical of its headline finding.(00:00) Why Derek Thompson is obsessed with loneliness(05:33) Americans are choosing to be alone(12:33) The difference between being alone and being lonely(17:48) The studies that show forced socializing works(32:29) Are guilty pleasures a modern phenomenon(34:35) Why English-speaking countries are lonelier(43:10) Is American happiness actually declining?(47:01) Matt's case that phones make him less lonely(52:30) Social fitness: socializing as exercise(59:14) Weakness of the will and winter camping videos(01:02:02) Peer review: How joint custody affects parents and kidsSupport the Show: Get a full transcript, show notes, and an ad-free version: TheArgumentMag.com New episodes every Thursday—subscribe so you never miss a debate!The Argument is produced by Justin Zuckerman, fact-checked by Eli Richman, with music by Breakmaster Cylinder and art by Ben Tousley.

Who actually counts as an elite in America?The Argument ran its own poll on elite perception, and the results scramble a lot of conventional wisdom. Billionaires and celebrities are the only groups a majority of Americans call elite. College professors, journalists, and people with graduate degrees barely register. Jerusalem Demsas and Matthew Yglesias dig into what that means for the anti-elite politics of both parties, and why Matt thinks the poll is an overwhelming win for the Bernie Sanders crowd. Matt even takes the poll on elites himself to see where his views match up.Plus a peer review of a new paper on Ivy League admissions and elite networks.(00:00) The Argument's poll on who counts as elite(02:11) Celebrities, by definition, are elite(10:01) Poll results, Bernie Sanders, and Chris Rufo(21:26) Is the turn against feminism real?(34:45) Hollywood, Green Book, and cultural power(42:30) Career success vs. marriage and kids(53:17) Progressive incoherence on population and climate(01:00:23) Nobody thinks politicians are elite(01:02:23) Peer review: Ivy League admissions and elite networksSupport the Show: Get a full transcript, show notes, and an ad-free version: TheArgumentMag.com New episodes every Thursday—subscribe so you never miss a debate!The Argument is produced by Justin Zuckerman, fact-checked by Eli Richman, with music by Breakmaster Cylinder and art by Ben Tousley.