Bob Murphy Show

The podcast promoting free markets, free minds, and grateful souls.

Ep. 360 Why William Jennings Bryan Knew More Science Than Clarence Darrow

Bob explains his epiphany to resolve what Darrow had in mind during his famous cross-examination of William Jennings Bryan in the famous Scopes Trial. Note this is a follow-up to his prior episode on the trial.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:BMS ep 355, the analysis of the Scopes Monkey Trial.The complete transcript of the 1925 Scopes trial.The History Channel short on the trial.Excerpt from the Civic Biology textbook that Scopes used.Bryan’s final statement (that he didn’t get to deliver to the court).Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

11-19
30:58

Ep. 359 Crossover: Do Trump's Tariffs Make Economic Sense?

Adam Haman returns to ask Bob introductory but also deep questions about tariffs. What about national defense? What if they replace the income tax? You name it, they discuss it.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this episode.Bob's article on Vivek's defense of tariffs, and another article explaining comparative advantage.The Haman Nature page.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

11-14
01:01:49

Ep. 358 Crossover: Are We Living in a Simulation?

Adam Haman returns to complain about the Drake Equation as well as Nick Bostrom's argument that we are almost certainly living in a simulation. Bob provides amplification and devil's advocate feedback.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this episode.The Haman Nature page.Bob's July 2008 smarta$$ answer to Brad Sherman's question about oil prices. (Start video at 4:12 mark.)The BMS episode featuring his "red dot on the movie screen" argument.A recent InFi episode making the case against self-aware computers.A quick explainer on the Boltzmann Brain argument.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

11-07
01:07:57

Ep. 357 Keith Dixon Writes the Apostle Paul’s Journal

Keith, a fellow Hillsdale grad, joins Bob to discuss his new book, which is technically historical fiction but uses the New Testament accounts to construct Paul's journal.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.The website for Paul's Journal.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

11-05
45:04

Ep. 356 Crossover: Adam Haman on How Should Libertarians Think About Voting?

Adam Haman returns for another crossover, this time discussing Bob's decision to write in "Jesus of Nazareth" for the presidential election.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this episode.Bob's 2016 talk making the case against voting "strategically but immorally."Adam Haman substack and podcast.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

10-31
56:09

Ep. 355 What They Didn’t Tell You About the Scopes Monkey Trial

The 1925 Scopes Trial ostensibly featured the triumph of science over fundamentalist religion. Bob gives some surprising facts that may change your assessment, including long excerpts from Clarence Darrow's famous cross-examination of William Jennings Bryan.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The complete transcript of the 1925 Scopes trial.The History Channel short on the trial.Excerpt from the Civic Biology textbook that Scopes used.Was Jonah swallowed by a fish or a whale?Bryan's final statement (that he didn't get to deliver to the court).Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

10-29
02:03:14

Ep. 354 Keith Knight on FDR and Pearl Harbor

Keith Knight of the Libertarian Institute gives the uncomfortable facts about the US entry into World War 2.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Keith Knight's article on atomic bombs and Pearl Harbor.Keith's archive at the Libertarian Institute.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

10-23
01:04:38

Ep. 353 Crossover: Adam Haman on Elon Musk: Hero or Villain?

Adam rejoins Bob to discuss SpaceX's recent accomplishment, and how libertarians should assess Elon Musk.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Video on economic viability of Martian colony. Bill Burr on Buzz Aldrin. The movie Capricorn One.BMS episode with Owen Benjamin (questioning the moon landing).Adam Haman substack and podcast.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

10-17
01:02:37

Ep. 352 The Beauty and Importance of Comparative Advantage

Bob goes solo to explain Adam Smith's absolute advantage versus David Ricardo's comparative advantage. This important concept underpins civilization itself.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The infineo post on this numerical example.Bob’s book Lessons for the Young Economist has a discussion of comparative advantage (see chapters 8 and 19).Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

10-16
48:49

Ep. 351 Crossover: Adam Haman on Drug Legalization, Theory and History

Haman returns, this time to discuss a recent controversy over the libertarian case for drug legalization.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Haman's episode on Portland.Thornton on Prohibition, an NBER journal article, and Bob's book Lessons for the Young Economist.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

10-10
48:35

Ep. 350 Jason Fry Plans for Peace By Preparing for National Divorce

Jason Fry discusses his new book, making the case for a peaceful secession.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.The website for National Divorce: A Plan for Peace.Details for the 2024 ExPat Money Summit.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

10-07
55:27

Ep. 349 Susanne Gibbs Gives a Quick Start Guide for Homeschooling Parents

Susanne Gibbs joins Bob to discuss her new book.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Pre-order Susanne Gibbs' book, The Homeschooling Quick Start.Details for the 2024 ExPat Money Summit.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

10-06
44:06

Ep. 348 Crossover: Adam Haman Asks Bob Murphy All About Money

In another crossover episode with Adam Haman, Bob fields questions--both novice and expert level--on money, through the lens of the Austrian School. They cover the regression theorem, the status of Bitcoin, and the proposal for a trillion dollar platinum coin.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Murphy explanation of Mises' regression theorem.Murphy and Barta pamphlet on Bitcoin.Murphy article on Graeber's critique of Menger.Haman NatureDetails for the 2024 ExPat Money Summit.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

10-03
01:21:27

Ep. 347 Scott Horton on American Interference in the 1996 Russian Election

Teasing the release of his forthcoming book Provoked, Scott Horton returns to the show to talk about the disastrous role of the US in Russia's transition from communism to capitalism. He also discusses the open American interference in Yeltsin's 1996 reelection.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.The Libertarian Institute. Scott's archives.Scott's previous BMS appearance on Waco.Details for the 2024 ExPat Money Summit.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

09-30
01:11:59

Ep. 346 Crossover: Adam Haman and Bob Murphy Discuss the Provocative LPNH Strategy

Adam Haman is a professional poker player and amateur libertarian. He and Bob inaugurate a crossover series where they discuss issues relevant to an Austrian crowd. In this episode the topic is the FBI visit to Jeremy Kauffman's home.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.The video of the FBI encounter with Kauffman.Adam's post and Bob's episode on the topic.Haman NatureDetails for the 2024 ExPat Money Summit.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

09-26
01:09:57

Ep. 345 Setting the Record Straight on JD Vance Stories About Cats as Well as the CIA

In an unusual episode, Bob replays the actual footage of Trump talking about "very fine people" and JD Vance saying "we created stories" to show their progressive critics are simply lying. Then Bob reads from the Wikipedia entry on Allen Dulles to highlight the plausibility of "conspiracy theories" about JFK.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:Trump's "very fine people" remarks.The Dana Bash interview of JD Vance.The Wikipedia entry for Allen Dulles.Details for the 2024 ExPat Money Summit.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

09-26
41:40

Ep. 344 Bob Murphy Critiques Jeremy Kauffman's Encounter with the FBI

Bob quotes from Dave Smith saying Kauffman's viral encounter with two FBI agents was "flawless," and then proceeds to document Jeremy's flaws.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:Dave Smith's interview of Jeremy Kauffman.Michael Malice interviews Robby Starbuck.Details for the 2024 ExPat Money Summit.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

09-21
53:58

Ep. 343 Allie Clough as the Red Cross in the War Between the Sexes

Allie Clough is a frequent participant in Twitter's war between the sexes, though she usually acts to de-escalate and provide comfort to the wounded. After discussing such juicy issues, she also talks to Bob about free-market environmentalism.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Allie's Twitter.Details for the 2024 ExPat Money Summit.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

09-16
01:09:02

Ep. 342 Explaining Darryl Cooper's Churchill Claim to Tucker Carlson

Darryl Cooper is an amateur historian with a very popular podcast, "Martyr Made." He recently appeared on Tucker Carlson's show to promote his forthcoming series on WW2. During the conversation, Cooper argued Churchill was the "chief villain" of the war. Bob explains Cooper's perspective and defends him from claims of Holocaust denial.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The 3-minute clip of Cooper on Tucker.The full Cooper interview on Tucker Carlson.Dave Smith on the US empire's origin story.Cooper's tweet-thread on why he thinks Churchill was the chief villain.The Martyr Made podcast.Details for the 2024 ExPat Money Summit.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

09-10
01:05:32

Ep. 341 Vance Ginn on How to Constrain State Spending Growth

Texas-based economist Vance Ginn explains his proposals on constraining the growth in spending by state governments.Mentioned in the Episode and Other Links of Interest:The YouTube version of this interview.Vance Ginn's homepage.The Sustainable Budget project.Details for the 2024 ExPat Money Summit.Help support the Bob Murphy Show.

09-09
37:46

Andagger Herc

Best Bob Murphy episode EVER!!! Well done Mr. Murphy, the adjustment of his voice to long suffering in one hour, while he's laughing internally. Oooph. Love that Owen. Become bears is the medium

01-27 Reply

Nelsonomics Runs

Bob Your argumentation that you open with is completely wrong as is all your Covid arguments because they're based in little more than your personal, irrational Fear. You can claim all you want to be against government lockdowns and mask mandates but you and your irrational behavior and unreasoned fear are the basis for their existence. so long as you endorse their rational you endorse their existence. But to your poor understanding of the arguments, on the one hand the mask mandates are allegedly rationalized by the false beliefs of asymptomatic super spreaders, the very thing you also irrationally fear, and the idea that everybody or anybody has the virus and is highly contagious. This is why everyone "must wear masks." Neither of these have any basis in reality and in fact are as much proven wrong as is possible. Thus the idea that in a country wear they haven't had a new case in over 3 weeks yet the mask mandate is still in effect with extreme penalties is evidence that the mask

11-19 Reply

Nelsonomics Runs

Math IS Something as Oxford Mathematician John Lennox points out. It's socking the willful ignorance and cognitive disconnect shown when naturalists assume only the natural, material world exists and they claim to prove it with the use of immaterial, eternal things that do not exist in the material world like Reason, Ideas, and Logic... and of course "Natural Laws" Like Mathematics To provide a naturalistic reason for Something instead of nothing you have to actually start with nothing, as in nothing at all. That is no reason no logic no math, no natural laws, no intelligence, no such thing as so-called natural selection, no elements no... , nothing exists. Then start from there

11-07 Reply

Nelsonomics Runs

I think he actually sugar-coated it a bit but It's nice to see Bob finally awoke to the clear reality of what the SCAMdemic was all about- Ushering in the "Global Reset" and the NWO. The draconian lockdowns and absurd rules make it abundantly clear this was never about a virus. The mindless believers in the media propaganda living in terror were and still are being used

10-07 Reply

Keazar

Why are grown men, with all of the real shit going on, worrying about fantasy entertainment for children?

08-27 Reply

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