Reason Podcasts

The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie goes deep with the artists, entrepreneurs, and politicians who are making the 21st century more libertarian—or at least more interesting—by challenging old, worn-out ideas and orthodoxies. Today's guest is best known by his pro wrestling name: Kane. But Glenn Jacobs isn't just a member of the WWE Hall of Fame. Since 2018, he's served as the mayor of Knox County, Tennessee, where he has beat down tax increases and mask and vaccine mandates while pushing school choice and private sector solutions to social problems such as addiction. Jacobs tells Nick Gillespie how Ron Paul inspired him, why he believes President Donald Trump is disrupting the administrative state, and why live-and-let-live is the best life philosophy. How can we make The Reason Interview better? Take our listener survey for a chance to win a $300 gift card: http://reason.com/podsurvey 0:00—Intro 0:50—Paul's influence on Jacobs 3:52—The appeal of Ronald Reagan 6:26—Trump and the administrative state 9:45—Responsibilities as mayor of Knox County 11:45—Taxes and public services 18:32—Pushing back on COVID-19 mandates 25:35—LGBTQ issues 29:26—Vocational training 32:57—Libertarianism inside the GOP 34:38—Which pro wrestlers embody these politicians? 36:00—What's next for Jacobs? Subscribe at YouTube: http://youtube.com/reasontv Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Reason.Magazine Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/reason Visit the archive: https://reason.com/tags/reason-podcast

This week, editors Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch are joined by Reason reporter Eric Boehm to break down Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's signals of an upcoming interest rate cut and President Donald Trump's very public pressure campaign on the Fed. They discuss what a rate cut could mean for jobs, inflation, and investment, how tariffs are distorting basic economic signals, and why the Fed's growing politicization should worry anyone who values a functional economy. The conversation then turns to the administration's new trade deal with the European Union (E.U.), what it signals for tariffs, reciprocity, and the costs of everyday goods. They also field a question from a libertarian listener about former Rep. Rahm Emanuel's (D–Ill.) appeal as a presidential candidate before examining the FBI's raid on former National Security Adviser John Bolton's home, weighing whether it's a legitimate investigation into mishandled classified documents, or a case of political retribution. How can we make The Reason Roundtable better? Take our listener survey for a chance to win a $300 gift card: http://reason.com/podsurvey 0:00—The impact of the Fed rate cuts 12:21—E.U. trade deal, tariffs, and their revenue 21:04—Cracker Barrel and the state of conservative commentary 33:07—Listener question on a Rahm Emanuel for president 42:19—FBI raids the home of John Bolton 51:21—Trump's order on burning the U.S. flag 52:39—Weekly cultural recommendations Today's Sponsor: Therapy can feel like a big investment, but the state of your mind is just as important as your physical health. Let's talk numbers. Traditional in-person therapy can cost anywhere from $100 to $250 per session, which adds up fast, but with BetterHelp online therapy, you can save, on average, up to 50 percent per session. With BetterHelp, you pay a flat fee for weekly sessions, saving you big on cost and time. Therapy should feel accessible, not like a luxury. With online therapy, you get quality care at a price that makes sense and can help you with anything from anxiety to everyday stress. Your mental health is worth it—and now, it's within reach. With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 5 million people globally. It's convenient, too. You can join a session with the click of a button, helping you fit therapy into your busy life. As the largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp connects you with mental health professionals with a diverse variety of expertise—so you can find the right fit. Plus, switch therapists at any time. Your well-being is worth it. Visit betterhelp.com/roundtable today to get 10 percent off your first month. Subscribe at YouTube: http://youtube.com/reasontv Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Reason.Magazine Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/reason Visit the archive: https://reason.com/tags/reason-podcast

How bad is crime and disorder in Washington, D.C.? Just asking questions. Local crime became a national issue following the assault of Edward Coristine—a former staffer at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) who is also known as "Big Balls"—during an alleged carjacking. Trump reacted on Truth Social, saying, "Crime in Washington, D.C., is totally out of control" and promised to "exert my powers, and FEDERALIZE this City" following the assault. The capital is now occupied by members of the National Guard, and Trump has said that although they are starting with D.C., "this will go further" and named other cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and Baltimore. Some Democrats, like Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D–Md.), have said Trump is exaggerating. Megan McArdle, a D.C. resident and Washington Post columnist, says Democrats are wrong to downplay the city's crime problem and general public disorder. She thinks the failures of Democratic governance and the police pullback following the 2020 George Floyd protests have created an atmosphere of public support for Trump's actions, and she fears that the appetite for more federal intervention that pushes the limits of the Constitution will only grow stronger if politicians fail to confront these problems in their cities. It's a challenging conversation between three people who care about civil liberties and rule of law, as well as safety and the protection of property. We don't want to demonize police, nor do we want to let them abuse their power. We don't want criminals to wreck our cities, nor do we want to lock up delinquent teens—like the ones who allegedly assaulted Big Balls—and throw away the key. We don't want lawlessness, nor militarized police operating under permanent emergency powers. How to properly balance all of these concerns is, perhaps, the political question of our time. And we hope this discussion is a step toward providing some answers to it. 0:00—Introduction 1:31—Martial law in D.C. 01:52—The assault that sparked a national conversation 02:33—Crime trends in Washington, D.C. 06:50—The impact of crime on quality of life 10:04—Comparative crime rates: D.C. vs. other cities 13:56—The role of disorder in urban crime 17:41—The complexities of policing and community trust 22:00—Federal intervention in local policing 27:59—The challenges of D.C.'s criminal justice system 36:17—Gun ownership and legal barriers 40:10—The disconnect in gun legislation and crime rates 43:18—Federal law enforcement and military policing 47:05—The governance structure of D.C. and its implications 51:07—Public perception of crime and political responses 56:59—The need for a balanced approach to crime 01:11:18—Cognitive biases and self-reflection Mentioned in the podcast: Trump's post on Truth Social: "Crime in Washington, D.C., is totally out of control" "D.C. Has a Real Crime Problem. Federal Control Won't Solve It," by Meghan McArdle Violent crime in D.C. Hits 30 Year Low, by the U.S. Attorney's Office Department of Homeland Security memo, obtained by The New Republic The Injustice of Policing in America, by Christoper Lewis and Adaner Usmani "What everyone is getting wrong about crime in DC," by Charles Fain Lehman

Today's guest is Rep. Chip Roy (R–Texas), a fiscal hawk whose commitment to balancing the budget has led President Donald Trump to call for primary challenges against him. Nick Gillespie sits down with Roy to talk about why he ultimately voted for the president's budget-busting One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), whether the controversial redistricting plan going on in Texas is legit, the expansion of the federal government under both major parties, and where libertarians and conservatives can work together to reduce the size, scope, and spending of the state. 0:00—Intro 0:41—Why we must control government spending 4:20—The OBBBA and the national debt 6:30—Facing off with Trump 9:25—The Federal Reserve's existence and independence 11:00—Reforming the health care system 14:21—Victories from the OBBBA 19:16—The influence of Ron Paul 24:51—Immigration, labor, and assimilation 35:17—Is there a new GOP consensus on foreign policy? 41:50—Texas redistricting 44:28—Cultural identity of Texas Subscribe at YouTube: http://youtube.com/reasontv Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Reason.Magazine Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/reason Visit the archive: https://reason.com/tags/reason-podcast

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch dig into the Trump administration's increased meddling in the tech sector, from profit-sharing deals to a possible government stake in Intel. They discuss the recent spike in the consumer price index, the president's controversial pick to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and what the latest data signal for the economy. The conversation then shifts to Washington, D.C., where President Donald Trump has declared a state of emergency, put the local police under federal control, and deployed National Guard troops from multiple states as part of a sweeping crime crackdown. Despite over 1,700 officers and agents on the streets last week, the arrests were no higher than an average day, raising questions about whether the operation is more about politics than public safety. Later, the hosts turn to Trump's meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where threats of "severe consequences" gave way to softer rhetoric and even the adoption of some of Putin's language. A listener question lightens the mood by imagining the Roundtable as a band, with Peter on sousaphone. 0:00—Has Trump created a banana republic economy? 15:42—Consumer price index, jobs report, and the new BLS nominee 20:54—D.C. police department now under federal control 38:48—Listener question on a Roundtable musical group 45:14—Trump's meetings with Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy 55:34—Weekly cultural recommendations Today's Sponsor: Therapy can feel like a big investment, but the state of your mind is just as important as your physical health. Let's talk numbers. Traditional in-person therapy can cost anywhere from $100 to $250 per session, which adds up fast, but with BetterHelp online therapy, you can save, on average, up to 50 percent per session. With BetterHelp, you pay a flat fee for weekly sessions, saving you big on cost and time. Therapy should feel accessible, not like a luxury. With online therapy, you get quality care at a price that makes sense and can help you with anything from anxiety to everyday stress. Your mental health is worth it—and now, it's within reach. With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 5 million people globally. It's convenient, too. You can join a session with the click of a button, helping you fit therapy into your busy life. As the largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp connects you with mental health professionals with a diverse variety of expertise—so you can find the right fit. Plus, switch therapists at any time. Your well-being is worth it. Visit betterhelp.com/roundtable today to get 10 percent off your first month. Subscribe at YouTube: http://youtube.com/reasontv Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Reason.Magazine Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/reason Visit the archive: https://reason.com/tags/reason-podcast

Education writer and entrepreneur Deb Fillman joins Just Asking Questions to discuss the tenuous relationship between school and education. https://reason.com/podcast/2025/08/14/deb-fillman-why-do-we-send-kids-to-school/

In 2008, Rep. Ron Paul (R–Texas) ran for the Republican presidential nomination and did surprisingly well with a campaign focused on stopping the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, ending the Federal Reserve, and reducing the size and spending of the federal government. Two years later, the Tea Party movement burst onto the scene, bringing people like Paul's son Rand to the Senate and one of today's guests, Justin Amash, to the House of Representatives. In 2012, Ron Paul again ran for the GOP nod, finishing behind the eventual nominee Mitt Romney, and helping to usher in what The New York Times called "the libertarian moment." What happened to the Ron Paul Revolution and Tea Party's promise to shrink government, especially once Donald Trump and the MAGA movement emerged in 2015? Did the broad-based alliance that rose to cut spending and limit power transmogrify into one that prizes wielding the state instead of restraining it? Today's episode was recorded live on Saturday, August 9, at Ron Paul's 90th birthday BBQ in Lake Jackson, Texas. The guests are Amash and Fox News personality Kennedy. They talk with Nick Gillespie about how the MAGA movement grew out of the Ron Paul Revolution and the Tea Party and redirected the right's anti-establishment energy toward expanding government power rather than limiting it. They also discuss why Congress refuses to legislate, whether social media has expanded freedom or increased anxiety, and if Gen Z is libertarian or conformist. 0:00—Ron Paul's impact on the libertarian movement 6:33—The Tea Party wave 12:45—Did Trump end the libertarian moment? 18:41—Social media and bigger government 25:26—Optimism for young libertarians 33:42—Why has everything become political? 36:33—Will Amash run for office again? 44:38—Concerns for the next generation Subscribe at YouTube: http://youtube.com/reasontv Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Reason.Magazine Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/reason Visit the archive: https://reason.com/tags/reason-podcast

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Nick Gillespie are joined by special guest Reem Ibrahim, head of media for the Institute of Economic Affairs. They begin with Jim Acosta's AI-generated interview featuring a deceased child urging gun control, using it as a springboard to discuss nationwide declines in violent crime and the political tendency to focus on banning specific tools. The conversation then shifts to the White House's decision to deploy the National Guard to Washington, D.C., and the dangerous precedent this could set for using federal forces to address local crime. The panel then turns to President Donald Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss Ukraine, weighing whether it could lead to peace or embolden authoritarian demands, as well as the role of European nations. From there, they examine the decision by Texas Democrats to flee the state amid redistricting battles and the FBI's efforts to locate them. A listener question from the United Kingdom prompts a conversation about free speech restrictions and the growing use of psychological studies to justify censorship, leading into a discussion of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression's (FIRE) lawsuit against the Trump administration over immigrant First Amendment rights. 0:00—Media exploitation of children for gun control 11:02—National Guard deployed to D.C. amid falling crime rates 15:02—Trump meeting with Putin in Alaska 25:51—Texas Democrats flee state over GOP redistricting map 35:35—Listener question on free speech rights in the U.K. 47:00—FIRE lawsuit against Trump administration over protected speech 54:55—Weekly cultural recommendations Subscribe at YouTube: http://youtube.com/reasontv Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Reason.Magazine Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/reason Visit the archive: https://reason.com/tags/reason-podcast

Is Brooklyn-style socialism a "luxury belief"? Just asking questions.  Today's guest coined that memorable phrase, and we're eager to talk with him today about how it applies to the triumph of socialist Zohran Mamdani in the New York Democratic mayoral primary and to discuss the odd, enduring allure of socialism for America's most highly educated class despite a history of repeated bloody and catastrophic 20th century communist experiments. I also want to ask him if any of my political beliefs are a luxury for which others are bearing the cost.  Rob Henderson is the author of Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class, which is a must-read account of life on the bottom rungs of the social ladder in the late '90s and a frankly inspiring tale of his improbable ascent of that ladder. His Substack commenting on current events and culture through a social psych lens is Rob Henderson's Newsletter. He's also a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, and you can also often catch his work in City Journal, where he's a contributing editor. Chapters: 0:00—Introduction 3:02—Zoran Mamdani: The luxury belief politician? 6:01—Intra-elite conflict and class dynamics 8:58—Cultural expectations vs. economic realities 12:00—The role of marriage in economic success 15:12—Education, class, and economic outcomes 18:00—Expectations vs. reality in elite aspirations 20:47—Demystifying elite institutions and talent identification 29:17—The value of education and elite institutions 35:34—Ignorance of historical lessons on communism 40:28—The rise of socialism in modern politics 44:21—Normalization of radical rhetoric 48:15—Luxury beliefs and their societal impact 52:26—Drug decriminalization: a complex debate 59:21—The intersection of personal beliefs and public policy 01:04:53—Cultural shifts in family structures 01:11:41—The consequences of discarding traditional norms 01:20:24—Birth rates and societal concerns 01:24:50—Political polarization and relationship dynamics 01:27:50—Final question: questioning our beliefs Mentioned in the podcast: "When Progressive Ideals Become a Luxury," by Rob Henderson "Zohran Mamdani's Luxury Beliefs," by Rob Henderson "In Defense of 'Luxury Beliefs,'" by Katherine Mangu-Ward The Most Detailed Map of the N.Y.C. Mayoral Primary

What if one of the sharpest critics of centralized power, bureaucratic surveillance, and top-down social control wasn't a libertarian economist but a French postmodernist? And what if one of the economists most vilified by the left wasn't a cold-hearted market fundamentalist but a thinker obsessed with the limits of knowledge and the dangers of planning? Today's guest is King's College London political economist Mark Pennington, author of the new book Foucault and Liberal Political Economy: Power, Knowledge and Freedom. A self-declared postmodernist libertarian, Pennington explores the common ground between Michel Foucault and Friedrich Hayek. He talks with Nick Gillespie about how Foucault's critiques of expert rule, scientism, and the construction of subjectivity can bolster the classical liberal fight for freedom—and how Hayek's warnings about the pretense of knowledge might offer the left a way to resist domination without defaulting to centralized authority. If you're a libertarian who thinks Foucault is just woke nonsense—or a progressive who sees Hayek as a neoliberal villain—this conversation will blow your mind in the best way possible. 0:00 – Intro 1:20 – What is a postmodern Austrian political economist? 5:07 – Scientism and Hayek 10:45 – The limits of postmodernism 17:46 – The intersection of Foucault and Hayek 30:12 – Systems of control and surveillance 37:39 – Foucault's warnings on government authority 49:57 – Creating a postmodern liberal political economy 1:01:29 – Foucault and the Iranian Revolution 1:08:21 – Have we learned anything from Foucault and Hayek? Subscribe at YouTube: http://youtube.com/reasontv Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Reason.Magazine Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/reason Visit the archive: https://reason.com/tags/reason-podcast

This week, editors Peter Suderman and Matt Welch are joined by Reason reporter Eric Boehm and special guest Emily Jashinsky, host of After Party. They begin with the media's growing fixation on men and masculinity, from a wave of New York Times essays to broader questions about dating, education, and work. What does this coverage reveal about how the media sees men, and about younger male voters drifting from the Democratic Party? The panel then examines President Donald Trump's escalating tariff policy, its economic consequences, and how it fits into the administration's broader approach to trade and inflation. A listener question prompts a discussion of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's shift toward deregulation, and the growing calls to reverse course. The panel also looks at Trump's overseas business activity and the ethical questions it raises about the use of public office for personal gain. 0:00–How men are characterized in the media 13:00–The publishing industry's struggles with men 19:15–The tradeoffs of Trump's tariff policies 42:52–Listener question on NCAA deregulation 50:56–The ethics of personal profits as president 1:00:14–Weekly cultural recommendations Subscribe at YouTube: http://youtube.com/reasontv Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Reason.Magazine Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/reason Visit the archive: https://reason.com/tags/reason-podcast

The former CIA analyst and Cato scholar discusses Palantir, Trump's new national database, and the sordid history of federal law enforcement on Just Asking Questions. https://reason.com/podcast/2025/07/31/patrick-eddington-how-to-tyranny-proof-america/

Science journalist Gary Taubes discusses the MAHA Report, new dietary guidelines, and bad nutrition science on the latest episode of Just Asking Questions. https://reason.com/podcast/2025/07/24/gary-taubes-maha-ultra-processed-foods-and-bad-science/

Today's guest is Richard E. Farley, author of Drop Dead, a history of how the richest city in America got addicted to spending, saturated in debt, and crashed the municipal bond market—and then managed to get a federal bailout in the nick of time. In 1975, New York City almost went bankrupt. Farley argues that the same conditions are reemerging today: runaway budgets, gimmicky accounting, overpromised entitlements, and politicians more interested in ideology than arithmetic. He wrote all this before the rise of mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who promises to blow spending through the roof, enact new taxes, and create masses of new regulations. If you want to understand what it takes to bankrupt a city, listen up. New York might be sleepwalking into another fiscal disaster, and this time, there might not be a bailout waiting. Subscribe at YouTube: http://youtube.com/reasontv Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Reason.Magazine Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/reason Visit the archive: https://reason.com/tags/reason-podcast

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Matt Welch are joined by Reason Senior Editor Robby Soave to discuss the $1.5 billion renewal of South Park and why the show remains one of the most important libertarian pop culture creations of the past 30 years. They reflect on its enduring relevance, its crude but effective political metaphors, and its broad appeal across ideological lines. The panel also revisits the fall of Gawker and what it revealed about public trust in media, then turns to President Donald Trump's new AI executive order and the growing tendency to frame tech policy as part of the culture war. A listener question sparks discussion of Trump's deregulation record and how it connects to the One Big Beautiful Bill, followed by a look at the latest developments around a potential government shutdown. 00:59—South Park's renewal and the political implications 08:19—Late night TV, the Paramount merger, and cord cutting 17:20—The legacy of Gawker's collapse 28:15—Trump's anti-woke AI executive order 36:05—Listener question on Trump's deregulation track record 42:24—Are we heading toward another government shutdown? 50:52—Weekly cultural recommendations Today's Sponsor: If you're still tossing and turning all night and feeling edgy during the day, let me tell you about CBD from CB Distillery. Millions are turning to their CBD for relief because…IT WORKS! In fact, over 90 percent of customers report better sleep with CBD. And it's not just sleep. CB Distillery offers targeted formulations for just about everything—sleep, stress, mood, focus, pain after exercise—they even have CBD for pets! And it's all made with the highest-quality, clean ingredients. No fillers, just premium CBD. And with over 2 million satisfied customers and a 100 percent money-back guarantee, CB Distillery is the source to trust. If you're struggling with sleep, stress, or other health concerns and haven't found relief, make the change, like millions are, to CBD from CB Distillery. And for a limited time, you can save 25 percent off your entire purchase. Visit CB Distillery (cbdistillery.com) and use promo code REASON. Specific product availability depends on individual state regulations. Subscribe at YouTube: http://youtube.com/reasontv Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Reason.Magazine Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/reason Visit the archive: https://reason.com/tags/reason-podcast