The Soho Forum Debates

Reason presents a libertarian-themed debate series recorded monthly before a live audience in New York City. Moderated by former Barron’s Economics Editor Gene Epstein, the Soho Forum features Nobel prize winners, radical thinkers, and other public intellectuals facing off over the future of abortion, bitcoin, electric vehicles, government debt, illegal drugs, robotics, sex work, and other controversial topics.

Is Javier Milei Actually Improving Argentina?

Two Argentine pundits debate the success of Javier Milei.

11-22
01:41:48

Are American Living Standards In Decline?

David Leonhardt and John Early debate stagnation, inequality, and how people feel about the economy.

10-25
01:40:08

Are the Two Parties Any Different?

Two former Republican staffers, David Stockman and Stephen Moore, debate the state of the party.

09-20
01:24:14

Is Donald Trump the Best Choice?

Famed economist Arthur Laffer debates Libertarian Party presidential candidate Chase Oliver.

08-16
01:13:43

Did COVID Come From a Lab?

Author Matt Ridley debates virologist Stephen Goldstein on the origins of SARS-CoV-2.

07-19
01:33:13

What's the Best Argument for Libertarianism?

Dennis Pratt and Gene Epstein debate the efficacy of ethical and consequentialist arguments for libertarianism.

07-07
01:39:31

Debate: Austrian vs. Chicago Economics

Economists Gene Epstein and David Friedman debate the merits of the Austrian and Chicago schools of economics.

07-05
01:34:11

Glenn Greenwald and Alan Dershowitz Debate Bombing Iran

The Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Glenn Greenwald takes on famed lawyer and author Alan Dershowitz.

05-24
01:52:07

A Soho Forum Discussion of COVID with Tom Woods

In lieu of the planned debate with Brent Orrell, Gene Epstein and Tom Woods discuss the prudence of COVID-related restrictions.

04-26
01:26:23

Did Capitalism Fail During the Pandemic?

Columnist Joe Nocera debates Soho Forum Director Gene Epstein.

04-05
01:32:22

What's the Root Cause of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict?

Eli Lake of The Free Press debates author Jeremy Hammond at The Soho Forum.

03-01
01:28:38

Must Government Fund Science?

AEI's Tony Mills and British biochemist Terence Kealey debate whether science needs government funding.

02-02
01:29:40

Social Media Censorship and The First Amendment

Stanford's Jay Bhattacharya debates St. John University's Kate Klonick on the federal government's role in social media censorship.

12-22
01:31:15

Will AI Destroy Humanity?

Susan Schneider and Jobst Landgrebe debate the dangers of AI.

11-17
01:45:53

Will Electric Cars Disappoint Environmentalists?

Mark Mills and Rosario Fortugno debate the future of electric vehicles.

10-20
01:36:29

Would Anarcho-Capitalism Be a Disaster?

Yaron Brook and Bryan Caplan debate the merits of anarcho-capitalism.

09-22
01:26:05

Should Libertarians Support School Choice?

Corey DeAngelis of the American Federation for Children debates libertarian author Stephan Kinsella.

08-25
01:26:52

Should the U.S. Have Free Immigration?

The Cato Institute's Alex Nowrasteh and attorney Francis Menton debate immigration policy.

07-28
01:41:45

Is the Nonaggression Principle Incoherent?

Economists David Friedman and Gene Epstein debate how best to persuade people toward libertarianism.

06-30
01:35:13

Are Libertarians Greedy and Delusional?

Law professor Andrew Koppelman and Soho Forum Director Gene Epstein debate whether libertarianism has been corrupted.

05-26
01:43:15

BJ Murrey

very impressed with Kerri! what Walter didn't get was the fact that the hitman analogy before babies are born is same as parents changing their mind about having a baby - that is a hit job. when you have sex you voluntarily take on the responsibility of protecting the baby til emancipation.

08-05 Reply

William Beshlian

I did the research and made a choice and built my house in one of the best public school systems in Nebraska which is also recognized as a top public school system in the nation.

10-12 Reply

Andre Lamoureux

I really appreciate that the Soho Forum is still putting out debates and that Reason has made them available as podcasts. Catching up on some of the more recent debates I’ve missed!

08-23 Reply

Todd Hansen

SPOILER .... Update: Voting on this debate ended on April 28, 2020. David Henderson won by convincing 12.7 percent of the audience to change their minds. Justin Wolfers lost support by 4.76 percent.

05-08 Reply

William Beshlian

Lively debate. One of my favorites.

02-11 Reply

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