The Political Orphanage

Updated: 01 Oct 2025 • 585 episodes
www.mightyheaton.com

Politics minus bile plus jokes. Comedian and avowed independent Andrew Heaton interviews authors and thought leaders about policy and big thinky stuff.

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I think I probably drink too much, and I ought to curb that before I wrinkle prematurely. Fortunately, there is Katie Herzog. You may know her as the host of the Blocked & Reported podcast, but she is also the author of “Drink Yourself Sober: The Science-Based Method to Break Free from Alcohol.” LINKS: Addicted to Dopa

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Daryl Davis is an African American musician responsible for de-radicalizing over 200 Klansmen and Neo-Nazis in his attempts to understand racism. He joins Heaton to talk about his experience, contact science, and the best ways to overcome bigotry. This episode has been corrected for an audio error which previously occu

88 min
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Europe’s GDP and purchasing power lag behind that of the United States. Why?  Sam Bowman is the Editor of Works in Progress at Stripe, and the former Executive Director of the Adam Smith Institute. He recently wrote an article for Reason Magazine entitled "The Europoors Are Choosing to Have Less Then Americans. It Does

100 min
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Cass Sunstein 17 Sep 2025 • EN

Does Liberalism Eat Itself?

Liberalism was once thought to be triumphant and inevitable, but at the moment it’s losing ground across the globe. Cass Sunstein joins to discuss what liberalism is, why it’s good, and some of the in-family debates.    LINK: Cass Sunstein on Smarter Regulations https://www.thepoliticalorphanage.com/p/cass-sunstein-on-

64 min
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Well, how do we respond after assassinations and political tragedies? Let's talk about it. Ugh. Link: Assassins Part II: A Loser Kills Garfield https://www.patreon.com/posts/130642450

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If Iran’s Islamic Republic collapsed—or got pushed out—who would pick up the pieces? This week we look at the recent history of Iran, and the coup perpetrated by the CIA and MI6. To understand Iran’s broader political context, and the power players poised to seize leadership.   Linked Bonus Episode: McKinley Dies and t

88 min
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