Dad Saves America

I sat down with legal expert Ilya Shapiro to learn more about today’s threats to the rule of law in America. He shares his perspective on why the Trump conviction sets a dangerous precedent that undermines our system of justice. Ilya offers a thorough explanation of why legal rulings from courts are often in tension with the political choices of voters. His upcoming book, "Lawless," outlines how our elite institutions have miseducated the de facto ruling class in America, producing “leaders” who are illiberal and ignorant, or even contemptuous, of our constitutional system. We discuss why colleges, universities, and law schools lost their way, his experience being canceled at Georgetown, and the values that form the foundation of our legal system.

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Follow Ilya on X (Twitter): https://x.com/ishapiro

Read Ilya’s work on Substack: https://ilyashapiro.substack.com/

Pre-order a copy of “Lawless”: https://a.co/d/96p6AkR

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Outline:

[0:00] The Trump conviction is a travesty of justice

[8:21] Our societal trust and understanding is broken

[13:23] Soviet-style “justice” or rule of law?

[20:29] Which questions should be left to voters?

[25:43] How Trump could appeal his conviction

[28:58] What is the “rule of law”?

[38:22] The U.S. is not a democracy

[45:08] American elites have been miseducated

[57:03] Bureaucracy and ideology are ruining education

[1:05:52] The “consumerization” of higher education

[1:11:16] The New Deal broke the Constitution

[1:16:36] The revolutionary politics of the Founding Fathers

[1:20:03] Originalism, the spirit of the law, and legal precedent

[1:29:33] Georgetown hired Ilya, then cancelled him

[1:40:20] Intent and impact in the law

[1:46:08] Antisemitism, free speech, and campus policies

[1:51:08] Why should we have hope for the future?

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/wO4A_7rVnqg

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Former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy sits down to discuss the importance of engaging with opposing views, the state of American political discourse, and the impact of identity politics. Growing up as the “odd man out” in most rooms he entered, he quickly learned the value of having your views challenged. Vivek shares stories from his upbringing, his perspective on how true diversity drives productive debate, and how his role as a father inspires his public life.

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Outline:

[0:00] Being the odd man out makes you more capable

[2:34] The state of American political discourse

[4:19] Why has victimhood culture overtaken patriotism?

[6:34] The collapse of debate and the top-down education model

[13:59] DEI sacrifices true diversity for the appearance of diversity

[16:13] Vigorous debate and cultural unity can coexist

[18:41] Why do presidential debates matter?

[21:56] The best debates are at the dinner table

[26:12] Free speech, fatherhood, and the American Dream

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZnKqHX53Mds

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Bill de Blasio served as the 109th Mayor of New York City from 2014 to 2021. He was raised with a deep pride in his Italian-American roots, with grandparents who immigrated from small towns in southern Italy. His parents were affected by McCarthyism, despite no ties to Communist organizations. Experiencing the fallout from those accusations deeply influenced his political outlook. In our conversation, Bill emphasizes his progressive approach to family values and his belief that government can protect and uplift working families. He also reflects on the importance of open dialogue and debate in democracy, stressing the need for understanding and addressing diverse perspectives.

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Outline:

[0:00] Who is Bill de Blasio?

[9:43] The Italian-American experience

[16:37] Family values, populism, and elitism

[23:41] Capitalism vs socialism

[30:52] Cuba, communism, and anti-colonialism

[42:51] Keeping kids in touch with their heritage

[47:14] Why he ended “stop-and-frisk”

[50:18] How debate can bring people together

[56:04] Cancel culture and free speech

[1:05:19] Race relations and reconciliation

[1:14:19] What happened to American pride?

[1:18:53] Being a dad is his greatest contribution

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BnA2b1LYi0o

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Political scientist, author, and Kentucky State University professor Wilfred Reilly has dedicated years of research to debunking popular, but false, narratives around race, culture, police, and American history. His upcoming book, “Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me,” tackles head-on the myths most commonly spread in American classrooms. As Wilfred has documented throughout his work, the underlying data and historical evidence rarely tell the same story as the dramatic retellings we hear today. However, while often less salacious than our modern mythology, the truth gives far more reason for optimism about the current state of America and our future.

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Follow Wilfred on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/wil_da_beast630

Pre-order a copy of “Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me”: https://www.amazon.com/Lies-My-Liberal-Teacher-Told-ebook/dp/B0BDZMZJ4C

Read Wilfred’s work in National Review: https://www.nationalreview.com/author/wilfred-reilly/

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Outline:

[0:00] Wilfred’s work at Kentucky State University

[2:32] The real impact of BLM on crime and policing

[11:44] Don’t start your reasoning from conclusions

[18:34] What the 1619 Project gets wrong

[28:01] “Lies My Liberal Teacher Told Me”

[32:34] How can we filter out the lies?

[39:41] Is crime getting worse?

[44:31] Why are racial beliefs so far off reality?

[52:16] Zero-sum thinking is primitive nonsense

[58:31] We’re great at finding things to criticize

[1:07:58] Teach your own family about reality

[1:14:54] How to avoid becoming reactionary

[1:24:55] Media twists good research into lies

[1:29:13] AI, truth, and the future of society

[1:39:05] Sensible 21st century immigration policy

[1:48:37] College, career, and purpose

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/e9NupFXqIlg

Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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What happens when ideology replaces critical thinking across academia? Philosopher, author, and former professor Peter Boghossian witnessed this firsthand at Portland State University, and his school was not an anomaly. Known for his role in the “Grievance Studies Affair”, exposing the low quality scholarship published in activist-oriented journals, Peter is worried about how this strange fringe of academia has come to dominate universities. He’s now working to revitalize and advocate for what should be the core of education - critical thinking, open debate, and the rigorous pursuit of truth.

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Follow Peter on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/peterboghossian

Peter on Substack: https://boghossian.substack.com/

Peter on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drpeterboghossian/featured

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Outline:

[0:00] Philosopher, author, and father

[2:06] How tenure corrupts academic journals

[13:50] Grievance studies and hoax papers

[21:18] Reasoning vs rationalizing

[29:56] Can ideology infect the hard sciences?

[36:50] What makes people vulnerable to dogma?

[46:33] Critical thinking isn’t allowed at school

[50:56] Debate is a corrective mechanism

[58:39] Why is debate under attack?

[1:10:41] How can we protect our civilization?

[1:18:50] Did the “New Atheists” create wokeism?

[1:28:54] Truth, faith, and morality

[1:42:32] What does a flourishing society look like

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/p9_zQUVbwn0

Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Russ Roberts, an American economist and author who now lives in Israel, reflects on the transformative impact of the 10/7 Hamas attack and how it’s reshaped his perspective on Israeli society. Since 10/7, Russ has been motivated to further his understanding of the wide range of opinions about Israel’s complex history with Palestinians, questions of national identity, and the broader geopolitical landscape. As the president of Shalem College in Jerusalem, he believes that open discourse is the heart of quality education and helps shape future leaders for a democratic society.

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Listen to EconTalk: https://www.econtalk.org/

Russ on Substack: https://listeningtothesirens.substack.com/

Russ on Twitter: https://twitter.com/EconTalker?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

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Outline:

[0:00] Why Russ is seeking out every perspective

[8:50] A brief history of Israel

[15:22] Who is a colonizer and who is indigenous?

[25:17] Is Palestinian autonomy legitimate?

[33:07] The Six-Day War and its aftermath

[39:40] What’s going on at American universities?

[51:51] What’s special about the Jews?

[57:53] The pros and cons of ethnic identity

[1:11:52] Cultures adapt to needs of the moment

[1:24:03] Why the liberal arts matter for society

[1:33:44] How young people can stay grounded

[1:38:20] Civil discourse is the way to discover truth

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://www.econtalk.org/

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Technology journalist and data privacy expert Naomi Brockwell explains the complexities of online privacy and the ever-expanding reach of both government and corporate surveillance. The “if you've got nothing to hide, you've got nothing to fear” mindset accepted by much of the American public is, best-case scenario, a sign a great privilege and comfort and, worst-case scenario, full-blown head-in-the-sand denial of reality. Almost every device, app, and wifi network you use sends out an unimaginable amount of data all the time. Data brokers sell your information to whoever is willing to pay, and you can be sure that governments are some of their most reliable customers. Naomi shares tons of practical strategies that almost anyone can implement to protect their privacy, money, and freedom while online.

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Check out Naomi’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@NaomiBrockwellTV

Naomi’s video on reverse firewalls: https://youtu.be/_0EiqiPuR4Q?si=s71q45bLXTiUj4co

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Outline:

[0:00] Is privacy possible anymore?

[3:55] History of American privacy rights

[13:39] The “I have nothing to hide” fallacy

[21:49] Google gives away your data for free

[29:45] Resist anti-privacy fear-mongering

[34:22] Not all VPNs are created equal

[39:59] How to make secure credit card payments

[45:18] Better options for search, email, and calendars

[58:19] Constant surveillance changes behavior

[1:01:20] Are free markets bad for privacy?

[1:06:40] Apple is better than Microsoft or Google

[1:13:35] There is no privacy in your car

[1:21:50] Everyone can see your wifi network

[1:26:08] How parents should think about social media

[1:34:38] Security through obscurity no longer works

[1:36:29] The AI revolution will democratize online privacy

[1:44:51] Why don’t most people care about privacy?

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ZwtaMwdl30c?si=3w2LuNfAI77UkLWH

Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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In part two of my conversation with evolutionary biologists Bret Weinstein & Heather Heying, we discuss what evolutionary biology can teach us about sex, gender, adulthood, and religion. With the recent explosion in transgender identification across American society, along with the censorious condemnation of any criticism within polite circles, we must reexamine the nature of human individuality and our fundamental understanding of male and female. Bret and Heather give a thorough explanation of why biological sex evolved in the first place and how it’s actually defined scientifically. We then zoom out to how this particular issue is just one facet of a broader cultural trend that’s undermining our ability to become true adults who are capable of leading productive, fulfilling, and moral lives.

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Watch the Darkhorse Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DarkHorsePod/featured

Purchase a copy of A Hunter-Gather’s Guide to the 21st Century: https://www.amazon.com/Hunter-Gatherers-Guide-21st-Century-Challenges/dp/0593086880

Read Heather’s newsletter on Substack: https://naturalselections.substack.com

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Outline:

[0:00] Why going outside really matters

[4:51] Gender is the software of sex

[13:55] Human flexibility vs inescapable biology

[22:58] Monogamy, birth control, and casual sex

[29:22] Transgender dogma undermines women’s liberation

[37:31] Valuable diversity and the scientific method

[44:42] The provisional role of scientific authority

[47:09] How media twists true data to spread false narratives

[52:39] What does it mean to be (and become) an adult?

[1:01:55] Kids destroy your life…and give you something better

[1:10:38] The purpose of traditional rites of passage

[1:18:00] Adapting religious orthodoxy to the 21st century

[1:24:23] Faith, Catholicism, and morality

[1:33:53] How do we justify human dignity?

[1:38:35] Be grateful for and protect what we have

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/v5d7eBoVnvU

Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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How could a 5th-grader end up being accused of accidental blackface? And how could the school recklessly throwing around that accusation refuse to apologize? Today’s guests are currently on a crusade to answer those questions. This incident touches on crucial issues our society currently faces, especially in our schools. When adults fail to be more mature and measured than the children in their care, inflating honest mistakes into serious accusations of bigotry, they elevate their sensitivities above those of the children and risk causing serious psychological harm. Furthermore, they model a censorious, chastising social dynamic as the ethical norm for those kids and further encourage the excesses of cancel culture, which already dominate our discourse.

Outline:

[0:00] Intro and disclaimer

[1:58] Background of school incident

[7:24] Teacher accuses her of racism

[16:44] School officials demand an apology

[22:50] Aftermath and reflection on the incident

[30:19] Her parents’ initial reactions

[41:58] Taking action against school misconduct

[46:20] Suspicious behavior by the teacher

[51:18] Why Jay ran for school board

[58:58] Past issues with the school

[1:04:34] Why bother making a big deal of this?

[1:12:15] The bureaucracy kicks into gear

[1:26:26] Schools need to be held accountable

[1:33:25] Choosing schools depends on the child

[1:40:55] Why take the story public?

[1:46:16] The needs of kids should come first

Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/u89XnoR74AQ

Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Have kids. Get married and have kids. Yes, in that order. But do it now, or at least sooner than you probably think you should, especially if you’re ambitious and on the move. Embrace the chaos. Embrace your nature. Embrace the future. Make it the rock-solid re-bar reinforced concrete foundation of your identity. You might just discover the biggest secret of our age: that having kids is the ultimate act of liberation.

Having kids is an act of rebellion against a culture consumed by corruption and contrived catastrophe. There are plenty of reasons to rebel against our culture, which has produced the highest levels of anxiety and depression we’ve ever seen. We’re wealthier than any people to ever walk this planet, yet we’re increasingly stuck in place, unsure what direction to walk.

Who can blame us? For decades, self-appointed gurus from the left and now increasingly the right have discovered they can build careers by convincing you to reject family, fatherhood, and the future itself. Some proclaim that humanity is a scourge on the planet. This message, couched in concerns about climate change, dominates our elite discourse. Meanwhile, influencers celebrate the single life as liberation from the patriarchy. If that laundry list of left-wing critiques isn’t enough for you, red-pill right-wingers are ready to say “hold my beer.”

If you’re among the millions of people nervous about our planet, our future, and hesitant to bring more people into it, I totally get it, but here’s my challenge to you: take a deep breath, keep an open mind, and stick around to the end of this episode. You’ll be happier for it.

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Outline: [0:00] Have kids now[6:18] The overpopulation myth[19:55] Climate alarmism is unscientific[35:16] The rise of anti-human religion[40:15] Embrace your creative nature

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8TXaVK5BwSQMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠