The Political Orphanage

Republicans and Democrats don't just have different goals and platforms, they literally think and organize differently. Dr. Matt Grossmann joins Heaton to discuss his book, "Asymmetric Politics: Ideological Republicans and Group Interest Democrats."

Season 2, Ep 15

This month America's ridiculous trade policies are going to jack scotch prices up by 25%! Heaton calls in Reason's Eric Boehm and playwright/free market paladin Jeremey Kareken to sound the alarm over protectionism.

Season 2, Ep 14

Charles Cooke is the editor of National Review Online (Interview begins at 19:55), and an author, pundit, and frequent television guest on programs like "Real Time with Bill Maher" and "Kennedy" on Fox Business. He joins Heaton for a discussion about gun control and the Second Amendment, in a surprisingly wonky but cheerful episode involving heavy analysis of the blunderbuss.

Season 2, Ep 13

Comedians Turner Sparks and Brian Sack join Heaton to discuss:

• The Area 51 Raid
• The Climate Change Strike
• Justin Trudeau's makeup choice
• Donald Trump, Ukraine, and impeachment

Season 2, Ep 12

Comedian David Carl and playwright Jeremy Kareken join Heaton to discuss how vaping could save or kill America, the next step for John Bolton's mustache, and the post-debate shakedown in the Democratic primaries.

Season 2, Ep 11

While visiting Iceland for very legal, very unsuspicious reasons, Heaton interviews two prominent Icelandic comedians--Ari Eldjárn and Helgi Steinar--to learn about their country and their politics and also to launch his very own Icelandic political campaign.

Season 2, Ep 10

Burning Man is a giant, 80,000-person party in the desert, complete with a crazy amount of neon, bicycles, and narcotics. Grover Norquist is a powerful Republican, alternately famous or infamous for compelling GOP leaders to pledge never to increase spending, who attends Burning Man every year. He joins the podcast to talk about Burning Man, influential secret societies, his foray into standup comedy, and of course, taxes.

Season 2, Ep 9

Dave Barry (interview at 24:35) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist, the author of scads of books, fellow band member with Stephen King, and Heaton's personal comedy-writing hero. He comes on the podcast to talk about his meteoric presidential campaign, comedy, and politics.

Season 2, Ep 8

Justin Robert Young and Brian Brushwood join Heaton to discuss how and if Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren differ, if at all. Has anyone seen them at the same location at the same time? Are they possibly the same person? Who would win in a cage fight? Plus, if America doesn't buy Greenland, what should it buy?

Ep 7

Dominic Frisby is a comedian, musician, and author, and his show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival is "Libertarian Love Songs." He joins Heaton to discuss British politics, health care, guns, and the deeper motivations of Boris Johnson. He is extremely well dressed.