The Reason Roundtable

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch are joined by Associate Editor Liz Wolfe to discuss California's proposed 5 percent wealth tax on billionaires, which a Hoover Institution study suggests could ultimately cost the state $39 billion in lost revenue. With wealthy residents already leaving California, the panel examines whether the measure will survive next week's vote, why Gov. Gavin Newsom opposes it, and how public sector unions have helped fuel the state's spending problems.

The panelists then look to France, where mounting unrest and economic stagnation raise questions about the long-term consequences of high taxes, expansive welfare programs, and pension obligations that increasingly burden younger generations. Next, they discuss Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado returning home after 10 months in exile. Then, with the midterm elections next week, the editors examine whether Trump's tariffs, war with Iran, and mounting allegations of corruption will deliver Democrats control of Congress. Finally, a listener asks whether today's democratic socialist movement will ultimately be remembered like the libertarian and Tea Party movements of the early 2010s.

0:00—California's wealth tax proposal

13:02—Will France protests influence America?

22:50—Corina Machado returns to Venezuela.

31:19—Listener question on the DSA

44:40—2026 Midterm elections preview

58:34—Weekly cultural recommendations

Reason Versus - Authoritarianism Is a Right-Wing Problem, November 10

"Will the Wealth Tax Fail?" by Liz Wolfe
"France Is a Warning to California's Tax-the-Rich Crowd," by Veronique de Rugy
"California's 'Wealth Tax' Could Cost the State $39 Billion," by Eric Boehm
"Report: California's Proposed 'Billionaire Tax' Is Based on Bad Research," by J.D. Tuccille
"A Wealth Tax Built on Billionaires Who Aren't Really Billionaires," by Veronique de Rugy

The post California's Wealth Tax Could Cost the State $39 Billion appeared first on Reason Magazine.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch discuss the riots engulfing France and whether the country's increasingly unsustainable welfare state has made it ungovernable. They examine competing claims that immigration and austerity are fueling the unrest, the political gains being made by the French right, and why even modest pension reforms provoke fierce resistance.

The conversation turns to the United States, where President Donald Trump's tariffs are losing support among blue-collar voters and Republicans are struggling in traditionally conservative areas like Ohio. The panelists then discuss the abrupt departure of White House press secretary Katie Zacharia after just five days on the job. Later, they examine Sen. Elizabeth Warren's (D–Mass.) opposition to a proposed $45 billion merger involving McCormick and Unilever. Finally, a listener asks why libertarians don't follow the Democratic Socialists of America's example by trying to reshape the Republican Party from within.

0:00—France's riots and the imploding welfare state

Reason Versus - Authoritarianism Is a Right-Wing Problem, November 10

"France Burns," by Liz Wolfe

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The post France's Welfare State Is Finally Imploding appeared first on Reason Magazine.

This week, editors Peter Suderman,  Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Nick Gillespie are joined by reporter Reem Ibrahim to discuss Vice President J.D. Vance's bizarre definition of socialism. They examine whether Vance genuinely believes what he's saying or is attempting to redefine socialism to avoid acknowledging the Trump administration's own big-government policies.

Next, the panel discusses America's growing $2 trillion deficit, the rising cost of Social Security and Medicare, and the generational divide between older Americans receiving government benefits and younger workers paying for them. The editors also examine youth protests in France, where students are demanding improvements to public schools despite the country's already extensive government spending. They then discuss allegations that U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle offered political access in exchange for help paying off personal credit card debt and what the controversy reveals about government corruption. Finally, a listener asks about Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's plan to publicly broadcast an execution and whether turning capital punishment into a spectacle could encourage extremism.

0:00—Vance rebrands socialism.

08:48—Largest budget deficit ever

25:50—Youth protests in France

38:15—Listener question on public executions

46:25—Guilfoyle's corruption scandal

56:20—Weekly cultural recommendations

The World Premiere of Escaping Venezuela, October 13

"J.D. Vance Accidentally Comes Out as a Socialist," by Billy Binion

"Trump Has Been Trampling Free Speech for More Than 40 Years—and It Keeps Getting Worse," by Jacob Sullum

"Protesters in France and Spain Are Angry at Government Failure—and Demanding More Government," by Reem Ibrahim

"The Great British Exodus: Taxes, Housing Costs, and Terrible Healthcare Are Driving Young Brits Away," by Reem Ibrahim

"The Federal Government Just Posted the Largest Annual Budget Deficit Since COVID," by Eric Boehm

"Livestreaming an Execution," by Liz Wolfe

"Kimberly Guilfoyle's Grift Is at Least as Offensive as Hunter Biden's," by Robby Soave

The post J.D. Vance Is Playing Dumb About Socialism appeared first on Reason Magazine.

For 10 years, The Reason Roundtable has been proving that the best political conversations aren't the ones where everyone agrees—they're the ones where smart people challenge each other, chase unexpected tangents, and somehow end up making more sense of the news than anyone else. Join Nick Gillespie, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Peter Suderman, and Matt Welch as they celebrate a decade of the podcast with a special live taping. It's your chance to watch the chemistry, the disagreements, the running jokes, and the occasional exasperated sigh happen in real time.

The post Live Reason Roundtable 10th Anniversary Show! appeared first on Reason Magazine.

On this special edition of The Reason Roundtable, Senior Editor Robby Soave is joined by Associate Editor Liz Wolfe, reporter Reem Ibrahim, and Senior Producer Zach Weissmueller to discuss the sexual assault allegations against seven Cornell University fraternity brothers. They examine conflicting accounts of what happened, the difference between reprehensible behavior and criminal conduct, and whether New York Attorney General Letitia James can oversee a fair investigation after Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed her to the case. They also consider Hochul's push to change New York's laws governing consent and voluntary intoxication, as well as the role social media has played in turning the case into a national spectacle.

Next, the panel discusses Tennessee's botched execution of Christa Pike and what it reveals about the practical and moral problems with the death penalty. Finally, they consider OpenAI CEO Sam Altman's argument that society should accept some negative consequences from artificial intelligence in exchange for its benefits.

0:00—The "Cornell Seven" investigation

29:21—Pike's botched execution

36:53—Altman's AI comments

53:29—Weekly cultural recommendations

The Reason Roundtable's 10th Anniversary—Live in NYC! October 7

The World Premiere of Escaping Venezuela, October 13

"The Cornell Rape Lawsuit Is Fueling a Deranged Social Media Mob," by Robby Soave

"Letitia James Has Already Suggested the Cornell 7 Are Guilty," by Robby Soave

"Would a Firing Squad Have Been More 'Humane' for Christa Pike?" by Billy Binion

"Trump Wants AI Companies To Police Themselves. His FTC Isn't Waiting," by Tosin Akintola

Cato Innovation Project: Design your own full-time, paid role at Cato. If we fund your idea, you spend two years executing it. Apply here: cato.org/reason

The post Are the Cornell 7 Being Tried on Social Media? appeared first on Reason Magazine.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch discuss Republicans turning against President Donald Trump's war in Iran as gas prices rise and the midterm elections approach. They examine how Trump, who once ran against Middle East wars, ended up in one himself and whether presidents of both parties are too tempted by their power to intervene abroad.

Next, the editors discuss the economic fallout from the war, rising mortgage rates, the growing cost of servicing the national debt, and how Trump's tariffs, immigration restrictions, and spending policies have contributed to the country's economic problems. The panelists also debate whether artificial intelligence could make government less important in people's lives and whether existing laws are sufficient to deal with the risks posed by rapidly developing AI. Finally, a listener asks the editors for their best elevator pitch for Reason.

0:00—Republicans turn on the Iran war.

20:20—Trump's impact on the economy

29:13—Listener question on the Reason elevator pitch

36:18—Will AI make government less important?

55:37—Weekly cultural recommendations

The Reason Roundtable's 10th Anniversary—Live in NYC! October 7

The World Premiere of Escaping Venezuela October 13

"Trump's 4-Week War With Iran Approaches Month 7," by Matthew Petti
"The Iraq War Cheerleaders Were Wrong. They're Wrong About Iran Too." by Matthew Petti
"The Senate's Failure To Rein in Trump on Iran Is Part of a Long History of Congress Abdicating Its War Powers," by Gene Healy
"Why Did Congress Vote To End the Iran War After It Finished?" by Matthew Petti
"The Fed Can't Fight Inflation Alone. Will Congress Do Its Part?" by Veronique de Rugy

Today's Sponsor:

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The post Trump's Iran War Is Losing With Everyone (Even Republicans) appeared first on Reason Magazine.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch are joined by senior editor Stephanie Slade to discuss President Donald Trump's decision to ban CNN, Politico, and MS NOW from the White House over coverage he dislikes. They examine the First Amendment implications of punishing news organizations for their reporting and Trump's broader record on free speech. They also examine the growing willingness of both parties to use government power against media they dislike.

Next, the editors discuss why parents continue to leave public schools and what a recent New York Times story reveals about the limits of trying to reform failing schools from within. Then, Slade discusses her new book, Fusionism: Liberty, Virtue, and the Future of the American Right, and how the conservative movement moved away from its traditional commitment to limited government, free markets, and individual liberty. Finally, a listener challenges the panel to explain how libertarians would confront a genuine existential threat from AI or another collective-action problem.

0:00—Trump bans media outlets from the White House.

17:29—New York Times story on the failure of public schools

38:39—Listener question on AI risk

50:56—Fusionism and the conservative movement

1:01:33—Weekly cultural recommendations

The Reason Roundtable's 10th Anniversary—Live in NYC! October 7

The World Premiere of Escaping Venezuela October 13

"Purposely Negative," by Liz Wolfe
"May Officials Exclude Journalists from Press Events Based on Disapproval of Journalists' Speech?" by Eugene Volokh
"Two D.C. Circuit Judges' Reservations About the Circuit's White House Press Pool / AP / 'Gulf of America' Decision," by Eugene Volokh
"Trump's Threats To Yank Broadcast Licenses Are Part of a Speech-Chilling Intimidation Campaign," by Jacob Sullum
"The FCC's Paramount/Skydance Decision Aims To Reshape Broadcast Journalism by Bureaucratic Fiat," by Jacob Sullum
"By Settling Trump's Laughable Lawsuit Against CBS, Paramount Strikes a Blow at Freedom of the Press," by Jacob Sullum
"Pentagon's Foolish Press Policy Might Encourage Tougher Journalism," by J.D. Tuccille
"The Pentagon's New Press Policy Is Absurd," by Robby Soave
"Why the Courts Will 86 the Flagrantly Unconstitutional Charges Against James Comey," by Jacob Sullum
"Trump Is Targeting Media and Chilling Free Speech," by Steven Greenhut

The post Does CNN Deserve To Be Banned From the White House? appeared first on Reason Magazine.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch discuss whether warnings from leading artificial intelligence companies that AI could pose an existential threat should be taken seriously. They debate calls to slow the development of frontier AI and question whether regulation would reduce genuine risks or simply protect today's dominant companies from competition.

The editors also discuss California's new restrictions on social media and AI and the potential consequences for privacy and free expression. They then turn to President Donald Trump's proposal to give $5,000 to every adult American if Republicans win the midterm elections. Would Trump's proposed "dividend" bear any resemblance to a tax cut? And what would a roughly $1.3 trillion payout mean for a country already $40 trillion in debt? A listener asks what the past decade of American politics says about the future of libertarianism, the Democratic Party, and a post-Trump Republican Party. Finally, the editors remember their friend and longtime Reason fan Andrew Wimsatt, who died last week. Matt reflects on Wimsatt's generosity and selflessness, as well as his years of support for Reason and its community.

0:00–Tech leaders call for a slowdown in frontier AI development.

The Reason Roundtable's 10th Anniversary—Live in NYC! October 7

The World Premiere of Escaping Venezuela October 13

"Anthropic CEO Calls for an AI Slowdown, Other Tech Leaders Cosign," by Liz Wolfe

The post Is AI Really an Existential Threat? appeared first on Reason Magazine.

This week, editors Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Nick Gillespie are joined by Senior Producer Zach Weissmueller to discuss why public schools have lost 1.4 million students since the pandemic even as their budgets have grown. They examine the rise of school choice, microschools, and other alternatives to traditional public education. They discuss why families are increasingly opting out and whether declining enrollment will finally force public schools to rethink how they operate.

The panel then discusses Vice President J.D. Vance's proposal to make federal childcare subsidies available to married couples with a stay-at-home parent. They also reflect on the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks and the ways the government's response permanently changed American life, from the formation of the Transportation Security Administration to warrantless surveillance and the growth of the national security state. Finally, a listener asks whether recent food safety scares can be blamed on cuts to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and how markets could keep food safe with a much smaller regulatory role.

0:00—School choice is winning.

25:12—Federal subsidies for stay-at-home parents

39:15—Listener question on the FDA and food safety

46:59—What has changed most since 9/11?

57:20—Weekly cultural recommendations

The Reason Roundtable's 10th Anniversary—Live in NYC! October 7

"We Have Already Passed Peak Public School," by Matt Welch

"American Public Schools Lost 1.4 Million Students Since COVID. Their Budgets Grew by 34% Anyway," by Tosin Akintola

"The Rise of Florida's 'Microschools,'" by Zach Weissmueller

"Why I Left California for Florida," by Zach Weissmueller

"Does School Choice Help Students Learn? All Signs Point To Yes," by Nick Gillespie

"The Decade of Decline in Seattle Public Schools," by Sandeep Kaushik

"Trump Officials Draft Plan to Pay At-Home Parents, Using Funds for Working Ones," by Coral Davenport

"Storks Don't Take Orders From the State," by Elizabeth Nolan Brown

"Make America Fertile Again: The Strange Bedfellows of the New Baby Boom Agenda," by Elizabeth Nolan Brown

"J.D. Vance and the Politics of Victimhood," by Stephanie Slade

"Study: Even Well-Intentioned Regulators Do More Harm Than Good," by J.D. Tuccille

The post Why Public Schools Lost 1.4 Million Students appeared first on Reason Magazine.

On this special edition of The Reason Roundtable, Senior Editor Robby Soave is joined by Associate Editor Liz Wolfe, reporter Reem Ibrahim, and Senior Producer Zach Weissmueller to discuss President Donald Trump's latest threat to use the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) against Meet the Press host Kristen Welker. They debate Trump's willingness to use government power against speech he dislikes, whether the FCC has become obsolete in the age of digital media, and what the president's attacks on the press say about the Republican Party's commitment to free speech.

The panel also discusses Trump's escalating war with Iran, Meta's $17 billion settlement over alleged harms to children and whether parents or the government should be responsible for limiting kids' social media use, and the deportation of Milo Yiannopoulos amid his feud with Laura Loomer.

0:00—Trump wants the FCC to punish Welker

13:58—U.S. and Iran trade strikes in the Strait of Hormuz

23:56—Meta settles lawsuit for $17 billion

45:15—Yiannopoulos gets deported

52:08—Weekly cultural recommendations

The Reason Roundtable's 10th Anniversary—Live in NYC! October 7

"Trump Declared NBC's Kristen Welker Will Be 'Reported To the FCC For Rebuke or Punishment'," by Liz Wolfe

"A Liberal Think Tank and an Air Force Major Are Trump's Latest Targets for Speech Policing," by Joe Lancaster

"What Craigslist and Backpage Can Tell Us About the Meta Settlement," by Elizabeth Nolan Brown

"Haidt's Moment," by Liz Wolfe

"9/11 Turbocharged America's Worst Foreign Policy Impulses—but Didn't Change Its Direction," by Emma Ashford

"Milo Yiannopoulos Wanted Millions Deported. He Didn't Mean Himself," by Billy Binion

The post Trump Wants the FCC To Punish His Enemies appeared first on Reason Magazine.