The Reason Roundtable

In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Peter Suderman gawk at the amusing circumstances surrounding the federal indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams, before discussing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's recent in-person visits with both presidential candidates.

02:25—New York City Mayor Eric Adams indicted in a federal corruption investigation

21:58—Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump

35:46—Weekly listener question

49:27—This week's cultural recommendations

Mentioned in this podcast:

"Turkish Delight" by Liz Wolfe

"Could Eric Adams' Corruption Charges Sink His Signature Zoning Reform?" by Christian Britschgi

"The "Migrant Crisis" is Caused by Flawed Work and Housing Policies, not Migrants" by Ilya Somin

"NYC Mayoral Frontrunner Eric Adams Talks Conspiratorial Nonsense About 'Voter Suppression,'" by Matt Welch

"Port Authoritarians" by Jim Epstein

"You take someone on heroin, put them in one room, and someone hooked on cheese, put 'em in another room, and you take it away, I challenge you to tell me the person who's hooked on heroin and who's hooked on cheese." New York City Mayor Eric Adams

"NYC paid millions for unnecessary migrant services, comptroller's report says" by Marcia Kramer

"'Vegan' Mayor Eric Adams Under Fire for Repeatedly Ordering Fish at NYC Restaurants" by Luke Fortney

"NYC Mayor Adams' Approval Hit Bottom Even Before Scandal" by Katarina Buchholz

"The War in Ukraine Is Already Over—Russia Just Doesn't Know it Yet" by Paul Schwennesen

"Ukraine Is Safer If It Stays Out of NATO" by Paul Schwennesen

"What If the U.S. Cuts Off Aid to Israel?" by Matt Welch

"Send in the Estonians?" by Liz Wolfe

"U.S. Defense Spending Continues To Spiral Out of Control" by Varad Raingoankar

"What if America Runs Out of Bombs?" by Matthew Petti

"After the War" by Matt Welch

"Rents Fall and Listings Increase After Javier Milei Ends Rent Control In Argentina" by Katarina Hall

"Helen Fisher on COVID's Sexless Summer" by Nick Gillespie

"Dr. Helen Fisher on How Brain Chemistry Determines Personality and Politics" by Ian Keyser

"Helen Fisher, Who Researched the Brain's Love Circuitry, Dies at 79" by Richard Sandomir

Upcoming Events:

Reason Speakeasy: Musa al-Gharbi October 24, 2024

Send your questions to [email protected]. Be sure to include your social media handle and the correct pronunciation of your name.

Today's sponsors:

• Qualia Senolytic: Have you heard about senolytics yet? It's a class of ingredients discovered less than 10 years ago, and it's being called the biggest discovery of our time for promoting healthy aging and enhancing your physical prime. Your goals in your career and beyond require productivity. But let's be honest: The aging process is not our friend when it comes to endless energy and productivity. As we age, everyone accumulates "senescent" cells in their body. Senescent cells cause symptoms of aging, such as aches and discomfort, slow workout recoveries, and sluggish mental and physical energy associated with that "middle age" feeling. Also known as "Zombie Cells," they are old and worn out and not serving a useful function for our health anymore, but they are taking up space and nutrients from our healthy cells. Much like pruning the yellowing and dead leaves off a plant, Qualia Senolytic removes those worn-out senescent cells to allow for the rest of your cells to thrive in the body. Take it just two days a month. The formula is non-GMO, vegan, and gluten-free, and the ingredients are meant to complement one another, factoring in the combined effect of all ingredients together. Resist aging at the cellular level and try Qualia Senolytic. Go to Qualialife.com/ROUNDTABLE for up to 50 percent off and use code ROUNDTABLE at checkout for an additional 15 percent off. For your convenience, Qualia Senolytic is also available at select GNC locations near you.
• In an election year, getting overwhelmed by the constant buzz of news and opinions is easy. Understanding the true impact of political events can be a challenge. Not Another Politics Podcast, from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, provides clear, research-driven perspectives on the biggest issues. Get the insights you need to truly understand the political landscape—no spin, just facts. Subscribe today at harris.uchicago.edu/napp or look for Not Another Politics Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Audio production by Ian Keyser

Assistant production by Hunt Beaty

Music: "Angeline," by The Brothers Steve

• Video Editor: Ian Keyser
• Producer: Hunt Beaty

The post Eric Adams and New York City's Corruption Problem appeared first on Reason.com.

Hey, Reason Roundtable listeners, we've got a special bonus episode for your Friday afternoon this week!

Why are prescription drugs so expensive in the United States?

"Drug prices in this country are so high because there is zero transparency in the system, and when there's zero transparency in a market, there is no way for it to be efficient," says Mark Cuban, the serial entrepreneur, investor on Shark Tank, and guest on the first episode of the second season of Why We Can't Have Nice Things. 

When a market is inefficient, adds Cuban, "people learn very quickly how to take advantage of those inefficiencies to their own profit, and that's exactly what's happened in the health care and pharmacy side."

Cuban is trying to do something about the lack of transparency in the prescription drug market. In 2022, he launched CostPlusDrugs.com, a website that offers low prices and direct shipping for hundreds of pharmaceuticals and generics. By showing their markup—a standard 15 percent on everything—and encouraging consumers to make their purchases without going through insurance plans, Cuban's project is attempting to inject a bit of capitalism into a health care market that sorely needs it.

It's the perfect story to kick off the new season of Why We Can't Have Nice Things, which focuses on how bad regulations and anticompetitive rules are making Americans poorer and sicker. Over the next six weeks, this limited-run Reason podcast series will dive into some of the acute problems with the American health care system, examining how poor policy making is keeping doctors from treating patients and blocking patients from getting needed treatment.

The lack of transparency in drug pricing is one of those problems. Price signals are essential to a functioning market—but the prescription drug market seems designed to hide those signals as much as possible.

The result is higher prices for everyone. For a lot of Americans, those prices are a source of economic hardship. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 21 percent of adults say they have not filled a prescription because of the cost. Meanwhile, about one in 10 adults say they have cut pills in half or skipped doses of medicine in the last year because of the cost.

Cuban's newest venture could be part of the solution. A Vanderbilt University Medical Center study published last year found that the federal government could save taxpayers up to $2.15 billion annually if insurers operating in the Medicare prescription drug plans purchased seven generic oncology drugs at the prices obtained by Cost Plus Drugs.

More transparent pricing would have a bigger impact if more Americans were in control of their own health care spending, argues Michael Cannon, the director of health policy for the Cato Institute.

"You can show them the prices, but they're not going to care unless it's their money on the line," Cannon says. Unfortunately, close to 90 percent of all health care spending in the United States comes from the government or from private insurance companies, leaving individuals with little influence.

"As a result, we get a health sector that doesn't serve the needs of consumers and patients," says Cannon. "We get a health sector that serves the needs of employers and of the government and whoever controls the government, which ends up being the health care industry."

Written by Eric Boehm; produced and edited by Hunt Beaty; fact-checking by Anthony Wallace.

• Producer: Hunt Beaty

The post Why We Can't Have Nice Things: Can Mark Cuban Make Prescriptions Affordable Again? appeared first on Reason.com.

In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Matt Welch, Nick Gillespie, Peter Suderman, and special guest Elizabeth Nolan Brown unpack the charges and implications of the federal sex trafficking case against Sean "Diddy" Combs.

01:45—Sean "Diddy" Combs faces federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges

17:13—CNN unearths North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson's lurid posts on a porn message board

29:49—Weekly listener question

38:09—Government shutdown looms yet again

41:12—Oprah Winfrey interviews Vice President Kamala Harris

56:12—This week's cultural recommendations

Mentioned in this podcast:

"Decoding the Sex Trafficking Case Against Sean 'Diddy' Combs" by Elizabeth Nolan Brown

"Remembering the Mann Act or, How Prostitution Killed the Constitution" by Nick Gillespie

"Sex Slaves and the Surveillance State" by Thaddeus Russell

"Congress 'Can Regulate Virtually Everything,'" by Jacob Sullum

"Backpage's Michael Lacey Gets 5-Year Sentence" by Liz Wolfe

"The War on Sex Trafficking Is the New War on Drugs" by Elizabeth Nolan Brown

"Kamala Harris Is a Cop Who Wants To Be President" by Elizabeth Nolan Brown

"'Yeah, I'm a "Perv" Too!'" by Eric Boehm

Mark Robinson: 'There is no separation of church and state.'

"The GOP's Long Love Affair with Schmucks" by Nick Gillespie

"The 2024 GOP Platform Barely Mentions Gun Rights" by Jacob Sullum

"Neither Harris Nor Her Party Perceives Any Constitutional Constraints on Gun Control" by Jacob Sullum

"Donald Trump Tax Plan and Ideas: Details and Analysis" by Tax Foundation

"Kamala Harris Tax Plan and Ideas: Details and Analysis" by Tax Foundation

"Flip-Flopping Toward Freedom?" by Elizabeth Nolan Brown

"Trump Dodged My Question About the Federal Debt" by Nick Gillespie

"Kamala Harris Is Not an Ideas Candidate" by Christian Britschgi

"Trump Dodged My Question about the Federal Debt" by Nick Gillespie

"Why Did Americans Stop Caring about the National Debt?" by Brian Riedl

"An Evening with Richard Dawkins: The Final Bow Tour"

"How the War of 1812 Eroded U.S. Liberalism" by Sheldon Richman

Upcoming Events:

• The Reason Roundtable live in NYC

• Reason live events! Go here to see what's coming up and go here to sign up for Reason's New York City Events newsletter.

Send your questions to [email protected]. Be sure to include your social media handle and the correct pronunciation of your name.

Today's sponsors:

• From Greek philosophers, who are the wellspring of democratic ideals, to America's founding fathers to contemporary critics who question everything: each is welcome at St. John's College—where students encounter Adam Smith and Karl Marx; St. Augustine and Friedrich Nietzsche; James Baldwin and Virginia Woolf. Here, there are no secondary sources, no experts, and no one telling you what to believe. Rather, there are original sources and a community devoted to collaborative inquiry, intellectual humility, and the discomfort that comes from diverse opinions. Explore 3,000 years of human thought on campuses in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Annapolis, Maryland. For Master's degree candidates, we also offer studies in the great texts of the East, in-person or online. Learn more at SJC.edu/reason.

• In an election year, getting overwhelmed by the constant buzz of news and opinions is easy. Understanding the true impact of political events can be a challenge. Not Another Politics Podcast, from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, provides clear, research-driven perspectives on the biggest issues. Get the insights you need to truly understand the political landscape—no spin, just facts. Subscribe today at harris.uchicago.edu/napp or look for Not Another Politics Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Audio production by Ian Keyser

Assistant production by Hunt Beaty

Music: "Angeline," by The Brothers Steve

• Video Editor: Ian Keyser
• Producer: Hunt Beaty

The post Get Your Gross Sex Out of My Sick Politics! appeared first on Reason.com.

In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Peter Suderman puzzle over the second assassination attempt of former President Donald Trump, and the recent nonsensical claims that Haitians are eating cats in Ohio.

03:15—Second assassination attempt on Trump

13:30—Claims of Haitians eating cats in Ohio

36:40—Weekly listener question

45:51—Last week's presidential debate between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris

52:15—This week's cultural recommendations

Mentioned in this podcast:

"Another Would-Be Assassin Targets Trump" by Robby Soave

"Prediction: 2024 Will See Deadly Political Violence in the Streets" by Matt Welch

"Trump Rambles About Immigrants Eating Pets, Forgets To Challenge Kamala Harris" by Joe Lancaster

"J.D. Vance Says It Does Not Matter Whether 'Rumors' of Pet-Eating Migrants Are True" by Jacob Sullum

"The Trump-Harris Debate Featured Two Incumbents Afraid To Discuss Their Own Records" by Eric Boehm

"At the Presidential Debate, Trump Again Falsely Claimed Crime Is Rising" by C.J. Ciaramella

"Trump Takes the Bait" by Christian Britschgi

"ABC's Moderators Failed to Fact-Check Kamala Harris" by Robby Soave

"Presidential Blowup" by Nick Gillespie

"Death of the Duopoly" by Matt Welch and Nick Gillespie

"Has the GOP Lost Its Mind Over Donald Trump and Election Fraud?" by Nick Gillespie

"When Biden's 'Bubble Wrap' Burst" by Matt Welch

"Trump Threatens ABC's Broadcast License After Rocky Debate Performance" by Emma Camp

'As Libertarians, we condemn the use of force…' by Chase Oliver

"Why Thousands of Haitians Have Settled in Springfield, Ohio" by Miriam Jordan

"How an Ohio Town Landed in the Middle of the Immigration Debate" by Miriam Jordan

"Remy: Trump vs. Harris Debate Song (I Don't Care Parody)" by Remy

"First Private Spacewalk" by Peter Suderman

Upcoming Events:

Nick Gillespie Interviews Richard Dawkins, September 20, Milwaukee

Send your questions to [email protected]. Be sure to include your social media handle and the correct pronunciation of your name.

Today's sponsors:

• In an election year, getting overwhelmed by the constant buzz of news and opinions is easy. Understanding the true impact of political events can be a challenge. Not Another Politics Podcast, from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, provides clear, research-driven perspectives on the biggest issues. Get the insights you need to truly understand the political landscape—no spin, just facts. Subscribe today at harris.uchicago.edu/napp or look for Not Another Politics Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.
• ZBiotics. ZBiotics Pre-Alcohol Probiotic Drink is the world's first genetically engineered probiotic. It was invented by Ph.D. scientists to tackle rough mornings after drinking. Make ZBiotics your first drink of the night, drink responsibly, and you'll feel your best tomorrow. Go to zbiotics.com/ROUNDTABLE to get 15 percent off your first order when you use ROUNDTABLE at checkout. ZBiotics is backed with a 100 percent money-back guarantee so if you're unsatisfied for any reason, they'll refund your money, no questions asked.

Audio production by Ian Keyser

Assistant production by Hunt Beaty

Music: "Angeline," by The Brothers Steve

• Video Editor: Ian Keyser
• Producer: Hunt Beaty

The post Why Do They Keep Shooting at Donald Trump? appeared first on Reason.com.

In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Peter Suderman discuss the Justice Department's press release on Russian "government-directed foreign malign influence campaigns" and reveal which questions they would ask Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in tomorrow's presidential debate.

02:34—Russian "government-directed foreign malign influence campaigns"

22:19—What would the editors ask candidates at the presidential debate?

40:06—Weekly Listener Question

45:58—Hunter Biden pleads guilty

48:10—This week's cultural recommendations

Send your questions to [email protected]. Be sure to include your social media handle and the correct pronunciation of your name.

Mentioned in this podcast:

"Russian Influence Operation Allegedly Funded American Media Stars," by Liz Wolfe

"Why You Shouldn't Fret Much Over Russian Election Interference," by J.D. Tuccille

"From Nazi Propaganda to the Pee Dossier, FARA Targets Alien Influence on U.S. Politics," by Elizabeth Nolan Brown

"Study: Russian Twitter Trolls Did Not Throw the 2016 Election to Trump," by Robby Soave

"Hillary Clinton, Not Donald Trump or Cambridge Analytica, Is Gaslighting America," by Nick Gillespie

"Leave U.S. Steel Alone," by Eric Boehm

"Why Trump's Child Care Policy Incoherence Matters," by Eric Boehm

"In Defense of Roe," by Nick Gillespie

"Kamala Harris Can't Stick to Her Story," by Liz Wolfe

"Trump and Harris' Economic Plans Are Depressingly Similar," by Veronique de Rugy

"Kamala Harris' Affordability Agenda Is a Good Idea Backed by Terrible Policies," by Peter Suderman

"Kamala Harris' 'Price Gouging' Ban: A New Idea That Has Failed for Thousands of Years," by Jacob Sullum

"Americans' Support for Tariffs Plummets When They See Prices Rise," by Veronique de Rugy

"Trade, Public Opinion, and Political Ignorance," by Ilya Somin

"Eric Boehm: How Protectionist Trade Policies Screw Us All," by Nick Gillespie

"The Free Trade Dream of the '90s Is Dead," by Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Peter Suderman, and Nick Gillespie

"Survey: 63 Percent of Americans Support Free Trade. Why Don't Our Politicians?" by Joe Lancaster

"'Too Much Law' Gives Prosecutors Enormous Power To Ruin People's Lives," by Jacob Sullum

"Andy Warhol—From A to B and Back Again," by Nick Gillespie

Upcoming Events:

• "Is the American Dream Alive?" A Free Press debate featuring Reason Editor in Chief Katherine Mangu-Ward on Tuesday, September 10
• "Reason Speakeasy: Kat Timpf & Nick Gillespie" on Wednesday, September 11 in New York City

Today's sponsors:

• Qualia Senolytic: Have you heard about senolytics yet? It's a class of ingredients discovered less than 10 years ago, and it's being called the biggest discovery of our time for promoting healthy aging and enhancing your physical prime. Your goals in your career and beyond require productivity. But let's be honest: The aging process is not our friend when it comes to endless energy and productivity. As we age, everyone accumulates "senescent" cells in their body. Senescent cells cause symptoms of aging, such as aches and discomfort, slow workout recoveries, and sluggish mental and physical energy associated with that "middle age" feeling. Also known as "Zombie Cells," they are old and worn out and not serving a useful function for our health anymore, but they are taking up space and nutrients from our healthy cells. Much like pruning the yellowing and dead leaves off a plant, Qualia Senolytic removes those worn-out senescent cells to allow for the rest of your cells to thrive in the body. Take it just two days a month. The formula is non-GMO, vegan, and gluten-free, and the ingredients are meant to complement one another, factoring in the combined effect of all ingredients together. Resist aging at the cellular level and try Qualia Senolytic. Go to Qualialife.com/ROUNDTABLE for up to 50 percent off and use code ROUNDTABLE at checkout for an additional 15 percent off. For your convenience, Qualia Senolytic is also available at select GNC locations near you.
• In an election year, getting overwhelmed by the constant buzz of news and opinions is easy. Understanding the true impact of political events can be a challenge. Not Another Politics Podcast, from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, provides clear, research-driven perspectives on the biggest issues. Get the insights you need to truly understand the political landscape—no spin, just facts. Subscribe today at harris.uchicago.edu/napp or look for Not Another Politics Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Audio production by Ian Keyser; assistant production by Hunt Beaty.

Music: "Angeline," by The Brothers Steve

• Video Editor: Ian Keyser
• Producer: Hunt Beaty

The post What Libertarians Would Ask Trump and Harris at the Debate appeared first on Reason.com.

In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Nick Gillespie welcome special guest Charles C.W. Cooke to the show. The group discusses the six Israeli hostages, including American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who were found murdered in Gaza over the weekend, before dissecting Kamala Harris' first major interview since entering the presidential race and Donald Trump's recent thoughts on abortion laws.

02:39—Six Israeli hostages found murdered by Hamas

20:25—Kamala Harris sits down for her first major interview with CNN's Dana Bash.

34:25—Weekly Listener Question

43:34—Donald Trump on in vitro fertilization and abortion laws

54:09—This week's cultural recommendations

Mentioned in this podcast:

"What If the U.S. Cuts Off Aid to Israel?" by Matt Welch

"Biden vs. Netanyahu," by Liz Wolfe

"Another Hostage Crisis Bedevils an American President," by Matt Welch

"End U.S. Aid to Israel," by Jacob Siegel and Liel Leibovitz

"Hamas, Israel, and what it means for the U.S.," by Nick Gillespie

"It's Been Easy To Forget How Bad Kamala Harris Is," by Elizabeth Nolan Brown

"Seven Questions That Should Be Easy for Harris to Answer," by Conor Friedersdorf

"When Biden's 'Bubble Wrap' Burst," by Matt Welch

"In Defense of Roe," by Nick Gillespie

"Breeder Reactionaries," by Wendy McElroy

"Myth Alaska," by Nick Gillespie

"Pity National Review & Conservatives, For Donald Trump Has 'Stolen' Their Issues," by Nick Gillespie

"Backpage's Michael Lacey Gets 5-Year Sentence," by Liz Wolfe

"More Babies!" by Liz Wolfe

"The Eternal Recurrence of Bush Conservatism," by Matt Welch

"Sandra Newman: Reimagining 1984 from Julia's Perspective," by Nick Gillespie

"Mark Twain vs. Tom Sawyer," by Nick Gillespie

"Charles C.W. Cooke on Brexit, #NeverTrump, and the Future of National Review," by Nick Gillespie

"Conservatarians Rising?" by Nick Gillespie

Upcoming Events:

• "Is the American Dream Alive?" A Free Press debate with Katherine Mangu-Ward on Tuesday, September 10
• "Reason Speakeasy: Kat Timpf & Nick Gillespie" on Wednesday, September 11

Send your questions to [email protected]. Be sure to include your social media handle and the correct pronunciation of your name.

Today's sponsors:

• Lumen is the world's first handheld metabolic coach. It's a device that measures your metabolism through your breath. On the app, it lets you know if you're burning fat or carbs, and it gives you tailored guidance to improve your nutrition, workouts, sleep, and even stress management. All you have to do is breathe into your Lumen first thing in the morning, and you'll know what's going on with your metabolism, whether you're burning mostly fats or carbs. Then, Lumen gives you a personalized nutrition plan for that day based on your measurements. You can also breathe into it before and after workouts and meals, so you know exactly what's going on in your body in real time, and Lumen will give you tips to keep you on top of your health game. Your metabolism is your body's engine—it's how your body turns the food you eat into fuel that keeps you going. Because your metabolism is at the center of everything your body does, optimal metabolic health translates to a bunch of benefits, including easier weight management, improved energy levels, better fitness results, better sleep, etc. Lumen gives you recommendations to improve your metabolic health. It can also track your cycle as well as the onset of menopause, and adjust your recommendations to keep your metabolism healthy through hormonal shifts, so you can keep up your energy and stave off cravings. So, if you want to take the next step in improving your health, go to lumen.me/ROUNDTABLE to get 15 percent off your Lumen.
• In an election year, getting overwhelmed by the constant buzz of news and opinions is easy. Understanding the true impact of political events can be a challenge. Not another Politics Podcast, from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, provides clear, research-driven perspectives on the biggest issues. Get the insights you need to truly understand the political landscape—no spin, just facts. Subscribe today at harris.uchicago.edu/napp or look for "Not Another Politics Podcast," wherever you get your podcasts.

Audio production by Ian Keyser; assistant production by Hunt Beaty.

Music: "Angeline," by The Brothers Steve

• Video Editor: Ian Keyser
• Producer: Hunt Beaty

The post How Should the U.S. Respond to Hamas Executing Americans? appeared first on Reason.com.

In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Peter Suderman reminisce on the supposed joy and freedom on offer during last week's Democratic National Convention (DNC) and assess Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s decision to essentially drop out of the presidential race.

02:36—At the DNC, Democrats showcase their misunderstanding of freedom.

25:05—RFK Jr. suspends his campaign for president in 10 key states, endorses Donald Trump

41:22—Weekly Listener Question

48:27—Telegram founder Pavel Durov is arrested in France.

54:02—The continued fallout from Matthew Perry's death

56:14—This week's cultural recommendations

Mentioned in this podcast:

"Thank God It's Over," by Liz Wolfe

"Manufacturing Joy at the DNC," by Matt Welch

"Democrats Are Talking About 'Freedom' Because Voters Really Like Freedom," by Eric Boehm

"Party of COVID-19 Authoritarianism Improbably Rebrands as 'Party of Freedom,'" by Matt Welch

"Democrats Aren't the Freedom Party," by Liz Wolfe

"Criminal Justice Reform Took a Back Seat at the 2024 DNC," by C.J. Ciaramella

"An Over-Orchestrated Rebellion: Dispatch From the DNC," by Nancy Rommelmann

"America Is Ready To Party," by Matt Welch

"Nobody Cared About Bernie's Speech," by Liz Wolfe

"Democrats Just Can't Quit Saving Our Souls," by Matt Welch

"Industrial Policy Is Alive and Well at the Democratic National Convention," by Joe Lancaster

"The Anarchist Dreams: Dispatch From the DNC," by Nancy Rommelmann

"Muted Outrage and Aspirational Crowds: Dispatch From the DNC," by Nancy Rommelmann

"Democrats Unburdened by What They Have Done to Chicago," by Matt Welch

"Kamala Harris' Plan To Hike Corporate Income Taxes Would Fall on All Americans," by Eric Boehm

"Trump and Harris' Economic Plans Are Depressingly Similar," by Veronique de Rugy

"Kamala Harris' Affordability Agenda Is a Good Idea Backed by Terrible Policies," by Peter Suderman

"The Dumb and Dumber of Kamala's 'Greedflation' Narrative," by Jason Sorens

"Who Is the Real Kamala Harris? A Big Government Liberal." by John Stossel

"Economic Liberty Now Has No Place in Either Party," by Peter Suderman

"RFK Jr.: The Reason Interview," by Nick Gillespie and Zach Weissmueller

"RFK Jr. Spread Some Libertarian Ideas, Then Sold Out to Trump," by Robby Soave

"At Rally, RFK Jr. Says He'll Stop Forever Wars, Seed Oils From Trump's Cabinet," by Christian Britschgi

"Chase Oliver: Q&A With the Controversial Libertarian Party Candidate," by Nick Gillespie

"Storm Over the Rockies: The West Is at War With Itself," by Karl Hess Jr.

"Battle Over Western Lands Is Far Bigger Than the Bundy Controversy," by J.D. Tuccille

"Why do the feds spend so much to make our Western wilderness theirs?" by Leonard Gilroy

"Is Pavel Durov the Next Julian Assange?" by Nick Gillespie

"Putin and the Ayatollah Wanted To Censor This App. Now It's Macron's Turn." by Matthew Petti

"Matthew Perry, Drug Abuse, and Prohibition," by Nick Gillespie

"Matthew Perry's Death: Doctors, Perry's Assistant and More Charged in Drug Investigation That Revealed 'Underground Criminal Network'" by Ethan Shanfeld and Ellise Shafer

"Charlie Hustle Agonistes," by Nick Gillespie

Too Loud a Solitude

Who would have guessed going into this year's RNC and DNC that aesthetically the Dems would have presented as more @WonderBreadUSA, church-and-family-loving, mom-and-apple pie & the GOP was like a JV version of the Gathering of Juggalos? pic.twitter.com/wPrROYpYzn

— Nick Gillespie (@nickgillespie) August 23, 2024

Upcoming Events:

• Is the American dream alive? A Free Press debate with Katherine Mangu-Ward on Tuesday, September 10
• "Reason Speakeasy: Kat Timpf & Nick Gillespie" on Wednesday, September 11

Send your questions to [email protected]. Be sure to include your social media handle and the correct pronunciation of your name.

Today's sponsors:

• Lumen is the world's first handheld metabolic coach. It's a device that measures your metabolism through your breath. On the app, it lets you know if you're burning fat or carbs, and it gives you tailored guidance to improve your nutrition, workouts, sleep, and even stress management. All you have to do is breathe into your Lumen first thing in the morning, and you'll know what's going on with your metabolism, whether you're burning mostly fats or carbs. Then, Lumen gives you a personalized nutrition plan for that day based on your measurements. You can also breathe into it before and after workouts and meals, so you know exactly what's going on in your body in real time, and Lumen will give you tips to keep you on top of your health game. Your metabolism is your body's engine—it's how your body turns the food you eat into fuel that keeps you going. Because your metabolism is at the center of everything your body does, optimal metabolic health translates to a bunch of benefits, including easier weight management, improved energy levels, better fitness results, better sleep, etc. Lumen gives you recommendations to improve your metabolic health. It can also track your cycle as well as the onset of menopause, and adjust your recommendations to keep your metabolism healthy through hormonal shifts, so you can keep up your energy and stave off cravings. So, if you want to take the next step in improving your health, go to lumen.me/ROUNDTABLE to get 15 percent off your Lumen.
• We all carry around different stressors—big and small. When we keep them bottled up, it can start to affect us negatively. Therapy is a safe space to get things off your chest—and to figure out how to work through whatever's weighing you down. If you're thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. It's entirely online. Designed to be convenient, flexible, and suited to your schedule. Just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist, and switch therapists any time for no additional charge. Get it off your chest, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/roundtable today to get 10 percent off your first month.

Audio production by Ian Keyser; assistant production by Hunt Beaty.

Music: "Angeline," by The Brothers Steve

• Video Editor: Ian Keyser
• Producer: Hunt Beaty

The post Wait, Democrats Now Say They Love Freedom? appeared first on Reason.com.

In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Nick Gillespie welcome special guest Ben Dreyfuss onto the pod ahead of this week's Democratic National Convention in Chicago to talk about Kamala Harris' truly terrible economic policy proposals.

02:48—Dreyfuss' YIMBY conversion thanks to Reason

13:20—Harris drops some lousy economic policy ideas.

32:37—The DNC begins.

44:25—Weekly Listener Question

53:33—Tariffs are timeless.

1:03:32—This week's cultural recommendations

Mentioned in this podcast:

"Kamala Harris' Dishonest and Stupid Price Control Proposal," by J.D. Tuccille

"DNC Readies for Protesters," by Liz Wolfe

"Harris' Economic Illiteracy," by Liz Wolfe

"Harris Joins the FTC's Food Fight Against Kroger-Albertsons Merger," by C. Jarrett Dieterle

"The times demand serious economic ideas. Harris supplies gimmicks." by the Washington Post editorial board

The price tag of @KamalaHarris's big, bold economic plan? According to penny pinchers at @BudgetHawks, a mere $1.7 to $2 trillion over the next decade. Given that gross debt is $35 trillion, maybe it's time to tap the brakes a bit?https://t.co/qA5wFJleLw pic.twitter.com/q80MwxoRD9

— Nick Gillespie (@nickgillespie) August 16, 2024

"When your opponent calls you 'communist,' maybe don't propose price controls?" Catherine Rampell

"How did Doug Emhoff hear Biden was out? After taking a SoulCycle class in WeHo. Without his phone," by Kevin Rector

"Database Nation: The Upside of 'Zero Privacy,'" by Declan Mccullagh

"Alien: Romulus Is a Slick, Empty Franchise Pastiche," by Peter Suderman

The Calm Down Substack by Ben Dreyfuss

https://x.com/nickgillespie/status/1824430467191312525

"Sing for Change Obama"

Upcoming Events:

• "Is the American Dream Alive?" A Free Press debate with Katherine Mangu-Ward on Tuesday, September 10 in Washington, D.C.
• "Reason Speakeasy: Kat Timpf & Nick Gillespie" on Wednesday, September 11 in New York

Send your questions to [email protected]. Be sure to include your social media handle and the correct pronunciation of your name.

Today's sponsors:

• Lumen is the world's first handheld metabolic coach. It's a device that measures your metabolism through your breath. On the app, it lets you know if you're burning fat or carbs, and it gives you tailored guidance to improve your nutrition, workouts, sleep, and even stress management. All you have to do is breathe into your Lumen first thing in the morning, and you'll know what's going on with your metabolism, whether you're burning mostly fats or carbs. Then, Lumen gives you a personalized nutrition plan for that day based on your measurements. You can also breathe into it before and after workouts and meals, so you know exactly what's going on in your body in real time, and Lumen will give you tips to keep you on top of your health game. Your metabolism is your body's engine—it's how your body turns the food you eat into fuel that keeps you going. Because your metabolism is at the center of everything your body does, optimal metabolic health translates to a bunch of benefits, including easier weight management, improved energy levels, better fitness results, better sleep, etc. Lumen gives you recommendations to improve your metabolic health. It can also track your cycle as well as the onset of menopause, and adjust your recommendations to keep your metabolism healthy through hormonal shifts, so you can keep up your energy and stave off cravings. So, if you want to take the next step in improving your health, go to lumen.me/ROUNDTABLE to get 15 percent off your Lumen.
• Qualia Senolytic: Have you heard about senolytics yet? It's a class of ingredients discovered less than 10 years ago, and it's being called the biggest discovery of our time for promoting healthy aging and enhancing your physical prime. Your goals in your career and beyond require productivity. But let's be honest: The aging process is not our friend when it comes to endless energy and productivity. As we age, everyone accumulates "senescent" cells in their body. Senescent cells cause symptoms of aging, such as aches and discomfort, slow workout recoveries, and sluggish mental and physical energy associated with that "middle age" feeling. Also known as "Zombie Cells," they are old and worn out and not serving a useful function for our health anymore, but they are taking up space and nutrients from our healthy cells. Much like pruning the yellowing and dead leaves off a plant, Qualia Senolytic removes those worn-out senescent cells to allow for the rest of your cells to thrive in the body. Take it just two days a month. The formula is non-GMO, vegan, and gluten-free, and the ingredients are meant to complement one another, factoring in the combined effect of all ingredients together. Resist aging at the cellular level and try Qualia Senolytic. Go to Qualialife.com/ROUNDTABLE for up to 50 percent off and use code ROUNDTABLE at checkout for an additional 15 percent off. For your convenience Qualia Senolytic is also available at select GNC locations near you.

Audio production by Ian Keyser; assistant production by Hunt Beaty.

Music: "Angeline," by The Brothers Steve

• Video Editor: Ian Keyser
• Producer: Hunt Beaty

The post Why Libertarians Hate Kamala Harris' Economic Platform appeared first on Reason.com.

In this week's The Reason Roundtable, Katherine Mangu-Ward and Peter Suderman are back alongside Matt Welch and Nick Gillespie. The editors analyze Vice President Kamala Harris picking Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate and discuss the ongoing crisis in Venezuela.

02:06—Kamala Harris picks Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as veep

24:06 —The crisis in Venezuela continues

36:12—Weekly listener question

44:31—U.S. Food and Drug Administration stifles MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD

53:12—This week's cultural recommendations

Mentioned in this podcast:

"Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Darling of the Progressive Left, Is Harris' Running Mate," by Eric Boehm

"Tim Walz Was a COVID-19 Tyrant," by Robby Soave

"Tim Walz Was Dead Wrong About Misinformation and Free Speech," by Robby Soave

"Tim Walz Loves Maps Because He Loves Central Planning," by Christian Britschgi

"Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz Used COVID Relief Money on Things That Had Nothing To Do With COVID," by Eric Boehm

"Walz, Like Harris, Supports Marijuana Legalization—but He Beat Her to the Punch," by Jacob Sullum

"Tim Walz Is Not Your Dad," by Liz Wolfe

"America's Midwestern Dad?," by James Lileks

"Kamala Harris Is Running on 'Freedom.' Does She Mean More Than Just Abortion?" by Joe Lancaster

"Venezuela's Repression Is Modeled on Horror Movies," by César Báez

"Biden's DHS Halting Migrant Program Raises Border Security Concerns," by David Bier and Alex Nowrasteh

"Maduro's Tightening Grip," by Liz Wolfe

"How Chávez's Socialist Revolution Created the Venezuelan Dictator Nicólas Maduro," by Jim Epstein

"Venezuela Shows What an Actual Stolen Election Looks Like," by Joe Lancaster

"Understanding Venezuela," by Jason Silva

"FDA Declines To Approve MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy As a PTSD Treatment," by Jacob Sullum

"FDA Advisers Overwhelmingly Oppose Approval of MDMA As a Psychotherapeutic Catalyst," by Jacob Sullum

"Rachel Nuwer: MDMA Is On the Cusp of Legalization," by Nick Gillespie

Welcome to the Psychedelic Renaissance, by Zach Weissmueller and Nick Gillespie

"MDMA therapy didn't get FDA approval. Now what?" by Oshan Jarow

"Top 10 outrageously BAD reasons the FDA rejected MDMA Therapy for PTSD," by Nirvan Mullick

Bye-Bye American Pie, by Nick Gillespie

"Yugo: How it went wrong" by Patrick R. Foster

Minnesota is a terrible 41st in net migration, by Nick Gillespie

Upcoming Events:

"Beyond Polarization" with Nick Gillespie and Brian Tyler Cohen, Tuesday, August 13

"Is the American Dream Alive?" with Katherine Mangu-Ward, Tuesday, September 10

"Reason Speakeasy: Kat Timpf & Nick Gillespie," Wednesday, September 11

Send your questions to [email protected]. Be sure to include your social media handle and the correct pronunciation of your name.

Today's sponsor:

• Lumen is the world's first handheld metabolic coach. It's a device that measures your metabolism through your breath. On the app, it lets you know if you're burning fat or carbs, and it gives you tailored guidance to improve your nutrition, workouts, sleep, and even stress management. All you have to do is breathe into your Lumen first thing in the morning, and you'll know what's going on with your metabolism, whether you're burning mostly fats or carbs. Then, Lumen gives you a personalized nutrition plan for that day based on your measurements. You can also breathe into it before and after workouts and meals, so you know exactly what's going on in your body in real time, and Lumen will give you tips to keep you on top of your health game. Your metabolism is your body's engine—it's how your body turns the food you eat into fuel that keeps you going. Because your metabolism is at the center of everything your body does, optimal metabolic health translates to a bunch of benefits, including easier weight management, improved energy levels, better fitness results, better sleep, etc. Lumen gives you recommendations to improve your metabolic health. It can also track your cycle as well as the onset of menopause, and adjust your recommendations to keep your metabolism healthy through hormonal shifts, so you can keep up your energy and stave off cravings. So, if you want to take the next step in improving your health, go to lumen.me and use ROUNDTABLE to get $100 off your Lumen.

Audio production by Ian Keyser

Assistant production by Hunt Beaty

Music: "Angeline," by The Brothers Steve

• Video Editor: Ian Keyser
• Producer: Hunt Beaty

The post Tim Walz Is Another Big-Government Liberal appeared first on Reason.com.

In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Matt Welch and Nick Gillespie welcome not just one but two special guests from The Dispatch. In this convivial Roundtable crossover episode, Jonah Goldberg and Kevin D. Williamson ruminate on Kamala Harris' veep options, identity politics, and drug legalization.

04:54—Kamala Harris' potential running mates

20:09—Identity politics across both major parties

36:40—Weekly Listener Question

56:16—This week's cultural recommendations

Mentioned in this podcast:

"Josh Shapiro Is Kamala Harris' Best Bet for Veep," by Robby Soave

"Trump and Harris Are Just Making It Up as They Go," by Eric Boehm

"J.D. Vance Has Changed a Lot Since the Days of Hillbilly Elegy," by Steven Greenhut

"Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Who Defended COVID Lockdowns in Court Now Says They Were a Mistake," by Eric Boehm

"Pennsylvania's Democratic Governor Is Threatening To Veto His Own School Voucher Plan," by Eric Boehm

"Majority of Public Comments Support Descheduling or Legalizing Marijuana," by Joe Lancaster

"Don't Blame Decriminalization for Oregon Drug Deaths," by Jacob Sullum

"Glenn Loury on Economics, Black Conservatism, and Crack Cocaine," by Nick Gillespie

"Paris Spent $1.5 Billion Cleaning Poop Out of the Seine, and It's Still Too Dirty for Olympic Swimming," by Natalie Dowzicky

"Full Interview with Nick Gillespie (How the World Works)," by Kevin Williamson

"Faisal Saeed Al Mutar, Melissa Chen: Bringing Enlightenment Values to the Middle East," by Nick Gillespie

Send your questions to [email protected]. Be sure to include your social media handle and the correct pronunciation of your name.

Today's sponsors:

• We all carry around different stressors—big and small. When we keep them bottled up, it can start to affect us negatively. Therapy is a safe space to get things off your chest—and to figure out how to work through whatever's weighing you down. If you're thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. It's entirely online. Designed to be convenient, flexible, and suited to your schedule. Just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist, and switch therapists any time for no additional charge. Get it off your chest, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/roundtable today to get 10 percent off your first month.

Audio production by Ian Keyser; assistant production by Hunt Beaty.

Music: "Angeline," by The Brothers Steve

• Video Editor: Ian Keyser
• Producer: Hunt Beaty

The post Weighing Kamala Harris' Veep Options appeared first on Reason.com.