Yaron Brook Show

Live February 9, 2026 | Yaron Brook Show Interviews
Bonus Episode Season 12, Episode 4
Conversation with Greg Salmieri - Making Sense of America’s Past and Present | Yaron Brook Show

America’s crisis didn’t start with Trump—or Biden.

It started with ideas. Greg Salmieri explains which ones shaped us—and which ones are destroying us.

What happens when Aristotle and Ayn Rand collide with America’s founding ideals, its cultural crises, and its uncertain future?

In this wide-ranging and intellectually charged conversation, Yaron Brook sits down with philosopher Greg Salmieri to examine the ideas shaping Western civilization—and to ask where America has gone right, where it has gone wrong, and whether the spirit of liberty can still reassert itself.

At the center of the discussion is Salmieri’s new book, Two Philosophers: Aristotle and Ayn Rand, a compelling exploration of two giants of philosophy whose ideas continue to shape reason, morality, politics, and human flourishing. Together, Yaron and Greg trace the Enlightenment roots of American liberty, diagnose today’s cultural and political confusion, and explain why philosophical clarity matters now more than ever.

In this episode, they explore:
- Aristotle and Ayn Rand on reason, virtue, and human flourishing
- How philosophical ideas shape cultures, institutions, and nations
- What America’s founding got right—and what has been steadily undermined
- Why confusion about ideas leads to cultural and political collapse

Whether you’re interested in philosophy, history, politics, or the future of a free society, this conversation offers essential insight into the ideas that move the world.

👤 About Greg Salmieri
Gregory Salmieri teaches philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin and is a Senior Scholar of Philosophy at the Salem Center for Policy, where he holds the Brigham Fellowship for the Study of Objectivism. He also serves as Director of the Center’s Program for Objectivity in Thought, Action, and Enterprise.

Dr. Salmieri is co-editor of A Companion to Ayn Rand (Wiley-Blackwell, 2016) and Foundations of a Free Society (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2019), and the author of numerous articles on Aristotle and Ayn Rand. He previously taught at UNC Chapel Hill, Boston University, and Rutgers University before joining the Salem Center in 2020.

⏱️ TOPIC TIMESTAMPS
00:50 Who is Greg Salmieri?
01:20 Greg’s new book: Two Philosophers: Aristotle and Ayn Rand
07:35 The current state of American culture
12:25 Where does the American spirit still assert itself?
16:50 Rights and their philosophical foundations
19:00 Remnants of the American spirit today
23:45 Why these are scary cultural times
31:15 Protests in Minneapolis
33:20 Is there a way out?
40:30 How did we get here?
47:15 The Tea Party movement
51:10 Positive figures and signs of hope

💬 LIVE AUDIENCE QUESTIONS
55:32 Does needing a ladder in your library signal an above-average love of books? What books go on the top shelf?
56:33 Montessori education and Objectivism: why is it popular, what alternatives should parents explore, and tips for raising a curious two-year-old
1:01:57 Why does today’s culture show less outrage toward political fraud than in the past?
1:06:14 Is the is/ought dichotomy reflected in the Aristotle–Plato philosophical divide?
1:07:52 A listener note on Greg’s music videos with his son
1:10:45 Is Trump using deregulation to offset the economic effects of tariffs?
1:16:41 See pinned comment for timestamps of additional audience questions

#GregSalmieri #AynRand #Aristotle #AmericanHistory #PoliticalPhilosophy #WesternCivilization #Objectivism #EnlightenmentIdeas #FreeSociety

The Yaron Brook Show is Sponsored by:
-- The Ayn Rand Institute  (https://www.aynrand.org/starthere)
-- Energy Talking Points, featuring AlexAI, by Alex Epstein  (https://alexepstein.substack.com/)
-- Express VPN (https://www.expressvpn.com/yaron)
-- Hendershott Wealth Management  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4lfC...) https://hendershottwealth.com/ybs/
-- Michael Williams & The Defenders of Capitalism Project (https://www.DefendersOfCapitalism.com)

Join this channel to get access to perks:     / @yaronbrook  

Like what you hear? Like, share, and subscribe to stay updated on new videos and help promote the Yaron Brook Show: https://bit.ly/3ztPxTx

Support the Show and become a sponsor:  
 / yaronbrookshow   or https://yaronbrookshow.com/ or   / yaronbrookshow  

Or make a one-time donation: https://bit.ly/2RZOyJJ

Continue the discussion by following Yaron on Twitter (https://bit.ly/3iMGl6z) and Facebook (https://bit.ly/3vvWDDC )

Want to learn more about Ayn Rand and Objectivism? Visit the Ayn Rand Institute: https://bit.ly/35qoEC3

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/yaron-brook-show--3276901/support.

Yaron is the executive chairman of the Ayn Rand Institute and a world class speaker. He is the coauthor of the national best-seller Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand’s Ideas Can End Big Government, Equal is Unfair: America's Misguided Fight Against Income Inequality and In Pursuit of Wealth: The Moral Case for Finance. He speaks around the world on a variety of topics including the morality of capitalism, Ayn Rand and her philosophy, finance and economics, and the value of inequality.

Live Feb 9, 2026 | Yaron Brook Show
Season 12, Episode 25
Bad Bunny; Racism; Iran; Japan; India; Jimmy Lai; Measles; Immigration | Yaron Brook Show

From Bad Bunny to Border Chaos: Culture Wars, Power Lust, and the Moral Collapse of the West

What do Bad Bunny, immigration hysteria, Iran’s regime, and America’s creeping authoritarianism have in common?
More than you think.

In this wide-ranging and unapologetic episode of The Yaron Brook Show, Yaron takes on the moral, cultural, and political crises dominating headlines—from pop culture and racism narratives to Iran, Japan, India, public health panics, and the rising acceptance of unlimited state power.

This isn’t a surface-level news roundup. It’s a deep philosophical interrogation of power, reason, freedom, and the ideas driving today’s chaos—including some of the most challenging live audience questions we’ve had all season.

If you’re tired of evasion, tribalism, and fear-driven politics—and want clarity rooted in reason—this episode is for you.

👇 Jump to the topics that matter most to you and join the conversation in the comments.

⏱️ TOPIC TIMESTAMPS
Main Topics
04:40 – Bad Bunny and cultural nihilism
17:30 – Racism: narratives vs reality
24:45 – Iran, power, and moral clarity
41:35 – Japan and cultural stagnation
55:40 – India’s trajectory: promise or peril?
1:01:00 – Jimmy Lai and the cost of dissent
1:03:10 – Measles, panic, and public health politics
1:08:50 – Immigration, ICE, and authoritarian drift

💬 LIVE AUDIENCE QUESTIONS
1:23:43 – Do Right and Left both secretly want unlimited power?
1:27:51 – Does living at the perceptual level lead to rage and violence?
1:31:05 – Why do Europeans unquestioningly accept the welfare state?
1:32:36 – Was genocide unique—or a recurring pattern of collectivism?
1:34:18 – Does focusing on the uncontrollable breed nihilism?
1:35:00 – Can reason ever truly die?
1:35:51 – How did Americans resist socialized medicine for so long?
1:37:35 – Americans, narcissism, and altruism vs Europe’s resignation
1:38:47 – Why deeper questions are always postponed for “the crisis of the day”
1:39:45 – Romantic art vs vulgarity—what’s the real distinction?
1:44:32 – Iran: moral progress vs personal agency
1:45:41 – Is ICE comparable to historical authoritarian forces?
1:47:22 – Are we decades away from authoritarianism—and how do we stop it?
1:51:03 – From “America First” to “America Alone”
👉 See pinned comment for additional timestamps.

#ImmigrationDebate #Authoritarianism #IranRegime #WesternValues #CultureWars #FreedomVsPower #WesternAppeasement #GovernmentShutdown #JudicialActivism #Objectivism

The Yaron Brook Show is Sponsored by:
-- The Ayn Rand Institute  (https://www.aynrand.org/starthere)
-- Energy Talking Points, featuring AlexAI, by Alex Epstein  (https://alexepstein.substack.com/)
-- Express VPN (https://www.expressvpn.com/yaron)
-- Hendershott Wealth Management  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4lfC...) https://hendershottwealth.com/ybs/
-- Michael Williams & The Defenders of Capitalism Project (https://www.DefendersOfCapitalism.com)

Join this channel to get access to perks:     / @yaronbrook  

Like what you hear? Like, share, and subscribe to stay updated on new videos and help promote the Yaron Brook Show: https://bit.ly/3ztPxTx

Support the Show and become a sponsor:  
 / yaronbrookshow   or https://yaronbrookshow.com/ or   / yaronbrookshow  

Or make a one-time donation: https://bit.ly/2RZOyJJ

Continue the discussion by following Yaron on Twitter (https://bit.ly/3iMGl6z) and Facebook (https://bit.ly/3vvWDDC )

Want to learn more about Ayn Rand and Objectivism? Visit the Ayn Rand Institute: https://bit.ly/35qoEC3


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/yaron-brook-show--3276901/support.

Yaron is the executive chairman of the Ayn Rand Institute and a world class speaker. He is the coauthor of the national best-seller Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand’s Ideas Can End Big Government, Equal is Unfair: America's Misguided Fight Against Income Inequality and In Pursuit of Wealth: The Moral Case for Finance. He speaks around the world on a variety of topics including the morality of capitalism, Ayn Rand and her philosophy, finance and economics, and the value of inequality.

Live Feb 3, 2026 | Yaron Brook Show
Season 12, Episode 24
Iran; ShutDown; Manufacturing; Courts; Fraud; Abortion Pill | Yaron Brook Show

Iran, Power, and the Collapse of Moral Clarity 
Why Courts, Shutdowns, Fraud—and Even Abortion—Expose America’s Deeper Crisis  

America is drifting—and the headlines aren’t the real story.

From Iran’s regime and Western media complicity to government shutdown theatrics, collapsing manufacturing, activist courts, systemic fraud, and the moral chaos surrounding the abortion pill, this episode cuts through the noise to expose what ties it all together: a collapse of moral clarity.

Yaron Brook takes on the hard questions others won’t touch:

• Why is the West so eager to appease tyrannies like Iran?
• Are courts defending rights—or undermining them?
• Is fraud now baked into the system?
• And what does the abortion pill debate reveal about reason, responsibility, and individual rights?

Plus: unfiltered live audience questions ranging from CNN’s role as an Iran apologist, to Kant vs. Plato, to the moral case for immigration—and whether good intentions can still produce evil outcomes.
This is not punditry. It’s philosophy applied to today’s most explosive issues.

🔔 Subscribe, share, and join the fight for reason, liberty, and reality.

🎥 Watch live or replay here: 
👉 https://youtube.com/live/NxeVvRq9n04

⏱️ Topic Timestamps
02:15 – Correction
04:45 – Iran: Appeasement, Propaganda, and Western Guilt
28:35 – Government Shutdown: Theater vs. Reality
36:30 – Manufacturing Myths and Economic Decline
45:50 – Courts: Justice or Ideology?
51:25 – Iran Updates
53:00 – Fraud: How Deep Does It Go?
57:45 – The Abortion Pill and Moral Responsibility

💬 Live Audience Questions
1:10:36 – “Shame on CNN for being such an outrageous mouthpiece for the mullahs in Iran.”
1:16:49 – “I’m horrified Witkoff is anywhere near Iran discussions.”
1:19:05 – “It’s been painful to watch.”
1:20:23 – Thank you, Yaron!
1:20:52 – An offering for the WiFi gods
1:20:59 – Israeli music artists—any recommendations?
1:23:27 – Gratitude for a consistent voice of reason and Rand’s ideas
1:23:37 – If doing the right thing for the wrong reason is wrong, does that apply to open-border leftists?
1:25:17 – Plato vs. Kant: Honest mysticism vs. deliberate deception?
1:26:46 – From Plato’s Cave to Aristotle’s focus on life on Earth

The Yaron Brook Show is Sponsored by:
-- The Ayn Rand Institute  (https://www.aynrand.org/starthere)
-- Energy Talking Points, featuring AlexAI, by Alex Epstein  (https://alexepstein.substack.com/)
-- Express VPN (https://www.expressvpn.com/yaron)
-- Hendershott Wealth Management  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4lfC...) https://hendershottwealth.com/ybs/
-- Michael Williams & The Defenders of Capitalism Project (https://www.DefendersOfCapitalism.com)

Join this channel to get access to perks:     / @yaronbrook  

Like what you hear? Like, share, and subscribe to stay updated on new videos and help promote the Yaron Brook Show: https://bit.ly/3ztPxTx

Support the Show and become a sponsor:  
 / yaronbrookshow   or https://yaronbrookshow.com/ or   / yaronbrookshow  

Or make a one-time donation: https://bit.ly/2RZOyJJ

Continue the discussion by following Yaron on Twitter (https://bit.ly/3iMGl6z) and Facebook (https://bit.ly/3vvWDDC )

Want to learn more about Ayn Rand and Objectivism? Visit the Ayn Rand Institute: https://bit.ly/35qoEC3

#IranRegime #WesternAppeasement #GovernmentShutdown #JudicialActivism #EconomicReality #FraudExposed #AbortionDebate #MoralClarity #Objectivism #Capitalism #IndividualRights


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/yaron-brook-show--3276901/support.

Yaron is the executive chairman of the Ayn Rand Institute and a world class speaker. He is the coauthor of the national best-seller Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand’s Ideas Can End Big Government, Equal is Unfair: America's Misguided Fight Against Income Inequality and In Pursuit of Wealth: The Moral Case for Finance. He speaks around the world on a variety of topics including the morality of capitalism, Ayn Rand and her philosophy, finance and economics, and the value of inequality.

Live Feb 1, 2026 | Yaron Brook Show
Season 12, Episode 23
Trump Op-ed; Epstein Files; Corruption; Iran; Repub Defeat; Good News | Yaron Brook Show

🔥 Trump on Defense, Epstein Unsealed, Iran on Edge—Is the System Rotten to the Core?

What does it mean when a president has to write an op-ed to defend himself? 
Why do the Epstein files still matter—and what do they expose about power and corruption?
And as Iran teeters, Republicans falter, and markets flash warning signs… is anyone still defending reason, capitalism, and individual rights?

On this February 1, 2026 live episode of The Yaron Brook Show, Yaron cuts through the noise on Trump’s latest op-ed, the Epstein revelations, systemic corruption, Iran’s future, Republican defeats—and ends with rare good news worth holding onto.

Plus: an electric live Q&A tackling capitalism’s moral defense, inflation myths, courts vs. Trump, tribalism, propaganda, education reform, philosophy, culture—and even music.

If you’re tired of evasions, tribal loyalty, and moral cowardice, this episode is for you.

👉 Watch live / replay here: https://youtube.com/live/e_86PrX_BLA

⏱️ TOPIC TIMESTAMPS
02:50 Gold & Silver – What markets are really signaling
05:50 Trump Op-Ed – Strength or surrender?
38:35 Epstein Files – What power still wants hidden
52:40 Corruption – Not a bug, but a feature?
1:01:00 Iran – Regime change… at what cost?
1:05:45 Republican Defeat – Why conservatives keep losing
1:10:10 Good News – Yes, there is some

💬 LIVE AUDIENCE QUESTIONS (SELECTED)
1:17:47 Does a president writing an op-ed mean he’s already lost?
1:19:51 Does therapy reinforce destructive altruistic guilt?
1:23:46 Are courts the last barrier before civil unrest?
1:25:32 Can printing money ever “solve” government debt?
1:31:01 Why defend capitalism morally—not just economically?
1:34:43 Star Trek DS9 “Duet” — moral meaning worth revisiting?
1:37:12 Is ICE mainstreaming white supremacy?
1:40:36 Germany warns citizens about US travel—how bad is it?
1:44:12 Iran regime change—who fills the vacuum?
1:46:20 Philosophy book recommendations?
1:47:08 Is there any appetite left for deregulation?
1:49:26 See pinned comment for more audience questions

The Yaron Brook Show is Sponsored by:
-- The Ayn Rand Institute  (https://www.aynrand.org/starthere)
-- Energy Talking Points, featuring AlexAI, by Alex Epstein  (https://alexepstein.substack.com/)
-- Express VPN (https://www.expressvpn.com/yaron)
-- Hendershott Wealth Management  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4lfC...) https://hendershottwealth.com/ybs/
-- Michael Williams & The Defenders of Capitalism Project (https://www.DefendersOfCapitalism.com)

Join this channel to get access to perks:     / @yaronbrook  

Like what you hear? Like, share, and subscribe to stay updated on new videos and help promote the Yaron Brook Show: https://bit.ly/3ztPxTx

Support the Show and become a sponsor:  
 / yaronbrookshow   or https://yaronbrookshow.com/ or   / yaronbrookshow  

Or make a one-time donation: https://bit.ly/2RZOyJJ

Continue the discussion by following Yaron on Twitter (https://bit.ly/3iMGl6z) and Facebook (https://bit.ly/3vvWDDC )

Want to learn more about Ayn Rand and Objectivism? Visit the Ayn Rand Institute: https://bit.ly/35qoEC3
 
#TrumpOpEd #EpsteinFiles #IranCrisis #PoliticalCorruption #Capitalism #GoldAndSilver #Republicans #FreeMarkets #IndividualRights #TradePolicy #USDollar #Authoritarianism #CostOfSilence ##Objectivism


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/yaron-brook-show--3276901/support.

Yaron is the executive chairman of the Ayn Rand Institute and a world class speaker. He is the coauthor of the national best-seller Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand’s Ideas Can End Big Government, Equal is Unfair: America's Misguided Fight Against Income Inequality and In Pursuit of Wealth: The Moral Case for Finance. He speaks around the world on a variety of topics including the morality of capitalism, Ayn Rand and her philosophy, finance and economics, and the value of inequality.

Live January 28, 2026 | Yaron Brook Show
Season 12 - Episode 22
Iran; Trade & Immigration; US Dollar; Ukraine; AI& IP; Silence | Yaron Brook Show

From Iran to AI: Trade Wars, Dollar Decay, and the Deadly Price of Silence

The world is drifting toward chaos—and too many people are staying silent.

On this episode of The Yaron Brook Show, Yaron cuts through the noise to tackle the biggest threats facing America and the West: Iran’s ambitions, trade and immigration distortions, the weakening U.S. dollar, Ukraine’s future, the war over AI and intellectual property—and the moral cost of choosing silence in the face of authoritarianism.

Why does silence empower the worst actors?
Are tariffs and immigration controls destroying prosperity?
Is America sliding toward banana-republic status?
And what happens when fear replaces reason?

This is a wide-ranging, no-holds-barred episode connecting geopolitics, economics, technology, and philosophy—ending with a powerful meditation on why silence is never neutral.

👇 Watch, engage, and join the conversation live.
🎥 Watch here: https://youtube.com/live/sM3Km9Y_xls

⏱️ TOPIC TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
01:00 Upcoming Shows & Schedule
02:00 Iran: Threats, Appeasement, and Western Weakness
19:50 Trade & Immigration: Protectionism vs Prosperity
35:20 The U.S. Dollar: Decline, Inflation, and Global Confidence
51:50 Ukraine: Strategy, Morality, and the West’s Resolve
59:35 AI & Intellectual Property: Innovation or State Control?
1:06:30 The Cost of Silence: Why Moral Evasion Fuels Tyranny

💬 LIVE AUDIENCE QUESTIONS 
59:15 🇨🇭 What can the Swiss Franc teach us about sound money?
1:23:31 If Democrats gain supermajorities, will they unleash ICE-style crackdowns on the wealthy? Where does this end?
1:25:33 Netanyahu credits free markets for Israel’s skyscraper boom—what’s the lesson for the U.S.?
1:27:58 Why does reason scare people more than ignorance?
1:29:56 Thoughts on Ben Shapiro’s comments on ICE and the Alex Pretty shooting?
1:30:44 Is MAGA collapsing—and will the GOP be forced to rebuild?
1:31:25 If courts uphold Trump’s tariffs, are we drifting into dictatorship?
1:32:05 If you’re wealthy, is California still the best place to live?
1:32:49 Has the U.S. become a banana republic?
1:33:12 Is it illegal to be in public without ID—and how far can federal power go?
1:33:51 Is constant noise better than silence—or does silence still matter?
1:34:47 Has Minnesota shattered the myth of the “warmth of collectivism”?
1:36:18 Final thoughts on gold, dollars, and monetary reality
See timpstamps in comments for questions.

The Yaron Brook Show is Sponsored by:
-- The Ayn Rand Institute  (https://www.aynrand.org/starthere)
-- Energy Talking Points, featuring AlexAI, by Alex Epstein  (https://alexepstein.substack.com/)
-- Express VPN (https://www.expressvpn.com/yaron)
-- Hendershott Wealth Management  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4lfC...) https://hendershottwealth.com/ybs/
-- Michael Williams & The Defenders of Capitalism Project (https://www.DefendersOfCapitalism.com)

Join this channel to get access to perks:     / @yaronbrook  

Like what you hear? Like, share, and subscribe to stay updated on new videos and help promote the Yaron Brook Show: https://bit.ly/3ztPxTx

Support the Show and become a sponsor:  
 / yaronbrookshow   or https://yaronbrookshow.com/ or   / yaronbrookshow  

Or make a one-time donation: https://bit.ly/2RZOyJJ

Continue the discussion by following Yaron on Twitter (https://bit.ly/3iMGl6z) and Facebook (https://bit.ly/3vvWDDC )

Want to learn more about Ayn Rand and Objectivism? Visit the Ayn Rand Institute: https://bit.ly/35qoEC3

#Iran #TradePolicy #ImmigrationDebate #USDollar #UkraineWar #AIRegulation #FreeMarkets #Authoritarianism #CostOfSilence #IndividualRights #FreeSpeech #Capitalism #Objectivism


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/yaron-brook-show--3276901/support.

Yaron is the executive chairman of the Ayn Rand Institute and a world class speaker. He is the coauthor of the national best-seller Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand’s Ideas Can End Big Government, Equal is Unfair: America's Misguided Fight Against Income Inequality and In Pursuit of Wealth: The Moral Case for Finance. He speaks around the world on a variety of topics including the morality of capitalism, Ayn Rand and her philosophy, finance and economics, and the value of inequality.

Live January 27, 2026 | Yaron Brook Show
Season 12, Episode 21
ICE Retreat? Israel Hostages; Tariffs & Trade; Iran; China Purge | Yaron Brook Show

ICE Retreats, Israel Fights, China Purges — and the World Drifts Toward Midnight

Is the U.S. already backing down on ICE enforcement—or just retreating into something worse?
As Israel fights for its hostages, Iran escalates, China purges dissent, and tariffs threaten global trade, one question hangs in the air: are we watching the slow collapse of freedom—or its last stand?

In this explosive live episode, Yaron Brook cuts through the hysteria to expose what’s really driving today’s political chaos—from immigration crackdowns and economic nationalism to nihilism, altruism, and America’s creeping constitutional crisis. No slogans. No tribalism. Just ruthless clarity.

🔥 Topics include:
• Is ICE doomed to fizzle—or morph into something more dangerous?
• Why Israel’s hostage crisis matters to the entire free world
• Tariffs, trade wars, and the myth of “economic nationalism”
• Iran, China, and the authoritarian model’s hidden weaknesses
• Are we drifting closer to midnight—or can reason still win?

Stick around for a wide-ranging, brutally honest AMA covering civil war fears, MAGA, altruism, birthrates, capitalism vs communism, and whether evading reality has become America’s national pastime.

👇 Jump to the segments below and join the fight for ideas worth defending.

🎥 Watch the full episode: https://youtube.com/live/fOKSyCm6910

⏱️ Topic Timestamps
01:25 – ICE Retreat? Is brute force unsustainable in the West?
29:20 – Israel Hostages: Moral clarity vs diplomatic evasion
40:15 – Tariffs & Trade: Why protectionism always backfires
52:10 – Iran: Deterrence, appeasement, and regime survival
1:04:15 – China Purge: Strength or panic from the CCP?

💬 Live Audience Questions 
1:14:39 – Did Rand underestimate how long mixed economies can survive before collapse?
1:17:48 – Why can subtle evil last longer than explicit brutality?
1:19:25 – Is the Doomsday Clock just nihilism in lab coats?
1:20:33 – Are we in a constitutional crisis—and do we need a crisis clock?
1:22:34 – Is staying silent to protect your income moral cowardice?
1:24:05 – Did South Park nail the ICE hysteria?
1:24:25 – Why does altruism treat evil as all-powerful?
1:26:35 – Would red states really beat blue states in a civil war?
1:27:28 – Is MAGA a reflection of cultural nihilism?
1:28:15 – Is MAGA inherently racist—or is that evasion?
1:29:22 – Why do people cling to lies no matter the evidence?
1:29:55 – How would Israel fare in a war with China?
1:31:09 – Why are Americans so poorly traveled despite high incomes?
1:33:12 – Why deny assimilated illegals a path to citizenship?
1:34:33 – Why have education and career outcomes flipped for men and women?
1:36:12 – Thoughts on Valiant no longer identifying as Objectivist?
1:36:34 – Can the midterms restrain Trump—and how would he react?
1:38:01 – Are falling birthrates a crisis or a liberation?
1:40:14 – Milton Friedman, Bitcoin, and the future of freedom
1:40:42 – Is joining Heritage to change it from within a mistake?
1:41:14 – China vs U.S.: Are cheap, reliable products proof communism works?
See pinned comment for additional timestamps

The Yaron Brook Show is Sponsored by:
-- The Ayn Rand Institute  (https://www.aynrand.org/starthere)
-- Energy Talking Points, featuring AlexAI, by Alex Epstein  (https://alexepstein.substack.com/)
-- Express VPN (https://www.expressvpn.com/yaron)
-- Hendershott Wealth Management  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4lfC...) https://hendershottwealth.com/ybs/
-- Michael Williams & The Defenders of Capitalism Project (https://www.DefendersOfCapitalism.com)

Join this channel to get access to perks:     / @yaronbrook  

Like what you hear? Like, share, and subscribe to stay updated on new videos and help promote the Yaron Brook Show: https://bit.ly/3ztPxTx

Support the Show and become a sponsor:  
 / yaronbrookshow   or https://yaronbrookshow.com/ or   / yaronbrookshow  

Or make a one-time donation: https://bit.ly/2RZOyJJ

Continue the discussion by following Yaron on Twitter (https://bit.ly/3iMGl6z) and Facebook (https://bit.ly/3vvWDDC )

Want to learn more about Ayn Rand and Objectivism? Visit the Ayn Rand Institute: https://bit.ly/35qoEC3

#ICE #IsraelHostages #ChinaPurge #Iran #Tariffs #FreeMarkets #IllegalImmigration #Authoritarianism #Inflation #IndividualRights #FreeSpeech #Capitalism #Objectivism


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/yaron-brook-show--3276901/support.

Yaron is the executive chairman of the Ayn Rand Institute and a world class speaker. He is the coauthor of the national best-seller Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand’s Ideas Can End Big Government, Equal is Unfair: America's Misguided Fight Against Income Inequality and In Pursuit of Wealth: The Moral Case for Finance. He speaks around the world on a variety of topics including the morality of capitalism, Ayn Rand and her philosophy, finance and economics, and the value of inequality.

📺  Live January 23, 2026 | Yaron Brook Show Interviews
Bonus Episode
Conversation with Ben Bayer - Tribalism, “Cancel Culture” and More | Yaron Brook Show

Tribalism vs. Truth: Cancel Culture, Moral Judgment, and the Fight for Free Speech

What is “cancel culture”—and is it always wrong?
Or is it sometimes a necessary form of moral judgment in a tribalized age?

In this bonus interview episode, Yaron Brook sits down with philosopher Ben Bayer for a wide-ranging, unsparing conversation on free speech, tribalism, moral sanction, and how ideas actually shape culture and politics. From ICE raids and immigration to de-platforming, emotionalism, and the abuse of non-objective laws, this episode goes beyond slogans to ask the hard questions most commentators evade.

When does criticism become a witch hunt?
When is de-platforming just—and when is it an injustice?
How should rational people respond to cultural pressure, mass protest, and ideological warfare?

If you’re tired of shallow takes and want a principled framework for navigating today’s most heated controversies, this conversation is for you.

🔴 Watch live / replay here: https://youtube.com/live/Hbu8JD4vacs

👤 About Ben Bayer
Ben Bayer is a Fellow and Director of Content at the Ayn Rand Institute, a teacher at Objectivist University (ARU), and Managing Editor of New Ideal. He holds a Ph.D. in philosophy and specializes in applying philosophical principles to contemporary cultural and political issues. Ben is the author of Why the Right to Abortion Is Sacrosanct and has published widely in both scholarly and public-facing outlets.

⏱️ Topic Timestamps
00:50 – Who is Ben Bayer?
01:25 – The ICE shooting: facts vs. emotionalism
07:05 – Why free speech actually matters
10:20 – Tribalism and moral blinders
14:10 – Do rights apply only to citizens?
17:15 – What’s really happening in Minneapolis
21:20 – What should be done instead?
26:00 – Is mass civil disobedience rational?
29:55 – Why Congress is dysfunctional
36:10 – The danger of non-objective laws
39:40 – What people get wrong about “cancel culture”
48:25 – When is de-platforming just?
51:00 – The injustice of morally sanctioning evil ideas
57:20 – “Witch hunt” vs. justice: retire the slogan?

💬 Live Audience Questions
57:50 – Is cause-and-effect the first casualty of emotionalism?
58:46 – Has Ben seen Andor—and who’s his favorite character?
1:03:34 – Is it tribal to say no good person could disagree with me?
1:08:32 – Did Trump’s rhetoric dehumanize immigrants and shape ICE behavior?
1:10:55 – How do you respond to claims that videos are “one-sided”?
1:14:32 – Why doesn’t cancel culture stop the anti-Jewish left?
1:16:26 – Is Manousos the closest thing to an Objectivist TV character?
1:17:48 – Braverman, Farage, Reform UK—where is Britain headed?
1:22:24 – Does Ben read fiction? Favorite genres or authors?
1:25:00 – Should governments ban social media for minors?
1:26:13 – Are you willing to get arrested—or just others?
1:27:46 – If mass protest is irrational, what’s the rational alternative?
1:29:29 – Does “open borders” rhetoric worsen immigration dysfunction?
See pinned comment for additional timestamps

The Yaron Brook Show is Sponsored by:
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#BenBayer #CancelCulture #FreeSpeech #Tribalism #MoralJudgment #Deplatforming #ImmigrationDebate #Objectivism #CultureWars #PhilosophyInAction #Objectivism #AynRandInstitute


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/yaron-brook-show--3276901/support.

Yaron is the executive chairman of the Ayn Rand Institute and a world class speaker. He is the coauthor of the national best-seller Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand’s Ideas Can End Big Government, Equal is Unfair: America's Misguided Fight Against Income Inequality and In Pursuit of Wealth: The Moral Case for Finance. He speaks around the world on a variety of topics including the morality of capitalism, Ayn Rand and her philosophy, finance and economics, and the value of inequality.

Live January 26, 2026 | Yaron Brook Show
Season 12, Episode 20
ICE Latest Killing; Illegal Immigration; China Purge; Price Changes | Yaron Brook Show

ICE as Judge, Jury, and Executioner? Immigration, China’s Purge, and the Price We’re Paying for Political Nihilism

ICE is no longer just enforcing the law—it’s igniting outrage, fear, and a fundamental debate about state power and individual rights.

In this live January 26, 2026 episode of the Yaron Brook Show, Yaron tackles the latest ICE killing, the broader crisis of illegal immigration, China’s internal purge, and why rising prices reflect far more than “corporate greed.” What emerges is a chilling picture of a society drifting toward nihilism—cheered on by political tribes who care less about truth than about winning.

🔥 Are Americans right to be furious with ICE?
🔥 Is immigration being weaponized to expand government power?
🔥 What does China’s purge tell us about where authoritarianism really leads?
🔥 And why are prices rising even when politicians swear they’ve “fixed” the economy?
The live audience Q&A goes even deeper—covering free speech, Islam vs. Christianity, Ayn Rand, envy, socialism, MAGA, travel advice, and whether a free people will ultimately fight back.
If you care about reason, individual rights, and the future of freedom, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

🎥 Watch the full episode here: https://youtube.com/live/ONuCh5HhusQ

⏱️ TOPIC TIMESTAMPS
03:40 ICE Latest Killing – law enforcement or state violence?
47:00 Illegal Immigration – borders, work, welfare, and rights
1:09:05 China Purge – authoritarian power in action
1:15:40 Price Changes – inflation, policy, and reality

💬 LIVE AUDIENCE QUESTIONS
1:25:53 Why nihilists cheer Trump’s worst impulses
1:27:15 “Basket of deplorables” – right vs. left brutality
1:28:48 Are we just coasting on Ancient Greek ideas?
1:30:59 Rush’s Witch Hunt—45 years later, nothing’s changed?
1:31:38 NSA, FISA, and real surveillance limits
1:34:04 Will Islam outgrow Christianity long-term?
1:35:38 Has any politician ever run on rational immigration?
1:38:03 A note of appreciation in insane times
1:38:20 Porto travel recommendations 🇵🇹
1:39:12 Gestapo vs. ICE—why public pushback matters
1:40:12 Is socialism compatible with anarchy?
1:41:24 Who’s actually in charge of enforcement?
1:42:23 ICE or gang violence—why perception matters
1:42:44 Is envy weaker in Asia than the West?
1:44:15 Will free people ever surrender freedom?
1:44:32 The hardest Ayn Rand writings to grasp
1:45:39 Can a future president dismantle ICE?
1:46:06 Budget travel strategy for Porto & ARC
1:47:21 MAGA as a permanent state of agitation
1:48:49 China vs. MAGA—what really deserves attention
1:51:31 Gold, Trump, and ballroom economics 😄
1:52:01 Austin trip details - see http://yaronbrookshow.com

The Yaron Brook Show is Sponsored by:
-- The Ayn Rand Institute  (https://www.aynrand.org/starthere)
-- Energy Talking Points, featuring AlexAI, by Alex Epstein  (https://alexepstein.substack.com/)
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-- Hendershott Wealth Management  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4lfC...) https://hendershottwealth.com/ybs/
-- Michael Williams & The Defenders of Capitalism Project (https://www.DefendersOfCapitalism.com)

Join this channel to get access to perks:     / @yaronbrook  

Like what you hear? Like, share, and subscribe to stay updated on new videos and help promote the Yaron Brook Show: https://bit.ly/3ztPxTx

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Continue the discussion by following Yaron on Twitter (https://bit.ly/3iMGl6z) and Facebook (https://bit.ly/3vvWDDC )

Want to learn more about Ayn Rand and Objectivism? Visit the Ayn Rand Institute: https://bit.ly/35qoEC3

#ICE #IllegalImmigration #Authoritarianism #China #Inflation #IndividualRights #FreeSpeech #AynRand #Capitalism #GoldStandard #Statism #WesternValues #Objectivism


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/yaron-brook-show--3276901/support.

Yaron is the executive chairman of the Ayn Rand Institute and a world class speaker. He is the coauthor of the national best-seller Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand’s Ideas Can End Big Government, Equal is Unfair: America's Misguided Fight Against Income Inequality and In Pursuit of Wealth: The Moral Case for Finance. He speaks around the world on a variety of topics including the morality of capitalism, Ayn Rand and her philosophy, finance and economics, and the value of inequality.

Recorded live on Jan 24, 2026
Season 12, Episode 19
AMA & Hangout with Contributors (Jan 2026) | Yaron Brook Show

ICE, Trump, and the Battle for America’s Soul | Freedom, Masculinity & the Enlightenment Under Fire

Federal agents in the streets. Allies treated like enemies. Intellectuals sidelined while power politics reign.

In this wide-ranging live AMA & Hangout with Contributors, Yaron Brook takes on the growing authoritarian impulse in America—from ICE actions in Minneapolis to Trump’s erratic foreign policy threats against Canada, Iran, and beyond. The conversation expands into deeper territory: the collapse of intellectual culture, the meaning of heroic masculinity, the Enlightenment’s role in preserving freedom, and whether the American experiment itself is nearing a breaking point.

Expect unfiltered analysis, tough moral questions, and direct engagement with supporters asking what reason, courage, and defiance demand right now.

📌 Topics include:
* ICE, civil disobedience, and federal power vs. local authority
* Trump’s tariffs, threats, and incoherent foreign policy
* Authoritarianism vs. the Enlightenment tradition
* Masculinity, joy, and moral confidence in dark times
* Immigration, borders, and the rule of law
* Whether America is losing its identity—and what that means for the world

🎥 Watch the full episode: https://youtube.com/live/XwiURn9TirM
👉 Join future AMAs by supporting the show on Patreon: / yaronbrook
❤️ Subscribe, like, and share if you value independent, reason-based commentary.

⏱️ MAIN TOPIC TIMESTAMPS
0:00 – Introduction & show opening
1:02 – ICE incident in Minneapolis & legal open carry in Minnesota
3:21 – Iran, military action
4:12 – Ideologies: dictatorships, anarchism & power
12:30 – Political turmoil & competing views on ICE
25:50 – Near-term predictions
29:31 – Trump, authoritarianism & Europe’s response
32:25 – Joy in life & myths about masculinity
37:13 – Heroic masculinity & the triumph of good over evil
41:35 – Freedom, Israel & public defenders
49:20 – The adversarial legal system & the American experiment

🎙️ LIVE AUDIENCE QUESTIONS
51:13 – Is the American experiment coming to an end?
51:48 – Why do so many people seem to enjoy the suffering of others—was it always this way?
54:33 – Are ICE units becoming America’s Gestapo? What happens after the midterms?
57:06 – How do you stay close to family who are hardcore MAGA supporters?
1:03:01 – Should we worry about Canada’s growing ties with China?
1:05:02 – “Defiance, not obedience”—what would Ayn Rand demand today?
1:23:32 – Why is mysticism and “consciousness primacy” gaining ground again?
1:26:14 – Is America losing its identity—and does the world depend on it?
1:27:35 – Machiavelli, Robert Greene, and power politics: useful or corrupting?
1:28:58 – Trump threatens 100% tariffs on Canada—serious policy or reckless bluster?
1:33:01 – Is oppression always rooted in fear?
1:35:35 – Should Objectivists be willing to get arrested resisting ICE?
1:36:24 – Is Trump mentally and physically deteriorating—and could pressure force him out?
1:52:39 – Are we closer to authoritarianism under Trump than under FDR?
1:56:28 – Does the adversarial court system best protect the innocent?
1:58:43 – Open immigration vs. open borders—what’s the real difference?
2:05:33 – Is rising hatred toward immigrants driven by modern Volkism?
See Yaron's timestamped comment for full questions 

The Yaron Brook Show is Sponsored by 
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-- Hendershott Wealth Management (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4lfC...) https://hendershottwealth.com/ybs/
-- Michael Williams & The Defenders of Capitalism Project (https://www.DefendersOfCapitalism.com)

Join this channel to get access to perks:     / @yaronbrook  

Like what you hear? Like, share, and subscribe to stay updated on new videos and help promote the Yaron Brook Show: https://bit.ly/3ztPxTx

Support the Show and become a sponsor:  
 / yaronbrookshow   or https://yaronbrookshow.com/ or   / yaronbrookshow  

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Continue the discussion by following Yaron on Twitter (https://bit.ly/3iMGl6z) and Facebook (https://bit.ly/3vvWDDC )

Want to learn more about Ayn Rand and Objectivism? Visit the Ayn Rand Institute: https://bit.ly/35qoEC3

 #AynRand #Objectivism #FreeMarkets #WesternCivilization #IndividualRights #ICE #Authoritarianism #TrumpPolitics #FreeSpeech #EnlightenmentValues #AmericanExperiment  #ReasonAndFreedom #PoliticalPhilosophy

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/yaron-brook-show--3276901/support.

Yaron is the executive chairman of the Ayn Rand Institute and a world class speaker. He is the coauthor of the national best-seller Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand’s Ideas Can End Big Government, Equal is Unfair: America's Misguided Fight Against Income Inequality and In Pursuit of Wealth: The Moral Case for Finance. He speaks around the world on a variety of topics including the morality of capitalism, Ayn Rand and her philosophy, finance and economics, and the value of inequality.

Live January 23, 2026 | Yaron Brook Show
Evaluating ICE; Free Speech; Trump FP; BOP; Iran; Gold; Intel; Murder | Yaron Brook Show
Season 12, Episode 18

ICE, Free Speech, and the Moral Collapse of the State
From Trump’s Foreign Policy to Iran, Gold, and the War on Competence

Is ICE a necessary arm of the rule of law—or a symptom of statism run amok?
Is free speech dying by censorship… or by cowardice?
And does Trump’s foreign policy represent realism—or raw evasion?

In this explosive episode of The Yaron Brook Show, Yaron takes on ICE, free speech absolutism, Trump’s foreign policy, Iran, gold, intelligence failures, and America’s rising murder rates—through the ruthless lens of reason, individual rights, and moral clarity.

The second half is pure fire: live audience questions on Nazism vs. modern statism, Islamic fundamentalism, narcissism, deportation, culture change, Ayn Rand’s immigration status, economic equilibrium, and whether America is sprinting toward National Socialism.

If you’re tired of evasions, moral fog, and “moderate” nonsense—this episode is for you.

👉 Watch here: https://youtube.com/live/bZ6vPkKyJJ4

⏱️ TOPIC TIMESTAMPS
02:35 – ICE: Rule of Law or Rule of Men?
24:30 – Free Speech: Absolute or Empty Slogan?
30:20 – Trump’s Foreign Policy: Strategy or Chaos?
41:40 – The “Board of Peace” Explained
44:15 – Iran: Deterrence, Appeasement, or War?
50:15 – Gold, Money, and Monetary Illusions
1:10:40 – Intelligence Failures and National Security
1:13:05 – Murder Rates and Cultural Breakdown

💬 LIVE AUDIENCE QUESTIONS 
1:22:24 – Did Communism & Nazism target the competent—while modern statism feeds off them?
1:22:27 – Why do mixed economies lurch toward evil so easily?
1:23:38 – How do you reach “moderates” who deny Islamic fundamentalism?
1:25:33 – ICE, ISIS, and moral equivalence—serious or satire?
1:26:44 – Is Trump quietly dismantling the UN?
1:28:17 – Are Americans more eager for National Socialism than Europeans?
1:29:03 – Does Trump suffer from narcissism—or an inferiority complex?
1:31:09 – Travel question: Cape Town—worth it?
1:34:22 – Are critics of ICE blinded by media hysteria?
1:37:56 – Dementia claims about Trump: credible or smear?
1:39:24 – Was Ayn Rand an illegal immigrant—and does it matter?
1:41:26 – Does economic equilibrium mean anything in currency markets?
1:43:19 – Is deportation an admission of judicial failure?
1:45:15 – How does Objectivism explain U.S. dominance amid anti-reason culture?
1:51:42 – Why are rights-violating nations almost always the aggressors?
See comment for full questions with time stamps

The Yaron Brook Show is Sponsored by:
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-- Hendershott Wealth Management  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4lfC...) https://hendershottwealth.com/ybs/
-- Michael Williams & The Defenders of Capitalism Project (https://www.DefendersOfCapitalism.com)

Join this channel to get access to perks:     / @yaronbrook  

Like what you hear? Like, share, and subscribe to stay updated on new videos and help promote the Yaron Brook Show: https://bit.ly/3ztPxTx

Support the Show and become a sponsor:  
 / yaronbrookshow   or https://yaronbrookshow.com/ or   / yaronbrookshow  

Or make a one-time donation: https://bit.ly/2RZOyJJ

Continue the discussion by following Yaron on Twitter (https://bit.ly/3iMGl6z) and Facebook (https://bit.ly/3vvWDDC )

Want to learn more about Ayn Rand and Objectivism? Visit the Ayn Rand Institute: https://bit.ly/35qoEC3

#ICE #FreeSpeech #TrumpForeignPolicy #Iran #Objectivism #IndividualRights #GoldStandard #Statism #WesternValues #Objectivism #Capitalism

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/yaron-brook-show--3276901/support.

Yaron is the executive chairman of the Ayn Rand Institute and a world class speaker. He is the coauthor of the national best-seller Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand’s Ideas Can End Big Government, Equal is Unfair: America's Misguided Fight Against Income Inequality and In Pursuit of Wealth: The Moral Case for Finance. He speaks around the world on a variety of topics including the morality of capitalism, Ayn Rand and her philosophy, finance and economics, and the value of inequality.