It Could Happen Here Governing Fertility: How Pronatalist Policies Kill
Jun 5, 2025
The discussion dives into the rise of pronatalism, linking it to Trump's political sphere and examining historical examples from Japan, Spain, and Romania. Listeners explore how economic pressures contribute to declining birth rates in the U.S. and critique policies that aim to manipulate family life. The podcast highlights the darker side of pronatalist ideologies, including Franco's oppressive regime in Spain and the legacy of baby trafficking. Engaging anecdotes reveal the complexities and societal consequences of these ideologies, leaving a thought-provoking impression.
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US Pronatalism and Right-Wing Ties
- The current US pronatalist movement is linked to right-wing, tech-oriented figures like Peter Thiel and J.D. Vance.
- Their rhetoric often ties declining birth rates to cultural decline and xenophobic ideas like the Great Replacement theory.
Economics Drives Birth Rate
- Financial instability and high living costs are the real reasons people delay having children.
- Small baby bonuses fail to address these fundamental economic challenges affecting birth rates.
Debate Over IVF in Pronatalism
- Pronatalist groups are divided over IVF due to religious ethics.
- Some promote natural fertility education and restorative reproductive medicine over assisted technologies.