Honestly with Bari Weiss

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Is Kemi Badenoch the Next Margaret Thatcher?

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Dec 12, 2024

Guest

Kemi Badenoch

Kemi Badenoch, the first Black woman to lead the UK Conservative Party, shares her unique journey from Nigeria to political leadership. She discusses the current challenges facing Britain, including national debt and identity crisis. Badenoch delves into the ideological struggles within her party post-Brexit and her views on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. She also addresses rising anti-Semitism and the need for reforms in policing. Her perspectives on feminism, free speech, and modern conservatism reveal a compelling vision for a cohesive society.

01:23:16

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ANECDOTE

Formative Reads

Thomas Sowell's "Basic Economics" significantly influenced Badenoch's economic thinking.
Other impactful reads included Hayek, "Why Nations Fail," and Scruton.

insights

INSIGHT

Conservative Mistakes

Badenoch believes the Conservatives' talking right but governing left alienated both sides.
Keir Starmer's focus on socialist policies won't work in the current climate.

insights

INSIGHT

UK Economic Woes

The UK's economic struggles stem from an expanding state, over-regulation, and a flawed immigration system.
Badenoch advocates for controlled, high-skilled immigration and incentivizing work.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Growing Up in Turbulent Nigeria: A Reflection on Wealth and Governance

05:51 • 4min

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Navigating Identity and Expectations

09:28 • 10min

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Navigating Political Turmoil Post-Brexit

19:51 • 27min

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Rising Anti-Semitism and Policing Inequities

46:46 • 7min

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Cultural Battles and Identity Politics

53:51 • 8min

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Navigating Feminism and Free Speech in Modern Society

01:01:28 • 24min

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Engagement and Promotion: Conversations on Journalism and Gaming

01:25:41 • 2min

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#1566

• Mentioned in 25 episodes

Basic economics

Frank V. Mastrianna

Thomas J. Hailstones

This textbook provides a straightforward and comprehensive introduction to basic macro and microeconomic concepts. It is designed to be accessible and is widely used in introductory economics courses. The book covers fundamental principles and theories in economics, making it a valuable resource for students and those new to the subject.

#212

• Mentioned in 101 episodes

The road to serfdom

Friedrich Von Hayek

In this influential book, Hayek argues that the abandonment of individualism and classical liberalism leads to a loss of freedom, the creation of an oppressive society, and ultimately, the tyranny of a dictator. He challenges the view that fascism and Nazism are capitalist reactions against socialism, instead positing that these ideologies share common roots in central economic planning and the empowerment of the state over the individual. The book emphasizes the dangers of collectivism and the importance of maintaining a free market system to preserve human freedom and dignity.

#160

• Mentioned in 125 episodes

The Righteous Mind

Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion

Jonathan Haidt

In this book, Jonathan Haidt draws on twenty-five years of research on moral psychology to explain why people's moral judgments are driven by intuition rather than reason. He introduces the Moral Foundations Theory, which posits that human morality is based on six foundations: care/harm, fairness/cheating, loyalty/betrayal, authority/subversion, sanctity/degradation, and liberty/oppression. Haidt argues that liberals tend to focus on the care/harm and fairness/cheating foundations, while conservatives draw on all six. The book also explores how morality binds and blinds people, leading to social cohesion but also to conflicts. Haidt aims to promote understanding and civility by highlighting the commonalities and differences in moral intuitions across political spectra.

#468

• Mentioned in 60 episodes

Why Nations Fail

The Origins of Power, Prosperity and Poverty

James A. Robinson

Daron Acemoglu

Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson argue that the success or failure of nations is determined by their political and economic institutions. They present a comprehensive theory based on 15 years of research, using historical examples from the Roman Empire, the Mayan city-states, the Soviet Union, and various other regions to demonstrate how inclusive institutions foster economic growth and prosperity, while extractive institutions lead to poverty and stagnation. The authors discuss critical questions such as China's economic growth, the future of the United States, and the most effective ways to help countries move from poverty to prosperity.

#10549

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

How to Be a Conservative

Roger Scruton

In this highly personal and witty book, Roger Scruton explains how to live as a conservative despite the pressures to exist otherwise. He draws on his own experience as a counter-cultural presence in public life to argue that while humanity might survive without the conservative outlook, it certainly won't flourish. The book examines the principles and values that underpin conservative thought, including civil society, the rule of law, freedom, morality, property rights, and the role of the state. Scruton also discusses the influence of conservative ideas through the careers of politicians such as Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Disraeli, Ronald Reagan, and Margaret Thatcher, and analyzes the relationship between conservative politics, capitalism, and free markets in the UK and the US.

Kemi Badenoch just became the first black woman to lead the UK’s Conservative Party, the oldest in British politics, colloquially known as “the Tories.” She’s also 44, has three children, grew up in Nigeria, actually worked at McDonald’s (unlike some American politicians who have claimed to), didn’t go to Oxford or Cambridge, and has a master’s degree in computer engineering. Not exactly your typical Tory party leader profile.

But it’s Kemi Badenoch who has just inherited a Conservative Party that has dominated British politics for decades until Labour Party leader Keir Starmer became prime minister earlier this year. The Britain that Starmer inherited—the Britain that Conservatives like David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, and Rishi Sunak left behind—is a country with enormous debt, a shrinking GDP, a huge immigration challenge, and arguably a national identity crisis. Or as Free Press columnist and British historian Niall Ferguson has bleakly put it, “it seems that the UK has a national suicide wish.”

Can Kemi Badenoch, the woman who has been compared to Margaret Thatcher, turn her party—and ultimately, her country—around? How will the rising star in British politics offer something different than the past five Tory leaders who served before her? And can she beat out not just the Labour left but also the growing threat from a very energized hard right?

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