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How to Avoid the Partisan Trap Even at The Washington Post w/ Megan McArdle

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Aug 11, 2025

Guest

Megan McArdle

Megan McArdle, a columnist at The Washington Post, defies traditional media expectations with her insightful critiques on economic policy and healthcare. She discusses why progressives often misunderstand economic issues and argues for the benefits of a private healthcare system. The conversation dives into the complexities of America's healthcare mess, the role of insurance companies, and the inefficiencies in pharmaceutical incentives. McArdle's unique journey from IT consulting to journalism also sheds light on the evolving landscape of media integrity and diverse perspectives.

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ANECDOTE

From IT Admin To Columnist

Megan McArdle accidentally became a journalist after blogging post-9/11 and joining The Economist.
She then moved from The Atlantic to Bloomberg and eventually to The Washington Post as a columnist.

insights

INSIGHT

Why She Calls Out The Left

Megan focuses on where the left makes mistakes because other Post columnists already cover Trump's faults.
She aims to fill coverage gaps the paper lacks to create broader institutional value.

insights

INSIGHT

Asymmetric Information Explains Market Failures

Megan named her blog after asymmetric information to highlight hidden facts in transactions like insurance.
She argues solving asymmetric information problems is a core economic task shaping policy design.

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The Irreplaceable Human Touch in Journalism

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court is a satirical novel by Mark Twain, published in 1889. It tells the story of a 19th-century American, Hank Morgan, who is accidentally transported back in time to the court of King Arthur. Using his knowledge of modern technology, Hank attempts to modernize the kingdom, leading to a clash between the old and the new.

Mark Twain's "Pudd'nhead Wilson" is a complex novel exploring themes of identity, justice, and the nature of good and evil. The story revolves around two babies switched at birth, leading to a series of mistaken identities and dramatic consequences. Twain uses the novel to satirize the legal system and to explore the social dynamics of race and class in antebellum America. The book's intricate plot and its exploration of moral ambiguity make it a compelling and thought-provoking read. Its enduring appeal lies in its sharp wit and its insightful commentary on human nature.

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Incidents in the life of a slave girl

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Middlemarch

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Middlemarch, written by George Eliot, is a novel that delves into the complexities of provincial life in 19th-century England. The story revolves around the intersecting lives of its characters, particularly Dorothea Brooke and Dr. Tertius Lydgate, as they navigate marriage, vocation, and social class. Eliot critiques the conventional romance narratives of her time by portraying marriage as a complex and often problematic institution. The novel also explores themes of idealism, self-interest, hypocrisy, and the constraints on women's lives. Set in the fictional town of Middlemarch between 1829 and 1832, the novel incorporates historical events such as the Great Reform Act of 1832 and early developments in medicine. Eliot's realistic portrayal of ordinary human life, with its quiet tragedies and small triumphs, has made 'Middlemarch' a masterpiece of English literature.

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Joanne Suter

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You might think you know what a Washington Post columnist sounds like, but Megan McArdle is not your typical liberal media voice. She’s spent years inside the most established outlets in journalism: The Atlantic, Bloomberg, The Economist and yet she’s managed to surprise and infuriate readers on the left with sharp critiques that don’t always toe the party line.

Today on Conversations we talk about why progressives often get economic policy wrong and the real mess behind America’s broken healthcare system. Megan makes a solid pitch for why Americans should continue to have a private system. Megan and I get into it about insurance companies, pharmaceutical giants, and where the incentives in healthcare are completely backwards . . . and, believe it or not, where they actually work.

Go to groundnews.com/Coleman to get 40% off the unlimited access Vantage plan and unlock world-wide perspectives on today’s biggest news stories.

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