The John Stossel Interviews

Open speech is under attack around the world. Canada’s Rebel News founder Ezra Levant warns what might happen if we lose free speech in America. He points out that politicians in Canada plan to punish "hate speech" with life in prison. In England and Scotland, you can already get arrested for “hateful” posts. There, J.K. Rowling fights back – breaking Scotland’s law on purpose, daring police to arrest her. In Australia and Brazil, politicians tried to censor Twitter accounts. But Elon Musk refused. It’s good that both defend free speech.

Jordan Peterson, a controversial psychologist and author, dives into the vital relationship between responsibility and meaning, especially for today's youth. He argues that a dialogue solely focused on rights leaves a significant void in personal fulfillment. The discussion touches on the pitfalls of excessive compassion, the clash between individual and universal truths, and the dangers of ideological rigidity within leftist circles. Peterson advocates for free speech and individual sovereignty, challenging mainstream narratives surrounding identity and political correctness.

Socialism always fails! But for some reason people still want it. They should listen to Gloria Alvarez. She’s a viral influencer from Guatemala who watched parts of Latin America get wrecked by socialism. Now she says the “moochers and looters” are gaining ground in the USA. I’m encouraged people like Gloria get it. I interviewed her last year when she was running for President of Guatemala.

Robert Kennedy Jr recently suspended his presidential campaign. He was a unique candidate, with some controversial ideas. While he was running, I talked with him for an hour. RFK Jr told me that he wants to cut government spending, and that he supports freer markets. I was skeptical. What about his previous proposal to ban fracking? His opposition to nuclear energy? To even wind energy? What about the environmental regulations he pushes regarding chemicals in food, and his fear of vaccines? When it comes to foreign policy, he says he supports fewer wars, but what about his support for US funding of Israel? I asked RFK Jr questions about all those things, and fact-checked a few claims at the end. While we often disagree, I am glad he was willing to debate. That’s too rare these days.

Donald Trump or Kamala Harris? Well, what about Chase Oliver? He’s the Libertarian presidential candidate with some pretty interesting ideas. Thoughts you won’t hear from either major-party candidate. Oliver believes in “the most local governance, which is self-governance.” He wants government to stay out of our lives. He plans to privatize welfare, end social security, cut federal spending, and much more! In this podcast, originally recorded on June 12th, he tells me his vision for America.

Chris Rufo is known as an anti-woke crusader. Why? Because as a reporter, Rufo discovered that critical race theory is being taught in schools and that some teachers are forced to take white privilege training. For covering that, his critics say he’s a villain. The New Yorker even argues he "invented the conflict over critical race theory.” But Rufo seems to enjoy the criticism, and now he has real power in Florida because Gov. Ron DeSantis made him a trustee of a public university. In this podcast, I ask Rufo about that, and whether he and DeSantis are “authoritarians.”

Johan Norberg, an author and historian known for his critiques of socialism and advocacy for capitalism, dives into the misconceptions surrounding socialism and the benefits of a market-driven economy. He dispels myths about Sweden's socialist success, revealing its blend of free-market principles and welfare. Norberg argues that capitalism fosters happiness and strong social ties, countering the idea of loneliness as an epidemic. He also tackles the controversial debate between economic growth and degrowth, showcasing how capitalism can lead to greater generosity and poverty reduction.

Dave Rubin, host of “The Rubin Report,” used to be a leftist, but now he says progressives are “totalitarian.” He’s been shouted down when he speaks on college campuses. “They think I am a right-wing extremist,” Rubin tells me. He’s even lost friends for his political views. But Rubin’s show is hugely popular. He rightly recognized that people have an appetite for longer, in-depth interviews. “If there were more people having honest conversation,” Rubin tells me, "we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in.” Rubin is on to something. We talk about free speech, idenity politics, his change in politics, and more.

Governments spends trillions to fight climate change, but Environmentalist Bjorn Lomborg says many of these policies are a waste of money. For saying this, Lomborg has been called "the devil." The Danish government even targeted him for his views on climate change. "I'm not trying to do something that's immoral," he tells me, "I'm simply trying to make sure that we get it right." Lomborg says there are better things society should spend money on like maternal and newborn health and improving education. In this podcast he explains why.

Former host of 'Dirty Jobs', Mike Rowe, discusses 'safety third' mantra over lockdowns, value of skilled trades, unfairness in college debt forgiveness debate, and dignity of work amidst pandemic. Exploring societal priorities and mindset shifts towards fulfilling life.