The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTvoxqlq9x4 Podcast audio: In this episode of New Ideal Live, Ben Bayer and Nikos Sotirakopoulos examine President Biden’s State of the Union address and what it reveals about the goals of today’s political leadership. They discuss the anti-mind premise driving both political tribes and how it leads to statist policies that destroy wealth and create economic hardship. Among the topics covered: Understanding the values of the current political leadership; Biden’s antipathy to the mind’s role in economic value creation; How contempt for the mind restricts and destroys the pharmaceutical industry; “Shrinkflation” as a distraction from the damage caused by anti-profit state policies; Statist policy effects on supply and demand as the cause of rising prices; How to think about “junk” fees and what underlies attacks on them; The true objective of Biden’s “Strike Force” as rule by fear and force; The anti-producer and anti-consumer motivations of Biden’s “Strike Force”; Why Republicans’ only response is to change the subject to the border crisis. Mentioned in this podcast are the interview “Understanding the Roots of the New Inflation: With Rob Tarr,” Onkar Ghate and Ben Bayer’s New Ideal Live episode “The Pure Hatred of the New Antitrust,” and Ayn Rand’s lecture “Egalitarianism and Inflation.” The podcast was recorded on March 13, 2024. Listen and subscribe from your mobile device on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or Stitcher. Watch archived podcasts here.

In this podcast, Ben Bayer challenges the idea that a fear of God is necessary for morality, highlighting how it hinders moral wisdom. He discusses the impact of fear on moral guidance, love of virtue, and intellectual independence. The episode explores the relationship between faith, fear, and moral wisdom, shedding light on the importance of rational thought in ethics.

Discussing Zack Snyder's admiration for 'The Fountainhead' and debunking misconceptions about Ayn Rand's work. Exploring themes of integrity, independence, and individualism in the novel. Analyzing Howard Rourke's character and comparing Snyder's interpretation with the actual origin story. Examining Ayn Rand's impact on society and her radical philosophy on unity and integrity in life.

Exploring Biden's approach to Israel-Hamas conflict, moral distinction between liberty and totalitarianism, critique of U.S. urging restraint on Israel, advocating for defeating Hamas over ceasefires, challenges of two-state solution, US-Israel relations impact on conflict with Hamas

Discusses the Alabama Supreme Court ruling considering embryos as children, dissecting anti-abortion logic, individual rights, and separation of Church and State. Raises questions on defining life, embryo rights, and consequences on reproductive rights.

Analyzing Tucker Carlson's glorification of the Putin regime through viral videos and interviews, raising questions on journalistic ethics and the moral-political implications. Critiquing the soft approach taken in interviewing authoritarian figures like Putin, and debunking Putin's philosophical reasoning for invading Ukraine. Examining the dangerous shift towards authoritarian apologists in conservative circles, and highlighting the bias and misinformation in Western media coverage of the conflict in Ukraine.

This episode explores the coarsening of American politics and the tribalism at the root of political conflicts. They discuss the Israel-Hamas war, immigration, and abortion as hot political controversies. Ayn Rand's philosophical analysis of tribalism informs ARI's approach to political analysis. They also emphasize the detrimental effects of tribalism in politics and how it affects people's positions on political issues. The concept of tribalism in today's society is explored, along with suggestions for further reading on tribalism and engaging with the podcast.

Vivek Ramaswamy alleged a plot to rig the Super Bowl for Taylor Swift to endorse Biden, while Mark Zuckerberg was berated by senators on child safety online. The podcast discusses the complexity of social media platforms, the debate over Section 230, accusations of sex trafficking, and the dangers of government control. It analyzes the backlash against Taylor Swift and tech CEOs, the rise of regressive mentality and conspiracy theories, and explores the power of Objectivist principles.

Harry Binswanger discusses Ayn Rand's philosophical approach to life and the lessons we can learn from her. Topics covered include Rand's integration of philosophy into her life, her use of philosophy to understand herself and others, and the surprising conclusions she came to. Binswanger also shares his personal experience of working with Rand and how she helped him develop as a philosopher.

Ayn Rand, a prominent figure subject to many unfounded myths, is the guest in this week's episode. The hosts debunk three myths about her: her hatred towards the poor, her glorification of the rich, and her reliance on social security. They provide evidence from her novels, discuss her perspective on poverty, and address misconceptions about her financial situation. The chapter also explores the attacks against her ideas and emphasizes the importance of skepticism and intellectual integrity.