
The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast
The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism.
Latest episodes

Mar 25, 2024 • 32min
Defend Apple Against the DOJ
Onkar Ghate and Elan Journo discuss the DOJ's antitrust case against Apple, defending Apple's success and innovation. They delve into the destructive nature of antitrust laws, drawing parallels with Microsoft's past struggles. Ayn Rand's perspective on antitrust as the 'rule of unreason' is explored, urging support for businesses like Apple.

Mar 25, 2024 • 1h 10min
A Legal Crisis in Immigration
Exploring the divisive immigration debate, they highlight the fear-based stances of both parties. They stress the importance of free economic migration. Biden's focus on security over migration is critiqued. They urge individuals to think independently amidst tribalism.

Mar 18, 2024 • 52min
Biden’s Price Control ‘Strike Force’
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.

Mar 13, 2024 • 19min
Does Fear of God Ground Morality?
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.

Mar 13, 2024 • 25min
Zack Snyder on The Fountainhead
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.

Mar 11, 2024 • 39min
How Biden Subverts Israel’s War on Hamas
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

Mar 4, 2024 • 59min
The Alabama IVF Ruling: The Dead End of Anti-Abortion Logic
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.

Feb 26, 2024 • 52min
Tucker Carlson’s Glorification of the Putin Regime
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.

Feb 19, 2024 • 1h
Why No One Wins from Today’s Tribal Political Battles
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.

Feb 12, 2024 • 1h 24min
Revealing Attacks on Taylor Swift and Tech CEOs
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.
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