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Free Thoughts

Latest episodes

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Sep 18, 2020 • 51min

Zoning Ruins Everything (with Emily Hamilton)

When you drive through any major U.S. city you will notice that there are areas filled with shops, restaurants, and office buildings, but one block over is solely single-family residential housing. Zoning regulations have stopped the redevelopment process in many of the highest demand parts of the country. But cities like Houston are finding that without zoning regulations there is more affordable housing.What is market urbanism? Are people fleeing cities? Why did the interstate highway system grow so large? What is a commercial corridor? Why have our cities developed in the way that they have? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Sep 11, 2020 • 59min

The Experience of Policing (with Renée Mitchell)

Renee J. Mitchell is an expert in policing research with a professional background in law enforcement. As a 22‐​year member of the Sacramento Police Department, she served in patrol, detectives, recruiting, schools, and the Regional Transit System. Trevor and Aaron ask her about her experience as a police officer and how police culture varies widely throughout the United States.What is the purpose of the police union? What is police culture like and how does it vary across the United States? How is SWAT different than the general police? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Sep 4, 2020 • 54min

Capitalism and its Critics (with Michael Munger)

Michael Munger, explains the benefits, and in fact the necessity, of capitalism in organizing human cooperation at scale, and urges the consideration of some problems inherent in capitalism. Munger claims every flaw in markets is worse under socialism.Unless you are willing to advocate monarchism, or actual communist dictatorship, markets and democracy are the only two mechanisms we have for organizing society. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Aug 28, 2020 • 51min

Rothbardian Anarchism (with Cory Massimino)

Murray Rothbard was, at the very least, one the top three libertarian thinkers in the 20th century. He was a prolific writer as the author of dozens of books, articles, and essays. Cory Massimino joins the show to discuss Rothbard's brand of anarchism.What does it mean to be paleoconservative? What is the New Left? What do they believe? Who influenced Murray Rothbard? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Aug 21, 2020 • 51min

What is Free Speech? (with Adam Gurri)

Classically speaking, freedom of speech refers to freedom from state censorship. There are three distinct questions that the current debate over “free speech” runs together in a sloppy fashion: is the state engaging in acts of censorship? Are social sanctions against speech or beliefs too harsh? Is our media ecosystem sufficiently open? Failure to disentangle these questions has resulted in the current abysmal state of the conversation.What is cancel culture? Why has the free speech debate resurfaced with such fury? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Aug 14, 2020 • 49min

Explaining Postmodernism (with Akiva Malamet)

Postmodernism is a serious view with important implications. Postmodernism can be used to think through questions about nature of morality, science, and social institutions—yielding answers that both challenge and help advance libertarianism and the case for a free society.What is postmodernism? Does postmodernism deny objective reality? How did Kant influence postmodernism? What is consciousness and what is the nature of our experience? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Aug 7, 2020 • 56min

Climate Change Panic (with Bjorn Lomborg)

Climate change is real, but it does not pose the apocalyptic threat that we have all been told time and again. When you use bad science, and even worse economics, it creates a panic and that very panic is a problem we see with global warming.What is the problem with climate alarmism? What’s the scientific value in making a model that assumes nobody will respond to incentives? Are there benefits to global warming in some places? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Jul 31, 2020 • 51min

Unpacking Constitutional Law (with Randy Barnett & Josh Blackman)

In Randy Barnett and Josh Blackman's latest book, they write about the 100 Supreme Court cases everyone should know. Their hope is that their book will help teachers and professors teach constitutional law in an organized fashion. They cleanly laid out the history of constitutional law to illustrate how doctrine has shifted over time.Could we have ended up in a different place if we did not interpret the Constitution in the way that we have for over 2 centuries? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Jul 24, 2020 • 49min

What Divides Us (with Emily Ekins)

Emily Ekins comes back on the show to talk about her latest polling work that included many questions about an individuals' locus of control. The discussion ultimately comes down to how can we improve the happiness and meaning in our own lives and those around us.Do you have a favorable view of capitalism or socialism? Are there different types of envy? How does personal responsibility play a role in how you view politics? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Jul 17, 2020 • 55min

You Are (Probably) Not a Good Person (with Christian Miller)

Most people think of themselves as a largely decent human being. We also think of our friends and family members as at least decent people. No one is a saint, but many people we interact with are honest, kind, and humble. But, Christian Miller discovers in his book that if you look at recent psychological studies closely many people regularly fail to acknowledge significant character flaws.Do you believe yourself to be a virtuous person? What do we expect of virtuous people? What is the difference between a virtue and a vice? Do we naturally move to help people? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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