

The Political Orphanage
Andrew Heaton
Politics minus bile plus jokes. Comedian and avowed independent Andrew Heaton interviews authors and thought leaders about policy and big thinky stuff.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Nov 13, 2020 • 21min
Protect Your Bank from Racoons (Friday Release Valve)
(Not Safe for Kids) Yvette d’Entremont and Alice Vaughn are the hosts of "Two Girls One Mic," a podcast that reviews the plots of porn films. They join Heaton to sort out the week's underserved headlines, including stuff about Godzilla, gay penguins, and naked sushi. You can find Two Girls One Mic at: https://www.twogirlsonemic.com/

Nov 11, 2020 • 1h 3min
Jen Briney Thinks Congress is Tricking You
Jen Briney is host of "Congressional Dish," a podcast that deep dives Congress, its legislation, and its shenanigans. She comes on to discuss what the election means for the next few months, and the gambits lawmakers employ to push their agendas through without actually having to publicly debate them.

Nov 6, 2020 • 35min
Oakland's Notoriously Violent Turkey - Friday Release Valve
Jack Helmuth and Brian Sack of "Questionable Material" return in neon glory to unpack the week's best headlines, including noctiginarian shootouts, the global importance of Belgian fishing adventures, and soliciting sex workers in graveyards.

Nov 4, 2020 • 20min
What Roger Ailes Can Teach Us About Election Night
Last night had a significant tell you can't gleam from polling or minute-by-minute vote counts. We don't know who's going to win, but I can tell you who both candidates think will. Plus: what the next few days of legal trench warfare are gonna look like.

Nov 3, 2020 • 32min
How Victory Will Jolt Republicans or Democrats
If Trump wins, does he become the standard model for GOP candidates? If he loses, do Romneyites tiptoe back? Does a Biden victory forestall the ascent of his party's activist wing, or is he the last gasp of Democratic centrism, regardless? Justin Robert Young joins the program to talk about the long-term consequences of either outcome.

Nov 2, 2020 • 1h 10min
Wolves! Felons! Ranked Choice Voting! State Ballot Initiatives
The World's Smartest Podcast Network roundtable convenes to bring you a guide to state ballot initiatives happening around the country: Reintroducing wolves to Colorado, reintroducing ethnic discrimination to California, voting and involuntary labor for felons, and Ranked Choice Voting in Massachusetts. The Roundtable includes: Turner Sparks and Michael Kaplan of the "Lost in America" podcast and Dr. Andrea Jones-Rooy of "Ask a Political Scientist". Go to worldssmartestpodcastnetwork.com to check them out!

Oct 30, 2020 • 33min
British Supermarket Astronaut Chicken - Friday Release Valve
Comedians Brian Parise and Andrew Young join the show to discuss the week's best, underserved headlines. Including: how to bribe your way to superior wine, vampire swing voters, and newspaper heists. Brian's new comedy album is "Last Wishes," available here: https://800pgr.lnk.to/pariseWE

Oct 29, 2020 • 1h
The Alliance Party, with Jim Rex and Michelle Griffith
The Alliance Party is positioning itself to scoop up disaffected centrists from the two major parties, rather than establishing itself as a third ideological core. They're in the process of absorbing the Reform Party, which had the most successful third party track record since Teddy Roosevelt. Jim Rex is the founder and National Chairman of the Alliance Party, and Michelle Griffith is party Vice Chair.

Oct 28, 2020 • 51min
Jo Jorgensen and Spike Cohen: The Libertarians
The Libertarian Party is the only minor party that will be on all fifty state ballots this year, and Jo Jorgensen and Spike Cohen are its presidential and vice presidential nominees. They join the show to discuss free market health care, not bombing people, and libertarianism as an alternative to Republicans and Democrats. Jo Jorgensen at 12:20 Spike Cohen at 25:28

Oct 27, 2020 • 49min
Don Blankenship & The Constitution Party
Don Blankenship is primarily concerned with protectionist trade and immigration policy, and federal spending--as well as fidelity to constitutional principles. He's running as the 2020 Constitution Party presidential candidate, a minor party more typically known for its socially conservative positions.