The Political Orphanage

The Political Orphanage's oldest and most enthusiastic show sponsor, Snuffy's Off Route 44, has kindly offered to pay for this year's Christmas special. On the condition that the staff of Snuffy's write it in its entirety. Merry Christmas! Featuring: Josh Jennings, Austin Bragg, Justin Robert Young, and Brian Brushwood. Season 2, Ep 25

Is it better to use the government to expand coverage, or rely on markets to lower prices? Rick Ungar joins Heaton for a policy discussion about problems and solutions for American health care.  Season 2, Ep 24

Dr. Tom Jones is an astronaut and the author of "Sky Walking: An Astronaut's Memoir" and joins Heaton to discuss what life is like in space and what the future holds for NASA and the private sector.  Season 2, Ep 23

On this episode we take a big picture view of impeachment--what's it's role in government and what's the nature of the presidency? Michael Baranowski of The Politics Guys podcast joins to discuss, and also, to point out the similarities between the impeachment proceedings and the immortal film "Caddyshack." Season 2, Ep 22

Ken White is a First Amendment litigator, lawblogger at Popehat.com, and the hilarious Twitter personality Popehat. He joins Heaton to talk about Free Speech: what's legally protected and what will prompt the cops to come knocking? How do public decency laws work?  Interview at 5:30 Season 2, Ep 21

There have been three headlines this last week hinting at a resurgent Hillary Clinton campaign in 2020. Heaton thinks it's balderdash. His friend and former producer Jennings is certain she's in. They bet money on it, and discuss.   Season 2, Ep 20

Notable billionaire and possible Keebler elf Michael Bloomberg has thrown his hat into the presidential ring as a Democrat. Meanwhile Bernie Sanders wants to outlaw billionaires, and Elizabeth Warren wants to slowly deflate them, like cash balloons.  Josie "The Red-Headed Libertarian" joins the show to discuss billionaires, wealth taxes, the Laffer Curve, and where to hide in a nasty political climate. 

Mike Larsen is a former writer for The Drew Carey Show and Real Time with Bill Maher. He also worked for Congress as the press secretary for Representative Jackie Speier. Now he's running for congress himself in Ohio against incumbent Jim Jordan. He joins Heaton to talk about standup, his campaign, how puppets can influence democracy, and gerrymandering. Season 2, Ep 18

Ben Howe joins to discuss his book "The Immoral Majority: Why Evangelicals Chose Power Over Christian Values." The episodes covers everything from Persia's Cyrus the Great, to Christian socialism, to Buddhist and Evangelical theology. Season 2, Ep 17

Shots fired! Hillary Clinton is accusing Tulsi Gabbard of being a Russian asset. Tulsi Gabbard says Hillary Clinton is a corrupt warmonger. How exactly does this factor into foreign policy? Justin Robert Young joins Heaton for a tactical analysis of the 2020 campaign, and Heaton explains what the hell "unilateral vs multilateral muscular liberalism" means. Season 2, Ep 16