The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie

In this engaging discussion, Steven Pinker, a renowned Harvard psychologist and best-selling author, tackles the challenges facing academic freedom and free speech at Harvard. He explores the impact of political pressures on universities and emphasizes the importance of independent scholarly governance. Pinker also shares his admiration for Richard Dawkins and discusses the role of secularism in moral progress. He introduces concepts from his upcoming book, shedding light on how 'common knowledge' influences societal dynamics. A thought-provoking conversation on education's future!

Today's guest is John Arnold—the former Enron wunderkind and billionaire philanthropist (and Reason Foundation supporter) who's determined to hack America's most expensive and least accountable public sector systems in areas such as criminal justice, education, and pensions. (Fun fact: He was once called "the most hated man in pensionland" by Governing magazine due to his reform efforts.) Reason's Nick Gillespie and Arnold talk about why public pensions are so out of control and how to fix them; how Medicare squeezes billions of unnecessary dollars out of taxpayers; and how Enron scammed its investors not despite regulations but in full view of them. And they discuss why, despite all the country's problems, Arnold is still betting on America to get better, not worse. 0:00— Introduction 1:15— Private sector vs. government vs. philanthropy 6:05— Education reform 10:31— Pension reform 17:21— Health care reform 22:21— Criminal justice reform 25:45— Gun violence studies 28:24— Commitment to research with integrity over ideology 33:10— There's no evidence for "college for all" 36:40— Being a billionaire 37:42— Arnold's experience at Enron 42:45— Markets vs regulations 46:31— Is Arnold optimistic? 48:00— Why Arnold is still betting on America Subscribe to the new YouTube channel for The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie! Video Editor: Ian KeyserThe post John Arnold: Government Can't Be Trusted To Fix Any Problems appeared first on Reason.com.

In a compelling discussion, surgeon and Cato Institute fellow Jeffrey Singer advocates for patient autonomy in health care, criticizing government overreach. He highlights how regulations like licensing laws and the FDA's drug approval monopoly hinder competition and innovation. Singer draws parallels between personal freedom and public health, exploring sensitive topics such as end-of-life choices and trans youth health care. With rich historical insights, he argues for a reimagined health care system that prioritizes individual choice.

Jason Furman, a Harvard economist and former adviser to President Obama, critiques Bidenomics and the failures of neoliberalism. He discusses the consequences of tariffs from the Trump era, emphasizing that they function as taxes. Furman expresses new concerns about national debt and the impact of AI on the economy, highlighting the need for accountability in fiscal policies. Additionally, he explores the challenges of reforming Social Security and Medicare while revisiting his views on Keynesian economics and the ongoing evolution of economic thought.

Mark Clifford, former editor of the South China Morning Post and author of 'The Troublemaker', discusses the inspiring life of Jimmy Lai, a pro-democracy activist and political prisoner in China. They dive into Lai’s extraordinary escape from mainland China, his rise as a billionaire entrepreneur, and his courageous stand for free speech through his publication, Apple Daily. The conversation also highlights the brutal reality of Lai's prison life and the broader implications for free expression in Hong Kong amid increasing authoritarianism.

Leigh Stein and Julius Taranto, both satirical novelists, dive into the role of satire today. Stein, known for her sharp wit addressing the wellness industry, and Taranto, whose work explores cancel culture, discuss whether today's cultural climate allows for impactful satire. They reflect on how novels can outshine other media and critique societal absurdities, especially within feminism. With TikTok shaping reading preferences, they examine how younger audiences are reviving interest in literature, making a case for the transformative potential of modern storytelling.

James Fadiman, a Stanford-trained psychologist and pioneer in microdosing, teams up with Jordan Gruber, co-author on health benefits of psychedelics. They dive into how microdosing can alleviate depression and enhance cognitive function, likening it to a vitamin regimen. The duo tackles the shifting landscape of psychedelic legalization, discussing its cultural normalization regardless of political climate. They also reflect on the growing acceptance of psychedelics in therapy, emphasizing the potential for societal transformation and healing.

Today's guest is Reason Senior Editor Brian Doherty, who has just published Modern Libertarianism: A Brief History of Classical Liberalism in the United States. His previous books include Radicals for Capitalism, the indispensable history of the libertarian movement, and titles covering the Ron Paul revolution, gun rights, Burning Man, and underground comics. Modern Libertarianism analyzes the political and cultural legacies of figures such as Ludwig von Mises, F.A. Hayek, Murray Rothbard, Milton Friedman, and Barry Goldwater. Doherty talks with Reason's Nick Gillespie about Ayn Rand and the other two women who helped conceptualize libertarian thought—Rose Wilder Lane and Isabel Paterson. Doherty and Gillespie also discuss how libertarians have played leading, if often underappreciated, roles in battles over free speech, international trade, immigration, deregulation, drug legalization, and lifestyle liberation. This interview was recorded at The Reason Speakeasy, a live monthly event in New York City that doubles as a live taping of this podcast. For information on upcoming events, go here. 1:59 — New book: Modern Libertarianism 3:26 — Isabel Paterson and The God of the Machine 5:14 — Rose Wilder Lane and the libertarian roots of Little House on the Prairie 9:59 — How did libertarianism get so male-dominated? 18:08 — Ayn Rand 26:15 — Is the Trump administration libertarian at all? 29:17 — Robert LeFevre and Murray Rothbard's thoughts on blackmail and violence 34:14 — Kerry Thornley and his unlikely connection to Lee Harvey Oswald 39:19 — Barry Goldwater's influence on libertarianism 47:00 — The rising respectability of libertarianism 48:17 — Libertarianism is not conservatism or reactionary 52:27 — The Libertarian Party 55:00 — The Cato Institute 56:16 — Libertarianism's wins 58:00 — Burning Man Video Editor: Ian KeyserThe post Brian Doherty: The Fascinating Women and Weirdos Who Founded Libertarianism appeared first on Reason.com.

Rachel Barkow, a law professor at NYU and author of *Justice Abandoned*, dives deep into the controversial use of presidential pardon power under Trump and Biden. She critiques Biden's end-of-term pardons and Trump's pardons for January 6 defendants, highlighting issues of nepotism and favoritism. Barkow also raises alarms about Supreme Court precedents affecting justice and discusses her experience clerking for Justice Antonin Scalia, revealing surprising bipartisan commonalities in their dialogue.

Our guest today is Alton Brown, who for years hosted Good Eats on the Food Network and brought his interest in science to the making of dinner. He's currently touring the country, and he has also just published Food for Thought, a great collection of essays about food, culture, and his life on and off the screen. In this episode, Reason's Nick Gillespie talks with Brown about how food transcends politics, why fusion cooking isn't cultural appropriation, and why there's always room for Jell-O salad on his menu. 0:43— Brown's Last Bite tour 1:55— Brown's new book: Food for Thought 6:40— Curiosity and surprise are essential to life 12:03— The pizza that made Alton Brown 16:21— When Indian immigrants made kadhi that blew Brown's mind 18:57— The positive case for 'cultural appropriation' 26:53— Food media's impact on cooking skills 30:40— How Martha Stewart's perfectionism ruined dinner parties 32:07— Julia Child, Mr. Wizard, and Monty Python 39:56— Good Eats motivated food exploration 48:19— Ozempic & the moral value of restraint 51:01— USDA & FDA were created to support industry, not consumers 55:28— Southern cuisine and Jello salads 57:00— On being from the South and embracing its full history Today's sponsor: The Reason Speakeasy. The Reason Speakeasy is a monthly unscripted conversation in New York City with outspoken defenders of free thinking and heterodoxy in an age of intellectual conformity and groupthink. It doubles as a live taping of The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie. Go here to buy tickets and go here to sign up for Reason's NYC Events newsletter. Video Editor: Ian KeyserThe post Alton Brown: A Culinary Legend Offers <em>Food for Thought</em> appeared first on Reason.com.