
The Reason Roundtable
Every Monday, the libertarian editors of the magazine of “Free Minds and Free Markets”—Matt Welch, Nick Gillespie, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Peter Suderman—discuss and debate the week’s biggest stories and what fresh hell awaits us all.
Latest episodes

Jan 16, 2024 • 1h 1min
The Trump Train Rolls Through Iowa
The Reason Roundtable discusses the results of the Iowa caucuses, the U.S. attacks on Houthis in Yemen, and the bipartisan spending deal drama in Congress. They also provide cultural recommendations and delve into topics such as car seat laws and fake art.

Jan 8, 2024 • 58min
Nikki Haley's Last Stand?
Guest Christian Britschgi joins Peter Suderman and Katherine Mangu-Ward on the Reason Roundtable to discuss Nikki Haley's campaign situation and the Democratic concerns about Joe Biden's reelection campaign. They also touch on controversial statements by Haley, assessing competence in politics, a controversial incident in the hearing room, and discussions about Hunger Games, alternate history novels, and Andy Warhol's work.

Jan 2, 2024 • 57min
In 2024, Teens Will Get Pregnant in Driverless Cars
In this year's first episode of The Reason Roundtable, editors Peter Suderman and Katherine Mangu-Ward welcome special guests Elizabeth Nolan Brown and Zach Weissmueller to make predictions for 2024 and take one last look at 2023. 02:31—2024 predictions 20:08—Lessons from 2023 32:05—Assorted resolutions 36:32—Weekly Listener Question 43:22—State officials attempt to remove Donald Trump from the ballot. 46:24—This week's cultural recommendations Mentioned in this podcast: "The Year of Bad Vibes," by Liz Wolfe "Prediction: 2024 Will See Deadly Political Violence in the Streets," by Matt Welch "Was Biden's Social Media Meddling Illegal?" by Zach Weissmueller "Florida Gov. Scott Rejects Federal Funding for Flawed Orlando to Tampa High-Speed Rail Plan," by Robert Poole Just Asking Questions podcast "Milei Brings His Chainsaw to Argentina's Regulatory State," by Katarina Hall "1972: The Year That Made 2018 Seem Sane," by Brian Doherty "Jeb Bush: What He Thinks of Trump, Biden, DeSantis, and 'Florida Man,'" by Nick Gillespie "Who Decides Whether Trump Can Run, and What Sort of Evidence Suffices?" by Jacob Sullum Send your questions to roundtable@reason.com. Be sure to include your social media handle and the correct pronunciation of your name. Today's sponsor: Around New Year's, we get obsessed with how to change ourselves instead of just expanding on what we're already doing right. Maybe you finally organized one part of your space, and you want to tackle another. Or maybe you're taking your supplements every morning, and now you want to actually eat breakfast too. Therapy helps you find your strengths, so you can ditch the extreme resolutions and make changes that really stick. If you're thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. It's entirely online, designed to be convenient, flexible, and suited to your schedule. Just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist, and switch therapists any time for no additional charge. Celebrate the progress you've already made. Visit BetterHelp.com/roundtable today to get 10 percent off your first month. Audio production by Ian Keyser; assistant production by Hunt Beaty. Music: "Angeline," by The Brothers SteveThe post In 2024, Teens Will Get Pregnant in Driverless Cars appeared first on Reason.com.

22 snips
Dec 26, 2023 • 1h 9min
2023's Most Under-Covered Stories
Editors of Reason Roundtable discuss under-covered stories in politics, science, and culture from 2023. Topics range from the national debt to life expectancy misconceptions, a life extension drug for dogs, and the quiet movement of psychedelics. They also delve into cultural optimism through artistic engagement and the cultural impact of 2020, including the COVID-19 pandemic and George Floyd protests.

Dec 18, 2023 • 1h 5min
Welcome to the Hyperbole Factory
The Reason Roundtable discusses Trump's potential second-term agenda, including the proposal to bomb Mexico. They also explore the impact of shopping local vs. big retail and recommend a local retail place. Ambrose Bierce's Civil War stories and 'Inherent the Stars' are discussed, along with a critique of a cop-centric documentary on the George Floyd case.

5 snips
Dec 11, 2023 • 1h 6min
Campus Speech Restrictions Come Back To Bite Universities
Free speech on college campuses, weaponization of discourse, dangers of increasing rules and regulations in universities, upcoming Liberty Con event, creating autonomous regions within the United States, role of politics in society, identifying character and discussing a statement, final battle against Godzilla

Dec 11, 2023 • 1h 50min
A New Reason Podcast Is Just Asking Questions
Podcaster Dave Smith joins Just Asking Questions to tackle the fundamental question of what is a libertarian. They discuss the principles of libertarianism, the libertarian viewpoint on state power and monopolies, limited government, the Mises caucus's strategy, government motivations, and the importance of individualism and accountability in libertarianism.

Dec 4, 2023 • 1h 2min
Goodbye to George Santos and Henry Kissinger
In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Peter Suderman consider the ouster of Rep. George Santos (R–N.Y.) from Congress and unpack the debate between Gov. Ron DeSantis and Gov. Gavin Newsom, before examining the legacy of former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. 01:33 - Rep. George Santos (R–N.Y.) ousted from Congress 12:42 - What matters when donating to Reason 17:19 - Gov. Ron DeSantis vs. Gov. Gavin Newsom debate aftermath 34:19 - Weekly listener question 47:03 - This week's cultural recommendations Mentioned in this podcast: "George Santos Arrested, Indicted on 13 Federal Counts, Pleads Not Guilty," by Joe Lancaster "The Political Lies That Really Matter," by Nick Gillespie and Justin Zuckerman "How Do We Solve a Problem Like George Santos?" by Matt Welch "Why Did George Santos Lie About His Past To Get Elected to Congress?" by Scott Shackford "Ask Reason Magazine's Editors Anything: Webathon 2023!" by Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Peter Suderman "The DeSantis-Newsom Debate Was Really a Debate About COVID," by Eric Boehm "Is California Over?" by Nick Gillespie and Regan Taylor "Florida vs. California," by Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Peter Suderman, and Nick Gillespie "Jeb Bush: Why Florida Is Winning," by Nick Gillespie, Adam Czarnecki, and Justin Zuckerman "California's Recall Is a Revolt Against Gov. Gavin Newsom's Progressive Agenda," by Zach Weissmueller "Henry Kissinger's Deadly Career Gives the Lie to the Myth of the Disinterested Statesman," by Christian Britschgi "In Search of Libertarian Realism," by Matt Welch, Sheldon Richman, William Ruger, Christopher Preble, and Fernando Tesón "A Tribute To Henry Kissinger," by Howard Landis "Poor, Misunderstood Kissinger," by Jacob Sullum "Henry Kissinger Rollins on Statecraft" by Nick Gillespie "Reason Can Do More Good With Your Money Than Government Can: Contribute to Our Annual Webathon," by Katherine Mangu-Ward "How Reason Changes Minds, Lives, and Laws by Covering Criminal Injustice," by Matt Welch "Give to Reason and Help Create the Next Generation of Libertarians!" by Nick Gillespie Send your questions to roundtable@reason.com. Be sure to include your social media handle and the correct pronunciation of your name. Today's sponsors: LibertyCon International 2024 Do you ever feel like your brain is getting in its own way? Like you know what you should do, what's good for you, but you just can't do it? Like you know what you should do, what's good for you, but you just can't do it? Therapy helps you figure out what's holding you back. So you can work for yourself, instead of against yourself. If you're thinking of starting therapy, give BetterHelp a try. It's entirely online. Designed to be convenient, flexible, and suited to your schedule. Just fill out a brief questionnaire to get matched with a licensed therapist, and switch therapists any time for no additional charge. Make your brain your friend, with BetterHelp. Visit BetterHelp.com/roundtable today to get 10 percent off your first month. Audio production by Ian Keyser Assistant production by Hunt Beaty Music: "Angeline" by The Brothers SteveThe post Goodbye to George Santos and Henry Kissinger appeared first on Reason.com.

Dec 2, 2023 • 1h 16min
Ask Reason Magazine's Editors Anything: Webathon 2023!
In this special webathon episode, Reason Magazine's editors answer listener questions on topics such as Christianity and libertarianism, celebrating the 250th birthday of the United States, and their personal favorites like pizza and cocktails. They also discuss supporting Reason magazine, Nikki Haley's nomination, living in different cities, and handling disappointment. The hosts propose solutions for noise pollution caused by loud cars and motorcycles, and even fantasize about rebooting '1776' and navigating present politics with key founding fathers.

Nov 30, 2023 • 58min
A Bonus Reason Roundtable Featuring Four 'Florida Men' of Our Own
In a special bonus Reason Roundtable podcast, Reason's very own Floridians Peter Suderman, Stephanie Slade, Zach Weissmueller, and C.J. Ciaramella discuss stories specific to the Sunshine State culled from the upcoming Florida-themed issue of the magazine. Topics include the origins of the infamous "Florida Man," monkeys with herpes, the colorful history of Key West, and alligator knowledge. 09:30—The Villages, a unique retirement community 21:44—Origins of the "Florida Man" meme 41:00—Key West, the Conch Republic 39:50—The Bushwacker cocktail 44:54—Favorite weird Florida stories Mentioned in this podcast: "The Villages Is America's Boomer Boomtown," by Zach Weissmueller "Monkey Herpes, Face Eating, and the Pork Chop Gang: How Public Records Laws Created the Florida Man," by C.J. Ciaramella "Long Live the Conch Republic," by Stephanie Slade "How the Bushwacker Cocktail Migrated to Florida," by Peter Suderman "Florida vs. California," by Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Peter Suderman Send your questions to roundtable@reason.com. Be sure to include your social media handle and the correct pronunciation of your name. Audio production by Ian Keyser; assistant production by Hunt Beaty. Music: "Angeline," by The Brothers SteveThe post A Bonus <I>Reason Roundtable</I> Featuring Four 'Florida Men' of Our Own appeared first on Reason.com.
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