Reason.com

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch discuss Katherine's New York Times op-ed, "Libertarians Tried to Warn You About Trump," which lays out how Trump-era governance has repeatedly vindicated libertarian warnings about executive power, civil liberties, and the risks of trading principle for partisan advantage. The group then turns to Speaker of the House Mike Johnson's defense of warrantless Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) searches as a concrete example of how quickly Republican commitments to constitutional limits can erode once a party is in power, and why libertarian ideas so often get embraced only in opposition. The conversation then shifts to Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show and the now-permanent state of the American culture war, as political figures and influencers on the right, including President Donald Trump himself, weighed in to bash the performance. They discuss whether this cycle of outrage is simply what audiences and politicians now want, and how it crowds out serious debate about governance and the economy. A listener asks when each panelist had their own "aha" moment about the failures of the two-party system, before the editors turn to Trump's decision to continue funding the Department of Education, despite his promises to dismantle it.   0:00—Libertarians warned about Trump 13:56—Johnson complains about the Fourth Amendment 20:30—Bad Bunny and the culture wars 28:35—Trump's racist "Lion King" Obama meme 34:44—Listener question on libertarian lightbulb moments 44:34—Trump continues funding the Department of Education 52:14—Weekly cultural recommendations   Mentioned in This Podcast "Libertarians Tried to Warn You," by Katherine Mangu-Ward "Trump 2.0, Year 1: A Libertarian Nightmare," by Brian Doherty "Claiming Bad Bunny Isn't Successful Is as Foolish As Claiming He Isn't American," by Eric Boehm "Half-Hearted Halftime Outrage," by Christian Britschgi "Mike Johnson Wants To Spare ICE the Hassle of Getting the Right Warrant Before Forcibly Entering a Home," by Damon Root "So Much for Abolishing the Department of Education," by Eric Boehm Producer: Paul Alexander Video Editor: Ian Keyser The post Libertarians Tried To Warn You About Executive Power appeared first on Reason.com.

On this special episode of The Reason Roundtable, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch are live from Washington, D.C., to discuss growing concerns about the Trump administration's rhetoric around elections. They dig into President Donald Trump's call to "nationalize" elections, the administration's pressure on states over voter data, and how those moves fit alongside January 6 and earlier efforts to overturn election results. The group debates how worried Americans should be about centralized election control and what it would mean for democratic legitimacy if one party gained greater authority over the voting process. The discussion then moves on to assess Trump's first year back in office, with each panelist reflecting on what concerns them most and what, if anything, they've liked from this administration. Suderman then turns the federal budget into a live guessing game of "How Much Did That Cost?" From there, the editors discuss Washington, D.C., itself, and the state of city governance, before analyzing the Super Bowl and the culture-war expectations around the halftime show.   0:00—Trump wants to nationalize elections 6:10—Reviewing the first year of Trump's second term 14:47—How much did that cost? 18:54—Governance in Washington, D.C. 27:24—Culture wars and the Super Bowl 36:44—Cultural recommendations Producer: Paul Alexander Audio Mixer: Ian Keyser The post Do Republicans Want To Control Elections? appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch discuss the political fallout from a shocking Texas special election, in which a Democrat flipped a district that President Donald Trump had won by 17 points in 2024, amid growing backlash to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) tactics and hardline immigration enforcement. They discuss what the result says about independent voters, the unraveling of the GOP's 2024 coalition, and why immigration politics now appear to be driving everything from a partial government shutdown to open conflict within the Republican Party over Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller's influence in the administration. The conversation then turns to Trump's decision to tap Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve and what his record suggests about central bank independence. The editors also scrutinize the administration's broader economic messaging, including Trump's Wall Street Journal op-ed defending his tariff policy and claims that inflation has been brought under control, and how those arguments hold up against the data. They then touch on former CNN journalist Don Lemon's arrest and the White House response before turning to a listener question about whether the rhetoric coming out of AI companies points toward a libertarian utopia or a threat to liberty itself. Finally, the editors discuss Moltbook, an emerging platform built around AI systems meant to govern themselves, and why it's stirring so much debate.   0:00—Democrats win special election in Texas 08:30—Partial government shutdown over DHS funding 23:13—Kevin Warsh to lead the Federal Reserve 35:13—Don Lemon indicted by the DOJ 43:10—Listener question on AI and liberty 51:54—Moltbook and self-governing AI 57:59—Weekly cultural recommendations   Upcoming Reason Events The Reason Roundtable: Live in Washington, D.C.! February 4   Mentioned in the podcast: "Shutdown Showdown," by Robby Soave "Stephen Miller's Hardline Immigration Tactics Are Backfiring," by Peter Suderman "The Minneapolis Shootings Underline the Advantages of Body Cameras, Which DHS Has Been Slow To Adopt," by Jacob Sullum "Judge Says ICE Violated Court Orders in 74 Cases—See Them All Here," by C.J. Ciaramella "Trump Taps Kevin Warsh To Lead Fed," by Peter Suderman "Trump Claims His Tariffs Have 'Brought America Back.' Here Are 3 Things He Got Wrong," by Eric Boehm "Trump: 'I Want To Drive Housing Prices Up,'" by Jared Dillian "Key Inflation Metric Hits 3 Percent, Despite Trump's Claim That Rising Prices Are 'Solved,'" by Eric Boehm "Bessent Says Construction Jobs Are Booming Under Trump's Tariffs. Government Data Show the Opposite," by Eric Boehm "One Way to Think About the Don Lemon Prosecution," by Eugene Volokh "Government's Theory for Prosecuting Don Lemon as to Disruption of Minneapolis Church Service," by Eugene Volokh "Don Lemon's Bad Day, Looksmaxxing, and King Charles II," by Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi "No, AI Isn't Plotting Humanity's Downfall on Moltbook," by Elizabeth Nolan Brown "Will AI Benefit Everyone?" by Gene Epstein Producer: Paul Alexander Video Editor: Ian Keyser The post Democrats Are Flipping Trump Districts in Texas?! appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Matt Welch are joined by special guest Emily Jashinsky, host of After Party, to examine the killing of Alex Pretti by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis and the Trump administration's shifting narrative about the shooting. The group discusses the Second Amendment and free-speech implications of statements being made by Trump administration officials and the Republican Party's sudden embrace of gun-control talking points, as well as the broader politics of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as the administration pushes for escalation while losing public support on immigration. The panel also discusses the upcoming Academy Awards and how political themes are shaping expectations for the awards season. A listener asks how to show up and protest against state violence while navigating the ideological baggage of left-wing protest spaces.   0:00—ICE kills Alex Pretti in Minnesota 20:00—Public support for Trump administration policy 39:07—Listener question on protesting state violence 45:23—The influence of politics at the Oscars 53:01—Weekly cultural recommendations   Upcoming Reason Events The Reason Roundtable: Live in Washington, D.C.! February 4   Mentioned in the podcast: "The Second Shooting," by Liz Wolfe "The Trump Administration Is Lying About Gun Rights and the Death of Alex Pretti," by Robby Soave "DHS Again Promises a Thorough Investigation of a Fatal Shooting After Prejudging the Outcome," by Jacob Sullum "Democrats Plan To Block DHS Funding After Minnesota Killing. Republicans Should Join Them," by Eric Boehm "Leaked ICE Memo Claims Agents Can Enter Homes Without Judicial Warrants," by Autumn Billings "ICE Tells Legal Observer, 'We Have a Nice Little Database, and Now You're Considered a Domestic Terrorist,'" by C.J. Ciaramella "Vance Goes to Minnesota," by Liz Wolfe "ICE Demonstrates Why We Need the Second Amendment," by J.D. Tuccille Producer: Paul Alexander Video Editor: Ian Keyser The post When Did Republicans Stop Caring About Gun Rights? appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman and Matt Welch are joined by novelist and Reason contributor Kat Rosenfield and head of media for the Institute of Economic Affairs Reem Ibrahim to assess the mounting confrontation between the United States and its European allies over Greenland. Trump's tariff threats, talk of national security emergencies, exchanges between world leaders, and speculation about military force have pushed an unusual territorial dispute into the center of trans-Atlantic politics. The group considers what the confrontation means for NATO and trade policy with Europe. The conversation then turns to Minnesota, where masked federal agents continue detaining and harassing people in the aftermath of the Renee Good killing, prompting legal battles, disputes with state officials, and concerns about civil liberties. They also examine Trump's newly announced health care plan and what it signals about his domestic policy priorities. A listener then asks whether libertarians have any reason to want Greenland as part of the United States.   0:00—U.S. maneuvering to acquire Greenland 08:22—Trump's relationships with Russia and Europe 24:09—ICE confrontations spark unrest in Minnesota 40:32—Listener question on libertarian desires for Greenland 45:51—Trump's health care proposal 55:47—Weekly cultural recommendations   Upcoming Reason Events The Reason Roundtable: Live in Washington, D.C.! February 4   Mentioned in the podcast: "Trump 2.0, Year 1: A Libertarian Nightmare," by Brian Doherty "Donroe," by Liz Wolfe "Greenlanders Don't Consent To Becoming Americans," by J.D. Tuccille "Seizing Greenland Might Be the Least Popular Idea in American Political History," by Eric Boehm "As ICE Cracks Down Harder, Support for Abolishing ICE Surges," by Joe Lancaster "'We Are Not Investigating' the Shooting of Renee Good, the Deputy Attorney General Says," by Jacob Sullum "ICE Agents Flouted DHS Policies That Could Have Prevented Renee Good's Death," by Jacob Sullum "Video Shows Feds Shooting ICE Protester With Nonlethal Round at Point-Blank Range, Blinding Him in One Eye," by Autumn Billings "Federal Agents Used a Battering Ram To Enter a Minneapolis Home Without Valid Warrant, Video Shows," by Autumn Billings "No, ICE Agents Do Not Have 'Absolute Immunity' From State Prosecution," by Damon Root "Trump's 'Great Healthcare Plan' Has Promise but Should Add More Freedom for Americans," by J.D. Tuccille "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Delivers Anarchy in the U.K., Again," by Peter Suderman "Movies," by John Hospers Producer: Paul Alexander Video Editor: Ian Keyser The post Is America Really Going to War for Greenland? appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Matt Welch are joined by Reason senior editor Robby Soave to discuss the Justice Department's (DOJ) investigation of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and whether this latest tactic is just a form of political retaliation. They discuss whether there is a coherent case for the probe, how much influence presidents should have over monetary policy, and where the line is between oversight and using legal machinery against perceived adversaries. The conversation then turns to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) shootings in Minneapolis and Portland, where federal agents killed Renee Good during an immigration enforcement operation and shot two people outside a federal building days later, even as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem brands the Minneapolis victim a domestic terrorist and local officials accuse Washington of lying about what transpired. The panel talks about accountability for law enforcement, and how Americans can watch the same videos yet reach completely different conclusions. The editors then look at the uprising in Iran and the contrast between President Donald Trump's support for protesters there and his deployment of federal force at home, before examining California's proposed wealth tax and how it might impact the state economy.   0:00—the DOJ investigates the Federal Reserve 7:54—Trump's proposal to cap credit card interest rates 12:42—ICE shootings divide the country 37:35—Iran protests intensify 43:14—Listener question on Democrats holding Trump accountable 52:28—California wealth tax 1:01:33—Weekly cultural recommendations   Upcoming Reason Events The Reason Roundtable: Live in Washington, D.C.! February 4   Mentioned in This Podcast "Demanding Charges Against His Enemies, Trump Conflates Justice With Revenge," by Jacob Sullum "2 Grand Juries Have Rejected the Grudge-Driven Case Against Trump Foe Letitia James," by Jacob Sullum "Video of the Minneapolis ICE Shooting Does Not Resolve the Issue of Whether It Was Legally Justified," by Jacob Sullum "ICE in Minnesota," by Liz Wolfe "The Trump Administration Says It's Illegal To Record Videos of ICE. Here's What the Law Says," by C.J. Ciaramella "Iran's Inflation Protests Turned Into an Uprising. Will Trump Get Involved?" by Matthew Petti "A Breakable Regime," by Liz Wolfe "No Other Choice Is a Dark Satire of Capitalism and Masculinity," by Peter Suderman Producer: Paul Alexander Video Editor: Ian Keyser The post End the Fed? Or Turn It Over to Trump? appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Matt Welch are joined by Reason senior editor Robby Soave to dig into the U.S. capture of Venezuela's sitting president, Nicolás Maduro, and what it means for the White House to claim it can "run" another country without congressional authorization. They debate what temporary American control is supposed to mean in practice, whether the capture of Maduro was legal, how war powers and congressional authorization fit into it all, and why White House officials keep framing the moment as a fight to expand U.S. influence in the Western Hemisphere. The discussion shifts to New York politics after Mayor Zohran Mamdani calls for replacing "the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism," prompting a debate over his motives to use such rhetoric in his inauguration speech. They also examine Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz's decision not to seek reelection as attention intensifies around a major fraud case that gained national notice following a viral empty-daycare video. A listener question asks whether immigration policy should weigh factors like culture and religion, and what reforms could reduce corruption and conflict without abandoning the case for legal immigration.   0:00—Can the U.S. "run" Venezuela? 12:46—President Donald Trump's foreign policy ambitions 25:52—Mamdani denounces "rugged individualism" 33:46—Listener question on immigrant assimilation 44:30—Walz not seeking reelection 52:22—Weekly cultural recommendations   Upcoming Reason Events The Reason Roundtable: Live in Washington, D.C.! February 4   Mentioned in This Podcast "Did Marco Rubio Lie to Congress About Venezuela?" by Eric Boehm "Regime Changed?" by Christian Britschgi "Americans Are Increasingly Skeptical of Foreign Military Intervention," by J.D. Tuccille "Donald Trump Says the U.S. Will 'Run' Venezuela After Maduro's Ouster," by César Báez "Trump Should Have Tried To Get Congressional Authorization If He Wanted To Strike Venezuela and Capture Maduro," by Eric Boehm "A Socialist Swearing In," by Christian Britschgi "Zohran Mamdani Can't Ruin New York City," by Katherine Mangu-Ward "Nick Shirley, Tim Walz, and the Minnesota Fraud Story: Did the Media Miss It?" by Robby Soave "The Minnesota Welfare Fraud Story Is Really About a Broken Medicaid Bureaucracy," by Eric Boehm "Tim Walz Drops Out of Minnesota Governor Race. Good Riddance," by Robby Soave Producer: Paul Alexander Video Editor: Ian Keyser The post What Does It Mean To 'Run' Venezuela? appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Matt Welch are joined by Reason senior editor Robby Soave to share the stories they believe didn't receive sufficient media attention in 2025. Each panelist selected a story from 2025 in the categories of politics, private industry, global affairs, and culture that deserves a closer look as we head into 2026.   0:00—Political stories that deserved more attention 11:14—The year's underreported economic stories 25:56—Global stories the media overlooked in 2025 37:19—Cultural moments that flew under the radar   Mentioned in This Podcast "The Trump Admin Wants Western Union and MoneyGram To Report on Immigrants," by Matthew Petti "Treasury Department Surveillance at the Southern Border Faces Fourth Amendment Challenges," by Tosin Akintola "Taking $200 Out of an ATM Should Not Trigger Federal Financial Surveillance," by Joe Lancaster "Banks Are Narcing on You Because Congress Forces Them To," by Nicholas Anthony "How Trump's Travel Crackdown Is Hurting Americans at Home and Abroad," by Matt Welch "Nepal's Socialist Government Banned Social Media, So Activists Plotted a Revolution—on Discord," by Matthew Petti "Biden Strengthened the Refugee Resettlement System. Will Trump Undo It?" by Fiona Harrigan "Worldwide Refugee Population Hits All-Time High, U.S. Intake Reaches All-Time Low," by Matt Welch Producer: Paul Alexander Video Editor: Ian Keyser The post What the Media Didn't Tell You in 2025 appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Matt Welch are joined by Reason reporter Eric Boehm to discuss Turning Point USA's AmericaFest and the GOP coalescing around Vice President J.D. Vance as President Donald Trump's successor. They analyze Sen. Rand Paul's (R–Ky.) opposition to endorsing Vance as the party's next standard-bearer, and whether this signals he will challenge Vance for the nomination in 2028. Katherine also shares what it was like attending the conference, plus her debate over marijuana legalization as the Trump administration moves to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. The editors then turn to the bipartisan backlash over the latest Jeffrey Epstein file release, in which more than 500 pages were completely redacted, prompting Reps. Thomas Massie (R–Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D–Calif.) to threaten charges of "inherent contempt" against Attorney General Pam Bondi. The panel also discusses the Trump administration's seizure of additional Venezuelan oil tankers, plus the announcement of new military strikes in Syria. They dig into Minnesota's widening welfare fraud scandal, and whether conservative media is using it to scapegoat Somali immigrants. A listener asks whether Christmas expands our "socialist bubble" of family and community and what that says about capitalism, socialism, and human nature.   0:00—Debating marijuana at Turning Point USA 4:10—J.D. Vance is the MAGA heir apparent 14:47—Massie and Khanna react to Epstein file release 25:14—U.S. foreign policy in Venezuela and Syria 38:09—Listener question on socialism and Christmas 47:59—Minnesota welfare fraud scandal 1:01:28—Weekly cultural recommendations   Mentioned in This Podcast "Cannavictory," by Liz Wolfe "Trump Orders the 'Expeditious' Reclassification of Marijuana," by Jacob Sullum "Heritage Foundation Undergoes Mass Staff Exodus as Cracks Open on the New Right," by Stephanie Slade "Epstein Wanted To Turn His Island Into a Resort for Paying Customers," by Matthew Petti "Oil Tanker Seized," by Liz Wolfe "If the Syrian War Is Over, Why Are Americans Still Getting Killed in Syria?" by Matthew Petti "Trump's Somali Insults Are a Disgrace," by Steven Greenhut "The Real Villain in Minnesota's $1.5 Billion Fraud Scandal Isn't Somalis—It's the Feds," by Jack Nicastro "Medicare Whac-A-Mole," by Peter Suderman "What We Get Wrong About the American Revolution," by Nick Gillespie "Avatar: Fire and Ash Is Part Spectacle, Part Retread," by Peter Suderman Producer: Paul Alexander Video Editor: Ian Keyser The post Can J.D. Vance Stop a MAGA Civil War? appeared first on Reason.com.

Reason's Robby Soave and Elizabeth Nolan Brown square off with Breaking Points' Emily Jashinsky and Ryan Grim in a no-holds-barred debate over Big Tech. The Reason team argues that technology has dramatically improved everyday life—and that those benefits can't be ignored. Their opponents counter that Big Tech's power is inseparable from big government, and that the two can't be untangled.   Resolution: Big Tech does more good than harm. Affirmative: Robby Soave and Elizabeth Nolan Brown Negative: Emily Jashinsky and Ryan Grim Moderator: Peter Suderman   0:00—Andrew Heaton's warmup 6:31—Opening statements 31:03—Moderator questions and debater discussion 53:47—All the debaters make their case using props 1:02:10—Audience questions 1:23:25—Closing statements 1:40:20—Final debate results The post <em>Reason</em> Vs. <em>Breaking Points</em>: Does Big Tech Do More Good Than Harm? appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Matt Welch are joined by associate editor Liz Wolfe to discuss President Donald Trump's executive order blocking states from enforcing their own artificial intelligence regulations. The panel debates whether a single national framework for AI is necessary to keep American tech companies competitive or whether it represents a serious blow to federalism. They also examine the White House potentially reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug and what that change could mean for the cannabis industry, tax policy, and federal drug enforcement. The editors then turn to mass shootings in Australia and at Brown University, including the actions of a bystander credited with saving lives at Bondi Beach, and what these incidents suggest about gun control debates. They discuss the U.S. seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker and threats of land strikes against the Nicolás Maduro regime, and cover the conviction of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai under China's national security law and what it signals for press freedom and U.S.-China relations. A listener asks whether modern socialism reflects moral aspirations that could be redirected toward liberty rather than centralized power.   0:00—Trump blocks states from regulating AI 10:31—Reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug 18:39—Mass shootings in the U.S. and Australia 26:59—U.S. seizes Venezuelan oil tanker 36:48—Listener question on optimism for socialism 46:08—Jimmy Lai found guilty by Hong Kong court 57:12—Weekly cultural recommendations   Mentioned in This Podcast "Donald Trump Tries To Override State AI Regulations via Executive Order," by Jack Nicastro "Trump Will Let Nvidia Sell Chips to China—but the Feds Will Get 25 Percent of the Profits," by Tosin Akintola "Trump's Plan To Reclassify Marijuana Would Leave Federal Prohibition Essentially Untouched," by Jacob Sullum "Stoner King Trump," by Liz Wolfe "Shootings at Bondi and Brown," by Liz Wolfe "Trump Dares Congress To Take Its War Powers Seriously in Venezuela," by Matthew Petti "Trump Is Still Claiming He Saves '25,000 American Lives' When He Blows Up a Suspected Drug Boat," by Jacob Sullum "Mark Clifford: A Political Prisoner Fights for Free Speech in China," by Billy Binion "Is Free Speech Doomed in Hong Kong?" By Jack Nicastro "'I Owe Freedom My Life': Jimmy Lai Is Imprisoned for Criticizing the Chinese Government," by John Stossel "Hong Kong's Free Press Is Dying," by Liz Wolfe Producer: Paul Alexander Video Editor: Ian Keyser The post Should Libertarians Support Federal AI Regulation? appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Matt Welch are joined by associate editor Liz Wolfe to sort through the political free-for-all surrounding the Warner Bros. and Netflix merger. They look at why Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D–Mass.) is urging regulators to block the deal, why President Donald Trump says he plans to get personally involved, and how Jared Kushner's role in a rival Paramount bid is reshaping the fight. The panel digs into whether this moment signals a real return to trustbusting or another round of theatrics from both sides. The editors then turn to the economy, where Trump's tariff strategy is colliding with rising layoffs and growing unease within his own party. They assess the administration's new national security posture as Congress advances a defense bill that exceeds White House requests, and discuss the uproar over Kalshi's push to turn opinion into a tradable market. Also, a listener asks whether a renewed turn toward religious faith could help the country lower its political temperature. It's that time of year when we ask you to open your wallets, dear listener, and make a tax-deductible donation to Reason's annual webathon: https://reason.pub/4pzsSOE.   0:00—Antitrust and the Netflix-Warner Bros. acquisition 19:17—Tariff failures and rising unemployment 27:43—National security strategy memo 36:50—Listener question on polarization and faith 48:13—Kalshi's controversial online gambling vision 58:33—Weekly cultural recommendations   Mentioned in This Podcast "Warner Bros. Accepts Netflix's $83 Billion Bid, but Antitrust Threats Still Loom," by Jack Nicastro "Trump's Tariffs Were Supposed To Cut the Trade Deficit and Boost U.S. Manufacturing. They're Not Working," by Eric Boehm "Ask Us Anything: Libertarians Answer Your Questions," by Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Robby Soave, and Matt Welch "Kalshi CEO Says He Wants to Monetize 'Any Difference in Opinion,'" by A.J. Dellinger "America Pulls Back From Values That Once Defined It, WSJ-NORC Poll Finds," by Aaron Zitner "CNN's Bari Christmas," by Dylan Byers   Upcoming Reason Events Reason Versus debate: Big Tech Does More Good Than Harm, December 10 Producer: Paul Alexander Video Editor: Ian Keyser The post Why Elizabeth Warren and Donald Trump Hate the Netflix Deal appeared first on Reason.com.

It's that time of year when we ask you to open your wallets, dear listener, and make a tax-deductible donation to Reason's annual webathon: https://reason.pub/4pzsSOE. In this special episode of The Reason Roundtable, editors Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Robby Soave, and Peter Suderman respond to all of your burning questions. Nothing is off limits! Producer: Paul Alexander Audio Mixer: Ian Keyser The post Ask Us Anything: Libertarians Answer Your Questions appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch dig into the disconnect between strong Black Friday spending and a public mood shaped by rising costs, economic anxiety, and slipping approval numbers for President Donald Trump. They explore why so many Americans feel poorer despite higher overall wealth, how regulation and subsidies have distorted key markets like housing and health care, and what to make of polling that shows young voters warming to democratic socialism. The conversation then turns to the war crime allegations against Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who allegedly gave the orders to "kill everybody" on Venezuelan boat strikes that resulted in the killing of survivors, and what limits actually exist on the use of military force. The editors also examine a new federal ban on hemp products and the damage it could inflict on a growing legal industry. A listener asks whether recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions signal a troubling erosion of constitutional protections, and the group takes time to reflect on the legacy of playwright Tom Stoppard and his long association with free speech and small government ideals. Join us this Thursday, December 4, at 2:30 p.m. ET for a special live edition of The Reason Roundtable as part of our annual webathon. Send your questions for the Reason editors to podcasts@reason.com with "Webathon" in the subject line. Watch at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yaOOdtJqzmY   0:00—Economic anxiety and standards of living 18:45—War crime allegations against Hegseth 32:09—Federal hemp ban threatens industry 37:35—Listener question on ICE constitutionality 46:45—The legacy of Tom Stoppard 56:31—Weekly cultural recommendations   Mentioned in This Podcast "Toplines - Heartland Nov 2025 Democratic Socialism," by Rasmussen Reports "New Low in U.S. 'Very Satisfied' With Personal Life," by Gallup "'Kill Everybody,'" by Christian Britschgi "Trump's Venezuela Escalation Could Destroy MAGA, Warns Rand Paul," by Jacob R. Swartz "What Does Fentanyl Have to Do With Alleged Drug Boats 2,600 Miles Away? Absolutely Nothing," by Tosin Akintola "Trump Allegedly Misidentified a Colombian Fisherman as a Venezuelan 'Narcoterrorist,'" by Jacob Sullum "The Constitution Does Not Allow the President To Unilaterally Blow Suspected Drug Smugglers to Smithereens," by Rand Paul "They Built a Hemp Business in Good Faith but Washington Is About To Crush It," by Brittany E. Hunter "Trump vs. the Constitution," by Damon Root "5% of People Detained By ICE Have Violent Convictions, 73% No Convictions," by David J. Bier "Hot August Fright: The Month Republicans Lost Their Minds Over Immigration," by Matt Welch "How Lou Reed Inspired Anti-Communist Revolutionaries and the Rest of Us," by Matt Welch "Václav Havel's Funeral: Why Truth Needs Love," by Matt Welch   Upcoming Reason Events Reason Versus debate: Big Tech Does More Good Than Harm, December 10 Producer: Paul Alexander Video Editor: Ian Keyser The post Is Economic Anxiety Driving People to Socialism? appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Nick Gillespie are joined by Reason senior editor Robby Soave to discuss President Donald Trump's unexpectedly warm White House meeting with New York mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani and why he now describes the socialist's agenda as "practical." They examine what this moment suggests about Trump's shifting political instincts, how it fits with his recent comments on tariffs and the state of the economy, and what the disbanding of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) signals about his governing approach. The group then looks at Trump's attempt to influence the pending Warner Bros. merger and the broader media landscape, including worries about misinformation and new reporting that major MAGA influencer accounts on X are operating from overseas. The panel also considers the implications of six Democrats telling service members they do not have to obey illegal orders and the ensuing backlash. A listener asks how to reconcile consumer benefits from intense market competition with the need to preserve incentives for long-term innovation and investment.   0:00—DOGE disbands 4:02—Trump meets Mamdani in the oval office 14:50—White House seeks influence over Warner Bros. merger 27:58—Red Scare, Oliva Nuzzi, and cancel culture 38:46—Listener question on preserving incentives in a market economy 51:29—Democrats encourage military not to follow illegal orders 57:49—Weekly cultural recommendations   Mentioned in This Podcast "Republican Socialism," by Eric Boehm "To the Socialists of All Parties," by Katherine Mangu-Ward "A Dirge for DOGE," by Christian Britschgi "How I Found Out: Part 1," by Ryan Lizza "FDR's War Against the Press," by David T. Beito "Mamdani Understands Something About Trump That European Leaders Don't," by Matthew Petti   Upcoming Reason Events Reason Versus debate: Big Tech Does More Good Than Harm, December 10 Producer: Paul Alexander Video Editor: Ian Keyser The post Trump Embraces Mamdani Socialism as 'Practical' appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Nick Gillespie are joined by Reason reporter Eric Boehm to unpack President Donald Trump's sudden shift on the Jeffrey Epstein files after trying to block the vote, the GOP pressure campaign behind it, and what the episode suggests about his grip on the party. They also examine Trump's mixed signals on tariffs, including his move to roll back duties he imposed in the first place, and whether this moment reinforces the basic economic arguments critics have made for years. The group also digs into whether Trump's proposed tariff dividend makes any economic sense. The conversation then turns to rising tensions with Venezuela as unauthorized strikes continue and Trump signals interest in direct talks with Nicolás Maduro. A listener then asks what would need to change in order to push American health care away from government-run insurance and toward a system shaped by private plans.   0:00—The Epstein files fracture Trump's coalition 18:12—Tariff rollbacks and stimulus checks 36:17—Listener question on government healthcare 47:33—More unauthorized military strikes in Venezuela 56:54—Weekly cultural recommendations   Mentioned in This Podcast "Trump's Epstein Reversal," by Liz Wolfe "Jeffrey Epstein: Trump 'Spent Hours At My House' With Victim," by Matthew Petti "State of U.S. Tariffs: October 30, 2025," by Yale Budget Lab "Trump's Tariffs Are Likely To Make Toys More Expensive This Christmas Shopping Season," by Eric Boehm "The Trump Administration Finally Admits That Tariffs Raise Prices," by Eric Boehm "Tariff Stimulus Checks Are an Unserious Idea," by Eric Boehm "Wanted: Honesty on Health Care," by Shikha Dalmia "What Free Market Health Care Would Actually Look Like," by John Osterhoudt "How Making GLP-1s Available Over the Counter Can Unlock Their Full Potential," by Jeffrey A. Singer "Presidential Drift: Clinton's Haiti policy has no anchor," by Nick Gillespie "Don't Send Cubans and Venezuelans Back To Suffer Under Communism," by Billy Binion "Maduro and His Crony Made Millions While Venezuelan Children Starved," by César Báez "Britain and Colombia Cut Off U.S. Intelligence Access Over Caribbean Boat Bombings," by Matthew Petti   Upcoming Reason Events Reason Versus debate: Big Tech Does More Good Than Harm, December 10 Producer: Paul Alexander Video Editor: John Osterhoudt The post How the Epstein Files Turned MAGA Against Trump appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, Reason editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Matt Welch are joined by the editor in chief of The Argument, Jerusalem Demsas, to discuss the end of the government shutdown and what Democrats actually gained from it. They examine the renewed focus on Obamacare subsidies and how both parties are struggling to articulate a coherent health care vision that moves beyond stale talking points. The group then turns to Zohran Mamdani's win in New York and what it reveals about the uneasy overlap between the abundance movement and the rising progressive wing of the Democratic Party. The panel digs into President Donald Trump's talk of $2,000 tariff "dividends," and whether it undermines his claim that affordability is "a con." They also examine the differences and similarities between modern-day liberals and libertarians. A listener then asks whether fixing America's broken health care system should start with reforming insurance or dramatically expanding the supply of doctors.   0:00—What did Democrats gain from the government shutdown? 19:34—Obamacare subsidies and healthcare in the spotlight 26:30—The abundance agenda vs. socialism 41:34—Tariff dividend checks and the affordability "con" 46:14—Listener question on health insurance 57:07—Difference between liberalism and libertarianism 1:13:11—Weekly cultural recommendations   Mentioned in This Podcast "Reopening?" by Liz Wolfe "America's Longest Government Shutdown Shows Why We Must Free Air Traffic Control from Politics," by Robert Poole "Mamdani's Win Suggests a Socialist Future for Democrats and a Rocky One for American Politics," by J.D. Tuccille "No Excuses for Zohran Mamdani and Radical Socialism," by Robby Soave "Mamdani Teaming Up With Lina Khan Paints a Grim Picture of What's To Come," by Elizabeth Nolan Brown "New York Voters Say Yes to Faster Housing Approvals," by Christian Britschgi "Mamdani Claims 'Mandate' for Bigger Government: 'There Is No Problem Too Large for Government To Solve,'" by Joe Lancaster "6 Zohran Mamdani Campaign Promises That New York City Can't Afford," by Jack Nicastro "The People Who Wrecked N.Y. Schools Love Zohran Mamdani," by Matt Welch "Trump Seems Very Confused About 'Affordability,'" by Eric Boehm "Abundance Makes the Case for 'Supply-Side Progressivism,'" by Virginia Postrel "The Death of Contrarianism," by Matt Welch Producer: Paul Alexander Video Editor: Ian Keyser The post Did Democrats Blow It on the Government Shutdown? appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch discuss the upcoming New York City mayoral election and what a Zohran Mamdani victory could mean for both the city and national politics. They weigh the best-case/worst-case scenarios of a leftward turn in New York, asking whether Mamdani represents a lasting anti-AI socialist movement or simply the newest iteration of the Democratic big tent. The editors then turn to the governor's races in Virginia and New Jersey, where Democratic wins would signal continued strength for the party's centrist wing. They examine a federal judge's order requiring the government to keep SNAP funded during the ongoing shutdown, and then analyze Trump's tariff case as it heads to the Supreme Court and what a ruling could mean for presidential trade powers. Finally, a listener asks whether libertarians who work in the defense industry are violating their principles or simply operating within the system as it exists.   0:00–The best-case scenario and worst-case scenario for a Mayor Mamdani 8:09–Gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia 20:04–SNAP benefits and shutdown politics 29:32–Does the GOP have an Obamacare alternative? 34:57–Listener question on ethical contradictions 44:37–Tariffs case reaches the Supreme Court 55:05–Weekly cultural recommendation   Mentioned in This Podcast "The Democratic Thrill for Mamdani Is a Tell," by Matt Welch "Will Democrats Find Their Way?" By Liz Wolfe "Mamdani's Socialist Mayorship Will Make New York a Worse Place To Live and Do Business," by Nick Gillespie "Zohran Mamdani's $5 Billion Corporate Tax Hike Threatens NYC's Status as the World's Financial Capital," by Filippo Borello "3 Reasons Why Zohran Mamdani's City-Run Grocery Stores Will Fail," by Natalie Dowzicky "New York City Is About To Elect a Socialist Mayor in Zohran Mamdani. Why Won't This Failed Ideology Die?" By Zach Weissmueller "About 1 in 5 Kids Are at Risk of Losing SNAP. Centralized Control Keeps Failing Low-Income Families." By Romina Boccia and Tyler Turman "SNAP Stops," by Liz Wolfe "In Tariff Case, Trump's Attorneys Can't Decide if Foreign Investment Is Good or Bad for America," by Eric Boehm "Trump Hopes To Bully SCOTUS Into Upholding His Tariffs," by Damon Root "Trump's Tariff Tantrum Proves He Shouldn't Have That Power," by Joe Lancaster "In Yorgos Lanthimos' Bugonia, Elites Are Alien Creatures," by Peter Suderman "I'm Just A Shill (FT. Zohran)," by Andrew Cuomo Producer: Paul Alexander Video Editor: Ian Keyser The post Will a Mamdani Victory Push the Democrats Further Left? appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch are joined by associate editor Liz Wolfe to discuss Argentine President Javier Milei's strong midterm showing and what it suggests about the durability of his libertarian reform agenda. They debate whether the results vindicate Trump's earlier currency-swap bailout, how Milei's spending-cut program is playing out, and what lessons his success may hold for other governments confronting inflation. The editors then turn to Washington, where Trump's decision to impose new tariffs on Canadian goods followed an Ontario ad featuring Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs. They also discuss the continued U.S. bombings in Venezuela, and the administration's alleged involvement in the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger, along with the symbolism of replacing the East Wing with a ballroom. The panel considers the rise of socialist Zohran Mamdani in New York City and why his ascension could have national significance. Finally, a listener asks if protests like the recent "No Kings" rallies accomplish anything.   0:00–Milei's party wins landslide election in Argentina 16:08–Trump escalates trade war with Canada over advertisement 23:51–Are we headed into an unauthorized war with Venezuela? 34:40–The Paramount-Warner Bros. merger 39:47–Listener question on the power of protest 53:57–What does the rise of Zohran Mamdani mean for the country? 61:58–Weekly cultural recommendations   Mentioned in This Podcast "Javier Milei Wins Argentina's Midterm Election, Gaining More Power To Push Reforms," by César Báez" The Government Shutdown Isn't Stopping Trump From Amassing 'Emergency' Powers," by Katherine Mangu-Ward"The Constitution Does Not Allow the President To Unilaterally Blow Suspected Drug Smugglers to Smithereens," by Rand Paul"Trump Dares Congress To Take Its War Powers Seriously in Venezuela," by Matthew Petti"Trump Allegedly Misidentified a Colombian Fisherman as a Venezuelan 'Narcoterrorist,'" by Jacob Sullum"Trump Campaigned on Free Speech. That Isn't How He's Governed." By John Stossel"Abolish the FCC," by Ilya Somin"The FCC's Paramount/Skydance Decision Aims To Reshape Broadcast Journalism by Bureaucratic Fiat," by Jacob Sullum"Zohran Mamdani's Socialist Housing Plan Could Crash New York's Rickety Rental Market," by Howard Husock"Mamdani's Fare-Free Buses Wouldn't Be NYC's First Wasteful Public Transit Boondoggle," by Emma Camp"The Socialist Transit Plan That Could Break NYC," by Kennedy and Natalie Dowzicky"Brandon Johnson's Chicago Is a Preview of Zohran Mamdani's New York," by Christian Britschgi"Is Everyone Who Opposes a New School Zoning Plan in Brooklyn Racist?" By Matt Welch Producer: Paul Alexander Video Editor: Ian Keyser The post Javier Milei's Libertarian Policies Win Shock Election appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch examine Argentina's $20 billion bailout and what it means for President Javier Milei's promise of a libertarian turnaround. They debate whether foreign aid undermines his free market agenda and what the deal suggests about Washington's own commitment to fiscal restraint. The editors also discuss this weekend's "No Kings" protests. They analyze Trump's growing use of executive authority during the ongoing government shutdown, including his decision to keep paying troop salaries amid federal layoffs. The panel then looks to Trump's continued bombing of the alleged drug boats off Venezuela's coast, and the decision to repatriate survivors. Finally, a listener asks what checks and balances could exist in a truly libertarian country to prevent the kind of centralization of power seen in the United States today.   0:00—The U.S. bailout of Javier Milei's Argentina 15:11—The "No Kings" protests and Trump's response 32:54—Growing executive power during the government shutdown 41:45—Listener question on checks and balances 48:56—Bombing of alleged Venezuelan drug boats 57:05—Weekly cultural recommendations   Mentioned in This Podcast "Javier Milei's Libertarian Experiment is in Jeopardy. Argentina's Midterm Elections Will Determine Its Fate," by César Báez "Vast Right-Wing Astroturf Conspiracy Revealed!" by Matt Welch "Medical Mosh Pits," by Jesse Walker "Forget Obama: Trump's Pen and Phone Are Bigger Even Than FDR's," by Matt Welch "Did the U.S. Just Kill a Random Fisherman?" By Liz Wolfe   Upcoming Reason Events Mini Documentary Screening: The Socialist Housing Plan for New York, October 29 Producer: Paul Alexander Video Editor: Ian Keyser The post Does Argentina's Bailout Prove Libertarians Wrong? appeared first on Reason.com.