I sat down with Michael Shellenberger, journalist and author of “Apocalypse Never,” “San Fransicko,” and the upcoming “Pathocracy,” to unpack the true story of the LA fire disaster and what it reveals about California’s leadership crisis. Ever since the fires broke out, Michael has been on the case exposing the numerous failures of Governor Gavin Newsom and LA Mayor Karen Bass. California’s entrenched political elite have neglected the basic functions of government, creating the perfect conditions for recurring catastrophes. A seemingly hypnotized voter base has allowed the problem to worsen with each election cycle, but perhaps this time around, the undeniable facts on the ground can trigger a renaissance in common-sense governance.

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Follow Michael on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/shellenberger

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Outline:

[0:00] Unpacking the official narrative lies

[12:39] LA’s systemic failure isn’t just one big coincidence

[17:35] The homeless crisis drained the firefighting budget

[27:02] Forest management failures aren’t the main story

[31:24] Why leftist radicals want to let Malibu burn

[42:43] Hollywood elites elected their own oppressors

[52:34] White voters in LA are hypnotized by identity politics

[59:25] Is the DEI criticism fair or just right-wing opportunism?

[1:05:59] Western civilization is sacrificing itself

[1:13:32] Did climate change play a role in the fires?

[1:22:15] Climate hysteria is a symptom of privilege

[1:28:19] Is the woke reign of terror truly over?

[1:33:22] Hazing matter for emergency preparedness

[1:38:34] Why Michael is optimistic for the future

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Z4JjmzuycRo

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Last month, I traveled to Mar-a-Lago and sat down with a group of business leaders to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping our economy and society at large. Technological disruption presents both challenges and opportunities, and the growing student debt crisis has rightfully called into question the value of higher education. It’s time to renegotiate our relationship with traditional institutions and focus on cultivating grit, curiosity, and first-principles thinking. These tools can build an adaptive workforce and foster a competitive environment where American entrepreneurship can flourish once again.

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/td5-Q_qTkcU?si=ddJpGO-k5qU7tTFi

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I sat down with George Selgin, economist and Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute, to explore the complex world of money, banking, and monetary policy. George explains how money evolved from primitive barter systems to the sophisticated financial networks we rely on today. He breaks down the historical role of gold, central banking, and the Federal Reserve’s influence on inflation and interest rates. George also highlights competing economic theories of money creation, laying out his case for why they're wrong. Money isn't everything in life, but understanding how it works can help you avoid falling for the false promises of politicians and pundits.

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Follow George on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/GeorgeSelgin

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Outline:

[0:00] Money, currency, and the money supply

[11:04] Is modern money actually debt?

[23:58] Who invented the first money?

[30:11] Use value vs. exchange value of money

[36:39] Why do certain goods become money?

[42:03] How money reshaped our communities

[58:34] What is a bank? Can banks “create money”?

[1:12:54] The special power of central banks

[1:18:53] Interest is about opportunity, risk, and inflation

[1:25:42] The Federal Reserve is the “lender of last resort”

[1:32:36] Is the Fed private or public?

[1:39:03] What happened to the gold standard in 1933?

[1:42:59] Do the owners of the Fed have real power?

[1:47:57] How does the Fed impact inflation?

[1:55:30] Explaining the Fed’s toolkit

[2:07:27] The “money multiplier” story is oversimplified

[2:12:47] What will our monetary future look like?

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mpcvBpDaMaw

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I sat down with Emma Johnson, author of "The 50/50 Solution," to discuss her advocacy for equal custody as the default in divorce. In most states, family courts try to determine the “best interest of the child,” incentivizing parents to portray one another as threatening or neglectful. Emma argues that the child support system perpetuates gender inequality and undermines parental rights, particularly disadvantaging dads. Although legal reform has only begun in a few states, she is optimistic that a significant cultural shift is underway, with more couples than ever voluntarily pursuing equal custody and establishing new norms around divorce. Drawing from her personal experiences with divorce and single motherhood, Emma offers practical advice for amicable co-parenting, ensuring that children maintain strong relationships with both parents after divorce.

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Follow Emma on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/JohnsonEmma

Purchase a copy of "The 50/50 Solution”: https://www.amazon.com/50-Solution-Surprisingly-Happier-Healthier/dp/172825454X

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Outline:

[0:00] How Emma discovered the 50/50 divorce

[10:58] Old feminists don’t want to accept that dads matter

[20:20] Family law incentivizes unnecessary conflict

[25:19] Welfare and child support complicate the situation

[33:02] Divorce norms are starting to fix themselves

[39:39] Does making divorce more civilized incentivize divorce?

[47:00] You can’t over-parent in a 50/50 divorce

[56:02] Can we counter the red-pill anti-marriage push?

[1:03:58] How divorce equality helps working class families

[1:14:37] It’s better to roll with the punches than seek out conflict

[1:18:35] Is “sacrifice” the right way to think about parenting?

[1:28:50] Men and women are different but can parent equally

[1:37:14] It’s hard to not think in stereotypes, even if you try

[1:42:28] You don’t need good policy if you have good culture

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RZQoBd0j2jc

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Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

I sat down with Nick Gillespie, editor-at-large at “Reason” and a leading voice in libertarian thought, to explore how we find meaning and purpose in a world defined by freedom and complexity. We examine the rise of conspiracy thinking, the role of religion in liberal societies, and the challenges to social and psychological stability amid rapid economic and technological progress. Nick reflects on the styles of RFK Jr., Trump, and Ron Paul and highlights the impacts of personality-driven politics. In an era of shifting cultural norms and institutional distrust, we need leaders who can confront the darker aspects of the world while also fostering genuine community and championing principled action.

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“Cultural Bell Curve” video essay: https://youtu.be/MTqtLDVsjSw

Follow Nick on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/nickgillespie

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Outline:

[0:00] How did RFK Jr. become a thought leader on the right?

[4:00] Conspiracy, emergent order, and leadership

[16:32] Is Trump’s personality his greatest strength?

[27:25] Abundant wealth and mental anguish

[39:02] Progress complicates our search for meaning

[48:14] Do healthy cultural norms take care of themselves?

[1:05:01] Freedom, institutions, and Catholicism

[1:10:53] Where do we go next after New Atheism?

[1:16:34] Religion is stronger without state involvement

[1:21:19] Can liberalism survive without Christianity?

[1:31:48] What work needs to be done to advance liberty?

[1:39:41] Parental authority requires responsibility

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LR2iduNUN2E

Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

I sat down with Michael Munger, professor of political science and economics at Duke University, to explore the challenges facing classical liberalism, the collapse of trust in institutions, and how we can preserve the principles of tolerance and free inquiry in a rapidly changing world. He offers a nuanced perspective on the cultural crisis affecting younger generations on both the left and right, as well as the dangers of single-mindedly dismantling the elites authority structure. We also discuss the growing challenges posed by modern technologies, from social media to AI, and why cultivating intellectual curiosity and open dialogue is critical for the next generation. Michael’s vantage point as a college professor provides hope that a meaningful realignment toward universal ideals and timeless wisdom is already underway.

This interview was recorded on 7/31.

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Follow Michael on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/mungowitz

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Outline:

[0:00] What is America’s system of government?

[8:06] Liberalism, populism, and “our democracy”

[17:00] You can oppose elites and still support the Constitution

[26:01] Why the elite priesthood believes it knows best

[35:38] What do “left” and “right” mean in today’s politics?

[47:48] Freedom is about doing what you should, not what you want

[59:01] American federalism upgraded the English system

[1:07:06] Institutional authority is a necessary evil

[1:15:34] Can we pull our institutions back from the brink?

[1:24:41] Radicalism can be creative or destructive

[1:32:10] Most struggles are the same for each generation

[1:38:06] Do our brains fit the current economic transformation?

[1:48:35] How can we brace ourselves for the singularity?

[1:54:06] Should there be limits to tolerance?

[2:09:25] Does the American system require a Christian backdrop?

[2:15:36] Our patriotic obligation to debate and understand others

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_b7f3E9DeDA

Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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I sat down with historian, sociologist, and author Dr. Rainer Zitelmann to learn about the misunderstood economic philosophy of Adolf Hitler and the true meaning of national socialism. Drawing from his book “Hitler’s National Socialism,” Rainer explains how Hitler’s economic policies blended the planned economy of Stalin’s Soviet Union with social Darwinist beliefs, attempting to harness the benefits of competition toward the single-minded objectives of the state. We explore the key differences between national socialism, fascism, and communism, and why many people today fail to grasp the lessons of 20th-century totalitarian regimes. While the battle between capitalism and socialism continues, Rainer highlights historical case studies in East and West Germany, North and South Korea, Venezuela, Vietnam, and China, proving that economic freedom is the key to human flourishing.

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Outline:

[0:00] National Socialism vs. Fascism vs. Communism

[13:00] There is no pure capitalism or pure socialism

[19:38] Even a little capitalism makes a big difference

[28:34] Economic crisis, shock doctrine, and liberal reform

[34:25] How Hitler developed his economic theory

[42:49] Hitler and Stalin competed to replace liberalism

[48:25] How Trump thinks about strength and weakness

[57:00] The poor need capitalism to survive

[1:10:45] Why does the idea of socialism survive its failures?

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yjkQZ3MmGgY

Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

I sat down with Randy Barnett, Professor of Constitutional Law at Georgetown University, to discuss the current state of America’s constitutional system and his mission to restore its original meaning. Despite the gradual erosion of constitutional limitations on federal government power, Randy believes that the document’s multiple fail-safes—especially federalism—have kept the flame of liberty alive, even through the trials of COVID lockdowns. Supreme Court justices appointed over the past 40 years have increasingly adopted an originalist approach to the Constitution and have begun to rein in the sprawling powers of the deep state and restore the core tenets of our founding documents.

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Follow Randy on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/RandyEBarnett

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Outline:

[0:00] Is today’s Supreme Court radically conservative?

[10:04] Progressives don’t really care about ‘democracy’

[13:27] The consequences of ending ‘Chevron deference’

[20:53] Why does judicial precedence matter?

[28:13] How ‘Roe v. Wade’ was overturned

[34:01] Is President Trump now immune from prosecution?

[42:31] What is common law? What are statutes?

[51:03] Private arbitration empowers normal people

[57:54] Why does the original meaning of the Constitution matter?

[1:11:04] The strongest criticism of originalism

[1:14:30] Has the Constitution failed to protect our freedoms?

[1:23:29] What is libertarianism and what are its blindspots?

[1:43:40] Why should we spend time arguing about ideals?

[1:48:40] Freedom is a practice, not just an abstract ideal

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Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FVPCwD5e8_I

Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠