This week, editors Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch are joined by The Gist's Mike Pesca to discuss the ongoing Iran conflict, the unstable ceasefire negotiations, and whether anyone in Washington has a coherent explanation for what the United States is trying to accomplish. The panel examines President Donald Trump's shifting rationale for the war, the growing pressure for regime change, and why so many of the same foreign policy debates from the Iraq era seem to be repeating themselves in real time. They also consider whether America's political class has learned anything from the past two decades of interventionism.

Next, the panel turns to Spencer Pratt's surprisingly competitive Los Angeles mayoral campaign and what his rise says about frustration with the city's political establishment. They discuss why media coverage of Pratt increasingly resembles the early anti-Trump backlash, whether one-party political cultures are capable of meaningful reform, and why even critics of Pratt's candidacy acknowledge that Los Angeles governance appears badly broken. The editors then revisit the panic surrounding Project 2025 and ask how much of the agenda actually materialized during Trump's second term. Finally, the panel examines Trump's controversial $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" and why even some Republicans see it as an unprecedented abuse of executive power.

0:00—What have we learned from this war with Iran?

9:38—Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo clashes with the Trump administration

14:19—Spencer Pratt and the Los Angeles mayoral race

27:11—Listener question on Project 2025

37:28—The Anti-Weaponization Fund

47:29—Weekly cultural recommendations

Mentioned in the podcast:

"Yes, the Iran War Is a 'War of Choice,' and a Bad One," by Nick Gillespie

"Why Does Trump Keep Bringing Up Decades-Old Foreign Grievances?" by Matthew Petti

"Drew Carey Goes on Foul-mouthed Rant About Spencer Pratt's LA Mayoral Run: 'F–k This Guy,'" by Antoinette Bueno

"The $1.776 Billion in Trump's 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' Fits a Pattern of Fanciful Figures," by Jacob Sullum

"Trump's 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' Is Built on a Contradiction," by Billy Binion

"The DOJ's Flimsy Legal Theories To Support Trump's 'Anti-Weaponization Fund,'" by Joe Lancaster

The post Does Anyone Know What's Happening in Iran? 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 Rep. Thomas Massie's (R–Ky.) competitive Republican primary challenge and why President Donald Trump has made him one of his top political targets. The panel examines Massie's opposition to the Iran war, his push to release the Epstein files, his longstanding focus on spending, and why his brand of libertarian-style politics has become increasingly rare inside today's Republican Party.

Next, the panel turns to the economy, where inflation continues to rise, the U.S. debt has surpassed gross domestic product (GDP), and working-class voters appear increasingly frustrated with Trump's economic agenda. The editors then examine New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's claim that he closed the city's massive budget gap without cutting services and whether the plan relies more on gimmicks than serious fiscal reform. Finally, a listener asks how to develop political confidence without losing intellectual humility.

0:00—Massie's primary challenge

20:57—Inflation and the national debt

40:31—Listener question on intellectual humility

51:15—Mamdani's $12 billion budget gap

57:41—Weekly cultural recommendations

Mentioned in the podcast:

"Thomas Massie's Moment Has Come," by Robby Soave

"Thomas Massie's Enemies Are Attacking Him With an Unfair Accusation," by Robby Soave

"The War Comes for Your Wallet: Inflation Hits 3.8%, Highest Level in 3 Years," by Eric Boehm

"When Businesspeople Run Government, the Government Doesn't Become a Business," by Veronique De Rugy

"Pete Hegseth Can't Explain Why America Needs a $1.5 Trillion Military Budget," by Eric Boehm

"Trump's 'Golden Dome' Estimated To Cost $1.2 Trillion, New Report Reveals," by Meagan O'Rourke

"Mamdani 'Balanced' New York City's Budget—With a Bailout From Albany," by Joe Lancaster

The post Why Is Trump Trying To Purge Thomas Massie? appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman and Katherine Mangu-Ward are joined by Senior Editor Robby Soave and reporter Reem Ibrahim to discuss California Gov. Gavin Newsom's "free diapers" initiative and the political controversy surrounding its nonprofit structure. The panel examines whether the program is a useful benefit for new mothers or another example of government turning a simple problem into an expensive, politically connected spending project. They also consider what the backlash reveals about California governance more broadly, from high-speed rail to homelessness spending to a troubled 911 program, and whether frustration with the state's Democratic establishment is creating an opening for Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt.

Next, the panel turns to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D–N.Y.) claim that billionaires cannot ethically earn their wealth and her argument that the American Revolution was a revolt against the billionaire class. They also discuss President Donald Trump's ongoing conflict with Iran, whether the war has weakened his negotiating power ahead of a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and what the fallout could mean for U.S. credibility abroad. The editors then examine escalating fights over redistricting in Virginia and Florida. Finally, a listener asks whether rising ticket prices and corporate consolidation are evidence that government should play a larger role in regulating mergers and competition.

0:00—Newsom's "free diaper" program

13:04—Pratt's mayoral campaign

17:30—AOC attacks billionaires

28:40—Has America lost in Iran?

38:51—Listener question on ticket prices

46:00—Redistricting battles escalate nationwide

53:23—Weekly cultural recommendations

Mentioned in the podcast:

"California Spent $450 Million on a Failed 911 System. Now, the State Is Restarting the Project," by Meagan O'Rourke

"Contra AOC, You Don't Have To Be a Billionaire To Be a Leech," by Christian Britschgi

"A Pointless War: How Iran Hawks Finally Got Their Way," by Matthew Petti

"How Much Has the Iran War Actually Cost? A Lot More Than $25 Billion," by Eric Boehm

"How Mortal Kombat Went From National Panic to Nostalgic Camp," by Peter Suderman

The post Gavin Newsom's Free Diaper Disaster appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Nick Gillespie are joined by special guest Kate Andrews, opinion journalist for The Washington Post, to discuss how big city governance is playing out in Democratic cities. They examine why candidates with strong ties to organized labor and socialist policy agendas, such as New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, keep winning in major cities, even as affordability worsens and residents leave. The panel also considers whether these outcomes reflect voter preferences, weak alternatives, or a broader failure of reform-oriented factions on the left.

Next, the panel turns to Iran, where President Donald Trump has announced "Project Freedom," a plan for the U.S. Navy to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions and uncertainty over the conflict's trajectory. They discuss the economic stakes, the political fallout, and what the lack of a clear resolution suggests about the long-term direction of U.S. foreign policy. The conversation then shifts to King Charles' visit to the United States and what it reveals about political culture, symbolism, and leadership on both sides of the Atlantic. Finally, a listener asks why voters continue to reward pandering politicians and whether meaningful change is possible within the current electoral system.

0:00—Why big city Democrats keep electing socialists
23:01—The Strait of Hormuz and "Project Freedom"
36:35—Listener question on voter behavior
45:34—King Charles visits the U.S.
53:03—Gillespie's interview with Justice Neil Gorsuch
57:08—Weekly cultural recommendations

Mentioned in the podcast:

"Seattle's Socialist Mayor Laughs at Wealthy Residents Leaving To Escape High Taxes," by J.D. Tuccille
"Project Freedom," by Liz Wolfe
"Justice Neil Gorsuch: 'Aspirations for Power Need To Be Checked'," by Nick Gillespie
"Prison Doesn't Work the Way You Think," by Billy Binion
"Is The Devil Wears Prada 2 the Great Millennial Journalism Movie?" by Peter Suderman

The post Why Do Big City Democrats Keep Electing Socialists? appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch discuss the attempted shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner and the media coverage that followed. They examine the shooter's manifesto, why it struck some observers as uncomfortably normal, and what that says about the mainstreaming of extreme political rhetoric. The panel also considers President Donald Trump's renewed push to build his new White House ballroom in the aftermath of the attack.

Next, the editors turn to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's plan for city-run grocery stores, whether government-backed supermarkets can fairly compete with private businesses, and why critics may have helped turn a campaign talking point into actual policy. Then, the panel discusses reports that the Trump administration is considering a bailout that could leave the federal government owning most of Spirit Airlines. The panel then turns to Iran, where uncertain diplomacy and mixed signals over the Strait of Hormuz suggest the conflict remains far from resolved. Finally, a listener asks what the libertarian view of redistricting should be and whether fair maps are ever truly possible.

0:00—The White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting

18:49—Mamdani's city-run grocery store plan

27:42—Spirit Airlines bailout

37:06—Listener question on redistricting

43:23—What is the endgame in Iran?

48:58—Weekly cultural recommendations

Mentioned in the podcast:

"Shots Fired," by Eric Boehm

"What If We Acted Like Political Violence Was a Problem?" by Matt Welch

"Prediction: 2024 Will See Deadly Political Violence in the Streets," by Matt Welch

"Charlie Kirk and America's History With Political Violence," by Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch

"Politically Motivated Violence Is a Small Threat," by Alex Nowrasteh

"Hasan Piker and Jia Tolentino: The Leftists Who Think Stealing Is Great," by Robby Soave

"With His Grandiose White House Ballroom Plan, Trump Again Asserts the Power To Do As He Pleases," by Jacob Sullum

"Mamdani's Fix for Food Deserts: Opening a $30 Million City-Owned Grocery Store Near Other Grocery Stores," by Megan O'Rourke

"Zohran Mamdani's $70 Million Grocery Gamble," by C. Jarrett Dieterle

"Biden Killed the Spirit Airlines Merger. Now Trump Wants Taxpayers To Save the Company," by Joe Lancaster

"Spirit Airlines Didn't Die Because Biden Blocked the JetBlue Merger," by Gary Leff

"The Spirit Airline Is a Bad Idea Built on a Worse Precedent," by Veronique de Rugy and Gary Leff

"Why Redistricting Reform Goes Off the Rails," by Walter Olson

"A Pointless War," by Matthew Petti

"Neither War nor Peace With Iran," by Matthew Petti

"My Books, Essay #5," by Arnold Kling

"Michael Is a Brutally Dull Biopic With Nothing to Say About Michael Jackson," by Peter Suderman

The post The Shooter's Manifesto Was Uncomfortably Normal appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch discuss the growing push on the left to "tax the rich," highlighted by New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's Tax Day message. They examine whether America's tax system is already highly progressive, why wealth taxes and similar proposals have repeatedly disappointed abroad and in blue states, and whether New York risks copying California's mistakes. The panel also asks a broader question: With some of the nation's highest tax burdens, what are taxpayers actually getting in return?

Next, the editors mark 4/20 with a conversation about marijuana legalization, the libertarian case for drug freedom, and whether concerns about public disorder are being wrongly blamed on legalization itself. They also discuss President Donald Trump's executive order expanding psychedelic drug research. The conversation then shifts to Palantir's call for national service and why so many tech leaders suddenly have grand plans for remaking public policy, before returning to Iran, where mixed signals over the Strait of Hormuz and uncertain negotiations raise fears of another drifting conflict. Finally, a listener asks whether today's political divide is best understood as two wings of a broader progressive movement rather than a clash between left and right.

0:00—Do wealth taxes ever work?

19:18—Drug legalization and psychedelics research

31:25—Palantir calls for national service

42:38—Listener question on progressivism

48:46—Is the Strait of Hormuz open?

53:24—Weekly cultural recommendations

Mentioned in the podcast:

"Can This Psychedelic Help Cure Opioid Addiction?" by Rachel Nuwer

Nick Gillespie on X: "Much about this @PalantirTech list outlining the requirement of 'the technological republic' is risible, none more than the call for 'national service,' a form of indentured servitude that always goes easy on the rich and politically connected."

"NYC Schools Are Losing Students and Burning Cash. Mamdani Could Make the Situation Worse," by Danyela Souza Egorov

"Will Donald Trump and RFK, Jr. Psychedelicize America?" by Nick Gillespie

"Kat Rosenfield: Why It's Important for Novelists To Speak Freely," by Nick Gillespie

"Stan Lee Co-author Kat Rosenfield on Rise of Cancel Culture in the Literary World," by Nick Gillespie

The post Can New York Survive Mamdani's Tax Plan? appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch discuss the collapse of ceasefire talks with Iran and President Donald Trump's decision to order a U.S. military blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. They examine Trump's insistence that the conflict is a win for America, what the United States has actually gained, and the mounting costs of escalation. The panel also discusses why voices such as former national security adviser John Bolton still push for escalation and why their foreign policy arguments continue to fail.

Next, the editors turn to Europe after Viktor Orbán's defeat in Hungary and what it says about the limits of nationalist populism, economic performance, and Vice President J.D. Vance's endorsement of the longtime Hungarian leader. They also discuss Kamala Harris hinting at another presidential run and Eric Swalwell's exit from California's governor race amid sexual assault allegations. The editors then examine Anthropic's decision not to release its powerful new Claude Mythos Preview model because of its hacking capabilities. Finally, a listener asks whether Bruce Springsteen's "Born in the U.S.A." can still be embraced as a patriotic song.

0:00—Has the U.S. won anything from the war with Iran?

14:49—Orbán loses reelection

27:41—Democrats have a candidate quality issue

33:45—Listener question on patriotic content

39:05—Anthropic's Claude Mythos

50:04—Weekly cultural recommendations

Mentioned in the podcast:

"Trump Responds to Iranian Blockade of Strait of Hormuz By Blockading It," by Matthew Petti

"Viktor Orbán and His American Apologists All Deserve To Lose," by Matt Welch

"Viktor Orban's Hungary Exemplifies the Perils of Nationalism," by Ilya Somin

"American Presidents Shouldn't Endorse Foreign Political Candidates," by Matt Welch

"How Did Poland Get So Far Ahead of Hungary?" by Eric Boehm

"National Conservatives Can't Find a Good Excuse for Viktor Orbán's Inflation Disaster," by Ryan Bourne

"No Self-Respecting American Should Aspire to Hungarian-Style Nationalism," by Matt Welch

"Hungarian Nationalism Is a Dead End," by Matt Welch

"See Ya, Swalwell," by Christian Britschgi

"Democrats and Republicans Both Want To Regulate AI. They Just Can't Agree on How," by Jack Nicastro

"Sam Altman's (Not So) New Deal for Superintelligent AI," by Jack Nicastro

"The Joys of Data Centers," by Christian Britschgi

"Artemis II Launches a New Era of Lunar Exploration," by Natalie Dowzicky

"The Overly Examined Life of Henry David Thoreau," by Peter Bagge

"'My Thoughts Are Murder to the State,'" by Lester Hunt

"Jacob Mchangama: How Hate Speech Laws Punish Minorities," by Nick Gillespie

"Jeff Kosseff: Why Anonymous Speech Is Good—and Constitutional," by Nick Gillespie

The post Is the War in Iran Totally Pointless? appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch discuss President Donald Trump's escalating rhetoric around the war in Iran, including a profanity-laced Easter weekend Truth Social post. They examine what it reveals about a conflict with shifting timelines, unclear objectives, and little public support, along with the domestic consequences of the war, including rising gas prices surging above $4 per gallon. The panel also weighs Trump's proposal for a $1.5 trillion defense budget, the largest in modern history, and what it says about the administration's priorities.

Next, the panel turns to the broader federal budget, where rising spending continues without any serious attempt to address the deficit. The editors then check in on NASA's Artemis program, weighing the excitement of returning to the moon against persistent delays, cost overruns, and the growing role of private space companies. They also answer a listener's question about what libertarian alternatives to Medicare for All might look like, focusing on deregulation, catastrophic coverage, and restoring price signals in the health care system.

Reason is hiring! Check out the two open roles on the video team now:
https://reason.org/jobs/associate-producer/
https://reason.org/jobs/producer/

0:00—Trump's Truth Social Easter rant

14:57—The $1.5 trillion defense budget

22:36—The New York Times student debt story

28:55—Listener question on Medicare for All

43:41—Analyzing Artemis

51:58—Weekly cultural recommendations

Mentioned in the podcast:

"'I Am Blowing Up Everything,'" by Eric Boehm

"Ro Khanna: Congress Has Surrendered on War," by Nick Gillespie

"Trump's Call for a $1.5 Trillion Military Budget Is Irresponsible, Wasteful, and Unrealistic," by Eric Boehm

"10 Years Ago Today, Trump Promised To Eliminate the National Debt. Instead, It Has Doubled," by Eric Boehm

"Debt Denialists," by Matt Welch

"Generational Warfare," by Nick Gillespie and Veronique de Rugy

"Why I Prefer French Health Care," by Matt Welch

"Artemis II Launches a New Era of Lunar Exploration," by Natalie Dowzicky

"NASA's Artemis Program Is a Monument to Government Waste. It Can Only Go Up From Here," by Quade MacDonald

"The Zendaya Romance The Drama Is Weirder and More Uncomfortable Than You Expect," by Peter Suderman

Green Lantern/Green Arrow, by Dennis O'Neill and Neal Adams

Captain America #156

The post Why Does Trump Want the Biggest Defense Budget Ever? appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch discuss the recent verdicts against Meta and the growing legal and cultural push to treat social media like a harmful, addictive product. Multiple juries decided that platforms such as Instagram and YouTube were negligently designed and that they contributed to mental health harms among young users, raising comparisons to Big Tobacco and intensifying the debate over which online activities are protected speech. The panel considers whether the real issue is design features such as infinite scroll and algorithmic feeds or simply content itself.

The panel then examines the latest developments in the Iran conflict, where the White House has suggested that the war may be nearing its end even as the Pentagon prepares plans that could include ground troops and the seizure of Iran's nuclear stockpile. They also take up a listener question about how libertarians can make the case for community and human connection without relying on government. Finally, they discuss the deployment of ICE agents to airports during the DHS shutdown. Are those agents helping ease delays, or are they making an already strained system worse?

Reason is hiring! Check out the two open roles on the video team now:
https://reason.org/jobs/associate-producer/
https://reason.org/jobs/producer/

0:00–Is social media addictive?
25:29–Conflicting narratives on Iran war
38:40–Divisions on the right over Iran
41:54–Listener question on collectivism
49:06–ICE agents at airports
54:05–Weekly cultural recommendations

Mentioned in the podcast:

"A Jury Hit Meta With a $375 Million Verdict. The Open Internet May Pay the Price," by Elizabeth Nolan Brown
"#Addiction," by Elizabeth Nolan Brown
"Taylor Lorenz: Is Social Media Responsible for Bad Parenting?" by Nick Gillespie
"Hail to the Censor!" by Matt Welch
"More War," by Christian Britschgi
"Trump's 'Military Operation' Wordplay Can't Hide Iran War," by Joe Lancaster
"Trump's War in Iran Risks Ruining His Entire Foreign Policy," by Daniel Deptris
"How Will Congress Fund a $300 Billion War With Iran?" by Veronique de Rugy
"Trump Can't TACO His Way Out of Iran," by Matthew Petti
"The Iran War Has Already Hurt Oil Production More Than the '70s Energy Crisis Did," by Reem Ibrahim
"'What Are the Goals?' Some Republicans Questioning $200 Billion for Iran War," by Eric Boehm
"Sovereignty Is Such a Lonely Word," by Matt Welch
"Peace Is Hell," by Nick Gillespie
"Mamdani's Promise of the 'Warmth of Collectivism' Is a Lie. Just Ask All the Failed Communes," by John Stossel
"A Socialist Swearing In," by Christian Britschgi
"I Spent Over 3 Hours in a TSA Line. Why Haven't We Abolished This Agency?" by Billy Binion

The post You're Wrong About Social Media Being Addictive appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch discuss whether it's finally time to abolish the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The panel examines the growing chaos at American airports as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents begin replacing TSA officials amid the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding standoff in Washington. They explore how airport security became entangled in broader immigration debates, whether agencies like TSA and DHS serve a necessary function, and what it says about a system where basic travel operations can break down over unrelated political fights.

Next, the panel considers the real legacy of labor leader Cesar Chavez and what it reveals about the influence of unions in modern Democratic politics, before turning to new evidence that blue state tax policies are driving out wealth and high earners. They also discuss a jury's decision to clear Afroman in a defamation case tied to music videos mocking police officers who raided his home. Finally, a listener asks what a libertarian, constitutional approach to U.S. action in Cuba might look like.

Reason is hiring! Check out the two open roles on the video team now:
https://reason.org/jobs/associate-producer/
https://reason.org/jobs/producer/

0:00—Abolish the TSA

15:51—The real legacy of Cesar Chavez

28:21—Blue state wealth taxes

34:41—Listener question on Cuba

40:52—Justice for Afroman

46:27—Weekly cultural recommendations

Mentioned in the podcast:

"Have an ICE Flight," by Eric Boehm

"Government Shutdowns Won't Stop Airport Security If Airport Security Isn't Run by the Government," by Jack Nicastro

"DHS Pledges Not To Deport Any U.S. Citizens if Congress Ends Shutdown," by Joe Lancaster

"Stossel: Government Shutdown Shows Private Is Better," by John Stossel and Maxim Lott

"Would You Be Afraid to Fly If the TSA Were Abolished?" by Ronald Bailey

"Make America Safer: Shut Down the Department of Homeland Security," by Chris Edwards

"Overhauling U.S. Airport Security Screening," by Robert Poole and Shirley Ybarra

"Cesar Chavez's Other Crimes," by Nick Gillespie

"Cesar Chavez Accused of Sexual Abuse," by Peter Suderman

"Forced to Unionize: Is this Cesar Chavez's Legacy?" by Zach Weissmueller

"Harvest of Power," by Patty Newman

"Who's Bankrolling the UFW?" by Patty Newman

"Labor Lost: Why the AFL-CIO's survival strategy is doomed," by Michael McMenamin

"New York Gov. Hochul Begs 'High-Net-Worth' Refugees To Return and Be Taxed," by J.D. Tuccille

"Seattle's Minimum Wage Laws Backfired on Uber and Lyft. Now the Union Wants To Limit Drivers," by C. Jarrett Dieterle

"Mamdani Might Raid a Severely Underfunded Retiree Fund To Balance New York City's Bursting Budget," by Mariana Trujillo

"California's Billionaire Tax Won't Save Hospitals," by Veronique de Rugy

"NYC Spent Over $368 Million To Combat Homelessness This Past Fiscal Year. Now the State Can't Track the Money," by Megan O'Rourke

"Washington State Just Passed a 9.9% Income Tax on Those Making $1 Million," by Jack Nicastro

"California Billionaire Wealth Tax Would Cost the State $25 Billion, New Research Finds," by Jack Nicastro

"Wealth Taxes Are Proven Failures. Will California Take Note?" by Veronique de Rugy

"California's 'Billionaire Tax' Could Bite Harder Than Advertised," by J.D. Tuccille

"As Trump Talks of 'Taking Cuba,' Real Change Requires More Than Replacing Its Leader," by Katarina Hall

"Regime Change in Cuba: 'Just a Matter of Time,'" by Matt Welch

"Jury Clears Afroman of Defamation for Mocking Cops Who Raided His House," by C.J. Ciaramella

"Project Hail Mary Is Another 'You Can Just Do Things' Story From Sci-Fi Novelist Andy Weir," by Peter Suderman

"Project Hail Mary," by Christian Britschgi

"Andy Weir Is Looking Forward to the Space Boom," by Katherine Mangu-Ward

"After The Martian, Andy Weir Goes to the Moon," by Katherine Mangu-Ward

The post It's Time To Abolish the TSA appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch discuss the legacy of Paul Ehrlich, author of The Population Bomb, and the enduring impact of the overpopulation panic he helped popularize. They examine how dire predictions of mass famine and societal collapse dominated headlines for decades, why those forecasts failed to materialize, and how elite institutions and media outlets often continue promoting similar narratives with little reflection on past errors.

Next, the panel discusses the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) threat to revoke broadcast licenses over war coverage the White House dislikes, before analyzing Vice President J.D. Vance's effort to position himself as an Iran war skeptic inside the White House. Then, the editors answer a listener's question about whether the Department of Homeland Security still serves a useful purpose as a centralized hub for intelligence sharing. Finally, the panel remembers Reason Senior Editor Brian Doherty by reflecting on his enormous influence as a historian of the libertarian movement.

Reason is hiring! Check out the two open roles on the video team now:
https://reason.org/jobs/associate-producer/
https://reason.org/jobs/producer/

0:00—The myth of overpopulation panic

19:22—The FCC threatens broadcasters over war coverage

24:05—Vance positions himself as an Iran war skeptic

31:46—Listener question on Department of Homeland Security

38:55—Remembering Brian Doherty

46:59—Weekly cultural recommendations

Mentioned in the podcast:

"Population Doomster and False Prophet of Ecological Apocalypse Paul Ehrlich Has Died," by Ronald Bailey

"60 Minutes Promotes Paul Ehrlich's Failed Doomsaying One More Time," by Ronald Bailey

"Civilization Is Doomed, Says Stanford Biologist Paul Ehrlich (Again)," by Ronald Bailey

"Population Doomster Paul Ehrlich's New Forecast: 'Biological Annihilation,'" by Ronald Bailey

"Doomster Paul Ehrlich Unrepentant: 'My language would be even more apocalyptic today.'" By Ronald Bailey

"Betting on Humanity's Future," by Ronald Bailey

"Paul Ehrlich Sounds the Trump of Doom Again: And This Time It's A 'Consensus,'" by Ronald Bailey

"Paul Ehrlich Goes Up Against 'Well-Funded, Merciless Enemies' to Save the Earth from Certain Destruction. Again," by Katherine Mangu-Ward

"Julian Simon Was Right: Ingenuity Leads to Abundance," by J.D. Tuccille

"FCC Chair Threatens Media Outlets That Don't Report Good Iran War News," by Joe Lancaster

"Trump Wants To Cover Up Bad News About the Iran War," by Matthew Petti

"Trump and Vance Promised 'No New Wars.' What Happened To That?" by Steven Greenhut

"Homeland Insecurity," by Brian Doherty

"Abolish the Department of Homeland Security," by Nick Gillespie and Justin Zuckerman

"Brian Doherty, Historian of the Libertarian Movement, Dead at 57," by Matt Welch

"Remembering Brian Doherty, Chronicler of and Participant in Wild and Wonderful Subcultures," by Nick Gillespie

"Brian Doherty: The fascinating women and weirdos who founded libertarianism," by Nick Gillespie

"I Dreamed I Saw Joey Ramone Last Night: The P.C. eulogizing of a punk rocker," by Nick Gillespie and Brian Doherty

"Me and the Orgone—The True Story of One Man's Sexual Awakening," by Orson Bean

"Marian Tupy and Gale Pooley: More People Means More Wealth," by Nick Gillespie

"One Battle After Another Lets Leftist Radicals Off the Hook," by Peter Suderman

The post Why the Media Pushes Public Health Myths appeared first on Reason.com.