Conversations With Coleman: How to Avoid the Partisan Trap Even at The Washington Post w/ Megan McArdle

Release Date: August 11, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of Conversations With Coleman, host Coleman Hughes welcomes Megan McArdle, a seasoned columnist at the Washington Post. With a rich background spanning from her early blogging days to her current role, Megan delves into critical discussions surrounding media partisanship, the intricacies of the American healthcare system, and the burgeoning influence of artificial intelligence in education.

1. Megan McArdle’s Journey to Columnism

Megan shares her unconventional path to becoming a prominent columnist at the Washington Post. From her early days blogging under pseudonyms to navigating the tumultuous job market post-dot-com bubble, Megan recounts how serendipitous events and persistent curiosity led her to journalism.

Megan McArdle [04:23]: “Entirely by accident?... I realized at some point that this was not my calling.”

Having faced multiple job layoffs and career shifts, Megan's resilience and passion for writing eventually anchored her at esteemed publications like The Atlantic, Newsweek, and Bloomberg before joining the Washington Post in 2018.

2. Navigating Audience Misinterpretations and Institutional Roles

Coleman praises Megan’s ability to maintain objectivity amidst rising partisan divides, highlighting her high "batting average" in addressing issues without succumbing to extreme biases.

Coleman Hughes [03:57]: “One of the columnists with the highest batting average... not being influenced by the partisan crazes.”

Megan explains that her focus often leans towards critiquing the left, not out of favoritism towards the right, but because her team lacks columnists dedicated to that angle. She emphasizes the importance of institutional goals over personal branding in mainstream media settings.

Megan McArdle [14:48]: “We are trying to do a broad page. We're not trying to have you read the same column eight times with different bylines on it.”

3. The Economics of Information: Understanding Asymmetric Information

Delving into her Twitter handle’s origin, Megan elucidates the economic principle of asymmetric information and its pervasive impact across various sectors, including healthcare.

Megan McArdle [14:59]: “Asymmetric information is the idea that when you are, for example, doing a transaction with someone, insurance is a good example of this.”

She contextualizes how asymmetric information led to issues like the death spiral in insurance pools, underscoring the challenges in creating balanced markets where all parties have equitable information.

4. Dissecting the American Healthcare System

Megan offers a nuanced analysis of the American healthcare system, countering popular narratives that place blame solely on insurance companies and pharmaceutical firms.

Megan McArdle [21:12]: “The root cause of the dysfunction of the system is that we have like nine different systems, many of which are created by the government one way or the other.”

She introduces the concept of principal-agent problems, illustrating how misaligned incentives among stakeholders contribute to inefficiencies. Megan critiques the fragmented nature of U.S. healthcare, historical policy missteps like the absence of a fee schedule in Medicare, and the resulting over-treatments and cost escalations.

Megan McArdle [30:22]: “People are convinced that the two evil actors in this are the insurance companies and pharma. In fact, pharma is producing is probably saving us money on net.”

Megan also contrasts the U.S. system with single-payer models, highlighting the trade-offs between cost control and service accessibility. She argues that while single-payer systems may lead to longer wait times, the U.S. market-driven approach suffers from its own set of complex inefficiencies.

Megan McArdle [37:11]: “But almost anything would be better than the mess we have.”

5. Institutional Challenges in Adapting to AI in Education

Transitioning to the impact of artificial intelligence, Megan and Coleman explore how tools like ChatGPT are reshaping educational methodologies and the inherent challenges faced by academic institutions.

Megan McArdle [53:47]: “And I think there's a bigger question, which is that the governance of universities is completely ill equipped to handle any of this.”

Megan critiques the traditional academic focus on research over teaching excellence, arguing that this hampers the ability of universities to effectively integrate AI into curricula. She emphasizes the need for educational reform that prioritizes teaching adaptability and real-world skill application over rigid research agendas.

Megan McArdle [60:14]: “If you were the czar and had complete control over a top college, what changes might you institute?”

Both discuss the potential for AI to undermine traditional educational signals, such as writing proficiency and cognitive abilities, while also recognizing the unique value that human relationships and on-the-ground reporting bring to journalism—elements that AI cannot replicate.

Megan McArdle [80:55]: “And those are the two areas where journalism is really going to add value.”

Conclusion

Throughout the episode, Megan McArdle provides insightful critiques of systemic issues within media and healthcare, while also addressing the transformative effects of artificial intelligence on education and journalism. Her balanced approach underscores the importance of institutional integrity and the need for adaptive strategies in an increasingly complex socio-political landscape.

Notable Quotes

• Megan McArdle [03:57]: “That is extremely flattering. Thank you. That's what I'm aiming for.”

• Megan McArdle [21:12]: “The root cause of the dysfunction of the system is that we have like nine different systems...”

• Megan McArdle [37:11]: “But almost anything would be better than the mess we have.”

• Megan McArdle [53:47]: “The governance of universities is completely ill equipped to handle any of this.”

• Megan McArdle [80:55]: “Those are the two areas where journalism is really going to add value.”

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the pivotal discussions between Coleman Hughes and Megan McArdle, highlighting her expert perspectives on avoiding partisan pitfalls within major media institutions, unraveling the complexities of the American healthcare system, and navigating the disruptive influence of AI in education and journalism.