Podcast
Mark Geise Show – Mark Geise
Hosted by Mark Geise · EN
A look at politics, economics, news, and history from a young libertarian's perspective.
10episodes
Episodes
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Episode 57 – Supreme Court Decision and Police Violence
Jun 5, 2018Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I discuss the Supreme Court decision reached on June 4 in favor of a baker, Jack Phillips, who refused to customize a wedding cake for a gay couple. While I agree that Mr. Phillips should have the right to not serve any customer, this decision did not go far enough. It stuck to the specifics of this case, saying that the actions of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission were inappropriate. It did not state that people have to right to refuse to serve particular customers. I also discuss the incident on a New Jersey beach last week in which a police officer punched a woman multiple times in the back of the head. I break down the situation and explain how the police officer initiated violence against the woman by threatening her physically by saying, “You’re about to get dropped.” Though she certainly is not the most sympathetic character in this situation, she did not escalate the situation to a violent one; the officer did. https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mark-geise-show/Episode+57+-+SCOTUS+Decision+and+Police+Violence.mp3 Links: “16-111 Masterpiece Cakeshop, Ltd. v. Colorado Civil Rights Comm’n (06/04/2018)” – Supreme Court Video: “Wildwood police release body cam footage of woman’s violent arrest at beach (Full video)” by NJ.com – YouTube Video: “FBI agent under investigation after his gun goes off at Denver nightclub” by ABC News – YouTube
Transcribe →Episode 56 – Roseanne, Memorial Day, and the Ambiguity of ‘Conservatism’
May 31, 2018Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I discuss Roseanne’s tweets and the cancellation of her show, America’s role in the world, and how conservatives are in no position to denigrate libertarianism for being imprecise and/or undefinable. https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mark-geise-show/Episode+56+-+Roseanne%2C+Memorial+Day%2C+and+the+Ambiguity+of+'Conservatism'.mp3
Transcribe →Episode 55 – Gun Control Debate Reignited
Feb 16, 2018Tap to summarizeI discuss some of the common arguments made in favor of increased gun control, the inconsistencies and weaknesses of these arguments, and my own position on (lack of) gun control. https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mark-geise-show/Episode+55+-+Gun+Control+Debate+Reignited.mp3
Transcribe →Episode 54 – Stock Market Tanking, GOP Hypocrisy
Feb 12, 2018Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I discuss the volatile week in the markets. I don’t think this the end of the slide; after two years of ~25% returns with no notable declines during that time, we are as primed for a bear market as ever. I also talk about the hypocrisy of the Republican Party on deficits. Establishment Republicans criticized deficits during Obama’s eight years, but as soon as they get in power, they fully embrace substantial deficits. https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mark-geise-show/Episode+54+-+Stock+Market+Tanking%2C+GOP+Hypocrisy.mp3
Transcribe →Episode 53 – NSA Leaker Exposed and Trump Forces Left to Reevaluate
Jun 6, 2017Tap to summarizeFederal contractor Reality Leigh Winner was arrested for leaking classified National Security Agency (NSA) information to The Intercept. The Right has been hypocritical, calling for her to go to prison after generally championing the work of Julian Assange and Wikileaks to release information about the DNC during the 2016 election. The Left was similarly hypocritical when it turned on Wikileaks during the 2016 election; the Left had generally supported Assange and Wikileaks in the past. I discuss the actual leak (spoiler: there’s nothing of real substance). Also, I discuss one of the positives of the Trump presidency: it has forced the Left to reevaluate many of its reflexive reactions to particular positions. For example, supporting states’ rights once supposedly made one an extremist, but progressives have been sympathetic to the Calexit (California secession) movement. Also, the Left has acknowledged that it is up to private businesses and state and local governments to tackle climate change following Trump’s decision to leave the Paris Accord. https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mark-geise-show/Episode+53+-+NSA+Leaker+Exposed+and+Trump+Forces+Left+to+Reevaluate.mp3 Suggested Reading/Referenced Articles: “TOP-SECRET NSA REPORT DETAILS RUSSIAN HACKING EFFORT DAYS BEFORE 2016 ELECTION” – The Intercept “NSA Report on Russia Spearfishing” – Document Cloud “WikiLeaks issues a US$10,000 reward for information leading to the public exposure & termination of this ‘reporter'” – Twitter “Democrats Plot Debt Ceiling Fight And Government Shut Down To Thwart Trump Tax Cuts” – Zero Hedge “Trump lays out plan to privatize air traffic control system” – Reuters “Scathing report: FAA isn’t delivering what was promised in $40 billion project” – Washington Post Podcast: “Ep. 89 Risking the Planet” – ContraKrugman “Why the Paris climate deal is meaningless” – Politico “Liberals Meme” – Twitter
Transcribe →Episode 52 – Silk Road and Bitcoin
Jun 4, 2017Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I discuss the recent decision by an appellate court to affirm the life sentence without possibility of parole for Ross Ulbricht, the founder of Silk Road. Silk Road was an online marketplace that operated using Tor (a browser designed for anonymity) with transactions conducted in bitcoin, a cryptocurrency. I discuss some details of the Silk Road case and why governments are powerless to control similar online marketplaces. I also discuss the recent run up in bitcoin prices. While I am not bullish on bitcoin at the current prices, I am bullish on the cryptocurrency market as a whole. I have been looking for a way to buy exposure to the whole market; Bit20 (link below) looks like a solid way to buy a basket of cryptocurrencies with one asset. https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mark-geise-show/Episode+52+-+Silk+Road+and+Bitcoin.mp3 Suggesting Reading/Referenced Articles: “Silk Road Creator Ross Ulbricht Loses His Life Sentence Appeal” – Wired “United States v. Ulbricht, Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit” (court opinion) – Court Listener “The Untold Story of Silk Road, Part 1” – Wired “The Untold Story of Silk Road, Part 2” – Wired Tor Project: Anonymity Online “Dark Net Markets List – (Tor & I2P)” – Deep.Dot.Web “Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System” by Satoshi Nakamoto – Bitcoin.org “What is Bitcoin?” – Coindesk “What is Blockchain Technology?” – Coindesk Bitcoin Price Chart – Coindesk Bit20: The leading cryptocurrency index fund BitShares OpenLedger “What if the bitcoin bubble bursts?” – The Economist
Transcribe →Episode 51 – This is the Best Time to Be Alive in Human History
May 9, 2017Tap to summarizeI wanted to take a nice break to record an optimistic episode. Despite the tone of many of my episodes criticizing media members, politicians, governments, and others, I still firmly believe this is the best time to be alive in human history. Fewer people around the world go hungry or thirsty than ever before. Fewer children around have to work than ever before. The internet has made it easier than ever to gain skills and learn more about the world around you. We know more as a species than ever before. That knowledge is more readily available than ever before. We publish more books and record more music than at any point in human history. It is easier for poor people to afford modern conveniences than ever before. I can go on and on, but I think you will enjoy this episode if you’re desperate for some good news in a news environment that is pessimistic to a fault. This episode was recorded May 7, but released early in the morning on May 9. https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mark-geise-show/Episode+51+-+This+is+the+Best+Time+to+Be+Alive+in+Human+History.mp3 Suggested Reading/Referenced Articles: Podcast: “Episode 15 – Improvements in Computers Demonstrate the Beauty of Capitalism” – Mark Geise Show edX: Free online courses from the world’s best universities Liberty Classroom: The history and economics they didn’t teach you “Food supply, per person, per day” – HumanProgress “Economically active children” – HumanProgress “Mobile cellular subscriptions” – HumanProgress
Transcribe →Episode 50 – Health Care Debate Sparks Hysteria
May 6, 2017Tap to summarizeThis week, the House of Representatives passed the American Health Care Act (AHCA) by a 217-213 margin. The AHCA revises the Affordable Care Act (ACA), or Obamacare. Next, it will be sent to the Senate for a vote, where it should encounter even more vociferous criticism. Despite the hysterical cries of Affordable Care Act supporters, the AHCA makes minor changes around the fringes. The fundamental idea behind the legislation is the same, though the individual and employer mandates have been removed and direct ACA taxes have been removed. Replacing the individual mandate is a 30% penalty if people enroll in an insurance program after not holding coverage continuously. From listening to much of the left over the past two days, you would think that the AHCA has already passed into law and that government’s role in health care has been completely removed. I try to bring some unemotional discussion to the table in this episode. Thanks for supporting us through episode 50. Most podcasts fizzle out somewhere in the single digits, so I am proud to have gotten to 50 episodes. Hopefully the next 50 are just as fun to do. https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mark-geise-show/Episode+50+-+Health+Care+Debate+Sparks+Hysteria.mp3 Suggested Reading/Referenced Articles: Podcast: “Episode 43: Obamacare Replacement Just More of the Same” – Mark Geise Show Podcast: “Episode 35: Health Care Cannot Be a Right” – Mark Geise Show “Text – H.R.1628 – American Health Care Act of 2017” – Congress.gov “Kurt Eichenwald: I Want Republicans To Watch Their Families ‘Lose Insurance’ And ‘Die’” – Daily Caller Podcast: “Ep. 481 How Capitalism Can Fix Health Care” – Tom Woods Show “No, the AHCA Doesn’t Make Rape a Preexisting Condition” – Reason
Transcribe →Episode 49 – Trump Tax Plan
May 1, 2017Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I discuss President Trump’s tax plan. As of now, only a one page summary has been released, so many of the details are forthcoming. However, we know that Trump is proposing a 15% corporate income tax rate, versus the existing 35%, and is proposing three personal income tax brackets versus the current seven. I discuss some other features of the proposal as we know them so far. I also briefly discuss the Congress averting a government shutdown and the Bret Stephens New York Times controversy. https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mark-geise-show/Episode+49+-+Trump+Tax+Plan.mp3 Suggested Reading/Referenced Articles: “The 1-page White House handout on Trump’s tax proposal” – CNN “David Stockman: Trump’s tax plan is ‘dead on arrival’ and Wall St. is ‘delusional’ for believing it” – CNBC “Schumer urges Trump administration to keep tax deduction” – Newsday “Congress Reaches Deal To Keep Government Open Through September” – Zero Hedge “Climate of Complete Certainty” by Bret Stephens – New York Times “Twitter Proves New NY Times Columnist Bret Stephens Right About ‘Nasty Left'” – Mediaite
Transcribe →Episode 48 – Democracy in America
Apr 17, 2017Tap to summarizeIn this episode, I discuss Alexis de Tocqueville’s “Democracy in America.” In this book, which was published in 1835, de Tocqueville describes every aspect of American society at this point in time. A Frenchman, de Tocqueville visited the United States for nine months in 1831 when he was just 25 years old. Despite his young age, de Tocqueville was extremely astute and connected a wide array of dots. He pointed out the strengths and weaknesses of democracy in America. Among his prescient predictions were that slavery would provide the next major political issue in the United States and that it would eventually be abolished. Also, he predicted that the United States and Russia would collide as major powers in the future, despite neither country being at the forefront of world affairs at the time. I believe this book is worth discussing during this episode because de Tocqueville’s writing is lucid and valuable to this day. https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/mark-geise-show/Episode+48+-+Democracy+in+America.mp3 Suggested Readings/Referenced Articles: Book: “Democracy in America: Volume 1” by Alexis de Tocqueville (free, legal PDF/EPUB downloads from Project Gutenberg) Book: “Defending the Undefendable” by Walter Block (free, legal PDF/EPUB downloads from the Mises Institute)
Transcribe →