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The Reason Roundtable
Hosted by The Reason Roundtable · EN
Every Monday, the libertarian editors of the magazine of “Free Minds and Free Markets”—Matt Welch, Nick Gillespie, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Peter Suderman—discuss and debate the week’s biggest stories and what fresh hell awaits us all.
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Bernie Sanders Is Wrong About Trillionaires
2d ago01:11:53Tap to summarizeThis week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Nick Gillespie are joined by Sarah Isgur, senior editor at The Dispatch, to discuss Elon Musk becoming the world's first trillionaire and whether that milestone represents a triumph of capitalism or a warning sign about inequality. The panel examines the political backlash to extreme wealth, the role government subsidies played in Musk's rise, and whether Americans should be more concerned about how fortunes are made than how large they become. Next, the editors discuss the Supreme Court's biggest pending decisions, including cases involving birthright citizenship and the Federal Reserve. They also debate Democratic proposals to expand the Supreme Court and what those efforts could mean for the judiciary's future. The panel then examines the economic fallout from the Iran war, including rising inflation and energy prices. Finally, a listener asks whether the free market is responsible for the growing "enshittification" of everyday life, from movie theaters to fast-food restaurants. 0:00—Elon Musk becomes a trillionaire 17:50—The Supreme Court's pending decisions 31:33—Will Democrats pack the Supreme Court? 38:41—Listener question on free market and quality decline 48:57—Iran ceasefire agreement and economic impact 53:37—Weekly cultural recommendations Mentioned in the podcast: "Elon Musk Becomes the World's First Trillionaire. Is That Such a Bad Thing?" by Joe Lancaster "The Iran War Is Over, For Now," by Matthew Petti "The White House UFC Fight Is the Perfect Event for the Present, Not the Past," by Billy Binion "Counting Down the Supreme Court Term," by Sarah Isgur and David French "UFC Stages Successful White House Fight Night—if Not for Obama Insult," by Sean Gregory "Soccer Participation in the U.S. Is Surging Before the 2026 World Cup," by Sports and Fitness Industry Association "Soccer Passes Baseball in Race to Be America's Favorite Sport," by Ben Steiner The post Bernie Sanders Is Wrong About Trillionaires appeared first on Reason.com.
Transcribe →Do Democrats Still Have a Big-City Crime Problem?
1w ago01:04:06Tap to summarizeThis week, editors Peter Suderman, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch are joined by Associate Editor Liz Wolfe to discuss New York City's falling crime rates and whether Democrats have really solved their big-city crime problem. The panel looks at the recent Penn Station stabbings, subway disorder, fare evasion, and why many New Yorkers still feel uneasy even as murders and shootings decline. Next, the editors discuss California's recent elections, including Spencer Pratt's bid for Los Angeles mayor, and what these results reveal about voter attitudes toward political leadership and governance. They then examine the political and economic fallout from President Donald Trump's war with Iran. The panel also discusses proposals from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I–Vt.) and Trump to give the federal government a stake in artificial intelligence companies. Finally, a listener asks whether AI-powered surveillance threatens individual liberty. 0:00—New York City's declining murder rate 18:16—California election results 28:22—The economic fallout of the Iran war 38:33—Listener question on AI threats to liberty 49:47—The push to nationalize artificial intelligence 55:45—Weekly cultural recommendations Mentioned in the podcast: "D.C.'s Crime Drop Didn't Require a Military Deployment," by Tosin Akintola "Trump's Middle Eastern Ceasefire: Fiery But Mostly Peaceful," by Matthew Petti "Trump and Bibi Are Fighting," by Liz Wolfe "Bernie Sanders' AI Wealth Fund Bill Shows That He Doesn't Understand AI or Wealth," by Tosin Akintola "Native Americans Taught Colonists How To Fight—and To Live Without Kings," by Charles C. Mann "Neil Gorsuch on the Declaration of Independence, Originalism, and Separation of Powers," by Nick Gillespie The post Do Democrats Still Have a Big-City Crime Problem? appeared first on Reason.com.
Transcribe →Why Socialism Won't Deliver Government Efficiency
2w ago01:04:47Tap to summarizeThis week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch discuss New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's new Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE). The panel examines Mamdani's claim that bureaucracy is preventing New York from delivering housing, transit, and other services, while questioning whether the commission represents a serious effort at reform or simply a rebranding of the city's existing political priorities. They also consider what Mamdani's embrace of efficiency rhetoric says about the state of the Democratic Party and the growing recognition that government often struggles to deliver on its promises. Next, the editors discuss former Vice President Mike Pence's claim that "Democrats have lost their mind" and examine the Democratic Party's continuing attraction to polarizing candidates, from Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner to California's unsettled gubernatorial race. The panel then checks in on the endlessly unresolved Iran conflict, before debating a proposal to eliminate property taxes for senior citizens and what it reveals about the growing trend toward narrowly targeted tax breaks. Finally, the editors answer a listener's question about whether late Sen. John McCain's (R–Ariz.) opposition to mixed martial arts helped shape the cultural forces that eventually brought the UFC to the White House lawn. 0:00—The Commission on Government Efficiency 14:04—Mike Pence's comments on Democratic Party 22:21—Graham Platner and Democratic candidate quality 30:19—Iran war update 33:01—Listener question on the White House UFC event 42:30—Should seniors pay property tax? 50:05—Weekly cultural recommendations Mentioned in the podcast: "Elon Did DOGE. Now Mamdani Is Trying COGE," by Megan O'Rourke "Mamdani 'Balanced' New York City's Budget—With a Bailout From Albany," by Joe Lancaster "Confidence in Market Principles," by Mike Pence "Mike Pence's Sensible (and Probably Doomed) Plan To Fix the National Debt," by Eric Boehm "Today Mike Pence May Find That All His Temporizing and Obfuscation About the Election Sacrificed His Integrity for Nothing," by Jacob Sullum "Ken Paxton's Primary Victory Shows How Trump's Grudges Undermine His Party's Interests," by Jacob Sullum "Don't Get a Nazi Tattoo or Praise Hitler: Advice for New Politicians," by Robby Soave "Bleeding into the Mainstream," by Greg Beato "Government's Ongoing Effort to Shutter Mixed Martial Arts," by Kerry Howley "UFC: One Man's Brutal Spectacle Is Another's Eden," by A. Barton Hinkle "Stop Giving Property Tax Breaks to Senior Citizens," by Eric Boehm "Baby Boomers Are the Richest Generation in History. Why Do Politicians Keep Spending More on Them?" by Eric Boehm "Abolish Property Taxes?" by Christian Britschgi "Helen Lewis: The Dark Side of Genius," by Nick Gillespie The post Why Socialism Won't Deliver Government Efficiency appeared first on Reason.com.
Transcribe →Does Anyone Know What's Happening in Iran?
3w ago01:06:03Tap to summarizeThis 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.
Transcribe →Why Is Trump Trying To Purge Thomas Massie?
May 1801:09:01Tap to summarizeThis 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.
Transcribe →Gavin Newsom's Free Diaper Disaster
May 1101:02:42Tap to summarizeThis 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.
Transcribe →Why Do Big City Democrats Keep Electing Socialists?
May 401:13:01Tap to summarizeThis 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.
Transcribe →The Shooter's Manifesto Was Uncomfortably Normal
Apr 2701:04:59Tap to summarizeThis 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.
Transcribe →Can New York Survive Mamdani's Tax Plan?
Apr 2001:05:21Tap to summarizeThis 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.
Transcribe →Is the War in Iran Totally Pointless?
Apr 1301:03:29Tap to summarizeThis 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.
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