The Chris Spangle Show

Chris welcomes back Augustina Vergara Cid to discuss the moral and philosophical costs of dehumanization, particularly in the context of immigration. Drawing on her personal experience immigrating to the U.S. and her deep appreciation for American ideals, Augustina offers a compelling defense of dignity, liberty, and due process for all people. "When rhetoric reduces immigrants to invaders, crimin...

Ryan Silverstein, JD candidate at Villanova University, joins Chris Spangle to explain the unitary executive theory through the case of Gwen Wilcox, former chair of the National Labor Relations Board, who sued after being fired by President Trump. Ryan discusses the legal history, constitutional questions, and implications for executive power in American government. A Gift To The Conservative Lega...

Independent policy consultant Cruz Garcia joins Chris Spangle to discuss why many Latino voters support former President Donald Trump's immigration policies. Cruz, whose own family experienced the challenges of undocumented immigration, shares personal stories and insights into why public safety and conservative values are increasingly resonating within Latino communities. He explains policies lik...

Michigan expanded its state-funded pre-K program by 20,000 seats—but only 6,000 children enrolled. Why are parents opting out of free preschool programs like Head Start and the Great Start Readiness Program? In this episode, Chris Spangle talks with Susanna Barnes Pettit, a social mobility fellow with Young Voices, about parental choice, preschool funding, and why families still prefer community-b...

April 2, 2025—dubbed “Liberation Day” by Donald Trump—new sweeping tariffs were announced, including a 10% baseline on all imports and steep country-specific increases. But is this protectionist move really the start of an American economic revival, or just a massive tax hike on American families? Chris Spangle is joined by Aiden Grogan, a writer and Ph. D. student at Liberty University, to examin...

Gaby Blanco, a speaker for the Dissident Project and Gideons International, joins Chris Spangle to discuss the reality of life in Cuba today. Contrary to popular belief following Obama-era policy changes, Cuba remains under intense oppression. Gaby shares her personal journey growing up in Cuba, becoming a Christian, and her experiences highlighting ongoing persecution, government spying in church...

Are tariffs taxes in disguise? Matt Cookson, a policy fellow at Young Voices and contributor at the Mises Institute, explains the complicated truth behind tariffs. Learn why the U.S. Constitution originally placed tariff-setting power in the hands of Congress and how it ended up under presidential control during the Roosevelt administration. Cookson details how tariffs actually harm consumers, dis...

If you've been a longtime listener to this show, you know there are several things that we've emphasized over the years like the importance of friendship, healthy masculinity, and growing civil society within our local communities. For the last year, I have been hosting a podcast for Citizen 7, a local group dedicated to building deep friendships between men with the hope that it will spark redemp...

In this episode, I talk with Agustina Vergara Cid, an immigration policy expert, to break down the complex issue of birthright citizenship and President Trump's day-one executive order attempting to alter it. We discuss the history and legal foundation of birthright citizenship, tracing its roots to the 14th Amendment and the 1898 Supreme Court case, Wong Kim Ark, which affirmed that anyone born o...

Chris Spangle kicks off the episode with a deep dive into why Super Bowl halftime shows always spark controversy, tracing the evolution of performances from marching bands to modern artists like Kendrick Lamar and Rihanna. He highlights how reactions often reveal deeper cultural and generational divides, touching on race, media consumption, and changing societal tastes. In the second half, Chris i...

This week we dive into the TikTok ban, explaining how Congress passed a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok, only for both Biden and Trump to refuse enforcement. Spangle is joined by Ed Tarnowski to break down the implications for the rule of law, executive power, and the growing tension between Congress and the presidency. Plus, Spangle shares his approach to staying informed without being ove...

From Nov 28, 2018: Chris Spangle examines what causes wildfires and how we can prevent them. Was Donald Trump right when he said the government makes wildland fires worse? What libertarian principles would significantly reduce both the frequency and damage of wildfires? Show Notes: https://wearelibertarians.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Wildfire.pdf Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megapho...

We start out the show with a couple of personal announcements about my family and career, and then Harry Price, Rhinehold and I deal with the fact that it's hard to be a principled libertarian. First, there are some good things the government does at a local level. Secondly, the libertarian ideology is barely popular with libertarians. So I ask them, "what's the point?" Harry gives me a good answe...

Caleb Franz, the author of "The Conductor: The Story of Rev. John Rankin, Abolitionism's Essential Founding Father," joins me to share his incredible story and how it applies to our own day.  The Conductor: The Story of Rev. John Rankin, Abolitionism's Essential Founding Father - https://amzn.to/415fKbl This episode is brought to you by Trijent's new Universal Mech-loader - https://trijent.com/spa...

Dr. Eric Larson of the Paradocs podcast joins me to discuss what we think RFK Jr. wants to do if confirmed as head of the Health and Human Services division, what he might get done, and some priorities he ought to do to make America healthy again. q Video - https://youtube.com/live/wt69j-XebVg This episode is brought to you by Trijent's new Universal Mech-loader - https://trijent.com/spangle Trije...

It is finally over! Donald Trump won the presidency in one of the greatest political comebacks in American history. Why did Trump win, and why did Kamala Harris lose? We look at 2024's fear-based political messaging from both sides and the mental health crisis it caused, the economic frustrations across America, and the disillusionment of younger generations. We also look at the Libertarian Party'...

In this special election eve edition of CSS, Rhinehold and discuss the latest polls, the impact of voter demographics, and make predictions for the upcoming election. We examine Ann Selzer's polling accuracy, trends in key battleground states, and potential election outcomes for both Trump and Harris. With a focus on early voting statistics, canvassing efforts, and historical context, we provide a...

Every election is billed as the most important election of our lifetime. Choosing Kamala Harris or Donald Trump will not end America, but it does present two fundamentally different paths of political ideology for voters. Harry Price, Rhinehold, Brian Wholgemuth, and I discuss the future presidencies of Harris or Trump and what will happen in the days after the election.  This episode is brought t...

Leslie Corbly and I talk through a brief history of the Christian worldview's influence on the Republican Party, and how that has changed under the last decade with Donald Trump as its head. How does morality factor into the platform of a party that once touted itself as the bulwark of Judeo-Christian values in America?  This episode is brought to you by Trijent's new Universal Mech-loader - https...

Leslie Corbly and I explore our evolving perspectives on faith, libertarianism, and worldview. We share our thoughts on the current state of the libertarian movement and their growing inclination toward a more faith-based understanding of the world and how our Christian worldviews shape our approach to politics and cultural issues. Books Mentioned -  What's Your Worldview?: An Interactive Approach...

Maintaining sanity amidst information overload in the AI-driven social media universe is getting harder. I touch on the nature of conspiracy theories on the rise in the aftermath of major news stories like Helene and FEMA, foreign disinformation campaigns, the role of local journalism, and the rise of a new religion. Trijent's new Universal Mech-loader sponsors this episode. - https://trijent.com/...

In this episode, I discuss the debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris, including why he lost and how she didn't do well either. I also get into my thoughts on my conversation with LP Presidential candidate Chase Oliver after the debate and end with the story out of Springfield, OH, and the missing pets.  Autocracy in America Podcast - https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/autocracy-in-americ...

Following the Trump and Harris debate, the leading third-party candidate, Chase Oliver of the Libertarian Party, joined me live and in person from Circle City Studios to answer the questions asked of the Republican and Democratic candidates. Video - https://youtube.com/live/urMUq5358pI Do you have comments or questions about this episode? Visit it on ChrisSpangle.com and leave one! --- Join our Pa...

Rob Kendall invited me on his radio show 'Kendall & Casey' on WIBC in Indianapolis to discuss Robert Kennedy Jr. leaving the race while asking "Why can't third parties win."  Check out his show here: https://wibc.com/kendall-and-casey/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump has selected two Democrats to run his transition team. What does that mean for his potential administration? And Kamala Harris keeps changing her mind on big issues between 2020 and now without explanation. Plus, what is the actual solution to all of this?  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices