Inquiry

When Outrage Becomes the Argument 09.10.2026 56:29 ↓

The Rogue Elf's return begins with a quick catch-up before the discussion settles on a central question: why do people defend a political narrative when contrary information becomes available? Hall frames the issue in terms of emotional allegiance, factions, and the value of a constantly changing outrage. The Rogue Elf brings examples from online reactions to criminal cases and argues for examinin...

Do You Still Own What You Buy? 24.09.2026 58:13 ↓

You bought the printer. You bought ink that fits it. Then the manufacturer updated the machine you already paid for and disabled it because you didn't buy the company’s approved cartridges. Rick Robinson brings that question to Inquiry respondent Steven Hall: What does ownership actually mean when manufacturers can remotely change, restrict, or disable products after the sale? The conversation exa...

Who Decides What the World Looks Like? 11.09.2026 57:51 ↓

A map may look objective, but every map reflects choices about what to enlarge, what to shrink, what to center, and how the world should be understood. Aggie the Barkeep questions Steven L. Hall about the Mercator projection, its usefulness for navigation, and the enormous distortions it creates when representing Africa, Greenland, Europe, and other parts of the globe. They examine proposed equal-...

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of What? 27.08.2026 57:18 ↓

John Locke famously described humanity's natural rights as life, liberty, and property. When Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence, however, property became the pursuit of happiness. Was that merely more poetic language—or did it change what America was promising its citizens? Rick Robinson brings the question to Inquiry, where respondent Steven Hall examines the relationship be...

Inquiry Episode 9 29.08.2025 1:05:06 ↓

Guest Inquisitor BZ returns for another round, and he and technology attempt to put Syephen through his paces. Please tune in to see how it went.