Serious Inquiries Only

What could turn a left-tube favorite into the IDW's poster child overnight? Just ask ContraPoints. Well actually you can't, because she deleted her Twitter after a run-in with some folks who have accused her of saying things that are offensive to non-binary people. To get more info, Tris Mamone has a good explainer here that I would recommend. I'd also recommend this video by another non-binary Yo...

It's time for a philosophy lesson with Jamie! She's here to teach us about one of her faves, Albert Camus. We touch on absurdism, existentialism, nihilism, and more. Camus lived and wrote during the time of literal Nazis, so his work has a lot to tell us about our current time of arguably literal Nazis. Content note: there's a brief discussion of hypothetical suicide. Here's the essay that Jamie r...

I've got good news and better news. First, Jamie and I are back for a bonus early SIO to tackle more amazing listeners questions and voicemail! We start off with a very deep and thoughtful #metoo related email from a male listener about his potential bad behavior in the past. From there we've got more on #metoo and responses to our Al Franken episode including a voicemail that asks "what about the...

Jamie Lombardi is back to talk about the curious case of Andrew Yang! We explore why there seems to be so much support for him among the alt-right, 4chan, and IDW type people. We also discuss his flagship policy - the UBI. Hop on to patreon.com/seriouspod to enjoy a bonus QnA segment!

In catching up on some of your many amazing questions, emails, and voicemails, I stumbled into a Glenn Greenwald vortex that I cannot help but sound off on. There is a contingent of the far left (if indeed they are that) that believes liberals fabricated the bulk of the Russia story in order to deflect from Democratic shortcomings. I explore this, and also take a look at what I believe to be the b...

Recently, a New Yorker article made a case for Al Franken and why he didn't get the due process he deserved. It points to some inconsistencies in Franken's first accuser's story, and explains some misconceptions about the USO tour and the skits that he wrote. But does the evidence justify the central claim - that he was railroaded and shouldn't have had to resign? Joining me to discuss this questi...

Hey folks, I'm back with a rapid response on night 1 of the... TIME, thank you Thomas. But I didn't get to explain what the.. TIME thank you Thomas. Moving on. But I... ok you have 3.2 more seconds. That's it? Ok it'sanepisodeaboutthedebates TIME! Download Here

... is they get no credit for any good they do, and they get infinite sh*t for anything bad a masked person does, anywhere in the country ever. Today, the occupant of the White House tweeted that "ANTIFA" should be declared "an Organization of Terror." Well, this sounds like a good time for me to deliver to you an episode I spent hours developing back when Andy Ngo was attacked by someone, but had...

.... according to Republicans. Hey folks, sorry for the long hiatus. At the end of the episode, I talk about why I haven't been recording this show. But before that, I had a conversation with a family member that really made me think about Republicans and how they think about race. I sort of had an epiphany that I wanted to share. Here are a couple links I mention in the show: Sam Harris black fri...

This one wasn't as good. Why does hollywood keep pumping out crap sequels. However, Kamala Harris dismantling Biden was maybe worth it. Harris was far and away the winner, in my book. Her poise is something to behold. Buttigieg is a very effective communicator. As weird as it is, I think he has an outside shot. Then there are a bunch of mediocre white men who I can't keep straight. Plus, I'm defin...

Warren was great, Castro might be a rising star, why don't people like Cory Booker, and who the hell is Delaney? I watched the debate, and I took copious notes, a couple of which will be utilized. I've got lots of preamble, lots of thoughts, and even a ranking of these 10 at the end. Let me know what your ranking is! Download Here

This week my guest is Colleen Dietz, who is the host of the Mormon Happy Hour podcast. On her show, Colleen does a great job discussing important and sometimes heavy topics while still maintaining laughter and good spirits. She'll need that skill today because unfortunately we're here to discuss a traumatic assault that happened years ago when she was a new student at BYU, and the woefully inadequ...

When Eli Bosnick asks to come on your show and give his lava hot milkshake take you say YES. So that's what I've done. If you've wondered how liberals ought to respond to things like the milkshaking or Nazi punching controversies, listen to this episode and wonder no more! Download Here

Eiynah returns to the show for the first time in probably way too long! She is a Pakistani-Canadian podcaster/illustrator/blogger who also has dealt with a lot of the same Rational(tm) Intellectual Dark Web types that I have talked about on this show a lot. We talk about that, delusional centrism, unexamined white identity and false objectivity, before venturing on in the second half to talk about...

Andrew Torrez joins me to discuss the Democratic Primary -- Buttigieg, Warren, and whether or not we should be trying to determine who can best beat Trump. As Opening Arguments listeners well know, Andrew always brings insight, history, legal brilliance, and plain charm! Download Here

With the birth of our second child, Arlo, I was faced with a decision that many parents have to make... and I fundamentally changed my mind from where I was several years ago. That, plus other voicemail! Old AS episode on the subject; good Vice article .

Are women "creating an unequal dating environment for men?" Quillette recently published an article that made alarming claims about the dating economy on the basis of some online dating studies. Dr. Kristi Winters is here to bring some social science understanding to it and help us separate fact from fiction! Here's the NYT article I mention.

This episode was delayed due to a new baby in the Smith house! However, it worked out great, since the redacted Mueller report was released on Thursday. Of course, check out Opening Arguments for some in-depth legal analysis, but I've been brewing a ton of thoughts about the report and what Democrats should do in response. I talk about what an insult Barr is to the position of AG, why we don't nee...

Listeners had so many great voicemail messages this month, it demanded a second episode! Also I am a talker, so it could be that. Lots of a great discussion here, starting with a very appropriate callout of a mistake I made on a previous show. After that, I discuss the right wing attacks on Congresswoman Omar and the fact that we never have to listen to Republicans ever again. Then, I clarify some...

It's time for a listener voicemail episode! We've got some really good topics/questions/critiques, so much so that I had to split this into a couple episodes. Topics include changing minds on things like anti-vax and white fragility, and how to be an atheist critical of Islam white not contributing to problematic anti-Muslim bigotry, and voting rights! Here's a good article on what changes anti-va...

Longtime friend of the show Jake Farr-Wharton is here to take us through the unpleasant story of Cardinal Pell . He is yet another Catholic priest in a long list who have been accused (and now found guilty) of serious sexual misconduct with minors. This story has a few wrinkles, though, as many high profile, powerful people supported Pell with character references. As it turns out, when Jake was i...

After a horrendous, disgusting, racist massacre in New Zealand, the killer left a trollish manifesto. While it's clear some amount of it is pure sh*tposting, there is also a reason he targeted who he did. The internet has been on fire with who to blame, who not to blame, and as usual I've got some thoughts.

... like good old fashioned pedophilia? I've some miscellany and voicemails! The theme of today's show is centered around people (usually white men) complaining about what they are losing when standards change. For example, us evil progressives have taken away this immensely popular picture of a sexual assault. And, for some reason, Eric Weinstein thinks the Simpsons taking down their Michael Jack...

It's been a year since Stephon Clark was gunned down in his grandmother's backyard while holding a cell phone. Last weekend it was announced that the two officers would face no charges. I talk about the news, why it's outrageous, and why something needs to change.

If you've been an atheist any time in the last 15 years, it's highly likely you've enjoyed the contributions of Russell Glasser on The Atheist Experience. Over the years, he's answered countless calls from theists and atheists of all kinds. But in the last year or so, he has taken a firm step back from atheism and hasn't appeared on TAE. He's agreed to come on to talk about why, and about many rel...