The Futurist Public Intellectual

Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida have been sending shockwaves throughout the country with its Parental Rights in Education Act (aka the “Don’t Say Gay” law). Brad Yates expounds on the controversy, points out the hypocritical stance that the liberals are taking with the law, and questions whether DeSantis is making the right political move. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informat...

The brilliant new Netflix series Beef has recently been hit with controversy due to David Choe’s fabricated rape story from nine years ago. Is this controversy justified? Brad Yates recounts Choe’s rape story, answers the question of whether art should be judged for the artist’s character, and compares the situation to Harvey Weinstein. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Twitter v. Taamneh and Gonzalez v. Google were feared because it was thought that the Supreme Court might scale back Section 230’s protections. Brad Yates details both cases, explains why Section 230 is a sensible law, and acknowledges Section 230’s role in facilitating the First Amendment online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Travel is a popular activity, but is it a personality trait? Brad Yates distinguishes between travel and real personality traits, explains why someone would prefer to present travel as who they are, and describes the kind of travel that is a path for personal growth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Title 42’s imminent expiration is forcing Americans to confront the question of whether the current immigration system is working for the country. Brad Yates uncovers the shocking statistics of illegal immigration at the US-Mexico border, explains how migrants abuse the asylum process, and proposes a radical closing of the asylum loophole. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...

Many Americans are concerned about the lack of female representation in STEM fields, but why not plumbing? Brad Yates questions the value of encouraging more female engineers, reveals the sexism of not promoting nursing to men, and details what a true gender-equal reality looks like. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Plastic surgery and prostitution primarily serve the same group of customers: ugly people. Brad Yates analyzes the powerful impact of mainstream beauty standards, illuminates a taboo truth about ugly people’s needs, and encourages empathy for those who choose plastic surgery and prostitution to address their pain. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

During the time of the Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges , the hashtag #LoveWins went viral. Brad Yates questions whether gay marriage or BGLQT sexuality are really about love, elaborates on how this catchphrase promotes more repression, and notes how love cannot be legislated. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On March 9, 2023, federal judge Kyle Duncan was accosted by Stanford Law School protesters during a Federalist Society event. Brad Yates outlines First Amendment jurisprudence, explains the invalidity of the heckler’s veto, and analyzes the two problematic principles followed by the woke protesters. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Between the anxiety-ridden moments at your local coffee shop register and the frustration of making a sub-minimum wage as a server, the American custom of tipping has been roiling the best of us. Brad Yates settles the question of whether to use the pre-tax or post-tax amount to calculate the tip, explores the fascinating history of the custom and its codification in the Fair Labor Standards Act,...

San Francisco is discussing potentially providing slavery reparations to its black adult residents in the form of $5 million. Should reparations be given to the descendants of African slaves? Brad Yates examines the tort paradigm that is used to justify slavery reparations, digs into the poverty statistics of Americans, and proposes policies that could take the place of cash payments. Hosted on Ac...

On March 3, 2023, four Americans experienced a horrific tragedy that is increasingly becoming common in Mexico: drug cartel-related violence. Brad Yates explains how the Matamoros incident involving the Gulf cartel reveals the true nature of Mexican drug cartels, how Americans are ultimately culpable for their continued existence, and questions the continuing normalization of drug use. Hosted on A...

Daylight Saving Time has Americans changing their clocks twice a year, but is it time for the ritual to stop? Brad Yates dives into the history of daylight saving time, compares our enactment of it with other countries, and notes the Sunshine Protection Act’s attempt to make daylight saving time permanent. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

People continue to debate the veracity of global warming, but global warming can impact a myriad of policy decisions. Brad Yates explains the anthropocentricity of global warming, contextualizes modern global warming with geological history, and contends that exponential human population growth needs to be discussed in seeking a solution. Cockroaches are also featured in the episode. Hosted on Aca...

Affirmative action is being reconsidered yet again by the Supreme Court in the cases of Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina . Brad Yates explains how Harvard is certainly engaging in racial balancing, poses the conflict between affirmative action and an educational meritocracy, and illuminates the source of the real problem that...

Disney’s theme parks are beloved by many, but continuous price increases are making them out of reach by the same people. Brad Yates distinguishes Winnie-the-Pooh from Disneyland, explains how Disney is not a common carrier, and invites a new competitor to challenge Disney’s cultural hegemony. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As COVID’s presence recedes from public life, what have we learned from the pandemic? Brad Yates addresses the inevitability of pandemics and herd immunity, the questionable ethics of lockdowns, the indeterminate value of prolonging the lives of the elderly, and the conspicuous liberal bias that emerged in the media during the pandemic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now that Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization has obliterated the right to privacy, Brad Yates explains how Obergefell v. Hodges is ripe for overruling, how gay marriage is both a private relationship and a public status, and how rights and legitimacy loomed large in the pursuit of the legalization of gay marriage. He also proposes a new moniker for the LGBTQIA+ community. Hosted on Acast....

When the landmark Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade , many people were outraged. But was Roe good law? Brad Yates discusses the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment, the relationship between the right to privacy and abortion, the cultural differences in attitudes toward abortion between the Japanese and Americans, and how Dobbs is a return t...

The inaugural episode of The Futurist Public Intellectual introduces Brad Yates and the purpose of the podcast. Learn about the role of public intellectuals as opposed to journalists and how the logical, contextualized analysis of a public intellectual can inform the public to make better choices in tumultuous 21st century America. Here’s to the future! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m...