The More Freedom Foundation Podcast

Was the Italian Renaissance really a “Golden Age”? And if so, would anyone living through it have actually noticed? In this week’s episode of The More Freedom Foundation Podcast , Robert Morris dives deep into the myths and realities of history's most romanticized era. Inspired by Ada Palmer’s Inventing the Renaissance: Myths of a Golden Age , Rob shares his growing fascination with the period...

In this sobering episode, Rob and Ruairi dive deep into the recent passage of what’s been dubbed “The One Big Beautiful Bill” by the Trump administration. While it’s being celebrated in certain circles as a win for national security and economic growth, we see it for what it truly is: a massive handout to the military-industrial complex at the direct expense of everyday Americans. We break down ho...

In a surprisingly acrimonious interview, Tucker Carlson took Senator Ted Cruz to task over his unwavering support for Israel and broader U.S. interventionist policies. On this episode of the More Freedom Foundation Podcast , hosts Robert Morris and Ruairi unpack one of the more illuminating media moments of the second Trump administration. As Carlson challenges Cruz on foreign policy, we dive deep...

In this urgent episode of The More Freedom Foundation Podcast , hosts Rob and Ruairi dive into the global implications of the recent Israel-Iran war. As tensions explode in the Middle East, we explore how this conflict could spell disaster for global nuclear non-proliferation efforts. Could Iran now see nuclear weapons as the only path to ensuring its future security? What does this mean for U.S....

Hosted by Robert Morris and Ruairi McElhone, The More Freedom Foundation Podcast cuts through the noise to bring sharp, insightful takes on global politics. Each week, we dive deep into the stories behind the headlines—unpacking the forces shaping our world with clarity, context, and just enough irreverence to keep it real. In this week’s episode, we turn our focus to Mali —a key battleground in t...

In this episode of the More Freedom Foundation Podcast , Rob takes Ruairi on a deep dive into the dark underbelly of U.S. immigration policy. While America has long benefited from the labor and vulnerability of immigrants, Rob argues that recent decades have seen this exploitation become more organized—and more brutal. From decades of systemic neglect to the rise of ICE and the hardline policies o...

In this episode, host Robert & Ruairi explore the mounting crises facing Russia as it barrels toward an increasingly unsustainable future. No matter what happens in Ukraine, historical perspective points to catastrophic geopolitical failure. With a dwindling population and severe manpower shortages—both on the battlefield and across its domestic economy—Russia’s war machine is running out of f...

In this episode of The More Freedom Foundation Podcast , Rob dives into the explosive Oval Office meeting between Donald Trump and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa — a meeting that quickly went off-script. Trump blindsided Ramaphosa with a video montage promoting the long-debunked myth of a “white genocide” in South Africa, reigniting a narrative that’s equal parts conspiratorial and politi...

In this episode, Robert Morris traces the deep historical roots of the India-Pakistan conflict—going all the way back to the Mughal Empire. We explore how centuries of empire, colonization, and partition laid the groundwork for one of the world’s most volatile rivalries. From the fall of the Mughals to British rule, from independence to the nuclear age, we unpack how history still shapes the geopo...

Yes, it may come with a few jets, a couple of shiny golf courses, and the occasional whispered deal in Oman — but the results are real. We look at how Trump, despite his bombast and love for the military, called off a brutal U.S. bombing campaign in Yemen that was burning through money and munitions with no end in sight. And there's more. In Syria, reports suggest that under-the-table Gulf money m...

In this week’s episode of The More Freedom Foundation Podcast , hosts Robert Morris and Ruairi McElhone dive into the political disarray facing the Democratic Party in the aftermath of Donald Trump’s second presidency. With the GOP coalescing around a strongman and the Democrats struggling to define a coherent vision, we ask: What does the future hold for America’s center-left? Why does the Democr...

In this lively episode of The More Freedom Foundation Podcast , hosts Rob and Ruairi dive deep into the polarizing world of Elon Musk. Rob, fresh off reading Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson, comes to the table with a newfound mix of admiration and concern for one of the most powerful figures in tech and geopolitics. A long-time follower and investor in Musk's ventures, Rob now sees the man in a more...

In this episode of The More Freedom Foundation Podcast , hosts Robert and Ruairi take a closer look at the world of Karl Marx — the revolutionary thinker whose ideas continue to shape politics today. Drawing heavily from Edmund Wilson’s classic work To the Finland Station , we explore the political, social, and intellectual landscape of the 19th century that gave rise to Marx’s philosophy. What ch...

Rob and Ruairi unpack the chaos of Donald Trump’s second-term trade policy. With a new wave of confusing and self-defeating tariffs, the administration claims it's putting America first—but the real result is economic damage and a weaker global standing. We break down who’s getting hurt, why these policies make little strategic sense, and how they reflect a deeper misunderstanding of global tr...

In this episode of The More Freedom Foundation Podcast , hosts Robert Morris and Ruairi return to David McDowall’s A Modern History of the Kurds —this time exploring the past century. From the post-World War I era to the present day, we trace the Kurds’ ongoing struggle for autonomy amidst shifting alliances, brutal repression, and repeated betrayals by global powers. How have Kurdish movements ev...

Rob and Ruairi delve into the recent controversy surrounding the Trump administration's use of the encrypted messaging app Signal to discuss sensitive military operations in Yemen. We'll explore how senior officials inadvertently included journalist Jeffrey Goldberg in a group chat detailing upcoming airstrikes against Houthi militants, leading to widespread criticism and legal scrutiny. What does...

In this episode of The More Freedom Foundation Podcast , hosts Robert Morris and Ruairi dive into the state of free speech in America, focusing on the growing controversy surrounding discussions about Israel. As protests and debates intensify on college campuses, we examine how Columbia University seems to be bending to political pressure—particularly from Donald Trump—when it comes to restricting...

In this episode of The More Freedom Foundation Podcast , hosts Robert Morris and Ruairi McElhone dive deep into the complex and often overlooked history of the Kurdish people. Using David McDowall’s A Modern History of the Kurds as a key reference, they explore the struggles, resilience, and geopolitical challenges faced by one of the world’s largest stateless nations. From the fall of the Ottoman...

The American empire in the Middle East is more powerful—and more horrifying—than ever before. In this episode of The More Freedom Foundation Podcast , hosts Robert Morris and Ruairi break down how U.S. influence has shaped the region, often for the worse. We examine Donald Trump’s lasting impact, from reckless policies to emboldening authoritarian regimes, and discuss how another Trump term could...

The Thucydides Trap is often presented as an iron law of history—an inevitable march toward war between a rising power (China) and an established hegemon (the U.S.). But what if this narrative is more of a self-fulfilling prophecy than a historical certainty? In this episode of The More Freedom Foundation Podcast , Rob and Ruairi take a critical look at the misuse of Thucydides’ work, arguing that...

In this episode of the More Freedom Foundation Podcast, hosts Rob and Ruairi delve into the transformative first year of Argentine President Javier Milei's administration. Milei, a far-right economist and libertarian, assumed office amid economic turmoil and has since implemented radical reforms to stabilize the nation's economy. His policies have included significant austerity measures, s...

In this episode of The More Freedom Foundation Podcast , Rob and Ruairi take a deep dive into the chaotic world of the Second Trump Administration. With Elon Musk at the helm of the newly minted Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), the White House is on a mission to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). What does this mean for financial oversight, corporate power, and e...

Rob and Ruairi aren’t experts, just two curious minds trying to make sense of the world’s most important relationship, but it's getting clear that the emperor's not wearing any clothing here. This episode cuts through the headlines to explore the tensions, trade, and diplomacy shaping global politics. While the media loves a crisis, we take a step back and ask: does the US government reall...

Rob and Ruairi dive into the rise of DeepSeek, the AI contender threatening to dethrone ChatGPT. Is this just another chapter in the endless AI hype cycle, or a sign that the tech bubble about to burst? Join us as we explore how this disruptive technology could upend financial markets and question whether AI is more grift than groundbreaking. Buckle up—things are about to get speculative. ⁠⁠⁠ Patr...

In this episode of the More Freedom Foundation Podcast , Rob and Ruairi dive into the fascinating story of Korea's journey to becoming one of Asia's most robust democracies. We explore the country’s complex political history, from authoritarian rule to its impressive democratic transformation. The conversation highlights Korea’s recent political landscape, including an insightful look at t...