Andrew Heaton

The Political Orphanage

News EN ↓ 640 episodes

Politics minus bile plus jokes. Comedian and avowed independent Andrew Heaton interviews authors and thought leaders about policy and big thinky stuff.

Author

Andrew Heaton

Category

News

Podcast website

www.mightyheaton.com

Latest episode

Jul 10, 2026

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Episodes

The Labor-Inducing Hamburger (Friday Release Valve) 11.12.2020

Matt Donnelly and Paul Mattingly return! The hilarious/reprobate hosts of Matt & Mattingly's Ice Cream Social join to discuss the week's funniest, underserved headlines. Including: the winner of the national mullet competition, nukes on the Moon, and bovine facial recognition software. Youtube Version: https://youtu.be/VB2Qp6NINXw SUPPORT THE PROGRAM Patreon - patreon.com/andrewheaton PayPal andre...

Antifa! Proud Boys! Oath Keepers! 11.12.2020

What's the landscape of political violence in the United States, and does that stack up against the groups we hear about in the news?   Today we're going to explore Antifa, Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and also crunch the numbers on which groups in America are -actually- the most violent and deadly.   SUPPORT THE PROGRAM Patreon - patreon.com/andrewheaton PayPal andrew@mightyheaton Venmo @andrew-heat...

Don't Feed Your Friend to Bears (Friday Release Valve) 04.12.2020

Scottish Comedian of the Year Leo Kearse triumphantly returns to the program to discuss the week's underserved headlines, including: Burning crematoriums, Hugh Jackman's flawed worldview of the animal kingdom, the oldest pregnant woman in America, and Bud Lite's new gaming venture.

Calculating Existential Threat - Lord Martin Rees 02.12.2020

Which is scarier: nuclear war or robots? Asteroid impact or climate change? Martin Rees is the founder of The Centre for the Study of Existential Risk at Cambridge University. He joins the program to talk about how to calculate the probability of threats to humanity, and what we should be sweating.   He's also the Astronomer Royal of the United Kingdom, the country's foremost mathematician, and th...

Viagra, the Musical - Friday Release Valve 27.11.2020

Andrea Jones-Rooy and Kevin Seefried return to the program to discuss the week's underserved headlines, including: Spike Lee's next big film, a giant raccoon on the loose, Donkey Kong defamation lawsuits, and the Irish government. You can watch this episode on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/o9A_G8LpIPc

Machiavelli vs. John Stuart Mill 25.11.2020

Niccolò Machiavelli and John Stuart Mill are two deeply impactful political thinkers on modern civilization. The former is the patron saint of ruthless realpolitik; the latter the godfather of classical liberalism.   Classicist and lauded madman Brian Wilson rejoins the program to compare the two political philosophers and draw lessons for modern society.

Literal Underwater Ponzi Schemes (Friday Release Valve) 20.11.2020

Andrew Young and Nick Sperdute join the show to discuss the week's most under reported headlines: underwater scooter chases, the time a school of herring almost started a war with Russia, and Canadian pizza indulgences.

The Election Wasn't Rigged 18.11.2020

Let's investigate Trump's voter fraud allegations and his ensuing courtroom battles to flip swing states. Plus the danger to democracy imposed by the president undermining it, and the many points in American history when rule of law could have gone off the rails.

Protect Your Bank from Racoons (Friday Release Valve) 13.11.2020

(Not Safe for Kids) Yvette d'Entremont and Alice Vaughn are the hosts of "Two Girls One Mic," a podcast that reviews the plots of porn films. They join Heaton to sort out the week's underserved headlines, including stuff about Godzilla, gay penguins, and naked sushi. You can find Two Girls One Mic at: https://www.twogirlsonemic.com/

Jen Briney Thinks Congress is Tricking You 11.11.2020

Jen Briney is host of "Congressional Dish," a podcast that deep dives Congress, its legislation, and its shenanigans. She comes on to discuss what the election means for the next few months, and the gambits lawmakers employ to push their agendas through without actually having to publicly debate them.

Oakland's Notoriously Violent Turkey - Friday Release Valve 06.11.2020

Jack Helmuth and Brian Sack of "Questionable Material" return in neon glory to unpack the week's best headlines, including noctiginarian shootouts, the global importance of Belgian fishing adventures, and soliciting sex workers in graveyards.

What Roger Ailes Can Teach Us About Election Night 04.11.2020

Last night had a significant tell you can't gleam from polling or minute-by-minute vote counts. We don't know who's going to win, but I can tell you who both candidates think will. Plus: what the next few days of legal trench warfare are gonna look like.

How Victory Will Jolt Republicans or Democrats 03.11.2020

If Trump wins, does he become the standard model for GOP candidates? If he loses, do Romneyites tiptoe back? Does a Biden victory forestall the ascent of his party's activist wing, or is he the last gasp of Democratic centrism, regardless?   Justin Robert Young joins the program to talk about the long-term consequences of either outcome.

Wolves! Felons! Ranked Choice Voting! State Ballot Initiatives 02.11.2020

The World's Smartest Podcast Network roundtable convenes to bring you a guide to state ballot initiatives happening around the country:   Reintroducing wolves to Colorado, reintroducing ethnic discrimination to California, voting and involuntary labor for felons, and Ranked Choice Voting in Massachusetts.   The Roundtable includes: Turner Sparks and Michael Kaplan of the "Lost in America" podcast...

British Supermarket Astronaut Chicken - Friday Release Valve 30.10.2020

Comedians Brian Parise and Andrew Young join the show to discuss the week's best, underserved headlines. Including: how to bribe your way to superior wine, vampire swing voters, and newspaper heists.   Brian's new comedy album is "Last Wishes," available here: https://800pgr.lnk.to/pariseWE

The Alliance Party, with Jim Rex and Michelle Griffith 29.10.2020

The Alliance Party is positioning itself to scoop up disaffected centrists from the two major parties, rather than establishing itself as a third ideological core. They're in the process of absorbing the Reform Party, which had the most successful third party track record since Teddy Roosevelt. Jim Rex is the founder and National Chairman of the Alliance Party, and Michelle Griffith is party Vice...

Jo Jorgensen and Spike Cohen: The Libertarians 28.10.2020

The Libertarian Party is the only minor party that will be on all fifty state ballots this year, and Jo Jorgensen and Spike Cohen are its presidential and vice presidential nominees. They join the show to discuss free market health care, not bombing people, and libertarianism as an alternative to Republicans and Democrats.   Jo Jorgensen at 12:20   Spike Cohen at 25:28

Don Blankenship & The Constitution Party 27.10.2020

Don Blankenship is primarily concerned with protectionist trade and immigration policy, and federal spending--as well as fidelity to constitutional principles. He's running as the 2020 Constitution Party presidential candidate, a minor party more typically known for its socially conservative positions.

Howie Hawkins & The Green Party 26.10.2020

Howie Hawkins is the 2020 Green Party presidential nominee. He joins the program to talk to Heaton about the Green Party's environmental and economic agenda, non-interventionist foreign policy, and why he thinks running as an outsider is more effective than operating within a major party.

The Lads Behind The Babylon Bee (Friday Release Valve) 23.10.2020

Kyle Mann and Ethan Nicolle, the Editor-in-Chief and Creative Director of The Babylon Bee, join Heaton to discuss political satire, why Christians are suddenly funny, and the week's best underserved headlines. Including: kidney drones, censored parrots, and why the planet Venus might lead to our total destruction.

Voter Fraud Is More Troubling Than I Thought 21.10.2020

John Fund is National Review's national-affairs editor, and the author of two books on  voter fraud. He joins Heaton to discuss its prevalence and potential to effect election outcomes.

Decolonize Your Lawn with Jack and Brian (FRV) 16.10.2020

Brian Sack and Jack Helmuth of "Questionable Material with Jack and Brian" triumphantly return to the show to discuss the week's best, underserved headlines including: dinosaur statues, the worst dentist in America, and robot promises to not murder us all!

Why Election Riots Are Guaranteed 14.10.2020

Jack Goldstone, an expert in revolutions and why and when they happen, joins the program to talk about the possibility of uprisings or civil unrest in the United States in the wake of the November 3rd election. He discusses what form revolutions would take in America, how likely such a movement is now or in our lifetimes, and why a calm election outcome on November 4th is all but impossible.   Dr....

I Got Robbed in Oakland, California 13.10.2020

This episode is mostly about political graffiti in Oakland, as a means by which to explore the politics of the Bay Area, a progressive beacon in a Democratic state. However this travelogue has been overshadowed somewhat by getting robbed.

Crocodile Ransom Laws (Friday Release Valve) 09.10.2020

It's time for another installment of Friday Release Valve to wrap up Judge Week, including asking a former law professor about laws pertaining to crocodile ransom money! Comedians Myq Kaplan and Liz Glaser join the show to discuss that plus: formal hazmat suits, naked golf carts, and Alabama. Enjoy!

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