The Political Orphanage
Andrew HeatonPolitics minus bile plus jokes. Comedian and avowed independent Andrew Heaton interviews authors and thought leaders about policy and big thinky stuff.
| Publishes | Twice weekly | Episodes | 648 | Founded | 8 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | PoliticsComedyNews | |||
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Latest Episodes
The DSA recently released a policy platform establishing the goals of their political movement. In this episode we got through the main planks of that document, namely the bits about "socialism" and "democratic." We likewise go through a few articles... more
The Save Our Bacon Act, now repackaged into the Farm Bill, would upturn state rights in favor of federal prohibitions on animal cruelty laws. It's being pushed, in large part, by Chinese-owned conglomerates irritated by federalism.
Lewis Bollard is... more
What is The Odyssey actually about beyond a clever guy trying to get home? Classicist Isabella Reinhardt joins to dig into the poem's deeper themes of civilization, hospitality, identity, belonging, and what it means for a warrior to return from war.... more
It's not that America won't spend money on mass transit, it's that we piss it away when we do. Our transit system is a mess, with a lot of problems in spending, procurement, NIMBYism and good 'ol fashioned idiocy.
Will Poff-Webster is the Director ... more
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Heaton is a true non-partisan. He does his research. He knows how to add funny to deep topics.
I have listened for years but it was the 6/30/2026 episode that made me finally do a review. In that episode he and Jeffrey Rosen of the Constitution Center (another great podcast) hash out Jeffersonian versus Hamiltonian and it is so rich and clearly shows two people who know the content having an epic conversation that assumes you know the material and doesn't dumb it down.
Podcast Addict52 months agoFauxPseudo- Company(& Plantation) Towns
My great-grandparents on my father’s side were rice farmers in Southern Japan; they were recruited by a sugar plantation in the 1890’s & immigrated to Hawaii as indentured servants & lived in the plantation town of Sprecklesville, Maui.
The plan was to work their 7yr contract, return to Japan with their savings & “live like the rich”; but they had children & stayed in Hawaii - they couldn’t, but their Hawaii born children were allowed to become US citizens.
When I have to take a break betwee... more
Apple Podcasts5another RJF
United States3 months ago - fighting crime like an economist-SOLUTION
Easy. Prison will no longer be free, and will be paid for by the offenders working off their debt, or the family can pay for it.
Apple Podcasts5theschneckiUnited States4 months ago - Very confused guy
He doesn’t really seem to hold two ideas at once for anything except economics and so he has a hard time comparing two things and seeing if something is true
Apple Podcasts2JaredHocUnited States9 months ago - Shutdown: The Musical
I’d give it 10 of 5 stars if I could.
Thanks for seeing & sharing the humor.
Beautiful singing too.
Apple Podcasts5another RJFUnited States10 months ago
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Apple Podcasts | #249 | United States/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #19 |  Saudi Arabia/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #76 | Saudi Arabia/News |
Apple Podcasts | #211 |  South Korea/News/Politics |
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Political Orphanage
What is The Political Orphanage about and what kind of topics does it cover?
The show blends policy analysis with accessible, often humorous conversation, tackling topics from transit reform and government processes to media trust, history, and corporate towns. Guests tend to be researchers, authors, and practitioners who challenge conventional narratives, offer data-driven takes, or present provocative alternatives. The tone mixes intellectual rigor with witty, skeptical banter, making complex policy debates approachable for curious listeners who want thoughtful context without partisan fireworks. A notable strength is the breadth of topics—you'll hear everything from infrastructure and constitutional debates to nonprofit dynamics and company towns, all through a clear, entertaining lens.
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Which podcasts are similar to The Political Orphanage?
These podcasts share a similar audience with The Political Orphanage:
1. We're Not Wrong
2. The Reason Roundtable
3. The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
4. Politics Politics Politics
5. The Cato Weekly Podcast
How many episodes of The Political Orphanage are there?
The Political Orphanage launched 8 years ago and published 648 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
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What guests have appeared on The Political Orphanage?
Recent guests on The Political Orphanage include:
1. Lewis Bollard
2. Isabella Reinhardt
3. Will Poff-Webster
4. Richard Hanania
5. Isaac Saul
6. Marcus Yoder
7. Brian Dunning
8. Thaddeus Russell
To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.