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 | Weekly | Episodes | 655 | Founded | 8 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | PoliticsComedyNews | |||
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Latest Episodes
Why is Germany's anti-immigration AfD surging in popularity? And why does immigration seem to work better in America than in Europe? Harris, a Bosnian refugee turned American citizen who now lives and works in Germany, joins us to explore the economi... more
Americans pay vastly more for medicine than citizens of other wealthy countries, but are those countries getting a bargain at our expense? David Goldhill, author of Catastrophic Care and founder and CEO of the healthcare marketplace Sesame, joins the... more
When does a successful company become a dangerous monopoly? Heaton traces the strange history of American antitrust law, from railroad barons and Standard Oil to Hollywood studios and Big Tech, before diving into the intellectual cage match between L... more
Alex Mayyasi of NPR's Planet Money joins me to explore some of the stranger forces shaping the economy. Why did the federal government create a legally mandated raisin cartel? Why are so many American corporations technically from Delaware? Should co... more
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Reviews
- Learn and laugh with this podcast
Andrew Heaton is super funny on history, politics, and civics topics. It is also thought provoking information.
Apple Podcasts5dlfretz
United Statesa month ago - Been going off the rails more often
It is the classic fallacy of our time that a moron run through a university and decorated with a PHD will thereby cease to be a moron—H.L Menken
Apple Podcasts3This KenUnited States3 months ago - Company(& Plantation) Towns
My great-grandparents on both sides were rice farmers in Southern Japan. They were recruited by sugar plantations in the 1890’s & immigrated to Hawaii as indentured servants & lived in the plantation towns on Maui & the Big Island.
The plan was to work their 7yr contract, return to Japan with their savings & “live like kings”; but they had children & stayed in Hawaii - they couldn’t become citizens (Exclusion Act), but their children (my grandparents) were US citizens by being born in Hawaii. ... more
Apple Podcasts5another RJFUnited States3 months ago 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 Addict54 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 RJFUnited States4 months ago
Listeners Say
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Chart Rankings
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Apple Podcasts | #184 | United States/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #147 |  Israel/News/Politics |
Apple Podcasts | #184 |  Ukraine/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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How many listeners does The Political Orphanage get?
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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 655 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. David Goldhill
2. Alex Mayyasi
3. Steve Fuller
4. Sally Primus
5. Lewis Bollard
6. Isabella Reinhardt
7. Will Poff-Webster
8. Richard Hanania
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.