Conversation with Greg Salmieri - Making Sense of America’s Past and Present | Yaron Brook Show

Live February 9, 2026 | Yaron Brook Show InterviewsBonus Episode Season 12, Episode 4Conversation with Greg Salmieri - Making Sense of America’s Past and Present | Yaron Brook ShowAmerica’s crisis didn’t start with Trump—or Biden.It started with ideas. Greg Salmieri explains which ones shaped us—and which ones are destroying us.What happens when Aristotle and Ayn Rand collide with America’s founding ideals, its cultural crises, and its uncertain future?In this wide-ranging and intellectually charged conversation, Yaron Brook sits down with philosopher Greg Salmieri to examine the ideas shaping Western civilization—and to ask where America has gone right, where it has gone wrong, and whether the spirit of liberty can still reassert itself.At the center of the discussion is Salmieri’s new book, Two Philosophers: Aristotle and Ayn Rand, a compelling exploration of two giants of philosophy whose ideas continue to shape reason, morality, politics, and human flourishing. Together, Yaron and Greg trace the Enlightenment roots of American liberty, diagnose today’s cultural and political confusion, and explain why philosophical clarity matters now more than ever.In this episode, they explore:- Aristotle and Ayn Rand on reason, virtue, and human flourishing- How philosophical ideas shape cultures, institutions, and nations- What America’s founding got right—and what has been steadily undermined- Why confusion about ideas leads to cultural and political collapseWhether you’re interested in philosophy, history, politics, or the future of a free society, this conversation offers essential insight into the ideas that move the world.👤 About Greg SalmieriGregory Salmieri teaches philosophy at the University of Texas at Austin and is a Senior Scholar of Philosophy at the Salem Center for Policy, where he holds the Brigham Fellowship for the Study of Objectivism. He also serves as Director of the Center’s Program for Objectivity in Thought, Action, and Enterprise.Dr. Salmieri is co-editor of A Companion to Ayn Rand (Wiley-Blackwell, 2016) and Foundations of a Free Society (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2019), and the author of numerous articles on Aristotle and Ayn Rand. He previously taught at UNC Chapel Hill, Boston University, and Rutgers University before joining the Salem Center in 2020.⏱️ TOPIC TIMESTAMPS00:50 Who is Greg Salmieri?01:20 Greg’s new book: Two Philosophers: Aristotle and Ayn Rand07:35 The current state of American culture12:25 Where does the American spirit still assert itself?16:50 Rights and their philosophical foundations19:00 Remnants of the American spirit today23:45 Why these are scary cultural times31:15 Protests in Minneapolis33:20 Is there a way out?40:30 How did we get here?47:15 The Tea Party movement51:10 Positive figures and signs of hope💬 LIVE AUDIENCE QUESTIONS55:32 Does needing a ladder in your library signal an above-average love of books? What books go on the top shelf?56:33 Montessori education and Objectivism: why is it popular, what alternatives should parents explore, and tips for raising a curious two-year-old1:01:57 Why does today’s culture show less outrage toward political fraud than in the past?1:06:14 Is the is/ought dichotomy reflected in the Aristotle–Plato philosophical divide?1:07:52 A listener note on Greg’s music videos with his son1:10:45 Is Trump using deregulation to offset the economic effects of tariffs?1:16:41 See pinned comment for timestamps of additional audience questions#GregSalmieri #AynRand #Aristotle #AmericanHistory #PoliticalPhilosophy #WesternCivilization #Objectivism #EnlightenmentIdeas #FreeSocietyThe Yaron Brook Show is Sponsored by:-- The Ayn Rand Institute  (https://www.aynrand.org/starthere)-- Energy Talking Points, featuring AlexAI, by Alex Epstein  (https://alexepstein.substack.com/)-- Express VPN (https://www.expressvpn.com/yaron)-- Hendershott Wealth Management  (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4lfC...) https://hendershottwealth.com/ybs/-- Michael Williams & The Defenders of Capitalism Project (https://www.DefendersOfCapitalism.com)Join this channel to get access to perks:     / @yaronbrook  Like what you hear? Like, share, and subscribe to stay updated on new videos and help promote the Yaron Brook Show: https://bit.ly/3ztPxTxSupport the Show and become a sponsor:   / yaronbrookshow   or https://yaronbrookshow.com/ or   / yaronbrookshow  Or make a one-time donation: https://bit.ly/2RZOyJJContinue the discussion by following Yaron on Twitter (https://bit.ly/3iMGl6z) and Facebook (https://bit.ly/3vvWDDC )Want to learn more about Ayn Rand and Objectivism? Visit the Ayn Rand Institute: https://bit.ly/35qoEC3Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/yaron-brook-show--3276901/support.Yaron is the executive chairman of the Ayn Rand Institute and a world class speaker. He is the coauthor of the national best-seller Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand’s Ideas Can End Big Government, Equal is Unfair: America's Misguided Fight Against Income Inequality and In Pursuit of Wealth: The Moral Case for Finance. He speaks around the world on a variety of topics including the morality of capitalism, Ayn Rand and her philosophy, finance and economics, and the value of inequality.