Why the Left Went Child-Free | Daniel Hess

Aaron Renn welcomes back Daniel Hess, one of the sharpest analysts of global fertility trends, for a deep dive into why birth rates are collapsing—and why the divide is increasingly political.They discuss:- The growing fertility gap between red states (near replacement) and blue states (deeply sub-replacement)- How marriage is becoming even more important for births in the era of perfect birth control- The rise of a genuine pro-natal culture on the political right- Why high-density YIMBY-style housing often hurts family formation- The forgotten role of suburban sprawl in fueling the Baby Boom- Rising material expectations and status competition squeezing young families- Billionaire fertility extremes and the shifting debate around IVF/surrogacyIf we want a growing future, we need more births. This episode unpacks the cultural, economic, and policy roadblocks—and what might actually move the needleChapters:(00:00 - Intro & Global Fertility Collapse)(01:11 - The New Political Divide on Kids)(05:30 - Marriage Matters More Than Ever)(09:20 - Pronatal Culture Emerging on the Right)(11:40 - Why Israel Is the Only High-Fertility Developed Nation)(14:50 - Housing: The Real Barrier for Families)(22:20 - YIMBY vs. Family-Friendly Building)(28:50 - Suburbia & the Baby Boom Lesson)(36:30 - Materialism and the Rising "Cost" of Kids)(43:35 - Billionaires, IVF, and Fertility Tech Debates)DANIEL HESS LINKS:🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/morebirths🌐 Dan Hess Substack: https://www.morebirths.com/CONNECT & FOLLOW AARON RENN:🐦 Twitter/X: https://x.com/aaron_renn🌐 Newsletter - In-depth cultural analysis: https://www.aaronrenn.com/