PODCAST · news
Dad Saves America
by John Papola
Proud papa, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and arm-chair philosopher John Papola explores the biggest issues facing our country through the lens of fatherhood, releasing exclusive interviews and deep dives every week. We need to make sure the next generation of Americans is raised to thrive in a free society and be champions of civilization. Dad Saves America has hosted all sorts of experts in the studio, including Jonathan Haidt, Dr. Drew, Michael Shellenberger, Bret Weinstein, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Adam Carolla. www.dadsavesamerica.com
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198
The Left Is Turning Our Greatest Cities Into Ruins
New York City is broke under Mayor Zohran Mamdani. His socialist buddy, Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, is turning off the crime detection system and letting violent offenders walk. LA Mayor Karen Bass is still dodging responsibility for mishandling the 2025 wildfires. This is the reality of progressive central planning.Cities are the centers of civilization. Unfortunately, they’re also a breeding ground for bad ideas. Marx formulated his communist worldview while observing early industrial cities. The Soviet Union replaced organic neighborhood life with microdistricts engineered by bureaucrats who thought they knew best. Today, progressives dream of “15-minute cities” while failing to address the basic problems of urban life.America’s greatest cities have been centrally planned into the ground. Luckily, we have a chance to retake control of our neighborhoods._____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MjVY4jXlpbQMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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197
Mollie Hemingway: Justice Alito Is the Secret Hero of SCOTUS
I sat down with Mollie Hemingway, editor-in-chief of The Federalist, to discuss her new book “Alito” about the underappreciated Supreme Court justice’s fight to restore the original meaning of the Constitution.Justice Samuel Alito authored the Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade, and as Mollie describes, he’s been the driving force behind the conservative majority on many important issues during his 20 years on the Court.We also cover the rise of the administrative state, what really happened during Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing, and the conservative movement’s 50-year crusade to retake the Court._____________________________________Follow Mollie Hemingway on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/MZHemingway?s=20Order a copy of “Alito”: https://a.co/d/0aH6JTTO_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] What makes Justice Alito special?[4:16] How Roe v. Wade was overturned[20:52] Woodrow Wilson and liberal fascism[26:23] The value of “norms” in politics and on the Court[32:14] What happened to Brett Kavanaugh?[38:29] Chevron deference and the administrative state[44:19] Will birthright citizenship be overturned?[47:13] Originalism vs the “living constitution”[51:39] Attacks on the First Amendment[1:00:37] Propagandizing the American people[1:05:24] Why journalists cheer for censorship[1:07:04] The case against the Southern Poverty Law Center[1:18:49] We need principled men of action[1:22:57] What’s the deal with Ketanji Brown Jackson?[1:26:58] The Europe Union’s censorship regime[1:29:05] What happened to the ACLU?[1:31:12] Lessons to learn from Justice Alito[1:35:24] How the Federalist Society reshaped the Court[1:37:10] Take responsibility for your kids’ education_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JT0NYNpVmMkMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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196
The SPLC’s Hate-Hoax Playbook Turns Normies Into Assassins
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner was cut short last Saturday by yet another assassination attempt against President Trump. A Caltech-educated game developer armed with two guns charged the Secret Service checkpoint, ending in a brief shootout that injured one Secret Service agent.This attack followed the indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center over allegations of funding the very hate groups it fundraises against. A decade of radical rhetoric from celebrities, activists, and institutions like the SPLC has broken the brains of even relatively intelligent people. The same group that shaped FBI threat assessments, debanked homeschool moms, and labeled classical liberal thinkers as white supremacists was apparently running a grift the whole time._____________________________________Check my sources over on Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/dadsavesamerica/p/the-splcs-hate-hoax-playbook-turns?r=24ayxm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zRtD98JPKlwMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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195
How Gavin Newsom Ran California Into The Ground - Joel Kotkin
I sat down with Joel Kotkin to discuss how California’s utopian ideology and Gavin Newsom’s disastrous governance have the turned the state into a cautionary tale.Joel breaks down how one-party rule became the norm in California, with the Democratic Party tying itself to both Silicon Valley oligarchs and public sector unions and leaving the middle class to fend for itself.With welfare fraud scandals in the news and Newsom’s likely 2028 presidential run, Joel warns America about what’s at stake if California’s institutional and cultural failures go national._____________________________________Follow Joel Kotkin on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/joelkotkinLearn more about Joel’s work: https://joelkotkin.com/_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] California’s ideology and culture[9:43] How Republicans lost California[21:45] Why can’t California have a sane election?[27:41] Hollywood stopped trying to appeal to people[34:43] Silicon Valley’s military origins[39:38] Was Silicon Valley’s utopianism inevitable?[43:46] The oligarchs and unions run California[51:58] How Gavin Newsom failed up[1:02:50] California’s fraud epidemic[1:07:02] The feedback loop of radical politics[1:15:49] Is there anything good about Newsom?[1:18:53] Can we restore the political center?[1:20:53] Is the Iran war worth the cost?[1:24:54] Trump was necessary crazy[1:35:26] Where’d the curious students go?[1:42:26] Can we have freedom without religion?[1:50:27] Community is physical, not abstract[1:54:12] What makes Judaism different[2:07:37] Are we in a civilizational clash with Islam?_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zFfNbw63_JcMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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194
Hasan Piker: “I’m Pro-Stealing From Big Corporations”
Communist Twitch streamer Hasan Piker stopped by the New York Times's "The Opinions" podcast to promote shoplifting, terrorism, and Chairman Mao. Joining him was staff writer for the New Yorker Jia Tolentino, who justified stealing from Whole Foods (rebranded as “micro-looting”) and banning private schools.Of course, the same people who espouse Marx’s “labor theory of value” often went to private schools themselves and can easily afford Whole Foods prices. The New York Times has been running cover for communism since the 1930s, but they’re barely trying to sanitize the pitch this time around._____________________________________Check my sources over on Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/dadsavesamerica/p/hasan-piker-im-pro-stealing-from?r=24ayxm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/g2pISPIcVzwMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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193
John Stossel: I Exposed Mainstream Media Fear-Mongering From the Inside
I sat down with libertarian reporter John Stossel to discuss his journey from pro-regulation consumer watchdog to small-government debunker of liberal economic dogma. We cover his accidental entry into journalism, his libertarian awakening, and why liberty is such a hard sell to the average person.John is a long-time critic of media fear-mongering, creating the 1994 ABC special “Are We Scaring You to Death?” His more than 50-year career has taken him from Portland local news to ABC, Fox Business, and now his independent venture, Stossel TV._____________________________________Follow John Stossel on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/JohnStossel?s=20Watch Stossel TV on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@stosseltv?si=IYpeyB-fUcmL9JNz_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] How John ended up in journalism[4:10] Has journalism changed over the years?[7:00] Liberty isn’t intuitive for most people[10:44] Exposing media fear-mongering[14:30] Was the media ever really trustworthy?[16:47] Is “corporate greed” actually dangerous?[21:40] The great communicators of economics[23:39] Conservative vs libertarians vs liberals[31:34] Steel-man the other side, then debunk it[34:38] Why government is so inefficient[39:07] Will we ever learn the lesson of communism?[42:03] Social media has revolutionized citizen journalism[46:19] The challenges facing Gen Z[48:47] Bad news makes a better story than good news[55:38] Rethinking the libertarian view on immigration[1:01:25] John’s conflicted views on President Trump[1:08:12] Kids should be working[1:14:12] John’s upbringing and religious background[1:19:42] How John approaches his interviews[1:21:41] The iconic mustache and marriage[1:28:03] Fatherhood should be playful[1:29:21] Transitioning from TV to YouTube[1:33:01] Should we be scared of AI?[1:36:04] Dealing with the mess of the healthcare system[1:39:56] Dads and moms have different strengths_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dYSTrFWHyqsMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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192
First They Tax the Billionaires, Then the Millionaires, Then You.
Zohran Mamdani spent Tax Day celebrating New York City’s new tax on luxury second homes. It was sold as a fix for the city’s $5 billion budget deficit, but only covers at most 10% of the gap. At the same time, Mamdani is promising a whole new set of expensive programs that would dig the hole even deeper.California is in the same boat, pushing a 5% wealth tax on billionaires as the state budget collapses under the weight of pension promises they never planned how to pay for. Across the country, blue state politicians are doubling down on soaking the rich even as millionaires and billionaires flee to Florida and Texas.This is the communist spiral to hell: tax more, spend more, repeat._____________________________________Check my sources over on Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/dadsavesamerica/p/first-they-tax-the-billionaires-then?r=24ayxm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/uWtHet5j5lQMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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191
America’s Oil Dominance Is China's Worst Nightmare - Trisha Curtis
I sat down with energy economist and CEO of PetroNerds Trisha Curtis to learn about the oil and natural gas industries, the global energy market, and how the war in Iran affects gas prices at the pump.Trisha breaks down how fracking revolutionized American energy production, reinforcing the petrodollar as the global reserve currency. While states like California have turned away from the energy security of fossil fuels in favor of unreliable, renewable “green energy,” the U.S. still is the top player on the global stage compared to Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Iran.The Biden administration bet everything on a net-zero future of solar and wind, undermining American energy security in the process. Under the second Trump administration, the U.S. is rebuilding the energy abundance that made it a global power in the first place._____________________________________Follow Trisha Curtis on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trisha-curtis-petronerds/Follow Trisha Curtis on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/TrishaJCoffee?s=20Watch PetroNerds on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@petronerds633?si=4L6gSOePdngmeG-LLearn more about PetroNerds: https://petronerds.com/_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Why oil and gas matter in our everyday lives[14:25] The link between GDP and oil consumption[21:43] Why coal is still relevant in 2026[27:24] Is natural gas safe?[29:56] Energy density and transportation costs[36:42] Food production, fertilizer, and ethanol[45:53] The reality of “drill baby drill”[58:21] What is “fracking”?[1:07:31] How do we know how much oil there is?[1:16:50] What is the “petrodollar”?[1:19:02] Oil drilling is different in Canada[1:22:21] The different flavors of oil[1:30:30] California’s assault on oil[1:33:24] The petrodollar is the global reserve currency[1:41:39] Renewable “green energy” fails on the physics[1:55:58] The oil subsidy myth vs inflation reality[2:01:47] Monopolies come and go in the oil industry[2:05:47] Why don’t people notice when prices go down?[2:11:41] The war in Iran and the Strait of Hormuz[2:22:55] Selective focus in geopolitics[2:30:24] Can we stabilize the Middle East?[2:36:18] Utopianism can’t solve real problems_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/BNFGie73VwMMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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190
California Sent Us To the Moon. Now It Can’t Even Build a Train.
California innovation sent us to the moon in 1969. Today it spends $126 billion on high-speed rail to nowhere and loses $180 billion in welfare fraud. While Artemis II circled the moon for the first time in half a century, taking humans farther from Earth than ever before, California continued on its budget spiral to hell.Chris Rufo’s recent reporting exposed that Gavin Newsom has presided over an “empire of fraud” across the state’s generous unemployment insurance, Medicaid, and homelessness programs. What happened to the state that elected Ronald Reagan and built Silicon Valley?_____________________________________Check my sources over on Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/dadsavesamerica/p/california-sent-us-to-the-moon-now?r=24ayxm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Cas1ooh72Z4Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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189
Matt Taibbi: Russiagate Was a Lie and the Media Knew It
I sat down with Matt Taibbi, the reporter who broke the Twitter Files, to trace how the American press went from honest journalism to deep state propaganda.Matt spent about a decade studying and working as a journalist in Russia, witnessing the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rise of Vladimir Putin. When American meddling in Ukraine led to Russian military intervention in 2014, he was uniquely positioned to understand what was really going on.This conflict set the stage for over a decade of American politics, from the rise of Donald Trump, to Russiagate, to the Hunter Biden laptop scandal and the FBI censorship plot that followed. Matt saw Soviet propaganda up close, and he’s convinced the fight for free speech in America is more urgent than ever._____________________________________Stay ahead of the spin. Go to ground.news/dsa to cut through media bias and see the full picture. Use my link to get 40% off the unlimited access Vantage plan._____________________________________Follow Matt Taibbi on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/mtaibbi?s=20Check out Racket News: https://www.racket.news/_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Matt's journalism origin story[5:06] Why Dr. Jay Bhattacharya was censored during COVID[13:23] What the Missouri v. Biden ruling actually means[19:19] The government wants to control your mind[25:39] Free speech used to unite Americans[31:28] The unbridled arrogance of elite journalism[43:54] Studying and working in the Soviet Union[54:28] Russia’s financial crisis and the dot-com bubble[1:02:19] Witnessing the rise of Vladimir Putin[1:13:12] Taking over Hunter S. Thompson’s job at Rolling Stone[1:16:21] Obama, NATO expansion, and the road to Ukraine[1:20:48] The real reason Russia annexed Crimea[1:30:20] Is American influence in Ukraine overblown?[1:37:16] Biden family corruption in Ukraine[1:44:31] How Matt knew Russiagate was a scam[2:02:14] Elon’s DM and getting access to the Twitter Files[2:12:30] No one wanted to cover the censorship crisis[2:18:05] Figuring out what was actually in the Twitter Files[2:25:54] How the Hunter Biden laptop story was censored[2:39:30] Proof that government is behind social media censorship[2:46:55] Did Trump’s reelection actually strengthen free speech?[2:52:17] How Wilsonian liberalism overtook populist liberalism[2:57:07] Fight for American values for the sake of your kids_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4mh_MBdjdHMMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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188
Swallow Your Pride. Live Not by Lies.
Marc Andreessen’s claim that “introspection is overrated” sparked a predictable media backlash, but the real debate isn’t about therapy culture or woke narcissism. In a world shaped by AI, social media algorithms, and increasingly rigid ideologies, we’re losing the ability to question ourselves. That’s where things get dangerous.This Good Friday, I’m reflecting on Alexander Solzhenitsyn’s “Live Not by Lies,” the sin of pride, and why Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. The symbol of the Cross is a reminder that suffering is unavoidable and that humility is the path to truth.Resisting pride means admitting when you’re wrong, something our social media-driven culture rarely rewards. Committing yourself to truth, even when it’s inconvenient, means accepting that cost._____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Zzp8ekos36oMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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187
Wall Street Executive Reveals How a Market Crashes
I sat down with investor and economist David Bahnsen to unpack what really happened in the 2008 financial crisis. Socialists blame capitalism and Wall Street, while libertarians blame the government, especially the Federal Reserve, but David argues that all of the popular narratives are missing a key piece. He places a significant amount of the blame on what he calls the “Crisis of Responsibility,” also the title of his book on the subject.Bankruptcy and foreclosure were once seen as shameful events, not standard parts of the American dream of homeownership. By the time of the financial crisis, signing up for a mortgage you obviously couldn’t afford had been normalized on all sides: lenders, investors, and even “average Americans” themselves.We dig into how easy money, government backstops, and cultural decay fueled a nationwide housing bubble and, in the end, turned both the left and right against free markets and toward populism._____________________________________Follow David Bahnsen on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/DavidBahnsen?s=20Preorder a copy of “Crisis of Responsibility”: https://a.co/d/04GlVHsW_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] The financial crisis broke the American economy[10:12] What is “neoliberalism”?[15:20] Was Ron Paul right about the financial crisis?[20:21] The moral failing of the financial crisis[29:07] Low interest rates and government-backed mortgages[37:40] Wall Street really believed their own lies[41:20] The crisis of responsibility and the cult of housing[47:25] How can we make housing more affordable?[55:42] The generational shift in home ownership[1:06:09] Populism, elitism, and luxury beliefs[1:18:15] Is government too big to fix?[1:27:18] The death of policy debate in America[1:33:15] Can liberalism survive without Christianity?[1:45:08] Freedom and virtue have to go together_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/esf-68sJZlsMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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186
The TSA Wastes $12 Billion and Still Fails 90% of the Time
The TSA is running out of staff, airport security lines are spiraling out of control, and Congress still can’t resolve its fight over DHS funding. This isn’t just a temporary breakdown. We’re seeing what happens when a $12 billion government “solution” finally gets stress-tested. Despite collecting billions in additional fees from travelers every year, the TSA still can’t maintain basic service and even fails its core security mission at an alarming rate when fully funded.Before 9/11, airport security was largely operated by private entities. Today, a handful of U.S. airports still use private contractors under TSA rules and regulations. They follow the same general procedures, but consistently deliver faster lines and better service. The rest of the country is stuck in the middle of Washington turf wars that treat air travel as a bargaining chip, tying essential operations to unrelated legislation while workers go unpaid and travelers miss flights.If private airport security is a proven model, why are most of us stuck with substandard government service? What would a system built on real incentives and accountability actually look like?_____________________________________Check my sources over on Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/dadsavesamerica/p/the-tsa-wastes-12-billion-and-still?r=24ayxm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/14JDhwuONM4Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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185
You Can’t Simulate the Meaning of Your Life - Arthur Brooks
I sat down with Harvard professor and bestselling author Arthur Brooks to unpack why so many people, especially young men, feel lost in modern life. Drawing on his new book, “The Meaning of Your Life,” Arthur explains how the digital simulation most of us live in keeps us distracted, while failing to satisfy our desire for meaning. Love, happiness, and faith are side effects of pursuing truth and purpose, not goals you can eventually reach. We discuss whether culture or politics is the true source of our society’s troubles, how religion is successfully transmitted across generations, and which habits make for strong marriages in the long run.Join Arthur’s free “The Meaning of Your Life Virtual Experience” on March 27, a live, immersive journey designed around the groundbreaking findings in his new book, “The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness.” Learn more at http://themeaningofyourlife.com/_____________________________________Follow Arthur Brooks on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/arthurbrooks?s=20Preorder a copy of Arthur’s new book: http://themeaningofyourlife.com/_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Reflecting on making “The Pursuit” together[2:13] What does it mean to be an adult?[7:40] What are your emotions telling you?[11:37] Left vs right in 2026[19:48] Are we more in need of policy reform or cultural repair?[27:48] The psychogenic epidemic and the cycles of history[37:47] No period of history is all good or all bad[40:58] How to be masculine in a feminine era[44:58] We’re living in a gnostic simulation[47:03] What does “meaning” actually mean?[52:02] How to raise your kids in your values[55:04] Contempt destroys marriages[1:00:39] Getting back into religion in middle age[1:06:53] Choosing persuasion over coercion makes us human[1:13:37] Exit the Matrix, find your mate, and find meaning[1:20:41] 4 strategies that will save most marriages[1:24:46] Finding your career calling in the AI era[1:33:17] Is Bryan Johnson is right about mortality?[1:36:34] The fight between fear and love[1:41:20] Why men struggle to “feel” their faith[1:48:15] Science and faith aren’t in conflict[1:53:30] Has the Enlightenment gone too far?_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/H0jgDwtGNqMMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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184
$8 Gas. Oil Cut Off. Has Trump’s Iran Gamble Backfired?
Iran has closed the Strait of Hormuz, and gas prices are on the rise. Fossil fuels power every aspect of modern life, from transportation to manufacturing to food. If something doesn’t change fast, we could be facing an inflation crisis once again. I’m breaking down how climate extremism, price controls, and the Middle East’s “resource curse” have created the perfect storm for worldwide economic mayhem.As gas surpasses $8 per gallon in some parts of California, you’d think Gavin Newsom might rethink his climate and energy policies, but with only eight oil refineries left in the state, the damage is done. Texas, on the other hand, has a much stronger local infrastructure to weather the storm. In the end, our choices are gambling on a utopian fantasy or embracing the reality of physics._____________________________________Check my sources over on Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/dadsavesamerica/p/8-gas-oil-cut-off-has-trumps-iran?r=24ayxm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zgc3w-0u3V0Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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183
The 97% Success Formula They Won't Teach in Schools - Ian Rowe
I sat down with Ian Rowe, an education entrepreneur and senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, to unpack why raising kids with a sense of agency is the key to lifelong success. Ian defines agency as free will guided by moral discernment, closely related to the concept of “ordered liberty.” Today, low expectations and racial victimhood narratives are trapping kids in cycles they could otherwise escape. We dig into why the “success sequence” of education, work, marriage, and then children is so effective at preventing poverty. In a culture where good advice is smeared as “victim blaming,” Ian offers a more productive and hopeful vision for the most disadvantaged Americans._____________________________________Follow Ian Rowe on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/IanVRowe?s=20Purchase a copy of Ian’s book, “Agency”: https://a.co/d/0cWhn8dy_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Ian and I have a lot in common[2:58] What is agency and why does it matter?[6:04] How religion breaks the cycle of disfunction[14:52] Entrepreneurship is a problem-solving mindset[18:07] Is the mental health crisis a self-fulfilling prophecy?[25:08] How do kids transition into adulthood?[35:37] Why is the “success sequence” controversial?[39:21] We need to bring back shame[43:48] The problems facing black Americans[59:22] Are black voters shifting politically?[1:05:59] How racial guilt gets in the way of teaching[1:11:45] Teachers have forgotten how to teach[1:17:04] Identity obsession vs universal virtues[1:25:58] Truth, nihilism, and the black market of ideas_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store:https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TKXE5FBwy50Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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182
Islamic Terror Rising: Does America Need a New Crusade?
A series of terrorist attacks in Virginia, Michigan, NYC, and even my own city of Austin has brought the radical Islamic threat back to American soil. Rather than confronting the ideological nature of these acts, the public conversation is quickly redirected toward gun control, mental health, or non-specific “extremism.” The perpetrators, on the other hand, are usually quite happy to tell you what they believe.From the Reconquista to the War on Terror, the Christian West has been locked in a struggle with the Muslim world. In modern America and Europe, we suffer from a “crisis of confidence,” as Jimmy Carter put it, which undermines are ability to confront the real civilizational fight in front of us. Some young people have succumbed to nihilism, while others have embraced a strange alliance between leftist politics and radical Islam. Will we be able to reverse the demoralization of America in the face of real threats?_____________________________________Check my sources over on Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/dadsavesamerica/p/islamic-terror-rising-does-america?r=24ayxm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TymfmuuwLokMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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181
Former Woke Mom Exposed "Gender-Affirming Care" Fraud
I sat down with Mia Hughes, author of “The WPATH Files,” to discuss her work exposing the junk science and corruption behind “gender-affirming care,” youth transition, and transgender activism. As she describes it, this is one of the worst crimes in medical history, made worse by the fact that the only people who’ve been punished are those who’ve spoken out against it. Mia’s exposé revealed the idea laundering and circular references between WPATH and medical institutions, using weak data to justify irreversible hormonal and surgical interventions for adults suffering from severe mental illness and for children, who by definition cannot consent. European countries have begun to back off, and the post-2024 election “vibe shift” in the U.S. has brought about some improvements, but in countries like Canada, this is far from over._____________________________________Follow Mia Hughes on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/_CryMiaRiver?s=20Read “The WPATH Files”: https://environmentalprogress.org/big-news/wpath-files_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] The JK Rowling backlash woke Mia up[11:05] The trans issue isn’t just a fringe culture war issue[21:19] Does trans identity have any historical basis?[28:46] Why trans activists deny “autogynophilia”[39:08] The “vibe shift” doesn’t mean trans madness is over[42:24] John Money and the origins of gender ideology[50:44] How gender identify became a civil rights category[1:01:57] Why did gay people support trans activism?[1:10:02] Normal puberty distress is twisted into “gender dysphoria”[1:20:01] “Gender-affirming care” is full of ethical contradictions[1:30:54] Doctors are emotionally blackmailing parents[1:38:36] What is WPATH?[1:46:10] Are randomized controlled trials possible in gender medicine?[1:57:14] How WPATH captured the whole medical establishment[2:09:35] We need a new Nuremberg trial[2:15:27] The role of severe mental illness in gender transition[2:26:25] Doctors know that kids can’t consent to transition[2:38:21] Why it’s impossible to hold anyone accountable[2:43:06] Is the whole field of psychology basically a scam?[2:48:26] Canada hasn’t backed down from trans madness[2:57:07] Why can’t the left let go of transgender politics?_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lsV0dDyTMBAMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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180
Trump’s Iran Strike, Israeli Influence, and the Iraq War Hangover
President Trump’s strikes on Iran have reignited the American foreign policy debate. For decades, libertarians like myself have hammered the mistakes of the War on Terror, especially in Iraq. Ron Paul’s 2007 presidential debate performance laid out the blowback risks of interventionism, highlighting a specific story of American meddling in Iran—one I believed until very recently. President Trump is resetting long-held assumptions about regime change and endless war, forcing me to rethink the complexity of geopolitics. Caught between conspiracy theories of Israeli control and premature declarations of “mission accomplished,” Americans must decide for themselves what to think in these tumultuous times._____________________________________Check my sources over on Substack: https://open.substack.com/pub/dadsavesamerica/p/trumps-iran-strike-israeli-influence?r=24ayxm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/MP3qHVYVdJ0Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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179
Pastor Doug Wilson: America Was Built on Christian Nationalism
I sat down with Pastor Doug Wilson to unpack his views on “Christian nationalism” and American identity. Every legal system rests on moral assumptions—Doug argues that those assumptions should be Christian. We discuss whether America was historically a Christian nation, how immigration and assimilation shape a country’s cultural cohesion, the dangers of theocracy, and what would happen to Catholics in his ideal vision of America._____________________________________Follow Doug on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/douglaswils?s=20Learn more about Doug’s work: https://dougwils.com/_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] What is “Christian Nationalism”?[5:19 5:30] Were things better in the “good old days”?[11:23 11:34] Immigration disrupts the national order[19:29 19:40] What does it mean to be American?[32:30] Pastor Doug’s political philosophy[41:29] Religious liberty and the First Amendment[49:31] Does universal liberalism grow out of Christianity?[57:13] How America integrated Catholics[1:05:02] Who gets to live in a Christian nation?[1:12:27] Free will, predestination, and Calvinism[1:17:10] What about when people break the Christian laws?[1:26:10] Liberty, gay marriage, and drug laws[1:42:37] Summing up Pastor Doug’s worldview[1:45:04] Grappling with Andrew Tate and Nick Fuentes[1:51:59] Is Christianity in crisis or revival?_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/qiyUCxw92a8Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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178
Lionel Shriver: The “Nation of Immigrants” Myth Makes America Weak
I sat down with Lionel Shriver, author of “A Better Life,” to unpack why the American immigration debate has become so unreasonable. She argues that the “nation of immigrants” mythology is a kind of progressive moral blackmail, preventing Americans from asking basic questions about assimilation, national self-interest, and cultural cohesion. We also discuss whether Islamic immigration is compatible with liberal democracy and why immigration can’t fix collapsing birthrates. Lionel makes the case that the West has lost its sense of self-confidence—and now, its instinct for self-preservation._____________________________________Order a copy of “A Better Life”: https://a.co/d/0g6H0sGW_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Writing a novel on immigration[12:03] Why Americans struggle to discuss immigration[19:51] White leftists don’t actually hate themselves[26:53] Assimilation in the U.S. vs Europe[42:20] Should we allow Islamic immigration?[53:24] Uncontrolled migration and welfare can’t work[1:01:45] The fertility crisis argument for immigration[1:13:56] Western values must be actively defended[1:21:01] Spoiled leftists just won’t wake up to reality[1:30:56] Female virtue signaling and luxury beliefs[1:38:21] Is our politics bound to keep getting crazier?[1:43:06] Trump vs globalist totalitarianism[1:51:16] The internet is supercharging social contagion[1:57:06] “Toxic masculinity” and the feminization of society[2:15:14] Individual sovereignty vs the survival of humanity[2:26:45] We encourage bad and ignore good behavior[2:37:15] “No pain, no gain” is the truest cliché[2:42:48] Self-contemplation is bad for your mental health_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/T7q_71x3u_0Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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177
The Old Left Understood Status. The Mamdani Left Weaponizes It. - Rob Henderson
I sat down with Rob Henderson, author of “Troubled” and known for coining the term “luxury beliefs,” to explore how status, envy, and social mobility shape society. Rob shares how growing up in foster care, enlisting in the Air Force at 17, and eventually attending Yale and Cambridge forced him to confront what material success can—and can’t—deliver. Hunter-gatherer societies suppressed status through rigid egalitarianism, but as civilizations grew, status competition became an increasingly powerful force. Today, elite strivers hijack class politics to engage in their own battle between the “haves” and the “have-mores,” while serious discussions about class have begun to shift from left to right._____________________________________Learn more about the “Troubled” movie: https://troubledthemovie.com/Follow Rob on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/robkhendersonRead Rob’s work on Substack: https://www.robkhenderson.com/Purchase a copy of “Troubled”: https://www.amazon.com/Troubled-Memoir-Foster-Family-Social/dp/1982168536_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] The sociology of status[7:36] Class analysis flipped from left to right[15:57] The haves, the have-nots, and the have-mores[21:41] The traits that build wealth[26:59] Narcissism comes in 2 flavors[38:31] How do you keep the loudmouths under control?[43:38] Why do we care about status?[51:36] How gratitude advances civilizations[55:22] Finding a stable identity keeps envy in check[1:04:08] The state of sex relations in 2026[1:15:46] We aren’t built for comfort[1:25:27] Can the military fix TikTok-fried kids?[1:37:25] Healthy cultural norms aren’t self-enforcing[1:49:46] Elite hypocrisy on marriage and family[1:58:09] Is it just “kids these days” or something else?[2:03:10] Is religion a necessary anchor for moral culture?[2:12:14] Adapting “Troubled” into a movie_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/j149A5_9AWAMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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176
The Socialist Resurgence in Our Era of Broken Minds - Dr. Stephen Hicks
I sat down with philosopher and author Dr. Stephen Hicks to unpack the West’s trajectory from medieval Christianity to modern progressivism. We explore the psychological fallout of online information overload and a failing education system that is fueling a socialist resurgence. Dr. Hicks breaks down how the rediscovery of Greco-Roman writings by figures like St. Thomas Aquinas—and, a few centuries later, the Protestant Reformation—set the stage for the Enlightenment, gradually developing the ideas that would eventually become “classical liberalism.” We also track the parallel development of leftist thought, from Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the French Revolution to Marx and today’s woke reign of terror._____________________________________Follow Dr. Hicks on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/SRCHicks?s=20Check out Dr. Hicks’ Peterson Academy courses: https://petersonacademy.com/instructors/stephen-hicks_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] What is “the truth”?[6:06] “Expert consensus” and misinformation[18:27] Filtering through information overload[30:31] The evolution of adulthood and education[39:53] Religion, literacy, and the Protestant Reformation[45:12] Did Christianity invent individualism?[59:44] Collectivism is the problem, not religion[1:08:40] Was the abolition of slavery a Christian movement?[1:20:16] Did Christianity lay the foundation for the Enlightenment?[1:31:51] How Christendom revived Greco-Roman thought[1:41:18] Rousseau and the French Revolution[2:04:50] The blank-slate view of moral agency[2:11:02] Rousseauean socialism vs Marxism[2:19:09] How Marxism survived each of its failures[2:28:11] What unifies the wide range of leftist ideas?[2:43:13] The link between mental health and education[2:54:22] Why philosophy matters_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/hCjuUIlJ0uUMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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175
“I Was Wrong”: Why the Civil War Is Running Late - Rudyard Lynch (WhatIfAltHist) 2026 Update
I sat down with Rudyard Lynch, creator of WhatIfAltHist and History102, to revisit his civil war prediction. He argues that the current psychological crisis is delaying an inevitable political crisis, drawing on the Mouse Utopia experiment, screen addiction, and the decay of internet discourse. Rudyard reflects on what he got right, what he got wrong, and why embracing honor culture might be our path back to sanity. We also get into the relationship between Christianity and socialism, the role of masculinity in leadership, and why “reasonable liberals” fail to confront the Marxist threat._____________________________________Follow Rudyard on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/whatifalthistCheck out WhatIfAltHist: https://www.youtube.com/WhatifalthistCheck out History102: https://www.youtube.com/@History102-qg5oj_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Updated civil war predictions[4:19] Antisemitism and Israel discourse[13:49] Psychological and political crises[25:05] Socialism, Nietzsche, and nihilism[33:14] The Age of the Last Men[38:48] Woodrow Wilson and the rise of progressivism[46:17] “The system,” society, and bureaucracy[56:47] Why decency dies on the internet[1:02:32] Is good leadership fundamentally “masculine”?[1:06:15] Sex differences vs. sexism[1:12:22] Why faith in honor culture matters[1:20:28] Did Christianity give birth to socialism?[1:30:20] Stephen Pinker and the “reasonable liberal” problem[1:39:08] “Progress” is just spiritual sterilization[1:43:36] “Rationalists” are just conformists[1:49:39] Classical liberals overplayed the equality card[1:53:33] Are libertarian values still valid in our culture?[2:01:00] Victim culture on the right[2:05:16] The neo-middle ages[2:10:42] Is broad social trust still feasible?[2:17:29] Why you should unplug from the internet_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RDmkKZ7vAkIMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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174
Mao Conquered China—Now He’s Taking America - Xi Van Fleet
I sat down with anti-communist author Xi Van Fleet to learn about her upbringing under Mao’s Cultural Revolution and her concerns for the trajectory of America. Immigrating from China 40 years ago, she is a blunt critic of modern progressivism and sheds light on the pervasive Marxist influences in our politics, culture, and language—even among conservatives. Xi got involved in public advocacy following the explosion of leftist chaos during the 2020 BLM protests, recognizing echoes of the Red Guard reign of terror that dominated her childhood. An enthusiastic proponent of American values, she offers a stark warning against the communist ideology animating politicians like Zohran Mamdani._____________________________________Follow Xi Van Fleet on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/XVanFleet?s=20Order a copy of Xi’s new book “Made in America”: https://a.co/d/bVwCieIOrder a copy of “Mao’s America”: https://a.co/d/2Oes5xY_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Why 2020 drove Xi to activism[12:22] Growing up during the Cultural Revolution[21:56] How did Mao maintain control over China?[33:08] Recruiting and radicalizing the Red Guard[41:36] The Cultural Revolution was pure insanity[56:02] Why Mao dismantled the Red Guard[1:00:54] How can anyone call themselves a Maoist today?[1:14:47] “But that’s not REAL communism”[1:21:42] Communism is a religion of mind control[1:27:17] Beauty cuts through the brainwashing[1:35:11] American culture is poisoned by Marxism[1:43:37] Assimilation vs multiculturalism[1:53:15] Communism is a real threat to America in 2026[2:03:55] Even conservatives are tainted by Marxism[2:08:28] Why do we encourage immigrants to hate America?[2:18:26] Americans need to know the history of communism_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/IiAVqhO6quAMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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173
Why We Hate the Healthcare System: Obamacare, Lobbyists, and Fraud - Michael Cannon
I sat down with healthcare policy expert Michael Cannon to unpack why the U.S. healthcare system drives everyone crazy. From exploding costs and rampant fraud to government shutdowns over Obamacare subsidies, healthcare issues continue to monopolize our politics and our everyday lives. Contrary to what Bernie Sanders might think, government intervention—not capitalism—has rigged the healthcare system to benefit insurers, hospitals, and politicians at the expense of patients. We dig into how moral hazard fuels waste and overconsumption, why lobbyists undermine smart reforms in favor of policies that make the problem worse, and the coming fiscal reckoning for Medicaid and Medicare._____________________________________Follow Michael on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/mfcannon?s=20Read Michael’s work on Substack: https://mfcannon.substack.com/Learn more about Michael’s work at the Cato Institute: https://www.cato.org/people/michael-f-cannon_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] What’s behind the Somali fraud scandal?[8:31] Why is Medicare fraud so rampant?[12:42] How laws and lobbyists obstructed DOGE[18:33] The Obamacare subsidy government shutdown[25:58] The argument for Obamacare vs its actual results[32:31] The Oregon study debunks the health insurance myth[42:19] Does cheap health insurance make people less healthy?[58:22] How do you know that a medical treatment is worth it?[1:03:19] The tax code disincentivizes price transparency[1:15:12] Why does health insurance stop at state lines?[1:21:34] Do Americans really spend more on healthcare?[1:28:28] The U.S. subsidizes the global pharmaceutical market[1:36:32] The problem with pharmaceutical patents[1:42:53] Why do so many Americans idolize Luigi Mangione?[1:53:02] Death panels are an inevitable part of health insurance[2:00:35] Overconsumption and monopoly pricing in healthcare[2:06:33] Will the demographic cliff destroy Medicaid and Medicare?[2:17:59] Will Medicare-For-All end up winning the political fight?[2:23:39] The ideal solution vs realistic improvements to healthcare[2:32:18] Which country has the best healthcare system?_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/nPnUI0OhMeAMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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172
Michael Shellenberger on ICE Protests, Censorship Threats, and His Radical Past in Venezuela
I sat down with journalist and author Michael Shellenberger to unpack the psychology of modern radicalism and why anti-ICE activists seem more interested in perpetual agitation than problem-solving. Michael reflects on his own radical past, including his experiences in Nicaragua, Brazil, and Venezuela, where socialist idealism gave way to corruption, gangsterism, and societal collapse. We also discuss his ongoing fight for free speech and the potential global impacts of recent European regulatory attacks on Elon Musk and X (Twitter)._____________________________________Follow Michael on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/shellenberger?s=20Read Michael’s work on Substack: https://substack.com/@shellenbergerPreorder a copy of “The Left’s War on Reality”: https://a.co/d/cnMuOGy_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] ICE protest chaos[13:06] Female psychology and left-wing activism[30:19] Why Michael got involved in radical politics[39:54] Interviewing the future President of Brazil[42:44] Is Marxism a colonial project?[47:46] What is “radicalism”?[55:53] Working for Hugo Chávez in Venezuela[1:01:41] Communism always devolves into gangsterism[1:10:58] Liberalism, globalism, and nationalism[1:18:02] Is “international law” a myth?[1:22:08] Why Michael is skeptical of the Venezuela intervention[1:31:48] The counterintuitive danger of natural resources[1:37:13] Zohran Mamdani’s inaugural speech should scare you[1:52:34] How elites keep mass democracy under control[1:58:30] The Twitter Files and the next social media crackdown[2:05:21] Free speech is a cause worth dying for[2:13:58] Antisemitism, cancellation, and the conservative civil war[2:24:19] Trump 2.0 proved that censorship can be overcome[2:29:36] What Michael has learned from teaching_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/0z_KzE0OXaEMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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171
AI Data Centers, Nuclear Power, and the Limits of Capitalism - Robert Bryce
I sat down with author and energy journalist Robert Bryce to unpack our society’s dependence on the electric grid and what that means for American security and prosperity in the future. The electric grid is far more fragile than most people realize—even more so given the so-called “clean energy transition” pushed throughout the 21st century. As we saw in Spain last spring, excessive reliance on renewable energy sources significantly raises the possibility of systemic collapse during electricity demand peaks. Now, with AI data centers driving up electricity demand, and therefore prices, a reckoning is overdue. Robert lays out the tradeoffs of renewable energy, the potential for a nuclear renaissance, and how energy policy challenges the assumptions of the free market and decentralized government in a world of geopolitical adversaries._____________________________________Follow Robert Bryce on X (Twitter): https://x.com/pwrhungry?s=20Watch Robert Bryce on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@robertbryce?si=FKjtFk1G3WMudQw1Read Robert Bryce’s work on Substack: https://robertbryce.substack.com/_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Will AI data centers break the power grid?[10:46 11:00] The electric grid is the most important system in our society[21:10 21:24] Why is the electric grid so fragile?[34:18 34:32] The forgotten innovations that reshaped society[42:54] What is “base load” and why does it matter?[52:58] The “clean energy transition” has always been fake[1:03:17] Will solar power ever be viable for a whole country?[1:12:28] Why would Germany kneecap its own energy capacity?[1:21:22] A society run by engineers vs lawyers[1:26:24] The Trump administration’s energy policies[1:31:00] What are the real safety risks of nuclear energy?[1:38:52] What are “small modular reactors” (SMRs)?[1:45:43] Nuclear waste is a political, not technical, problem[1:55:06] Does the US have access to enough uranium for nuclear power?[2:00:13] What are the limits to capitalism and small government?_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jAfGUUAvGBAMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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170
We Broke Childhood. Here’s How to Fix It - Peter Gray
I sat down with psychologist and author Peter Gray to unpack why anxiety, depression, and immaturity are rising at the exact moment kids have more “support” than ever. Peter explains how we stripped childhood of the one ingredient that actually builds competence: real freedom. We talk about the collapse of free, self-directed play, the fear-driven culture that keeps kids under constant adult management, and how modern schooling turns learning into compliance and metrics—resulting in bad habits and chronic stress. Play isn’t a “bonus” part of childhood; it’s how children learn judgment, resilience, social intelligence, and self-control. The path back to healthier kids starts with letting them take risks, solve problems, and grow up the way humans evolved to._____________________________________Check out Peter’s work on Substack: https://substack.com/@petergray_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Intro[1:06] Essential skills for a successful adult life[6:52] Education vs. schooling[19:40] Anxiety, depression, and immaturity[33:12] Is high school stress anything new?[36:48] Why parents to over-manage their kids[47:26] Are we training kids to accept authority and control?[55:58] The history of the school system[1:11:13] The policies shaping modern classrooms[1:19:01] The seven sins of the education system[1:38:58] What Peter learned from Ruby Lou[1:43:37] Play literally is education[1:51:04] Why trustful parenting works best_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8iRrZHUnB4EMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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169
We Feminized Psychology, Parenting, and Society - Dr. Camilo Ortiz
I sat down with clinical psychologist Dr. Camilo Ortiz to unpack why modern parenting has become so exhausting—and why it’s also making kids more anxious, not less. Dr. Ortiz explains why kids need daily exposure to the four D’s—discomfort, distress, disappointment, and danger—and how natural consequences teach better than nagging or punishment ever will. We explore the limits and potential harms of today’s feminized therapy culture and how we can rebuild real-world independence through risky play, mixed-age freedom, and even early work._____________________________________Follow Dr. Ortiz on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/DrCamiloOrtizVisit Dr. Ortiz’s website: http://drcamiloortiz.com/Learn more about “independence therapy”: https://letgrow.org/program/independence-therapy/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=12566881823&gbraid=0AAAAACiZd3IWu23qJsSxpn65U7GX9fkVZ&gclid=Cj0KCQiA0p7KBhCkARIsAE6Xlam-UlbNorBHFogiD9_yToVLHOcEIJaxqI86ql2tEa_EKyKbQkbimREaAomwEALw_wcBDr. Ortiz’s article in “The Free Press”: https://www.thefp.com/p/the-secret-to-parenting-do-less-of-it_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] How parenting went wrong[5:45] The feminization of parenting and psychology[15:25] Abigail Shrier’s “Bad Therapy”[15:56] Therapy isn’t the solution to every problem[24:02] What are “mindfulness practices”?[31:25] Are mental health issues really that common?[36:13] Moms vs dads on childhood independence[43:19] Why is evolutionary psychology ignored?[54:19] Is academia biased by ideology or personality?[1:01:17] Nagging your kids doesn’t work[1:09:29] The collective action problem of childhood[1:12:42] Parents shouldn’t try to win every battle[1:23:15] What is “independence therapy”?[1:27:40] Are kids lacking freedom or authority, or both?[1:33:49] Focus on productive behavior, not identity[1:50:47] “Gentle parenting” is the worst of both worlds[1:54:06] How can you address real trauma?[2:02:58] The case for child labor[2:08:16] A lighthouse for sanity in psychology_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cLouj8HgvbgMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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168
Build America Up—Don’t Burn It To the Ground - Doug DeVos
I sat down with former Amway CEO Doug DeVos to talk about what it means to believe in the American way in an era defined by cynicism. Prosperity doesn’t come from slogans or politics—it comes from families, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who take responsibility and create real value. We unpack why pessimism has become a cultural default, how that mindset quietly erodes ambition and gratitude, and why faith in America must be rooted in action, not nostalgia._____________________________________Follow Doug on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/Doug_DeVos?s=20Read “Believe! Journal” on Substack: https://www.thebelievejournal.com/Purchase a copy of “Believe!”: https://a.co/d/8SfMYUV_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Elite influence or philanthropic leadership?[7:48] The Midwest’s community culture[11:19] Does online polarization represent real life?[21:53] American idealism vs. “burn it all down”[28:43] How did family formation become political?[36:37] Trust fund kids and generational wealth[42:38] The history of Amway[49:18] Criticisms of multi-level marketing[51:11] Sales is the most underrated career path[1:03:17] Free enterprise as a moral system[1:08:54] How do successful large organizations work?[1:14:43] Is the optimistic American spirit fading?[1:19:17] Life, liberty, and the pursuit of virtue[1:23:41] Building trust in a post-truth world[1:26:51] The Founding Fathers’ skepticism of power[1:34:40] The internet, social media, and AI[1:38:18] Does anything shake Doug’s optimism?[1:43:17] America is the comeback nation[1:46:27] How becoming a parent frees you from ego[1:50:01] Take on the responsibility of citizenship_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/R2wk_QgvBwAMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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167
Bridget Phetasy on Hookup Culture, Divorce, and Healing Our Culture
I sat down with comedian, writer, and host of “Walk-Ins Welcome,” Bridget Phetasy to talk about how she recovered from divorce, hookup culture, and addiction—and how those experiences shaped her views on our current cultural crisis. Writing for Playboy in the 2010s gave her a front-row seat to a society going mad. Bridget’s previously mainstream liberal beliefs were shattered one by one, eventually leading to the realization that marriage and parenthood were right for her all along._____________________________________Follow Bridget on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/BridgetPhetasy?s=20Watch Bridget on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@phetasy?si=vocDzLaTe0_885NzWatch “Walk-Ins Welcome”: https://youtube.com/@morebridgetphetasy?si=xkIAzwIDvtMP3rKQFollow Bridget on Substack: https://www.phetasy.com/_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] What parenting teaches you[14:01] Start your family early[18:10] Where feminism goes too far[23:02] Hookup culture isn’t empowerment[34:53] Divorce triggers a dark spiral for kids[45:43] How pop culture shapes your beliefs[50:21] “Staying together for the kids” and real love[1:02:51] Having kids resets your ambitions[1:08:49] How broken people get lost in darkness[1:20:25] Identity is way more than your superficial traits[1:25:16] Trans surgeries and the power of sex[1:41:49] Is Islam incompatible with the West?[1:53:42] Group differences vs individual treatment[1:59:18] Can the 12 Steps heal America?[2:08:28] Institutional trust and the AI revolution[2:14:09] Psychological, ideological, and technological crises[2:28:19] Focus on creation, not destruction_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TwdnGWyjmUcMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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166
Dr. Drew on Narcissism, Childhood Trauma, and the Sexual Revolution
I sat down with Dr. Drew Pinsky to unpack how a culture of narcissism is warping our relationships, our politics, and the way we raise our kids. Drawing on decades of clinical experience, Dr. Drew explains how collapsing family structures create adults who are fragile on the inside but obsessed with curating a perfect image on the outside. We talk about how social media rewards performative outrage and mob “justice,” why so many young people now filter everything through a lens of victimhood, and how the sexual revolution reshaped intimacy in ways most people still don’t fully understand._____________________________________Follow Dr. Drew on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/drdrewSubscribe to Dr. Drew’s YouTube channel: https://youtube.com/@DrDrew?si=ep1LT1yWvqUKxrYW_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Intro[0:53] What is narcissism?[15:17] Activist mobs, false empathy, and free speech[22:42] Narcissism vs sociopathy vs psychopathy[29:18] The impacts of social media[30:59] What is adulthood?[39:05] Family breakdown and the psychological crisis[51:38] “It Doesn’t Have To Be Awkward”[56:38] Grappling with gender identity confusion[1:05:53] The lasting effects of trauma[1:12:51] Marriage, divorce, and relationships[1:20:40] Why are gay and transgender issues lumped together?[1:23:18] Do Americans just need to toughen up?[1:25:18] Mental health impacts of COVID lockdowns[1:27:16] Social media hits girls and boys are differently[1:30:53] Homelessness, fatherlessness, and foster care_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RV0dnLFbu-kMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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165
The Neuroscience Behind the Culture War – Delia McCabe
I sat down with neuroscience PhD Delia McCabe to explore why our brains are struggling in the modern world and what that means for our kids, our politics, and how we handle the AI revolution. Delia has spent her career digging into the effects of nutrition on mental health—either optimizing cognitive function or sending our brains into disastrous feedback loops. We also discuss biological sex differences, the rise of gender confusion, and the cognitive biases that have deranged our public discourse._____________________________________Read Delia’s Substack: https://deliamccabe.substack.com/Learn more about Delia’s work: https://www.lighterbrighteryou.life/_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] What’s wrong with clinical psychology?[7:13] The link between food, behavior, and mental health[19:36] How neuroplasticity actually works[28:24] Thinking burns more energy than physical labor[33:15] Does neuroscience disprove free will?[39:43] Emotions can literally change what we know[45:30] You can’t separate the mind from the body[55:49] Confirmation bias vs “the feeling of knowing”[1:03:20] When is it safe to “trust your gut”?[1:12:27] Why smart people believe dumb ideas[1:18:40] What happens to your brain in your mid-20s?[1:30:14] “Social-emotional learning” and the trauma obsession[1:45:26] The black mirror, the uncanny valley, and narcissism[1:55:33] Male and female brains are objectively different[2:08:05] What’s causing the explosion of gender confusion?[2:21:38] Is feminization destroying our society?[2:38:32] Confronting your ignorance is painful but necessary[2:43:14] How can we heal the gender divide?[2:49:47] How can you change someone’s mind?[3:01:35] Why our psychology leads to big government[3:12:54] The jobs that attract smart psychopaths[3:25:56] Stress, focus, and creativity[3:36:43] Understand the brain, save America_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/caiubV_hqCgMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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164
Persuasion VS Manipulation: Why We Don’t Trust Slick-Talkers - Jay Heinrichs
I sat down with Jay Heinrichs, best-selling author of Thank You for Arguing, to explore the lost art of rhetoric and why Americans should relearn these skills. Most of us have forgotten how to persuade one another, and in an algorithmically optimized social media era, we’re increasingly vulnerable to constant manipulation. We dig into how, from Gavin Newsom to Donald Trump, our politicians use rhetorical tactics to greater and lesser effect. The ancient Greeks treated argument as a civic virtue—a tool for building relationships and solving problems. In the modern era, where political tribes talk past each other and rely on logical fallacies, elevating our public discourse is long overdue._____________________________________Learn more about Jay’s work: https://www.jayheinrichs.com/Read Jay’s work on Substack: https://substack.com/@jayheinrichs?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-pagePurchase a copy of Jay’s latest book: https://a.co/d/5BV8IEF_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] What is “rhetoric” and why did we forget it?[8:17] The collapse and rebirth of public debate[17:28] Inoculate your kids against manipulation[24:59] Disinterest vs “lived experience” in debate[34:51] Arguing about the past, present, and future[42:51] How to apply these tactics in a job interview[50:01] Why we’re skeptical of slick-talkers[59:52] Can rhetoric help rebuild institutional trust?[1:07:02] Physical closeness, emotion, and human connection[1:17:58] Empathy, sympathy, and manipulative rhetoric[1:22:54] Greta Thunberg’s vs Al Gore’s climate change rhetoric[1:32:01] How to avoid logical fallacies[1:51:59] Why bipartisanship is so elusive today[2:01:31] Empower your kids to speak better_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store:https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LH6kG42n-T8Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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163
My Soviet Parents Saw Cancel Culture Coming Before Anyone Else - Katherine Brodsky
I sat down with writer and free speech advocate Katherine Brodsky to explore how fear and conformity have paralyzed honest dialogue in the West. Drawing on her own experience as the target of a cancellation mob for what should have been an uncontroversial statement, she’s been grappling with how our culture can return to sanity and re-embrace free speech as a core value. We reflect on how social media algorithms have distorted public discourse, whether the right is now engaging in the same bad behavior that defined the left over the past decade, and why having hard conversations is a skill we need to practice more as a society._____________________________________Follow Katherine on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/mysteriouskat?s=20Read Katherine’s work on Substack: https://substack.com/@mysteriouskat_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Why Katherine called me out[6:33] How Katherine got cancelled[22:18] Her Soviet parents saw cancel culture coming[28:23] Why can’t we have reasonable conversations anymore?[36:03] Instinct, rationality, and algorithmic manipulation[43:20] Why some people stand up to the mob and others don’t[48:09] Where are the conservatives in academia and the arts?[1:00:06] Searching for truth in the Israel debate[1:09:22] Did the anti-woke backlash go to far?[1:19:07] Does Twitter represent the public’s actual opinions?[1:27:14] We’re still haunted by the atrocities of 2020[1:37:57] How hands-off should the government be?[1:48:54] Bodily autonomy and freedom of speech are non-negotiable[1:56:45] Is Muslim immigration compatible with the West?[2:13:51] Why has the left embraced anti-Americanism?[2:28:42] Free speech is a muscle_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bbncXIGIJaoMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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162
Jonathan Haidt: Why Did Our Kids Starts To Go Crazy in 2012?
I sat down with social psychologist and bestselling author Jonathan Haidt to examine how overprotective parenting and unfettered access to social media have stunted the development of Gen Z. A decades-long obsession with safety has replaced unsupervised outdoor play with online binging—and now we’re faced with a younger generation that’s more anxious, less confident, and robbed of the independence and resilience needed to grow into capable adults. What will it take for America to raise free, competent, and happy children again?_____________________________________Follow Jonathan on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/JonHaidt_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Introduction[0:49] The origin of “The Coddling of the American Mind”[2:13] What does it mean to be an adult?[10:22] Why parents should avoid over-scheduling[12:24] Is Gen Z actually that unique?[16:30] Social media’s impact on kids’ mental health[20:09] Looking beyond depression and anxiety[22:15] Do fragile kids become failed adults?[24:12] How can people achieve happiness?[28:38] The bad ideas running our society[29:39] Why is anti-fragility so important?[33:29] Stick-and-stones vs mean words[37:51] What is “locus of control”?[41:00] Should we trust our feelings?[45:20] Measuring childhood success[47:18] Kids’ problems become society’s problems[49:13] Where is America headed if we don’t change course?_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dU-TA0O0lc0Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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161
How the Government Hijacked the Internet - Mike Benz
I sat down with Mike Benz, former State Department official and founder of the Foundation for Freedom Online, to uncover how government agencies, intelligence contractors, and Big Tech built the surveillance, propaganda, and censorship machine now reshaping the internet. Mike explains how child protection measures have evolved into weapons against free speech and online privacy, how the CIA influences the tech industry, and why you should still work to protect your personal data—even with so much already online._____________________________________Follow Mike on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/joelkotkinWatch Mike on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@mikebenzcyberofficial?si=x44aaPbJ4wGMExbELearn more about Mike’s organization: https://foundationforfreedomonline.com/_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Texas app store age verification law[23:05] How the CIA gathers mass biometric data[29:02] What is a “limited hangout”?[34:06] The CIA doesn’t just target the villains[44:54] How surveillance is turned on Americans[55:45] Isn’t your personal data already online?[1:11:36] Larry Ellison’s surveillance “utopia”[1:19:02] The presumption of innocence is gone[1:26:14] Oracle is tied to all sorts of shady stuff[1:42:27] Does technology dehumanize us?[2:01:20] How elite stakeholders shape government[2:15:42] The public needs to know what’s going on_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/g1B0YmNHxwQMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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160
The Middle Class Built Our Greatest Cities. Now They’re All Gone. - Joel Kotkin
I sat down with Joel Kotkin, author of The Coming of Neo-Feudalism, to examine how America’s middle class is being erased and what that means for the future of civilization. Joel argues that we’re entering a new feudal order, where tech oligarchs and ideological elites control wealth, culture, and opportunity while ordinary families lose the ability to own homes, raise children, and build stable communities. We explore the roots of this transformation in collapsing birth rates, failing cities, and the dominance of a secular clerisy pushing increasingly extreme ideas._____________________________________Follow Joel on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/joelkotkinLearn more about Joel’s work: https://joelkotkin.com/_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] AI will change everything[9:44] The overeducated, underpaid class[19:29] AI destroys entry-level work[29:59] America is splitting in two[43:47] People are opting out of woke[58:34] Local government matters most[1:07:18] Class matters, but race doesn’t[1:18:43] Why can’t moderates win cities anymore?[1:30:37] The rise of the populist right[1:40:36] What happened to the left?[2:03:36] Why tech oligarchs are so weird[2:19:59] Social media pros and cons[2:25:49] The British deserve credit[2:36:44] Antisemitism and political violence[2:41:38] Confirmation bias, climate, and population[2:57:22] How to build a fulfilling life_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ELt1FjWHbPkMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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159
How To Be a Great Parent and a Great Boss - Robert Glazer
I sat down with author, entrepreneur, and leadership expert Robert Glazer to talk about how defining your values creates effective individuals, families, and organizations. His new book, The Compass Within, is a modern parable about how to establish clarity and purpose in your career and personal life. Robert is also known for his criticism of the “two-week notice” corporate norm, instead advocating for a more thoughtful process that aligns the interests of employers and employees cooperatively, rather than making exits all about conflict. We discuss our shared experiences as parents and entrepreneurs, how AI will reshape the career landscape, and why defining your personal core values helps life make more sense and simplifies the dilemmas you will inevitably face._____________________________________Order a hardcover copy of The Compass Within and claim your free course: https://robertglazer.com/compass-dad-saves-america/Follow Robert on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/robert_glazer_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Writing a modern parable about finding your values[7:01] How should we think about capacity and potential?[15:34] Rules vs values for your kids[24:00] How wealth, geography, and culture impact parenting[29:17] Savior-complex parenting delays the inevitable[35:29] The problem with the “2-week notice”[50:31] How company culture changes with scale[55:41] Have the “AI talk” with your kids[1:02:27] You’re not “owed” a job[1:06:54] Have you considered a job in sales?[1:19:26] Your kids will learn from action, not talk[1:22:18] How do you bring values into a relationship?[1:29:04] What actually ARE values?[1:33:19] Tribalism, truth, and authenticity[1:42:13] Why “not taking it personal” is complicated[1:46:57] How to identify and define your values[2:10:36] Next, put your values into action[2:14:40] Inoculate your kids to the victim mindset[2:25:08] Build better leaders in your family_____________________________________Purchase a T-shirt, hoodie, and more over on our merch store: https://shop.dadsavesamerica.com/Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ycnnLzqVP4IMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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158
Matt Kibbe on the Deep State, Fauci, and the COVID Coverup
I sat down with Matt Kibbe, libertarian activist and founder of Free the People, to talk about his documentary series “The Coverup,” which exposes COVID-era malfeasance, America’s corrupt bureaucratic machine, and the failure of the “expert class,” best embodied by Anthony Fauci himself. Matt’s activism dates back to the early days of the Tea Party movement, where he took the tactics that leftists had perfected over decades and successfully wielded them for the anti-big-government, pro-liberty cause. Reinvigorated by COVID lockdowns and vaccine mandates, he sees hope in the new, anti-authoritarian coalition that transcends left-versus-right politics—it’s We the People versus the Deep State._____________________________________Follow Matt on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/mkibbeWatch “The Coverup”: https://www.blazetv.com/series/71poNfD6H4OK-the-coverupLearn more about Free the People:https://freethepeople.org/_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Organizing the Tea Party wave[14:34] The new coalition crosses left and right[19:23] Activism, fundraising, and corporate corruption[25:44] Speaking out against COVID lockdowns[34:03] How “public health” was militarized after 9/11[46:29] COVID could’ve been so much worse[48:40] Bureaucracy isn’t just wasteful—it’s dangerous[50:57] Pandemics and authoritarianism go hand-in-hand[53:09] “The science” is just technocratic fascism[58:59] Every pandemic is exaggerated to create panic[1:02:17] Is the “private vs. public” distinction actually real?[1:11:14] “The experts” won’t save us, but the people can_____________________________________Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/icnMGAFC-RsMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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157
The Sexual Revolution Ruined Millennials. Will Gen Z Get It Right? - Aleks Svetski
I sat down with Aleks Svetski, author of “The UnCommunist Manifesto” and “The Bushido of Bitcoin,” to discuss why socialism fails, the fallout of the sexual revolution, and Bitcoin’s potential for our future. The Millennial generation was the test case for absolute gender equality—even to the point of ignoring biology—and now Gen Z is searching for different solutions, from full-blown communism to hard-core traditionalism. We dig into why socialists misunderstand the world, the need for values beyond economics, and I ask Aleks some questions I have about Bitcoin._____________________________________Follow Aleks on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/AleksSvetskiAleks on Substack: https://substack.com/@svetskiwrites”The UnCommunist Manifesto”: https://a.co/d/icDKFRI“The Bushido of Bitcoin”: https://a.co/d/fjBEd8G_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] “The UnCommunist Manifesto”[4:39] Will the Mamdani trend last?[14:24] How to talk someone out of socialism[25:52] Deploying capital effectively and efficiently[32:51] Learning the messy reality of business[46:44] Leftists care more about animals than family[54:32] Why do we romanticize the noble savage?[1:01:11] Economics doesn’t describe all of life[1:10:53] Masculinity, femininity, and reality[1:32:31] How conservatives lost the sexual revolution[1:42:39] Love, respect, and authority[1:53:19] Is AI revolutionary or overhyped?[2:00:11] Can we trust that Bitcoin will survive?[2:28:58] The morality of monetary systems[2:41:16] Equality, fairness, and justice[2:48:56] Dependence is dehumanizing[2:54:58] Parenting is about modeling_____________________________________Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eiEsteZojb8Make a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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156
Peter Boghossian: Can We Still Find Common Ground in the Wake of Charlie Kirk?
I sat down with philosopher and author Peter Boghossian to wrestle with America’s deepening fracture. Why are so many people cheering political violence, and what—if anything—can pull us back? Ideological capture throughout the education system has broken our engines of knowledge production, turning them into “indoctrination mills” and teaching young Americans to see opponents as existential threats. Is reform even possible at this point? Peter makes the case for burning it all down—or, more accurately, for making these institutions pay the cost of their vices and watching them collapse under their own weight._____________________________________Follow Peter on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/peterboghossianPeter on Substack: https://boghossian.substack.com/Peter on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drpeterboghossian/featured_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Charlie Kirk’s murder revealed a deep divide[5:11] Can we reform away political bias on campus?[15:01] Am I a hypocrite with my own son?[22:13] TikTok, disinformation, and echo chambers[32:09] Should government restrict vices?[39:41] What are do “left” and “right” mean in 2025?[49:24] Destroy the institutions but forgive the individuals[59:11] The left needs to come back to the table[1:06:22] Does the left offer anything to our society?[1:16:38] Can we agree on some neutral principles?[1:32:08] What if we just banned the crazies?[1:37:20] Money printing is the ultimate luxury belief[1:42:01] We will eventually pay the price for our vices_____________________________________Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/L-cFuqD_G7cMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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155
Bret Weinstein on Genetic Tribalism and the Global Backlash Against Jews - Part 2
I sat down with evolutionary biologist Bret Weinstein to explore how evolution can help make sense of tribalism, religion, and the ongoing war in Gaza. He shares his experience commenting on the Israel-Palestine conflict and the simultaneous resurgence and weaponization of antisemitism, speaking both as a scientist and as an American Jew who doesn’t see his views reflected by either major camp. Bret warns against embracing our genetic programming for "lineage-against-lineage" displacement, rather than the collaborative spirit that built Western civilization._____________________________________Follow Bret on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/BretWeinsteinWatch the Darkhorse Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DarkHorsePod/featuredPurchase a copy of “A Hunter-Gather’s Guide to the 21st Century”: https://www.amazon.com/Hunter-Gatherers-Guide-21st-Century-Challenges/dp/0593086880_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Evolution of culture and religion[12:32] Antisemitism and conspiracy thinking[20:38] How Israeli policy impacts Jews globally[26:42] Nazi Twitter went mainstream[33:17] John’s take on Israel-Palestine[42:30] Bret’s evolutionary take on the Gaza War[52:26] How genes get into the future[1:01:08] Is Christianity evolutionarily adaptive?[1:10:26] We aren’t fit for the world we’ve built_____________________________________Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/3avvi_qwdxkMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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154
Bret Weinstein on Epstein, Globalization, and How Our Institutions Went Insane - Part 1
I sat down with evolutionary biologist Bret Weinstein to unpack how behind-the-scenes power and perverse incentives have hollowed out America’s institutions. Bret argues that issues like the Epstein saga, COVID propaganda, and transgender ideology have exposed a deeper problem: elites wield leverage out of sight while government, media, and universities rely on theatrical, so-called “expertise” to bolster public authority. Our institutions so consistently engage in the exact inverse of good governance and common sense that many Americans are left wondering what remains of our democratic republic—and whether the West can be pulled back from the brink._____________________________________Follow Bret on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/BretWeinsteinWatch the Darkhorse Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@DarkHorsePod/featuredPurchase a copy of “A Hunter-Gather’s Guide to the 21st Century”: https://www.amazon.com/Hunter-Gatherers-Guide-21st-Century-Challenges/dp/0593086880_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] What’s going on with the Epstein files?[17:30] The internet and dysfunctional governance[22:00] Why modern institutions agree on bad ideas[33:30] Corrupt the incentives, corrupt the elite[42:42] Can the Constitution survive globalization?[50:25] Are we evolving towards virtual community?[1:00:10] When governments turn on their own people[1:07:38] The battle between “us” and “them”_____________________________________Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DmcaH_Gkj9cMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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153
Paul Zak on Neuroscience, Trust, and Why Communism Sucks
I sat down with neuroeconomist, author, and entrepreneur Paul Zak to discuss the neuroscience of human behavior and society. Paul explains his work on oxytocin—the "moral molecule"—and how it affects everything from political beliefs and economic systems to our most intimate relationships. We discuss why a lack of "friction" is making Gen Z miserable, why strong relationships are essential for success, and how to build a resilient mind in an anxious world._____________________________________Purchase “The Little Book of Happiness”: https://a.co/d/fnWrfdXLearn more about Paul’s “Six” app: https://your6.com/Follow Paul on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/pauljzak_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] The role of biology in economics[10:35 10:49] Are humans rational?[16:33 16:47] Oxytocin, trust, and cooperation[23:58 24:12] How do screens impact our interactions?[27:56] Homogeneity vs. polarization[34:33] Learning new skills with neuroscience[38:56] You need to encounter friction in life[50:08] Acclimate to fear and uncertainty[54:53] Good relationships allow you to take risks[58:25] The neuroscience of dating, politics, and masculinity[1:11:17] Testosterone turns Democrats into Republicans?[1:18:13] You always have to fight communism[1:26:20] Status-seeking is a zero-sum game[1:32:34] “The Little Book of Happiness”[1:37:06] The morality of free markets[1:43:53] The pros and cons of American dynamism[1:49:13] Is persuasion just manipulation?[2:02:29] Building an app to set emotional goals_____________________________________Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ldhH-yo0_zcMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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152
Education Is About Forming Souls, Not Filling Brains – Fr. Daniel O'Mullane
I sat down with Father Daniel O’Mullane, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, to discuss how and why he’s built a Catholic school based on the classical education model. Rather than obsessing over college and career preparation, the typical goals of primary and secondary schooling, he approaches education from the ground up, prioritizing the intellectual, social, and spiritual development of children. Fr. O’Mullane believes that time-tested teaching methods—measured in centuries, not decades—and the great works of Western civilization are among the best tools for cultivating students’ sense of meaning and purpose in a culture adrift._____________________________________Learn more about Our Lady of Mount Carmel School: https://olmc.academy/Follow Fr. O’Mullane on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/fatherdano_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Not your average Catholic school[5:38] Should “college and career” be the goal of school?[23:28] Purpose, narrative, and progress[36:50] Man is both spiritual and material[56:43] What does classical education look like?[1:07:17] Why the great works of Western civilization matter[1:13:38] Orderly behavior vs. true virtue[1:17:45] Building a school that’s better than prison[1:26:28] School should protect a child’s sense of wonder[1:32:09] Schools shouldn’t interfere with parenting[1:37:44] How to find teachers who aren’t ideologically captured[1:41:03] Entrepreneurship within the Church structure[1:55:56] How Fr. O’Mullane’s became a priest[2:15:28] What is the future of faith in our culture?[2:18:00] Rise to meet the demands of love_____________________________________Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xBW7NePlI0UMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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151
Why We Should Cut Legal Immigration In Half - Mark Krikorian
I sat down with Mark Krikorian, executive director of the Center for Immigration Studies, to discuss why he believes we should significantly reduce immigration levels. Often, the immigration debate is so focused on illegal immigration that equally important questions about legal immigration are entirely ignored. As Mark points out, even President Trump—smeared as an anti-immigrant radical—has generally supported high levels of legal immigration. Mark, on the other hand, is an unapologetic restrictionist. Our conversation digs deep into the economics of immigration, the importance of assimilation, and practical solutions to our current immigration conundrum._____________________________________Learn more about the Center for Immigration Studies: https://cis.org/Follow Mark on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/MarkSKrikorian_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Modern immigration isn’t like Ellis Island[8:51] What does assimilation mean?[20:48] Trump’s reelection and cultural alignment[29:39] Isn’t more workers better for the economy?[43:05] Consumer prices, farm labor, and automation[55:37] The problem with libertarian utopianism[59:11] How can we know the “right” amount of immigration?[1:03:44] What’s the problem with H-1B visas?[1:07:46] Trump isn’t an immigration restrictionist[1:13:11] What do we do about non-criminal illegal immigrants?[1:28:02] Should we “build the wall”?[1:33:38] Should we rethink birthright citizenship?[1:40:42] Was Mitt Romney right about self-deportation?[1:47:49] Population decline and the welfare state[1:55:55] We are communities, not just individuals_____________________________________Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DRRsKtoml3IMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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150
James Lindsay on Marx, Education, and the History of “Woke”
I sat down with James Lindsay to unpack how woke Marxist ideology infiltrated Western society, starting from Marx himself up through the political turmoil of the past decade. While working on the “Grievance Studies” hoax papers alongside Peter Boghossian and Helen Pluckrose, James began to realize that the ideological rot in academia was worse than he thought. Following that experience, he dedicated himself to researching the long intellectual history of wokeness, critical theory, and communism and educating the public about the political, rhetorical, and institutional traps set by the modern Left._____________________________________Check out New Discourses: https://newdiscourses.com/Follow James on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/ConceptualJames_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Targeted by the Southern Poverty Law Center[12:26] Sense-making in the internet age[25:43] Becoming the top intellectual historian of wokeness[47:50] How Marxism transformed into intersectionality[1:04:36] Power politics vs utopian Marxism[1:24:53] Marxism is inherently anti-democratic[1:31:42] Are academics are natural marxists?[1:44:36] How neo-Marxism took over education[1:58:21] Race, sex, and the internet[2:13:18] Is James pushing an ideological narrative?[2:20:11] What role did the collapse of religion play?[2:34:40] Have we developed antibodies to wokeness?[2:43:09] James won’t (and can’t) keep his mouth shut_____________________________________Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GUWQozp304gMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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149
Only Elites Can Afford Luxury Beliefs. The Rest of Us Get Left Behind. - Rob Henderson
I sat down with Rob Henderson, author of "Troubled: A Memoir of Family, Foster Care, and Social Class,” to discuss why elite progressives promote radical ideas that they would never tolerate in their own lives. Coining the term “luxury beliefs,” he’s incisively diagnosed how their obsession with virtue signaling sacrifices the well-being of the poor. Rob shares how growing up in foster care, enlisting in the Air Force at 17, and later attending Yale and Cambridge shaped his worldview over the years. We also discuss Gen Z’s widening gender divide along political lines and what it could mean for the future of family formation._____________________________________Rob’s article on sex differences: https://www.city-journal.org/article/men-women-political-divideFollow Rob on X (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/robkhendersonRead Rob’s work on Substack: https://www.robkhenderson.com/_____________________________________Outline:[0:00] Why does over-schooling end in communism?[17:22] Elites talk progressive but live conservative[28:10] Family instability is much worse than poverty[43:10] The male-female political split[59:33] Did the country lose its mind in 2013?[1:08:11] Are relationships and marriages doomed?[1:27:40] America is suffering from wealth disease[1:40:48] When is therapy useful and when is it the problem?[1:47:55] Why more young men should consider the military[1:54:36] Podcasts are good, but books are better[1:58:48] Don’t stifle yourself, but don’t have pointless arguments[2:02:26] Masculinity, rites of passage, and adulthood_____________________________________Watch the video version on YouTube: https://youtu.be/izcLJ6fIE1AMake a tax-deductible donation to Dad Saves America: https://secure.anedot.com/emergent-order-foundation/dad-website?Visit our website: https://www.dadsavesamerica.com/ Get full access to Dad Saves America at www.dadsavesamerica.com/subscribe
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Proud papa, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and arm-chair philosopher John Papola explores the biggest issues facing our country through the lens of fatherhood, releasing exclusive interviews and deep dives every week. We need to make sure the next generation of Americans is raised to thrive in a free society and be champions of civilization. Dad Saves America has hosted all sorts of experts in the studio, including Jonathan Haidt, Dr. Drew, Michael Shellenberger, Bret Weinstein, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Adam Carolla. www.dadsavesamerica.com
HOSTED BY
John Papola
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