Best James R Harrigan Podcasts (2026)

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Episode 486: Slavery and Capitalism 47:57

Play Pause

7m ago47:57

47:57

In this episode, we discuss public distrust of politicians and the realities behind presidential approval polling before turning to the math of lotteries and why people continue to play despite the odds. We examine Maryland’s proposed reparations commission, including questions of eligibility, funding, legal responsibility, and the practical challe…

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Episode 485: R.I.P. Heritage Foundation 1:06:37

2d ago1:06:37

1:06:37

In this episode, we examine the realities behind universal health care by looking at Canada’s system, wait times, medical tourism, and cases where patients are denied life-saving treatment. We discuss the rise of weight-loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, the economics behind high drug prices, and why “miracle” medications often create new dependen…

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Episode 484: Geezer Presidents 49:25

19h ago49:25

49:25

In this episode, we examine what actually counts as a victimless crime and why the term is so often misused, using examples ranging from seatbelt and helmet laws to drugs, prostitution, and software piracy. We discuss how insurance markets price risk more effectively than regulation, and why many so-called crimes are really paperwork violations wit…

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Episode 483: We Love Inequality 1:00:13

2d ago1:00:13

1:00:13

In this episode, we look at what happens when artificial intelligence is put in charge of real-world systems, starting with an experiment in automated pricing and what it reveals about incentives, scarcity, and control. We turn to Denmark’s decision to shut down its national postal service, using it to examine the decline of physical mail, environm…

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Episode 482: The Evolution of Crime 48:35

8d ago48:35

48:35

In this episode, we revisit the debate over restricting social media access for children, responding to listener feedback and examining why parental responsibility alone can’t address the scale of the problem. We discuss proposals for age verification, the risks of digital ID systems, and how privacy and surveillance concerns are often dismissed wi…

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Episode 481: California Screamin’ 1:10:05

18d ago1:10:05

1:10:05

In this episode, we discuss the growing role of humanoid robots in everyday life, why new technologies always reach the wealthy first, and how falling costs eventually make innovation accessible to the middle class. We turn to global efforts to restrict social media access for children, examining the real harms platforms create, why enforcement rar…

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Episode 480: The War on Drugs (Continued) 55:04

21d ago55:04

55:04

In this episode, we look at the story of a young boy who found purpose working for the DC Metro and later became a transportation engineer, and we examine a proposal for the U.S. to screen tourists’ social media accounts before entry, highlighting the logistical and constitutional problems such a system would create. We cover the week’s “foolishnes…

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Episode 479: The NPCs Among Us 1:03:22

23d ago1:03:22

1:03:22

In this episode, we look at a series of recent arrests tied to online posts, comparing Britain’s policing culture and firearms laws with American norms and examining how “feeling threatened” has become a legal standard. We discuss Alaska’s new AI-driven digital identity system and the fears surrounding automated benefits, digital currency, and gove…

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Episode 478: No Socials for Sheila 52:00

1M ago52:00

52:00

In this episode, we examine why arts education often maintains higher standards even as liberal arts programs shrink in schools and universities, and what students lose when curriculum narrows to job training. We discuss how platforms like X are adding country-of-origin labels to identify foreign influence and bot activity, and highlight the “fooli…

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Episode 477: Your Future Self Hates You 1:01:00

1M ago1:01:00

1:01:00

In this episode, we open with a look at how news coverage distorts public perception of danger, from shark attacks to terrorism, and why our instincts so often fail to match the data. We analyze the betting markets in regards to potential 2028 GOP presidential candidates. We discuss Ohio’s new proposal to offer paternity testing at birth, raising d…

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Episode 476: Be Thankful 42:56

1M ago42:56

42:56

In this episode, we discuss the fallout from the government shutdown and how delays in federal economic data, including the Consumer Price Index and jobs reports, leave policymakers and the public effectively “driving without headlights.” We examine the broader risks of making monetary decisions without timely information and the political incentiv…

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Episode 475: American Consensus 58:06

1M ago58:06

58:06

In this episode, we discuss the firing of an FBI trainee over an LGBTQ+ flag and the broader tensions surrounding free speech, impartiality, and government workplaces. We examine conflicting messages from Trump and J.D. Vance about the state of the economy, along with the role tariffs and consumer sentiment play in shaping public perceptions. We hi…

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Members: How Politics Matter For Upgrading Civilization - Join CiVL.COM 15:04

1M ago15:04

15:04

Words & Numbers Live is a members only series exclusive to CiVL.com in which Antony and James discuss politics, philosophy, and economics, and invite listeners for a live Q&A session. To participate, subscribe at CiVL.com, where you can see what lectures we have coming up, and access all of our Words & Numbers content. James and Antony take listene…

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Episode 474: Schoolhouse Farce 1:09:03

2M ago1:09:03

1:09:03

In this episode, we discuss the rising backlash to last week’s comments about Nick Fuentes, the distinction between personal judgment and deplatforming, and the broader question of what ideas belong in public discourse. We explore the failures of remedial education across major universities, the collapsing academic standards that allow students to …

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Episode 473: Blowing Bubbles 52:13

2M ago52:13

52:13

In this episode, we discuss how Meta and its algorithms shape what we see online, why the penny has finally been discontinued, and the legal and economic complications that follow from eliminating small denominations. For the “foolishness of the week,” we highlight a small-town newspaper that was awarded a $3 million settlement stemming from an unl…

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Episode 472: Trumptimism 54:45

2M ago54:45

54:45

In this episode, we examine the growing disconnect between education theory and classroom reality, as academic research drifts toward identity themes while teachers confront daily behavioral and practical challenges. We discuss the BBC’s misleading edits of Trump’s January 6 remarks and what the scandal reveals about media trust, then turn to a “fo…

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Episode 471: 50 Years a Mortgage Slave 1:30:25

2M ago1:30:25

1:30:25

In this episode, we take a close look at the growing complexity of legislation in the age of artificial intelligence and how longer, denser bills create new incentives for politicians to hide provisions that voters would never spot on their own. We also examine the Trump administration’s new visa rules, including the unexpected decision to classify…