Best Shawn Whatley Podcasts (2025)

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#55 Paige MacPherson: Smartphones, Canadian Education Performance, and School Choice 1:06:48

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4d ago1:06:48

1:06:48

Canada is libertarian on cell phones in classrooms and statist on school choice (in most provinces). We get a poor return on investment when it comes to education in Canada. Our math and reading scores are several years behind (even before Covid). Students are distracted by over 100 messages on their cellphones each day. And teachers cannot control…

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186 – Conservative Canucks with Shawn Whatley 1:09:28

13d ago1:09:28

1:09:28

Is Trump correct that Canada is destined to be America’s 51st state? Or is there simply too much distinction between Canada and the United States to collapse us both into one homogenous mess? If conservatives in the U.S. are trying to conserve the American revolution, what are Canadian conservatives hoping to conserve? How might these two liberty-l…

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#54 Étienne-Alexander Beauregard - Gen-Z Conservatism & Anti Civilization: Why Our Societies Collapse From Within 57:41

6d ago57:41

57:41

Gen Z sits at the cusp of major change in conservatism. Young people do not feel a warmth and longing for Reagan or Thatcher. Sure, they value freedom, but they also what to know where the guardrails stand. Étienne-Alexandre speaks clearly for a new generation of non-left thinkers. He asks what might be the role of conservatism in the near future. …

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Roundtable - Combating Political Violence 1:18:34

10d ago1:18:34

1:18:34

In the wake of Charlie Kirk's shocking assassination, Americans are bracing for further political attacks. But is further violence inevitable? And what can be done to prevent things from escalating? Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis assembles a roundtable to discuss these sobering and important issues. The panelists include: Avi Woolf - Host of Avi'…

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#53 Tristin Hopper: Extremism in Canadian Universities and review of his book, "Don't be Canada" 48:17

11d ago48:17

48:17

Once again, Canadian university professors show their extremism in response to Charlie Kirk, a mirror of their praise for Oct 7. Professors shape opinion; they shape culture. Do we want the kind of culture they promote? Turning to his book, Tristin argues that Canada's world-famous policy failures are self-inflicted. He believes we could recover, i…

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#52 Josh Lewis: Conservatism, Saving Elephants, Populism, Donald Trump, and Economic Morality 1:09:50

13d ago1:09:50

1:09:50

Josh Lewis is a traditional conservative who has worked in 'government' in America, has served in retail politics, and has interviewed hundreds of leading thinkers in American conservatism. Josh has a unique ability to bridge the gap between politics and life, philosophy and culture. His developed his skill comes from a deep discomfort with what he…

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#51 Reflecting on Charlie Kirk. Are we tired of being bullied? 22:53

18d ago22:53

22:53

I couldn't stay silent and sane. Once again, the AI summary is scarily accurate, so I will let is stand. Let me know what you think. Shawn AI Summary: Responding to Tragedy: Honouring Charlie Kirk & Challenging Silence In this deeply reflective episode of Concepts, host Shawn Whatley breaks from his usual avoidance of current events to address a tu…

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#50 George Nash: The Conservative Intellectual Movement 1:09:54

20d ago1:09:54

1:09:54

If you find conservatism confusing, you are not alone! Dr. George Nash has spent 50 years explaining all the strands that weave together into the collection of ideas we call conservatism. The AI summary is surprisingly good, so I will simply point out the book links below: The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America since 1945 Russel Kirk's C…

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185 – Inventing Conservatism with Daniel J. Flynn 1:01:42

27d ago1:01:42

1:01:42

Few forerunners of the modern conservative movement are as important, little known, and underappreciated as Frank Meyer. Meyer possessed the IT factor that made women want him and men want to be associated with him. He used that in his early years to advance Marxism in England—building an impressive Marxist organization that had the attention of UK…

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#49 Yuval Levin: Unity, Citizenship, and American Constitutionalism 1:03:00

27d ago1:03:00

1:03:00

How can we live together when we don't t all think alike? Are there nothing but power struggles, or is there a better way? Dr. Yuval Levin explains that we don't need to disagree less; we need to learn to disagree better. Unity does not mean unanimity. We should be hopeful, not simply optimistic. Yuval has spent several decades trying to persuade c…

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Roundtable - Is Trump A Fascist? 1:21:19

1M ago1:21:19

1:21:19

Some Americans warn Trump's antics in this second term are flirting with fascism while others say that's totally whacked. So which is it? Is Trump a fascist or nothing of the kind? Join our livestream as our panelists engage over the topic. Panelists include: Josh Lewis (host), Mike Taylor, Blake Fischer, John Giokaris, Steve Phelps, and Kent Strai…

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#48 Nico Lagan: Political Orphans, Masculinity, and Faith 1:08:01

1M ago1:08:01

1:08:01

The non-left in Canada includes an interesting and often overlooked group. They promote a mix of exercise, martial arts, masculinity, self defence, freedom, self sufficiency, honour, Christianity, and more. This group baffles academics and exasperates leftists. Both left and right seeks to dismiss and minimize their impact. But they represent a lar…

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184 – Paradigming Phenomenological Essences with Steven Hayward 1:02:02

1M ago1:02:02

1:02:02

Steven Hayward has been involved in so many conservative institutions and organizations it may be simpler to list where he hasn’t left a mark. This conservative man-about-town joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis as they unravel what it means to be a conservative, how Straussians might make peace with Burke, and why Josh shouldn’t be so critical …

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#47 Andy Crooks: Moral Courage and the Heart of Conservatism 1:10:51

1M ago1:10:51

1:10:51

Andy captures the heart of conservatism unlike anything I've found elsewhere. He has lived it. He embodies it. And he welcomes others to enjoy it. Andy Crooks spelled out what's at stake for Canada, and he explained what we must do to save it. Stark, fun, inspirational, and tragic. I can't think of a better embodiment of the heart an soul of conser…

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Roundtable - MAGA Mayhem 1:05:20

2M ago1:05:20

1:05:20

The MAGA coalition is comprised of a wide spectrum whose sole unifying idea is Trump himself. But what happens when that precarious foundation begins to fray? Have recent events shown cracks in the MAGA world that could quickly fracture, or is this all a tempest in a teapot? Join Saving Elephant panelists during our livestream to make sense of it a…

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#46 Marco Navarro-Genie: Red Toryism, Canadian Identity, and the Role of Conservatism 1:08:19

2M ago1:08:19

1:08:19

Marco packages powerful barbs in (slightly) softened academic polish. It makes his writing and speaking fun to consume and hard to forget. Do check out his Substack https://substack.com/@navarrogenie Looking forward to hearing what you think! Thanks again! AI summary: Special guest Dr. Marco Navarro-Genie, VP of Research at Frontier Center for Publ…

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183 – Conservative Conservationism with Stephen Perkins 1:01:24

2M ago1:01:24

1:01:24

Younger Americans—regardless of their political affiliations—are increasingly supportive focusing on environmental and conservation issues. But while there may be renewed unity on recognizing the importance of such issues, the policies advocated by the Left and Right continue to differ. The American Conservation Coalition (ACC) is a group of young …

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#45 Sean Walsh: The Hard Problem of Consciousness, AI, and Conservatism 53:48

2M ago53:48

53:48

Sean has a PhD in the philosophy of artificial intelligence. He writes well and thinks deeply. He's also experienced more grit than the average academic. This was not a light discussion, but I think you will find it well worth your time. Articles mentioned: Wandering Thoughts Artificial, human and angelic intelligence Sean is Associate Editor of Co…

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#44 Tristan Rogers: Conservatism Past and Present--A Philosophical Introduction 1:06:32

2M ago1:06:32

1:06:32

Tristan and I discuss his new book on conservatism. It is fun and deep and convoluted...you will love it. The AI summary (below) chunks out the main sections. Books and articles mentioned: Conservatism Past and Present: A philosophical introduction, by Tristan Rogers https://amzn.to/4lYHPbC England: An Elegy, by Roger Scruton https://amzn.to/4lMKkO…

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#43 Brian Day: The Fight for Canadian Healthcare | A 30-Year Battle for Patient Rights 1:07:55

2M ago1:07:55

1:07:55

Dr. Brian Day has spent decades fighting for patients' rights. He trained during an era of no wait times and doctors competing to provide care for patients. People find this hard to believe, and system planners find it horrifying. Canadian medicare was once the envy of the world. Today, countries try to avoid creating 'Canada-like' results. Dr. Day…

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182 – Partying Like It’s 1776 1:07:38

3M ago1:07:38

1:07:38

On July 6 Saving Elephants assembled an august team of commentators to commemorate the advent of the United States turning the big 2-4-9! With only one year to go until the nation is 250 years old, the group reflects on the foundational ideas of America, whether she's succeed or failed at those aspirations, and what the future holds for this most e…

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#42 Nathan Pinkoski: Actually Existing Postliberalism 1:01:22

3M ago1:01:22

1:01:22

A quiet revolution occurred in the 1990s. Our institutions shifted. The global war on terror solidified the shift and obliterated the distinction between public and private, which was once a feature of liberalism. The fusion of public and private represents a new era of actually existing postliberalism. https://firstthings.com/actually-existing-pos…

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#41 Rebecca Vachon: Canada's Rapid Expansion of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)/Euthanasia 50:44

3M ago50:44

50:44

Canada has the fastest growing assisted dying program in the world. Medical Assistance in Dying (passive and active euthanasia) is now tied as Canada's 5th leading cause of death. We tackle loneliness and social isolation, individualism, and (briefly) social response to suffering. Not a light episode, but a crucial topic to discuss. Thanks for chec…

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#40 Happy Canada Day! What is Canada? What are we celebrating? 6:19

3M ago6:19

6:19

Short recording for Canada Day. I hope you find (or found) time to enjoy the day and reflect on what we are celebrating. Canada is young: many Canadians alive now are more than 1/2 as old as Canada itself. Given its youth, what exactly is Canada? What aspects do we hope to pass on to our children and grandchildren? Whatever Canada is it must be "pl…

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181 – Escaping the Housing Trap with Chuck Marohn 57:56

3M ago57:56

57:56

The housing market today is in an increasingly unsustainable paradox: younger Americans need houses to be more affordable so that they can become homeowners. Meanwhile, homeowners and the entire U.S. economy need houses to rise in price to make them a secure and profitable investment. Thus, we are trapped between making homeownership increasingly d…

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#39 Adam Swart: CEO Crowds on Demand. Paid Protesters a Moral and Political Dilemma? 54:10

3M ago54:10

54:10

I had a friendly debate with Adam Swart, CEO of Crowds on Demand, the largest protest company in America. He ran circles around me having clearly argued almost all my points many times before. He called out my hypocrisy at being intolerant of paying protesters while being ok with all the other money that flows around inside politics. Adam forced me…

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#38 Ryan Alford: Seven Absolute Rights and necessary limits on government 1:00:29

3M ago1:00:29

1:00:29

Our legal history will shock you. It has more tradition than libertarians can stomach and more anti-government sentiment than conservatives can tolerate. Dr. Alford explains why we need both more history and more enthusiasm to put government in its place. He ends with a message of hope for rescuing Canada. Seven Absolute Rights: Recovering the Hist…

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180 – Uncap the House with Jeff Mayhugh 1:01:16

3M ago1:01:16

1:01:16

What if the surest way to reduce the harmful effects of self-serving politicians in Washington D.C. is to have more of them? Joining Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis is Jeff Mayhugh to explain how the artificial “cap” the nation put on the number of representatives in the U.S. House almost a century ago has made government less representative and r…

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#37 Daniel Pitt: The essence of conservatism from Burke to Scruton. 1:00:22

3M ago1:00:22

1:00:22

I got a chance to visit with Dr. Dan Pitt, co-author of Intellectual Conservatism: From Burke to Scruton. We focussed on a chapter he wrote which offers a brilliant rubric for understanding conservatism -- one of the best I've seen. Dr. Pitt offers an attractive view beyond the status-quo liberalism in which all political parties operate, for the m…

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#36 Ferenc Hörcher (Hungary) on Intellectual Conservatism from Burke to Scruton 53:21

4M ago53:21

53:21

Conservatives are often suspicious of intellectuals and for good reason. Novel ideas dreamt up by radical intellectuals have caused enormous suffering over the past 200 years. But Conservative parties cannot survive without intellectual substance. European conservatism doesn't suffer from the North American tendency to confuse conservatism with cla…

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179 – I, Tony with Tony Woodlief 1:03:06

4M ago1:03:06

1:03:06

What if the real division in America isn’t between Republicans and Democrats, Red States vs Blue States, or liberals and conservatives but between the American people and a small group of the political elite whose function is to divide the rest of us? Tony Woodlief joins Saving Elephants host Josh Lewis to discuss how we may not be as divided as we…

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#35 Peter Copeland: The politics of Pope Leo XIV. What can we expect from the new pope? 51:27

4M ago51:27

51:27

Pope Leo's election garnered far more interest than usual. We are in a time of great change. People are paying attention. The Pope shapes public opinion, and people are eager to know what Pope Leo might say. I asked Peter all the most provocative political questions I could imagine. What might the Pope think about resource development, immigration,…

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#34 David Livingstone: Radical Conservatives, postmodernism, and D'Arcy McGee on Canada's Founding 1:03:35

4M ago1:03:35

1:03:35

Dr. Livingstone worries about postmodernism destroying Truth. I worry about about postmodernism destroying history as a way to understand the present. David says we need universals to resist postmoderns. I say we should fear universals lest the postmoderns inflict us with their 'values'. In this episode we resolve the debate (sort of). Thanks for w…

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178 – Revolt of the Independents with Lura Forcum 1:09:16

4M ago1:09:16

1:09:16

The 2024 presidential election witnessed a historic number of independent voters—more independents voted than Democrats and they came close to surpassing Republicans. It would seem that now is the time for those who are dissatisfied with both parties to dismantle the two-party duopoly of American government. And yet, the Republican and Democratic p…

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#33 John von Heyking on political friendship, pro-Hamas protests, and the future of Canada. 53:27

4M ago53:27

53:27

Can a country survive if we aren't united about common fundamental matters? Pro-Hamas protests block streets in Toronto. They have even forced ambulances to turn around. This has really bothered me. Aside from basic procedural solutions -- keeping a lane open for emergency vehicles or having police enforce the law -- can we solve the deeper, existe…

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#32 Mark Carney and Justin Trudeau are universalists. Donald Trump is not. What is universalism? 19:12

5M ago19:12

19:12

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Justin Trudeau are universalists. Donald Trump is a (rare) politician who, for the most part, doesn't seem to be a universalist. Universalism is an essential concept to help us understand modern politics. It's a core pillar of liberalism, but many 'conservatives' are universalists also. AI Summary Understanding Univer…

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#31 Simplifying liberalism. Start with individuals. 17:24

5M ago17:24

17:24

Go ask a professor for a simple definition of liberalism or conservatism. If they are honest, they won't give you a short answer. These terms are super complex. But we need somewhere to start. In this short segment, I offer a place to start talking about liberalism: a theory with 4 pillars. The first pillar we discuss is individualism. We will disc…

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#30 Geoff Russ -- Hope for Canada vs progressive internationalism 46:27

5M ago46:27

46:27

Geoff stands out as a new kind of writer on the non-left. He offers hope that embraces Canada's past without repudiation -- truly rare these days Thanks for listening! AI Summary Shawn interviews Geoff Russ, a Vancouver-based writer, about the evolving concept of Canadian nationalism and identity. They discuss the need for newcomers to understand t…

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177 – Dear Mr. President with Destry Edwards 56:06

5M ago56:06

56:06

Former president Chester A. Arthur is probably best remembered for his mutton chops and as a trivia question. But he did play a surprising role as a reformer when the nation was in the grips of political corruption. And the story of how he found the courage to do so holds some lessons for how we might interact with political power today in hopes of…

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#29 Grant Havers on Leo Strauss, Conservatism, and Modern Political Issues 1:02:08

5M ago1:02:08

1:02:08

This episode goes deep into the philosophy of Leo Strauss and the modern Conservative movement by looking at Professor Haver's book on Strauss and Ango-American democracy. I got too excited with the discussion and stopped paying attention to the recording quality. It's less than I would have hoped, but the content Grant shares is excellent. I offer…

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#28 Jodi Bruhn: Political Myths, the non-left voter, and COVID fallout 1:06:40

5M ago1:06:40

1:06:40

Professor Bruhn is a unique thinker. She calls herself someone of the 'non-left'. Her advocacy on indigenous issues does not rest on the more common progressive principles. I hope you enjoy the episode! AI summary: In this episode, Shawn dives into Canadian political thought with Dr. Jodi Bruhn. They explore topics such as the conservatism of Pierr…

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#27 Ted Morton: The Charter Revolution & Conservative Politics 54:57

5M ago54:57

54:57

Ted Morton offers a perspective you cannot find anywhere else in Canada. He's an academic, turned politician, returned academic from Alberta. If you want to understand Canadian politics, you simply have to spend time digging into Alberta. Ted has a great sense of humour and seems to love chatting about the thorniest political issues. He jokes that …

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#26 Another short introduction. Why would an MD bother with politics? 4:36

5M ago4:36

4:36

Our lives are shaped by the political systems in which we live. When our country starts to struggle, we need to revisit the ideas that animate the programs and structures around us. In just under 5 minutes, I explain why we need to focus on political ideas now, and why philosophical conservatism offers a (paradoxically) new and fresh way to think. …

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#25 Ginny Roth on Political Myths, Biggest Election Misses, Trump, and Canada's Future 45:29

5M ago45:29

45:29

Ginny returns to answer common Canadian myths and misconceptions, as well as offering analysis on the upcoming election. We start out with four familiar comments or questions: Is the Conservative Party uncaring, especially about people in need? Will Pierre Poilievre end up spending as much as Mark Carney? The CBC is Canadian. Isn't it a trusted sou…

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#24 Jeremy Geddert: Canadian Nationalism & George Grant 1:01:16

5M ago1:01:16

1:01:16

Canadian Conservatism, National Identity, & Critique of Post-Colonialism In this episode, Shawn interviews Professor Jeremy Geddert about George Grant, renowned Canadian philosopher and author of 'Lament for a Nation'. They delve into Grant's critique of the Laurentian elite, his perspectives on Canadian nationalism, conservatism, and his critique …

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#23 Sean Speer: High Stakes Politics & Challenges for Canada's Next Prime Minister 34:57

6M ago34:57

34:57

Sean Speer, Editor at Large at The Hub, paints a stressful (dire?) picture of what faces the next prime minister. The need to secure a stable economic and security agreement with the United States may, paradoxically, compromise the Prime Minister’s political future. They might not be able to secure an agreement that any Canadians will like. What wi…

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176 – Consuming News Responsibly 1:29:00

6M ago1:29:00

1:29:00

In this era of information overload it’s easy to join the ranks of the too online, filtering our every thought through the latest thing Trump tweeted or how the resistance is reacting. And it’s just as easy to check out entirely and pretend like the news doesn’t matter or, if it does, it’ll have to be someone else’s problem for now. Are there healt…

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#22 Preston Manning: The Origins and Impact of Canadian Populism 49:22

6M ago49:22

49:22

Preston Manning knows populism like no one else. He says Western Canada might have the most experience with populist movements and governments worldwide. United Farmers’ Associations, Social Credit, CCF, and Reform — they all shared a bottom-up, grassroots energy fuelled by frustration over disdain from elites and inattentive government. Having spe…

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#21 Dr. Arnie Lange: How to Sort Conservatism in Canada 57:36

6M ago57:36

57:36

Arney Lange has applied his medical and military mind to a structured definition of conservatism that includes 7 different types along two axes. He said there are 3rd and 4th dimensional axes also, but he didn’t want to overwhelm me with details. He has found a way to package complex ideas in a format that most high-school students could manage. Or…

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#20 Roy Eappen: Transgenderism, Mark Carney, Liberals, and the Election 41:48

6M ago41:48

41:48

Roy has spent decades inside the belly of the Big Blue beast. He knows retail Canadian conservatism as well as anyone. Not only does he attend almost every conservative political conference, event, and lecture (including CPAC in the US), he also has photos of himself standing with more world leaders than most individual world leaders can boast! Inc…