The Tom Woods Show

Jan 19 2021 37 mins

Join New York Times bestselling author Tom Woods for your daily serving of liberty education! Guests include Ron Paul, Judge Andrew Napolitano, David Stockman, and hundreds more, with topics like war, the Federal Reserve, net neutrality, the FDA, Austrian economics, and many other subjects of interest to libertarians. Join us!

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Ep. 1817 The Idea the World Needs Now
Jan 20 2021 36 mins  
Marc Victor, an important and successful libertarian lawyer, joins me to discuss how to get a divided world from wringing each other's necks. Sponsor: Press House Coffee: Take 20% off your first order when you use promo code WOODS at
Ep. 1816 Is This Really the End of Trump and Trumpism?
Jan 19 2021 46 mins  
Dan McCarthy joins me to discuss the final days of Donald Trump, including the January 6 episode, and assess what it means for the future.
Ep. 1815 The California Disaster
Jan 17 2021 19 mins  
Between the lockdowns and terrible economic policy, California -- which was once pitched as a poster child for big government -- has become unlivable for more and more people. Besides the lockdowns, I review the grim reality of the Golden State. Sponsor: Press House Coffee: Take 20% off your first order when you use promo code WOODS at
Ep. 1814 What Is the "Great Reset"?
Jan 16 2021 31 mins  
We've heard talk of something called the "Great Reset," which the COVID crisis is said to have created a perfect opportunity to implement. Some have dismissed the very idea as (what else?) a "conspiracy theory." Michael Rectenwald joins me to sort it all out.
Ep. 1813 Attorney Successfully Challenges COVID Restrictions
Jan 14 2021 40 mins  
Chris Ferrara, special counsel with the Thomas More Society, has been successful in challenging COVID restrictions on religious liberty grounds, and he joins me to discuss his work and other legal challenges to the various state restrictions.
Ep. 1812 After 2020, Challenges Entrepreneurs Face
Jan 13 2021 38 mins  
2020 was rough for a lot of businesses, for obvious reasons. And as the economy opens up in the coming months, certain behavioral patterns on the part of the public are unlikely to change. We discuss what these are, how best to adapt to them, and a good way to make your new business to make your new business Fauci-proof. Live Workshop: Register at
Ep. 1811 Even When Civilization Collapses, Read Books
Jan 12 2021 29 mins  
Here's a great discussion with Jeff Deist, president of the Mises Institute, on why it matters even in dire and desperate moments to be steeped in our important books and ideas.
Ep. 1810 The Idea of a Grand Conspiracy Is Too Optimistic
Jan 09 2021 40 mins  
Yes, there are sinister people in the world, and yes, sometimes they work together toward nefarious goals. But thinking this alone accounts for the world we live in is unfortunately naive, as Antony Sammeroff explains. Sponsor: Kratom is a natural remedy that has helped people deal with chronic pain, stress and anxiety, and to boost energy levels and focus. Try a free ounce of kratom at , courtesy of Brave Botanicals.
Ep. 1809 The Destructive Evils of Marxism
Jan 09 2021 31 mins  
Antony Sammeroff reviews some of the fallacies of Marxism, and also tackles the insistence of some Marxists that the Soviet Union and other communist regimes weren't "real communism."
Ep. 1808 Why Are People Statists?
Jan 08 2021 32 mins  
Antony Sammeroff Week continues with this discussion of the factors (educational influences only the most obvious among them) that push people toward statism and away from liberty.
Ep. 1807 The Psychology of Being a Libertarian
Jan 07 2021 28 mins  
Antony Sammeroff, who among many other things does outstanding work as a therapist, discusses the psychological factors that may account for why some of us embrace the hard truths of libertarianism and others don't. We begin with a discussion of Harry Browne's work on finding freedom in an unfree world, and noting that in the case of many libertarians (and indeed human beings), the major problems they face tend to be internal rather than external (i.e., caused by institutions like the state). Sponsor: Press House Coffee: Take 20% off your first order when you use promo code WOODS at
Ep. 1806 From Left to Libertarian: How He Did It
Jan 06 2021 30 mins  
The great Antony Sammeroff of the Scottish Liberty Podcast joins me to discuss his evolution from left-liberalism to libertarianism, and a lot more -- including the worst mistake writers (including Woods in the old days) make, and how to fix it.
Ep. 1805 COVID Debate: Martin Kulldorff and Eric Topol
Jan 04 2021 50 mins  
Two distinguished scientists join me for a discussion of the optimal public-health response to the challenges posed by COVID-19. Martin Kulldorff is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. His research centers on developing new epidemiological and statistical methods for the early detection and monitoring of infectious disease outbreaks and for post-market drug and vaccine safety surveillance. Eric Topol is a Professor of Molecular Medicine at Scripps Research, founder and director of its Translational Research Institute, a practicing physician, and one of the top 10 cited medical researchers.
Ep. 1804 Saying Goodbye to 2020, Woods Edition
Jan 01 2021 25 mins  
Rather than a detailed year in review (really, who needs that for 2020?), I look back on a few genuine highlights of the year, as well as my experiences in states at various stages of reopening, and what I've done to maintain a modicum of sanity during crazy times. Sponsor: Kratom is a natural remedy that has helped people deal with chronic pain, stress and anxiety, and to boost energy levels and focus. Try a free ounce of kratom at , courtesy of Brave Botanicals.
Ep. 1803 Small Farms, the State, the Market, and You
Dec 31 2020 35 mins  
Longtime food freedom activist Max Kane is developing a market-based approach to getting fresh local food conveniently into the hands of ordinary Americans. We discuss his FarmMatch.com network, as well as the role of regulation in privileging some agricultural interests at the expense of others.
Ep. 1802 Jeff Deist on the 2020 Fiasco, and Whether There's a Case for Hope
Dec 24 2020 48 mins  
Mises Institute president Jeff Deist joins us for an end-of-year wrapup, surveying the wreckage of 2020, and then rising to the occasion when I ask him if there's reason to be hopeful. Sponsor: Kratom is a natural remedy that has helped people deal with chronic pain, stress and anxiety, and to boost energy levels and focus. Try a free ounce of kratom at , courtesy of Brave Botanicals.
Ep. 1801 The Ongoing Public Health Failure, with Jennifer Cabrera
Dec 23 2020 42 mins  
Jennifer Cabrera joins me to review some new mask research, and assess the interventions that everyone is supposed to pretend are working.
Ep. 1800 The War on Business, and How to Fight Back
Dec 20 2020 31 mins  
Anastasia Boden of the Pacific Legal Foundation joins me to discuss the fight against unjust laws and regulations that privilege some businesses at the expense of others, or that simply punish business, period. Sponsor: Press House Coffee: Take 20% off your first order when you use promo code WOODS at
Ep. 1799 John Mackey on Elevating Humanity Through Business
Dec 19 2020 37 mins  
Whole Foods CEO John Mackey joins us to discuss his new book Conscious Leadership: Elevating Humanity Through Business.
Ep. 1798 Ivor Cummins on Neglected COVID Truths
Dec 18 2020 48 mins  
Ivor Cummins, who has devoted years to the study of the root causes of modern chronic disease, has been one of the best commentators and number crunchers on COVID-19.
Ep. 1797 Demonized for Wrongthink on Masks and Other Topics, Professor Confronts His Accusers
Dec 17 2020 51 mins  
New York University's Mark Crispin Miller returns to the show to discuss the ordeal he's been enduring for wrongthink -- don't let students hear both sides of the mask controversy! -- and how he plans to fight back.
Ep. 1796 Business Owner Refuses to Close, Confronts Enforcers
Dec 16 2020 32 mins  
Andrew Cooperrider, owner of the Brewed coffee shop in Lexington, Kentucky, refused to close his establishment in defiance of the governor's orders. He shares his story, and his message, in this episode.
Ep. 1795 California Legislator Defeats Newsom in Court
Dec 12 2020 33 mins  
California Legislator Kevin Kiley, along with colleague Rep. James Gallagher, successfully sued the governor of California on behalf of the powers of the legislature against an executive run completely amok. Sponsor: Give your friends and family the gift that keeps on giving: a Roaster's Choice subscription from Press House, the official coffee of the Tom Woods Show. Every month they get a wonderful new coffee to try. Take 20% off your first order when you use promo code WOODS at
Ep. 1794 Since We're Losing, We Need a New Strategy
Dec 11 2020 36 mins  
Tom Mullen and Bryan Siemon join me to discuss Tom's new song and music video "Invisible Hand," as well as the most effective ways to reach people with our ideas and whether we ought to be discouraged and cynical in 2020.
Ep. 1793 Michael Malice and Tom on Writing and Publishing Books
Dec 09 2020 46 mins  
Author and podcaster Michael Malice joins me for a behind-the-scenes discussion of how we write our books and get them published. Even if you have no interest in writing a book -- and that's surely the case for 99% of people listening -- I guarantee you'll find this entertaining.
Ep. 1792 Stanford's Jay Bhattacharya on the Lockdown Fiasco
Dec 08 2020 41 mins  
Jay Bhattacharya (MD, PhD, Stanford) is a professor of medicine at Stanford University who has been working both on the epidemiology of COVID-19 as well as the appropriate policy response. He is a co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, which advocates "focused protection" of the vulnerable over lockdowns, which it describes as having had "devastating short- and long-term effects on public health." We talk about apparent lockdown success stories, whether we should bit the bullet and lock down now because vaccines are on the way, how to account for why open states are often outperforming hard-lockdown states, what his assessment of Dr. Fauci is, and much more.
Ep. 1791 Walter Williams, Hero of Liberty, RIP
Dec 05 2020 31 mins  
Walter Williams, the brilliant economist and syndicated columnist, died this week. With Thomas Sowell he hammered away for decades against the myths about race and economics peddled by the mainstream and by alleged civil-rights organizations. He had enormous influence on a great many people through his books, columns, and public addresses. Tom DiLorenzo, Walter's former colleague, joins me to pay tribute and to discuss the man's ideas.
Ep. 1790 How We're Pushing Back Against the Feds in 2021
Dec 04 2020 31 mins  
Michael Boldin, founder and executive director of the Tenth Amendment Center, joins me to discuss ways states have resisted federal overreach in the recent past and what they might do in the future.
Ep. 1789 How Historical Events, More Than Books, Convert People to Libertarianism
Dec 03 2020 24 mins  
Although plenty of people are dedicated to the official narrative about COVID, plenty of others recognize the damages of lockdown and the bizarre hysteria that's driven the whole campaign. Some people will never look at the world, or the state, the same way again. So, encouraged by a suggestion inside my private group, I wondered: what were the events in my own life, the turning points, that steered me to the way I think now? Sponsor: Kratom is a natural remedy that has helped people deal with chronic pain, stress and anxiety, and to boost energy levels and focus. Try a free ounce of kratom , courtesy of Brave Botanicals.
Ep. 1788 Face Masks in One Lesson
Dec 02 2020 32 mins  
Allan Stevo discusses the controversy over universal masking, and recommends strategies for living normally. Sponsor: Give your friends and family the gift that keeps on giving: a Roaster's Choice subscription from Press House, the official coffee of the Tom Woods Show. Every month they get a wonderful new coffee to try. Take 20% off your first order when you use promo code WOODS at
Ep. 1787 Actor Rob Schneider on Free Speech, Politics, and Comedy
Dec 01 2020 47 mins  
Rob Schneider has had a long career in film and television since becoming a household name with his sketch comedy on Saturday Night Live. He joins me to discuss free speech, politics, and comedy. Sponsor: This Christmas, get that man in your life a gift that's both personal and practical: a beautiful Harry's Holiday Shave Set. New customers can take $5 and get free shipping at
Ep. 1786 What I Told State Legislators About COVID
Nov 27 2020 40 mins  
Here is the audio of the remarks I delivered on November 20 to a room of about 100 state legislators from around the country. My aim was twofold: to smash the now-laughable narrative about the virus, and to urge these men and women to go home and be the voices of the voiceless.
Ep. 1785 Debate: David Stockman v. Walter Block on Libertarian Electoral Strategy
Nov 26 2020 64 mins  
David Stockman, who served as director of the Office of Management and Budget under Ronald Reagan, strongly opposed the re-election of Donald Trump -- not on NeverTrump grounds, but because Stockman favors sound money and fiscal rectitude. Walter Block, probably the most prolific academic libertarian in the world, thinks Trump needs to be compared to the likely alternative. Today they hash it out.
Ep. 1784 Postmodernism Debate: Russell v. Rectenwald
Nov 25 2020 67 mins  
Two academics known for their positions on postmodernism, Thaddeus Russell and Michael Rectenwald, join me to hash it out.
Ep. 1783 Can We Actually Win? Yes, and Here's How
Nov 25 2020 38 mins  
Cliff Maloney, who served as an intern for Ron Paul, is now president of Young Americans for Liberty. He joins me to discuss how his organization managed to elect over 120 state-level candidates across the country, and what this means for the future.
Ep. 1782 Facebook Fact Checks Me, Repeats COVID Doom Propaganda
Nov 24 2020 31 mins  
I guess it was bound to happen eventually: Facebook did a "fact check" on one of my videos. And they don't just refer people to a generic article on how super lockdowns and masks are supposed to be. It's a point-by-point response to my specific video. Flattering, in a perverse way. In this episode I fact-check the fact checkers.
Ep. 1781 What Do the Next Four Years Have in Store?
Nov 21 2020 31 mins  
In this episode I discuss with the Mises Institute's Jeff Deist and the Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity's Daniel McAdams What the next four years are likely to have in store for us, and what the right approach for us should be in the years ahead.
Ep. 1780 Entertainer Dissents From Industry, Demands Liberty
Nov 20 2020 53 mins  
Jon Schaffer is lead vocalist for the metal band Iced Earth, and co-founder, with Blind Guardian's Hansi Kürsch, of Demons & Wizards. He's also been a Ron Paul supporter and recently endorsed the Libertarian candidate for governor of Indiana. We talk politics, society, music, and the future.
Ep. 1779 Lockdowns on Trial
Nov 19 2020 34 mins  
Michael Betrus joins me to discuss his self-explanatory work "COVID-19: Lockdowns on Trial". It's thorough and crushing.
Ep. 1778 Media Targets COVID Dissidents
Nov 18 2020 35 mins  
To put it mildly, the mainstream media has not exactly distinguished itself during the COVID crisis. Wild, gruesome predictions that never panned out have rarely been noted or corrected. In the UK, the average person thinks the number of deaths is literally 100 times greater than it actually is. Collateral damage from lockdowns is hardly mentioned. That's why we've had to depend on more independent voices for the fuller truth. Within the past several days to such voices have come under attack, And in today's episode we speak to Jennifer Cabrera, one of those two.
Ep. 1777 Charity Without the Welfare State: Libertarians Who Put Theory Into Action
Nov 17 2020 29 mins  
Libertarians are fond of arguing that in a free society people's needs would be met through voluntary action. Well, amidst all the depressing news of 2020, here's a bright light: an amazing group of libertarians who have taken it upon themselves to show the world that this isn't just a quaint theory.
Ep. 1776 The Libertarian Party After 2020, With Angela McArdle
Nov 14 2020 30 mins  
Angela McArdle, who chairs the Libertarian Party of Los Angeles County, joins me to discuss the Jo Jorgensen campaign (what went right and what went wrong), gains the party has made, and where it should be going.
Ep. 1775 The COVID Cult
Nov 13 2020 22 mins  
In these 20 minutes I stuff as much reality about the virus and the barbaric government response as it's humanly possible to include. I delivered these remarks at the Ron Paul symposium in Angleton, Texas, on November 7.
Ep. 1774 Maybe Libertarians Have to Be Political After All
Nov 12 2020 42 mins  
I've been lethargic about politics for a long time, and I understand who so many people (myself included) have considered it a waste of time. But with one side in particular planning so many evil things, and in the face of the barbaric lockdowns, should I rethink this? Tho Bishop joins me.
Ep. 1773 There Are Only Two Genders, and Other Things You Can't Say in America
Nov 11 2020 28 mins  
Debra Soh joins me to discuss whether gender is a "spectrum," whether children should "transition," whether gender is a "social construct," and more.
Ep. 1772 How Bad Ideas Are Killing Common Sense and Rational Debate
Nov 10 2020 37 mins  
Gad Saad returns to discuss his new book The Parasitic Mind: How Infectious Ideas Are Killing Common Sense.
Ep. 1771 Michael Rectenwald on the American Dystopia
Nov 07 2020 29 mins  
Marxist turned classical liberal Michael Rectenwald joins me to discuss some of the dystopian features of 2020 America as we explore themes from his new novel, "Thought Criminal".
Ep. 1770 Screw Politics and Protect Yourself
Nov 06 2020 26 mins  
With the election fiasco still ongoing, I've deliberately chosen a non-political -- maybe even anti-political -- topic for today, with Joel Bein of Crash: strategies to follow to get ahead in your career and get the job you want. Even if you're not looking for a change, this episode is still for you: it can help your kids, your friends, or your family.
Ep. 1769 Trump v. Biden: What Happened
Nov 04 2020 43 mins  
Like him or hate him, Donald Trump somehow withstood an unprecedented onslaught from the media, the entertainment world, the "intelligence" community, the foreign-policy establishment, politicized medicine, academia, and woke corporations. It is a truly astonishing phenomenon. Dan McCarthy and Roger McCaffrey join me for analysis.
Ep. 1768 Why Don't More People Want to Live? And Other Important Questions
Nov 04 2020 32 mins  
Jordan Schachtel is an independent journalist who's done excellent work on the COVID fiasco from the beginning. We explore the whole bizarre affair, one aspect at a time.
Ep. 1767 Epidemiologist Favors Mostly Normal Life, So the Crazies Hate Her
Nov 02 2020 24 mins  
Oxford's Sunetra Gupta has been called the world's premier infectious disease epidemiologist, but that hasn't stopped people who disagree with her from all kinds of wild, unprofessional attacks on her. She believes young and healthy people should be allowed to resume their lives more or less as normal, and that any other approach is detrimental to health and is actually far less effective against the virus. I discuss what's happened to her, and her brilliant and brave response.
Ep. 1766 Report from the UK: Restrictions and Panic
Oct 31 2020 36 mins  
The great Dominic Frisby joins us for an update on what's happening in the UK, where the authorities say the police will be used to break up Christmas dinners.
Ep. 1765 The PCR Testing Fiasco
Oct 30 2020 34 mins  
Kevin McKernan joins me to discuss the problems with PCR testing during the pandemic, and why they're yielding results that are, to say the least, unhelpful.
Ep. 1764 Resistance, the American Way
Oct 29 2020 26 mins  
In the first half of this episode I play the full, extended interview I did for Pete Quinones' great documentary The Monopoly on Violence. He asked me to discuss state nullification of unconstitutional federal laws, and issues related to that. In the second half of the episode I can't help adding some current COVID news I think you'll find interesting. Sponsor: BitTrust IRA helps you seamlessly and securely add cryptocurrency to your portfolio. It stores your private keys in nuclear bunkers with military grade encryption. They have a 24/7 trading platform with no minimum investments and unlimited trades, and the lowest trading fees in the industry. Tom Woods Show listeners get the $50 activation fee waived at:
Ep. 1763 The State's War on Cars
Oct 28 2020 40 mins  
The great Eric Peters returns for an update on the ongoing war on cars, the various forms it takes, and how it affects you.
Ep. 1762 No, Consumer Spending Isn't What Drives the Economy
Oct 27 2020 36 mins  
Investor and FreedomFest creator Mark Skousen joins me to discuss the economy, and particularly the common error of thinking that "consumer spending" drives the economy.
Ep. 1761 Trump vs. Biden: The Final Debate
Oct 23 2020 35 mins  
Lew Rockwell joins me for our final debate analysis episode of the 2020 election cycle!
Ep. 1760 Heterodox Leftist Opposes Lockdown and Democratic Establishment
Oct 23 2020 66 mins  
I got to know Professor Michael Crispin Miller when he wrote to tell me how much he enjoyed my remarks at the Mises Institute's Jekyll Island conference on the lockdowns and the rest of the disastrous government response to COVID. When I found out, first, that he'd been targeted in the classroom for proposing that students consider more than one point of view on the subject of masks, and second, that he's an interesting leftist who opposes the lizard people as much as you and I do. I knew we would have an interesting discussion -- and not just about COVID -- and I was right.
Ep. 1759 Me vs. Academia
Oct 22 2020 122 mins  
Ol' Woods here has always had views a teensy bit different from the academic mainstream, so in today's episode we start off with some reminiscences from the Columbia University history department, where I received my Ph.D. From there it's on to every topic under the sun, in a great discussion with Thaddeus Russell. This episode originally appeared as an episode of the Unregistered podcast with Thaddeus Russell. Special Offer from Thaddeus Russell: Take 25% off course bundles at Renegade University by Scott Horton and Thad himself at:
Ep. 1758 The Lockdowners' Crimes Against Humanity
Oct 21 2020 32 mins  
Nick Hudson created PANDA -- Pandemics Data & Analytics -- as a conduit for rational, data-driven analysis of COVID-19, and to examine the human and economic toll of extended lockdowns.
Ep. 1757 The COVID Economy, and the COVID Restrictions: Present and Future
Oct 20 2020 57 mins  
The great Gene Epstein joins me for a review of where the US economy stands now and where it's going, with COVID and the restrictions in the background, and then we proceed to a discussion of the virus and the state response that is classic Gene.
Ep. 1756 The COVID Mask Controversy
Oct 17 2020 33 mins  
Masks have become central to the response to COVID-19, and a great deal of acrimony has developed between people who favor and oppose masks. After the New England Journal of Medicine argued that their effectiveness was minimal, a great deal of controversy emerged regarding what "the science" truly had to say on the subject. Hence this episode.
Ep. 1755 Indoctrination Monopoly Lashes Out at Libertarian Educators
Oct 16 2020 28 mins  
The popular libertarian children's book series caught the attention of Current Affairs, which is not at all happy that children are being exposed to libertarian ideas. "Why, this is indoctrination!" say the masters of indoctrination.
Ep. 1754 The 45 Minutes Your Undecided COVID Friends Need to Hear
Oct 14 2020 49 mins  
This is the single best presentation I've made on COVID and the government response. I genuinely do not see how someone can hear this information and continue along in support of lockdowns and the destruction of society. Here are all the arguments in one place. Enjoy.
Ep. 1753 The Price of Panic: How the Tyranny of Experts Turned a Pandemic Into a Catastrophe
Oct 14 2020 38 mins  
Jay Richards joins me to discuss the first book to hit the shelves on COVID and the lockdowns, and it's a ten-megaton bomb against the propagandists.
Ep. 1752 Freedom Cells: Finally, Something Practical Libertarians Can Do to Live Freer
Oct 10 2020 33 mins  
Longtime liberty activist John Bush joins me to discuss his Freedom Cells strategy, already in effect and growing, to allow libertarians to live and flourish with as little state involvement as possible.
Ep. 1751 Pence v. Harris: What Happened
Oct 08 2020 48 mins  
Dan McCarthy joins me for a rather lively overview and analysis of last night's vice presidential debate.
Ep. 1750 Rational COVID Reporter vs. the Lockdowners
Oct 07 2020 43 mins  
Jennifer Cabrera has done very important work compiling overlooked data on COVID, and has been one of the top voices I myself have consulted to stay sane during these crazy times. One of my favorite episodes of the past few months. - Be one of the first 1000 people at and get a free trial of Skillshare Premium Membership!
Ep. 1749 The Non-Hysterics Just Asserted Themselves
Oct 07 2020 26 mins  
Scientists from Oxford, Harvard, and Stanford just released a declaration against lockdowns as a strategy and for the resumption of normal life, particularly for younger people -- and that means sports, music, the arts, everything.
Ep. 1748 The Unknown History of States Defying the Feds
Oct 06 2020 71 mins  
If a President Biden where to try to shut the country down, as he has said he would, it would be necessary for the rational states to recall the powers they once had to protect their people from the federal government. In this episode I discuss the forgotten history of states doing precisely that.
Ep. 1747 Ex-Marxist Exposes Postmodernism, Critical Theory, and Cultural Studies
Oct 03 2020 32 mins  
Michael Rectenwald, whose life was made miserable to impossible at New York University after he began to dissent from the social justice orthodoxy, just created a full-blown course on postmodernism, critical theory, and cultural studies, and their implications for liberty. In today’s episode we cover all of these topics. How to Get Michael's Course:
Ep. 1746 Can Anarchism and Conservatism Teach Each Other?
Oct 02 2020 43 mins  
Dan McCarthy, editor of Modern Age, is a traditional conservative who has great sympathy for and is widely read in Rothbardian anarcho-capitalism. We have a meeting of the minds in today’s episode.
Ep. 1745 Lew Rockwell and Tom on the First Trump/Biden Debate
Sep 30 2020 31 mins  
Lew Rockwell joins me for our traditional post-debate episode!
Ep. 1744 Doing Business in an Age of Shutdowns, with CEO Donald Wilson
Sep 30 2020 33 mins  
Donald Wilson is the CEO of GearBubble, the platform I’ll be using to offer Tom Woods Show merchandise, and where over 150,000 people sell print-on-demand products like phone cases, mugs, and T-shirts. We discuss everything from his inauspicious start – he sold a single product the day he launched – to his current numbers (GearBubble has now done over $100 million in sales), as well as what it’s been like running a physical-product business during these months of shutdowns, and how sellers running their own stores on his platform have been more insulated from shutdowns than the traditional brick-and-mortar variety. How to Build an Online Store:
Ep. 1743 Lockdowns Are Crushing the Developing World
Sep 29 2020 29 mins  
Gret Glyer is the creator of DonorSee, the extraordinary philanthropy app. He lived in Malawi for three years and is well informed about the challenges facing the developing world. From the beginning he warned that lockdowns would cause net devastation in these societies, and that’s what he joins me to discuss today.
Ep. 1742 University Life in America: An Eyewitness Report
Sep 26 2020 33 mins  
TJ Roberts, a law student who recently finished his undergraduate studies, gives us a no-holds-barred glimpse into modern university life. And as you might expect, it ain't pretty.
Ep. 1741 Harvard Medical School Prof. Martin Kulldorff: Lockdowns Not the Answer
Sep 24 2020 33 mins  
Martin Kulldorff is a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and is a biostatistician and epidemiologist whose research centers on the early detection and monitoring of infectious disease outbreaks. He has opposed lockdowns from the very beginning of the COVID crisis.
Ep. 1740 The Post-Ginsburg Supreme Court, with Kevin Gutzman
Sep 24 2020 38 mins  
Ruth Bader Ginsburg fought for what she believed in -- which is precisely what made her an atrocious Supreme Court justice. Historian and legal scholar Kevin Gutzman joins me to discuss her legacy and our future.
Ep. 1739 The Meme Policeman on How to Smash Low-IQ Propaganda
Sep 23 2020 33 mins  
Ryan Wood, otherwise known as the "Meme Policeman," joins me to discuss his demolition of the low-IQ memes we all see circulating on social media.
Ep. 1738 The Anti-Lockdown Side Is Growing
Sep 22 2020 28 mins  
Now even the political left, which should have opposed the lockdowns from the beginning, is speaking out against lockdowns, as we can see in an important piece that appeared in Jacobin magazine. Legendary recording artist Van Morrison, meanwhile, is urging his fellow performers to join him in speaking out against the inhuman lockdowns that are depriving people of what it means to be human.
Ep. 1737 Bob Murphy on How Money Works, and Against MMT
Sep 19 2020 34 mins  
The great economist Bob Murphy joins me to overturn misconceptions about money, including the particular misunderstanding popular among Bernie Sanders supporters.
Ep. 1736 Little-Known Presidential Power Grabs
Sep 18 2020 50 mins  
Here's an episode's worth of material that I venture to guess no high school student learned in history class, and which pays particular attention to how presidents have grabbed war powers for themselves that they were never intended to have. This episode covers just over 120 years of history, beginning with President McKinley's response to the Boxer Rebellion.
Ep. 1735 Dave Rubin on How Political Disagreement Became Semi-Warfare
Sep 16 2020 31 mins  
Dave Rubin, host of the popular Rubin Report, joins me to discuss the phenomenon whereby vigorous debate has degenerated into warring camps.
Ep. 1734 Labor Needs a Free Market, and Other Libertarian Lessons
Sep 16 2020 32 mins  
Sheldon Richman returns to continue our discussion of topics from his new book, What Social Animals Owe to Each Other.
Ep. 1733 Phil Labonte on the Fate of Music During Lockdown
Sep 15 2020 39 mins  
Phil Labonte, vocalist for the metal band All That Remains, joins me to discuss the difficulties facing performers during the age of COVID restrictions.
Ep. 1732 The Truth About Kyle Rittenhouse
Sep 12 2020 37 mins  
Opinion has been sharply divided about Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old who killed two protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in what many say was an act of self-defense. In this episode I'm joined by Kristan Harris, the man whose footage from that night has become the standard footage used in the mainstream media.
Ep. 1731 Well, Well, Well: Look Who's (Kind of) Libertarian
Sep 11 2020 33 mins  
Russell Kirk, one of the founding intellectuals of postwar American conservatism, was often contemptuous of libertarians. But when it came to economics, it turns out that he was rather a libertarian himself.
Ep. 1730 Jeff Deist on Silver Linings from the COVID Dystopia
Sep 10 2020 44 mins  
The COVID lockdowns and restrictions are terrible and inexcusable and dystopian, without a doubt. Yet might there be some weird silver linings here? Jeff Deist explains.
Ep. 1729 Libertarianism: A Necessary Review of the Foundations
Sep 09 2020 31 mins  
Sheldon Richman joins me to discuss some of the first principles we defend as libertarians, where they come from, and why we defend them.
Ep. 1728 How the Presidency Got So Powerful
Sep 05 2020 57 mins  
In this episode I trace important developments in the history of the U.S. presidency that helped to transform it into the powerful office it is now.
Ep. 1727 Do Conservatives Have Important Things to Tell the World?
Sep 05 2020 37 mins  
Hillsdale College professor and prize-winning author Brad Birzer joins me to discuss the neglected but important Robert Nisbet, and we have an interesting back-and-forth about his principles for conservatives.
Ep. 1726 Conservatism in the Age of Trump
Sep 04 2020 32 mins  
Paul Gottfried joins me to discuss cancel culture (on both left and right) as well as the composition of the official conservative movement after nearly four years of a Trump presidency, and quite a bit more. Sponsor: BetterHelp offers professional counseling online at affordable prices. Get matched with your own licensed, professional therapist, to whom you can send a message anytime (and get timely responses), and have weekly video or phone sessions. Take 10% off your first month at
Ep. 1725 Can Trump Win?
Sep 02 2020 32 mins  
Daniel McCarthy, editor of the venerable Modern Age, joins me to discuss recent events, including the President's convention speech, and assess the probability of four more years of Trump.
Ep. 1724 Postmodernism, Critical Theory, and What's Wrong With (Much of) Academia
Sep 01 2020 47 mins  
James Lindsay joins me to discuss postmodernism, critical theory, and the various fields -- like "queer studies", "disabled studies", and the like -- that have made academia into a minefield of untouchable orthodoxies.
Ep. 1723 Ever Thought About Fleeing the U.S.?
Aug 30 2020 32 mins  
I sure hadn't, until recently. Two immigration lawyers join me today to discuss Americans' options when it comes to moving somewhere else and in particular getting dual citizenship. Sponsor: offers instruction in digital photography from a 20-year professional, and suitable for people ages 13 and up. Great for homeschoolers, and for anyone. Get personal feedback on your uploaded homework and build your own portfolio. Get 20% off all courses through the end of September at:
Ep. 1722 Are There Shutdown-Proof Businesses?
Aug 29 2020 43 mins  
Mark Ling has been a serial product creator and entrepreneur since age 20. He's co-founder of the Rocket Languages foreign-language instruction program, which I've promoted for years and which is featured in 50,000 libraries around the world. Every business he's created can be run from his computer, and is immune to government shutdowns. Mark walks us through his own history as well as steps and models that work in 2020. Link Mentioned:
Ep. 1721 Eating Meat: A Nutritional, Environmental, and Ethical Defense
Aug 27 2020 36 mins  
New York Times bestselling author and former research biochemist Robb Wolf joins me to make the nutritional, environmental, and ethical case for eating meat.
Ep. 1720 Newly Elected Libertarian Party Chair
Aug 26 2020 33 mins  
Joe Bishop-Henchman was recently elected chair of the Libertarian National Committee. We talk about his background, his vision for the party, and how divisions in the party might be healed. Sponsor: , with their gum and lozenges, is an excellent way to stop smoking. Take 20% off any of their products when you use promo code WOODS at:
Ep. 1719 The Colonial Origins of American Liberty
Aug 25 2020 57 mins  
The traditions and principles behind American liberty extend well beyond the Constitution or the War for Independence, and indeed can be found deep within the colonial experience. Here's a review of this forgotten part of the story.
Ep. 1718 Woods Public Speaking and Persuasion Secrets
Aug 21 2020 48 mins  
I talk about what I've learned over the course of my 25-year public speaking career, in the form of tips for would-be and/or nervous public speakers. Even if you're never going to give a presentation in front of an audience, you may well benefit from my approach to persuasion.
Ep. 1717 The Origins of Gun Rights, and the Problem With Wimpy Christians
Aug 20 2020 42 mins  
John Zmirak argues that gun rights can be justified both through natural law and via Christian arguments, and that mainline churches deploring the "gun lobby" hold their own tradition in contempt. Sponsor:
Ep. 1716 Michael Malice: Is Everything in Decline, or Is There Legitimate Hope?
Aug 19 2020 47 mins  
Generation after generation, we hear lamentations of decline and certain doom -- from both left and right. There's plenty to be concerned about, to be sure, but is this the correct way to assess the present, or are we being myopic? Sponsor: Press House Coffee, the official coffee of the Tom Woods Show, is the most delicious I've ever tasted. You can get that classic diner coffee you love, but you can also get delicious flavors -- and it's not the usual add-a-chemical kind of "flavored" coffee, but real coffees blended to create amazing results. Take 20% off your first order with coupon code WOODS at
Ep. 1715 Libertarians and Social Anxiety
Aug 18 2020 41 mins  
The great Antony Sammeroff, author of Universal Basic Income: For and Against, joins us to discuss the other work he does, helping people live the best lives they can. One area in which he's helped people involves social anxiety, and he joins us for tips on how to navigate a room full of strangers, or the dating scene, or other potentially awkward situations.
Ep. 1714 Patriarchy, Toxic Masculinity, Rape Culture, and Other Things That Aren't Real
Aug 18 2020 39 mins  
Gerard Casey joins me to discuss some of the buzzwords of modern feminism (like "patriarchy" and "toxic masculinity") as well as "rape culture" and the #MeToo movement.
Ep. 1713 The Lesson About Society That Nobody Understands
Aug 15 2020 26 mins  
Economics in One Lesson is one of the books virtually everyone recommends for beginners, and for good reason. I elaborate on some of the ideas explained in this important book -- which, in its fundamentals, is really about how best we can all live together in peace.
Ep. 1712 Time to De-Demonize Fossil Fuels
Aug 15 2020 31 mins  
Alex Epstein returns to discuss the moral and economic rights and wrongs of energy policy, and how people who truly care about human flourishing should think about fossil fuels, climate change, and more.
Ep. 1711 Rep. Thomas Massie Against the Fact-Free COVID-19 Hysterics
Aug 14 2020 43 mins  
Thomas Massie, U.S. Congressman from Kentucky, joins me to discuss the correct, non-hysterical response to COVID-19, along with electric cars, crazy spending bills, and standing alone against the media establishment and both major political parties.
Ep. 1710 David Stockman and Gene Epstein on Economic Prospects in the Age of COVID
Aug 12 2020 49 mins  
David Stockman, who served as OMB director under Ronald Reagan, joins Gene Epstein, formerly of Barron's, to discuss where the economy is right now and where it's going. Gene is more optimistic than David, and a spirited exchange ensues.
Ep. 1709 Scott Horton and Tom Woods on Government Police
Aug 11 2020 35 mins  
Scott Horton and I talk about the problems with the police and the insights libertarians have into the solution.
Ep. 1708 The Questions Everyone Wants to Ask Me, Answered
Aug 08 2020 66 mins  
I joined Pete Quinones of the for a freewheeling Ask Me Anything session -- the first time I've ever done one. We covered all kinds of topics, from optimism/pessimism to social media bias (and the quickest way to fix it) to self-improvement and more.
Ep. 1707 When Neocons Attack: Bolton-Linked PAC Targets Libertarian
Aug 07 2020 26 mins  
Former Maine state senator Eric Brakey discusses his GOP primary race for U.S. Congress in Maine, where a John Bolton-linked PAC dumped a pile of money into an effort to damage his name (particularly because of his foreign-policy views). We then discuss Young Americans for Liberty, the successor organization to Students for Ron Paul, and the successes it's been having under president Cliff Maloney.
Ep. 1706 Lockdowns, Masks, and the Virus
Aug 05 2020 24 mins  
In this episode I look at some examples and counterexamples of countries with lockdowns and mask mandates, and see if simple connections can be made.
Ep. 1705 Trump's Foreign Policy: Promises and Results
Aug 05 2020 31 mins  
Has Trump lived up to expectations that he might roll back some of the U.S. government's foreign intervention? Zach Weissmueller joins me to discuss.
Ep. 1704 Stubborn, Wealth-Destroying Economic Myths Smashed
Aug 01 2020 46 mins  
In this free-flowing discussion I cover a bunch of economic myths and misconceptions that have hounded the human race to this day.
Ep. 1703 The Dystopian Schools of COVID, and What Parents Can Do Instead
Jul 31 2020 25 mins  
With masks, "social distancing," and even more regimentation than usual in store for children this fall, parents are wondering what to do. In this episode, I present them with a pretty good option.
Ep. 1702 The Woods Life Advice You Need
Jul 30 2020 48 mins  
One of the most enjoyable (for me, at least) presentations I've ever given is shared in this episode, which recounts valuable life lessons I've accumulated over my nearly 48 years. I solemnly promise you will not regret listening to this one.
Ep. 1701 Smashing the Duopoly
Jul 29 2020 23 mins  
Martha Bueno, vice chair of the Libertarian Party of Miami Dade County, discusses the various ways the major parties give themselves advantages over upstarts, and offers a strategy for reversing it.
Ep. 1700 Hmm, Maybe the Media Has a Double Standard!
Jul 28 2020 29 mins  
With Nathan Sandmann having settled his defamation suit with the Washington Post, it's an opportune moment to review what the media did to the Covington Catholic High School students last year, and why their attempted destruction of these kids isn't an isolated incident.
Ep. 1699 Left-Liberals Are the Source of Everything Good?
Jul 25 2020 33 mins  
A chart comparing conservatives and liberals appeared in a California high school class, and it seemed like a good jumping-off point for an episode. You'll never guess: conservatives are caricatured, and liberals are presented as the obviously decent choice everyone must embrace.
Ep. 1698 The Fact-Free Lockdown Hysteria
Jul 24 2020 55 mins  
In this episode I summarize the claims of the pro-lockdown side and conclude by considering what life is all about, after all, and whether mere biological existence truly qualifies.
Ep. 1697 Michael Malice on Trump, Systemic Racism, and the Destruction of New York
Jul 23 2020 39 mins  
Michael Malice joins me for a discussion of current events, including the condition of New York in the age of COVID, new poll results showing how racist Americans think their country is, and what Trump's prospects are in November.
Ep. 1696 How Revolutionary Ideologies Mimic Christianity: A Case Study
Jul 22 2020 37 mins  
John Zmirak, senior editor at The Stream, joins me to discuss the weird ways leftist political ideologies (wittingly or otherwise) appropriate Christian ideas. Sponsor:
Ep. 1695 The Source of Economic Ups and Downs
Jul 21 2020 26 mins  
Professor Jonathan Newman joins me to review the role of the Federal Reserve in creating economic discoordination and chaos -- the opposite of what its defenders claim it does.
Ep. 1694 Angela McArdle: Report on the Libertarian Convention
Jul 18 2020 32 mins  
The Libertarian Party held its convention in Orlando last week, and plenty of things happened that will be of interest to Tom Woods Show listeners, even if not all are members of the LP. Check it out!
Ep. 1693 Adam Curry on "Cancel Culture," Podcasting, and Music
Jul 17 2020 42 mins  
Adam Curry, whose career in entertainment includes years as an MTV VJ, co-hosts the No Agenda podcast and was a pioneer in podcasting himself. The way he and co-host John Dvorak finance the podcast is fascinating and unique -- and it also happens to shield them from so-called "cancel culture," another topic we discuss. Not one to be skipped!
Ep. 1692 Markets and Environmental Protection (Plus, How the Virus Will Affect Education)
Jul 16 2020 35 mins  
Timothy Terrell of Wofford College joins me to discuss the misconception that environmental damage is a case of "market failure," and the real driving force behind environmental improvements. We begin with a brief discussion of college and secondary-school education in light of the virus.
Ep. 1691 The Pentagon vs. the Economy
Jul 13 2020 27 mins  
The warfare state deforms the economy in ways most Americans don't realize. I discussed the topic in this episode with Scott Horton.
Ep. 1690 Dave Smith on the Present Insanity
Jul 10 2020 43 mins  
Comedian and podcaster Dave Smith joins me for a review of what's been happening in the world, including media atrocities, school so-called reopenings, and why no president can "unify the country."
Ep. 1689 Scott Horton on the "Russian Bounties" Story
Jul 09 2020 45 mins  
Scott Horton joins us to discuss whether we have reason to believe that the Russians placed "bounties" on the heads of American troops in Afghanistan, and also to review recent U.S. policy toward Russia.
Ep. 1688 The Problem with Lincoln?
Jul 08 2020 34 mins  
Tom DiLorenzo, recently retired as a professor at Loyola University Maryland, joins us to discuss a side of Abraham Lincoln most Americans have never heard. Sponsor: With thousands of five-star reviews, Hydrant is a delicious and refreshing way to get and stay hydrated. Take 25% off your first order when you use code WOODS at
Ep. 1687 Apocalypse Never: Why Environmental Alarmism Hurts Us All
Jul 07 2020 31 mins  
Michael Shellenberger joins me to discuss his new book, .
Ep. 1686 The Real Meaning of Independence Day, with Kevin Gutzman
Jul 03 2020 39 mins  
What is Independence Day really all about? Certainly more than just the sleep-inducing "no taxation without representation." James Madison biographer Kevin Gutzman joins me for the real story. Plus: why you shouldn't pull down statues of George Washington.
Ep. 1685 The Mob Claims Another One
Jul 02 2020 39 mins  
Steve Hsu is professor of theoretical physics at Michigan State University. Until recently, he was vice president for research and graduate studies. Despite over 1000 letters on his behalf including from top academics like Harvard's Steven Pinker, the administration caved to a Twitter mob and asked for Hsu's resignation. The reason is so preposterously flimsy that you just need to hear it for yourself. Sponsor: Good Morning Liberty is a daily podcast offering libertarian solution to the problems that afflict us. Check it out at:
Ep. 1684 Welcome to Leftist America
Jul 01 2020 27 mins  
In this episode I talk about the new America, in which we freely call people "white supremacists" (Paul Krugman just used the term to refer to all elderly people in Florida), dissident voices are suppressed and humiliated, and lessons in tolerance are given by people who cannot stand challenges to their views.
Ep. 1683 Should We Panic About Texas and COVID?
Jul 01 2020 26 mins  
Texas, Florida, and Arizona have the usual suspects up to their usual doomsday scenarios. Should we really be concerned?
Ep. 1682 Cuomo and de Blasio Lockdown Regimes Smacked by Judge
Jun 29 2020 24 mins  
The Thomas More Society's Christopher Ferrara just won a major victory over the governor of New York and the mayor of New York City with a ruling by Federal District Judge Gary L. Sharpe that strikes down limitations on religious gatherings that are more onerous than restrictions on other gatherings. In so doing, he struck down all limitations on outdoor gatherings, and thus the ruling has a significant impact on religious and non-religious people alike.
Ep. 1681 A Lifetime of Exposing Government Lies
Jun 26 2020 30 mins  
Journalist Diana Johnstone has covered the world, and particularly US foreign affairs, for decades. It ain't a pretty story, but it's one that needs to be told.
Ep. 1680 Dominic Frisby on Lockdowns, the Insane West, and the Libertarian National Anthem
Jun 25 2020 34 mins  
Comedian, financial writer, and jack-of-all-trades Dominic Frisby joins me to discuss the continued lockdowns in the UK, what's happening in Western societies, and his new national anthem for Libertaria.
Ep. 1679 Dale Brown: How to Slash Violent Crime
Jun 24 2020 59 mins  
Dale Brown's Detroit Threat Management Center has had tremendous success in lowering violent crime rates, and has done so using methods that emphasize de-escalation and nonviolence. In the wake of the George Floyd killing, he joins us to discuss lessons police departments can learn from his successes.
Ep. 1678 The Conservative Surrender
Jun 23 2020 34 mins  
With the present pitiful showing by conservatives as the backdrop, Paul Gottfried joins us to discuss what went wrong with Conservatism, Inc.
Ep. 1677 Roundtable on the Police: Problems and Solutions
Jun 20 2020 39 mins  
Libertarian writer James Reilly and Mises Institute president Jeff Deist join me for a libertarian perspective on the problems with the police and what our proposed solutions would be.
Ep. 1676 Never Forget the Villainy of the Fed
Jun 19 2020 32 mins  
Once again the Federal Reserve is being presented to us as a great savior during a time of crisis. I once spoke at Jekyll Island itself in refutation of this claim. Worth revisiting during these times.
Ep. 1675 How the Public Views the Rich
Jun 18 2020 31 mins  
Rainer Zitelmann's new book on people's perceptions of the rich is filled with interesting and surprising results: who "deserves" to be wealthy, what qualities people associate with the rich, how people form their opinions of the rich, and plenty more.
Ep. 1674 When Police Brutality Occurs in Minneapolis, Attack the South
Jun 17 2020 46 mins  
Nothing is less fashionable than defending the South from attack. Responses like "why, you must support slavery," or "you're a racist," sum up the intellectual level you can expect from your critics, none of whom have read a thing. Historian Brion McClanahan returns to discuss the bizarre if predictable South hatred that emerged following George Floyd's death at the hands of police in Minneapolis.
Ep. 1673 Academia Is Worse Than You Thought
Jun 16 2020 32 mins  
Professor Gad Saad joins me to discuss trends in academia, whether leftist domination occurs because they're just smarter than we are, and why CEOs feel compelled to endorse every fashionable cause.
Ep. 1672 The Monopoly on Violence
Jun 13 2020 35 mins  
Pete Quinones joins me to discuss his new documentary on the state and how we might think about life without it.
Ep. 1671 Bitcoin: A Guide for the Perplexed
Jun 12 2020 46 mins  
Vijay Boyapati joins me for a crash course in Bitcoin: why it matters (to the world and to you), what it accomplishes, where it's headed, and why he thinks it's actually superior to gold.
Ep. 1670 Spike Cohen, LP Vice-Presidential Nominee
Jun 11 2020 33 mins  
Spike Cohen, the Libertarian Party's vice presidential nominee, joins me to discuss radicalism and gradualism, his days as a neoconservative, entrepreneurial background, his libertarian transformation, how to campaign during a pandemic, and plenty more.
Ep. 1669 What Does "Defund the Police" Mean?
Jun 10 2020 26 mins  
I'm being told to celebrate because the left has brought the phrase "defund the police" into the national spotlight. I'll get excited when I can figure out what on Earth they mean by it.
Ep. 1668 The Ethics of Anarcho-Capitalism
Jun 08 2020 28 mins  
Kris Borer joins me to discuss the foundations of and the most persuasive case for anarcho-capitalism -- that is, a pure free market without a state of any kind.
Ep. 1667 Protests Are Stupid, and Other Unpopular Opinions
Jun 06 2020 41 mins  
Dave Smith, comedian and host of Part of the Problem, joins me to discuss the George Floyd protests, the riots, and the (mostly depressing) libertarian response.
Ep. 1666 Nobody Knows Who Invented the Computer
Jun 04 2020 31 mins  
Matt Ridley joins us for a discussion of innovation and how and where it flourishes, along with specific examples ranging from the mundane lightbulb to the personal computer. (I ask Matt why inventors' names are all over 19th-century history, but nobody knows who invented the personal computer -- hence the title of this episode.)
Ep. 1665 The Political Fallout of the Riots
Jun 03 2020 37 mins  
Dan McCarthy, editor of the venerable , joins me for a discussion of the riots and what they could mean for America's political future.
Ep. 1664 On Looting and Police Brutality, with Eric July
Jun 03 2020 44 mins  
Musician and libertarian content creator Eric July joins me to discuss police brutality, real solutions, and people making excuses for rioters and looters.
Ep. 1663 Dr. Jo Jorgensen, LP Presidential Nominee
Jun 01 2020 35 mins  
Dr. Jo Jorgensen joins me today to discuss her campaign for president, her background, the main issues she intends to focus on, her experiences with Harry Browne (with whom Dr. Jorgensen was vice presidential nominee), and a lot more.
Ep. 1662 How to Resist the Feds
May 30 2020 40 mins  
Ten years ago next month I released my book Nullification, a combination history and strategy book for restraining federal power. The ideas in that book are strictly forbidden -- the official conservative and libertarian movements pretend they don't exist (the Heritage Foundation would die a thousand deaths before entertaining an unapproved thought like nullification). But the history is accurate and the arguments are sound, as I explain in this episode.
Ep. 1661 The Lockdowns and Those Millions of Lives
May 28 2020 25 mins  
Today I look a bit deeper into the results of the lockdowns, which are being credited with having saved "millions" of lives.
Ep. 1660 Post-Virus America
May 27 2020 48 mins  
Gene Epstein joins us for a much-needed bit of optimism, particularly regarding the economy, as we look toward post-virus America.
Ep. 1659 What Just Happened at the Libertarian Convention?
May 26 2020 37 mins  
The online portion, anyway. Washington delegate Miguel Duque joins me to discuss the party's presidential nominee, where the Mises Caucus stands right now, and what comes next.
Ep. 1658 Ex-Marxist Ridicules "Wokeness"
May 22 2020 30 mins  
Michael Rectenwald, retired professor at New York University, was a lifelong Marxist until very recently. He's now repudiated that past and embraced a Misesian future. His new book, , explores every aspect of so-called "woke" culture and dismantles it mercilessly as only someone intimately familiar with leftism can.
Ep. 1657 These Libertarians Are Carrying on, Virus or No
May 22 2020 30 mins  
Carla Gericke, president emeritus of the Free State Project, joins me to discuss PorcFest -- it's still on this year! -- and other goings-on among New Hampshire libertarians. Guest's Website:
Ep. 1656 Shenanigans in the Libertarian Party?
May 21 2020 36 mins  
Michael Heise of the Mises Caucus of the Libertarian Party joins me to discuss some developments at the party's highest levels that have even people who haven't been our traditional allies crying foul.
Ep. 1655 Why Does the Left Favor Lockdowns?
May 20 2020 46 mins  
It's been quite remarkable to me the extent to which the lockdowns have divided people along ideological lines. A left-wing case against lockdown seems so easy to make and so obvious, and yet a vanishingly small number of people are making it. Thaddeus Russell, an eclectic and always interesting thinker who grew up on the left, joins me to try to get to the bottom of it.
Ep. 1654 The Two COVID Americas
May 19 2020 52 mins  
Pete Quinones and I have a wide-ranging discussion of the ongoing COVID-19 problem and the state response, and the parallel nations emerging out of all this: (1) people who are simply giving up life passions in the face of the virus, and (2) people prepared to venture out and reclaim their lives. This episode is taken from my appearance on the Free Man Beyond the Wall podcast.
Ep. 1653 Economic Historians Are a Train Wreck
May 16 2020 30 mins  
Most American historians are atrociously bad at economic history, and the fallacies they peddle about how they think events occurred in the past go on to inform terrible decisions about economic policy in the present. Jeffrey Herbener joins me for a fallacy-free gallop through American economic history from the Civil War through the end of World War I. Jeff's course on American economic history is available to members of Liberty Classroom. Join at LibertyClassroom.com, and find coupon codes at:
Ep. 1652 Reagan Admin's David Stockman on Lockdowns and the Economy
May 15 2020 36 mins  
David Stockman, director of the Office of Management and Budget under Ronald Reagan, joins me for a discussion of the wisdom (or otherwise) of the response to COVID-19, and what the economic ramifications are.
Ep. 1651 Owner of Capitalism.com on 21st-Century Entrepreneurship
May 14 2020 36 mins  
Ryan Daniel Moran, a libertarian who operates Capitalism.com, is a highly successful entrepreneur who first came on my radar when he made a video about the taxes he was paying -- which in turn reminded me of when Peter Schiff asked some progressives how much they thought he should pay, and their figure turned out to be lower than the real one. Today Ryan discusses the elements involved in building successful businesses.
Ep. 1650 Genuine Ron Paulian Is Frontrunner for U.S. Congress
May 13 2020 28 mins  
Eric Brakey, former state senator from Maine and a Tom Woods Show listener and supporter, is currently the frontrunner for the Republican nomination for U.S. Congress in his district. We discuss campaigning in the days of COVID, the swamp creatures who oppose him, and what his plans are once elected.
Ep. 1649 Economics vs. the Civilization Wreckers
May 12 2020 55 mins  
Jeff Deist, president of the , invited me to be a guest on the Human Action podcast, which has been exploring each part of Ludwig von Mises' Human Action with a different expert each episode. My episode was the final episode: part 7. Here Mises reflects on the place of economics in society, the struggle involved in overcoming popular ignorance, and what hangs in the balance of this intellectual battle.
Ep. 1648 Are Left and Right Experiencing Two Different Pandemics?
May 08 2020 34 mins  
Jeff Deist, chairman of the Mises Institute, joins me to try to get to the bottom of why the response to COVID-19 (and the lockdowns) seems for the most part to divide along ideological lines, an outcome I myself did not expect.
Ep. 1647 How to Live Free, Even Now
May 07 2020 28 mins  
One of the great Harry Browne's most important books was How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World. It is a blueprint for throwing off all manner of shackles (some self-imposed) that hold us back from living the lives we want. Audiobook narrator Ayrton Parham joins me.
Ep. 1646 Dave Smith and Tom Woods on Justin Amash
May 06 2020 39 mins  
U.S. Congressman Justin Amash of Michigan recently joined the Libertarian Party and, having formed an "exploratory committee," seems certain to run for president. Dave Smith joins me to discuss Amash, libertarianism, and the Libertarian Party.
Ep. 1645 Sheriffs Resisting Stay-at-Home Orders?
May 05 2020 34 mins  
Sheriff Richard Mack of the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association, who has a Supreme Court victory under his belt, joins me to discuss recent events involving American sheriffs and what powers the local sheriff has.
BONUS Ep. 1644 My New Print-on-Demand Business (and Yours?)
May 03 2020 28 mins  
The old man here has succumbed and finally decided to make Tom Woods Show merchandise, so I've been consulting with a listener who's an expert in this area. This, in turn, reminded me of Rachel Rofe, the expert's expert from whom this listener himself learned what he knows. It's a fun side business -- making mugs, T-shirts, etc. -- if you know what you're doing (and even if you don't). Now seems like a sensible time to learn something like this, so Rachel walks us through it in today's episode. Print-on-Demand Webinar:
Ep. 1643 Libertarians and the Shutdown, and 100 Other Things
May 02 2020 70 mins  
In this potpourri episode I discuss the COVID economy, the role of the Libertarian Party, what our position on the shutdown should be, how to pitch libertarianism to the left, my advice to budding historians, and a lot more. Today's episode is drawn from my appearance on Decentralized Revolution, the podcast of the Libertarian Party's Mises Caucus.
Ep. 1642 How the Shutdown Affects Business Owners
May 01 2020 27 mins  
Steven Nekhaila, who chairs the Libertarian Party of Florida, owns multiple businesses, and he joins me to discuss how the shutdown has been affecting business owners.
Ep. 1641 Ron Paulian Poised to Become U.S. Congressman?
Apr 30 2020 34 mins  
Matt Gurtler became politically aware during the 2008 Ron Paul presidential campaign, for which he volunteered, and is currently a state representative in Georgia. With an open U.S. congressional seat in his district and the endorsement of Thomas Massie, he has an excellent opportunity to add another voice of sanity to the U.S. Congress. We discuss life as a state rep, his campaign, his stance on the lockdowns, and more.
Ep. 1640 Michael Malice on the North Korean Succession
Apr 29 2020 37 mins  
There's been speculation in the media about the health and whereabouts of North Korea's Kim Jong Il. This, in turn, has led some people to speculate about who might succeed him. Michael Malice joins us to correct the record.
Ep. 1639 Protesting the Stay-at-Home Orders
Apr 28 2020 31 mins  
Angela McArdle joins me to discuss the protest she's organizing in Los Angeles -- May 1, 2020, at 1:00pm near City Hall -- against the stay-at-home orders. People who protest these orders have been called every name in the book by respectable opinion, so I give Angela an opportunity to make the case.
Ep. 1638 Ban Homeschooling, Says Harvard Law Prof
Apr 25 2020 30 mins  
Elizabeth Bartholet of Harvard Law School says homeschooling should be banned with very rare exceptions that parents would have to justify with overwhelming evidence. Her reasons are many, but one of them in particular is especially sinister.
Ep. 1637 What the Mediocre Joe Biden Represents
Apr 23 2020 34 mins  
In the midst of the pandemic Joe Biden has become invisible, even more of a nonentity than usual. Dan McCarthy has an intriguing take on what the mediocre, uninspiring Biden truly represents.
Ep. 1636 The Ignored Questions of COVID-19
Apr 22 2020 27 mins  
In this episode I cover a lot of ground, albeit a bit haphazardly: the unintended consequences of "lockdown," the superstitious reverence for "scientists" (who, contrary to popular belief, are not in fact qualified to answer all questions), what's really happening in the hospitals, the social repercussions, and more.
Ep. 1635 Ten Years of Nullification
Apr 21 2020 32 mins  
It's been ten years since my book Nullification was published, so it's an appropriate moment for a retrospective on how during that time the states have pushed back against various federal intrusions. The Tenth Amendment Center's Michael Boldin joins me.
Ep. 1634 J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis: The Friendship
Apr 18 2020 40 mins  
Brad Birzer joins me to discuss J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, their friendship, and its inspiration for his latest project, which will knock your socks off.
Ep. 1633 Trump, the Governors, and the Constitution
Apr 17 2020 25 mins  
The President and the governors of numerous states have been in a war of words over who has the authority to reopen the country in the wake of the virus. We've even heard governors talking about the Tenth Amendment, which is quite a novelty for them. I sort the whole thing out in today's episode.
Ep. 1632 The U.S. Warfare State and the Heroes Who Opposed It
Apr 16 2020 32 mins  
Quite a diverse array of voices have spoken out against the U.S. war machine over the past two centuries, and in today's episode we discuss a bunch of them.
Ep. 1631 What the Governors Should Do Now
Apr 15 2020 42 mins  
Jeff Deist of the Mises Institute joins me to review the specific steps the state governors should take right now to restore normal life in the United States.
Ep. 1630 Dissident Virus Voices
Apr 14 2020 44 mins  
Brett Veinotte of invited me onto his podcast to talk coronavirus, lockdowns, and frustration -- and hope.
Ep. 1629 Kinsella on the Coronavirus, His Road to Libertarianism, and the Good and Bad in Ayn Rand
Apr 09 2020 47 mins  
Libertarian legal theorist Stephan Kinsella and I discuss his road to libertarianism (of the Rothbardian kind), where he thinks we need more work, the rights and wrongs of Ayn Rand, and more. And yes, some discussion of the virus....
Ep. 1628 Is the Coronavirus a Libertarian Moment?
Apr 08 2020 37 mins  
Finance professor Murray Sabrin thinks so. Murray is convinced that libertarians in fact have an excellent opportunity to lay bare the problems with the state.
Ep. 1627 Lockdowns vs. Human Flourishing: Is There Another Approach?
Apr 07 2020 42 mins  
Alex Epstein returns to discuss the coronavirus response, what sensible practices we ought to adopt, and why mere biological life is not enough.
Ep. 1626 What's Wrong With American Health Care?
Apr 04 2020 28 mins  
Anthony Welti, candidate for Washington state insurance commissioner, joins us to discuss the libertarian insights that reveal what's wrong with American health care.
Ep. 1625 The Woods Controversies Revisited
Apr 03 2020 45 mins  
With the insightful -- and to my mind hilarious -- Roger McCaffrey, I review the fun controversies surrounding some of my most successful books. We also discuss libertarianism and the appeal it should have to conservatives, my conversion to Catholicism, and more.
Ep. 1624 Non-Marxist Latin American History
Apr 02 2020 32 mins  
Dedra Birzer, lecturer in history at Hillsdale College, joins me for a bird's-eye view of a major chunk of Latin American history, beginning with pre-Columbian civilizations and continuing through European exploration and, centuries later, independence.
Ep. 1623 Doug Casey on the Coronavirus Fallout
Apr 01 2020 36 mins  
Doug Casey, whose book Crisis Investing spent 29 weeks at the #1 position on the New York Times bestseller list, joins me to assess the fallout from the various governmental responses to the coronavirus, as well as his own approach to a crisis like this.
Ep. 1622 You Want Your Grandmother Dead, Says the Herd
Mar 31 2020 66 mins  
Dave Smith and I discuss the approach being recommended to cope with COVID-19. Is "if this saves one life, I'll be happy" a sensible way to think about the world? If you object to shutdowns for indeterminate amounts of time, does this mean you want your grandmother dead? This episode is taken from my recent appearance on , Dave Smith's podcast.
Ep. 1621 Resisting the Federal Government in These Dark Days?
Mar 28 2020 52 mins  
I talk to the 's Michael Boldin and host Peter Quinones about state nullification of unconstitutional federal laws, and whether it might apply in the current circumstances.
Ep. 1620 The Economics of the Shutdown
Mar 27 2020 33 mins  
Professors Joseph Salerno and Peter Klein join me to discuss the economics of the extraordinary episode we are currently living through, as well as the likely consequences of how the federal government and the Federal Reserve are responding.
Ep. 1619 How Free People Can Help the Most Vulnerable, Especially During a Crisis
Mar 26 2020 29 mins  
DonorSee creator Gret Glyer joins us to discuss how individuals can make real differences in the lives of other individuals, often halfway around the world -- particularly during the coronavirus crisis of 2020.
Ep. 1618 How to Prepare for the Unexpected, Step by Step
Mar 25 2020 39 mins  
Jack Spirko, host of The Survival Podcast, joins me to answer the questions we all have right now: what exactly should we do to prepare for the unexpected? What do we need and what do we not need? I ask Jack a bunch of excellent listener-submitted questions that will help you be ready for whatever the world throws at you.
Ep. 1617 Another Libertarian Strategy: Startup Societies
Mar 24 2020 30 mins  
Joe McKinney, founder and CEO of the Startup Societies Foundation, discusses the array of models and possibilities for "startup societies," whereby new or existing communities establish arrangements in which the hand of the state is felt more lightly.
Ep. 1616 More Forbidden Questions in American History
Mar 22 2020 48 mins  
Here's a freewheeling discussion of a whole bunch of questions your junior high school teacher never answered -- or even raised. Enjoy!
Ep. 1615 How the State Makes Busybodies into Busybullies
Mar 20 2020 33 mins  
Economist Antony Davies and political scientist James Harrigan join me to discuss their new book "Cooperation and Coercion: How Busybodies Became Busybullies and What That Means for Economics and Politics". We talk about how the state thrives on wars on poverty, drugs, terror, etc., the cooperation that is at the center of the market economy, and a lot more.
Ep. 1614 Peter Schiff on the Economics of the Coronavirus
Mar 19 2020 43 mins  
Uncertainty casts a shadow over everything right now, as people wonder how long the coronavirus problem will persist and how intense it will become. Some people face questions about employment and staying afloat during the coming weeks and possibly even months. Meanwhile, the Federal Reserve and the federal government are talking about and even taking radical action. Peter Schiff joins me to talk some sense.
Ep. 1613 Dave Smith on Humorless Libertarian Ninnies
Mar 18 2020 45 mins  
Popular podcaster and comedian Dave Smith joins me to discuss the libertarian movement's ninny problem, whereby a tiny (but obnoxiously loud) minority spends its time on the rampage against people like Dave for wrongthink because he interviews unpopular people. Oddly, neither Dave nor I has ever been criticized for featuring left-wingers on our shows and not grilling them over their faulty views. I wonder why that is.
Ep. 1612 Joe and Bernie Go One-on-One
Mar 17 2020 28 mins  
I review last night's one-on-one presidential debate between the top two remaining democratic presidential contenders. Plenty of lunacy to go around, that's for sure.
Ep. 1611 How Innovation Works, and Why It Thrives in Freedom
Mar 14 2020 32 mins  
The great Matt Ridley joins us for a fascinating whirlwind tour of the history of innovation, and identifies key features of it that free societies disproportionately make possible. One of my all-time favorite guests!
Ep. 1610 Both Sides Get the Economy Wrong
Mar 13 2020 29 mins  
John Tamny returns to discuss job-training programs, price deflation, deficits, and other areas where one side (liberals or conservatives) get it badly wrong.
Ep. 1609 How Did Iran Become Enemy #1?
Mar 12 2020 37 mins  
Gareth Porter discusses the history of U.S.-Iran relations, how they became so strained, the truth about the Iranian nuclear program, and more.
Ep. 1608 How to Speak Effectively, Research Better, and Read Faster
Mar 11 2020 39 mins  
Brett Veinotte of the School Sucks Project has just produced something new: not the overview of schooling, education, unschooling, and the usual topics he covers, but topics like these: once we have all this (unpopular) knowledge, how do we convey it most persuasively? Or: what's the secret to being a good researcher? Or: what's the quickest, most efficient way to read a book? Guest's Product: (use code WOODS for 30% off)
Ep. 1607 How to Defend Liberty in Challenging Territory
Mar 10 2020 38 mins  
Angela McArdle, who chairs the Libertarian Party of Los Angeles, has poured enormous energy into the libertarian movement and come up with a great many creative ideas to spread our message. She's also done effective battle against the crazies. Not to mention she's a blast to talk to. Enjoy! Sponsor:
Ep. 1606 Anarcho-Communism and Other Challenges to Libertarians
Mar 06 2020 33 mins  
In this final episode of Bob Murphy Week we begin by talking animal rights, school shootings, and how the poor would be cared for in a libertarian society, and finish with a discussion of the problems with anarcho-communism.
Ep. 1605 Two Hard Cases: Child Abuse, and Coronavirus
Mar 05 2020 27 mins  
In this installment of Bob Murphy Week, we consider whether and how a stateless society could handle difficult problems like child abuse and pandemics.
Ep. 1604 How Would a Libertarian Society...
Mar 04 2020 29 mins  
As Bob Murphy Week on the Tom Woods Show continues, I take advantage of having a great libertarian theorist on the show in order to raise challenging problems like consumer safety, hunting and fishing rights, and how to deal with a mad scientist running unethical experiments.
Ep. 1603 Weaknesses in Austrian Economics?
Mar 03 2020 30 mins  
Bob Murphy is a prolific scholar and popular writer and speaker on the Austrian School of economics, so I thought I'd ask him: what if any weaknesses do you find in Austrian Economics, and/or where do we need to do more work?
Ep. 1602 Weaknesses in Libertarianism?
Mar 03 2020 31 mins  
As we kick off Bob Murphy Week with libertarian theorist and Austrian economist Bob Murphy, I ask him if there are areas of libertarianism that could use further work, and/or where the conventional libertarian responses are weak. Oh, yes, he says.
Ep. 1601 How to Be a Successful Capitalist in a World of Fickle Consumers
Feb 29 2020 35 mins  
Success within the market economy boils down to one thing: the satisfaction of consumer preferences. But this is easier said than done. What are consumer preferences? What do people want? What will they buy? How does the entrepreneur answer these questions? Ryan Levesque, bestselling author of the books Ask and Choose, shows us how we move from the theory of capitalism to the successful real-life capitalist. Sponsor: Save yourself the time and hassle of going to the Post Office, and get discounts on postage, with . Get a four-week free trial plus free postage and a digital scale when you go to , click on the microphone at the top right of the screen, and type code WOODS.
Ep. 1600 The Great Society and Its Failures
Feb 28 2020 38 mins  
Amity Shlaes returns to the show to discuss her new book on Lyndon Johnson's Great Society, which -- to say the least -- failed to live up to its promises. Sponsor: helps you overcome the mental angst associated with an overflowing email inbox by sorting what's really important and helping you manage your email more efficiently. Start your free trial and get a $25 credit at .
Ep. 1599 Lew and I Talk Bernie and Bloomberg
Feb 26 2020 30 mins  
Last night's Democratic debate was more interesting than some of the others, partly because of the attacks on Bernie and partly because everyone was dying to see whether Bloomberg could recover from his disastrous performance last week. The result is one of my favorite debate analysis episodes of the season. Enjoy!
Ep. 1598 Common Logical Fallacies That Need to Be Smashed
Feb 26 2020 37 mins  
Gerard Casey, who taught logic at University College, Dublin, for 30 years, joins us to discuss some common logical fallacies we regularly encounter. Learn logic and other subjects with Gerard Casey, Tom Woods, and other great libertarian academics at . Get coupon codes on our .
Ep. 1597 President Bernie Sanders?
Feb 25 2020 24 mins  
I talk about (the horrendous) Mike Bloomberg and what he might have said in the debate, and also cover the Bernie Sanders phenomenon: his struggle against the Democratic establishment, and what's liable to happen if he gets elected.
Ep. 1596 What Punishments Do Criminals Deserve, and Other Questions in Libertarian Theory
Feb 21 2020 27 mins  
We wrap up Walter Block week with a glance through his enormous list of publications and picking out interesting topics for libertarians: punishment theory, conjoined twins, the death penalty, and more, as well as a sneak preview of Defending the Undefendable 3.
Ep. 1595 Suing the New York Times for Libel
Feb 20 2020 30 mins  
Walter Block week continues with this episode about Walter's experience suing the New York Times for libel, after they misrepresented his comments in what had to be a deliberate act of journalistic malpractice. But what does libertarian theory have to say about libel law?
Ep. 1594 In Defense of Corporate Raiders, Organ Merchants, and More
Feb 19 2020 32 mins  
We continue Walter Block week with a discussion of the second Defending the Undefendable book, and cover the corporate raider, the multinational enterpriser, the picket-line crosser, the hatchet man, the human organ merchant, and more.
Ep. 1593 Defending the Undefendable: A Libertarian Defense of Despised People
Feb 19 2020 28 mins  
Today we discuss Walter's classic work, Defending the Undefendable. The rogues gallery Walter seeks to rehabilitate in this episode includes the middleman, the slumlord, the speculator, and more.
Ep. 1592 Walter Block: I Lost a Debate to Ayn Rand
Feb 18 2020 28 mins  
Walter Block must be the most prolific living libertarian, with over 600 peer-reviewed articles, more than 30 books, and thousands of popular articles to his credit. In this first episode of Walter Block week, we get into Walter's own history, from his high school years with classmate Bernie Sanders to his conversion to economic liberty by none other than Ayn Rand herself.
Ep. 1591 Libertarianism: The Non-Embarrassing Version, With Scott Horton
Feb 15 2020 29 mins  
Scott Horton, the great libertarian foreign-policy expert, returns to the show to discuss the state of the campaign for the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination, and the prospects for having a spokesman who knows, loves, and can persuasively defend the ideas of liberty.
Ep. 1590 Peter Schiff on Trump, and How to Protect Your Money
Feb 14 2020 39 mins  
Euro Pacific Capital's Peter Schiff joins me to take listener questions (submitted via my private group), including (1) what sectors tend to get hit the hardest or hit the least during downturns, including our next one? (2) what can people who aren't wealthy do to protect the savings they do have? (3) what did you tell those Occupy Wall Street protesters, and would you do such a thing in 2020? (4) what's your evaluation of Trump? ... and more.
Ep. 1589 Brexit Opponents Mercilessly Lampooned
Feb 13 2020 36 mins  
The great Dominic Frisby joins me to discuss how he successfully lampooned the elitists who pushed the Remain cause on the British, and defended the Brexiteers. Plus libertarianism, comedy, and how (if at all) a comedian can come back after bombing.
Ep. 1588 Is There a Way to Protect Against Cancel Culture and Deplatforming?
Feb 12 2020 28 mins  
Mark Jeftovic, CEO of and cryptocurrency enthusiast, says yes, and in his new book and in our conversation today he describes the approach all of us should take, regardless of how obviously inoffensive what you're saying might be.
Ep. 1587 The Problems With Economic Nationalism
Feb 11 2020 55 mins  
Gene Epstein joins me to discuss the problems associated with protectionism, industrial policy, and the overall package of economic nationalism.
Ep. 1586 The Truth About Income Inequality
Feb 08 2020 27 mins  
Income inequality has been a hot topic in recent years, but nearly everyone gets it wrong. Here are the real facts, and the best way for libertarians -- or anyone -- to think about them. Sponsor: This election season, trust C-SPAN to give you an unfiltered look at politics and the candidates. Follow Campaign 2020 on the C-SPAN television networks, on the C-SPAN app, or online at .
Ep. 1585 Other Arguments Against Socialism Are Fine, But Not Decapitating
Feb 07 2020 27 mins  
This episode builds on the discussion in episode 1584 about the primary, and devastating, argument against socialism, namely the one developed by Ludwig von Mises that involves the impossibility of economic calculation under socialism. Today I explain why this is the most fundamental argument against socialism, trumping even the problem of dispersed knowledge emphasized by F.A. Hayek.
Ep. 1584 The Greta Thunberg Problem
Feb 06 2020 39 mins  
We've heard Greta Thunberg's angry, apocalyptic warnings about the problems arising from climate change. Now economist Paul Krugman says she's closer to the economics than her critics are. What's the right way to think about all this? Sponsor: This election season, trust C-SPAN to give you an unfiltered look at politics and the candidates. Follow Campaign 2020 on the C-SPAN television networks, on the C-SPAN app, or online at .
Ep. 1583 Mises' Smash of Socialism, 100 Years Later
Feb 04 2020 30 mins  
In 1920 Ludwig von Mises published "Economic Calculation in the Socialist Commonwealth," an article that demolished the foundations of socialism in its original, no-private-property-in-the-means-of-production form. In this episode I explain Mises' thesis, and then show how the problems he identified in classical socialism persist to some extent under any state of any kind.
Ep. 1582 How to Be a Human Being: A Four-Step Owner's Manual
Feb 03 2020 28 mins  
The demonization of people we disagree with has reached a level of us few of us could have conceived of a generation ago -- or indeed even five years ago. Thinking about this reminded me of several other things I think libertarians (and all people, including myself) could stand to do better. Sponsor: This election season, trust C-SPAN to give you an unfiltered look at politics and the candidates. Follow Campaign 2020 on the C-SPAN television networks, on the C-SPAN app, or online at .
Ep. 1581 The 1619 Project and Race in American History
Jan 31 2020 35 mins  
Phil Magness returns to discuss the sound and unsound aspects of the New York Times' 1619 Project. Topics include Lincoln and the colonization of the former slaves, the role of slavery in the American Revolution, and slavery's role in American prosperity. Sponsor: This election season, trust C-SPAN to give you an unfiltered look at politics and the candidates. Follow Campaign 2020 on the C-SPAN television networks, on the C-SPAN app, or online at .
Ep. 1580 Libertarian Awesomeness: Greatest Hits of the Tom Woods Show
Jan 31 2020 26 mins  
In this episode about episodes, I review nearly the past four years of the Tom Woods Show to find golden nuggets of awesomeness you may have missed.
Ep. 1579 The Constitution Nobody Knows
Jan 30 2020 30 mins  
Mike Maharrey of the Tenth Amendment Center joins me to discuss what I consider the best short introduction to the real Constitution, as opposed to the one taught in law school and the New York Times.
Ep. 1578 The Mystery of Fascism
Jan 29 2020 30 mins  
David Ramsay Steele discusses the phenomenon of fascism, what it really was, and what's wrong with using it as a generic term of abuse. Plus: vegetarianism and animal welfare, and why economic growth doesn't have to mean the consumption of more and more resources.
Ep. 1577 Debate: Should the Fed Be Abolished?
Jan 27 2020 51 mins  
At FreedomFest 2010, Gene Epstein and I debated Warren Coates and John Fund on whether the Federal Reserve should be abolished. Here is that debate!
Ep. 1576 When All Else Fails: The Ethics of Resistance to State Injustice
Jan 25 2020 32 mins  
Princeton University Press published my guest's book When All Else Fails, on the subject of whether and under what circumstances it is morally legitimate to resist the state with physical force. Not the kind of topic you might expect from an Ivy League university press, but Brennan makes his case persuasively and provocatively, as indeed he likewise does in today's episode.
Ep. 1575 American Secession: Potential of National Breakup?
Jan 24 2020 30 mins  
Law professor F.H. Buckley joins me to discuss his new book American Secession, and why breaking up the United States -- or at least implementing one of his lesser proposals -- means a happier outcome for everyone.
Ep. 1574 Do Robots Mean a Future of Joblessness?
Jan 23 2020 36 mins  
Antony Sammeroff joins me to discuss his recent Soho Forum debate, in which he argued in the negative, on the resolution: "Robotics will soon lead to widespread joblessness, underemployment, and the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few."
Ep. 1573 The Exploitation of Labor and Other Union Myths
Jan 22 2020 31 mins  
Legal scholar Mark Pulliam joins me to discuss the commonly believed myths that underlie U.S. labor law.
Ep. 1572 Appeasing the Left Is a Fool's Errand
Jan 18 2020 33 mins  
In this potpourri solo episode I hit on several issues. First, is it fair to draw conclusions about Bernie Sanders and his campaign on the basis of violent, pro-gulag remarks from one of his field coordinators (as recorded by Project Veritas)? Then I review a recent episode on Twitter in which libertarianism was attacked, and one libertarian group responded in the most self-defeating and grotesque way. Finally, I revisit the controversy over "deplatforming," and respond to libertarians who think they should cheer ("it's a great free-market outcome!") when dissident voices are silenced.
Ep. 1571 Can You Avoid Being a "Wage Slave"?
Jan 17 2020 40 mins  
Last week a discussion thread in my Supporting Listeners group discussed the pros and cons of traditional employment versus working for oneself, particularly online. Good points were raised all around, so I decided to continue the discussion on this episode, with my guest and me discussing the pros and cons of entrepreneurship, why the Uber version of the gig economy isn't all it's cracked up to be and what people would do much better with instead, and what the best practices are in 2020 for starting a basic but potentially lucrative eCommerce business. Live Presentation: Register at . Stay for the whole presentation, and (in addition to other goodies) I'll send you my Tom Woods Email Domination Program, which I normally sell for $97, for free.
Ep. 1570 The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly from the American Economic Association Meeting
Jan 16 2020 37 mins  
Mark Skousen, an author and college professor whose investment newsletter Forecasts & Strategies is celebrating its 40th year, joins me to discuss what he saw at the recent American Economic Association meeting, including some 41 sessions on gender bias and sex discrimination, along with discussion (and criticism) of Modern Monetary Theory. Ben Bernanke told the audience the Fed needed to raise its inflation target. We discuss this and a whole lot more in today's episode.
Ep. 1569 Murray Rothbard and the Betrayal of the American Right
Jan 15 2020 27 mins  
The Betrayal of the American Right is a book that appeared more than a decade after the death of its author, Murray N. Rothbard, known in his lifetime as "Mr. Libertarian." I had the privilege of writing the introduction to the book when it was finally released, after having circulated throughout liberty circles for many years in unpublished form. Here is the closest thing we will ever get to a Rothbard memoir, and there's plenty of history of libertarianism and conservatism in here, too.
Ep. 1568 Scott Horton on the Killing of Soleimani
Jan 14 2020 50 mins  
The strike that took out Iranian general Qasem Soleimani was cheered by a great many Americans, including some who ordinarily speak out against the U.S. government's foreign interventions. If this wasn't a righteous killing, what would be? Scott Horton joins me for perspective. Sponsor: Save yourself the time and hassle of going to the Post Office, and get discounts on postage, with Stamps.com. Get a four-week free trial plus free postage and a digital scale when you go to , click on the microphone at the top right of the screen, and type code WOODS.
Ep. 1567 Jeff Deist on the Trouble with Libertarian Technocrats
Jan 11 2020 28 mins  
Jeff and I talk about a much-discussed recent article by George Mason University's Tyler Cowen, which finds merit in the market system but insists we recognize and appreciate the value of the state. Well, we ain't doing it.
Ep. 1566 The Trump Episode
Jan 10 2020 33 mins  
Jeff Deist and I discuss the Trump phenomenon, the U.S. political establishment, and what a post-Trump Republican Party will look like.
Ep. 1565 Decentralization and Secession: Jeff Deist on the Only Way Forward
Jan 09 2020 29 mins  
When people have radically incompatible worldviews, is it sensible or humane to try to govern them all according to the same set of rules? Yet neither progressives nor conservatives stop to consider decentralization, the only approach that can possibly work. They're too busy jamming round holes into square pegs. Jeff Deist and I discuss the decentralist alternative.
Ep. 1564 Jeff Deist on Libertarianism and Its Deformation
Jan 08 2020 30 mins  
Jeff Deist week continues with this discussion of the fundamentals of libertarianism, and how it's been transformed into a bizarre mutation of its former self.
Ep. 1563 Untold Stories from Ron Paul's Congressional Office
Jan 06 2020 32 mins  
We kick off Jeff Deist week on the Tom Woods Show with an episode on Ron Paul and what it was like to work in his congressional office, as Jeff himself did as the former congressman's chief of staff. Juicy stuff here, folks. Sponsor: Take $5 off a trial set from Harry's -- the official razor of the Tom Woods Show -- at .
Ep. 1562 The Anti-Libertarian Character Assassins, and How to Smash Them
Jan 01 2020 47 mins  
As we wind up what's been a great 2019 for the Tom Woods Show I turn my attention briefly to the "libertarian socialist" phenomenon and the problem of establishment-friendly libertarianism, which consists of people who have no idea what it's like to hold a genuinely unpopular position that will get them hated. To the contrary, these are people who – if the New York Times cared what they had to say – would make darn sure the Times knew how boring and respectable they were, and how edgy and dangerous radical libertarians like me are. But do not despair, folks, because I reveal precisely why these folks burn with such intense hatred for your host here, and one specific thing we can do to make them run home crying to their mothers.
Ep. 1561 Bogus History Makes for Disastrous Policy: 2008 Edition
Dec 31 2019 28 mins  
Hayek said that if we misunderstand history and draw the wrong lessons from it, we will make the wrong decisions in the present. This is why even now, over a decade later, it is still essential that we understand and communicate the true causes of the crisis of 2008. In this episode I talk to Jimmy Morrison, with whom I share a writing credit on the new documentary The Housing Bubble. The story behind it is almost as interesting as the crisis itself.
Ep. 1560 Peter Schiff, Gene Epstein, and More on What's to Come in 2020
Dec 28 2019 52 mins  
Immediately after the New York City premiere of our documentary, The Housing Bubble, we were joined by an all-star panel of commentators, including Gene, Peter, and several other important voices. We discussed the true lessons of the 2008 crisis, and what to expect in 2020.
Ep. 1559 Debate Episode: Lew Rockwell and I Review the Democratic Field
Dec 22 2019 26 mins  
Last night's debate at Loyola Marymount University saw the candidates rather more combative with each other than they'd been up to now. Lew and I have our usual fun reviewing the proceedings!
Ep. 1558 What Just Happened in U.K. Politics
Dec 20 2019 25 mins  
Entrepreneur Toby Baxendale joins me to talk about Labour's crushing defeat in the recent elections and what to expect from Boris Johnson and his party.
Ep. 1557 Scott Horton on Lies of Afghanistan
Dec 19 2019 40 mins  
The Washington Post recently released a substantial array of documents showing that the war in Afghanistan has been accompanied by lies and distortion, particularly about the war's progress and success. Scott Horton, who literally wrote the book on the war in Afghanistan, joins me to discuss what it all means.
Ep. 1556 What's the Correct Strategy Against a Hostile Regime?
Dec 18 2019 34 mins  
Very refreshing to see, of all places, the Claremont Review of Books trumpeting decentralization and nullification as the correct approaches against a hostile regime. I spend this episode elaborating on these important points, which are ignored by the conservative movement and by predictable portions of the libertarian world as well.
Ep. 1555 Crucial Advice Libertarians Need to Heed, Gene Epstein Edition
Dec 15 2019 32 mins  
As we wrap up Gene Epstein week, Gene offers various nuggets of wisdom for libertarians which, if followed, will contribute to a happy and successful life.
Ep. 1554 What Books Should Libertarians Read? Gene Suggests These
Dec 14 2019 36 mins  
I couldn't resist asking Gene Epstein, who was once book review editor for Barron's, to share with us and discuss some of the books that have shaped his thinking as a libertarian, so here we go!
Ep. 1553 Gene Slices and Dices Common Errors (Even Ones Libertarians Make)
Dec 13 2019 30 mins  
This episode is devoted to Gene's intellectual hobby horses – and he has a bunch of them.
Ep. 1552 The Most Implausible Libertarian Conversion of All Time
Dec 11 2019 30 mins  
As Gene Epstein week continues, I ask Gene to discuss how he moved away from leftism and toward libertarianism. His answer, although honest, is also quite preposterous, and serves to highlight the unique qualities for which we love Gene. Show notes for Ep. 1552 -
Ep. 1551 Gene Epstein Week Begins: "Mommy Was a Commie"
Dec 10 2019 44 mins  
Gene Epstein joins me for a week of episodes on the Tom Woods Show. Gene is former economics and book review editor for Barron's, and currently serves as director of , a debate series in New York City. We begin Gene Epstein week with Gene's interesting background story – which includes the story of his card-carrying communist mother, who had an FBI file. Show notes for Ep. 1551 -
Ep. 1550 Michael Malice on Anarchism and Emma Goldman
Dec 07 2019 42 mins  
Michael and I discuss some of the work of Emma Goldman, the left-wing anarchist who held many objectionable and even preposterous views, but who was a genuinely interesting thinker who defied cookie-cutter classification.
Ep. 1549 A Case for Optimism for 2020: Tech, Finance, Education, Career
Dec 06 2019 27 mins  
Mitchell Earl of Crash.co joins me to make a case for optimism going into 2020, especially around careers, education, tech, and finance.
Ep. 1548 David Stockman on Impeachment, the Democrats, the Fed, and More
Dec 05 2019 35 mins  
David Stockman, director of the Office of Management and Budget under Ronald Reagan and a critic of Donald Trump, joins me to discuss what he considers the Democrats' laughable case for impeachment, plus the likely Democratic nominee, and how the Federal Reserve hurts the average person.
Ep. 1547 The Country Where Libertarian Thought Is Thriving
Dec 04 2019 39 mins  
How do we account for the impressive spread of libertarian and specifically Misesian thought in Brazil? This phenomenon has been ongoing for years now, so I've invited Raphael Lima, whose massive YouTube channel has helped to fuel this trend, to discuss what's happening as well as what, if anything, folks in other countries can learn from their example.
Ep. 1546 Another Multimillionaire Who Didn't Use His College Training
Dec 03 2019 44 mins  
Aidan Booth pursued an engineering degree in New Zealand, but went on to excel as an entrepreneur in fields for which he never received formal training. Now in his mid-30s, Booth has employees, facilities, and investment properties all over the world, and has trained thousands in online business fundamentals. We talk about how he did it as well as the pros and cons of different business models online. Sponsor: This Christmas get him a gift that's both thoughtful and practical: a holiday shave set from Harry's. Take $5 off any shave set, and get free shipping, when you visit .
Ep. 1545 What Is the Impeachment Really All About?
Nov 29 2019 29 mins  
Daniel McCarthy, editor of Modern Age, joins me to discuss recent articles of his, including in the New York Times, on the Democratic primary, the Democrats' battle plan with regard to Donald Trump, and whether Trump did anything involving Ukraine that we ought to consider impeachable.
Ep. 1544 Drug Decriminalization Picks Up Steam, and Other Items from the Mises Caucus
Nov 28 2019 30 mins  
Michael Heise of the Libertarian Party's Mises Caucus joins me to discuss recent developments, including some Second Amendment and drug decriminalization efforts the caucus has been supporting.
Ep. 1543 Did America Have a Christian Founding?
Nov 27 2019 32 mins  
Mark David Hall has written an important book on a topic that both sides of the debate tend to treat superficially. We discuss whether the United States can be said to have had a "Christian founding," what such a thing would look like, and what the implications of the answer are.
Ep. 1542 Do You Really Own Your Home?
Nov 27 2019 36 mins  
It would seem that the right to rent out your property on terms you see fit follows naturally from your ownership of the property. But from the state's point of view, that is not so. Tim Brochu of joins me to discuss regulation of Airbnb and short-term rentals, and how private approaches might resolve legitimate concerns about the practice.
Ep. 1541 The Ugly History of Taxation
Nov 26 2019 31 mins  
For thousands of years, taxation has shaped history both openly and in ways that are more obscure. Dominic Frisby takes us through a whirlwind tour of the history of taxation, full of outrage and insight, and stories even diehard libertarians don't know.
Ep. 1540 The Horton/Woods Liberty Battle Plan
Nov 23 2019 46 mins  
Scott Horton and I lay out our battle plan for the next year. We can't do it without you good listeners, though.
Ep. 1539 Lew and Tom Dissect the Democrats
Nov 22 2019 34 mins  
I think this is the best debate analysis Lew Rockwell and I have done yet this election season. We look pro and con at Tulsi Gabbard's performance in particular, but everyone gets subjected to the Woods/Rockwell treatment.
Ep. 1538 Socialist Runs into Buzzsaw
Nov 21 2019 44 mins  
Gene Epstein's recently hosted a debate between Gene himself and Richard Wolff, the Marxist professor emeritus of economics at the University of Massachusetts. The resolution under debate was, "Socialism is preferable to capitalism as an economic system that promotes freedom, equality, and prosperity." Gene joins me to dissent this Oxford-style debate, which Gene won handily (final statistics are in the episode).
Ep. 1537 Scott Horton on War Propaganda, and What to Do
Nov 20 2019 38 mins  
I was blown away at the Ron Paul Symposium in Lake Jackson, Texas, on November 9, 2019, when libertarian foreign policy expert Scott Horton took the stage. Brilliant, powerful, devastating, irrefutable. So much did I love it that I'm making it into today's episode, so you can have the same experience I did.
Ep. 1536 My Acceptance Speech: The Beautiful Vision of Austrian Economics
Nov 16 2019 18 mins  
On November 14, 2019, in Vienna, I received the 2019 Hayek Lifetime Achievement Award from the Austrian Economics Center, where such figures as Peter Thiel, Arthur Laffer, and Deirdre McCloskey have likewise been honored. The speech conferring the award on me was delivered by Ingo Friedrich, retired vice president of the European Parliament and president of the European Economic Senate. This episode consists of selections from that speech as well as my brief remarks.
Ep. 1535 Ron Paul: What My Presidency Would Have Been Like
Nov 14 2019 32 mins  
At the 's recent (November 2019) event in Lake Jackson, Texas, I had a chance to interview Ron Paul before a live audience, for this episode of the podcast. The theme of the event was "State Propaganda and the 2020 Election," so my questions focused on that theme. Members of my Supporting Listeners program got discounted entry into the event as yet another unannounced bonus of membership. Join me at !
Ep. 1534 Entrepreneurs Aren't So Great; They Just Have Daddy's Money, Says Progressive
Nov 13 2019 31 mins  
Peter Klein and I review an article claiming that entrepreneurship is largely about privilege, and (implicitly) that we should be less impressed by entrepreneurs. Daddy's money is what makes it possible, in other words. Peter and I review what's right and what's wrong about this way of thinking.
Ep. 1533 The Early Republic: Can We Learn Anything for Today?
Nov 13 2019 33 mins  
Brad and I geek out on American history as we discuss themes and personalities from his new course for Liberty Classroom on the period 1807-1820. To get Brad's course, along with our 24 other courses, join . (Be sure to visit our secret .)
Ep. 1532 How One Man Is Neutralizing the Drug War
Nov 12 2019 30 mins  
Chris Dreisbach, CEO of Blueprints for Addiction Recovery, is saving accused drug offenders from prison and helping them avoid having their lives ruined. It is a great, important, and virtually unknown story.
Ep. 1531 Epstein Didn't Kill Himself
Nov 09 2019 35 mins  
Whitney Webb is a journalist who has done important work on the Jeffrey Epstein case for . She joins me to discuss the true nature of Epstein's operation, and the dubious story that he "committed suicide".
Ep. 1530 Principle or Bust: Jacob Hornberger on his LP Presidential Campaign
Nov 08 2019 31 mins  
Jacob Hornberger, founder and president of , returns to the show to discuss his run for the 2020 Libertarian Party presidential nomination. He says he'll stick to libertarian principle come what may, even on the tough issues. He also discusses his strategy for the first time anywhere.
Ep. 1529 Lew Rockwell: Against the Left
Nov 07 2019 35 mins  
Lew and I discuss his new book Against the Left, which makes the case that although threats to liberty exist across the ideological spectrum, there is something uniquely evil about the left that makes it a particular danger.
Ep. 1528 Public Goods, Education, and Other Excuses for State Power
Nov 06 2019 35 mins  
Richard Ebeling joins me to discuss some of the tough questions libertarians face.
Ep. 1527 Entrepreneur Says This Is Last Straw, Becomes Libertarian
Nov 05 2019 42 mins  
Today I welcome to the show multimillionaire internet marketer Michael Cheney, one of the kings of email and of sales. he's recently joined the libertarian community, which has welcomed him with open arms. I hope you find his journey there to be interesting and inspiring.
Ep. 1526 The Crazed Theodore Roosevelt
Nov 02 2019 33 mins  
Libertarian historian Ralph Raico warned that we should always be suspicious of presidents who are "beloved." Theodore Roosevelt was one such figure. Today's episode discusses TR's view of the presidency, foreign policy, and more.
Ep. 1525 Mises vs. the Civilization Destroyers
Nov 01 2019 30 mins  
Ludwig von Mises devoted a section of his book Socialism to what he called "destructionism." Destructionism, like socialism itself, builds nothing. It lives off the accumulated wealth created by a society based on private property. And it is immensely popular, even today.
Ep. 1524 The Constitution a Coup?
Oct 30 2019 31 mins  
Patrick Newman joins me once again to discuss a brand new book by Murray Rothbard, the prolific economist and historian who died in 1995. We cover the process of deciphering Rothbard's notoriously illegible handwriting, and also the contents themselves: Rothbard's assessments of the Constitution, Bill of Rights, and more.
Ep. 1523 How the Best Capitalists Create Tribes of Rabid Fans
Oct 30 2019 37 mins  
Libertarian podcaster and successful entrepreneur Jason Stapleton joins me for a discussion not just of entrepreneurship, but of how it is that some people manage to build followings of rabid, unfailingly loyal fans. What are they doing right? What do they know that others don't? The market economy rewards people who produce great products, but remember: sometimes you are the product. They want to buy from and interact with you. How do the masters create that kind of following?
Ep. 1522 Parents Battle Over Transitioning 7-Year-Old Boy
Oct 28 2019 30 mins  
The parental custodianship case of James Younger -- the 7-year-old boy whose mother wants to "transition" into a girl named Luna -- generated much heat, particularly last week. Some people tried to claim that there was really nothing to the case, that it was all overblown, that the boy is too young for medical procedures anyway, and the whole thing was probably hysteria fueled by "transphobia." Madeleine Jacob, a reporter who observed the entire proceeding, joins me to set the record straight.
Ep. 1521 Why Economists Never Took Marx Seriously
Oct 24 2019 31 mins  
It's fashionable to like Karl Marx again, so it's worth remembering that economists dismissed him from the beginning. The Marginal Revolution of the early 1870s upended the foundations of Marxism, and Marx himself never seems to have recognized what happened. Phil Magness, editor of a new volume of Marx's writings, joins me to discuss this.
Ep. 1520 New Leadership for the Libertarian Party? My Guest Hopes So
Oct 23 2019 28 mins  
Joshua Smith, At-Large Member of the Libertarian National Committee, is seeking to become the party's chairman. We discuss his background, lessons learned from 2018, whether the party is on the right track (it did get a bunch of votes in 2016, after all), and more.
Ep. 1519 Peter Schiff Interviews Me on Economic History, Nullification, & More
Oct 23 2019 31 mins  
Peter Schiff interviews me on economic history, Keynesianism, and state nullification.
Ep. 1518 Tulsi Gabbard Is a Russian Asset, Say Zombies
Oct 22 2019 25 mins  
The official line of the regime and its media accomplices is that presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard is a "Russian asset." Isn't it funny how all the Respectable People suddenly and in unison all have the same opinions about everything, down to the lingo and the talking points? I discuss this creepy phenomenon. (And yes, I know, Tulsi is not a libertarian.)
Ep. 1517 The Real James Madison
Oct 19 2019 30 mins  
Madison biographer Kevin Gutzman joins me for a discussion of the Madison nobody knows.
Ep. 1516 Israel and Palestine: A Reexamination
Oct 17 2019 34 mins  
Sheldon Richman, author of the new book Coming to Palestine, joins me to discuss the rights and wrongs of Israel and the Palestinians.
Ep. 1515 Democrats Debate Again; Lew Rockwell and I Dismantle
Oct 16 2019 24 mins  
Twelve Democrats debated in Ohio last night, and as usual Lew Rockwell and I watched so you didn't have to. We cover the lowlights as well as who's up, who's down, and more.
Ep. 1514 Michael Malice and Tom on Personal Struggles and Mental Health
Oct 15 2019 37 mins  
In this highly unusual but weirdly compelling episode in the wake of World Mental Health Day, Michael and I discuss how we've dealt with difficult personal struggles.
Ep. 1513 Crypto and a World of Individual Sovereignty
Oct 15 2019 45 mins  
User-friendly cryptography has dramatically altered the world by enabling secure communication and commerce via the Internet. But this is only the beginning: by applying cryptography to the control and ownership of digital assets we can return power to the individual and finally build a world where individual sovereignty is feasible. The biggest challenge that remains is to hide the technical complexities from the average user -- and Jameson Lopp joins me today to discuss exactly how that's being done.
Ep. 1512 The Phantom Menace: Isolationism
Oct 11 2019 27 mins  
Lindsey Graham and Bill Weld have been accusing Donald Trump (and Barack Obama) of "isolationism." This is such a deranged thing to say that I had to make an episode about it.
Ep. 1511 Impeachment: Trump Stonewalls, So What Happens Now?
Oct 11 2019 33 mins  
Kevin Gutzman joins me for some historical/constitutional background on impeachment, how strong the case against Trump is, and what is likely to come of Trump's refusal to cooperate.
Ep. 1510 Syria, Trump, and the Kurds: Scott Horton Tells the Story
Oct 09 2019 32 mins  
The hysteria reached a fever pitch with Trump's recent announcement about American withdrawal from northern Syria. Scott Horton joins me to explain the real situation, and how a satisfactory arrangement might have been reached had the U.S. government not prevented it.
Ep. 1509 Making Sense of Hate Speech, Hate Crimes, and Free Speech
Oct 08 2019 34 mins  
Gerard Casey joins me to discuss free speech, why we should be absolutists on it, the perils of "hate crime" laws, and much more.
Ep. 1508 My First Battle with the Neocons, and Other War Stories
Oct 07 2019 38 mins  
In this episode I talk a bit about episodes in my own evolution, including the big turning point that red pilled me, how I went from vice president of the Harvard Republicans to (eventually) a libertarian, my first battle with the neocons, and the people the Libertarian Party should appeal to but won't. This episode is taken from my recent appearance on .
Ep. 1507 Dave Smith on Libertarian Strategy, the Toughest Libertarian Views to Defend, and More
Oct 04 2019 29 mins  
We conclude Dave Smith Week with questions drawn from the Tom Woods Show Elite, which you can join at . How has he navigated a comedy world and a city that are unsympathetic to his views, to say the least? What libertarian positions does he find most challenging to defend? What is the movement's most effective potential strategy? And a lot more.
Ep. 1506 Dave Smith on "Cancel Culture" and the Thought Controllers
Oct 03 2019 29 mins  
The new rule, evidently, is that if you joke about anything our overlords have told us is Not Funny, or if you are found to have said something naughty on Twitter ten years ago, you are to be destroyed and all ties with you are to be cut. Natch, if you're just a warmonger, nothing happens to you at all. Dave Smith joins me to sort this all out.
Ep. 1505 Dave Smith on Comedy
Oct 02 2019 32 mins  
Here Dave takes us into the weeds of comedy itself. How to write a joke (more or less), who's on Dave's Mount Rushmore of comedy, who his influences are, and a lot more. Also whether there's a line, in terms of subject matter, that Dave just won't cross when it comes to comedy. Possibly my favorite episode of the week.
Ep. 1504 Dave Smith: How Screwed Up is the Libertarian Movement Right Now?
Oct 01 2019 32 mins  
The second episode of Dave Smith Week covers the libertarian movement itself, with Dave's recent Soho Forum debate against Libertarian National Committee chairman Nick Sarwark the springboard for discussion of larger issues.
Ep. 1503 Dave Smith Week Begins: The Making of a Comedian and Libertarian
Oct 01 2019 34 mins  
Dave Smith went from being a stand-up comedian to being a stand-up comedian who also happens to be one of our most articulate and indispensable voices. We get into Dave's background and turning points in his life.
Ep. 1502 The Trayvon Hoax?
Sep 27 2019 27 mins  
Documentary filmmaker Joel Gilbert joins me to discuss his investigative work into the Trayvon Martin case, where it turns out that a serious case of witness fraud was at the heart of the trial.
Ep. 1501 How I Talk to My Progressive Friends, and More with Marc Clair
Sep 27 2019 29 mins  
Marc Clair, host of the Lions of Liberty podcast, joins me to discuss how we can reach folks outside our orbit, plus some fun podcaster-to-podcaster inside baseball. Sponsor: Kettlebell Kitchen ships you fresh, delicious, ready-to-eat (just heat!) meals customized for your dietary needs and goals. New customers can take $50 off their first two orders by using code WOODS at .
Ep. 1500 The Modern Presidency and Its Origins
Sep 25 2019 29 mins  
Professor Jeremy Bailey joins me to discuss the evolution of the modern presidency and the way key figures like Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson tried -- and failed or succeeded, which is the question -- to change and expand it.
Ep. 1499 The Neocon Takeover of the American Right
Sep 25 2019 38 mins  
This episode is more of an overview of the life and evolution of one of our important thinkers, Paul Gottfried, who holds his Ph.D. in history from Yale. Paul has been an opponent of the neocons from the beginning, and we take the story to the present day.
Ep. 1498 Against Bernie's National Rent Control
Sep 24 2019 23 mins  
Bernie Sanders is proposing a nationwide program of rent control -- because why should landlords be allowed to raise rents arbitrarily? I explain why this is a terrible idea.
Ep. 1497 Google Archipelago: The Digital Gulag and the Simulation of Freedom
Sep 21 2019 31 mins  
Michael Rectenwald returns to the show to discuss woke capitalism, big tech, the mob mentality, and the suppression of dissident voices.
Ep. 1496 "I Fooled Penn and Teller"
Sep 19 2019 32 mins  
As a fan of magic myself, I was delighted to learn not only that I had a professional magician among my newsletter subscribers, but also that he managed to fool Penn and Teller on their "Fool Us" television program. Doc Dixon is a libertarian (like Penn and Teller themselves), and that comes through in our discussion, but we also get into the weeds of what it's like performing for Penn and Teller, as well as plenty of inside baseball about the life of a magician.
Ep. 1495 Space Exploration and the Private Sector
Sep 18 2019 32 mins  
Jim Cantrell, co-founder and former CEO of Vector Launch, veteran employee of Nasa's Jet Propulsion Lab and France's CNES, and founding team member of SpaceX and Moon Express, joins me to discuss the future of space exploration (including Mars settlement) and mankind's activities in space, as well as what the private sector can accomplish in space.
Ep. 1494 The CIA and Mind Control
Sep 17 2019 32 mins  
Bestselling author Stephen Kinzer returns to the show to discuss the CIA's research and experiments in mind control.
Ep. 1493 Peter Schiff on What to Do With Your Money, and More
Sep 17 2019 42 mins  
Peter Schiff returns to answer listener questions about Trump's economics, navigating the ups and downs of the economy, and a lot more. Sponsor: Honey is a free browser extension that saves you money wherever you shop online. Time magazine calls it "basically free money." Get Honey at
Ep. 1492 Lew and I Watched the Debate So You Didn't Have To
Sep 14 2019 40 mins  
Lew Rockwell returns to discuss yet another Democratic debate. Join us as we slice through the inanities.
Ep. 1491 How This Metal Vocalist Became a Libertarian (Hint: Ron Paul is Involved)
Sep 12 2019 36 mins  
Phil Labonte, the outspoken libertarian frontman of the band All That Remains, joins me to discuss how he became a libertarian, how his views compare to those of other people in his genre, how the Internet has changed the music industry for better and worse, and a lot more.
Ep. 1490 Lessons of 9/11, with Scott Horton
Sep 12 2019 42 mins  
Scott Horton joins me to commemorate the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and respond to the rah-rah "they hate us because we're great" view of why the attacks occurred.
Ep. 1489 Something to Celebrate: Left-Wing Thought Control Website Closes
Sep 10 2019 28 mins  
The left-wing thought-control site ThinkProgress has closed its doors, after many years of policing allowable opinion. Because of my interests I'm aware in particular of their absurd treatment of the Tenth Amendment Center -- which, unlike ThinkProgress, is alive and kicking. And speaking of kicking, let's kick ThinkProgress while it's down.
Ep. 1488 Opinions You're Not Allowed to Hold
Sep 10 2019 26 mins  
I review my refrain about the narrowness of allowable opinion in American (and Western) political discourse: you can argue about the fringes of what the state apparatus should be doing, but no fundamental questions may be raised. Also, at the end of the episode I make note of the latest Twitter casualty, and the absurd grounds on which the person in question was banned.
Ep. 1487 The State and the Roots of Collective Violence
Sep 07 2019 46 mins  
David Gornoski has taken what sounds like rather an obscure topic -- the mimetic theory of Rene Girard -- and showing the liberty movement how it helps us understand the state and collective violence.
Ep. 1486 Want Abundant, Clean Energy? We Need Thorium, Not Wind or Solar
Sep 06 2019 31 mins  
By popular demand, Kirk Sorensen joins me to discuss the energy potential of thorium, which can be tapped safely in overwhelming abundance and which solves every problem that troubles environmentalists.
Ep. 1485 Dave Smith on the New Dave Chappelle Special
Sep 05 2019 37 mins  
Comedian Dave Chappelle generated enormous controversy with his recent Netflix special, "Sticks and Stones." Fashionable opinion explained to us that we were to reject this special as "racist" and otherwise insensitive. Comedian Dave Smith joins me to sort it all out.
Ep. 1484 Another Ron Paulian Heads to Congress? Check This Out
Sep 04 2019 29 mins  
Eric Brakey served two terms in the state senate of Maine, and has been a Ron Paul supporter and Tom Woods Show listener for years. He's currently seeking the GOP nomination for U.S. Congress from Maine's second district, where he is winning key endorsements and has an excellent shot at winning.
BONUS Ep. 1483 Picking the Brain of the World's Top Affiliate
Aug 31 2019 36 mins  
Gerry Cramer has been repeatedly ranked as the top affiliate on Clickbank, which in turn has been called the top affiliate network in the United States. His students, for that matter, can frequently be found among Clickbank's top ten affiliates. So you could say the guy has cracked the code. (If you don't know what affiliate marketing is: Amazon has a well-known affiliate program by which people earn commissions when other people purchase Amazon products through their special link. Gerry has taken this simple concept and made a science out of it.) We talk about the system Gerry uses, his successes and failures, and other stuff the rest of us will undoubtedly benefit from learning. Join us on September 13 and have your mind blown:
Ep. 1482 Eric July on Malcolm X, SJWs and Comics, Metal and Rap, and More
Aug 31 2019 36 mins  
Eric July, the politically incorrect libertarian frontman for the metal band Backwordz, joins me for a freewheeling discussion of music, politics, Malcolm X, the SJW takeover of the world of comics, and much more.
Ep. 1481 Does Bitcoin Have What It Takes?
Aug 30 2019 40 mins  
Saifedean Ammous recently debated Professor George Selgin at the Soho Forum on the subject of Bitcoin's suitability to replace existing currencies and challenge central banks. We review that debate in today's episode, and finish with a discussion of Saifedean's latest project.
Ep. 1480 Trump, the Federal Reserve, and the Business Cycle
Aug 29 2019 37 mins  
Murray Sabrin, a professor of finance at Ramapo College, discusses the damage caused by the Federal Reserve, as well as the various approaches to business cycles taken by different economic schools of thought, and Trump's demands for lower interest rates.
Ep. 1479 Sweden Is Truly Awful
Aug 28 2019 22 mins  
Are libertarians too quick to argue that "after all, Sweden is really very capitalist, so you can't use it against us"? One author thinks so. This episode looks more closely at the Sweden story to make sense of it from a libertarian perspective.
Ep. 1478 New York Times Thinks Slavery Drives Economic Progress
Aug 27 2019 31 mins  
The New York Times recently announced its "1619 Project," by which it intends to demonstrate that "nearly everything that has made America exceptional grew out of slavery." Our friend Phil Magness points out that in its economics it relies on now-debunked statistical claims. Also, I discuss the bizarre phenomenon by which the left is now claiming that slavery is a highly efficient system that drives exceptional economic growth.
Ep. 1477 Teacher Pulls Back Curtain on Government Schools
Aug 23 2019 38 mins  
Larry Ludlow reports from his own experiences within the government school system. It's pretty brutal, folks.
Ep. 1476 Government, Food, Farmers, and You
Aug 22 2019 26 mins  
John Moody returns to update us on government and its various agencies, and how they affect farmers, your food, and you.
Ep. 1475 Gene Epstein Smacks Down Progressive Economics
Aug 21 2019 52 mins  
Gene Epstein returns to discuss People, Power, and Profits: Progressive Capitalism for an Age of Discontent, the new book by economist Joseph Stiglitz. It gets the full Epstein treatment.
Ep. 1474 What Is Fascism?
Aug 21 2019 31 mins  
Gerard Casey, professor emeritus of philosophy at University College, Dublin, joins me to discuss the philosophy of fascism, which he describes as a form of irrationalism.
Ep. 1473 Are People Naturally Libertarian? and Other Questions With the LP's Executive Director
Aug 20 2019 37 mins  
Dan Fishman recently became executive director of the Libertarian Party. He joins me to discuss (among plenty of other things) his political evolution, where he sees the party going, and whether people are naturally libertarian or anti-libertarian.
Ep. 1472 How We Flourish Without a Central Planner
Aug 17 2019 31 mins  
Julie Borowski, the popular libertarian content creator, has just released a children's book called Nobody Knows How to Make a Pizza, in which she illustrates how, without a central planner, amazing feats of production that could be carried out (or even fully understood) by no single individual take place. We then discuss the state of the "liberty movement" in 2019.
Ep. 1471 How to Conquer Self-Destructive Behavior
Aug 17 2019 31 mins  
Today I am joined by two libertarians: Dr. Michael Edelstein and Dr. David Ramsay Steele. Together they wrote Three Minute Therapy: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life, which applies an easily replicated technique to conquering all sorts of undesirable conditions and behaviors: depression, excessive drinking, procrastination, overeating, and many more.
Ep. 1470 Vince Vaughn on Hollywood, Libertarianism, and American Politics
Aug 15 2019 26 mins  
Vince Vaughn has scores of Hollywood films to his credit -- from The Lost World: Jurassic Park to Hacksaw Ridge and many in between -- and has been a Ron Paul supporter since the 2008 presidential campaign. He and Tom discuss Hollywood, libertarianism, and American politics.
Ep. 1469 Scott Horton on Iran, Syria, and His Critics
Aug 15 2019 38 mins  
Not long ago, the great libertarian foreign policy expert Scott Horton joined me for a full week's worth of episodes. We got some great feedback and a little criticism, so Scott and I decided that replying to critics makes for great episodes, too. So we're talking Syria, Iran, and plenty more in today's episode.
Ep. 1468 Spooner vs. Locke: Can Governments Rest on "Consent"?
Aug 13 2019 24 mins  
John Locke tries to rest the legitimacy of government on the consent of the people. But can they really give consent? Locke himself admitted that unanimous consent was impossible, but thought the state could be legitimized anyway. Lysander Spooner thought otherwise: if we as individuals do not consent to an arrangement, it cannot be enforced on us.
Ep. 1467 The Evils of the Russian Revolution
Aug 09 2019 32 mins  
We conclude Brion McClanahan Week with a discussion of a historical topic that fascinates us both: the Russian Revolution. We then clear up some loose ends and bring this week of history to a close.
Ep. 1466 Think Locally, Act Locally
Aug 09 2019 27 mins  
Brion McClanahan's podcast tagline is "think locally, act locally." We take a deep dive into what this means, including the federalist/decentralist tradition in America, plus: what about issues that seem to require cooperation beyond the local level?
Ep. 1465 Is There Anything Valuable in the Southern Tradition?
Aug 08 2019 33 mins  
Well, here's the question nobody is allowed to ask, since even to ask it is to invite anti-intellectual, third-grade-level responses. But presumably a region that generated Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, James Madison, George Mason, James Monroe, Edgar Allen Poe, Mark Twain, William Faulkner, and Walker Percy might have something to be said for it. So as Brion McClanahan Week continues, we take a look at this question.
Ep. 1464 The Obscure Presidents, Good and Bad
Aug 06 2019 27 mins  
Brion McClanahan Week continues with a look at U.S. presidents we barely hear about (and who tend, naturally, to be the better ones) and how we should evaluate them.
Ep. 1463 A Historian Abandons Neoconservatism
Aug 06 2019 28 mins  
Brion McClanahan Week on the Tom Woods Show begins with a discussion of this important historian's background, and how he came to abandon the neoconservatism so many of us imbibed in our youth.
Ep. 1462 The Moral Mess of Higher Education
Aug 03 2019 41 mins  
Phil Magness discusses his new book (with Jason Brennan) about the problems with higher education. They aren't talking about ideological conformity, bad as that is. They are discussing other problems, just as deep and pervasive. For example, most academic marketing and advertising is semi-fraudulent. To justify their own pay raises and higher budgets, administrators hire expensive and unnecessary staff. Faculty exploit students for tuition dollars through gen-ed requirements. Students hardly learn anything, and cheating is pervasive. At every level, academics disguise their pursuit of self-interest with high-faluting moral language.
Ep. 1461 The Powerful Fear Humor: Interview with Babylon Bee Editor-in-Chief
Aug 02 2019 32 mins  
Kyle Mann, editor-in-chief of the brilliant satire site The Babylon Bee, joins me to discuss comedy, politics, social media, and Snopes' hilarious "fact checking" of what is obviously satire. Sponsor: makes the case for freedom and against the state in about a hundred pages, and it's the perfect title to hand a curious friend. Through the end of August, the $10 price tag gets you three copies instead of one. Check it out at .
Ep. 1460 Kamala Harris Destroyed, and Other Debate Highlights
Aug 02 2019 36 mins  
Today Tho Bishop and I review the second night of the second round of Democratic presidential debates (the July 31, 2019 debate, to be exact). Plenty of dull talking points, to be sure, but enough zingers to make this episode fun.
Ep. 1459 Lew Rockwell on So-Called Moderates Against Leftists in July Dem Debate
Jul 31 2019 34 mins  
Last night there was yet another Democratic presidential debate, and the great Lew Rockwell and I watched it so you didn't have to. Winners, losers, and insanity all covered in detail.
Ep. 1458 Socialism Sucks: Two Economists Drink Their Way Through the Unfree World
Jul 31 2019 34 mins  
Ben Powell returns to the show to discuss his new book with Bob Lawson, in which the two economists visit various unfree places around the world and share their observations. (It turns out that alcohol, and usually beer, is often a good indicator of degrees of freedom.) In this episode we get a glimpse inside Cuba, Venezuela, Russia, and (a genuine success story) Georgia.
BONUS Ep. 1457 The Simplest Online Business
Jul 27 2019 32 mins  
Most of my listeners will be familiar with Praxis, the program that gets young people internships, and their first job, with a business that matches their interests. Clark Davis, a Tom Woods Show listener, learned about Praxis through me, and did his own apprenticeship at the E-Commerce Business School. Today he works for them full time, helping people break into e-commerce as a nice side income source or even as a full-time living.
Ep. 1456 Scott Horton Week: The Full Story of the Yemen Atrocity
Jul 26 2019 36 mins  
We wrap up Scott Horton week with a full overview of the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen, what the true story behind it is, and precisely why the U.S. regime chose to take sides.
Ep. 1455 Scott Horton Week: The Whole Truth About Syria
Jul 25 2019 39 mins  
Maybe you favor nonintervention, but are you sure you know all the ins and outs of the situation in Syria in recent years? The great Scott Horton cuts through the propaganda to get to the real story.
Ep. 1454 Scott Horton Week: The Full Truth About Iraq
Jul 24 2019 35 mins  
Our discussion with Scott Horton about the War on Terror continues today with coverage of Iraq. You think you know the story: the creeps deceived us about WMDs. There's so much more to the Iraq disaster than that, and Scott gives us all the details.
Ep. 1453 How the US Regime Intensified the Somalian Famine: Forgotten History from the War on Terror
Jul 23 2019 32 mins  
Day two of Scott Horton Week takes us to Somalia, and Scott's discussion of how this of all countries came to find itself in the crosshairs of the U.S. War on Terror. we also discussed the humanitarian catastrophe in that country, and the role the U.S. played in worsening it.
Ep. 1452 The War on Terror: Where Things Stand
Jul 23 2019 39 mins  
The great Scott Horton joins us for a tour of half a dozen countries with an update on the status of the War on Terror in each.
Ep. 1451 University Pretends to Support Austrian Economics to Get Grant Money, Is Caught Red-Handed
Jul 19 2019 20 mins  
In 2002 the University of Missouri accepted a multi-million dollar bequest whose stipulation was that it hire professors working within the tradition of the Austrian School of economics. It has recently been discovered that of course it did no such thing. Its efforts to cover its tracks are actually laughable. This is a fun one.
Ep. 1450 The CIA and 1953 Coup in Iran
Jul 19 2019 40 mins  
In 1979, as the Iranian Revolution was under way, Jimmy Carter called the 1953 ouster of Iranian prime minister "ancient history." But it wasn't. It poisoned Iranian-American relations through the late 1970s and indeed has continued to do so to this day. Hunt Tooley joins me to discuss this overlooked piece of history.
Ep. 1449 The Boatload of Real-Life Examples Keynesians Have to Ignore
Jul 18 2019 33 mins  
Keynesians like to pretend that they're impartial scientists, following the evidence wherever it leads. We, meanwhile, are portrayed as too blinded by ideology to be worth listening to. So today I run through some very challenging episodes for Keynesians to explain, and we see who the real scientists are.
Ep. 1448 How to De-Brainwash Students
Jul 16 2019 35 mins  
The prolific and sorely underrated Connor Boyack, president of the , is back with still more important work. For years libertarians have wrung their hands about the lack of materials for younger people, particularly in economics. How to convey these important ideas to kids? Connor actually did something about it. In fact, since our last conversation Connor has made three substantial contributions to our movement. Don't miss them. They are exactly what we needed, but which we lacked the ambition to do.
Ep. 1447 The Trouble with Churchill, and Other Revisionist History
Jul 16 2019 57 mins  
This episode covers Anglo-American politics between the world wars, and includes coverage of Winston Churchill, including libertarian and conservative critiques.
Ep. 1446 The Gory Details of Before and After 2008, and Why Ours Is the Only Explanation
Jul 12 2019 50 mins  
I get into detail about the lead-up to the crisis of 2008, the problems the federal government and the Federal Reserve caused, and why explanations other than the free-market one fail. This episode is drawn from my appearance on .
Ep. 1445 Versailles: The Treaty That Shaped the Twentieth Century
Jul 10 2019 42 mins  
It's been 100 years since the signing of the Treaty of Versailles at the end of World War I. That treaty had a profound impact -- entirely for ill -- on the course of the twentieth century. Historian Hunt Tooley joins me to assess the damage.
Ep. 1444 Scott Horton on 20 Years of Foreign Policy Horrors
Jul 09 2019 47 mins  
The indefatigable Scott Horton, the great libertarian foreign-policy expert, just reached a truly amazing milestone: his five thousandth interview. We look back over 20+ years of Scott's work -- and in so doing, review the course of U.S. foreign policy during these critical years.
Ep. 1443 You Don't Need to See This List of Bad Cops, Citizen
Jul 08 2019 33 mins  
Carla Gericke, past president of the , joins me for an update from New Hampshire and to discuss some important local issues that affect many communities. She has been at the forefront of a campaign against surveillance cameras, as well as securing the release of a list of bad cops -- a list that a major state official is trying to keep suppressed.
Ep. 1442 Business and the Just Society: Friends or Foes?
Jul 05 2019 31 mins  
James Otteson is the author of an excellent new book: Honorable Business: A Framework for Business in a Just and Humane Society. He discusses the purpose of business, outlines a sound approach to business ethics, and contends that contrary to popular prejudice, business can play an important role in building a just and humane society. So I ask him, as devil's advocate: can there be a genuine code of business ethics in a market economy? Wouldn't the most unscrupulous earn the highest profits and displace more ethical firms? And as for business firms and "treating people the right way," as Otteson titles one of his chapters, what about businesses whose closures decimate a whole town? Plenty to discuss in this important episode!
Ep. 1441 Jeff Deist on "Woke" Capitalism and Politicizing All of Life
Jul 03 2019 35 mins  
You can't just go out and buy shaving cream anymore; you'd better know the company's stance on fashionable issues, lest people attack you for conniving at oppression. It's part of the left's fantasy of politicizing all of life.
Ep. 1440 A Foe of the Empire: Antiwar.com's Justin Raimondo, 1951-2019
Jul 03 2019 39 mins  
Justin Raimondo, who died last week, had been the soul of Antiwar.com since its creation in 1995, and wrote over 3,000 columns during his tenure. The great libertarian foreign-policy expert Scott Horton joins me to discuss Justin's life, work, and views.
Ep. 1439 Down With Religious Arguments Against the Market
Jul 01 2019 38 mins  
I talk to Mike Maharrey about the arguments we often hear from some religious folks, on both left and right, against the market economy. (We answer these arguments, of course.) This episode is taken from my appearance on Mike's podcast.)
Ep. 1438 Were Biden and Sanders the Losers? Handicapping the Second Democratic Debate
Jun 29 2019 35 mins  
The June 27, 2019 Democratic presidential debate featured more familiar names, and was much more vicious. We review the winners and losers (in terms of prospects; in terms of ideas they were all losers, obviously), and what's likely ahead. Sponsor: Simple Habit is a meditation app that takes five minutes of your time, that you can use on the go (you don't have to be in the lotus position in a dark room), and which helps with specific kinds of problems. It has 65,000+ five-star reviews for a reason. Chances are, you need this. My listeners can take 30% off the premium membership at .
Ep. 1437 Lew Rockwell and Tom Review the First Democratic Debate
Jun 27 2019 32 mins  
It's that time again, folks. The debate analysis episodes I did with Lew back in 2015 and 2016 were among my most downloaded ever. We're doing it again for the Democratic debates, starting with this episode, covering the debate from June 26. Plenty of inanities to unpack here!
Ep. 1436 Black Guns Matter, with Maj Toure
Jun 27 2019 35 mins  
Maj Toure, founder of Black Guns Matter, is running for Philadelphia City Council on a pro-gun, libertarian message he says is making inroads with the public. He knows all the arguments inside and out. It's safe to say the City Council has never encountered anyone like him. We discuss his background, how the gun issue became important to him, why he's running as a Libertarian, what his influences are, how he answers anti-gun propagandists, and more.
Ep. 1435 WaPo Gets History Wrong; We Smash, Hard
Jun 25 2019 38 mins  
Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne manages to get pretty much every aspect of American economic history wrong as he lectures us on the wickedness of laissez-faire. Peter Klein joins me for the smash.
Ep. 1434 Taxation Isn't Theft or Slavery?
Jun 25 2019 28 mins  
That's what Current Affairs editor Nathan J. Robinson says. How well do his arguments hold up? I scrutinize them in this solo episode.
Ep. 1433 Was the Ron Paul Campaign Secretly Backed by the Russians?
Jun 22 2019 32 mins  
The chairman of the Libertarian National Committee recently linked to what has to be one of the most preposterous articles I have ever read, alleging Russian involvement in the Ron Paul 2008 presidential campaign. The Ron Paul Institute, for its part, has been accused of whitewashing the records of dictators and turning a blind eye to injustices abroad. Institute executive director Daniel McAdams joins me to address all this.
Ep. 1432 Finally, a Brilliant Pro-Market Business Ethics Book
Jun 21 2019 34 mins  
Gary Chartier has written an excellent book on business ethics that situates one's life in the market within an overall framework of human flourishing. He covers a variety of controversial topics with great skill, and in such a way as to be most persuasive to people unfamiliar with our ideas. In this episode we discuss what it means to live a good life, and then proceed to issues like property, advertising, boycotts, corporate social responsibility, labor and workplace issues, and more. WARNING: Audio glitch at 22:10. Turn your volume down a bit if you have sensitive ears. It was unfixable.
Ep. 1431 The Mises Caucus and the Tenth Amendment Center, Teaming Up Against the Bad Guys
Jun 21 2019 34 mins  
Two great Michaels join me today: Michael Boldin, founder and executive director of the Tenth Amendment Center, and Michael Heise, founder of the Mises Caucus of the Libertarian Party. We get updates from both Michaels, I ask them what it's like to engage in this kind of activism in the age of Trump, and they discuss how the two of them are collaborating in fruitful ways in support of worthy state-level initiatives. Fun!
Ep. 1430 Now This Is a Libertarian Historian, Digging Out Unknown Truths
Jun 19 2019 38 mins  
The great Murray Rothbard, known as Mr. Libertarian, was first and foremost an economist, but he brought his characteristic iconoclasm also to the study of history, where he tore through old orthodoxies and regime propaganda to get to the real story of the American past.
Ep. 1429 Scott Horton on the Police, the Military, and Other State Institutions People Make Excuses For
Jun 18 2019 40 mins  
Scott and I discuss the life and work of the heroic William Norman Grigg, who covered stories that would otherwise have remained in obscurity, generally pertaining to various ways -- largely but not exclusively involving the police -- the state ruined people's lives.
Ep. 1428 From Progressive to Libertarian: A Personal Testimony
Jun 15 2019 28 mins  
Carey Wedler has been producing libertarian content online for years, but as she first became politically aware, she was a progressive. I love stories like these, so we discuss the various insights she had that led her down our path. Sponsor: MVMT has hundreds of premium, affordable sunglass styles to choose from. Take 15% off your order -- with free shipping and free returns -- at .
Ep. 1427 Are Men the Oppressors and Women the Oppressed?
Jun 14 2019 45 mins  
The heroic Karen Straughan returns to the show to throw cold water on the cartoonish images of an oppressive patriarchy, toxic masculinity, and the usual kit and kaboodle, and finds that feminists, far from advancing equality, can consistently be relied upon to push double standards.
Ep. 1426 Can You Be Christian and Libertarian?
Jun 13 2019 30 mins  
Jacqueline Isaacs, a contributor to the book , joins me to discuss whether these two systems are compatible.
Ep. 1425 Women Need Guns
Jun 12 2019 33 mins  
Libertarian content creator Liberty Doll joins me to discuss the importance of gun rights, particularly for women, and responds to the most common arguments from the other side.
Ep. 1424 Feminism and the Family
Jun 11 2019 32 mins  
(N.b.: some sensitive subject matter.) Ladies of Liberty week begins with Brave the World, as my guest Julia is known to her followers. We talk feminism, family, promiscuity, children, the state, and being an adult.
Ep. 1423 Tucker Carlson Supports Elizabeth Warren's Economics
Jun 08 2019 29 mins  
Virtually every major news source covered what Tucker Carlson had to say in the monologue of his FOX News program the other day, when he declared Elizabeth Warren's economic plan to be a simple matter of economic patriotism that most Americans would support, and that out-of-touch Republicans, too enamored of libertarianism (!), would do well to heed. David R. Henderson joins me to respond.
Ep. 1422 The America First Committee and World War II
Jun 06 2019 35 mins  
Ben Lewis joins me to discuss the controversial America First Committee, which favored nonintervention in the Second World War (until Pearl Harbor).
Ep. 1421 Bernie Sanders' Fake Constitution
Jun 06 2019 27 mins  
A recent Facebook meme suggested that of course Bernie Sanders' wealth redistribution plans are constitutional -- why, we have the general welfare clause to authorize them! Ugh. Today I go through the (rather extensively documented) original intent of the general welfare, interstate commerce, and "necessary and proper" clauses.
Ep. 1420 The Real Antiwar Movement Takes All Kinds
Jun 04 2019 41 mins  
Last week I received the news that Murray Polner, my co-editor on the book We Who Dared to Say No to War, had died at the age of 91. Murray had been a man of the left, but we thoroughly enjoyed our collaboration on that antiwar volume. In today's episode I cover the ideological diversity of the true antiwar movement.
Ep. 1419 Did the War Party Break Trump?
Jun 04 2019 29 mins  
The war machine is a tough nut to crack. Trump wanted troops out of this place and that, but they're still there. Who is really making policy? Meanwhile, Mike Pompeo is trying to pretend that George Washington would have supported his foreign policy. It's all in this episode.
Ep. 1418 Luis J. Gomez, Co-Creator of GaS Digital, on Racism, Free Speech, Comedy, and SJWs
May 31 2019 45 mins  
Luis J. Gomez is co-creator of the GaS Digital Network, which features the programs of Tom Woods Show favorites Dave Smith and Michael Malice. He grew up in very rough circumstances, but worked extremely hard from a young age. Now he's built an extraordinary network committed to free speech, and an excellent career as a comedian as well. This is probably one of my favorite episodes.
Ep. 1417 The Strategy Episode
May 30 2019 49 mins  
Walter Block, Jeff Deist, and I discuss various questions involving (among other things) libertarian strategy: what if anything we can do to advance the ideas we believe in. Plus: the significance of Ludwig von Mises, up-and-comers in the movement, and a lot more. We covered these topics on a panel at the 2019 state convention of the Libertarian Party of Florida (https://www.lpf.org).
Ep. 1416 Kratom, the State, and Clever Entrepreneurship
May 29 2019 35 mins  
John Bush, a longtime activist I got to know during the Ron Paul presidential campaigns, began selling kratom after having had good results with it himself. Today we discuss kratom: what it is, what it can do, what the FDA thinks about it, what its legal status is, and the challenges associated with its sale. A great discussion!
Ep. 1415 Bad Idea: Bernie and AOC Want to Cap Credit Card Interest Rates
May 28 2019 30 mins  
Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders are proposing that interest rates on credit cards be capped, as a way of helping the poor. Would such a policy have that effect? I'm joined by Todd Zywicki, a professor of law at Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University, and who's an expert on consumer credit, to work through the answer. We also discuss the cronyism that keeps alternative institutions from issuing credit cards.
Ep. 1414 Michael Malice on Immigration, Culture, and the New Right
May 25 2019 30 mins  
Michael and I conclude our discussion of his new book The New Right by treating issues like immigration, culture (where it comes from and why the left is winning), and plenty more.
Ep. 1413 Michael Malice on William F. Buckley and Other Villains
May 24 2019 32 mins  
Michael and I discuss Buckley, Reagan, Christians who think America is Old Testament Israel, the media, and plenty of other juicy topics as we continue our discussion of his brand new book The New Right: A Journey to the Fringe of American Politics.
Ep. 1412 The Democracy Delusion
May 22 2019 24 mins  
I welcome Michael Malice back to the show to discuss "democracy," the system where the people's voices are heard -- or so the story goes.
Ep. 1411 Michael Malice on Humor, Trolling, and the New Right
May 22 2019 33 mins  
On day two of Michael Malice week we discuss humor and the dissident Right: how it uses humor, whether some things are too serious to joke about, humor as an essential tool against the state, and more.
Ep. 1410 The New Right: A Journey to the Fringe of American Politics
May 20 2019 35 mins  
Michael Malice joins me to discuss his new book on what he calls the "New Right," a disparate group of thinkers and activists who operate without a thought for Conservatism, Inc., who oppose progressivism not just on the margins but at its core, and yet who disagree among themselves with respect to a positive program.
BONUS Ep. 1409 The Progressive Rock Episode, with Big Big Train's David Longdon
May 18 2019 43 mins  
The best band you've never heard of is Big Big Train, which Brad Birzer told me about for the first time on this very podcast. If you're used to conventional radio hits, your life is about to be improved, I promise you. You did not realize music could be this good. The great David Longdon, Big Big Train's lead vocalist, joins us for this episode. Guest co-host Brad Birzer of Hillsdale College and Progarchy joins me as guest co-host.
Ep. 1408 We Are Politically Vanquished. What Should Our Strategy Be?
May 17 2019 29 mins  
At this year's state convention of , president Jeff Deist delivered remarks that I think are important, well stated, and to my mind completely convincing.
Ep. 1407 Does Study of the Middle Ages Have a "White Supremacy" Problem?
May 16 2019 40 mins  
Rachel Fulton Brown, a professor of history at the University of Chicago, has been at the center of a controversy within medieval studies over race and "white supremacy" within the field. The New York Times recently published a report indicating that if anything the controversy is heating up.
Ep. 1406 My Keynote to the Florida LP: What We're Up Against
May 16 2019 29 mins  
In this keynote address to the state convention of the Libertarian Party of Florida, I consider the question: if our position is so compelling, why aren't we doing a better job of persuading people?
Ep. 1405 The Battle Hymn of the Republic and American Righteousness
May 15 2019 42 mins  
Richard Gamble of Hillsdale College examines Julia Ward Howe's Battle Hymn of the Republic -- its history and theology -- and how it fits into the American civil religion, whereby the United States government is the instrument of righteousness not only here at home but around the world as well.
Ep. 1404 Socialism: The Failed Idea That Never Dies
May 14 2019 39 mins  
Kristian Niemietz joins me to discuss the persistent attraction of socialism despite its terrible track record, and the excuses and apologias its supporters offer in order to justify their ongoing faith.
Ep. 1403 The Origins and Evils of Crony Capitalism
May 10 2019 32 mins  
Randall Holcombe of Florida State University joins me to discuss what he calls "political capitalism," whereby the private and public sectors collaborate for their mutual benefit, and against the public interest. Sometimes the process is open and obvious, but more often it is hidden and obscure.
Ep. 1402 If We're So Right, Where Are the Libertarian Countries?
May 10 2019 19 mins  
Following up on a theme I raised with Professor Dan Moller in episode 1399 (if our ideas are so good, why aren't we more popular?), I want to address a related question, which has been thrown at us from time to time: if libertarianism is so great, why aren't there any pure libertarian countries?
Ep. 1401 New Book The Socialist Manifesto -- Refuted
May 09 2019 71 mins  
Gene Epstein joins me to respond to Bhaskar Sunkara's new book The Socialist Manifesto. (Sunkara was invited to participate, but declined.)
Ep. 1400 Libertarian Party Vice Chair Alex Merced on the LP's Past and Future
May 08 2019 39 mins  
Alex Merced, Libertarian Party vice chair, takes questions submitted by my private Supporting Listeners group, the Tom Woods Show Elite (https://www.supportinglisteners.com) on topics including the Johnson/Weld ticket, whether the LP should avoid presidential politics altogether, whether there's ever a case for not fielding an LP candidate in a particular election, and a lot more.
Ep. 1399 Why the Welfare State Is Morally Wrong: A New Approach
May 07 2019 33 mins  
Dan Moller, a philosophy professor at the University of Maryland, has just produced an intriguing, and to my mind compelling, new kind of argument against the welfare state. He takes on this issue in particular because it is one of the positions libertarians hold for which they are most demonized. His argument compels us to consider the question of how much we may legitimately shift our own burdens onto others, particularly without their consent.
Ep. 1398 Tyler Cowen on Big Business: A Love Letter to an American Anti-Hero
May 03 2019 31 mins  
Big business has become a villain not just to the progressive left but also to the populist right and even to many libertarians, who think they see cronyism everywhere. Lost amid this climate of condemnation is a sober assessment of the true record of big business in improving our lives. Tyler Cowen gives us precisely that assessment: he is frank about the moral faults of big business, but he overwhelms us with arguments in its favor that most people have never heard. Result: an excellent book and episode.
Ep. 1397 Eric Peters, Libertarian Car Expert, Punished by Google for Wrongthink
May 03 2019 29 mins  
Eric Peters was recently punished by Google for some of the content on his website, which covers news from the world of cars through a libertarian lens. Wait until you hear what the offending material was. Plus, Eric takes a fascinating array of listener questions submitted by members of my Supporting Listeners group (https://www.supportinglisteners.com).
Ep. 1396 Alex Jones and Tom
May 02 2019 37 mins  
In this blast from the past from 2009, I'm interviewed by Alex Jones about central banking and the financial crisis.
Ep. 1395 Another Woods Smash: Do Libertarians Think Every Man Is an Island?
Apr 30 2019 32 mins  
I often repeat Jonathan Haidt's point that left-liberals understand their opponents far less well than their opponents understand them. The most recent uncomprehending critic I've seen says libertarians "believe every man is an island." This was too ridiculous not to smash. Enjoy. Show notes for Ep. 1395 - https://tomwoods.com/1395
Ep. 1394 The Real History of the (non-Isolationist) 1920s
Apr 30 2019 41 mins  
Historians love to hate Warren Harding and Calvin Coolidge, the presidents during most of the 1920s. Historians also enjoy tut-tutting the U.S. for having been "isolationist" during the 1920s. This is all wrong, as usual, so in today's episode I set the record straight.
Ep. 1393 Trump, Mueller, and "Obstruction"
Apr 27 2019 46 mins  
Scott Horton joins me to review the "obstruction" claims on the part of media outlets that in the wake of the Mueller report suddenly dropped the "collusion" talk of the past two years and shifted to "obstruction".
Ep. 1392 Without Government, We'll All Go Broke When Our Banks Fail -- Plus, Insider Trading and Liberty
Apr 25 2019 32 mins  
I take on more criticisms of libertarianism -- less common but still important, and very interesting: (1) don't we need government-created deposit insurance so people don't lose a fortune if their money is in a bank that fails? and (2) should "insider trading" be allowed?
Ep. 1391 Government Scams That Everyone Believes
Apr 24 2019 55 mins  
In this episode I hit "too big to fail," the military-industrial complex, state pensions, Obamacare, the Federal Reserve, and many more. This episode is drawn from one of my appearances on Financial Sense Newshour.
Ep. 1390 Jefferson and Slavery: Non-Cartoon Version
Apr 24 2019 37 mins  
Madison and Jefferson biographer Kevin Gutzman joins me to discuss Jefferson's real record on slavery, the emphasis on slavery among the Western left (which leaves the impression among most students today that slavery was exclusive to the West, when in fact the West led the world in abolishing it), and whether the Framers would have supported the Green New Deal.
Ep. 1389 How to Defeat the Government/University Complex, Which Is Turning Frustrated Kids into Socialists
Apr 23 2019 32 mins  
Isaac Morehouse says the people who got duped in the college admissions scandals weren't the schools that accepted unqualified students but the parents who paid the bribes to get their children in. He's right. Today we discuss the increasingly irrelevant preparation for the real world that the existing government/university complex gives Americans -- a preparation so poor that it's turning a frustrated generation toward socialism. What's a better strategy?
Ep. 1388 Abolish the CIA
Apr 18 2019 38 mins  
Jacob Hornberger of the Future of Freedom Foundation discusses CIA mischief at home and abroad, and why the national security state is a threat to American liberty.
Ep. 1387 How to Understand Notre Dame Cathedral, Jewel of Western Civilization
Apr 18 2019 34 mins  
Denis McNamara, author of How to Read Churches, joins me to discuss Notre Dame Cathedral and Church architecture in general, in the wake of the terrible fire just two days ago. Professor McNamara is academic director and associate professor at the Liturgical Institute at Mundelein Seminary, the seminary of the Archdiocese of Chicago.
Ep. 1386 Down With the Green New Deal, Says Former Greenpeace Director Patrick Moore
Apr 16 2019 33 mins  
Patrick Moore, who spent nine years as president of Greenpeace Canada and another six as a director of Greenpeace International, joins me to critique the Green New Deal proposal.
Ep. 1385 The Truth About Whistleblower Julian Assange
Apr 16 2019 35 mins  
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange was arrested at the Ecuadorian embassy in London last Thursday. The media and political sources who despise him are doing their best to make his activities sound nefarious and disreputable. But when Assange's activity is described correctly and precisely, it suddenly appears no different from what any journalist does, in terms of protecting his source's anonymity. Cassandra Fairbanks of The Gateway Pundit joins me for some background.
Ep. 1384 Andrew Yang and Universal Basic Income
Apr 14 2019 32 mins  
Antony Sammeroff joins me to discuss Andrew Yang's recent appearance with Ben Shapiro, and how Shapiro might have pushed back a bit more against Yang's proposal of a universal basic income.
Ep. 1383 How Phony "Rights" Empower the State, and Other Libertarian Topics
Apr 12 2019 82 mins  
Today's episode covers a wide array of foundational libertarian topics: positive vs. negative rights, Locke vs. Hobbes, constitutional interpretation, slavery and the U.S. Constitution, subsidiarity, the social contract, and a lot more. It comes from my recent appearance on .
Ep. 1382 Lew Rockwell on the 2020 Democrats, and Everything Else
Apr 10 2019 37 mins  
All right, not quite *everything* else... but on: Trump, Russiagate, the media, Barry Goldwater, meeting Rothbard, being Mises' editor, becoming an anarcho-capitalist, and more.
Ep. 1381 I've Been Wrong About Right and Left
Apr 09 2019 40 mins  
I felt uneasy after my recent episode with Michael Malice on the meaning of political left and right, and now I know why: I've been wrong about a major piece of the puzzle. The brilliant Paul Gottfried joins me to walk through the issue: is there really a "left-right spectrum"? What do the terms mean? Has there been a "right" in America? Is "fascism" really resurgent? What books does he recommend? Plenty of provocative stuff here, including Gottfried's contention that politics is not "downstream of culture," but rather that it's the other way around: to a considerable extent, culture flows from politics.
Ep. 1380 Don't Get Snookered by Phony Constitutional Originalists
Apr 09 2019 41 mins  
Mark Pulliam returns to the show to discuss the problem of faux originalism in constitutional interpretation, emanating these days from certain libertarian and conservative think tanks. It's easy to be fooled by these arguments. What these arguments promote in the long run is not liberty but centralization and rule by judges.
Ep. 1379 Andy Ngo on Hate Crime Hoaxes and Dissident Journalism
Apr 06 2019 36 mins  
Andy Ngo of joins me to discuss recent hate crime hoaxes, particularly in left-liberal Portland, as well as dissident journalism in general and his own philosophical evolution after observing the progressive left up close again and again.
Ep. 1378 What Is Socialism, Anyway? Pinning Down a Slippery Term
Apr 05 2019 40 mins  
The word "socialism" is thrown around constantly these days, usually in favorable contexts. But what in fact is socialism? Hitler wasn't a socialist, socialists insist, who then turn around and say Sweden is socialist, even though no true socialist thinks so. Can we pause a minute to figure out what they favor and what they're talking about? CJay Engel joins me.
Ep. 1377 Dissident Voices Suppressed Online? Technology to the Rescue
Apr 04 2019 40 mins  
The news continues to be grim about purges on major social media platforms, but Andrew Torba, creator of Gab, has just released Dissenter, a browser extension that adds an independent comments section to any website. We discuss this, and the future of social media, including alternatives like Gab.
Ep. 1376 The Fed's Lies: A Fun-Filled Review
Apr 03 2019 30 mins  
During the critical year of 2007, between the end of the housing bubble and the onset of the financial crisis, major officials of the Federal Reserve made claims that appear to have been designed more to prop up confidence in a shaky system than to give real insight into what was actually happening. These people were supposed to be the country's experts on the topics involved, and they could not have been more consistently wrong. Why?
Ep. 1375 Myths of Gun Control, Plus: New Rothbard Book
Apr 02 2019 39 mins  
José Niño returns to discuss the most common myths of gun control. Before that, I spend some time talking about the fifth volume of Conceived in Liberty, which will be released sometime this year. It takes Murray Rothbard's history of the United States, which he never completed but which began with extensive coverage of the colonial period in the first four volumes, up through 1791. I share my impressions of the manuscript, and Rothbard's coverage of a historical episode that everyone else got wrong until 2002, but Rothbard had somehow figured out in the 1970s.
Ep. 1374 Russiagate: Here's How Bad the Media Really Was
Mar 29 2019 33 mins  
This episode reviews some of the key moments and claims from the Russiagate fiasco, to help clarify just what a damning indictment of the media it truly is.
Ep. 1373 Scott Horton on Yemen 4th Anniversary and Afghanistan Peace Talks
Mar 28 2019 60 mins  
Scott Horton, the great libertarian foreign policy expert, brings us up to date on the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen as well as the ongoing peace talks in Afghanistan. We touch a bit on Syria and on Russiagate as well. Any episode with Scott is indispensable, and this one is no exception.
Ep. 1372 Michael Malice on What Left and Right Mean
Mar 28 2019 53 mins  
By popular demand, Michael Malice and I discuss the political terms "left" and "right" -- are they meaningful? If so, what do they mean? Do libertarians belong somewhere on that continuum?
Ep. 1371 The Mueller Report and Fake News
Mar 26 2019 29 mins  
The year 2019 hasn't been a good one for the news media -- and now the Mueller report, which failed to find evidence of "collusion" between the Trump campaign and Russia, has just hit like a 10-megaton bomb. Mike Cernovich and I survey the wreckage.
Ep. 1370 The Fake Social Contract
Mar 26 2019 35 mins  
The "social contract," which we are said to have consented to "implicitly," is the primary way we hear the state justified. Our opponents on social media seem to consider this a devastating reply, as if we've never heard it before. Taxation isn't theft because we've all agreed to it via the social contract, they say. Uh huh. Sure. This episode puts the social contract through the shredder.
BONUS Ep. 1369 Church Politics in the Age of Francis
Mar 23 2019 50 mins  
Some of my favorite conversations on or off the air are with Catholic publisher Roger McCaffrey (who's the godfather to two of our daughters, incidentally). In addition to being very knowledgeable about a great many things, he is a man of impeccable judgment, such that whenever I need advice I nearly always contact Roger first. In this bonus episode he and I discuss the Francis papacy, the next conclave, the five living people who have most influenced me, and plenty more. It's such a fun discussion.
Ep. 1368 Reagan Admin's David Stockman: Is MAGA a Fantasy?
Mar 23 2019 40 mins  
David Stockman, who served as director of the Office of Management and Budget under Ronald Reagan, and who's been a great friend of the Tom Woods Show, returns to discuss his new book, Peak Trump: The Undrainable Swamp and the Fantasy of MAGA. We discuss John McCain (Stockman pulls no punches), the Fed, Trump's economics, Russiagate, and more.
Ep. 1367 Jordan Peterson Hits Back at Cambridge University
Mar 21 2019 31 mins  
Cambridge University has rescinded a fellowship offer extended to Jordan Peterson, probably the best-known and most followed academic in Canada's history. He hit back in his characteristic style.
Ep. 1366 The Democrats and Their Court-Packing Plan
Mar 20 2019 25 mins  
On a previous episode I predicted that the Democrats would not let the transformation of the Supreme Court stand, and would instead try to revive the idea of packing the Court. I was right. In this episode I discuss the history behind the number of justices on the Court, the FDR Court-packing episode, and current proposals from Democratic officials.
Ep. 1365 The Shrinking Index Card of Allowable Libertarian Opinion
Mar 20 2019 37 mins  
You'll never guess what your host did that outraged the delightful "left-libertarian" wing of our little movement this time, but it speaks volumes. I also discuss the ongoing Tulsi Gabbard situation.
Ep. 1364 True Conservatism Means Anarchism?
Mar 18 2019 31 mins  
Professor Alex Salter discusses his provocative article for The American Conservative: "Why True Conservatism Means Anarchy."
Ep. 1363 World War II Did Not Cure the Great Depression
Mar 16 2019 26 mins  
This one just won't go away. Even people who should know better unthinkingly repeat this one. Here's what's wrong with this claim.
Ep. 1362 The Discrimination Myth
Mar 15 2019 37 mins  
Frank Karsten returns to discuss myths of discrimination that virtually everyone believes, and which tend to empower the state.
Ep. 1361 Hoaxed: How the Media Demonizes Dissidents and Distorts the News
Mar 14 2019 39 mins  
Mike Cernovich has just released Hoaxed, a superb documentary about the media and how it distorts the news, influences public opinion, and demonizes dissidents. The result: a must-listen episode of the Tom Woods Show.
Ep. 1360 Wealth Redistribution: Its Bad Consequences Within and Between Countries
Mar 13 2019 58 mins  
I discuss the difficulties and bad consequences of wealth redistribution, both within a country (welfare programs) and between countries (foreign aid).
Ep. 1359 Can Economic Nationalism Help Americans?
Mar 11 2019 42 mins  
Gene Epstein returns to discuss the economic side of the brand of nationalist conservatism that's been developing under Trump. Will it help the people it claims to be looking out for? Show notes for Ep. 1359 - https://tomwoods.com/1359
Ep. 1358 Foreign Policy Disasters: Why Isn't Anyone Held Responsible?
Mar 08 2019 37 mins  
Stephen Walt, a professor of international relations at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, joins me to discuss the poor record of post-Cold War U.S. foreign policy. How has the foreign policy elite managed to isolate itself from real-world consequences for these failures? How can we insert sensible ideas into a conversation that always takes for granted the necessary for intervention and hegemony?
Ep. 1357 Surprise: Official Libertarianism Ignores These Two Heroes
Mar 08 2019 26 mins  
People say libertarians aren't interested in good news, and that bad news sells. I'm not sure I buy that, or that that's a specifically libertarian trait. Regardless, I have good news today. Today's episode is a tribute to two partially unsung heroes of liberty. Official Libertarianism pretends they do not exist, which is further evidence of their goodness and importance.
Ep. 1356 A Stake Through the Heart of Socialism
Mar 06 2019 32 mins  
In episode 1355 we looked at Einstein's famous essay on socialism. In this episode we drive the final stake through the heart of Einstein's version of socialism: the socialist calculation problem.
Ep. 1355 Was Einstein an Idiot (on Economics)?
Mar 05 2019 37 mins  
Albert Einstein wrote a famous essay for the socialist publication Monthly Review in 1949 called "Why Socialism?" In this episode I note some of the problems, as well as the surprising admissions, in the essay.
Ep. 1354 The Ultimate Libertarian Reading List
Mar 04 2019 44 mins  
Last night I asked the folks in the Tom Woods Show Elite, which you can join at , for suggestions for a solo episode I might do. Someone recommended this idea, and I loved it. Enjoy!
Ep. 1353 The Disastrous New Deal
Mar 01 2019 44 mins  
Every schoolboy learns that Franklin Roosevelt cured the Great Depression with his New Deal programs. This is false, as libertarians well know. But it's still taught, year after year. In this episode I take this narrative apart.
Ep. 1352 This Left-Wing Attack Piece is the Bologna; Peter Klein and I Are the Slicer
Mar 01 2019 55 mins  
I finish my reply to the AlterNet article containing 11 questions that are supposed to demonstrate whether your libertarian friend is a hypocrite or not. Joining me this time is Professor Peter Klein. If the left is going to refute us, it will first need to figure out what we actually believe.
Ep. 1351 Medicare for All, and Other Disasters
Feb 27 2019 27 mins  
Dr. Jane Orient, executive director of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons, discusses what's really wrong with health care (hint: it isn't a lack of government involvement) and how to fix it.
Ep. 1350 Remember When Conservatives Didn't Make You Pull Your Hair Out?
Feb 26 2019 29 mins  
Remember when conservatives used to be antiwar, opposed centralized power, and actually wanted to eliminate government agencies rather than just take them over? Yes, such people once existed. Robert Nisbet, whom you'll never hear mentioned on right-wing radio, but who was one of the great thinkers of that tradition, was one of them. I resurrect him -- not literally, so don't get your hopes up -- in this episode.
Ep. 1349 What's So Extreme About Socialism?
Feb 25 2019 39 mins  
Bob Murphy and I discuss the view, apparently now mainstream on the left, that socialism has been unjustly demonized, and that it would be quite all right to have the federal government in direct control of fully one-third of the economy. We’re not so sure this is such a super idea.
Ep. 1348 Another Leftist Tries to Refute Us. WOMP WOMP
Feb 23 2019 23 mins  
An article at AlterNet called "11 Questions You Should Ask Libertarians to See If They're Hypocrites" is just crying out to be discussed and demolished on the Tom Woods Show. Today is your lucky day.
Ep. 1347 Hooray for Billionaires
Feb 21 2019 28 mins  
"The rich" are one of the few groups we're supposed to hate. Unfortunately, among the so-called rich we have vanishingly few people capable of launching a full-throated defense of themselves against ignorant criticisms. Most are pathetically apologetic, desperately hoping to be loved. Boo. Stand up for yourselves!
Ep. 1346 Libertarianism vs. Postmodernism and "Social Justice" Ideology
Feb 21 2019 60 mins  
Professor Michael Rectenwald, the former Marxist who will deliver the Ludwig von Mises Memorial Lecture at the Mises Institute's Austrian Economics Research Conference this year, returns for a sneak preview of what he plans to say there about postmodernism, authoritarianism, and "social justice." We also discuss media gullibility, why corporations seem to be jumping on board the SJW bandwagon, and a lot more.
Ep. 1345 The Making of Michael Malice, #1 Tom Woods Show Guest
Feb 20 2019 55 mins  
Both times I've surveyed my listeners, Michael Malice has been chosen as their favorite guest on the Tom Woods Show. Here I try to uncover what makes him tick. That takes us back to his birth in the Soviet Union, his move to the United States, his experiences in school, his exposure to Ayn Rand, the development of his ideas, and a lot more. Plus, I ask him the question he most likes to ask others.
Ep. 1344 More Unknown History: People Weren't Always Clueless About the Boom-Bust Cycle
Feb 19 2019 31 mins  
When you read old -- and I mean old, like nineteenth century old -- American writers on money and banking, something jumps out at you: they understood things with a surprising clarity, and had a proto-Austrian conception of why the economy experienced boom-bust cycles. Suddenly it feels less lonely to believe that artificial credit creation leads to a boom that has to end in a bust. In this episode, therefore, I share some unknown American intellectual history.
Ep. 1343 From Blackstone to Marxism: The Strange Journey of American Legal Thought
Feb 15 2019 36 mins  
Stephen Presser and I go from William Blackstone, whose Commentaries on the Laws of England played such a central role in influencing early American ideas about the law, all the way to the Marxist-inspired Critical Legal Studies movement, the feminist legal critique, and back again to the originalism movement.
Ep. 1342 Money, Morality, and the Crisis of 2008
Feb 14 2019 50 mins  
How many times has this crisis been chalked up to "greed"? As if people hadn't been greedy three weeks earlier. It's time our amateur moralizers learned a little something, and that's the purpose of this episode. My thanks to the Acton Institute, where I delivered these remarks.
Ep. 1341 Young Americans for Liberty: A Dissenting Voice Amidst the Groupthink
Feb 14 2019 42 mins  
Cliff Maloney, president of Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) -- an organization I have enthusiastically supported for over ten years -- joins me to discuss their strategy for the campuses and society at large. YAL developed out of Students for Ron Paul, and are on the front lines of getting our message to young people who might otherwise never hear a dissenting voice.
Ep. 1340 Conservatives and Libertarians: Natural Allies?
Feb 12 2019 34 mins  
Ben Lewis and I go back into conservative/libertarian history to discuss the work of Frank Meyer, who thought the conservative and libertarian positions were not so difficult to reconcile. Conservative stalwart Russell Kirk wasn't buying it, and the two feuded vigorously. Murray Rothbard, too, weighed in on the controversy.
Ep. 1339 The Wrong Way to Argue for the Free Market
Feb 11 2019 35 mins  
Friends and foes of the market alike refer to capitalism as a system of "competition." Is that really its characteristic feature, and is that what distinguishes it from other systems? This is actually a misunderstanding, and one that probably turns plenty of people off to the market. What's the right way to think about and explain it? That's what Antony Sammeroff and I discuss in this episode.
Ep. 1338 Society Needs the State Like a Fish Needs a Bicycle
Feb 08 2019 61 mins  
In this episode I explore the history of the idea that society can more or less run itself, that there are certain observable regularities in our relationships with one another, particularly in commerce, that cannot be interfered with without negative consequences, and do not actually need to be interfered with in the first place.
Ep. 1337 Tough Libertarian Questions: Blackmail, Bridges, and Outer Space
Feb 08 2019 55 mins  
Walter Block, who holds the Harold E. Wirth Eminent Scholar Chair at Loyola University in New Orleans, joins me to discuss some particularly tricky questions for libertarians.
Ep. 1336 Obamacare Unconstitutional? District Court Judge Says So
Feb 06 2019 30 mins  
Josh Blackman, a professor at South Texas College of Law, discusses the grounds on which U.S. District Court Judge Reed O'Connor found Obamacare unconstitutional. We discuss John Roberts' decision for the Supreme Court as well.
Ep. 1335 The Myth of Religious Violence
Feb 05 2019 35 mins  
That's a provocative title, to be sure. Author William Cavanaugh, a professor at DePaul University, is not saying that what we recognize to be religious beliefs can never inspire violence. What he is saying -- and I won't spoil the episode by spelling out his thesis here -- forces us to rethink what we thought we knew about religion, secularism, and war.
Ep. 1334 The Government's War on Affordable Housing
Feb 04 2019 34 mins  
We hear lots of calls for "affordable housing," and much less discussion about what might be making housing not so affordable. Ryan McMaken of the Mises Institute shows that -- surprise -- the government's fingerprints are all over this problem.
Ep. 1333 The Tom Woods Guide to Seceding From Everything
Feb 01 2019 28 mins  
Looking over many Tom Woods Show episodes, I discovered a common theme: finding freedom in an unfree world. It's not true that we libertarians only complain. We build. So I talk secession from: the screwed-up American health care system, the monetary system, the education system, the traditional 9-to-5 job, and a lot more.
Ep. 1332 Should Libertarians Support Secession?
Jan 31 2019 49 mins  
Historian Brion McClanahan joins me to discuss an article on secession, particularly on the nineteenth-century southern secession, that makes the rounds every once in a while in fashionable libertarian circles. Libertarians can't support secession across the board, the author says, because some seceding states intend great evil once seceded. He further says there's no right of secession of an American state anyway. Are these statements sound? That's what we discuss today.
Ep. 1331 Do We Need the State for the Sake of the Vulnerable?
Jan 30 2019 32 mins  
In one of my Twitter exchanges, I came across a fellow who thought the vulnerable would be worse off under libertarianism, since they'd be less likely to have access to education, etc. Since a lot of people think this way, I thought I'd address issues like this in this episode.
Ep. 1330 The State Retards Progress and Peace
Jan 29 2019 30 mins  
Richard Cobden, the nineteenth-century pro-trade, noninterventionist member of Parliament, once said, "The progress of freedom depends more upon the maintenance of peace and the spread of commerce and the diffusion of education than upon the labor of Cabinets or Foreign Offices." I take this one sentence and riff on it, covering themes in modern European history, development economics, noninterventionist foreign policy, and more.
Ep. 1329 Lawyers Against the State
Jan 25 2019 38 mins  
Today I talk to Ethan Blevins with the Pacific Legal Foundation, which does pro bono work for people wronged by the state. Crazy laws and regulations in left-wing Seattle keep these folks pretty busy, but they take on cases all over that part of the country. Nice to have an encouraging episode once in a while!
Ep. 1328 Are the Media the Enemies of the People?
Jan 24 2019 40 mins  
Some libertarians shrink from this kind of language, but I don't see how it can be doubted, especially now. In this episode I discuss not just the Covington high school students, but also the media's general pro-regime bias.
Ep. 1327 The Green New Deal Is Insane
Jan 24 2019 39 mins  
Alex Epstein of the Center for Industrial Progress joins me to discuss the Green New Deal proposal, which seeks a radical transformation of the American economy in the service of "green" energy targets.
Ep. 1326 How to Secede From Our Monetary Regime
Jan 23 2019 42 mins  
Frequent guest Bob Murphy returns, this time talking about his new (co-authored) book, The Case for IBC. This is an acronym for "Infinite Banking Concept," a strategy that uses properly designed whole life insurance policies as a way to "become your own banker." The concept was developed by Nelson Nash, who besides working in insurance was personally tutored in Austrian theory by Leonard Read himself. Bob explains how the average person can benefit from IBC, and he answers common objections like "Isn't it better to buy term and invest the difference?" and "Why would I put my money in life insurance when the dollar is going to crash?"
Ep. 1325 Articles of Impeachment Against Abraham Lincoln
Jan 22 2019 41 mins  
A law professor recently included a thought experiment on a constitutional law exam: suppose Lincoln had survived the assassin's bullet, and later wound up facing articles of impeachment for some of his actions during the war. This is obviously a useful exercise, since many people feel an emotional connection to Lincoln and his cause, but this is precisely what law school is supposed to be about: can you suspend such thoughts and think entirely about the law? Well, guess how one critic characterized the exam. You already know the language used to condemn it. Brion McClanahan and I review the accusations against this professor, and the extremely valuable and thought-provoking questions on his exam.
Ep. 1324 How to Nudge Non-Libertarians in the Right Direction
Jan 19 2019 41 mins  
Musician Tatiana Moroz has an audience a portion of which is new to libertarian ideas, so she asked me newbie-friendly questions: how I get non-libertarians to start thinking differently, who will build the roads, what about the police, the truth about the Federal Reserve -- fun questions like that.
Ep. 1323 Agorism: Anti-Politics, Anti-State, Pro-Freedom Now
Jan 18 2019 34 mins  
Author and publisher Victor Koman joins me to discuss agorism, the anti-political, anti-state philosophy and strategy developed by Samuel E. Konkin III. Those chapters that exist of Konkin's would-be treatise, Counter-Economics, have just been released for people to read for the very first time. We discuss those chapters and the ideas found in them, and how what Konkin calls the "counter-economy" can challenge the state.
Ep. 1322 Smashing Fallacies in American Economic History
Jan 17 2019 37 mins  
Professor Jeff Herbener just completed the first of two courses for my LibertyClassroom.com website on American economic history, an area where there are plenty of misconceptions and fallacies to refute. In this episode we talk about 19th-century monetary policy and bank panics, fiscal policy in an age of limited government, colonial inflation, and lots more.
Ep. 1321 The Progressives' Dream -- Rule by So-Called Experts -- and How to Dismantle It
Jan 16 2019 33 mins  
A hundred years ago progressives thought it best that we be ruled by experts. Their vision culminated in the administrative state we have today, in which federal agencies make law, at times even clearly at odds with the actual wording and intent of Congress. Peter Wallison joins me to discuss the problem and the solution.
Ep. 1320 "Pro-Family" Economics Makes Me Crazy
Jan 15 2019 31 mins  
Tucker Carlson, who's been great on some issues, has been speaking out against what he considers the free-market fundamentalism (I wish!) of mainstream conservatism. He says we need to understand that there's more to life than GDP, etc. Since this line of argument makes me crazy, I devoted this episode to answering it.
BONUS Ep. 1319 Your New Business for 2019: What to Do and What to Avoid
Jan 12 2019 41 mins  
Steve Clayton was a vice president at LabCorp, where many of us have gone to have blood work done, and took a chance: he left it all behind to go out on his own as an entrepreneur. The gamble paid off magnificently. Today we compare notes on what works and what doesn't, and the features your online business should have to maximize your likelihood of success.
Ep. 1318 Cryptocurrency: Regulatory Hurdles, and Advances in Privacy
Jan 11 2019 39 mins  
Today, Sasha Hodder, an authority on the legal and regulatory aspects of cryptocurrency, discusses the regulatory hurdles faced by crypto, but also advances in privacy for users.
Ep. 1317 What Can Libertarians Contribute to the Study of Literature?
Jan 10 2019 35 mins  
Allen Mendenhall, who holds a Ph.D. in English from Auburn University, joins me to discuss what libertarian literary criticism looks like.
Ep. 1316 How to Be Better at (Almost) Everything
Jan 09 2019 33 mins  
Pat Flynn -- fitness expert, libertarian, and entrepreneur -- joins me to discuss one of the vanishingly small number of books in personal development that gives you specific action items to improve yourself, as opposed to a ceaseless stream of fortune-cookie maxims. Chances are, your efforts at self-improvement are misdirected; Pat is truly where it's at.
Ep. 1315 Everything Should Be Abolished
Jan 08 2019 46 mins  
In this episode, I review some themes from my 2011 book Rollback, which makes the case against, well, pretty much everything -- the Fed, the military-industrial complex, the whole kit and kaboodle. I also discuss an interesting development in the James Damore case at Google.
Ep. 1314 Ocasio-Cortez Wants 70% Top Marginal Tax Rate
Jan 08 2019 36 mins  
She says it's about time people "pay their fair share," and that she needs the dough to fund her Green New Deal. Others are saying that since we had high top marginal rates in the past, it's no problem to have them now -- and maybe the economy would be even better! Well, no, no, and no.
Ep. 1313 Capitalism Makes Poor Better Off; Left Goes Berserk
Jan 04 2019 36 mins  
The latest claim -- if you can believe it -- is that so-called dollar stores make the poor poorer. This isn't the first time the private sector has been condemned for expanding the choices available to the poor; I discuss three such cases in this maddening episode.
Ep. 1312 Trump's Mistakes
Jan 03 2019 25 mins  
If you say Trump makes political mistakes, you get scolded: why, what do you know, Mr. Know-It-All? He managed to get elected against all the odds! He knows what he's doing! Now while that cautionary note is valid as far as it goes, the man is mortal, after all. And his mistakes are stupefying: truly unforced errors.
Ep. 1311 Good News in 2019? War on Terror Takes a Hit, and Peterson/Rubin Challenge Patreon
Jan 02 2019 26 mins  
As the new year begins I devote this episode to (1) a review of the decisions by Jordan Peterson and Dave Rubin to leave Patreon and build an alternative, and (2) taking stock of the War on Terror, and why we can be cautiously optimistic.
Ep. 1310 The Ron Paul Revolution: Grassroots Leaders Look Back
Dec 22 2018 53 mins  
In this final episode of the Tom Woods Show for 2018, I'm joined by Michael Maresco (the "Ron Paul rider"), Bryan Thome of the Ron Paul Forums, and Jordan Page, musician of the Revolution. We exchange old stories, talk about what went right and what went wrong, and assess where we are today. Tremendous fun.
Ep. 1309 The Syria Withdrawal: Three Cheers
Dec 21 2018 64 mins  
Scott Horton joins me to discuss the reality of the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria, and the hysterical establishment response, from center-left to center-right. We also discuss fears about the fate of the Kurds, whose safety has been used to justify a continued U.S. presence.
Ep. 1308 Bill Kristol's Weekly Standard Is No More
Dec 20 2018 34 mins  
The Weekly Standard, a neoconservative magazine with a 23-year run, is dead. Longtime neocon slayer Paul Gottfried joins me to discuss the magazine, its editorial line, and its demise -- and what, if anything, it all means.
Ep. 1307 The Economist Ron Paul Wants You to Know
Dec 18 2018 71 mins  
Ron Paul says he can't think of a more prolific free-market economist in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis than my guest today, Bob Murphy. Today we follow Bob's personal and intellectual trajectory, from a high school student who knew he wanted to be an economics professor, to one of the most accomplished and widely praised economists working in the tradition of the Austrian School today. Guest's Podcast:
Ep. 1306 The Stock Market Demystified
Dec 18 2018 51 mins  
For lots of people the stock market seems hopelessly complicated, and people who discuss it seem to employ a strange lingo outsiders can never master. So today we answered a bunch of questions submitted by my . Guests today: Gene Epstein, formerly of Barron's and now director of , and Alex Merced, vice chair of the Libertarian Party and a ten-year veteran of Wall Street. Sponsor: . Guests' Websites:
Ep. 1305 Bitcoin vs. Social Media Purges
Dec 14 2018 30 mins  
Patreon is a platform that a lot of content creators use to raise money from appreciative fans who want to support them. But Patreon has joined the purge bandwagon, too. What alternative do people have? It turns out that cryptocurrency, and a brand new platform, are major pieces of that puzzle. Naomi Brockwell joins me to discuss.
Ep. 1304 How I Got into Harvard
Dec 14 2018 48 mins  
Stephan Kinsella, the libertarian theorist and author of "Against Intellectual Property", asked me the other day about my college admission experience. He and I each have a child in the tenth grade, so the topic of college comes up in our households. I didn't think I had much interesting to say about it, but we decided he would in effect host this episode and ask me questions. The resulting conversation turned out to be great!
Ep. 1303 The Rise of Victimhood Culture
Dec 13 2018 44 mins  
Jason Manning, a professor of sociology at West Virginia University, has accomplished a feat I could never have matched: he's co-authored a scholarly and dispassionate overview of what he calls "victimhood culture," particularly as manifested on college campuses. He traces the origins of the phenomenon and the hysteria, exaggeration, one-sidedness, and intolerance that accompanies it. And he takes the discipline of sociology itself -- at least as studied and promoted today -- for cheerleading for a point of view rather than offering dispassionate analysis.
Ep. 1302 Michael Malice on the Continuing Social Media Purges
Dec 12 2018 48 mins  
The social media purge continues: Sargon of Akkad was just removed from Patreon despite not being an extremist by any definition. Today Michael Malice and I discuss the ongoing case of Gavin McInnes, who was just banned from YouTube after having been removed from other platforms. (His Proud Boys, critics claimed, was an extremist group.)
Ep. 1301 Transgender Ideologues Try to Silence Feminist
Dec 08 2018 37 mins  
Feminist author Meghan Murphy, who had a large following on Twitter, was recently removed from that platform because of what appear to be fairly innocuous Tweets related to transgenderism, and even lost a book contract as well. The incident highlighted divisions among feminists regarding transgender issues.
Ep. 1300 Trump Report Card, Public Speaking Tips, and More
Dec 07 2018 39 mins  
In this episode I talk a bit about Trump, then about the cause of the boom-bust cycle, then entrepreneurship, and then public speaking. Quite a potpourri -- and a darn good one, if I may say so. This episode is drawn from my recent appearance on the .
Ep. 1299 Reagan Admin's David Stockman on George H.W. Bush, Trump's Prospects, and the Fed
Dec 06 2018 48 mins  
David Stockman, who served as director of the Office of Management and Budget under Ronald Reagan, shares reflections and anecdotes about the late George H.W. Bush. We then discuss how the Fed, rather than trade deals, has been harming America. (And also: why I won our gentlemen's bet....)
Ep. 1298 George H.W. Bush: His Presidency Assessed
Dec 04 2018 26 mins  
With the passing of former president George H.W. Bush, we've heard much talk of his having been an underrated president. Daniel McCarthy joins me to offer his assessment.
Ep. 1297 Marxism and Other Weirdness in English Departments
Dec 04 2018 38 mins  
Allen Mendenhall holds a Ph.D. in English from Auburn University as well as two law degrees (from Temple and West Virginia). He is an associate dean at Faulkner University's Thomas Goode Jones School of Law and executive director of the Blackstone & Burke Center for Law & Liberty.
Ep. 1296 Tattoos and the State
Dec 01 2018 37 mins  
Leah Farrow and Josh Griffin, co-hosts of the No Regerts podcast, join me to discuss the history of tattoos and the state, regulation and self-regulation, and a lot more.
Ep. 1295 If You Criticize Trump, You Must Love Obama!
Nov 29 2018 30 mins  
This week David Stockman, director of the Office of Management and Budget under Ronald Reagan, made some comments about the problems with what he called Donald Trump's "statism," and with Federal Reserve policy. He was immediately barraged with criticism from Trump supporters who thought he was a "liberal" (as if liberals are concerned about statism or Fed policy). In this episode I discuss what it all means, particularly in light of what Scott Adams told us two episodes ago.
Ep. 1294 Should the Authorities Have Killed This Man? New Ballad Tells His Story
Nov 28 2018 40 mins  
Jordan Page, musician of the Ron Paul Revolution, just released "The Ballad of Lavoy Finicum," about a man who was shot and killed by Oregon state troopers in 2016 (Jordan tells the story). We also take a few moments to discuss Jordan's appearance at the #WalkAway march in Washington.
Ep. 1293 Scott Adams on Trump and Persuasion
Nov 27 2018 38 mins  
Scott Adams, creator of Dilbert, joins me to discuss the Trump phenomenon and what people missed about it (and therefore why they didn't see his victory coming), plus democracy, persuasion, debating, Hillary Clinton, and plenty more.
Ep. 1292 The Heroic No-Frills Private School, and Its Enemies
Nov 27 2018 33 mins  
James Tooley has both chronicled and contributed to the extraordinary phenomenon, unknown to almost everyone, of low-cost private schools in the developing world. He's now bringing this model to England itself, his home country, and he's already got people talking. Of course, the usual suspects are trying to throw obstacles in his way, because his low-cost model is obviously an embarrassment to them. A truly wonderful discussion.
Ep. 1291 The War That Destroyed a Civilization?
Nov 23 2018 41 mins  
Scott Horton and I discuss World War I and its hideous legacy. Also: why the Progressives favored intervention, what the Social Gospel clergy had to say, where Hitler came from, and a lot more. This episode is drawn from my recent appearance on on the .
Ep. 1290 How Jeff Deist and I Advise a Child Who Wants to Run for President
Nov 22 2018 31 mins  
A 9-year-old boy wrote me a letter not long ago, part of which asked me about politics, because he describes himself as "very interested in running for president someday." Jeff Deist and I discussed the kind of things children that age might want to think about when it comes to politics, without turning them into 9-year-old cynics.
Ep. 1289 In Which My Secrets, Resentments, Passions, and Various Good and Bad Things Are Laid Bare
Nov 21 2018 75 mins  
In this episode my colleague Bob Murphy interviews me about everything from public speaking (and my tips) to my resentments (and how I overcame them), our religious differences, my major contribution to the historical profession (not a joke!), and a lot more. One of my all-time favorite episodes. This episode is drawn from my appearance on the very first episode of the .
Ep. 1288 Decriminalize Mushrooms
Nov 20 2018 29 mins  
In recent years researchers have discovered therapeutic uses for psilocybin mushrooms where the results have been extraordinary. Kevin Matthews of Decriminalize Denver joins me to discuss these findings, current law, and what the law should be.
Ep. 1287 The Left Can't Meme, But We Sure Can
Nov 19 2018 41 mins  
Mance Rayder's second book is like a bazooka aimed at the leftism that is de rigueur in academia, entertainment, and culture. Using well-chosen memes, Mance demonstrates the double standards and inconsistency that characterize so many leftist arguments, and makes the case for the free society -- the missing option in our political discussion. (Also in this episode, Mance finally drops the pseudonym and reveals his real name.)
Ep. 1286 Can Murray Rothbard Be Explained to Children?
Nov 17 2018 38 mins  
You know you've really mastered a topic if you can explain it to a complete beginner and be understood. You've truly mastered it if you can convey the basic idea even to a child. And that's precisely what the Tuttle Twins book series accomplishes. The most recent volume in the series takes Murray Rothbard's classic essay "The Anatomy of the State" and presents its basic ideas to a young audience.
Ep. 1285 The Establishment Is Ignorant: Nullification Edition
Nov 16 2018 33 mins  
Ever since it became known that acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker has spoken favorably about the right of the states to nullify unconstitutional federal laws, we've been treated to a barrage of the usual third-grade arguments from people we are supposed to consider our intellectual superiors. We'll have some fun with those in this episode.
Ep. 1284 How Northerners Used States' Rights to Fight Slavery
Nov 14 2018 40 mins  
Nullification -- and indeed anything involving the states -- is all about slavery, right? What a surprise: the propagandists are wrong again. In this episode, the 's Michael Boldin joins me for some forgotten history: how northerners expressly used the language of nullification and state sovereignty to fight against slavery.
Ep. 1283 Scott Horton on Scott Horton: The Making of a Libertarian Foreign Policy Expert
Nov 13 2018 45 mins  
According to the survey we ran for the Freedom Feud game aboard the Contra Cruise, the #2 most popular guest on the Tom Woods Show is Scott Horton, the great foreign-policy expert. This time, though, we discuss his background, his evolution, how he became a libertarian and foreign-policy expert, and a lot more.
Ep. 1282 DEBATE: Should Israel Give Up Territory?
Nov 12 2018 66 mins  
Elliot Resnick and Gene Epstein debate the resolution: "Israel should keep every inch of land it currently possesses."
Ep. 1281 The End of World War I: A Look Back 100 Years Later
Nov 09 2018 35 mins  
World War I was a catastrophe for Western civilization. One hundred years ago, on November 11th, it finally came to an end. Author and historian Hunt Tooley joins me for an assessment of the wars long-term consequences for all of us.
Ep. 1280 Trump, the Democrats, the Midterms, and the Future
Nov 09 2018 32 mins  
Were the midterm elections of repudiation of Trump, a mixed bag, or even an endorsement of Trump? What can we expect over the next two years, and what are the Democrats likely to do in 2020? Dan McCarthy, editor-at-large of The American Conservative and current editor of Modern Age, helps answer these questions.
Ep. 1279 The John Birch Society: A Conversation With Its President Emeritus
Nov 08 2018 47 mins  
John F. ("Jack") McManus, longtime president of the John Birch Society, joins me to discuss the Society's founding and history, its controversial positions, its clashes with William F. Buckley and official conservatism, and its present activities.
Ep. 1278 Woods's Greatest Hits
Nov 06 2018 43 mins  
In today's episode I review some of the golden nuggets from the previous 600 or so episodes. Fascinating people and ideas you may have missed -- and even if you didn't miss them, it couldn't hurt to hear about them again.
Ep. 1277 Private Law and Defense Are No Problem, or The Shortcomings of Public Goods Theory
Nov 05 2018 37 mins  
Neoclassical economics insists that a separate class of goods, called "public goods," cannot, because of their peculiar characteristics, be efficiently provided by the market and must instead be financed and produced by the state. The Austrian School rejects this line of argument. Today Jakub Wisniewski, author of a new book on the subject, takes on public goods theory and addresses the two toughest cases: law and defense services on the market.
BONUS Ep. 1276 Patrick Henry Descendant Starts Selling at Age 8, Works Online for 19 Years
Nov 04 2018 33 mins  
Paul Counts has been an entrepreneur since he began selling pencils at age 8. He's been making his living online for 19 years. He knows both the tech side and the marketing side inside and out -- a rare combination. (I've purchased a lot of his training programs myself.) Since I met Paul in Orlando last March, we've partnered up on several projects together. He's very successful online and (as I've discovered for myself) extremely knowledgeable, so I thought I'd give you good folks a chance to hear from him.
Ep. 1275 Myths and Truths of U.S. Monetary History: Plus, Funny Footage from the Contra Cruise
Nov 03 2018 39 mins  
In this episode I delve into some myths and truths of U.S. monetary history, from the colonial period through the creation of the Federal Reserve. The second part is a treat: some audio footage, recorded on the Contra Cruise, of Bob, Tatiania Moroz, and I as contestants in the Crypto Quiz Show, hosted by Naomi Brockwell.
Ep. 1274 Major Discovery: Previously Lost Works by Lysander Spooner
Nov 02 2018 27 mins  
Lysander Spooner, the great 19th-century individualist anarchist, evidently wrote on banking and currency competition, but those works had been lost until now. Phil Magness, through some clever detective work, tracked them down and they're now available, published via the American Institute for Economic Research! (They also shed light on whether Spooner sympathized with socialism or left-libertarianism.)
Ep. 1273 Birthright Citizenship: What the Constitution and Common Sense Say
Nov 01 2018 15 mins  
Donald Trump has indicated his desire to overturn the practice of birthright citizenship, a position Ron Paul and Rand Paul alike have long held. Opponents claim the Fourteenth Amendment requires birthright citizenship. Does it?
Ep. 1272 Gene Epstein on How to Debate a Socialist
Oct 31 2018 42 mins  
Fresh off his Soho Forum debate victory (as measured by Oxford-style rules) against Jacobin magazine editor Bhaskar Sunkara, Gene Epstein joins me for a review of the event and the arguments that gave his opponent so much difficulty.
Ep. 1271 Are Democrats and Left-Liberals Smarter Than You?
Oct 29 2018 33 mins  
Why, the reason so many college professors have identical thoughts and hold the same political positions is that they are very smart and all these thoughts and positions are just the logical outcomes of sound thinking. Or that's how left-liberals interpret the situation. I, on the other hand, offer a dissenting voice.
Ep. 1270 The Major Arguments for Money the State Can't Control
Oct 26 2018 46 mins  
Here's where we libertarians are most often ridiculed -- why, the monetary system we favor is for cranks, they say, and what's more, it's already been tried! Uh huh. In this episode I make the case for money the state can't control.
Ep. 1269 Ten Years Later, People Still Blame Deregulation
Oct 25 2018 23 mins  
Ten years after the financial crisis, the standard story still dominates: "deregulation" caused it. This is not even slightly true. It's urgent that we get this right, and not let the Fed's apologists (and the simply lazy) get away with this comic-book answer that encourages all the wrong kinds of policy responses.
Ep. 1268 Adam Smith, Karl Marx, and the Making of Modern Economics
Oct 24 2018 42 mins  
Mark Skousen joins me to discuss highlights and lowlights of the history of economic thought, and what we can learn from both.
Ep. 1267 The Facebook Purge Continues
Oct 23 2018 33 mins  
The Facebook purges continue, with recent victims including the Free Thought Project (3.1 million likes), Police the Police (1.9 million likes), and V is for Voluntary (165,000 likes). I speak to the folks behind these three pages today.
Ep. 1266 How Government Makes the Poor Worse Off, Example #43,662
Oct 22 2018 32 mins  
Jim Epstein of Reason TV just released a mini-documentary on the effects of the coming $15 minimum wage on one particular sector of the New York economy, and it's devastating.
Ep. 1265 What I Told the Libertarian Party of Florida
Oct 19 2018 27 mins  
Last week I spoke to a small gathering in Orlando of members of the Libertarian Party of Florida. Alex Merced, vice chair of the national party, spoke before me and introduced me. He spoke about his journey to libertarianism. I in turn asked what it is about libertarianism that it typically requires a journey to reach. If I told you my answer in the notes, that would take all the fun out of it. But I'll say that I'm pretty sure you will enjoy my conclusion.
Ep. 1264 Going to College? Everyone Congratulates You. Not? You're Probably a Loser
Oct 18 2018 43 mins  
Note the difference in reaction between telling someone you're going to college (congratulations and warm wishes) and telling someone you're taking a different path (skeptical line of questioning). T.K. Coleman joins me to smack down the typical line of questioning.
Ep. 1263 Reason's Matt Welch on Libertarianism, Foreign Policy, Journalism, and Michael Malice
Oct 17 2018 46 mins  
Matt Welch, editor-at-large of Reason magazine, joins me to discuss his background, how his views evolved, the state of the Libertarian Party, his experiences in eastern Europe, and a lot more.
Ep. 1262 What's the Deal with Elon Musk? And Other Car News for Libertarians
Oct 16 2018 31 mins  
The great Eric Peters returns with further updates from the world of automobiles. You don't have to be a car aficionado to benefit from Eric's knowledge, and as always we have an entertaining and informative conversation!
Ep. 1261 Is There a Moral Obligation to Help the Poor Abroad, and Other Moral Questions Asked of Libertarians
Oct 16 2018 35 mins  
Philosopher Jim Otteson and I discuss his book Actual Ethics (Cambridge University Press), which advances a vigorous moral defense of the classical liberal, or libertarian, political tradition. We also discuss the claims of Peter Singer, who claims it is morally obligatory on each of us to give substantial aid to peoples overseas.
Ep. 1260 Has the War in Afghanistan Been a Success?
Oct 13 2018 52 mins  
A recent post on a libertarian Facebook page suggested that only blind ideologues would dispute that the war in Afghanistan has been a success. After all, local polling data finds satisfaction with the U.S. invasion and occupation, and conditions there have certainly improved. Scott Horton, author of Fool's Errand: Time to End the War in Afghanistan, joins me to assess these claims.
Ep. 1259 A Neoconservative's Embarrassing Fall
Oct 11 2018 34 mins  
Neoconservative historian and Council on Foreign Relations fellow Max Boot recently called on Americans, Republicans in particular, to vote a straight Democrat ticket in November. He just released a book called The Corrosion of Conservatism: Why I Left the Right. He's been writing and tweeting his regrets about not perceiving his white privilege sooner. (That's not a joke.) Paul Gottfried joins me to discuss what it all means.
Ep. 1258 Libertarians Are Cranks on Money, Our Critics Say
Oct 10 2018 36 mins  
When it comes to sound money and fiat paper, we libertarians are nearly always dismissed as cranks. Why, don't we know that we need the government to be able to create whatever amount of money the experts think best? Don't we know this system has worked much more smoothly than the gold standard ever did? Don't we know our system will lead to "deflation"? In today's episode I take all this on.
Ep. 1257 The Wreckage of Feminism
Oct 09 2018 45 mins  
Janice Fiamengo joins me to discuss the untold stories of how feminism has actually affected society and relationships, and the reality turns out to be rather different from the cartoon.
Ep. 1256 How to Be a Good Person, Libertarian, and Scholar: Walter Block's Amazing New Milestone
Oct 09 2018 44 mins  
Walter Block is one of the world's most prolific libertarian scholars. But recently he's managed to outdo himself. He just reached a milestone that no other scholar anywhere can come close to matching, and it's why Walter is such a treasure to our movement. Listen and be inspired.
Ep. 1255 The Problem With Government Police
Oct 05 2018 25 mins  
...is that they're government police. Is there a way to insert some good old-fashioned competition into police services?
Ep. 1254 Theater of the Absurd: Guess What These Peer-Reviewed Journals Were Tricked into Publishing
Oct 05 2018 28 mins  
Three academics just made public a secret project they had been engaged in for a year: submitting absurd, nonsense articles to major, peer-reviewed journals in gender studies and similar fields -- and getting them published. Whatever it is you're thinking was in those articles, I promise you it's much worse and more ridiculous.
Ep. 1253 Libertarian Culture Wars
Oct 03 2018 42 mins  
In this juicy talk I do begin with some internecine libertarian wrangling, to be sure, but that's not my primary focus. I cover lots of ways in which we libertarians find ourselves at odds with the culture that surrounds us. The empire's reaction to the death of John McCain was profoundly revealing, for example. The culture of the universities these days is another point of contention. As I show in today's episode, though, when even one courageous person resists and then refuses to back down, millions rally to him. There is a lesson here.
Ep. 1252 The Brett Kavanaugh Ordeal, with Dave Smith
Oct 03 2018 38 mins  
Dave Smith, the popular comedian and host of the Part of the Problem podcast, joins me to try to get to the bottom of the situation with Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, accused of sexual assault by Christine Blasey Ford.
Ep. 1251 Are There Objective Moral Truths?
Oct 02 2018 34 mins  
Michael Huemer is a professor of philosophy at the University of Colorado at Boulder and the author of the outstanding libertarian book The Problem of Political Authority. Today he discusses his work in "ethical intuitionism," which holds that (1) there are objective moral truths; (2) we know these through an immediate, intellectual awareness, or 'intuition'; and (3) knowing them gives us reasons to act independent of our desires.
Ep. 1250 In Defense of Andrew Jackson?
Sep 28 2018 39 mins  
Today Hillsdale College's Brad Birzer joins me to discuss his new book, In Defense of Andrew Jackson. We discuss Indian policy, the national bank, nullification, and more.
Ep. 1249 Continually Mistaken, Chronically Admired: The Strange Case of an Establishment Economist
Sep 27 2018 41 mins  
Joseph Stiglitz is something of a celebrity economist, yet he's been grotesquely wrong both economically and morally so often. His case tells us a lot about the American establishment if he is the kind of person they hold up for our admiration. Gene Epstein joins me for the gruesome details.
Ep. 1248 Free People and Disaster Relief
Sep 26 2018 21 mins  
Brent DeRidder of the Liberty Coalition for Disaster Relief discusses voluntary efforts to assist with recovery from natural disasters, particularly Hurricane Florence.
Ep. 1247 Band Tells Major Label to Take a Hike, Prospers
Sep 25 2018 35 mins  
You do want to listen to this episode, I promise you. Rick DeJesus of the band Adelitas Way says musicians are dead wrong to oppose or fear Spotify, and they're definitely wrong to think they need a major label. His own band had more than one of those, but then, when they realized the label was absorbing all the revenue, struck out on their own. What happened next is what we discuss in this episode....
Ep. 1246 Stefan Molyneux and His Critics
Sep 24 2018 57 mins  
Stefan Molyneux's work has had nearly half a billion views and hundreds of millions of downloads. He has stirred up controversy among libertarians in recent years, having supported Donald Trump and entertained more controversial topics. So I decided to raise some of these criticisms with him and give him an opportunity to say whatever he liked. The result is this episode, in which (unusual for the Tom Woods Show) the two of us appear together on video.
BONUS Ep. 1245 How a Music Teacher Cracked the Online Code
Sep 23 2018 36 mins  
Ross Trottier, a music and guitar teacher (and a Tom Woods Show listener), who now has a thriving online and offline business, went through a period of homelessness and had to start from nothing. How did he crack the online code, sell thousands and thousands of copies of his book, get over a million views of his videos, and enjoy a far more comfortable life than probably any music teacher you know?
Ep. 1244 The Professor Everybody Shuns
Sep 21 2018 43 mins  
Michael Rectenwald, a lifelong leftist, has found himself shunned by former friends and colleagues -- even people whose careers he helped advance -- because he criticized and satirized some of the more outlandish SJW behavior on his Twitter feed. (Yes, this is the emotional level of these folks -- they're angry about his Twitter feed.) But the best part is: what is Rectenwald reading these days? There's a (somewhat) happy ending here, folks.
Ep. 1243 Universal Basic Income: For and Against
Sep 21 2018 29 mins  
Antony Sammeroff, co-host of the Scottish Liberty Podcast, argues that the idea of a Universal Basic Income is a very bad one, and for reasons you may not have thought of.
Ep. 1242 Critic Calls Libertarianism a Religion, Knows Nothing, Gets Smacked Down
Sep 20 2018 46 mins  
AJ+, a division of Al Jazeera, has a popular social media presence and makes widely viewed videos -- nearly all of them dreadfully wrong -- on a variety of topics. And man are they wrong about libertarianism. Since I haven't done a good smackdown in a while, well, you see where this is going.
Ep. 1241 The Rotten Assumptions of Our Bipartisan Foreign Policy
Sep 18 2018 21 mins  
Andrew Bacevich, professor emeritus of International Relations and History at Boston University, joins me to discuss the bad ideas and habits at the heart of American foreign policy.
Ep. 1240 Forgotten Lessons from U.S. Economic History
Sep 14 2018 26 mins  
In this episode I discuss earlier recessions and depressions in U.S. history, and what lessons we might draw from them. Hint: these are not the lessons that were drummed into our impressionable heads as students.
Ep. 1239 The State Is a Cult, and Other Important Topics
Sep 13 2018 56 mins  
Now this is a fun potpourri episode: we cover (in addition to the topic in the title) anarchism vs. minarchism, the Constitution (should libertarians care about it?), what the Libertarian Party should do, my original career plan (you'll never guess), liberty and security, and a lot more. Fun fun fun! This episode is drawn from my appearance on with Alan Mosley.
Ep. 1238 Suicide of the West: Two Views
Sep 13 2018 43 mins  
Dan McCarthy, editor of the venerable conservative journal , joins me to discuss two very different books with the same title: Suicide of the West, one by Jonah Goldberg and the other by an older conservative named James Burnham.
Ep. 1237 On the Anniversary of 9/11, Sanity
Sep 11 2018 25 mins  
I'm in New York City, as it happens, on the 17th anniversary of the attacks of 9/11. In today's episode I review the blowback theory and review the ledger of U.S. foreign policy since that time.
Ep. 1236 A Thousand Statist Arguments Smashed
Sep 10 2018 52 mins  
This one packs a punch: one statist superstition after another is pounded into dust.
Ep. 1235 Mises Institute Chairman Lew Rockwell Takes Your Questions
Sep 07 2018 36 mins  
The founder and chairman of the joins me for some great questions from my : where he sees us having success, what he thinks of the New York Times op-ed by the anonymous "senior official," how he became Ron Paul's chief of staff, why he doesn't bother defending himself against left-libertarians, his views on the crisis in the Catholic Church, what he would have done differently if he were starting the Mises Institute today -- plus, the man who ordered him not to start the Mises Institute, and more.
Ep. 1234 Resistance Movement in the White House? Anonymous NYT Op-Ed Says Yes
Sep 06 2018 31 mins  
Former CIA officer Phil Giraldi joins me to discuss the creepy op-ed in the New York Times yesterday by a "senior official" in the Trump Administration who claims to be part of a movement trying to undermine the president from within, particularly in his diplomatic overtures.
Ep. 1233 Keynesianism Flattened
Sep 05 2018 40 mins  
Keynesian economists believe the market economy tends toward the chronic underemployment or unemployment of resources, and requires wise management. and whether the topic is austerity, business cycles, debt, or a wide variety of other things, they're just dead wrong. And there is no better slayer of Keynesian errors than my guest, Bob Murphy.
Ep. 1232 Are Workers Getting Shafted?
Sep 04 2018 38 mins  
We hear on a regular basis that workers, whether because of free trade, or capitalism generally, or whatever other institution or trend, are getting the short end of the stick. An ever-smaller share of national income is making its way into workers' pockets. But is that really true? Gene Epstein joins me to get to the bottom of this question.
BONUS Ep. 1231 The Crisis in the Catholic Church
Sep 01 2018 40 mins  
With the abuse crisis exploding in recent weeks, culminating in the atomic bomb of a letter released by Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, I decided it was time for another bonus episode. My guests are Roger McCaffrey, president of Roman Catholic Books and founding publisher of The Latin Mass magazine, and Steve Skojec, publisher of the OnePeterFive blog.
Ep. 1230 Questions on Economics You're Embarrassed to Ask
Aug 31 2018 36 mins  
I've got a bunch of listeners who have some questions on economics that they feel like they should know the answers to, so they feel funny asking. In this episode we take some economics 101 questions and answer them at last.
Ep. 1229 Thomas Jefferson: The History You Never Learned
Aug 31 2018 38 mins  
Jefferson biographer Kevin Gutzman, who just released a new course on Jefferson for my LibertyClassroom.com, joins me to discuss Jefferson's influences, his early political career, his extraordinary accomplishments even outside politics, and a lot more.
Ep. 1228 My Worst Presidents, and a Whole Lot More
Aug 29 2018 52 mins  
I was delighted to be the special guest for the 100th episode of the Scottish Liberty Podcast, featuring Tom Laird, who runs the Scottish Libertarian Party, and Antony Sammeroff, who's such an effective defender of libertarian ideas. And what a variety of topics we hit -- including my five least favorite presidents. Enjoy!
Ep. 1227 The McCain Legacy in Foreign Policy
Aug 28 2018 56 mins  
It's important to cut through the exaggerated platitudes to the heart of who John McCain was, lest a misplaced desire to carry on his "legacy" cause further harm to the United States and the world. Scott Horton joins me for this frank appraisal.
Ep. 1226 Michael Malice on Healing Libertarian Rifts
Aug 28 2018 50 mins  
Libertarian worlds collided earlier this month when Reason magazine editor-at-large Matt Welch joined me on Michael Malice's program. as you no doubt realize, there has been plenty of infighting among Libertarians and libertarian institutions over the years, and I think we hashed quite a bit of that out in a very productive conversation. In today's episode, Michael and I review and assess that mini-summit.
Ep. 1225 Eric July on Libertarianism, the Black Community, and Dealing with Critics
Aug 25 2018 65 mins  
Eric July, whose band Backwordz hit #1 in Billboard's Alternative New Artist category, joins me to discuss -- in addition to his epic battle with rapper Talib Kweli -- what libertarianism has to say to the black community, whether he feels oppressed every day (I ask him sincerely, since Talib feels oppressed every day), how he responds to accusations that he's betraying the black community by being a libertarian, and plenty more. Eric was the emcee at my 1000th episode event; if you haven't seen it, make some popcorn and settle in for a fun night. Show notes for
Ep. 1224 Cody Wilson on Liberty, the State, and Open Source Gun Designs
Aug 24 2018 38 mins  
The media went berserk recently over Cody Wilson and his Stoic defense of the publication of open-source gun designs suitable for 3D printing. We go beneath the surface and talk social media deplatforming, free speech, and Cody's ideological influences.
Ep. 1223 How to Profit Off Your Enemies' Tears
Aug 23 2018 52 mins  
If you let trolls get under your skin, you're doing it wrong. They are gifts. And you can profit from them. Ben Settle, my email marketing mentor and publisher of the Email Players newsletter, is one of the kings at this. Someone goes after Ben, and Ben turns around and makes sales from it. Now that's how it's done. Also joining me today is Shane Hunter, known as the Abrasive Entrepreneur. We talk about my recent exchange with rapper Talib Kweli, and how in general to handle attacks. Show notes for
Ep. 1222 Now They're Coming for Medieval Studies
Aug 22 2018 45 mins  
Rachel Fulton Brown, a professor of medieval history at the University of Chicago who's been under assault by ideologically motivated peers, joins me for a discussion of her travails, yes, but also her new book, the ideological transformation of medieval studies, and more.
Ep. 1221 Laura Ingalls Wilder, Erased by Library Association, Deserves Her Place in Literary History
Aug 21 2018 39 mins  
Dedra Birzer of Hillsdale College joins me to discuss the works and views of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her daughter Rose Wilder Lane, who was an important libertarian writer in her own right. Wilder recently had her name removed from an important children's literature award by the American Library Association, so we begin with a discussion of that.
Ep. 1220 The Present and Future of the LP (and the Problem of "Libertarian Socialism")
Aug 18 2018 33 mins  
Joshua Smith, who secured a spot on the Libertarian National Committee at the party's recent convention, joins me to discuss the party's present and future, the controversy with "libertarian socialists," and much more.
Ep. 1219 Jeff Deist on Social Media De-Platforming and the Truth about P.C.
Aug 16 2018 44 mins  
Jeff Deist, former chief of staff to Ron Paul and current president of the Mises Institute, joins me to discuss how we should think about social media de-platforming and what it means (surely libertarians have something more to say than "they're private companies," as if we're never allowed to criticize private companies). We also discuss political correctness: maybe it wasn't just about politeness after all, and maybe it wasn't just a figment of the right-wing's imagination.
Ep. 1218 The Legal Framework of a Stateless Society
Aug 15 2018 28 mins  
Dr. Jamin Hubner joins me to discuss his Creative Common Law project, which serves as the legal blueprint for how a stateless society would function and deal with common problems.
Ep. 1217 How the State Sucks the Life Out of Education, and How the Private Sector Just Made a Great Leap Forward in Math
Aug 14 2018 27 mins  
JW Weatherman joins me to discuss the problems with state education -- particularly in math, a subject people are essentially taught to hate -- and a thrilling way the private sector has just made it vastly better, more accessible, more effective, and more fun.
Ep. 1216 The Standard Narrative of US History, Smashed and Stomped on
Aug 13 2018 51 mins  
What we learned in school: decentralization is stupid and backward, and the progressive way forward is for you stupid rubes to centralize power in the hands of your betters. This episode is the anti-that.
BONUS Ep. 1215 Mom of 7 Wants to Stay Home, Becomes Successful Online Entrepreneur
Aug 12 2018 36 mins  
Sara Young, a widely respected entrepreneur and teacher, was determined to make her living from her computer so she wouldn't have to leave her children home alone. That determination yielded her fantastic success, to the point that other moms who lived nearby urged her to teach them to do what she was doing. She wound up becoming an online teacher, helping many thousands of folks replicate her model. What she's up to today is particularly impressive -- and yes, can be replicated.
Ep. 1214 How Austrian School Economists Predicted the Major Economic Crises
Aug 11 2018 45 mins  
Mark Thornton joins me to discuss his new book -- to which I contributed the foreword -- on the so-called "skyscraper curse" and Austrian business cycle theory, and how economists of the Austrian School have been able to spot oncoming crises to which other economists have been blind.
Ep. 1213 Conservatives 'Tough on Crime' Act Goes Wrong Again
Aug 10 2018 36 mins  
Families Against Mandatory Minimums' Kevin Ring, who saw the problems with mandatory minimum sentences first hand, discusses a major injustice in the present system of sentencing.
Ep. 1212 Michael Malice on Social Media, Alex Jones, and What's Coming Next
Aug 09 2018 42 mins  
Are things going to stabilize or worsen on the major social media platforms? Michael Malice joins me to discuss the Alex Jones situation, and the nature of social media itself. Is the contentiousness and hostility we find there something that can be fixed, or might the whole project be based on a utopian premise -- just get everyone together, and we'll reach the truth?
Ep. 1211 Major Smear Job on Libertarians, One Year Later: Nancy MacLean (Sort of) Responds
Aug 09 2018 30 mins  
Historian Phil Magness joins me to discuss the controversy over Nancy MacLean's book Democracy in Chains, which claims to trace a massive racist, right-wing conspiracy back to -- of all people -- academic economist James Buchanan, who is associated with Public Choice economics. The book is so rife with error that MacLean finally had to respond to her critics.
Ep. 1210 Apple vs. Alex Jones; Plus, My Replies to Left and Right
Aug 07 2018 30 mins  
Alex Jones just got decapitated by Apple and other platforms, so I spend some time in today's episode unpacking what that means. I also take on left-liberals who think the problem with the Fed and the military is lack of diversity, and right-wingers who think capitalism is based on "materialism." Plenty of fun!
Ep. 1209 Traditional Universities Have Competition
Aug 04 2018 31 mins  
Scott Pulsipher, president of Western Governors University, discusses his model for very inexpensive, outcome-based online education. We also address efforts by the inspector general of the Department of Education to throw a monkey wrench into the works (surprise).
Ep. 1208 She Was Brought Before the Ottawa Human Rights Commission
Aug 03 2018 33 mins  
Janice Fiamengo, a professor of English at the University of Ottawa and an outspoken opponent of feminism, found herself brought before the Ottawa Human Rights Commission in a two-year ordeal related to alleged discrimination. She gives us a flavor of what these commissions are like, and how universities deal with accusations like this.
Ep. 1207 Pat Buchanan on Trump, Russia, and What the President Should Do
Aug 01 2018 30 mins  
Pat joins me to discuss the state of Russiagate, how the President should respond, what a President Buchanan would be doing, what's likely to happen in the fall elections, the state of the Democratic Party, and the kind of candidate Trump should hope for in 2020.
Ep. 1206 The Crisis of '08: Truth vs. Propaganda
Jul 31 2018 31 mins  
Opponents of the free market had a field day in 2007/8: why, this collapse goes to show how unstable capitalism is! That's why I wrote my book Meltdown, which (thankfully) wound up spending 10 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. We needed an Austrian (and not just generic free-market) response to this conventional wisdom. In this episode, I discuss the book with Lew Rockwell on his .
Ep. 1205 Hitler Didn't Like the Free Market
Jul 30 2018 48 mins  
With libertarians being called "fascists" and even "Nazis" by so-called progressives, I thought it might be useful to review what Adolf Hitler himself believed about economic theory. You'll never guess: it turns out he prefers government control over a free market.
BONUS Ep. 1204 Without This Music, Your Life Is Worse
Jul 28 2018 36 mins  
At long last, the episode you've been waiting for on progressive rock is here. This is yet another way the Tom Woods Show improves your life. My guests today are Roie Avin, founder and editor of and author of Essential Modern Progressive Rock Albums, and Brad Birzer, professor of history at Hillsdale College and contributor to .
Ep. 1203 ROUNDTABLE: Tom, Jason Stapleton, Dave Smith, Mance Rayder, and Marc Clair on Why We Joined the LP
Jul 28 2018 53 mins  
In this libertarian podcasters' roundtable, we have a lively discussion about why we recently joined the Libertarian Party, what our plans are, and how we can know if we've succeeded. Fun!
Ep. 1202 Abolish the Sex Offender Registry?
Jul 26 2018 29 mins  
Emily Horowitz, a professor at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, was the overwhelming winner (measured objectively by audience opinions before and after) of a debate earlier this year at the on this very topic. Most people assumed no case could be made for her side, but by the time she was done, nearly three quarters of the room agreed with her. We discuss the subject in today's episode.
Ep. 1201 The Innocence Project: Helping the Wrongfully Convicted
Jul 25 2018 26 mins  
Rebecca Brown joins me to discuss The Innocence Project, which helps prevent and identify wrongful convictions, and get compensation for people released from prison. What are the factors that combine to yield wrongful convictions? We discuss that and a lot more.
Ep. 1200 Walter Block on His Life With Ayn Rand and Murray Rothbard
Jul 24 2018 39 mins  
The prolific libertarian scholar Walter Block joins me for a fascinating look at his life in the libertarian world, from his days as a social democrat through libertarianism and beyond.
Ep. 1199 Dave Smith on Russia Hysteria
Jul 20 2018 38 mins  
The great comedian Dave Smith, host of , discusses joining the Libertarian Party, the current hysteria about Trump and Russia, and how his podcast became so successful.
Ep. 1198 Judge Napolitano on Kavanaugh, and the Court's Worst Decisions
Jul 18 2018 24 mins  
Judge Andrew Napolitano, senior judicial analyst at the FOX News Channel, joins me to discuss Trump's most recent Supreme Court nominee as well as the names the Judge would have preferred, plus the Judge's opinion on the worst decisions in the Court's history, and much more. Thanks to the folks in my group for submitting questions!
Ep. 1197 Socialists and Other Ingrates
Jul 17 2018 43 mins  
I strongly urge you to listen to this episode. These are my opening remarks to this year's Mises University program at the . I discuss two sets of ungrateful people. The first: socialists. I go into detail about the improvements in the lives of everyone, but especially the desperately poor, under the free market. The numbers are frankly miraculous. And all these folks can think to do is shout at their employers through bullhorns. Then I take on those libertarians who spend their time denouncing Ron Paul, Murray Rothbard, Walter Block, and other prolific and productive libertarians. This section is especially savage, but not gratuitously so. Just the right amount of savage.
Ep. 1196 A Market Alternative to the FDA
Jul 16 2018 26 mins  
In popular discourse, consumer safety is one of the most frequently cited reasons for government oversight. Neil Thanedar, my guest today, is co-founder and CEO of Labdoor, which can accomplish more than the FDA even claims to be able to, and more efficiently and inexpensively.
Ep. 1195 Did Trump Eclipse the Libertarian Moment?
Jul 13 2018 27 mins  
Dan McCarthy, editor of the venerable journal , recently suggested in the Spectator that the Trump phenomenon may have taken the air out of the so-called libertarian moment -- partly because that moment wasn't as libertarian as people thought. Plenty to think about here, and no conversation with Dan is ever dull.
Ep. 1194 Why There's No Point in Not Being Radical: Libertarian Strategy with Tim Moen, LP of Canada
Jul 12 2018 36 mins  
Tim Moen, the leader of the Libertarian Party of Canada, is an anarcho-capitalist in the Rothbardian tradition. That gives him an interesting perspective on libertarian politics and strategy, and I ask him some tough questions. A juicy episode!
Ep. 1193 Insights from 17-Year-Old Unschooling Listener and Budding Historian
Jul 09 2018 24 mins  
Once in a while I feature a listener who's doing something particularly interesting. My guest today, Noah Tetzner, hosts a popular podcast on the history of the Vikings, and also has the world figured out far better than I ever did at 17.
Ep. 1192 A Novel Way to Help the Poor, and Other Libertarian Solutions
Jul 06 2018 32 mins  
The brilliant Murray Sabrin, professor of finance at Ramapo College, is running for U.S. Senate as a Libertarian. We discuss the race, yes, but we cover a great deal else as well: how to help the poor without government involvement, how to understand money (and which book to read), what a professor of finance knows that political candidates don't, Murray's family history in Poland, the right of self-defense, why Rothbard sat on Murray's Ph.D. dissertation committee (Rothbard did this for only two people ever), and a lot more.
Ep. 1191 The U.S. Constitution: What Your Teacher Left Out
Jul 04 2018 50 mins  
Here's a wide-ranging conversation full of the kind of info none of us got in school. When did the federal government first go off the rails? Does the Constitution do any good? (You may be surprised at my answer.) What is the role of the states in the American system? And lots more. Thanks to the for letting me use my appearance on their program.
Ep. 1190 Me to the Libertarian Party: Wake People Up; Don't Put Them to Sleep
Jul 02 2018 40 mins  
At the recent event in New Orleans sponsored by the Mises Caucus of the Libertarian Party I spoke very bluntly about what a libertarian party should be doing and the good that it could accomplish, and contrasted that with the missed opportunities and self-sabotage that continues to plague it.
Ep. 1189 Freedom Potpourri -- with Chuck Woolery
Jun 28 2018 65 mins  
I recently joined former game show host Chuck Woolery on his podcast to talk about all kinds of issues, ranging from Confederate monuments to Austrian economics to constitutional law and a lot more. Enjoy!
Ep. 1188 Just When You Thought We'd Smashed the Schools Good, Along Comes Gene Epstein
Jun 27 2018 48 mins  
Gene Epstein joins me to make if anything an even more radical case against the existing education system than Bryan Caplan does in the latter's recent book The Case Against Education. Whatever "but surely you agree we have to have X!" arguments you've heard, Gene anticipates and smashes them in this episode.
Ep. 1187 Private Property vs. No Private Property: The Results
Jun 26 2018 27 mins  
Nathan Dempsey, creator of Liberty Minecraft, discusses what a game involving money, property, and nonaggression might teach us about organizing society -- and what he learned when he set up, side by side, a place that recognized and a place that did not recognize private property.
Ep. 1186 Lightning Answers to Libertarian Questions
Jun 25 2018 30 mins  
There's plenty of good material in today's episode, but I'm especially pleased with the lightning round, where I was asked ten major questions of interest to libertarians and given 60 seconds to answer each. Fun! (I'm sharing my recent appearance on the Johnny Rocket Launch Pad, which has now been succeeded by .)
Ep. 1185 Her Family Fled Three Communist Countries; Now She's an Ancap
Jun 22 2018 41 mins  
My guest today is known on social media by her pseudonym The Pholosopher. She's been very successful at spreading the message of voluntaryism, so we discuss what's been working.
Ep. 1184 The Catholicism Episode (with Some Entrepreneurship Thrown in)
Jun 21 2018 70 mins  
I've had lots of requests for an episode like this, so here it is. Today, at the behest of Steve Patterson, I discuss two things: the how and why of entrepreneurship, at least in my case, and Catholicism. The episode is not about the interrelationship between these two things. But Steve has been wanting to ask me about both, and I've had plenty of requests for these topics, particularly the latter. So here you go. This is my appearance on Steve's podcast .
Ep. 1183 Venezuela Isn't Really Socialist Anyway, Say Embarrassed Socialists
Jun 20 2018 22 mins  
Ever heard a socialist brush off the experience of Venezuela on the grounds that that country isn't really socialist after all? Here's how to reply.
Ep. 1182 Micro-Experiments in Liberty Around the World
Jun 19 2018 27 mins  
Tom W. Bell joins me to discuss the variety of micro-experiments in liberty, of varying degrees of significance, going on all over the world -- like special economic zones, the beginnings of seasteading, even Liberland.
Ep. 1181 Against SJWism in Sci-fi and Fantasy: Larry Correia Returns
Jun 18 2018 38 mins  
New York Times bestselling author Larry Correia joins me to discuss what's going on in the world of sci-fi and fantasy, where SJW influence has been growing, and non-SJW voices have been demonized with the customary accusations. Correia himself was recently disinvited from an important conference for quite clearly no good reason. We get to the bottom of it here.
Ep. 1180 Inflation: Its Cultural and Political Consequences
Jun 15 2018 44 mins  
Jorg Guido Hulsmann, a senior fellow of the and a professor of economics at the University of Angers in France, discusses those aspects of inflation most people overlook, involving how it changes the very texture of life.
Ep. 1179 Molyneux and I Smack Around the Deranged Universities
Jun 15 2018 64 mins  
Stefan and I go well beyond the college-is-a-waste-of-time stuff here. College can be fine, and the right thing for some people. But we go through: the ideological environment, quotas, how much people really learn, how to succeed without it, and a lot more.
Ep. 1178 Who's Afraid of Robots?
Jun 13 2018 30 mins  
John Tamny of joins me to discuss how progress really works and the extraordinary advances we've lived through that people scarcely notice or appreciate. And robots are going to make us better off, by the way....
Ep. 1177 Insider Trading: A Crime?
Jun 13 2018 34 mins  
Should insider trading be a crime? With Donald Trump suggesting that he might pardon Martha Stewart, it's an opportune moment to examine this important question.
Ep. 1176 The Anti-Marxist Argument That Clinches It
Jun 11 2018 51 mins  
There are plenty of arguments against Marxism, and we make several in this episode. But there's one, by Eugen von Bohm-Bawerk, that crushes Marx. That's because it stipulates, for the sake of argument, that Marx is correct about the labor theory of value and so much else in his system. And it shows that even then, his system comes up against a contradiction that cannot be resolved. I welcome G.P. Manish, associate professor of economics at the Sorrell College of Business at Troy University, back to the show.
Ep. 1175 Social Media Thought Control: Is This the Answer?
Jun 10 2018 35 mins  
Traditional social media outlets have been under scrutiny for their data collection, ideological bias, and skewed algorithms. Bill Ottman, co-creator and CEO of Minds.com, reviews the problems and proposes rather an exciting solution.
Ep. 1174 Science Deniers?
Jun 08 2018 25 mins  
Cameron English runs a project called Deniers for Hire, which shines a light on progressive bloggers and journalists who defame scientists they disagree with (why, these scientists must be shills for industry!).
Ep. 1173 The Supreme Court Christian Baker Case Is Crazy
Jun 07 2018 62 mins  
Lots of people are celebrating the Masterpiece Cakeshop decision because a Christian baker who had been punished for refusing to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding was vindicated. Unfortunately, the case is a mess, and resolves far less than you may think. I go through it with you in this episode.
Ep. 1172 The Problem With Government Police
Jun 05 2018 26 mins  
What if the problem with the state's police isn't bad apples but the fact that they're the state's police? Is it possible to imagine policing without the state?
Ep. 1171 The Bitcoin Standard: The Decentralized Alternative to Central Banking
Jun 04 2018 46 mins  
No wonder my listeners demanded this episode. Saifedean Ammous takes an economic perspective informed by the Austrian School and applies it to Bitcoin and why it matters. He discusses the various roles Bitcoin can play, and parries common objections. (We also take an animated detour into the BCH/BTC discussion, for those of you interested.)
Ep. 1170 Trump and the Deep State: Is Everyone Getting It Wrong?
Jun 01 2018 21 mins  
One side claims the Deep State is a figment of our imagination. Another thinks of Trump as a fearless crusader against it. Both sides are missing something very important.
Ep. 1169 How to Make Someone an Instant Opponent of the State
May 31 2018 28 mins  
Keith Knight joins me to discuss themes in "The Ultimate Red Pill," his epic video bringing together the best anti-statist arguments and clips. We talk about which arguments work best to get people thinking in new ways, which arguments reached him, and the one thing every 16-year-old should read to be inoculated against socialism.
Ep. 1168 Libertarian Victories Do Exist: Here's Exhibit A
May 30 2018 36 mins  
Carla Gericke, board member and former president of the Free State Project, discusses ongoing if underreported libertarian victories in New Hampshire, her own campaign for state senate, whether and why libertarians should pursue politics, and a lot more.
Ep. 1167 Michael Malice and I on How to Get People to Listen to You
May 29 2018 51 mins  
As Michael Malice prepares to start his evening news recap show and moves his existing show to another network, I offer suggestions on how to build an audience: what works, what doesn't, how you can exploit your enemies to increase your popularity, and a lot more. Plenty of lessons here for business and for life.
Ep. 1166 Everyone Is Wrong About Money Except the Austrian School
May 25 2018 43 mins  
This episode begins with my five-minute opening statement from a FreedomFest debate on abolishing the Federal Reserve System, and then proceeds to discuss further problems with the Fed (as well as problems with the so-called Greenbackers, whose critique of the Fed is that they'd prefer to see the Treasury inflate the currency instead). Plus a very funny story that you shouldn't miss.
Ep. 1165 Stossel Producer Naomi Brockwell on How to Explain Bitcoin to Your Grandmother
May 24 2018 36 mins  
Naomi Brockwell -- TV producer, cryptocurrency expert, and libertarian -- joins me to discuss new frontiers in cryptocurrency, how to explain Bitcoin to your grandmother, replies to cryptocurrency skeptics, what it's like to work for John Stossel, and a lot more.
Ep. 1164 Cultural Marxism and the Frankfurt School
May 23 2018 39 mins  
Is there such a thing as "cultural Marxism"? If so, what is it? And what was the Frankfurt School, and what was it trying to accomplish? Paul Gottfried, who holds a Ph.D. in history from Yale and has written extensively on these subjects, joins me to get to the bottom of it all.
Ep. 1163 The Spanish-American War: Watershed in U.S. Foreign Policy
May 22 2018 37 mins  
The Spanish-American War anticipated important themes in the interventionist foreign policy that was to come over the next century. The host of the Dangerous History Podcast joins me to discuss its causes and long-term significance.
Ep. 1162 The Law Schools Are Run by Crazy People
May 21 2018 37 mins  
Mark Pulliam joins me to discuss the politicization of American law schools and the role played by the American Bar Association, which enjoys state-bestowed monopoly privileges.
BONUS Ep. 1161 Libertarian Homeschooling Dad Becomes Master of Online Business
May 19 2018 37 mins  
Matt McWilliams is more likely to be at the zoo with his kids at 2:00pm than he is to be behind a desk. Matt is a libertarian and a homeschooling father, and served as an officer in the Libertarian Party at the local level. He's now an expert affiliate marketer, and has managed the affiliate programs of some of the top names on the Internet -- in fact, at the Affiliate Summit Pinnacle Awards Matt was named the top affiliate marketing manager in the world. He brings that expertise to this discussion of what works and what doesn't when it comes to online business and affiliate marketing.
Ep. 1160 Our American Pravda: How the Media Misleads
May 18 2018 42 mins  
Ron Unz -- theoretical physicist, software developer, political candidate, and author -- joins me to discuss themes from his "Our American Pravda" article, which explores stories the media suddenly dropped, or never covered.
Ep. 1159 Did "Racists" and "White Supremacists" Get Trump Elected?
May 17 2018 31 mins  
Musa al-Gharbi joins me to discuss the social science literature and its casual claim that racists and white supremacists handed Trump his victory in 2016. The evidence is overwhelmingly against this, as Columbia University's Musa al-Gharbi shows.
Ep. 1158 Women vs. Feminism: Why We All Need Liberating From the Gender Wars
May 16 2018 38 mins  
Joanna Williams, education editor at Spiked, discusses her new book Women vs. Feminism. Topics include education, sexual harassment and assault, and advocacy research masquerading as scholarship.
Ep. 1157 Baby Alfie: A Guide for Libertarians
May 16 2018 31 mins  
The parents of 23-month-old Alfie Evans, who suffered from some kind of neurodegenerative disorder, were told they could not take their child for treatment in Rome, where doctors stood willing to assist them. Dr. Michel Accad joins me for a libertarian analysis of this horrific episode.
Ep. 1156 LISTEN TO THIS ONE Is the Term "Libertarian" Still Useful? Jeff Deist on Libertarian Division
May 14 2018 50 mins  
This one's a doozy, my friends. The Mises Institute's Jeff Deist joins me to discuss libertarianism, left and right, and ongoing divisions within the movement. We pose the question: if you could have libertarianism triumph but it meant cultural outcomes of which you disapproved, would you still want it? Plus a lot more in this lively discussion.
Ep. 1155 Help the Poor, No Bureaucracy Necessary
May 11 2018 31 mins  
Great things are happening with DonorSee, the amazing app through which you can see with your own eyes the effects of your support for worthy projects around the world. Listeners of this very show banded together to build a house for a widow, for example. Listen to the show and support creator Gret Glyer!
Ep. 1154 Trump and the Iran Deal
May 10 2018 37 mins  
Historian and journalist Gareth Porter, who holds a Ph.D. from Cornell University, joins me to discuss the truth versus the propaganda about the Iranian nuclear program.
Ep. 1153 Why the Race for Libertarian Party Chair Is So Contentious
May 09 2018 35 mins  
Joshua Smith, who is seeking the chairmanship of the Libertarian National Committee, joins me to discuss the present direction of the LP, the infighting, and his own vision for the party.
Ep. 1152 Pat Buchanan on Foreign Adventurism
May 08 2018 40 mins  
I talk to Pat Buchanan about foreign policy, where conservatives have gone wrong, and what the future holds.
Ep. 1151 David Stockman on the Real Condition of the Trump Economy
May 07 2018 36 mins  
Has America been made great again, or are the same old problems festering beneath the surface? David Stockman, former director of the Office of Management and Budget under Ronald Reagan, gives us the full scoop. Plus, we discuss his recent appearance on the FOX Business Network, in which he batted down several regime apologists at once.
Ep. 1150 DEBATE: Is There Anything to "Russiagate"?
May 04 2018 57 mins  
David Pakman of the David Pakman Show, and former CIA analyst Ray McGovern, square off in a discussion of allegations of collusion between the Donald Trump campaign and Russian officials and operatives.
Ep. 1149 Little Pink House: The Evils of Eminent Domain
May 03 2018 25 mins  
The brand new film Little Pink House relates the events leading up to Kelo v. New London, about the taking of Susette Kelo's home to give to a private developer. I talk to writer, producer, and director Courtney Balaker in today's episode.
Ep. 1148 The Totalitarian Jean-Jacques Rousseau
May 02 2018 43 mins  
The ideas of Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) have been profoundly influential -- and not for the better. We'll discuss his views on the origins of inequality, the role of the legislator, and the place of the individual in political society. Not an episode to skip, trust me.
Ep. 1147 The Constitution Con
May 01 2018 55 mins  
Here's an in-depth discussion of case after ludicrous case of the Framers of the Constitution expressly intending one thing, and government doing another. Might there be a lesson here about constitutions?
Ep. 1146 North and South Korea Making Peace?
Apr 30 2018 28 mins  
Michael Malice joins me to discuss the recent summit meeting between North and South Korea, in which a North Korean leader set foot in the South for the first time ever. What does it all mean?
BONUS Ep. 1145 How I Make Money From Trolls Who Hate Me, and Other Tips for Business and Life
Apr 28 2018 43 mins  
Ben Settle, my email marketing mentor, is one of my favorite guests: nonstop insights into business, marketing, and life. I could talk to him all day. I subscribe to his Email Players newsletter, and I'm a faithful reader of his daily emails. Among the points we cover: -- how to make money from trolls who hate you; -- why you should ignore the latest "ninja tactic," and first master the fundamentals; -- the wrong strategy, which is bound to fail, for your online business -- how neediness is crushing you in business and in life; -- how to make yourself invulnerable to SJW attacks on your livelihood; -- why you should never even consider "virtue signaling"; -- the easiest business in the world to start; -- how to drive traffic; -- the key book for newbies to read; -- the value of shaming; and a lot more.
Ep. 1144 The Truth About War Powers, the Military-Industrial Complex, and Militarism in American Culture
Apr 27 2018 43 mins  
In something of a potpourri episode, Scott Horton and I discuss the real truth about presidential war powers under the Constitution, plus the empire's highly successful propaganda apparatus, the military-industrial complex's tactics, and much more. This episode is taken from my recent appearance on the .
Ep. 1143 After Communism, What? Liberty and Statism in Eastern Europe
Apr 26 2018 37 mins  
Stoyan Penchev joins me to discuss the status of liberty and statism, and the state of public opinion, in eastern Europe in particular and Bulgaria in particular.
Ep. 1142 Why Does Politics Yield Perverse Outcomes Again and Again?
Apr 25 2018 39 mins  
Why does politics so consistently yield perverse outcomes, of a sort it would be unthinkable to encounter in the private sector? Bob Murphy joins me for a discussion of Public Choice theory, which applies an understanding of economic incentives to the way political institutions operate.
Ep. 1141 The Dictator Pope: The Inside Story of the Francis Papacy
Apr 24 2018 34 mins  
Henry Sire, who originally published his book The Dictator Pope under a pen name, joins me for some background and insight into Jorge Mario Bergoglio, who as Pope Francis has presided over confusion and controversy.
Ep. 1140 The Progressive Era Was a Scam
Apr 23 2018 34 mins  
Patrick Newman, who recently edited a brand new Rothbard book out of the archives, joins me for a bird's-eye overview of one of the least understood periods of American history.
Ep. 1139 Anti-Libertarian Cliches Sliced and Diced
Apr 19 2018 34 mins  
Today's episode covers a wide range of topics: the origins of Trump, fallacies of protectionism, how to respond to critics who say libertarianism has never been tried, plus Somalia, working conditions under capitalism, why libertarianism is attacked when we're so marginal, the increasing use of "classical liberal" by creeps, and more. This episode is drawn from my recent appearance on the podcast.
Ep. 1138 Black Guns Matter
Apr 18 2018 38 mins  
Kevin Dixie, owner and founder at No Other Choice Firearms Training, talks Second Amendment, crime, safety, and what it's like dealing with the "black leadership" when you're teaching black folks how to defend themselves.
Ep. 1137 Absolute Immunity for Prosecutors: The Built-In Bias Against the Accused
Apr 17 2018 34 mins  
Professor William Anderson joins me to discuss the perverse incentives in the American legal system that work against the accused and their ability to fight back against abuses and outrages perpetrated against them.
Ep. 1136 Dave Smith on Speaking Forbidden Truths on CNN; Plus: the Rotten State of Comedy, and More
Apr 16 2018 38 mins  
Dave Smith, the libertarian comedian whose comedy special Libertas spent three weeks as the #1 comedy album on iTunes last year, joins me to discuss his wonderful CNN gig, where he gets away with telling truths you'd be hard-pressed to find on any network. Plus: the awful state of comedy, whether liberty will come via a series of small changes or a handful of major ones, and more.
Ep. 1135 Domestic Consequences of U.S. Militarism
Apr 15 2018 30 mins  
Libertarians often point out that war has consequences at home as well. The co-author of a new book on precisely this subject joins me to fill in the details.
Ep. 1134 Princeton Professor Hits Back at Campus Censors
Apr 12 2018 28 mins  
Keith Whittington, the William Nelson Cromwell Professor of Politics at Princeton University, joins me to talk trigger warnings, safe spaces, campus censorship and intimidation, and the purpose of a university. I ask him some tough devil's-advocate questions, but he sticks to his guns. Well worth your time.
Ep. 1133 The State Keeps Messing With Your Car (But the Car Companies Can Be Annoying, Too)
Apr 11 2018 30 mins  
Whether you're a car enthusiast or not, you have to love Eric Peters: insanely knowledgeable and thoroughly libertarian. We have a lot to discuss today: nanny-ish new cars, the consequences of federal regulation, the "mobile driver's license" and the privacy issues involved, the Jeep we're allowed to buy but not drive, and a lot more.
Ep. 1132 Conservatives Who Yield Everything to the Other Side, Example #43,366
Apr 10 2018 34 mins  
Historian Kevin Gutzman joins me to take on a recent article by a conventional conservative in favor of "originalism" in constitutional interpretation. Fair enough, but as with most conservative discussions of the Constitution, it comes down on the centralist, Marshallian side of the key issues -- and then conservatives scratch their heads about what could have gone wrong.
Ep. 1131 DEBATE EPISODE: Trump's Tariffs, Pro and Con
Apr 09 2018 66 mins  
With tariffs in the news and stirring up debate, I thought a Tom Woods Show debate on the subject would be enlightening for everyone. Dan McCarthy, editor of the venerable conservative journal Modern Age and editor-at-large of The American Conservative, and Gene Epstein, formerly of Barron's, square off in this much-needed debate on tariffs and trade.
BONUS Ep. 1130 How to Work Smart, Not Hard: Pitfalls to Avoid, and Strategies to Follow, for the Aspiring Entrepreneur
Apr 07 2018 42 mins  
There are only two people in the world for whom I've ever offered a testimonial: Ben Settle and my guest today, Michael Cheney. Michael has been producing products and dominating affiliate leaderboards since at least the year 2000. He creates promotions that don't bore you to death, which is why they do so well. And he's taught me a boatload of knowledge that I have put to very good use; last year I was able to make substantial donations to causes you and I believe in, thanks to what I learned from Michael. His advice is worth taking to heart.
Ep. 1129 Ron Paul and I on Public Schools, Indoctrination, and Homeschooling
Apr 06 2018 22 mins  
The indoctrination aspect of "public education" has become more pronounced and obvious in recent months. Ron Paul and I discuss that and other outrages with a system everyone defends and takes for granted, and say a few words in defense of the homeschooling alternative. This episode is drawn from my recent appearance on the .
Ep. 1128 Comedian Owen Benjamin, and the Deranged Leftists Who Stalk Him
Apr 05 2018 32 mins  
Owen Benjamin, who has had a successful career in entertainment, has been having problems with venues canceling on him after rival comedians report him for unapproved thoughts (none of which is actually unreasonable or outside the bounds of legitimate comedy, but you knew that). Opponents even invent things about Owen, or create bot accounts on Twitter to make him look bad. It's crazy. We recorded this interview 48 hours before it aired. Since that time, Owen's Twitter account -- @OwenBenjamin -- has been suspended, and his ability to livestream on his YouTube channel has been revoked.
Ep. 1127 From Economics Class to Libertarianism -- to Politics?
Apr 05 2018 30 mins  
Mitch Toland, once an Obama supporter, made his way into Austrian economics and libertarianism in a most unusual way: his economics professor had him write a paper on Hayekian triangles (a graphical depiction of Austrian capital theory), and this wound up leading him to Ron Paul. He shares his story, plus his venture into politics, in today's episode.
Ep. 1126 Private Cities: Another Path to a Free Society?
Apr 03 2018 35 mins  
Titus Gebel, founder and CEO of Free Private Cities, Inc., discusses how private enterprise can provide services traditionally associated with governments, and why this approach holds promise for the future.
Ep. 1125 Are Economists Obsessed With "Efficiency"?
Apr 02 2018 35 mins  
The general public sure thinks they are -- and sometimes, economists give them good reason to think so. Bob Murphy joins me to discuss (and critique) the Coase Theorem, which purports to solve an important economic puzzle, but which makes methodologically suspect moves that it appears only Austrians may have noticed. (P.S. We're postponing the discussion of Public Choice, mentioned at the beginning, until a future episode.)
Ep. 1124 Death by Regulation: The Truth About the FDA
Mar 29 2018 34 mins  
Research scientist Dr. Mary Ruwart discusses the true effects of the lethal FDA, which we're taught we couldn't live without.
Ep. 1123 What's Happening in South Africa?
Mar 28 2018 39 mins  
With talk of uncompensated expropriation of white landowners making international news, I thought it was a good time to speak to Ernst Roets, a staple of South African television and deputy CEO of Afriforum, to find out what's going on.
Ep. 1122 John Bolton: The Bad and the Ugly
Mar 27 2018 54 mins  
Scott Horton joins me to discuss the views -- on Iraq, North Korea, Russia, Afghanistan, and Iran -- of John Bolton, who was recently tapped to replace H.R. McMaster as National Security Advisor. Check out this episode and you'll be better briefed on the subject than pretty much anyone, anywhere.
Ep. 1121 The Mundane Truth About the Sherman Antitrust Act
Mar 26 2018 25 mins  
Here's how we learn about so-called landmark legislation in school: your wise public servants identified a problem, and then put their heads together in a disinterested, dispassionate way to solve it, and improve life for everyone. In fact, the real roots of legislation often turn out to be far more mundane. The Sherman Antitrust Act, as Patrick Newman explains, is one such example.
BONUS Ep. 1120 Behind the Scenes at Tom Woods, Inc.
Mar 26 2018 41 mins  
I was recently a guest on the podcast with Kevin Geary, and we talked not about libertarianism but about how I run my little operation here. I hope you take some insights away from our conversation.
Ep. 1119 The Venezuelan Disaster
Mar 23 2018 29 mins  
José Niño tells the real story of Venezuela: the problems before Chavez, the Chavez disaster, and what's going on today. Plus: are any lessons being learned?
Ep. 1118 Austrians Against the Mainstream: A Case Study
Mar 22 2018 34 mins  
It's a common neoclassical claim that people will prefer an income tax over an equivalent excise tax. This claim, though questionable, is perhaps less interesting than the method these economists use to reach it. In fact, this seemingly obscure question winds up illustrating a great deal about what separates Austrian economics from the mainstream, and which school of thought is more realistic.
Ep. 1117 Was the Vietnam War "Winnable"?
Mar 21 2018 37 mins  
Some say the U.S. could have won the Vietnam War had there been more political will, or if this rather than that military strategy had been tried. Gareth Porter joins me to consider this question.
Ep. 1116 Debate: Bob Murphy and Dylan Moore on Modern Monetary Theory (MMT)
Mar 20 2018 57 mins  
With Modern Monetary Theory (MMT) becoming more prominent both in policy discussions and on social media, now is a good time for a full-blown debate. Enjoy!
Ep. 1115 Neocons and Messianism Make for Lousy Statesmanship
Mar 20 2018 33 mins  
Claes Ryn, professor of politics at the Catholic University of America and director of its Center for the Study of Statesmanship, joins me to discuss how a real statesman would conduct American affairs on the world stage and how, by contrast, the present American establishment does so. We also discuss how we got here (and the problem goes way beyond Woodrow Wilson).
Ep. 1114 Heroic Rand Paul, Weird Libertarian Party
Mar 15 2018 25 mins  
Today I cover two separate topics: Rand Paul's heroic opposition to the Mike Pompeo and Gina Haspel nominations, and the Libertarian Party's strange statement the day of the recent student walkout. That second thing should not have happened.
Ep. 1113 Who Was Worse, FDR or Wilson?
Mar 14 2018 62 mins  
This and other questions are discussed in this freewheeling discussion with Michael Malice. Plenty of personal questions (directed at me), too. A total blast. Enjoy! This episode is taken from my appearance on "YOUR WELCOME" with Michael Malice, at .
Ep. 1112 Not Just Bitcoin: What Else Blockchain Technology Can Do
Mar 14 2018 25 mins  
Anthony Rozmajzl, an economics major at Grove City College, won first place in the Thomas E. Woods Prizes at this year's Austrian Student Scholars Conference for his paper on blockchain technology and its applications beyond cryptocurrency. He shares his key points with us today.
Ep. 1111 How a Young Student Escaped the Education-Industrial Complex
Mar 12 2018 23 mins  
Angelo Valle discovered libertarianism and the Tom Woods Show while in high school, heard about Praxis on the show, and at age 20 is now prospering at a successful startup. Now that's the kind of story we ought to hear, so he shares it with me today.
Ep. 1110 Medical Marijuana, the Drug War, and the Way Forward
Mar 10 2018 29 mins  
Josh Wilcoxson joins me to discuss the effectiveness of medical marijuana, the state of the legalization movement, and how we should proceed from here.
Ep. 1109 Mises in 1918: Guido Hulsmann on a Momentous Year
Mar 08 2018 37 mins  
Mises biographer Guido Hulsmann joins me to discuss the life of the great economist and social philosopher Ludwig von Mises in the momentous year of 1918, one hundred years ago.
Ep. 1108 Teacher: School "Walkouts" for Gun Control Are Illegal
Mar 07 2018 33 mins  
A schoolteacher in a left-liberal state argues that the school walkout movement -- which is obviously spreading through intimidation, and the implied suggestion that no other point of view deserves a hearing -- is in fact illegal, since it amounts to political activity by schoolteachers at taxpayer expense.
Ep. 1107 Lew Rockwell on Standing Against the Tide
Mar 06 2018 36 mins  
Topics include: Jordan Peterson, Trump's tariffs, hate mail, the creation of LewRockwell.com, the future of the Mises Institute, and whether more than the nonaggression principle is necessary to sustain liberty.
Ep. 1106 Sizzling: Tom and Stefan on Libertarians Gone Wrong
Mar 05 2018 53 mins  
Stefan Molyneux and I have a wide-ranging discussion about what's been happening to the libertarian movement, the periodic witch-hunts, and why, in the age of the Internet (where you can build an audience even without the approval of the Official Libertarian Institutions), the drama doesn't matter all that much anymore.
Ep. 1105 Don't Pine for the "Original Principles" of the Bolshevik Revolution
Mar 01 2018 72 mins  
The Bolshevik Revolution continues to be romanticized to this day. Plenty of communists claim that if only the Soviet Union could have stuck to the original principles of the Revolution, the horrors would not have occurred. Problem: the horrors began with the Revolution, and the origins of the horrors are to be found there.
Ep. 1104 What I Told College Students About Communism
Feb 28 2018 33 mins  
Here's an overview of what I said about communism to an audience of students at the University of California at Santa Barbara last night. Were the crimes of communism mere aberrations? Were they perversions of an otherwise noble ideal? Or were they the natural, expected outcomes of awful ideas?
Ep. 1103 Marx, Rawls, and Other Fonts of Error
Feb 27 2018 47 mins  
David Gordon, whose knowledge the late historian Ralph Raico compared to the Library of Congress, joins me for a potpourri episode in which all kinds of wicked errors are delightfully smashed.
Ep. 1102 Can Liberty Go Mainstream? A Comic Creator Says Yes
Feb 27 2018 33 mins  
Johnny Rocket, host of the Johnny Rocket Launch Pad (on which I've been a guest, in one of my favorite interviews ever), joins me to discuss his Liberty Force Comic as well as other, unconventional ways we might bring our unorthodox message to the masses.
Ep. 1101 How to Respond to School Shootings
Feb 23 2018 40 mins  
In the wake of the recent school shooting in Florida, New York Times bestselling novelist and former firearms instructor Larry Correia joins me to respond to the barrage of demonstrations against guns. If you oppose gun control, you value guns more than your own children, they say. That's the intellectual level of the discussion so far. Larry and I raise it by 50 points in this episode.
Ep. 1100 Peter Schiff: Where the Economy Stands, and What to Do
Feb 23 2018 39 mins  
Peter Schiff, CEO of Euro Pacific Capital, joins me to answer questions submitted by members of my Supporting Listeners group. Topics include the state of the housing market, precious metals investing, Puerto Rico after Irma, the ongoing carnage in the retail sector, and more.
Ep. 1099 Myths of the Addiction Industry
Feb 22 2018 37 mins  
Steven Slate, who once struggled with drug use himself, joins me to talk about whether what we think we know about addiction is really true. Is addiction a "disease"? Is "treatment" the only way to deal with it? Are people who believe that don't need treatment "in denial"? Is moderate consumption always off limits for people who have had problems?
Ep. 1098 Capitalism, Stakeholders, and "Corporate Social Responsibility"
Feb 20 2018 30 mins  
According to stakeholder theory and the Corporate Social Responsibility movement, it's not enough for a corporation to create products that satisfy consumer preferences and please their stockholders. A much wider range of people, or "stakeholders," should also have a say in the firm's activities -- which should take into account not just the interests of shareholders, but also employees, the community, even society as a whole. Peter Klein joins me to assess and critique all this.
Ep. 1097 Libertarianism and Parenting (the Less You Think You Need This Episode, the More You Truly Need It)
Feb 19 2018 36 mins  
This is one of my favorite episodes ever. Author and homeschooling parent Laura Blodgett joins me to discuss themes in her 52 Weeks to a Better Relationship with Your Child series. Even if you don't have children, I insist you listen -- there's an awful lot of wisdom in here.
Ep. 1096 Are Our Choices Really Hillary or Mitt? How One Historian Avoided Both
Feb 17 2018 52 mins  
Professor Kevin Gutzman is the New York Times bestselling author of numerous books on American history. He's politically on the right while nevertheless holding much of the "conservative movement" in contempt. His views aren't boilerplate Rush Limbaugh. Therefore, he's part of the Tom Woods Tell-Me-Your-Story project. How does someone -- a historian, no less -- come to adopt views more or less like ours, without getting caught up in the conventional Hillary-or-Mitt spectrum?
Ep. 1095 Women and Libertarianism (Plus the LP, and More)
Feb 15 2018 34 mins  
Sherry Clark, co-host of in Knoxville, Tennessee, joins me to talk women and libertarianism, as well as homeschooling, the Libertarian Party (and infighting), and how she went from neoconservatism to ancap.
Ep. 1094 The Case Against Education
Feb 14 2018 33 mins  
Bryan Caplan, a professor of economics at George Mason University, has just released a provocative (and really excellent) book that takes aim at the education system virtually all of us grew up in. The claims made for it -- virtually all of them -- collapse on close examination. And he doesn't say the system has been corrupted by political correctness, and we just need to get back to its noble origins. His critique is far more sweeping, and devastating.
Ep. 1093 Are We in a Giant Bubble?
Feb 13 2018 33 mins  
Kevin Duffy, a principal of , gives his assessment of the U.S. economy as a whole and of particular sectors: housing, precious metals, auto loans, and more.
Ep. 1092 Is Trump Changing U.S. Policy on Nuclear Weapons?
Feb 12 2018 26 mins  
Mark Perry joins me to discuss the recent Nuclear Posture Review, which some say represents a dramatic break with the past in terms of nuclear policy and the possibility of using nuclear weapons. How concerned should we be?
Ep. 1091 Potpourri with Dave Smith: Ben Shapiro Attacks Ron Paul, Plus Trump, Immigration, and More
Feb 09 2018 90 mins  
The great comedian and brilliant libertarian Dave Smith and I talk about pretty much everything: what libertarianism is really all about, why Ben Shapiro's attack on Ron Paul is dumb, how I changed my mind on war, and a lot more.
Ep. 1090 Secrets of a Highly Productive Libertarian
Feb 08 2018 38 mins  
Antony Sammeroff, who co-hosts the Scottish Liberty Podcast, leads an amazingly productive life. He balances his work, his passion, his personal life, and his health. He does what we all wish we could do. How?
Ep. 1089 Noam Chomsky: The Good and the Bad
Feb 07 2018 45 mins  
Gene Epstein, formerly of Barron's, joins me to discuss the work of Noam Chomsky, whose views in some areas are so well formed, and in others are simplistic and disappointing. Chomsky is one of the people who Gene says led him to libertarianism, so this is a gem of a discussion.
Ep. 1088 How to Think About Inequality, and Why We Shouldn't Fear It
Feb 06 2018 33 mins  
Per Bylund, a professor of entrepreneurship, suggests a new way of thinking about inequality, its causes (and its mitigation), and whether we should even care about it. Fun!
Ep. 1087 The Truth About the FISA Memo, With ex-CIA Analyst Ray McGovern
Feb 06 2018 68 mins  
Is the Nunes memo, which speaks of the politicization of the FBI in the service of opposing the election of Donald Trump, really a "nothingburger," or is there something there? Ray McGovern, no Trump partisan, has been blacklisted by much of the progressive media (which once loved him) because he won't go alone with the Russiagate story, and he sharply dissents about the significance of the memo as well.
Ep. 1086 Lysander Spooner: The Evolution of a Radical Libertarian
Feb 02 2018 35 mins  
Chris Calton joins me to discuss one of the most fascinating figures in libertarian history, and how he evolved from defending the Constitution against the claim that it favored slavery all the way to rejecting the very idea that the U.S. Constitution, or any other constitution, could truly bind the people.
Ep. 1085 The New Deal and Other Failed Government Interventions, with Robert Higgs
Feb 01 2018 21 mins  
Robert Higgs, the distinguished economic historian and author of , covers some of the alleged success stories of government intervention.
Ep. 1084 Trump's State of the Union: A Breakdown
Jan 31 2018 42 mins  
Mises Institute president Jeff Deist joins me to discuss last night's State of the Union address. We discuss policy, style, Democratic reaction, Trump's ideological confusion, and a lot more.
Ep. 1083 Overlooked History: The Early Development of Libertarian Ideas
Jan 29 2018 27 mins  
The great Gerard Casey, professor emeritus of philosophy at University College, Dublin, joins me to discuss the years surrounding the English Civil War, a critical period in the history of political thought, when many great (and some rotten) ideas -- including libertarian ideas like natural rights and self-ownership -- were born or developed.
Ep. 1082 The Truth About F.A. Hayek
Jan 26 2018 34 mins  
F.A. Hayek, illustrious member of the Austrian School of economics, won the Nobel Prize in 1974, and wrote prolifically on both economic and non-economic topics. He has been a source of controversy within libertarian circles because of some aspects of his work. Joe Salerno helps us sort everything out about this central figure.
Ep. 1081 How to Jolt People Out of Conventional Thinking (and Push Them in Our Direction?)
Jan 25 2018 25 mins  
Mance Rayder, author of Freedom Through Memedom, joins me for some big-picture arguments against the state and for freedom.
Ep. 1080 Down With State Licensing (Including for Personal Trainers and Coaches)
Jan 24 2018 32 mins  
Strength trainer Mark Rippetoe returns to discuss state licensing, its true motivations, and why a free society doesn't need it.
Ep. 1079 The (Pernicious?) Idea of Utopia
Jan 24 2018 31 mins  
This episode, featuring Justine Brown, begins with a discussion of Thomas More's classic work Utopia, trying to get to the bottom of what the author meant to convey with it, and then continues with a discussion of utopian communities and theories, and what may be wrong with them.
Ep. 1078 Lew Rockwell on the Media, the Regime, and Their Relationship
Jan 22 2018 33 mins  
The media's opposition to Trump has confused and obscured the true nature of the relationship between itself and the American regime. Do we really have an adversarial press? Lew Rockwell joins me to get to the bottom of it.
Ep. 1077 Dissident Historians
Jan 19 2018 31 mins  
Michael Douma, Assistant Research Professor at the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown, and Director of the Georgetown Institute for the Study of Markets and Ethics, joins me to discuss what it means to be a classical liberal, or libertarian, historian -- do we have our own methods, are we telling a different story, or what precisely are we doing?
Ep. 1076 Liberty, the Radio Spectrum, and Wireless Technology
Jan 17 2018 35 mins  
Thomas Hazlett, former chief economist at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and a professor of economics at Clemson University, talks about where regulators have gone wrong and the market has gone right, from the radio spectrum debate of the 1920s down to the present day.
Ep. 1075 Today's Resistance to the FDA, NSA, DEA, and Other Evils
Jan 16 2018 24 mins  
Michael Boldin, founder and executive director of the Tenth Amendment Center, talks about a wide variety of resistance movements at the state level against the federal government. Nullification: it's happening!
Ep. 1074 Libertarians Have a Class Theory, Too (and It's Better Than Marx's)
Jan 13 2018 37 mins  
With the idea of class so central to Marxian theory, libertarians might be tempted to ignore class as a category. But there is in fact such a thing as libertarian class theory, because in libertarian theory there are distinct groups of exploiters and exploited. Gary Chartier joins me to discuss the history and development of libertarian class theory.
Ep. 1073 How a Historian Saw the Light
Jan 11 2018 35 mins  
Historian Brion McClanahan and I begin by discussing the conservative movement's wary and sometimes hostile reception of his book criticizing Alexander Hamilton. From there, we trace out how Brion went from conventional conservative to Old Right/libertarian. (We love these stories, don't we?)
Ep. 1072 David Stockman on Bannon, Trump, and What's Coming for the Economy
Jan 10 2018 40 mins  
With Steve Bannon on the outs with Trump and out at Breitbart, David Stockman -- director of the Office of Management and Budget under Ronald Reagan -- returns to discuss Bannonism, the Trump economy, and what's in store. And is he sticking to his claim that Trump won't survive 2018?
Ep. 1071 Local Tyranny Persecutes Home Studio; Owner Fights Back
Jan 08 2018 25 mins  
Lij Shaw has recorded artists from Adele to John Oates, and for over a decade has operated a home studio out of his detached garage. The city of Nashville came after him for this, and persisted even after his neighbors signed a petition in his defense. Here's what happened, and what he's doing next.
BONUS Ep. 1070 "I Was a Business-Nerd Executive." But He Left It All Behind...
Jan 07 2018 36 mins  
Steve Clayton is a former VP at LabCorp, the Fortune 500 company so many of us use to have blood work done. He left behind this prestigious, very high-paying job to strike out as an entrepreneur. He's now an undisputed master of eCommerce (and he's trained numerous Tom Woods Show listeners who have gone on to be extremely prosperous). We talk about his own story, trends in eCommerce, and what he recommends today.
Ep. 1069 Trump's 2017: A Review
Jan 05 2018 48 mins  
Nobody knew what to expect in a Trump presidency. Daniel McCarthy joins me for a lively review of the past year.
Ep. 1068 Potpourri: Why Some (Bad) Libertarians Don't Like Others, the Book that Changed My Mind, My Unfashionable Opinions, and Lots More
Jan 05 2018 50 mins  
In this interview with MilLiberty, a podcast for millennials, I cover libertarianism, factional infighting, the book that first changed my thinking, how to use technology to undermine the academic establishment, the little savages who dominate the public schools, the trouble with antidiscrimination law, and a heck of a lot more.
4.7 • 7 Ratings

twomastur Oct 22 2020
Tom woods .... enough said

Big Dog LV Aug 09 2020
A great Tom Woods interview of Pete Quinones!




BillyBob Trucker Aug 06 2020
Tom Wood's is one of the best he can break down complex subjects into simple short but impactful episodes on a wide range of topics

TWE 2012 Jul 26 2020
Absolutely one of the best podcasts out there. Most importantly, the conversation is always intellectual honest and provides information that will allow you to genuinely make up your own mind.

anonymous-tunes May 19 2020
.

h8fulgod May 07 2020
While I self identify as a libertarian, it is difficult to feel aligned with the deep state coup, anti-abortion, and other Trump-defending ravings of Mr. Smith. Libertarianism is doomed as long as he's seen as a leading light.

pLe0mAxA Apr 11 2020
5*