The Reason Roundtable

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Nick Gillespie are joined by Sarah Isgur, senior editor at The Dispatch, to discuss Elon Musk becoming the world's first trillionaire and whether that milestone represents a triumph of capitalism or a warning sign about inequality. The panel examines the political backlash to extreme wealth, the role government subsidies played in Musk's rise, and whether Americans should be more concerned about how fortunes are made than how large they become. Next, the editors discuss the Supreme Court's biggest pending decisions, including cases involving birthright citizenship and the Federal Reserve. They also debate Democratic proposals to expand the Supreme Court and what those efforts could mean for the judiciary's future. The panel then examines the economic fallout from the Iran war, including rising inflation and energy prices. Finally, a listener asks whether the free market is responsible for the growing "enshittification" of everyday life, from movie theaters to fast-food restaurants.   0:00—Elon Musk becomes a trillionaire 17:50—The Supreme Court's pending decisions 31:33—Will Democrats pack the Supreme Court? 38:41—Listener question on free market and quality decline 48:57—Iran ceasefire agreement and economic impact 53:37—Weekly cultural recommendations   Mentioned in the podcast: "Elon Musk Becomes the World's First Trillionaire. Is That Such a Bad Thing?" by Joe Lancaster "The Iran War Is Over, For Now," by Matthew Petti "The White House UFC Fight Is the Perfect Event for the Present, Not the Past," by Billy Binion "Counting Down the Supreme Court Term," by Sarah Isgur and David French "UFC Stages Successful White House Fight Night—if Not for Obama Insult," by Sean Gregory "Soccer Participation in the U.S. Is Surging Before the 2026 World Cup," by Sports and Fitness Industry Association "Soccer Passes Baseball in Race to Be America's Favorite Sport," by Ben Steiner The post Bernie Sanders Is Wrong About Trillionaires appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch are joined by Associate Editor Liz Wolfe to discuss New York City's falling crime rates and whether Democrats have really solved their big-city crime problem. The panel looks at the recent Penn Station stabbings, subway disorder, fare evasion, and why many New Yorkers still feel uneasy even as murders and shootings decline. Next, the editors discuss California's recent elections, including Spencer Pratt's bid for Los Angeles mayor, and what these results reveal about voter attitudes toward political leadership and governance. They then examine the political and economic fallout from President Donald Trump's war with Iran. The panel also discusses proposals from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I–Vt.) and Trump to give the federal government a stake in artificial intelligence companies. Finally, a listener asks whether AI-powered surveillance threatens individual liberty.   0:00—New York City's declining murder rate 18:16—California election results 28:22—The economic fallout of the Iran war 38:33—Listener question on AI threats to liberty 49:47—The push to nationalize artificial intelligence 55:45—Weekly cultural recommendations   Mentioned in the podcast: "D.C.'s Crime Drop Didn't Require a Military Deployment," by Tosin Akintola "Trump's Middle Eastern Ceasefire: Fiery But Mostly Peaceful," by Matthew Petti "Trump and Bibi Are Fighting," by Liz Wolfe "Bernie Sanders' AI Wealth Fund Bill Shows That He Doesn't Understand AI or Wealth," by Tosin Akintola "Native Americans Taught Colonists How To Fight—and To Live Without Kings," by Charles C. Mann "Neil Gorsuch on the Declaration of Independence, Originalism, and Separation of Powers," by Nick Gillespie   The post Do Democrats Still Have a Big-City Crime Problem? appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch discuss New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's new Commission on Government Efficiency (COGE). The panel examines Mamdani's claim that bureaucracy is preventing New York from delivering housing, transit, and other services, while questioning whether the commission represents a serious effort at reform or simply a rebranding of the city's existing political priorities. They also consider what Mamdani's embrace of efficiency rhetoric says about the state of the Democratic Party and the growing recognition that government often struggles to deliver on its promises. Next, the editors discuss former Vice President Mike Pence's claim that "Democrats have lost their mind" and examine the Democratic Party's continuing attraction to polarizing candidates, from Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner to California's unsettled gubernatorial race. The panel then checks in on the endlessly unresolved Iran conflict, before debating a proposal to eliminate property taxes for senior citizens and what it reveals about the growing trend toward narrowly targeted tax breaks. Finally, the editors answer a listener's question about whether late Sen. John McCain's (R–Ariz.) opposition to mixed martial arts helped shape the cultural forces that eventually brought the UFC to the White House lawn.   0:00—The Commission on Government Efficiency 14:04—Mike Pence's comments on Democratic Party 22:21—Graham Platner and Democratic candidate quality 30:19—Iran war update 33:01—Listener question on the White House UFC event 42:30—Should seniors pay property tax? 50:05—Weekly cultural recommendations   Mentioned in the podcast: "Elon Did DOGE. Now Mamdani Is Trying COGE," by Megan O'Rourke "Mamdani 'Balanced' New York City's Budget—With a Bailout From Albany," by Joe Lancaster "Confidence in Market Principles," by Mike Pence "Mike Pence's Sensible (and Probably Doomed) Plan To Fix the National Debt," by Eric Boehm "Today Mike Pence May Find That All His Temporizing and Obfuscation About the Election Sacrificed His Integrity for Nothing," by Jacob Sullum "Ken Paxton's Primary Victory Shows How Trump's Grudges Undermine His Party's Interests," by Jacob Sullum "Don't Get a Nazi Tattoo or Praise Hitler: Advice for New Politicians," by Robby Soave "Bleeding into the Mainstream," by Greg Beato "Government's Ongoing Effort to Shutter Mixed Martial Arts," by Kerry Howley "UFC: One Man's Brutal Spectacle Is Another's Eden," by A. Barton Hinkle "Stop Giving Property Tax Breaks to Senior Citizens," by Eric Boehm "Baby Boomers Are the Richest Generation in History. Why Do Politicians Keep Spending More on Them?" by Eric Boehm "Abolish Property Taxes?" by Christian Britschgi "Helen Lewis: The Dark Side of Genius," by Nick Gillespie The post Why Socialism Won't Deliver Government Efficiency appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch are joined by The Gist's Mike Pesca to discuss the ongoing Iran conflict, the unstable ceasefire negotiations, and whether anyone in Washington has a coherent explanation for what the United States is trying to accomplish. The panel examines President Donald Trump's shifting rationale for the war, the growing pressure for regime change, and why so many of the same foreign policy debates from the Iraq era seem to be repeating themselves in real time. They also consider whether America's political class has learned anything from the past two decades of interventionism. Next, the panel turns to Spencer Pratt's surprisingly competitive Los Angeles mayoral campaign and what his rise says about frustration with the city's political establishment. They discuss why media coverage of Pratt increasingly resembles the early anti-Trump backlash, whether one-party political cultures are capable of meaningful reform, and why even critics of Pratt's candidacy acknowledge that Los Angeles governance appears badly broken. The editors then revisit the panic surrounding Project 2025 and ask how much of the agenda actually materialized during Trump's second term. Finally, the panel examines Trump's controversial $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" and why even some Republicans see it as an unprecedented abuse of executive power.   0:00—What have we learned from this war with Iran? 9:38—Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo clashes with the Trump administration 14:19—Spencer Pratt and the Los Angeles mayoral race 27:11—Listener question on Project 2025 37:28—The Anti-Weaponization Fund 47:29—Weekly cultural recommendations   Mentioned in the podcast: "Yes, the Iran War Is a 'War of Choice,' and a Bad One," by Nick Gillespie "Why Does Trump Keep Bringing Up Decades-Old Foreign Grievances?" by Matthew Petti "Drew Carey Goes on Foul-mouthed Rant About Spencer Pratt's LA Mayoral Run: 'F–k This Guy,'" by Antoinette Bueno "The $1.776 Billion in Trump's 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' Fits a Pattern of Fanciful Figures," by Jacob Sullum "Trump's 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' Is Built on a Contradiction," by Billy Binion "The DOJ's Flimsy Legal Theories To Support Trump's 'Anti-Weaponization Fund,'" by Joe Lancaster The post Does Anyone Know What's Happening in Iran? appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Matt Welch are joined by Reason Senior Editor Robby Soave to discuss Rep. Thomas Massie's (R–Ky.) competitive Republican primary challenge and why President Donald Trump has made him one of his top political targets. The panel examines Massie's opposition to the Iran war, his push to release the Epstein files, his longstanding focus on spending, and why his brand of libertarian-style politics has become increasingly rare inside today's Republican Party. Next, the panel turns to the economy, where inflation continues to rise, the U.S. debt has surpassed gross domestic product (GDP), and working-class voters appear increasingly frustrated with Trump's economic agenda. The editors then examine New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's claim that he closed the city's massive budget gap without cutting services and whether the plan relies more on gimmicks than serious fiscal reform. Finally, a listener asks how to develop political confidence without losing intellectual humility.   0:00—Massie's primary challenge 20:57—Inflation and the national debt 40:31—Listener question on intellectual humility 51:15—Mamdani's $12 billion budget gap 57:41—Weekly cultural recommendations   Mentioned in the podcast: "Thomas Massie's Moment Has Come," by Robby Soave "Thomas Massie's Enemies Are Attacking Him With an Unfair Accusation," by Robby Soave "The War Comes for Your Wallet: Inflation Hits 3.8%, Highest Level in 3 Years," by Eric Boehm "When Businesspeople Run Government, the Government Doesn't Become a Business," by Veronique De Rugy "Pete Hegseth Can't Explain Why America Needs a $1.5 Trillion Military Budget," by Eric Boehm "Trump's 'Golden Dome' Estimated To Cost $1.2 Trillion, New Report Reveals," by Meagan O'Rourke "Mamdani 'Balanced' New York City's Budget—With a Bailout From Albany," by Joe Lancaster The post Why Is Trump Trying To Purge Thomas Massie? appeared first on Reason.com.