The Reason Roundtable

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Matt Welch are joined by Reason reporter Eric Boehm to discuss Turning Point USA's AmericaFest and the GOP coalescing around Vice President J.D. Vance as President Donald Trump's successor. They analyze Sen. Rand Paul's (R–Ky.) opposition to endorsing Vance as the party's next standard-bearer, and whether this signals he will challenge Vance for the nomination in 2028. Katherine also shares what it was like attending the conference, plus her debate over marijuana legalization as the Trump administration moves to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. The editors then turn to the bipartisan backlash over the latest Jeffrey Epstein file release, in which more than 500 pages were completely redacted, prompting Reps. Thomas Massie (R–Ky.) and Ro Khanna (D–Calif.) to threaten charges of "inherent contempt" against Attorney General Pam Bondi. The panel also discusses the Trump administration's seizure of additional Venezuelan oil tankers, plus the announcement of new military strikes in Syria. They dig into Minnesota's widening welfare fraud scandal, and whether conservative media is using it to scapegoat Somali immigrants. A listener asks whether Christmas expands our "socialist bubble" of family and community and what that says about capitalism, socialism, and human nature.   0:00—Debating marijuana at Turning Point USA 4:10—J.D. Vance is the MAGA heir apparent 14:47—Massie and Khanna react to Epstein file release 25:14—U.S. foreign policy in Venezuela and Syria 38:09—Listener question on socialism and Christmas 47:59—Minnesota welfare fraud scandal 1:01:28—Weekly cultural recommendations   Mentioned in This Podcast "Cannavictory," by Liz Wolfe "Trump Orders the 'Expeditious' Reclassification of Marijuana," by Jacob Sullum "Heritage Foundation Undergoes Mass Staff Exodus as Cracks Open on the New Right," by Stephanie Slade "Epstein Wanted To Turn His Island Into a Resort for Paying Customers," by Matthew Petti "Oil Tanker Seized," by Liz Wolfe "If the Syrian War Is Over, Why Are Americans Still Getting Killed in Syria?" by Matthew Petti "Trump's Somali Insults Are a Disgrace," by Steven Greenhut "The Real Villain in Minnesota's $1.5 Billion Fraud Scandal Isn't Somalis—It's the Feds," by Jack Nicastro "Medicare Whac-A-Mole," by Peter Suderman "What We Get Wrong About the American Revolution," by Nick Gillespie "Avatar: Fire and Ash Is Part Spectacle, Part Retread," by Peter Suderman Producer: Paul AlexanderVideo Editor: Ian KeyserThe post Can J.D. Vance Stop a MAGA Civil War? appeared first on Reason.com.

Reason's Robby Soave and Elizabeth Nolan Brown square off with Breaking Points' Emily Jashinsky and Ryan Grim in a no-holds-barred debate over Big Tech. The Reason team argues that technology has dramatically improved everyday life—and that those benefits can't be ignored. Their opponents counter that Big Tech's power is inseparable from big government, and that the two can't be untangled.   Resolution: Big Tech does more good than harm. Affirmative: Robby Soave and Elizabeth Nolan Brown Negative: Emily Jashinsky and Ryan Grim Moderator: Peter Suderman   0:00—Andrew Heaton's warmup 6:31—Opening statements 31:03—Moderator questions and debater discussion 53:47—All the debaters make their case using props 1:02:10—Audience questions 1:23:25—Closing statements 1:40:20—Final debate results The post <em>Reason</em> Vs. <em>Breaking Points</em>: Does Big Tech Do More Good Than Harm? appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Matt Welch are joined by associate editor Liz Wolfe to discuss President Donald Trump's executive order blocking states from enforcing their own artificial intelligence regulations. The panel debates whether a single national framework for AI is necessary to keep American tech companies competitive or whether it represents a serious blow to federalism. They also examine the White House potentially reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug and what that change could mean for the cannabis industry, tax policy, and federal drug enforcement. The editors then turn to mass shootings in Australia and at Brown University, including the actions of a bystander credited with saving lives at Bondi Beach, and what these incidents suggest about gun control debates. They discuss the U.S. seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker and threats of land strikes against the Nicolás Maduro regime, and cover the conviction of Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai under China's national security law and what it signals for press freedom and U.S.-China relations. A listener asks whether modern socialism reflects moral aspirations that could be redirected toward liberty rather than centralized power.   0:00—Trump blocks states from regulating AI 10:31—Reclassifying marijuana as a Schedule III drug 18:39—Mass shootings in the U.S. and Australia 26:59—U.S. seizes Venezuelan oil tanker 36:48—Listener question on optimism for socialism 46:08—Jimmy Lai found guilty by Hong Kong court 57:12—Weekly cultural recommendations   Mentioned in This Podcast "Donald Trump Tries To Override State AI Regulations via Executive Order," by Jack Nicastro "Trump Will Let Nvidia Sell Chips to China—but the Feds Will Get 25 Percent of the Profits," by Tosin Akintola "Trump's Plan To Reclassify Marijuana Would Leave Federal Prohibition Essentially Untouched," by Jacob Sullum "Stoner King Trump," by Liz Wolfe "Shootings at Bondi and Brown," by Liz Wolfe "Trump Dares Congress To Take Its War Powers Seriously in Venezuela," by Matthew Petti "Trump Is Still Claiming He Saves '25,000 American Lives' When He Blows Up a Suspected Drug Boat," by Jacob Sullum "Mark Clifford: A Political Prisoner Fights for Free Speech in China," by Billy Binion "Is Free Speech Doomed in Hong Kong?" By Jack Nicastro "'I Owe Freedom My Life': Jimmy Lai Is Imprisoned for Criticizing the Chinese Government," by John Stossel "Hong Kong's Free Press Is Dying," by Liz Wolfe Producer: Paul AlexanderVideo Editor: Ian KeyserThe post Should Libertarians Support Federal AI Regulation? appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Matt Welch are joined by associate editor Liz Wolfe to sort through the political free-for-all surrounding the Warner Bros. and Netflix merger. They look at why Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D–Mass.) is urging regulators to block the deal, why President Donald Trump says he plans to get personally involved, and how Jared Kushner's role in a rival Paramount bid is reshaping the fight. The panel digs into whether this moment signals a real return to trustbusting or another round of theatrics from both sides. The editors then turn to the economy, where Trump's tariff strategy is colliding with rising layoffs and growing unease within his own party. They assess the administration's new national security posture as Congress advances a defense bill that exceeds White House requests, and discuss the uproar over Kalshi's push to turn opinion into a tradable market. Also, a listener asks whether a renewed turn toward religious faith could help the country lower its political temperature. It's that time of year when we ask you to open your wallets, dear listener, and make a tax-deductible donation to Reason's annual webathon: https://reason.pub/4pzsSOE.   0:00—Antitrust and the Netflix-Warner Bros. acquisition 19:17—Tariff failures and rising unemployment 27:43—National security strategy memo 36:50—Listener question on polarization and faith 48:13—Kalshi's controversial online gambling vision 58:33—Weekly cultural recommendations   Mentioned in This Podcast "Warner Bros. Accepts Netflix's $83 Billion Bid, but Antitrust Threats Still Loom," by Jack Nicastro "Trump's Tariffs Were Supposed To Cut the Trade Deficit and Boost U.S. Manufacturing. They're Not Working," by Eric Boehm "Ask Us Anything: Libertarians Answer Your Questions," by Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Robby Soave, and Matt Welch "Kalshi CEO Says He Wants to Monetize 'Any Difference in Opinion,'" by A.J. Dellinger "America Pulls Back From Values That Once Defined It, WSJ-NORC Poll Finds," by Aaron Zitner "CNN's Bari Christmas," by Dylan Byers   Upcoming Reason Events Reason Versus debate: Big Tech Does More Good Than Harm, December 10 Producer: Paul AlexanderVideo Editor: Ian KeyserThe post Why Elizabeth Warren and Donald Trump Hate the Netflix Deal appeared first on Reason.com.

It's that time of year when we ask you to open your wallets, dear listener, and make a tax-deductible donation to Reason's annual webathon: https://reason.pub/4pzsSOE. In this special episode of The Reason Roundtable, editors Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Robby Soave, and Peter Suderman respond to all of your burning questions. Nothing is off limits! Producer: Paul AlexanderAudio Mixer: Ian KeyserThe post Ask Us Anything: Libertarians Answer Your Questions appeared first on Reason.com.