The Reason Roundtable

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.

This week, editors Peter Suderman and Katherine Mangu-Ward are joined by Senior Editor Robby Soave and reporter Reem Ibrahim to discuss California Gov. Gavin Newsom's "free diapers" initiative and the political controversy surrounding its nonprofit structure. The panel examines whether the program is a useful benefit for new mothers or another example of government turning a simple problem into an expensive, politically connected spending project. They also consider what the backlash reveals about California governance more broadly, from high-speed rail to homelessness spending to a troubled 911 program, and whether frustration with the state's Democratic establishment is creating an opening for Los Angeles mayoral candidate Spencer Pratt. Next, the panel turns to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D–N.Y.) claim that billionaires cannot ethically earn their wealth and her argument that the American Revolution was a revolt against the billionaire class. They also discuss President Donald Trump's ongoing conflict with Iran, whether the war has weakened his negotiating power ahead of a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and what the fallout could mean for U.S. credibility abroad. The editors then examine escalating fights over redistricting in Virginia and Florida. Finally, a listener asks whether rising ticket prices and corporate consolidation are evidence that government should play a larger role in regulating mergers and competition.   0:00—Newsom's "free diaper" program 13:04—Pratt's mayoral campaign 17:30—AOC attacks billionaires 28:40—Has America lost in Iran? 38:51—Listener question on ticket prices 46:00—Redistricting battles escalate nationwide 53:23—Weekly cultural recommendations   Mentioned in the podcast: "California Spent $450 Million on a Failed 911 System. Now, the State Is Restarting the Project," by Meagan O'Rourke "Contra AOC, You Don't Have To Be a Billionaire To Be a Leech," by Christian Britschgi "A Pointless War: How Iran Hawks Finally Got Their Way," by Matthew Petti "How Much Has the Iran War Actually Cost? A Lot More Than $25 Billion," by Eric Boehm "How Mortal Kombat Went From National Panic to Nostalgic Camp," by Peter Suderman The post Gavin Newsom's Free Diaper Disaster appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Nick Gillespie are joined by special guest Kate Andrews, opinion journalist for The Washington Post, to discuss how big city governance is playing out in Democratic cities. They examine why candidates with strong ties to organized labor and socialist policy agendas, such as New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, keep winning in major cities, even as affordability worsens and residents leave. The panel also considers whether these outcomes reflect voter preferences, weak alternatives, or a broader failure of reform-oriented factions on the left. Next, the panel turns to Iran, where President Donald Trump has announced "Project Freedom," a plan for the U.S. Navy to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid ongoing tensions and uncertainty over the conflict's trajectory. They discuss the economic stakes, the political fallout, and what the lack of a clear resolution suggests about the long-term direction of U.S. foreign policy. The conversation then shifts to King Charles' visit to the United States and what it reveals about political culture, symbolism, and leadership on both sides of the Atlantic. Finally, a listener asks why voters continue to reward pandering politicians and whether meaningful change is possible within the current electoral system. 0:00—Why big city Democrats keep electing socialists 23:01—The Strait of Hormuz and "Project Freedom" 36:35—Listener question on voter behavior 45:34—King Charles visits the U.S. 53:03—Gillespie's interview with Justice Neil Gorsuch 57:08—Weekly cultural recommendations Mentioned in the podcast: "Seattle's Socialist Mayor Laughs at Wealthy Residents Leaving To Escape High Taxes," by J.D. Tuccille "Project Freedom," by Liz Wolfe "Justice Neil Gorsuch: 'Aspirations for Power Need To Be Checked'," by Nick Gillespie "Prison Doesn't Work the Way You Think," by Billy Binion "Is The Devil Wears Prada 2 the Great Millennial Journalism Movie?" by Peter Suderman The post Why Do Big City Democrats Keep Electing Socialists? appeared first on Reason.com.

This week, editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Matt Welch discuss the attempted shooting at the White House Correspondents' Dinner and the media coverage that followed. They examine the shooter's manifesto, why it struck some observers as uncomfortably normal, and what that says about the mainstreaming of extreme political rhetoric. The panel also considers President Donald Trump's renewed push to build his new White House ballroom in the aftermath of the attack. Next, the editors turn to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's plan for city-run grocery stores, whether government-backed supermarkets can fairly compete with private businesses, and why critics may have helped turn a campaign talking point into actual policy. Then, the panel discusses reports that the Trump administration is considering a bailout that could leave the federal government owning most of Spirit Airlines. The panel then turns to Iran, where uncertain diplomacy and mixed signals over the Strait of Hormuz suggest the conflict remains far from resolved. Finally, a listener asks what the libertarian view of redistricting should be and whether fair maps are ever truly possible.   0:00—The White House Correspondents' Dinner shooting 18:49—Mamdani's city-run grocery store plan 27:42—Spirit Airlines bailout 37:06—Listener question on redistricting 43:23—What is the endgame in Iran? 48:58—Weekly cultural recommendations   Mentioned in the podcast: "Shots Fired," by Eric Boehm "What If We Acted Like Political Violence Was a Problem?" by Matt Welch "Prediction: 2024 Will See Deadly Political Violence in the Streets," by Matt Welch "Charlie Kirk and America's History With Political Violence," by Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch "Politically Motivated Violence Is a Small Threat," by Alex Nowrasteh "Hasan Piker and Jia Tolentino: The Leftists Who Think Stealing Is Great," by Robby Soave "With His Grandiose White House Ballroom Plan, Trump Again Asserts the Power To Do As He Pleases," by Jacob Sullum "Mamdani's Fix for Food Deserts: Opening a $30 Million City-Owned Grocery Store Near Other Grocery Stores," by Megan O'Rourke "Zohran Mamdani's $70 Million Grocery Gamble," by C. Jarrett Dieterle "Biden Killed the Spirit Airlines Merger. Now Trump Wants Taxpayers To Save the Company," by Joe Lancaster "Spirit Airlines Didn't Die Because Biden Blocked the JetBlue Merger," by Gary Leff "The Spirit Airline Is a Bad Idea Built on a Worse Precedent," by Veronique de Rugy and Gary Leff "Why Redistricting Reform Goes Off the Rails," by Walter Olson "A Pointless War," by Matthew Petti "Neither War nor Peace With Iran," by Matthew Petti "My Books, Essay #5," by Arnold Kling "Michael Is a Brutally Dull Biopic With Nothing to Say About Michael Jackson," by Peter Suderman The post The Shooter's Manifesto Was Uncomfortably Normal appeared first on Reason.com.