Solving the world's problems one definition at a time
In this final episode of Season 2, we analyze Kevin Clinesmith's guilty plea and the FBI's Crossfire Hurricane investigation. Did the FBI indeed spy on the Trump campaign for political purposes, or is there more smoke than fire?Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
What is anarchism? A principled approach to self-autonomy or just an excuse to throw Molotov cocktails? Shawn Sanders, host of the Point of Dissent podcast, joins us to break down the philosophy of anarchism and his hope for a more just society.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
Is Attorney General William Barr a defender of truth and justice or simply a Trump toady? What can we learn from his hearing before Congress about how to conduct a hostile interview? And how does this event illustrate the power of undefined terms?Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
Mark and Patricia McCloskey have been charged with felonies for brandishing guns at protesters near their house. Are the charges just or politically motivated? We walk through the facts and the law step by step to help you decide for yourself.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
How can we fight a toxic movement if we don't understand the factors that drive it? In this episode, we examine the economic incentives central to Cancel Culture. We then discuss how good organization, such as creating new institutions committed to liberal democracy, can turn the tide. And we analyze whether the recent Harper's Magazine letter may be a good first step.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
Many of us bemoan Cancel Culture, but do we understand what rules actually govern it? In this episode, like cultural detectives, we do our best to discern the rules of Cancel Culture from recent events. Joined by Steve Moxey, we also analyze Trump's July 4th speech at Mt. Rushmore and consider whether we would have had the courage to be abolitionists in the antebellum South.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
Breaking down the Supreme Court’s recent decision effectively outlawing LGBT discrimination, figuring out what we actually know about the shooting of Rayshard Brooks, and why Black Fathers MatterSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
I visit Seattle's Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone to separate fact from fiction, the New York Times sets a new low for free speech, and why we should never let a mob tear down a statueSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
Is it enough not to be racist, or must we become anti-racist? Should churches be treated any differently in terms of COVID restrictions? Is encryption more important to liberty than the Second Amendment? Special guests: Joseph Bayly and Peter CapSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
Did we unfairly rush to judgment in the “Karen in the Park” incident? How should we judge her threats in light of the George Floyd tragedy? Will COVID finally force us to make much needed changes to education?Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
This one's all about Michael Flynn. Did the FBI entrap him? Was the DOJ righting wrongs when it dropped the charges or just playing politics? Has the judge gone too far in opposing dismissal? We discuss it all.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
How should we think about the sexual assault allegations against both Biden and Kavanaugh? Join us as we role-play arguments for both the accusers and the accused.https://www.facebook.com/undefinedterms/https://www.twitter.com/undefinedterms/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/undefined-terms/id1455449146http://www.undefinedterms.com/Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
Vice President Mike Pence's staff threatened a reporter for exposing a memo showing that the Mayo Clinic had asked all visitors to wear masks. Was Pence playing the role of censorious dictator, or is there more to the story? We also discuss new information about the spread of COVID-19 and the importance of rebels.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
We discuss the Waco series, which recently rose to #3 on Netflix, along with accounts of Ruby Ridge and Jonestown, to divine lessons about extremism vs. government intervention. We then try to apply those lessons to the government's COVID-19 lockdowns and to protests against those lockdowns.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
How well did the federal government prepare for a potential future pandemic? How should we grade its response to COVID-19? Has Trump helped or hurt the effort? Join us for a lively discussion with guest Ranjit Narayanan, as we assign and defend grades for each of these topics.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
Are governors violating the First Amendment by banning worship services? Is civil disobedience justified or premature at this point? And who the heck is David Icke?Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
How close are we to achieving herd immunity from COVID-19? What are the prospects for a cure? Why is it taking so long to develop a vaccine? Danny Ryan joins us on this episode to discuss the science behind these questions.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
In this episode, we analyze Trump's defensive responsive to a recent Inspector General report on the government's response to the coronavirus epidemic. We discuss how Trump could have shown much greater strength and leadership by owning the criticism and even supplementing it before touting his administration's efforts.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
In this episode, we explain why the Equal Rights Amendment sounds attractive but may instead be a Trojan horse for bad policies. We also analyze the last week’s events, including Biden’s surprising comeback, a possible Coronavirus vaccine, and the world planking record. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
In this episode, we analyze whether Trump’s impeachment and subsequent acquittal have chastened him to be more careful or only emboldened him to be more aggressive. We also discuss whether Kobe Bryant’s 2003 rape case should be fair game so soon after tragic death. Finally, we look at the new indictment of Jussie Smollett, and I try to make the absurd case that it’s somehow related to Donald Trump and Kobe Bryant. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
In this first episode of Season 2 of the podcast, we analyze the Trump impeachment and trial from start to finish. Did Trump abuse the power of his office? Did his actions rise to the level of impeachable offenses? Can Republicans simultaneously support impeachment and remain faithful conservatives? Behold, the answers to all of life’s questions …. iTunes: https://apple.co/2HTMOZuAndroid: https://bit.ly/2G06efvWeb: https://bit.ly/2JE46x5 Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
In this episode, we discuss recent attempts to force Christian business owners to violate their conscience by baking gay wedding cakes and gender transition birthday cakes, and how the Supreme Court’s Masterpiece Cakeshop decision really hasn’t solved anything. We also discuss the UK’s ban on gender stereotypes in advertising and Teen Vogue’s suggestion that prostitution should be just another career path. iTunes: https://apple.co/2HTMOZu Android: https://bit.ly/2G06efv Web: https://bit.ly/2JE46x5 Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
In this episode, we discuss the tragic suicide of a teen euthanasia advocate in the Netherlands and what it portends for euthanasia in the United States. We also discuss the new Alabama “chemical castration” law and whether it constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. Finally, we touch upon the latest news, including the recent defamation verdict against Oberlin college.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
In this episode, we discuss whether Martin Luther King’s legacy can survive new revelations about how he treated women. We also discuss Jordan Peterson’s reasons for not embracing Christianity despite teaching concepts central to it. Finally, we touch upon the latest news, including Oregon’s vote to ban plastic straws and a French village’s decision to hand out free Viagra.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
In this episode, we discuss the epidemic of “shame-shaming”—that is, the rush to classify any kind of unwanted criticism as “shaming.” We also discuss the recent rise of anti-Semitism in Germany and the claim that right-wingers are to blame. Finally, we discuss one criminal’s claim that Ben Shapiro was a gateway drug to white supremacism. Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
In this episode, we discuss the sacking of rugby star, Izzy Folau, for essentially posting a Bible verse to Instagram. We try to decipher what the new unwritten rules are for what you can and cannot say on social media. We also discuss the new SAT adversity scores and whether they represent a backdoor to racial quotas in college admissions. Finally, we give our quick takes on some of the interesting stories of the past week, including milkshake throwing and human composting.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
Should Caster Semenya, an intersex athlete, be allowed to compete in women's sports? Is James Holzhauer ruining Jeopardy or just optimizing it? Is there such a thing as a right without a cost? In this episode, we discuss the difference between commendable advantages and unfair advantages. We also discuss the consequences of the American drive to optimize everything.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
Joined by co-hosts Steve Moxey and Brandon Pickett, we discuss whether the tide is turning for free speech on college campuses, the coming of lab-grown meat, and the new Netflix docu-series on Ted Bundy.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
In this third and final episode of our series on medical judgment, Robin and Joshua LaFond share the story of their son, Vincent, who was diagnosed with the usual fatal condition Trisomy 18 while in utero. We discuss the options they were given, their decision to fight for Vincent's life, and their peace with the ultimate outcome.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
In this second episode of a multi-part series on medical judgment, Toby and Jenny Sumpter share the story of how they were advised to abort when one of the twins Jenny was carrying died and the other was at risk of either being disabled or threatening Jenny's health.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
In this first episode of a multi-part series on medical judgment, David and Anna Talcott share the story of how they were advised to abort when their daughter was diagnosed with encephalocele in utero. They talk about what the doctors got right, what they got wrong, and what they learned through the experience.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
In this episode, we discuss the abortion stories that made waves across the country in February. We also look at what's happening at the other end of life in the Netherlands and Belgium.Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
Is it hateful for a Christian school to exclude gay and transgender students and teachers? Will states soon start to force religious school to accept all qualified applicants, and if so, what does that mean for religious education?Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)
In this maiden voyage, we discuss Coinbase's decision to terminate the personal account of Gab CEO Andrew Torba, Gillette's "toxic masculinity" ad, and the role of corporations in cultural issuesSupport the show (https://www.patreon.com/undefinedterms)