The Tom Woods Show

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. Show notes for Ep. 1514

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. Sponsor: Honey Show notes for Ep. 1513

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. Show notes for Ep. 1512

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. Sponsor: Blinkist Show notes for Ep. 1511

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. Show notes for Ep. 1510

Gerard Casey joins me to discuss free speech, why we should be absolutists on it, the perils of "hate crime" laws, and much more. Sponsor: Harry's Show notes for Ep. 1509

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 the Death to Tyrants podcast. Show notes for Ep. 1508

We conclude Dave Smith Week with questions drawn from the Tom Woods Show Elite, which you can join at SupportingListeners.com. 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. Show notes for Ep. 1507

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. Sponsor: Skillshare Show notes for Ep. 1506

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. Sponsor: Away Show notes for Ep. 1505

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. Sponsor: Simple Habit Show notes for Ep. 1504

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. Sponsor: Policy Genius Show notes for Ep. 1503

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. Sponsor: Simple Habit Show notes for Ep. 1502

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 KettlebellKitchen.com. Show notes for Ep. 1501

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. Sponsor: Skillshare Show notes for Ep. 1500

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. Show notes for Ep. 1499

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. Sponsor: Simple Habit Show notes for Ep. 1498

Michael Rectenwald returns to the show to discuss woke capitalism, big tech, the mob mentality, and the suppression of dissident voices. Sponsor: Simple Habit Show notes for Ep. 1497

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. Sponsor: Blinkist Show notes for Ep. 1496

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. Sponsor: Skillshare Show notes for Ep. 1495