The Argument

Why Democrats and Republicans want you to pay $50,000 for a car

This week on The Argument, Jerusalem Demsas and Matthew Yglesias debate the tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Jerusalem argues that Americans should have access to cheaper, climate-friendly cars, while Matt says industrial policy requires a more cautious approach. They dive into the failure of Trump’s tariffs, what serious industrial policy looks like, and how the climate activists are once again missing the mark. (0:00) The BYD car that can jump over potholes (4:07) Climate activists miss the mark (11:46) Setting the stage for war with China (20:13) Protecting nonunion electric vehicles (27:50) Let Jerusalem buy a cheap Chinese EV (35:13) Matt Yglesias’s trade solutions (41:20) Comparing today to 1980s Japan auto policy (46:10) Peer review: The effects of school phone bans Support the Show: Get a full transcript, show notes, and an ad-free version: TheArgumentMag.com [http://theargumentmag.com/]  New episodes every Thursday—subscribe so you never miss a debate! The Argument is produced by Justin Zuckerman, fact-checked by Eli Richman, with music by Breakmaster Cylinder and art by Ben Tousley.

Did Joe Biden really kill Spirit Airlines?

Spirit Airlines is dead and the right, true to form, is blaming Joe Biden.  The immediate cause of Spirit's demise is pretty clear: the war with Iran spiked jet fuel costs, and the already-battered airline couldn't absorb the hit to its bottom line. Last we checked, Joe Biden didn't start any wars with Iran.  In this episode, Matthew Yglesias and Jerusalem Demsas break down what really happened with Spirit Airlines, the weird history of aviation policy in the U.S., and the conspiracy by some progressives to reduce competition in the space.  (0:00) Spirit Airlines is dead (7:07) The blocked JetBlue merger (14:54) 1960s airline nostalgia (21:12) Matt’s tinfoil hat theory (26:29) Pre-Carter airline monopolies (35:26) The dawn of deregulation (47:17) Anti-monopolists want less competition (54:19) America’s protectionist policies (58:22) Peer review: Marriage and gender-coded purchases Support the Show: Get a full transcript, show notes, and an ad-free version: TheArgumentMag.com [http://theargumentmag.com/]  New episodes every Thursday—subscribe so you never miss a debate! The Argument is produced by Justin Zuckerman, fact-checked by Eli Richman, with music by Breakmaster Cylinder and art by Ben Tousley.

Boy moms and Nazi POWs: how "The Feminine Mystique" changed feminism

Betty Friedan thought Korean POWs were dying in captivity because their mothers were housewives. She thought boy moms were making their sons gay. She wrote a whole chapter comparing suburban kitchens to concentration camps — in 1963, while America was still processing what concentration camps actually were.  "The Feminine Mystique" is one of those important books that everyone "knows" but no one has actually read.  For today's episode of The Argument podcast, Matthew Yglesias and Jerusalem Demsas read and review the book that kicked off second-wave feminism.  0:00-Introduction to The Feminine Mystique 9:02-Psychotherapy, Mad Men, and Marxist origins 20:02-The true drivers of social change 30:52-Famous books with massive effects 35:07-The most insane parts of The Feminine Mystique 47:33-The female happiness paradox 51:34-Rating the book’s success 56:54-Peer Review: Health benefits of WW2 sugar rationing? New episodes post every Thursday. For an ad-free version, show notes, and full transcript, subscribe at TheArgumentMag.com.  Support the Show: Get a full transcript, show notes, and an ad-free version: TheArgumentMag.com [http://theargumentmag.com/]  New episodes every Thursday—subscribe so you never miss a debate! The Argument is produced by Justin Zuckerman, fact-checked by Eli Richman, with music by Breakmaster Cylinder and art by Ben Tousley.

Should we end asylum?

Matthew Yglesias wants to end asylum.  On a new episode of The Argument, Matt argues that the post-WWII asylum framework is not just politically untenable but practically unworkable.  Jerusalem Demsas, true to form, disagrees. New episodes post every Thursday. For an ad-free version, show notes, and full transcript, subscribe at TheArgumentMag.com [http://theargumentmag.com].  Subscribe: Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-argument/id1842716928] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/767fBooApaPMOKW6fYCYCb] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheArgumentMag] | Overcast [https://overcast.fm/p5366921-dKmkjb] | Pocket Casts [https://pca.st/akwiopya] Support the Show: Get a full transcript, show notes, and an ad-free version: TheArgumentMag.com [http://theargumentmag.com/]  New episodes every Thursday—subscribe so you never miss a debate! The Argument is produced by Justin Zuckerman, fact-checked by Eli Richman, with music by Breakmaster Cylinder and art by Ben Tousley.

Can America still be a force for good?

For the past century, America's foreign interventions often carried the pretense of liberal idealism – to help bring peace and prosperity to people around the world.  But it doesn't take a history scholar to know that positive outcomes weren't always the result.  In the latest episode of the Argument, Jerusalem Demsas and Matthew Yglesias debate the merits of liberal hypocrisy, its benefits and drawbacks, and whether it's worth bringing it back.  New episodes post every Thursday. For an ad-free version and full transcript, subscribe at TheArgumentMag.com [http://theargumentmag.com] Subscribe: Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-argument/id1842716928] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/767fBooApaPMOKW6fYCYCb] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@TheArgumentMag] | Overcast [https://overcast.fm/p5366921-dKmkjb] | Pocket Casts [https://pca.st/akwiopya] Support the Show: Get a full transcript, show notes, and an ad-free version: TheArgumentMag.com [http://theargumentmag.com/]  New episodes every Thursday—subscribe so you never miss a debate! The Argument is produced by Justin Zuckerman, fact-checked by Eli Richman, with music by Breakmaster Cylinder and art by Ben Tousley.