The Reason Roundtable

This week, editors Katherine Mangu-Ward [https://reason.com/people/katherine-mangu-ward/] and Matt Welch [https://reason.com/people/matt-welch/] are joined by Senior Producer Zach Weissmueller [https://reason.com/people/zach-weissmueller/] and Senior Editor Robby Soave [https://reason.com/people/robby-soave/] to unpack RFK Jr.'s tumultuous week at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from leadership shake-ups and changes to COVID-19 vaccine access to mounting backlash from employees and former agency directors. They examine what this chaos says about the politicization of public health and the risks of concentrating so much authority in a single agency. The conversation then shifts into the brewing fight over deploying the National Guard in Chicago, weighing the constitutional questions and the practical realities of federal intervention in local crime. A listener question prompts a discussion around strategies for holding your ground when you're outnumbered in a debate. The panel then weighs in on a federal court ruling on Trump's tariffs, what it could mean for trade policy, and how it intersects with the broader libertarian legal movement. How can we make The Reason Roundtable better? Take our listener survey and get a chance to win $300: http://reason.com/podsurvey [http://reason.com/podsurvey]   0:00—Chaos at the CDC 9:45—RFK Jr.'s Health and Human Services report card 23:00—Trump and the Chicago crime crackdown 35:17—Listener question on debating when outnumbered 43:55—Liberation Day tariffs ruled unconstitutional 49:06—Weekly cultural recommendations   MENTIONED IN THE PODCAST: "Neither Cranks Nor Hacks Should Head HHS [https://reason.com/2025/08/29/neither-cranks-nor-hacks-should-head-up-hhs/]," by Matt Welch "Is RFK Jr. 'Weaponizing Public Health'? [https://reason.com/2025/08/28/is-rfk-jr-weaponizing-public-health/]" by Ronald Bailey "Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: COVID, Ukraine, Bitcoin, Guns, Free Speech, and More [https://reason.com/podcast/2023/06/30/robert-f-kennedy-jr-covid-ukraine-bitcoin-guns-free-speech-and-more/]," by Nick Gillespie and Zach Weissmueller "Should Vaccines Be Mandatory? [https://reason.com/2014/03/25/should-vaccines-be-mandatory/]" by Matt Welch, Ronald Bailey, Jeffrey A. Singer, and Sandy Reider "When It Comes to Fighting Crime With the National Guard, Trump Says, He Can Do 'Anything I Want To Do,' [https://reason.com/2025/08/27/when-it-comes-to-fighting-crime-with-the-national-guard-trump-says-he-can-do-anything-i-want-to-do/]" by Jacob Sullum "Chicago Next for National Guard? [https://reason.com/2025/08/25/chicago-next-for-national-guard/]" by Liz Wolfe "Federal Appeals Court Says Trump's Tariffs Are Unlawful, Allows Them To Remain in Place [https://reason.com/2025/08/29/federal-appeals-court-says-trumps-tariffs-are-unlawful-allows-them-to-remain-in-place/]," by Eric Boehm "The Federal Circuit's Tariff Ruling Highlights the Audacity of Trump's Power Grab [https://reason.com/2025/09/01/the-federal-circuits-tariff-ruling-highlights-the-audacity-of-trumps-power-grab/]," by Jacob Sullum "Trump's Tariff Spin Is Putting Republicans in an Awkward Spot [https://reason.com/2025/08/28/trumps-tariff-spin-is-putting-republicans-in-an-awkward-spot/]," by Eric Boehm   UPCOMING REASON EVENTS Why Europe Can't Get Rich [https://reason.org/event/why-europe-cant-get-rich/], September 10 REASON VERSUS — Mass Immigration Is Good for America [https://reason.org/event/reason-versus-mass-immigration-is-good-for-america/], October 2 * Producer: Paul Alexander [https://reason.com/people/paul-alexander/] * Video Editor: Ian Keyser [https://reason.com/people/ian-keyser/] The post RFK Jr.'s Wild Week [https://reason.com/podcast/2025/09/02/rfk-jr-s-wild-week/] appeared first on Reason.com [https://reason.com].

This week, editors Katherine Mangu-Ward [https://reason.com/people/katherine-mangu-ward/], Nick Gillespie [https://reason.com/people/nick-gillespie/], and Matt Welch [https://reason.com/people/matt-welch/] are joined by Reason reporter Eric Boehm [https://reason.com/people/eric-boehm/] to break down Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's signals of an upcoming interest rate cut and President Donald Trump's very public pressure campaign on the Fed. They discuss what a rate cut could mean for jobs, inflation, and investment, how tariffs are distorting basic economic signals, and why the Fed's growing politicization should worry anyone who values a functional economy. The conversation then turns to the administration's new trade deal with the European Union (E.U.), what it signals for tariffs, reciprocity, and the costs of everyday goods. They also field a question from a libertarian listener about the appeal of former Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D–Ill.) as a presidential candidate before examining the FBI's raid on former National Security Adviser John Bolton's home, weighing whether it's a legitimate investigation into mishandled classified documents, or a case of political retribution. How can we make The Reason Roundtable better? Take our listener survey for a chance to win a $300 gift card: http://reason.com/podsurvey [http://reason.com/podsurvey]   0:00—The impact of the Fed rate cuts 12:21—E.U. trade deal, tariffs, and their revenue 21:04—Cracker Barrel and the state of conservative commentary 33:07—Listener question on a Rahm Emanuel for president 42:19—FBI raids the home of John Bolton 51:21—Trump's order on burning the U.S. flag 52:39—Weekly cultural recommendations   MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST "Powell's Last Stand [https://reason.com/2025/08/22/powells-last-stand/]," by Liz Wolfe "Tariffs Begin Taking a Bite out of the Economy [https://reason.com/2025/08/20/tariffs-begin-taking-a-bite-out-of-the-economy/]," by J.D. Tuccille "Trump's New Trade 'Deal' With the E.U. Leaves Out Beer, Wine, Booze [https://reason.com/2025/08/22/trumps-new-trade-deal-with-the-e-u-leaves-out-beer-wine-booze/]," by Eric Boehm "The Europoors Are Choosing To Have Less Than Americans. It Doesn't Have To Be This Way, [https://reason.com/2025/08/25/why-europeans-have-less/]" by Sam Bowman "Trump's Steel Tariffs Now Apply to Milk and Hundreds of Other Products That Aren't Steel [https://reason.com/2025/08/20/trumps-steel-tariffs-now-apply-to-milk-and-hundreds-of-other-products-that-arent-steel/]," by Eric Boehm "Trump's Plans for Intel Take a Page From Bernie Sanders' Playbook [https://reason.com/2025/08/19/trumps-plans-for-intel-take-a-page-from-bernie-sanders-playbook/]," by Eric Boehm "Cracker Barrel Didn't 'Go Woke.' It Just Went Broke, [https://reason.com/2025/08/22/cracker-barrel-didnt-go-woke-it-just-went-broke/]" by Billy Binion "The Justice Department's Investigation of John Bolton Seems Like a Witch Hunt [https://reason.com/2020/09/15/john-bolton-justice-department-book-trump-investigation-national-security/]," by Robby Soave "My Conversations With John Bolton [https://reason.com/2018/03/23/my-conversations-with-john-bolton/]," by Matt Welch Ken Kleppenstein on X: John Bolton thinks Chelsea Manning should get the death penalty [https://x.com/kenklippenstein/status/1958906373237793095] Marcus Lemonis on X: official statement on California regulatory system [https://x.com/marcuslemonis/status/1958162142651470232]   Today's Sponsor: Therapy can feel like a big investment, but the state of your mind is just as important as your physical health. Let's talk numbers. Traditional in-person therapy can cost anywhere from $100 to $250 per session, which adds up fast, but with BetterHelp online therapy, you can save, on average, up to 50 percent per session. With BetterHelp, you pay a flat fee for weekly sessions, saving you big on cost and time. Therapy should feel accessible, not like a luxury. With online therapy, you get quality care at a price that makes sense and can help you with anything from anxiety to everyday stress. Your mental health is worth it—and now, it's within reach. With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 5 million people globally. It's convenient, too. You can join a session with the click of a button, helping you fit therapy into your busy life. As the largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp connects you with mental health professionals with a diverse variety of expertise—so you can find the right fit. Plus, switch therapists at any time. Your well-being is worth it. Visit betterhelp.com/roundtable [https://betterhelp.com/roundtable] today to get 10 percent off your first month. * Producer: Paul Alexander [https://reason.com/people/paul-alexander/] * Video Editor: Ian Keyser [https://reason.com/people/ian-keyser/] The post Is It Too Late To End the Fed? [https://reason.com/podcast/2025/08/25/is-it-too-late-to-end-the-fed/] appeared first on Reason.com [https://reason.com].

This week, editors Peter Suderman [https://reason.com/people/peter-suderman/], Katherine Mangu-Ward [https://reason.com/people/katherine-mangu-ward/], Nick Gillespie [https://reason.com/people/nick-gillespie/], and Matt Welch [https://reason.com/people/matt-welch/] dig into the Trump administration's increased meddling in the tech sector, from profit-sharing deals to a possible government stake in Intel. They discuss the recent spike in the consumer price index, the president's controversial pick to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and what the latest data signal for the economy. The conversation then shifts to Washington, D.C., where President Donald Trump has declared a state of emergency, put the local police under federal control, and deployed National Guard troops from multiple states as part of a sweeping crime crackdown. Despite over 1,700 [https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/08/16/trump-dc-police-takeover-fight/] officers and agents on the streets last week, the arrests were no higher than an average day, raising questions about whether the operation is more about politics than public safety. Later, the hosts turn to Trump's meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where threats of "severe consequences" gave way to softer rhetoric and even the adoption of some of Putin's language. A listener question lightens the mood by imagining the Roundtable as a band, with Peter on sousaphone. 0:00—Has Trump created a banana republic economy? 15:42—Consumer price index, jobs report, and the new BLS nominee 20:54—D.C. police department now under federal control 38:48—Listener question on a Roundtable musical group 45:14—Trump's meetings with Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy 55:34—Weekly cultural recommendations MENTIONED IN THE PODCAST "Intel Is Reportedly the Latest Company Trump Wants a Piece Of [https://reason.com/2025/08/15/intel-is-reportedly-the-latest-company-trump-wants-a-piece-of/]," by Joe Lancaster "Trump's Tracking of AI Chip Shipments Exposes Flaws in His Export Control [https://reason.com/2025/08/15/trumps-tracking-of-ai-chip-shipments-exposes-flaws-in-his-export-control/]," by Tosin Akintola "Trump Administration Plans To Tax More American Companies on Overseas Sales [https://reason.com/2025/08/14/trump-administration-plans-to-tax-more-american-companies-on-overseas-sales/]," by Jack Nicastro "Soaring Wholesale Prices Mean Higher Inflation Is Coming. Are Tariffs To Blame? [https://reason.com/2025/08/14/soaring-wholesale-prices-mean-higher-inflation-is-coming-are-tariffs-to-blame/]" by Eric Boehm "Republican Governors Send National Guard to D.C. [https://reason.com/2025/08/18/republican-governors-send-national-guard-to-d-c/]," by Liz Wolfe "The Government Sent '20 Police Officers' With Riot Gear To Rearrest D.C. Sandwich Thrower, Says Attorney [https://reason.com/2025/08/15/the-government-sent-20-police-officers-with-riot-gear-to-rearrest-d-c-sandwich-thrower-says-attorney/]," by Billy Binion "D.C. Residents Are Right To Protest Unconstitutional Police Roadblocks [https://reason.com/2025/08/15/d-c-residents-are-right-to-protest-unconstitutional-police-roadblocks/]," by C.J. Ciaramella "For Ukraine, 'Losing Slowly' Might Be a Winning Strategy [https://reason.com/2025/08/11/for-ukraine-losing-slowly-might-be-a-winning-strategy/]," by Paul Schwennesen "Does Donald Trump Know What a Dictator Looks Like? [https://reason.com/2025/08/07/does-donald-trump-know-what-a-dictator-looks-like/]" by Matt Welch "The End of Prestige [https://rosselliotbarkan.com/p/the-end-of-prestige]," by Ross Barkan   Today's Sponsor: Therapy can feel like a big investment, but the state of your mind is just as important as your physical health. Let's talk numbers. Traditional in-person therapy can cost anywhere from $100 to $250 per session, which adds up fast, but with BetterHelp online therapy, you can save, on average, up to 50 percent per session. With BetterHelp, you pay a flat fee for weekly sessions, saving you big on cost and time. Therapy should feel accessible, not like a luxury. With online therapy, you get quality care at a price that makes sense and can help you with anything from anxiety to everyday stress. Your mental health is worth it—and now, it's within reach. With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 5 million people globally. It's convenient, too. You can join a session with the click of a button, helping you fit therapy into your busy life. As the largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp connects you with mental health professionals with a diverse variety of expertise—so you can find the right fit. Plus, switch therapists at any time. Your well-being is worth it. Visit betterhelp.com/roundtable [https://betterhelp.com/roundtable] today to get 10 percent off your first month. * Producer: Paul Alexander [https://reason.com/people/paul-alexander/] * Video Editor: Ian Keyser [https://reason.com/people/ian-keyser/] The post The Trump Economy Is Now Pay To Play [https://reason.com/podcast/2025/08/18/the-trump-economy-is-now-pay-to-play/] appeared first on Reason.com [https://reason.com].

This week, editors Peter Suderman [https://reason.com/people/peter-suderman/], Katherine Mangu-Ward [https://reason.com/people/katherine-mangu-ward/], and Nick Gillespie [https://reason.com/people/nick-gillespie/] are joined by special guest Reem Ibrahim [https://www.reemibrahim.com/], head of media for the Institute of Economic Affairs. They begin with Jim Acosta's AI-generated interview featuring a deceased child urging gun control, using it as a springboard to discuss nationwide declines in violent crime and the political tendency to focus on banning specific tools. The conversation then shifts to the White House's decision to deploy the National Guard to Washington, D.C., and the dangerous precedent this could set for using federal forces to address local crime. The panel then turns to President Donald Trump's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to discuss Ukraine, weighing whether it could lead to peace or embolden authoritarian demands, as well as the role of European nations. From there, they examine the decision by Texas Democrats to flee the state amid redistricting battles and the FBI's efforts to locate them. A listener question from the United Kingdom prompts a conversation about free speech restrictions and the growing use of psychological studies to justify censorship, leading into a discussion of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression's (FIRE) lawsuit against the Trump administration over immigrant First Amendment rights.   0:00—Media exploitation of children for gun control 11:02—National Guard deployed to D.C. amid falling crime rates 15:02—Trump meeting with Putin in Alaska 25:51—Texas Democrats flee state over GOP redistricting map 35:35—Listener question on free speech rights in the U.K. 47:00—FIRE lawsuit against Trump administration over protected speech 54:55—Weekly cultural recommendations   MENTIONED IN THE PODCAST: "Hostile Takeover: Trump Federalizes Law Enforcement and Deploys National Guard in D.C. [https://reason.com/2025/08/11/hostile-takeover-trump-federalizes-law-enforcement-and-deploys-national-guard-in-d-c/]," by Tosin Akintola "Big Balls Attacked [https://reason.com/2025/08/11/big-balls-attacked/]," by Liz Wolfe "Trump says crime in D.C. is out of control. Here's what the data shows [https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2025/08/10/trump-crime-data-federal-takeover/]," by Olivia George, John D. Harden, Jenny Gathright, The Washington Post "How the New Texas Map Changes the Outlook for Control of the House [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/02/upshot/texas-map-redistricting-republicans-house.html]," by Nate Cohn, The New York Times "The UK's Online Safety Act is a licence for censorship – and the rest of the world is following suit [https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/aug/09/uk-online-safety-act-internet-censorship-world-following-suit]," by Taylor Lorenz, The Guardian "LAWSUIT: FIRE challenges unconstitutional provisions Rubio uses in crusade to deport legal immigrants over protected speech [https://www.thefire.org/news/lawsuit-fire-challenges-unconstitutional-provisions-rubio-uses-crusade-deport-legal-immigrants]," by FIRE   TODAY'S SPONSOR: Brooklyn Bedding handcrafts every mattress in their Arizona factory, cutting out the middleman to deliver top-tier quality, honest pricing, and true American craftsmanship. With options for every body, every sleep style, and even hard-to-find sizes, you can find your perfect match in under two minutes with the Brooklyn Bedding Sleep Quiz. Hot sleeper? Their GlacioTex™ [https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/2122.png] covers and CopperFlex™ [https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/16.0.1/72x72/2122.png] foam help keep you cool all night. They are endorsed by the American Chiropractic Association for spinal alignment and back health, and they are 100 percent fiberglass-free for added peace of mind. Every mattress comes with a 120-night comfort trial, giving you the freedom to keep it if you love it or exchange it if you don't. Go to http://brooklynbedding.com [http://brooklynbedding.com] and use promo code REASON at checkout for 30 percent off sitewide! * Producer: Paul Alexander [https://reason.com/people/paul-alexander/] * Video Editor: Ian Keyser [https://reason.com/people/ian-keyser/] The post Lower Crime Hasn't Stopped Gun Control Push [https://reason.com/podcast/2025/08/11/lower-crime-hasnt-stopped-gun-control-push/] appeared first on Reason.com [https://reason.com].

This week, editors Peter Suderman [https://reason.com/people/peter-suderman/] and Matt Welch [https://reason.com/people/matt-welch/] are joined by Reason reporter Eric Boehm [https://reason.com/people/eric-boehm/] and special guest Emily Jashinsky [https://www.youtube.com/@AfterPartyEmily], host of After Party. They begin with the media's growing fixation on men and masculinity, from a wave of New York Times essays to broader questions about dating, education, and work. What does this coverage reveal about how the media sees men, and about younger male voters drifting from the Democratic Party? The panel then examines President Donald Trump's escalating tariff policy, its economic consequences, and how it fits into the administration's broader approach to trade and inflation. A listener question prompts a discussion of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's shift toward deregulation, and the growing calls to reverse course. The panel also looks at Trump's overseas business activity and the ethical questions it raises about the use of public office for personal gain.   0:00–How men are characterized in the media 13:00–The publishing industry's struggles with men 19:15–The tradeoffs of Trump's tariff policies 42:52–Listener question on NCAA deregulation 50:56–The ethics of personal profits as president 1:00:14–Weekly cultural recommendations   MENTIONED IN THIS PODCAST "Your Relationship Problems Aren't Always About the Patriarchy [https://reason.com/2025/08/01/your-relationship-problems-arent-always-about-the-patriarchy/]," by Emma Camp "Yes, Tariffs Are Raising Prices [https://reason.com/2025/07/29/yes-tariffs-are-raising-prices/]," by Eric Boehm "Firing the Data-Collectors [https://reason.com/2025/08/04/firing-the-data-collectors/]," by Liz Wolfe "Amateur Hour Is Over: College Athletes Can Get Paid by Schools [https://reason.com/2025/06/10/amateur-hour-is-over-college-athletes-can-get-paid-by-schools/]," by Jason Russell "Trump Is Openly Using the Presidency To Enrich the Trump Brand [https://reason.com/2025/08/01/trump-is-openly-using-the-presidency-to-enrich-the-trump-brand/]," by Matt Welch "The Naked Gun Is Stupid in the Best Possible Way [https://reason.com/2025/08/01/the-naked-gun-is-stupid-in-the-best-possible-way/]," by Peter Suderman   Today's Sponsors: Therapy can feel like a big investment, but the state of your mind is just as important as your physical health. Let's talk numbers. Traditional in-person therapy can cost anywhere from $100 to $250 per session, which adds up fast, but with BetterHelp online therapy, you can save, on average, up to 50 percent per session. With BetterHelp, you pay a flat fee for weekly sessions, saving you big on cost and time. Therapy should feel accessible, not like a luxury. With online therapy, you get quality care at a price that makes sense and can help you with anything from anxiety to everyday stress. Your mental health is worth it—and now, it's within reach. With over 30,000 therapists, BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform, having served over 5 million people globally. It's convenient, too. You can join a session with the click of a button, helping you fit therapy into your busy life. As the largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp connects you with mental health professionals with a diverse variety of expertise—so you can find the right fit. Plus, switch therapists at any time. Your well-being is worth it. Visit betterhelp.com/roundtable [https://betterhelp.com/roundtable] today to get 10 percent off your first month. * Producer: Paul Alexander [https://reason.com/people/paul-alexander/] * Video Editor: Ian Keyser [https://reason.com/people/ian-keyser/] The post The New York Times Doesn't Understand Men [https://reason.com/podcast/2025/08/04/the-new-york-times-doesnt-understand-men/] appeared first on Reason.com [https://reason.com].