Right Now with Stephen Kent

Journalist and filmmaker Jorge Ventura joins Stephen Kent and Jacob Rich for a conversation about his documentary "Cartelville, USA" and why the illegal drug trade continues to thrive in California. Subscribe to Rightly and catch more details about the episode below. ---- Content of This Episode ---- 00:00 Episode Start 00:48 “Cartelville USA” trailer 02:50 Jorge Ventura on how he got the scoop 04:48 What happened in CA’s Prop 64 06:00 Jacob Rich on why cartels like CA 07:45 Water and real estate issues 12:30 What the law says – and doesn’t say 18:38 The plight of the legal grower 20:45 Politicians don’t seem to care 23:00 Impact of Defund the Police 25:55 Jacob Rich goes way out on a limb 29:30 The investigation continues ---- Plugs for our Guests ---- Follow Jorge Ventura: Twitter: https://twitter.com/VenturaReport Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jorgeventuratv/ Documentary: https://carteldoc.dailycaller.com/documentary Follow Jacob Rich: Twitter: https://twitter.com/jacobjamesrich

Former New York Times reporter Alex Berenson joins Stephen Kent and Jacob Rich to talk about coronavirus hysteria, vaccine mandates, big tech censorship, and if it's possible to have an honest conversation about COVID-19. Subscribe to Rightly and catch more details about the episode below. Make sure to sign up for Unfettered, our new newsletter, available now. Newsletter signup: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/rightlyaj/issues/right-now-unfettered-11-26-21-901000 --- Content of This Episode ---- 00:00 Episode Start 00:05 Cautiously preparing for the show 02:30 Pandemic overreaction 10:15 Being skeptical of Big Pharma 15:39 Bill de Blasio’s NYC vaccine mandate 21:00 Long-term impact research 25:20 Pivot to marijuana 29:11 Reporting on side-effects 32:40 We review our own show ---- Reading List ---- Pandemia: How Coronavirus Hysteria Took Over Our Government, Rights, and Lives https://www.amazon.com/Pandemia-Coronavirus-Hysteria-Government-Rights-ebook/dp/B08XJRRZJP Unreported Truths, Alex Berenson's Substack https://alexberenson.substack.com/ ---- Plugs for our Guests ---- Follow Jacob Rich: Twitter: https://twitter.com/jacobjamesrich

YouTuber Vaush joins Right Now to talk about the purpose of the socialist movement, if only white people can be white supremacists, and why you can't call everyone you disagree with a fascist. Subscribe to Rightly and catch more details about the episode below. Make sure to sign up for Unfettered, our new newsletter, available now. Newsletter signup: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/rightlyaj/issues/right-now-unfettered-11-26-21-901000 --- Content of This Episode ---- 00:00 Episode Start 00:05 Vaush on attending Freer Future Fest 01:36 What and who is a libertarian socialist 07:55 Restoring political equilibrium 11:00 The case for co-ops 21:30 The primary function of the socialist movement 23:00 Calling everyone a “fascist” 30:25 Vaush: You don’t have to be white to be a white supremacist 40:40 Vaush isn’t a complete cynic ---- Plugs for Our Guests ---- Follow Vaush: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Vaush Twitter: https://twitter.com/VaushV Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vaushv/

Sex and lifestyle content creator Arielle Scarcella joins Right Now to talk about leaving an "abusive relationship" with the left. Subscribe to Rightly and catch more details about the episode below. Make sure to sign up for Unfettered, our new newsletter, available now. Newsletter signup: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/rightlyaj/issues/right-now-unfettered-issue-19-887047 ---- Content of This Episode ---- 00:00 Episode Start 00:05 Gender studies with Brad and Arielle 04:10 Arielle on leaving the woke world 08:35 The fight for cultural control 11:41 Getting demonetized by Big Tech 13:10 Can a porn star be conservative? 15:27 “Republican” vs “Conservative” 18:26 The Great Realignment 21:55 Leaving an abusive relationship with the left 23:22 LGBT community leans left as a default 25:17 Hard pivot: The Rittenhouse trial 30:55 Seeing the U.S.A. ---- Plugs for Our Guests ---- Follow Arielle Scarcella: Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArielleScarcell YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/arielle Follow Brad Polumbo: Latest BradReacts!: https://youtu.be/aSNAsDX_rd8 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClFUXoMmjzaeD5RjGPNGHSQ Twitter: https://twitter.com/brad_polumbo

On a new "Right Now," Stephen sits down with Karlyn Borysenko for a conversation about Critical Race Theory in education, cameras in the classroom, and if it's possible to fix the public school system. Subscribe to Rightly and catch more details about the episode below. Make sure to sign up for Unfettered, our new newsletter, available now. Newsletter signup: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/rightlyaj/issues/right-now-unfettered-issue-18-870973 ---- Content of This Episode ---- 00:00 Episode Start 00:40 Karlyn Borysenko’s “WalkAway” moment and one-night stand with the GOP 04:50 Breaking the Coca-Cola training story 10:30 Heading in the right direction with CRT 12:47 Critical Race Theory isn’t about race 20:15 The white positivity movement 24:09 Racial affinity 29:25 The Mises Caucus in the Libertarian Party 31:12 Are public schools beyond saving? 33:40 Karlyn argues for cameras in classrooms 38:30 The national discourse on CRT ---- Reading List ---- Libertarian Party Mises Caucus https://lpmisescaucus.com/ ---- Plugs for our Guest ---- Karlyn Borysenko on YouTube h ttps://www.youtube.com/c/DrKarlynBorysenko

In this bonus segment from "Right Now," Brad Polumbo talks with Rightly contributor Nate Hochman about his experience at the National Conservatism Conference that featured speakers like Sen. Marco Rubio and Sen. Ted Cruz. Subscribe to Rightly and make sure to sign up for Unfettered, our new newsletter available now. Newsletter signup: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/rightlyaj/issues/right-now-unfettered-10-25-21-827594 Read Nate Hochman's reporting: "What Do the National Conservatives Want?" https://www.nationalreview.com/2021/11/what-do-the-national-conservatives-want/ "Is Ted Cruz a National Conservative?" https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/is-ted-cruz-a-national-conservative/ "Among the National Conservatives" https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/among-the-national-conservatives/ Follow Rightly on social: Twitter: https://twitter.com/RightlyAj Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rightlyaj/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RightlyAJ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@rightlyaj

"Star Wars" can help fix our real-world politics. Just ask Stephen Kent. In this episode of "Right Now," Stephen is interviewed by political comedian Andrew Heaton about his new book, "How the Force Can Fix the World: Lessons on Life, Liberty, and Happiness from a Galaxy Far, Far Away." Watch as Andrew and Stephen discuss how lessons from "Star Wars" can help mend political divides and even make us better humans. Subscribe to Rightly and catch more details about the episode below. Make sure to sign up for Unfettered, our new newsletter, available now. Newsletter signup: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/rightlyaj/issues/right-now-unfettered-10-25-21-827594 ---- Content of This Episode ---- 00:00 Andrew Heaton takes over 01:53 Stephen breaks down book content 03:10 Polarization and attachment in Star Wars and in life 06:25 Lessons from theology 08:40 Mediating between the Sith and the Jedi 10:45 Can you love Star Wars AND Star Trek? 11:55 Lessons in empathy 16:05 Redemption and Force Ghosts 19:31 We’re all the bad guy to an extent 22:05 How Yoda can help you face your fears 26:15 “Hope is like the sun...” 29:25 Choose your own Star Wars adventure ---- Plugs for our Guests ---- How the Force Can Fix the World: Lessons on Life, Liberty, and Happiness from a Galaxy Far, Far Away by Stephen Kent https://www.amazon.com/How-Force-Can-Fix-World/dp/1546000461 Los Angeles is Hideous: Poems About an Ugly City by Andrew Heaton https://www.amazon.com/Los-Angeles-Hideous-Poems-About/dp/0989613194

Why do political debates perform so well on Twitch? Will life be any better for us in the Metaverse? On a new "Right Now with Stephen Kent," Stephen sits down with Dylan Burns, a popular Twitch streamer and political consultant, and Shoshana Weissmann of the R Street Institute, to discuss why left-leaning individuals do better on Twitch than those on the right, how culture wars distract us from the real issues going on, and what to expect from Facebook's new Metaverse. Subscribe to Rightly and catch more details about the episode below. Make sure to sign up for Unfettered, our new newsletter, available now. Newsletter signup: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/rightlyaj/issues/right-now-unfettered-10-25-21-827594 ---- Content of This Episode ---- 00:00 The Hippy Dippy Championship on Twitch 03:12 How it started / how it’s going for Dylan Burns on Twitch 06:34 Why debates do well on Twitch (hint: it’s interactive) 10:10 The left does better than the right on Twitch - here’s why 13:04 Getting political after seeing his mom criminalized for drug abuse 15:23 IRL politics preceded online presence 19:35 Culture wars are a distraction 23:25 The focus on CRT at school board meetings 27:45 What are they actually teaching in schools about race? 36:41 First-hand experience with war-on-drugs failure 39:27 Will things be any better in the Metaverse? --- Plugs for our Guests ---- Follow Dylan Burns: Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/dylanburnstv YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DylanBurnsTV Twitter: https://twitter.com/DylanBurns1776 Follow Shoshana Weissmann: https://twitter.com/senatorshoshana

What is the Texas abortion law SB-8, why is the Supreme Court getting involved, and how will this impact abortion rights across the country? On a new "Right Now with Stephen Kent," Stephen sits down with Kat Murti of Feminists for Liberty and Nate Hochman, ISI Fellow at the National Review and Rightly contributor, to discuss their respective stances on abortion, issues facing women in America today, if men should be part of the abortion conversation, what role the government should have in regards to abortion, and their outlook on this important issue for the future. Subscribe to Rightly and catch more details about the episode below. Make sure to sign up for Unfettered, our new newsletter, available now. Newsletter signup: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/rightlyaj/issues/right-now-unfettered-10-25-21-827594 ---- Content of This Episode ---- 00:00 Episode Start 00:35 Why men should be part of the conversation 04:40 Panelists’ lay out their views 08:00 Separate paths all leading to pro-life views 12:55 Pregnancy is not a disease 16:00 Close reading of Roe v Wade ruling 20:20 Whose rights matter? 23:00 Kat: We need a pro-motherhood, pro-family culture 25:45 Nate: Women swayed by “abortion industry” propaganda 26:35 That Texas abortion law - is it the right solution? 31:00 Testing some hypotheticals 36:00 A cause for optimism ---- Plugs for our Guests ---- Follow Kat Murti: https://twitter.com/KatMurti https://twitter.com/FeministLiberty Follow Nate Hochman: https://twitter.com/njhochman

Did libertarianism put America on the road to ruin? And did the conservative movement losing fights like that of same-sex marriage, really put us on the slippery slope to transgender ideology being the norm? This week we’re talking to Declan Leary of The American Conservative magazine, about why he wants to see libertarians cast out of the Republican coalition for good & see the American right get excited about controlling government and putting it to use for a change. At the core of this show is a question about what defines “normal” when it comes to our politics. Societal norms in America have changed rapidly in the past sixty years, and a lot of good has come from it. But change also equals disruption; that’s the nature of challenging the status quo. There will always be costs to it, and there will also always be holdouts who do not accept the new “normal” or believe the consensus in politics or society at large is a consensus at all. Recognizing this is part of why we started Rightly in the first place, and why I excitedly host this show every week. The “consensus” in American politics, particularly on the right, isn’t looking like much of a consensus at all these days. Donald Trump’s campaign and presidency changed everything. Stephen’s guests this week are Declan Leary, Associate Editor of The American Conservatve magazine and Nate Hochman, a fellow with National Review. Both are from a younger generation of conservatives who would call themselves more traditionalist conservatives (tradcons), Leary most of all. The politics of Leary and increasingly so at his publication, The American Conservative, is all about challenging the decades old consensus on the right...that of fusionism between libertarian orthodoxy with conservative thought. Donald Trump was not so much an avatar of this faction as he was an inspiration to point out that the “consensus” in our politics was anything but. Whether it be gay marriage, no-fault divorce, adoption or the gender equality gains of the sexual revolution, all of this and more is up for renewed debate by a younger and quite energized conservative movement. But don’t talk to them about tax rates - their concern is what constitutes “virtue” and whether or not “liberty” is really working out so well for our society. Libertarians, progressives and liberals - in the mind of the new right, these traditional conservatives, they’re all part of the same problem in our politics, neighborhoods and families. In this episode, Declan Leary and Nate Hochman answer questions about this rising faction, what they do and don’t believe, and if America as we understand it today...is worth saving. These conversations are important, because if you don’t understand these intellectual rifts on the right, you’ll only be caught flat-footed and surprised at the ways in which these debates are reshaping the Republican Party as we’ve understood it. Subscribe to Rightly and catch more details about the episode below. Make sure to sign up for Unfettered, our new newsletter, available now. Newsletter signup: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/rightlyaj/issues/right-now-unfettered-10-16-21-814092 ---- Content of This Episode ---- 00:00 Episode Start 00:05 Declan Leary: What Libertarians get wrong about liberty 05:30 Decades-old debate over fusionism still not settled 12:45 Neutrality is a myth; laws are always a value statement 19:45 What is a family and why is that so hard to define? 26:10 Leary: Buttigieg family photo a “mockery” 34:15 Gender neutral pronouns as the default 38:12 Why everything is subjective now 43:11 Always some good news to share ---- Reading List ---- “The Twisted Tree of LIberty” by Frank S. Meyer https://www.nationalreview.com/2017/01/communism-conservatism-twisted-tree-liberty/ “Freedom or Virtue” by L. Brent Bozell Jr. https://www.nationalreview.com/2017/01/freedom-virtue-conservatism-goal-society-freedom-or-virtue/ ---- Plugs for our Guests ---- Follow Declan Leary:...

Mark Pellegrino is a unique actor in modern Hollywood. For a guy who has played Lucifer (Supernatural) and an abusive ex (Dexter), you could call him something of a unicorn for his politics. Pellegrino is a committed Objectivist, an adherent of Ayn Rand and the founder of the American Capitalist Party. He believes deeply that emotion, altruism, and instinct are not good guides for a healthy politics or society. Stephen Kent speaks with Mark Pellegrino, and Robby Soave (Reason) author of Tech Panic, about how COVID reshaped the world and challenged the claims of Ayn Rand about the virtues of self-interest. Pellegrino, Kent and Soave cover masking policies, vaccines, Fauci-ism, surviving cancel culture in Hollywood, the rush to regulate big tech companies and Pellegrino dishes on some details of “Lost” regarding his crucial character, Jacob. Subscribe to Rightly and catch more details about the episode below. Make sure to sign up for Unfettered, our new newsletter, available now. Newsletter signup: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/rightlyaj/issues/right-now-unfettered-10-10-21-805538 ---- Content of This Episode ---- 00:00 Episode Start 00:05 The Yaron Brook v Vaush debate 04:37 Mark Pellegrino’s objectivist views of the pandemic 08:30 The ongoing debate over masks 10:30 What it really means to be selfish 16:42 No, the pandemic did not unravel Atlas Shrugged 22:35 Social media CEOs don’t have to answer to Congress 27:27 Living in The Republic of Feelings 33:30 Mark isn’t against cancel culture, even though he’s been a target 37:10 Does Netflix’s defense of Dave Chappelle mean the tide is turning? 42:04 Shooting American Rust in a pandemic took all the fun out of it 43:26 Lost superfan Robby Soave gets an exclusive on Mark’s character Jacob 46:48 Good news about the pandemic ---- Reading List ---- Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand https://aynrand.org/novels/atlas-shrugged/ ---- Plugs for our Guests ---- " American Rust" on Showtime https://www.sho.com/american-rust "Tech Panic: Why We Shouldn’t Fear Facebook and the Future" by Robby Soave https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Tech-Panic/Robby-Soave/9781982159597

The bad news is that a lot of today's popular comedy still makes sure to apease the woke left. The good news is that more and more people are becoming anti-woke, and that there is a bright future for conservative comedy. On a new "Right Now with Stephen Kent," Stephen sits down with comedian Lou Perez to discuss socialist comedy; the Pandora Papers; why taxing the rich won't solve all of society's ills; why more people are waking up from wokeness; and more. Subscribe to Rightly and catch more details about the episode below. Make sure to sign up for Unfettered, our new newsletter, available now. --- Content of This Episode ---- 00:00 Episode Start 01:35 Meet Comedian Lou Perez 03:55 That time when Lou was misidentified as a far-right radical 08:28 The question that comedians always get asked 14:12 Our comedy era is a double-edged sword 17:25 The PR guys got to socialism 21:23 About those Pandora Papers... 25:43 The Swedes are smart about taxes and other things Newsletter signup: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/rightlyaj/issues/right-now-unfettered-10-3-21-794277

In an interview from "Right Now with Stephen Kent," Stephen and Brad Polumbo sit down with Sen. Rand Paul to discuss his views on the COVID-19 vaccine, government mandates, the long-lasting effects of lockdowns, and more. For background information related to this conversation with Senator Rand Paul, we'd like to include links to resources mentioned in the interview so you can be as informed on the public policy debate and scientific understandings of COVID immunity as it evolves. The latest CDC's guidance on issues of immunity can be found here: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0806-vaccination-protection.html Myths and Facts about COVID-19 https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/facts.html Senator Paul references here research on immunity out of Israel, published here: Comparing SARS-CoV-2 natural immunity to vaccine-induced immunity: reinfections versus breakthrough infections https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.24.21262415v1 Paul had a confrontation last week with HHS Secretary Javier Becerra on the Israeli study and the issue of immunity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml1W0k0yaJk Study Suggests Lasting Immunity After COVID-19, With a Big Boost From Vaccination https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2782139 Natural Immunity vs. Vaccine-Acquired Immunity: Which Is Better? https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/vaccines/natural-immunity-vs-vaccine-acquired-immunity-which-is-better Senator Rand Paul Speaks About Natural Immunitiy And Why Its Important To Recognize https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFbmtMSUxIg 'You're a lawyer with no scientific background': Rand Paul attacks Sec. Becerra on vaccine mandates https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml1W0k0yaJk Rand Paul Fights For The Truth On Natural Immunity https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7KrHBU1hsc Yes, an Israeli study did find natural immunity is effective in fighting COVID-19, but health expert https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbFt2ox6WcQ New CDC Study: Vaccination Offers Higher Protection than Previous COVID-19 Infection https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0806-vaccination-protection.html Subscribe to Rightly and make sure to sign up for Unfettered, our new newsletter, available now. Newsletter signup: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/rightlyaj/issues/right-now-unfettered-10-3-21-794277 #Covid19 #RandPaul

Is it possible to ever see the world and its events free from your own personal distractions or biases? What is "political mindfulness" and how can we practice it in our day-to-day lives? In this episode of "Right Now with Stephen Kent," Stephen sits down with Shaun Cammack of The Narratives Project to discuss how social media skews our political and personal preferences; how narratives work and how they are different from facts; and why it's important to try to understand things from other people's perspectives Subscribe to Rightly and catch more details about the episode below. Make sure to sign up for Unfettered, our new newsletter, available now. Newsletter signup: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/rightlyaj/issues/right-now-unfettered-9-25-21-781263 ---- Content of This Episode ---- 00:00 Episode Start 00:05 If news organizations were people 04:42 The mission of The Narratives Project 06:15 Applying mindfulness to news & politics 09:40 Are you ignorant or brainwashed? 12:00 How social media skews our choices 17:19 It all started with a tweet 19:52 We don’t need facts, per se, to form a narrative 22:55 What is a narrative anyway? 25:10 Falling into blue v red traps 29:54 The case for diversity at a local level 31:55 The immigration “crisis” 39:50 What to do with our narratives 40:45 Good news about rocks ---- Plugs for our Guest ---- Follow Shaun Cammack and The Narratives Project on Twitter: https://twitter.com/shaunjcammack https://twitter.com/NarrativesProj

Why are some people targeted by Cancel Culture and others are ignored? Will free speech and opinion ever be able to exist peacefully on the internet? On the latest episode of "Right Now with Stephen Kent," Stephen sits down with Gothix and Nick Gillespie of Reason magazine to discuss why some people become prime targets for Cancel Culture; the ongoing battle for free speech on social media and across the internet; what the public reception of Allen Ginsberg's famed "Howl" reveals about censorship today; and if and how we can actually triumph over Cancel Culture and attacks on free thought. Subscribe to Rightly and catch more details about the episode below. Make sure to sign up for Unfettered, our new newsletter, available now. Newsletter signup: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/rightlyaj/issues/right-now-unfettered-9-17-21-769625 ---- Content of This Episode ---- 00:00 Episode Start 00:15 Nick Gillespie’s cancel story (it’s a short one) 03:20 Three levels of cancellation 07:00 Parallels with China’s struggle sessions 08:45 About that Nicki Minaj tweet 10:15 A perpetual state of exception 16:15 Gothix on changes to internet behavior 18:20 Exit, voice or loyalty 21:37 Companies applying the wrong fix 30:00 Free speech ground rules amid platform proliferation 36:45 Partisan divide over restricting misinformation 39:24 We have some solutions 47:51 Good news on coffee, pharmaceuticals and school ---- Reading List ---- "Self-Cancellation, Deplatforming, and Censorship" (Nick Gillespie for Reason) https://reason.com/2021/09/07/self-cancellation-deplatforming-and-censorship/ "Partisan divisions have widened over role of government, tech firms in restricting misinformation" (Pew Research Center) https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/08/18/more-americans-now-say-government-should-take-steps-to-restrict-false-information-online-than-in-2018/ft_21-08-16_techgovtmisinfo_2/ "Priyanka Chopra Jonas on 'The Activist': 'The show got it wrong'" (CNN) https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/17/entertainment/priyanka-chopra-the-activist/index.htm l "Why The Left Is Developing Into A Bunch Of Prudish Tramps" (The Federalist) https://thefederalist.com/2019/03/21/left-developing-bunch-prudish-tramps/ ---- Plugs for our guests ---- Follow Nick Gillespie on Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickgillespie Follow Gothix on Twitter: https://twitter.com/gothixTV

Is there any generation that deserves more blame for the current state of our world? Is there anything that Boomers and Zoomers can learn from each other? On a new "Right Now with Stephen Kent," Stephen sits down with Hannah Cox of the Foundation for Economic Education and Larry Sharpe, former candidate for New York Governor, to discuss the generational differences between the Baby Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Z; how Boomer leaders and policies are impacting the country today; the malaise that comes from taxing one generation to pay for another; why vaccines are good but mandates are bad; and if there's any way for the generations to get along. Subscribe to Rightly and catch more details about the episode below. Make sure to sign up for Unfettered, our new newsletter, available now. Newsletter signup: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/rightlyaj/issues/right-now-unfettered-9-11-21-760771 ---- Content of This Episode ---- 00:00 Episode start 01:06 Reminiscing over Freedom Fest 03:55 Starting positions 08:25 Why Gen Z votes for Boomers 14:30 Pushing back against “isms” 16:40 Generational politics of taxing & spending 20:05 The case for age limits 21:48 Ownership of furniture – and the future 23:35 Peeling off the labels 28:30 Pandemic divide 36:00 You had one job 38:09 Getting the pandemic response right 42:06 Good news about cats, books & movies ---- Plugs for our guests ---- Follow Hannah Cox: Articles for the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE): https://fee.org/people/hannah-cox/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/HannahDCox Follow Larry Sharpe: https://twitter.com/LarrySharpe

There's the narrative you've probably heard about the opioid crisis. And then there's the truth about what's actually happening. On a new "Right Now with Stephen Kent," Stephen sits down with policy analyst Jacob Rich and Shoshana Weissmann of the R Street Institute to discuss whether Big Pharma or the federal government is to blame for the opioid crisis: why it is impossible to stop illegal drugs from entering the US; what is actually causing the high price of prescription drugs; and if there is any solution to the opioid crisis beyond convincing people to not take drugs. Subscribe to Rightly and catch more details about the episode below. Make sure to sign up for Unfettered, our new newsletter, available now. Newsletter signup: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/rightlyaj/issues/right-now-unfettered-9-4-21-750697 ---- Content of This Episode ---- 00:00 Episode start 00:05 Reminiscing about Freedom Fest and Mt. Rushmore 04:43 Math is the most concentrated form of truth 05:44 The unexpected relationship between opioid prescription and deaths 09:56 Here's what's wrong with the "Big Pharma is causing the opioid crisis"-narrative 12:36 We simply cannot stop illegal drugs coming into the US 14:50 A brief history of drug prohibition 19:31 Why a law mandating drug pricing transparency can be counterintuitive 25:50 We see the same problem with drug pricing, we just can't find a common boogeyman 32:07 Why Jacob doesn't support medical marijuana 36:34 The good news about people relocating to rural communities ---- Plugs for our guests ---- Follow Jacob Rich and Shoshana Weissmann on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jacobjamesrich https://twitter.com/senatorshoshana (This episode was taped on July 27)

It's uncertain what the future holds for Afghanistan. But what is certain is that the US will continue to embrace militarism in the years to come. On a new "Right Now with Stephen Kent," Stephen sits down with Abby Hall Blanco, co-author of "Manufacturing Militarism," Fiona Harrigan of Reason magazine, and Brad Polumbo of the Foundation for Economic Education, for a discussion about the concept of paid patriotism; the tools governments use in crafting effective wartime propaganda; and if the withdrawal from Afghanistan could have been conducted more effectively. Subscribe to Rightly and catch more details about the episode below. Make sure to sign up for Unfettered, our new newsletter, available now. Newsletter signup: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/rightlyaj/issues/right-now-unfettered-8-27-21-740292 ---- Content of This Episode ---- 00:00 Episode start 00:05 The end of the “endless” war 02:40 Some credit where credit is due to Pres. Biden 04:41 Response to Afghanistan withdrawal – it’s complicated 08:57 Abigail Hall Blanco America’s pro-war posture 14:25 Paid patriotism 18:09 Countering the messaging 23:30 Sports metaphors 27:30 Unchecked and not balanced 29:50 Messaging around the TSA 35:25 Brad Polumbo, TikTok, and Karl Marx ---- Reading list ----- Manufacturing Militarism: U.S. Government Propaganda in the War on Terror (By Christopher J. Coyne & Abigail R. Hall) https://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=33558 The Afghanistan Papers (By Craig Witlock, The Washington Post) https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/investigations/afghanistan-papers/afghanistan-war-confidential-documents/ ---- Plugs for our guests ---- Follow Abby Hall Blanco, Fiona Harrigan, and Brad Polumbo on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Abigail_R_Hall https://twitter.com/Fiona_Harrigan https://twitter.com/brad_polumbo

Would you prefer a reassuring lie about the situation in Afghanistan? Or an uncomfortable truth? In the latest episode of "Right Now with Stephen Kent," Stephen sits down with Fiona Harrigan of Reason magazine to discuss the US withdrawal from Afghanistan; the rise of the Taliban; the media's partisan divide between getting Americans out vs. getting Afghans out; if there was any true reason or justification for US invasion in the first place; and what the future may look like for both Afghanistan and the world. Subscribe to Rightly and catch more details about the episode below. Make sure to sign up for Unfettered, our new newsletter, available now. Newsletter signup: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/rightlyaj/issues/right-now-unfettered-8-20-730588 ---- Content of This Episode ---- 00:00 Episode start 00:05 A little white lie 05:50 Giving the Taliban legitimacy – or not 10:55 Throwing good money after bad 12:57 How to help Afghans now 18:30 Afghans still looking for ways out 21:33 The refugee debate feat. Sasse & Vance 33:00 It didn’t have to be like this 34:21 For Gen Z 9/11 is history, not memory 43:10 Good news on film school and audio books ---- Reading list ----- We Need To Get Afghans Out of Afghanistan Too (Reason) https://reason.com/2021/08/16/we-need-to-get-afghans-out-of-afghanistan-too/ Withdrawing From Afghanistan Is Still the Right Thing To Do (Reason) https://reason.com/2021/07/14/withdrawing-from-afghanistan-is-still-the-right-thing-to-do/ Denied American Visas, These Afghans Were Forced To Make a Perilous Escape After Helping U.S. Troops for Years (Reason) https://reason.com/2021/07/08/denied-american-visas-these-afghans-were-forced-to-make-a-perilous-escape-after-helping-u-s-troops-for-years/ AT WAR WITH THE TRUTH: The Afghanistan Papers, A secret history of the war (Washington Post) https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/investigations/afghanistan-papers/afghanistan-war-confidential-documents/ WHAT WE NEED TO LEARN: LESSONS FROM TWENTY YEARS OF AFGHANISTAN RECONSTRUCTION (Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction) https://www.sigar.mil/pdf/lessonslearned/SIGAR-21-46-LL.pdf Tony Blair: Why We Must Not Abandon the People of Afghanistan – For Their Sakes and Ours (Tony Blair Institute for Global Change) https://institute.global/tony-blair/tony-blair-why-we-must-not-abandon-people-afghanistan-their-sakes-and-ours ---- Plugs for our guests ---- Follow Fiona Harrigan: https://twitter.com/Fiona_Harrigan https://reason.com/people/fiona-harrigan/

Is redemption possible for individuals like Ryan Adams and Andrew Cuomo who were the subject of #MeToo allegations? How should react when individuals are accused of sexual misconduct and other inappropriate behavior? On a new "Right Now with Stephen Kent," Stephen sits down with Liz Wolfe of Reason magazine and Katie Herzog of the Blocked and Reported podcast for a conversation about the cancellation of Ryan Adams; the resignation of Andrew Cuomo; if and how one should apologize when facing a Cancel Culture or #MeToo mob; how the coverage around sexual harassment cases is continuing to evolve; and what we can and should do when encountering stories involving allegations about sexual harassment and other misconduct. Subscribe to Rightly and catch more details about the episode below. Make sure to sign up for Unfettered, our new newsletter, available now. Newsletter signup: https://www.getrevue.co/profile/rightlyaj/issues/right-now-unfettered-8-12-722224 ---- Content of This Episode ---- 00:00 Episode start 00:05 Andrew Cuomo, Ryan Adams & #MeToo 01:14 Katie Herzog on “Blocked & Reported” success 04:28 Details of the Ryan Adams saga 10:07 Limits of fan engagement 13:55 Ryan Adams lives up to his reputation 15:30 Power dynamics and responsibility 17:30 We need more follow-up reporting 20:44 Transactions and transitions 26:50 #MeToo and skepticism 31:45 Bad behavior a career-ender? 37:35 Redemption and forgiveness 43:42 “Handsiness” the final straw for Andrew Cuomo 51:20 Finding good news in a difficult week ---- Reading list ----- Cuomo Resigns as New York Governor at Long Last (Reason) https://reason.com/2021/08/10/cuomo-resigns-as-new-york-governor-at-long-last/ Ryan Adams Dangled Success. Women Say They Paid a Price. (The New York Times) https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/13/arts/music/ryan-adams-women-sex.html Exclusive: Ryan Adams: ‘I Felt Like They Were Asking Me to Die’ (Los Angeles Magazine) https://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/ryan-adams/ Cuomo Sexually Harassed 11 Women, Retaliated Against 1 Female Employee, According to A.G. Report (Reason) https://reason.com/2021/08/03/cuomo-sexually-harassed-11-women-retaliated-against-1-female-employee-according-to-a-g-report/ Read the full transcript of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's resignation speech (The New York TImes) https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/10/nyregion/cuomo-resignation-speech-transcript.html ---- Plugs for our guests ---- Listen to the Blocked & Reported podcast https://barpodcast.fireside.fm/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/thebarpod Follow Liz Wolfe on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lizzywol