The Left's Institutional Capture

Seth Barron joins Brian Anderson to discuss his new book, "Weaponized: The Left's Capture and Destruction of America's Sacred Institutions."

Award-winning crime journalist Joe Marino joins the podcast for a candid, in-depth conversation on crime, policing, and public safety in New York City. Marino examines the complex issues shaping today's justice system, from criminal-justice reform and evolving policing strategies to recidivism, media narratives, and the human behavior behind the headlines. Drawing on years of frontline reporting, he offers sharp insights into how policy, politics, data, and public perception collide—and what it all means for crime and accountability in America's largest city.

What does it take to write books that make the establishment uncomfortable—and keep writing them anyway? Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow Abigail Shrier joins Rafael Mangual for an engrossing conversation. The author of two national bestsellers, Irreversible Damage and Bad Therapy, Shrier has spent years investigating what's gone wrong in the institutions educating and treating America's children—and speaking honestly about the consequences.

Ben Sasse addresses the centrality of the family and the challenges of technology in accepting the Manhattan Institute's Hamilton Award.

America's children are in crisis—and the system designed to help them is breaking down. Christina Buttons, Naomi Schaefer Riley, Scott Dziengelski, and Carolyn Gorman explore one of the most urgent and overlooked issues in public health: the severe shortage of residential treatment beds for young people struggling with mental illness. What happens when children need intensive care and there's nowhere to send them? We dig into the real story behind treatment facilities, cutting through the media sensationalism to show what quality mental health care for kids really looks like. Our discussion pulls no punches on how flawed legislation is making a fragile system even worse—and how the right reforms could make a difference.  

Is America trading excellence for ideology? In this episode, Rafael Mangual sits down with Heather Mac Donald—author of When Race Trumps Merit—for a frank conversation about affirmative action, diversity mandates, and what happens when institutions prioritize identity over ability. They dig into the real-world consequences of diversity-driven policies in education and the workplace, the growing skills gap, and the cultural factors that shape outcomes. It's a provocative and engaging discussion of issues many people try to avoid talking about.

Naomi Schaefer Riley and Rafael Mangual discuss the complexities of the child welfare system in the U.S. They explore controversial policies surrounding child protection, neglect, and foster care, emphasizing the need for transparency and reform.

Chelsea Follett joins Brian Anderson to talk about how technology has improved urban living from earlier times.

Ilya Shapiro and Rafael Mangual discuss the Supreme Court's most consequential recent decisions and anticipate the legal battles that could define the future of American law. From landmark rulings to looming cases, they offer sharp analysis of issues like birthright citizenship, the scope of executive power, and the role of independent agencies—while examining how judicial philosophy continues to influence the Court's approach. They also look ahead to what's next: potential retirements, shifting dynamics on the bench, and high-stakes cases such as Childs v. Salazar.  

Founder of the Open Therapy Institute Andrew Hartz and Rafael Mangual explore the growing influence of political bias in psychotherapy and what it means for both therapists and clients. Hartz makes the case for an approach to mental health care that respects personal beliefs while still promoting growth and well-being.