Ordered Liberty
158 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 4 years ago - ★★★★★ - 986 ratingsIn a world where religion is more potent than culture, and culture is more potent than politics, David French and Alexandra DeSanctis are your guides to the debates and issues that matter most.
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Episodes
Introducing the ‘For Life’ Podcast
January 23, 2020 13:23 - 4 minutes - 2.68 MBA brief note from Alexandra DeSanctis introducing her new podcast, 'For Life.'
Episode 157: Farewell Address
October 18, 2019 20:28 - 44 minutes - 25.5 MBAs David moves on from National Review and from the Ordered Liberty podcast, David and Alexandra thank the listeners, talk about Syria and Ukraine, and discuss a surprising moment in the Democratic debate.
Episode 156: Woke Capital’s Day of Reckoning
October 10, 2019 15:03 - 43 minutes - 25.2 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss the progressive backlash against the NBA and what it means for the future of progressive corporate activism. They next discuss the politics of impeachment and then conclude with a moral and strategic lamentation over the betrayal of the Kurds.
Episode 155: Ukraine, Life, and Law
September 30, 2019 21:19 - 48 minutes - 27.8 MBDavid and Alexandra go back to Eastern Europe, but not for the entire podcast. After breaking down the latest in the Ukraine controversy, they discuss a terrible scandal involving fetal remains, and end then end on a happier topic: recent victories for religious liberty. Ad Music: "Dvorak Polka" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN110024...
Episode 154: Impeachment, Ukraine, and . . . Dan Lipinski?
September 26, 2019 22:04 - 50 minutes - 29 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss the latest in the Trump–Ukraine scandal, weigh the political risks of impeachment, and lay out the stakes for pro-life Democrat Dan Lipinski’s primary in Illinois next spring. Ad Music: "Dvorak Polka" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100249 Artist: http://incompetech.com/
Episode 153: Trump’s Ukrainian Blues
September 23, 2019 21:21 - 45 minutes - 25.9 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss Alexandra’s abortion debate at Yale, break down Trump’s Ukraine scandal, explain Biden’s problems, and then end by sharing stories of weightlifting greatness. Ad Music: "Dvorak Polka" by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100249 Artist: http://incompetech.com/
Episode 152: LARPing through the Overton Window
September 16, 2019 16:03 - 50 minutes - 29 MBIn their live podcast at Notre Dame, David and Alexandra introduce the concept of political LARPing (live-action role playing), why it matters to the Democratic primary, and how it is shifting the terms of political discourse.
Episode 151: Why Viewpoint Neutrality Is Worth Defending
September 09, 2019 21:53 - 52 minutes - 30 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss last week’s liberalism debate at Catholic University, hyper-partisanship and Elizabeth Warren’s unconstitutional proposals, and the latest abortion polling from Pew Research Center.
Episode 150: How Should Conservatives Respond to Liberal Bias?
September 06, 2019 20:23 - 49 minutes - 28.6 MBDavid and Alexandra record ‘Ordered Liberty’ live for students at Georgetown University, talking about conservative bias in the media, white-supremacist infiltration of conservative organizations, and the need to focus on principles rather than just fighting the Left.
Episode 149: It’s All Fun and Games until We Invade Denmark
August 21, 2019 22:50 - 43 minutes - 25 MBDavid and Alexandra answer the burning question: Is Trump getting worse?
Episode 148: Warren’s Surge, Trump’s Woes
August 19, 2019 21:04 - 44 minutes - 25.6 MBDavid and Alexandra ponder the meaning of the Warren polling surge and the Trump polling slump. They decide who is the "least unappealing" Democrat, they talk about how two members of "Squad" were caught partnering with vicious anti-Semites, and conclude with some good news about Planned Parenthood.
Episode 147: A Dreadful Day
August 05, 2019 21:15 - 53 minutes - 30.5 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss the El Paso and Dayton shootings, the role of rhetoric in political violence, and whether there are gun-control measures that could help.
Episode 146: Gluing Joe Biden to the Driver’s Seat
July 30, 2019 19:50 - 52 minutes - 30.3 MBDavid and Alexandra talk about Joe Biden's stubborn lead in the polls, the perils of Evangelical purity culture, Josh Hawley's Republican daddy state, and with one voice shout, "Hands off the Babylon Bee!"
Episode 145: When Double Standards Are the Only Standard
July 23, 2019 21:07 - 50 minutes - 29.2 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss Jane Mayer's defense of Al Franken, a truly bizarre gender identity controversy in Canada, an actual touching moment in the midst of the abortion wars, and discuss whether the level of opposition to Trump matters as much as the intensity.
Episode 144: Maverick
July 18, 2019 22:20 - 52 minutes - 30.2 MBDavid and Alexandra break down the new Top Gun trailer (no, really), analyze the moral and legal problems with the BDS movement, discuss Planned Parenthood’s recent troubles, and talk about whether nationalists have statist answers to cultural problems.
Episode 143: Donald Trump vs. “The Squad”
July 15, 2019 22:38 - 40 minutes - 23.5 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss how Trump’s tweets attacking the progressive Democratic congresswomen are damaging and counterproductive for conservatives and close by considering whether Charlie Cooke misses the mark on immigrants and gratitude.
Episode 142: There Oughta Be a Law?
July 11, 2019 13:59 - 35 minutes - 20.7 MBThe Heritage Foundation’s Ryan Anderson joins David and Alexandra for a bout of legal nerdery. They discuss the Equality Act, the conflict between religious liberty and non-discrimination law, and when law is necessary to correct moral wrongs.
Episode 141: The Great Glory of the Abrams Tank
July 03, 2019 21:04 - 49 minutes - 28.4 MBDavid and Alexandra break down the state of the Democratic race, discuss whether the Democrats can ever overcome Cocaine Mitch, and end with an ode to the glorious M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank (led by Alexandra).
Episode 140: Educated Americans Are Making Us Dumb
June 25, 2019 15:25 - 51 minutes - 29.7 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss a dreadful New York Times op-ed, discuss a survey with a surprising bit of news about American ignorance, and conclude with thoughts on the latest of 22 sexual misconduct allegations against Donald Trump.
Episode 139: Cancel Culture Comes for Kyle Kashuv
June 18, 2019 19:23 - 42 minutes - 24.7 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss the necessity of forgiveness and tolerance in polarized America, describe the dangers of a rush to judgment, and discuss whether kids should be given more grace than adults.
Episode 138: Why Illiberalism Fails
June 12, 2019 14:38 - 50 minutes - 29.3 MBIn a live podcast from Capitol Hill, David and Alexandra discuss what’s really behind the illiberal opposition to “David French-ism,” explain what liberalism is and why it’s worth defending, and answer questions from the audience.
Episode 137: Against Strawmen and Illiberalism
June 04, 2019 00:05 - 54 minutes - 31.1 MBDavid and Alexandra respond to Sohrab Ahmari’s essay “Against David French-ism,” discuss illiberalism on both the left and right, and finish by defending the value of civility in political debate.
Episode 136: Drag Queen Reading Hour
May 28, 2019 22:40 - 44 minutes - 25.6 MBDavid and Alexandra talk about a Twitter attack on David occasioned by a “Drag Queen Storytime” at the Sacramento Public Library, and that leads to a wide-ranging discussion of means, ends, and motives in political discourse. They also discuss new pro-life developments in Missouri, and David previews a major piece for National Review about an infamous shooting in Iraq.
Episode 135: Welcome to Our World, Justin Amash
May 24, 2019 20:43 - 42 minutes - 24.4 MBDavid and Alexandra break down Justin Amash's tweet threads and welcome him to the two-front war. They then discuss the latest developments in the abortion wars and wind up with a brief discussion of the latest twists and turns in the Democratic primary.
Episode 134: A Clash between Co-Hosts
May 15, 2019 22:52 - 54 minutes - 31.2 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss their difference of opinion on the tactical value of Alabama’s new abortion ban and debunk misinformation about Georgia’s heartbeat bill. They briefly consider possible conflict between the U.S. and Iran.
Episode 133: The Strange Hatred for Bill Barr
May 08, 2019 21:34 - 46 minutes - 26.8 MBDavid and Alexandra take a look at the Democratic attacks on Bill Barr, give quick thoughts about Trump's finances, ask the question, "If an unborn baby isn't a human being, what is it?" and finish by exploring why Alexandra was tempted to sign a petition condemning David.
Episode 132: From Biden to Barr to South Bend
May 06, 2019 21:18 - 49 minutes - 28.6 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss Joe Biden’s status as Democratic frontrunner, the Left’s flailing efforts to skewer Bill Barr, and their own recent travels across the continental U.S.
Episode 131: End the Penny Tyranny!
April 24, 2019 21:57 - 50 minutes - 28.9 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss Alexandra's profile of Democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang, detail how criticism isn't "incitement" and disagreement isn't "dehumanizing," and end with a discussion of all the ways the Washington Post is wrong about abortion
Episode 130: A Pox on All Y’all’s Houses
April 22, 2019 22:02 - 52 minutes - 30.3 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss the Mueller report, public reactions to the report, and the rise of right-wing online political correctness. They close with an extended discussion of the intense and unfair attacks against Ben Shapiro.
Episode 129: The Sacred and the Profane
April 16, 2019 22:09 - 49 minutes - 5 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss the loss of a sacred space, the burning of the Notre Dame, and then move back to the realm of the profane, American politics. Did Bernie “win” his Fox News town hall? Will other Democrats beat a path to Fox’s door?
Episode 128: Live at the University of Michigan
April 11, 2019 19:35 - 1 hour - 39.2 MBDavid and Alexandra travel to Ann Arbor to discuss the importance of decency in discourse and virtue in conservatism.
Episode 127: The Many Names of Pete Buttigieg
April 08, 2019 21:55 - 51 minutes - 29.6 MBDavid and Alexandra spend more time breaking down the Buttigieg boomlet (while David struggles to pronounce his name). Then they move on to discuss the role of declining faith and marriage in America's happiness crisis and conclude with a discussion of the movie Unplanned and civility in the abortion debate.
Episode 126: Populism, Nationalism, and Wokeness
March 29, 2019 22:02 - 45 minutes - 26 MBDavid and Alexandra respond to Tucker Carlson’s appearance at the National Review Ideas Summit, a debate over nationalism between Rich and Jonah, and to an escalation of identity politics in the Democratic primary.
Episode 125: Mueller Time
March 25, 2019 22:24 - 42 minutes - 24.7 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss the implications of Mueller's conclusion that Trump didn't collude, talk about the Steele dossier's malignant effect on the American body politic, and then conclude with some good news in the fight for life.
Episode 124: Handicapping the Twitter Primary
March 21, 2019 05:00 - 46 minutes - 26.8 MBDavid and Alexandra break down how Twitter is helping pull Democrats dangerously left and handicapping the Democratic field, and they mount a valiant defense of the Electoral College.
Episode 123: New Zealand and the Culture of Outrage
March 19, 2019 00:49 - 50 minutes - 29.2 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss the New Zealand shooter's disturbing innovation, how the shooting was immediately weaponized by outrage culture, and how outrage culture works to hurt victims, not protect them.
Episode 122: Battle of the Bulwark
March 06, 2019 23:02 - 47 minutes - 27.5 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss the primacy of the defense of life in the conservative movement and the necessity of Trump-skeptical Republicans to not succumb to the temptation to try to nuke the GOP from orbit. They also discuss AOC's monumental campaign-finance hypocrisy and the challenges on the border.
Episode 121: Good News, Bad News
February 25, 2019 21:25 - 43 minutes - 24.8 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss good news on abortion polling and then break down the bad news about the conservative civil wars -- it's going to get worse before it gets better.
Episode 120: Leave Chris Pratt Alone
February 20, 2019 22:06 - 46 minutes - 27 MBDavid and Alexandra respond to an intolerant Washington Post op-ed condemning Chris Pratt, they analyze the curious willingness of professional groups to tolerate infanticide, and they discuss new polling showing that white progressives are getting woker, faster than any identity group in America.
Episode 119: Alienated America
February 18, 2019 22:40 - 51 minutes - 29.4 MBDavid and Alexandra talk with the Washington Examiner's Tim Carney about his outstanding new book, 'Alienated America: Why Some Places Thrive While Others Collapse.'
Episode 118: An Abuse of Power
February 14, 2019 23:34 - 48 minutes - 27.9 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss Trump's national security declaration, the role of personal responsibility in populist economics, and the results of a poll of Democratic attitudes towards late-term abortion.
Episode 117: The Con Job
February 11, 2019 22:33 - 51 minutes - 29.6 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss a trio of Democratic scandals, from Ilhan Omar's anti-semitic tweets, to the rape accusations against Justin Fairfax, and to a Green New Deal so far-fetched that it represents a scandalous con job all to itself. Can the Democrats actually get away with endorsing something so absurd?
Episode 116: Virginia Democrats, Beyond Parody
February 06, 2019 23:06 - 43 minutes - 25.2 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss the best and worst of the State of the Union, express astonishment at the Democratic meltdown in Virginia, and then analyze the implications of a key Supreme Court case.
Episode 115: What’s the Matter With Virginia?
February 04, 2019 22:55 - 51 minutes - 29.5 MBDavid and Alexandra lament the Super Bowl, break down the disturbing and weird scandals in Virginia, explore when years-old allegations should derail political careers, discuss Alexandra’s debut in The Atlantic, and close with a short Sunday School lesson involving Ben Shapiro, Christian colleges, and the problem of fear.
Episode 114: Abortion Distortions
January 31, 2019 22:04 - 44 minutes - 25.8 MBAs radical legislators push to remove restrictions on late-term abortion in New York, Virginia, Vermont, and Rhode Island, David and Alexandra call for a total and complete shutdown of the Democratic Party until we can figure out what’s going on.
Episode 113: The Barbaric State of New York
January 28, 2019 22:45 - 42 minutes - 24.6 MBDavid and Alexandra lament New York’s new abortion-rights law, discuss whether Roger Stone is a Bond villain or Dr. Evil from the Austin Powers films, and end with a few words about media bias.
Episode 112: The Crazy Covington Catholic Crisis
January 22, 2019 21:16 - 48 minutes - 28 MBDavid and Alexandra dive into the Covington Catholic controversy, compare it to Kavanaugh's case, and then discuss important developments in the fight for life. David closes with a brief rant about the BuzzFeed controversy.
Episode 111: Lovability
January 16, 2019 22:02 - 52 minutes - 30 MBDavid and Alexandra discuss the difference between likability and lovability, including how politicians can be adored by their base. They introduce the “lovability formula” and evaluate the Democratic presidential contenders on that basis. Alexandra tells us why Kirsten Gillibrand won’t be president, and David and Alexandra both break down Beto’s doubts about the Constitution.
Episode 110: All the Controversies at Once
January 14, 2019 22:08 - 46 minutes - 26.6 MBDavid and Alexandra roll through four controversies in one pod. Why won't the women's march disavow Louis Farrakhan once and for all? Why is masculinity under attack from left and right? What do millennials really believe about abortion? And will the lawless judicial resistance to Trump actually work?
Episode 109: Border Dogma
January 11, 2019 21:48 - 51 minutes - 29.4 MBAlexandra and David ask whether a Trump declaration of a state of emergency on the border would in fact be a "creative surrender" to the Democrats, and they talk about the latest religious test applied to a Catholic judicial nominee.