The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Privateering Edition

The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Privateering Edition

Author: Ricochet August 29, 2026 Duration: 1:14:47
The band is back together again this week as John Yoo ends his truancy, and we take up the fresh legal and constitutional disputes of the moment, starting with the Supreme Court's recent rulings about mail-in ballots and the Trump Administration's efforts to enlist the Postal Service on behalf of election integrity. From there we move on to the novel proposal to bring back prize courts and authorize old fashioned "privateers" to capture Iranian shipping on the high seas and profit from their cargoes—something United States hasn't done since around the time of Andrew Jackson (Trump's favorite president, perhaps not coincidentally). Then, on to the emerging controversy over Flock cameras, and whether we can trust the government not to abuse them or use them to spy on and harass us. 

This week's cameo appearance is from our favorite classicist Alex Priou, who joins us to discuss his terrifically cheeky recenbt essay, "How to Be an Elitist." And our listener question this week is: why does the president get to select the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Shouldn't that be up to the members of the Court? The president doesn't get to appoint the Speaker of the House, after all, and the language on this matter in the Constitution is incomplete or ambiguous. Hmmm.

Grab a glass and settle in for 3 Whisky Happy Hour, where the week's news and cultural shifts get a thorough-and spirited-examination. Hosts Steven Hayward, John Yoo, and the enigmatic "Lucretia" blend their expertise in law, philosophy, and political commentary, offering a perspective that’s as substantive as it is refreshingly unscripted. The conversation flows like a good pour, moving from the immediate headlines to deeper, often overlooked principles that shape current events. This isn't a dry recap; it's a lively, meandering discussion where complex ideas become accessible, and analysis is always accompanied by a sense of camaraderie. You'll find the tone is that of a sharp, informal debate among friends who aren't afraid to challenge conventional wisdom. Produced by Ricochet, this podcast stands out in the crowded fields of news and politics by prioritizing genuine dialogue over partisan soundbites. Each episode feels like you’ve pulled up a chair at a table where wit and insight are always on the menu. Whether they're unpacking a Supreme Court decision or tracing a philosophical concept through modern politics, the hosts ensure the discourse is both enlightening and thoroughly engaging. For anyone looking to understand the 'why' behind the news with a dose of character, this is your regular invitation to a different kind of happy hour.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

3 Whisky Happy Hour
Podcast Episodes
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Gala July 4 Special Edition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:28
Two guesses about the topic of this special bonus edition for today's semiquincentennial, and neither of them count. That's right: we take up the Declaration of Independence and revisit some of the lingering issues that…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Grading the Supreme Court Term [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:55
Well, that was quite a finish for this year's Supreme Court term, which, as usual, released the most controversial and consequential cases on the very last day of its sitting. This wrap-up episode—the first of a double-e…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Hot Apple Pie Surveillance Edition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:45
This epicly (is "epicly" a real word?) gonzo episode finds Steve still somewhere in the middle of the storm-tossed north Pacific Ocean, while John and Lucretia hold down the fort from various locales back on dry land. Bu…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Jet Lag Edition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:34
So your three bartenders are back from overseas, but still a bit jet lagged and struggling to keep up with the news. Was it a good week? The firing of Scott Pelley is certainly good news, as are the initial results of th…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Tackling the Admin. State from Sicily [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:54
The end of this week finds the 3WHH crew in situ in Enna, up in the highlands of Sicily, visiting the University of Kore for a conference on, well, everything, though it is hard to tell since half the speakers are speaki…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Rolling Road Trip Edition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:53
We could have called this the jeg lag from hell episode, as John Yoo managed to spend 11 hours on a airplane yesterday that didn't fly anywhere, while Steve, already planted as an advance guard in Palermo ahead of next w…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Gonzo Hybrid-Reboot Edition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:56
[CORRECTED AUDIO]We've had some gonzo episodes before, and a couple of trainwrecks, but this is the first-ever episode that is actually two episodes edited together, with sequence changes, new sound effects, canned insul…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: From Plato to NATO [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:47
Another hectic week for your 3WHH bartenders, and John Yoo wasn't able to join us at all, so this week's episode includes a special guest Steve has long wanted to bring on, Alex Priou of the University of Austin, the bol…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: The Left Blows a Gasket [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:28
The left was already hysterical ever since Trump won a second term, but this week the left had a total meltdown after the Supreme Court scaled back racial gerrymandering under the Voting Rights Act. And the Three Whisky…