The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Rumble in the State of Nature Jungle

The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Rumble in the State of Nature Jungle

Author: Ricochet October 4, 2025 Duration: 1:06:13
We were finally able to schedule a taping with enough lead time to get a special guest we've been wanting to have on for a long time—the great Hadley Arkes, emertus professor of jurisprudence from Amherst College and founder of the James Wilson Institute on Natural Rights and the American Founding, and co-host of his own very fine podcast, the Natural Law Moment. We've abused Hadley in absentia in some of our podcasts over the last few months, so now he got hsi chance especially to attempt to sort out the very stubborn John Yoo. 

John was delayed a bit joining us, so since this podcast is partly anchored not only in the truths of natural law, but also libations of a scotch variety, we decided to take advantage of Hadley's advanced expertise in gin martinis. Plus some "origin story" of how he came to political philosophy and in particular natural law as the primary focus of his mature work.  And once John showed up, it was ON! 

We rounded off this episode with an AI-generated parody of Hadley, which begins as follows:

“On the Ontological Status of the Ham Sandwich: A Moral Inquiry into the Lunchtime Crisis”

By Gladly Harkness, Edward Whiskers Professor of Ontological Jurisprudence

It is a curious feature of our current jurisprudence that the simple act of consuming a ham sandwich has not yet been subject to rigorous philosophical analysis. . .

For the whole thing, you'll need to head over to Steve's "Political Questions" Substack.

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: 100

3 Whisky Happy Hour
Podcast Episodes
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Million Miles to Go Edition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:20
Steve reached 2 million lifetime miles on United Airlines this week, which meant party hats and free drinks on his flight to Washington (yet still no invitation to join Global Services), but despite all that he botched t…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: The Demonic—Both Whimsical and Serious [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:27
We open today's ad-free episode with a whimsical look at the global sensation over the Number One Netflix show, "K-Pop Demon Hunters," and despite his Korean heritage, John Yoo can't explain it either. But near as we can…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Emergency Episode About Charlie Kirk [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:42
No bumper music, mirth about McDonalds, whisky, Babylon Bee headlines, or AI Haiku today: the assassination of Charlie Kirk is too serious a matter. John, Lucretia, and Steve (who is still over in Iceland hiking) assembl…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour, On the 'Theological-Political Problem' [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:02
With Steve and John away overseas, Lucretia takes full control of the podcast this week, welcoming back a much more sober special guest, Prof. Vincent Munoz of Notre Dame University, this semester visiting at the Univers…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Almost Live Q & A Episode [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:59
John Yoo is over in Korea this week, where he says he is "lecturing," but we know he's really just arranging to smuggle back a ton of tariff-free Korean barbecue sauce. So in his absence Steve and Lucretia attempted to h…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: The Summit of Everything [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:12
The Three Musketeers of the 3WHH are back with our typical end-of-week roundup, including what we think of the Trump-Putin summit (which will be over by the time everyone listens to this, so this is an exercise in sheer…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: With Special Guest Star Ken Green [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:53
This week's episode expands the format to include a guest appearance by environmental scientist Ken Green, whe recently joined the ranks of contributors to Steve's "Political Questions" Substack (sign up for free if you…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Tempest in a D Cup Edition [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:21
This week the 3WHH lives up to its name, as two of us were half in the bag—maybe more than half in the bag in Steve's case—when we recorded late in the evening because difficult travel schedules, but after Steve and Lucr…