The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Saving Elections, Saving Energy, and Recalling Scalia

The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Saving Elections, Saving Energy, and Recalling Scalia

Author: Ricochet February 14, 2026 Duration: 1:05:55
Whether free and fair elections can be saved with the SAVE Act is the first topic of debate this week, along with a celebration of the Trump Administration rolling back the EPA's power to make our energy scarce and expensive. Steve describes this bold step as the "Inchon Landing" in the war against the administrative state. Forget Nixon-to-China cliches: only Trump could take such a bold step that no other conventional Republican would dare take. 

We also spend a good deal of time recalling the passing, ten years ago now, of Justice Antonin Scalia, whose shadow over contemporary jurisprudence continues to lengthen. We think Scalia is displacing Holmes as the most significant jurist of the last century for his enduring influence and for his central role in reviving constituitional originalism, even though he once described himself as a "faint-hearted originalist." There's a paradox at work in Scalia's jurisprudential legacy that requires someone like G.K. Chesterton to understand—and that, kids, ought to be a strong hint as to exactly what it is.

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: 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…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Thomas Derangement Syndrome? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:03
Move over Trump Derangement Syndrome! The left is clearly afflicted now with a full-blown case of Thomas Derangement Syndrome—after Justice Clarence Thomas's speech last week about the Declaration of Independence, which,…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Almost Live from Tampa [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:30
For the second week in a row, the 3WHH gang (minus one) were on the road, this time recording live in the corner of a hotel lobby before the annual meeting of the Philadelphia Society. The sound quality of this episode i…
The Three Whisky Happy Hour: Live from Tulsa! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:12
This week the 3WHH podcast "went mobile people!", venturing to the University of Tulsa's College of Law for a live-taping before an enthusiastic audience of law students, faculty, and some loyal listeners. We departed sl…