War Without Coffins

War Without Coffins

Author: Andrew Heaton April 15, 2026 Duration: 44:55

Why now? Why did the United States go to war with Iran this year, as opposed to last year, or ten years ago? Michael Tint is a data scientist and aerospace expert, and is here to talk about the Iran War–and why it's a different sort of conflict.


Finding a sensible conversation about politics that doesn't devolve into partisan shouting can feel like a lonely endeavor. That's the space The Political Orphanage occupies, hosted by comedian and self-described independent Andrew Heaton. This isn't a debate show; it's a series of long-form discussions where curiosity replaces contempt. Each episode, Heaton sits down with authors, policy experts, and various thought leaders to unpack complex ideas without the usual animosity. The goal is to explore the substance behind the headlines-the "big thinky stuff," as he puts it-while remembering that the absurdity of the political world is often best met with a laugh. You'll hear genuine conversations that delve into policy nuances, historical context, and the philosophies shaping our world, all filtered through a lens of wit and a distinct lack of bile. The result is a podcast that feels like a respite from the noise, a place for the politically curious who don't find a comfortable home in the entrenched camps of left and right. It’s news, comedy, and politics blended into something uniquely engaging, proving that serious topics don't require a solemn tone. Tune in for the kind of thoughtful, humorous dialogue that reminds you why these discussions matter in the first place.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

The Political Orphanage
Podcast Episodes
Governing through Blockchain: Techno-Communes (Preview) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:27
Jonathan Hillis is the founder and caretaker of Cabin, a network of co-living spaces which link up and vet members in other communities via blockchain technology. His "neighborhood" of intentional living is in beautiful…
How to Build a Commune: Samwise Rodriguez [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:13
If you wanted to live with a bunch of buddies in a house, how would you do it? What are the mechanics of setting up, financing, and socially maintaining a commune? Samwise Rodriguez runs a commune—which combines their sk…
Jeff Flake Alone on an Island with a Knife [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:45
What happens when Trump leaves office? Do the Republicans reform or catalyze? Jeff Flake is the former Executive Director of the Goldwater Institute, Ambassador to Turkey, and representative and then Senator from the gre…
The Map That Explains Everything About America: Colin Woodard [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:48
Colin Woodard posits that America is not really a country, it's a dozen or so distinct nations with their own cultures and ideologies which are constantly battling for supremacy. His new book "Nations Apart: How Clashing…
America is Eleven Different Countries (Rebroadcast) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:12:33
Rudyard William Lynch is the host of WhatifAlHist, a popular history channel on YouTube. He joins to discuss how the origins and circumstances of America's regions permanently imprinted on its cultures and political outl…
I Time Traveled to Talk to Medieval Yokels about Economics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:57
What did people in the Dark Ages think about economics? Why did poverty exist, and how do you alleviate it? To find out, I took my time machine to 1282 and 1314, to speak to barflies and a priest. Fr. Richard Kirby is a…
MLK and Color Blindness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:07
Clayborne Carson is the Director of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education institute, and hand-picked by Coretta King to publish the letters of his late husband. He's one of the foremost historians on MLK and…
The Friendship Recession and Cocktail Parties [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:41
Or... how to host a party if you have Asperger's. Nick Gray is an entrepreneur and an author living in Austin, Texas. I met him roller skating. He started and sold two successful companies: Flight Display Systems and Mus…
I Explain Venezuela Using Lottery Tickets [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:53
How did Venezuela become an economic basket case? Not socialism. Or capitalism. Venezuela is a textbook example of a petrostate in the thrall of the Paradox of Plenty, or "the Dutch Disease." Bonus: Norway's Big Bucket o…
Is Everyone Disabled Now? (WSPN) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:11
College students are increasingly registering as disabled–particularly at high-end universities, which often entails longer test times and extensions on papers. Does the growing rate of accommodation mean American univer…