Why Populism Leads to Decline

Why Populism Leads to Decline

Author: The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie May 20, 2026 Duration: 49:27
Johan Norberg discusses what makes societies prosperous, why protectionism and nostalgia keep returning, and how populism feeds cultural decline.

The conversations on The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie move beyond the day's headlines to explore the deeper ideas shaping our world. Host Nick Gillespie engages with a wide range of guests-from politicians and policy experts to novelists, tech founders, and cultural critics-in dialogues that are substantive yet accessible. This podcast delves into the intersection of individual liberty, innovation, and societal change, examining how libertarian principles apply to contemporary debates. Each episode is a long-form discussion where guests explain their work and worldview in detail, offering listeners a nuanced perspective often missing from soundbite-driven media. You'll hear analyses of political movements, discussions on artistic expression, and debates about the future of technology and free speech. The tone is curious and challenging, favoring open inquiry over partisan talking points. For anyone interested in the forces driving politics and culture, this series provides thoughtful context for understanding both current events and the underlying trends that will define what comes next. Tune in for consistently engaging interviews that illuminate the people and ideas actively constructing the twenty-first century.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

The Reason Interview With Nick Gillespie
Podcast Episodes
Ro Khanna: Congress Has Surrendered on War [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:08
The California congressman discusses the Iran war, unchecked executive power, California’s wealth tax debate, and the search for a shared American identity.
How Capitalism Lost the Working Class [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:50
Brink Lindsey discusses the gap between mass prosperity and mass flourishing, capitalism’s crisis of inclusion, and the implications of falling fertility.
Why Civilization Needs Better Manuals [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:31
Whole Earth Catalog creator Stewart Brand discusses maintaining complex systems, the importance of stewardship, and how technological optimism shapes the future.
Can the Government Ban You from Telling the Truth? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:33
Mark Chenoweth discusses the SEC’s gag rule, the power of the administrative state, and the legal battle over whether regulators can silence their critics.
Jonah Goldberg: The GOP Is Becoming Anti-Conservative [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:41
Jonah Goldberg discusses the Iran war, Trump’s governing style, the rise of the populist right, and why he believes the GOP is drifting away from conservatism.
Can Iran's Protest Movement Topple the Regime? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:58
Exiled journalist Fardad Farahzad discusses how Iranians get uncensored news, the state of the protest movement, and whether the Islamic Republic is losing its grip on power.