The Futurist Public Intellectual

The Department of Government Efficiency

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 02:00:14 GMT

Donald Trump announced that Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy will be heading the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Brad Yates clarifies that the DOGE is not a federal agency, notes the particular areas of problematic spending that the DOGE can address, and lauds the conservatives for taking efficient governance seriously.

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Trump’s Second Presidency

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 04:45:23 GMT

The 2024 presidential election was a historic comeback story for Donald Trump. Brad Yates identifies the 2024 election as the real Red Wave, clarifies that Americans were not really voting for Trump, and hopes that Trump can rectify the problems caused by the Biden administration.

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Marijuana Legalization’s Woes

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 01:00:57 GMT

The majority of US states and DC have legalized marijuana to various degrees. Brad Yates reminds us that marijuana is still a powerful psychoactive drug, cautions about secondhand marijuana smoke, and urges the federal government to reconcile its laws with the states.

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Elon Musk’s $1 Million Giveaway

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 03:30:31 GMT

Through his America PAC, Elon Musk is giving away $1 million everyday to a random registered voter in swing states who signs his petition. Brad Yates acknowledges Musk’s innovativeness, questions the alleged illegality of the giveaway, and appreciates Musk’s transparency about the role of money in elections.

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Race Does Not Define You

Thu, 17 Oct 2024 03:00:04 GMT

The Democratic Party disparages racism and yet nonwhite voters continue to defect. Brad Yates explains how Democrats use race as a proxy for culture, points out that Kamala Harris is less popular than Hillary Clinton was among nonwhite voters, and reveals the one demographic factor that Democrats regularly devalue.

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The End Woke Higher Education Act

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 03:00:49 GMT

The House of Representatives passed the End Woke Higher Education Act last month in an attempt to rectify the problems caused by woke policies on college campuses. Brad Yates compliments the well-written legislation, applauds the bill’s usage of accreditation, and emphasizes the urgency of a Republican-majority Congress.

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Overtourism: Is It Real?

Thu, 03 Oct 2024 03:30:24 GMT

Overtourism has been bandied about recently as a global scourge. Brad Yates delineates the two types of destinations that are prone to mass tourism, analyzes Barcelona as a case study, and supports the United States’ embrace of tourism.

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The End of the Chevron Doctrine

Thu, 26 Sep 2024 03:30:53 GMT

The Supreme Court finally overturned the unwieldy Chevron doctrine in the case Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo. Brad Yates recounts the history of administrative law, explains how the federal government can now function better, and hopes for more civic engagement by Americans.

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Google as a Tech Monopoly

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:00:35 GMT

Google lost its antitrust case last month regarding its dominance of Internet search. Brad Yates recounts US District Court judge Amit Mehta’s legal rationale, analogizes Google’s monopolist practices with Microsoft’s, and hopes for a new wave of tech innovation.

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Vivek Ramaswamy’s Melting Pot Vision

Thu, 12 Sep 2024 03:45:00 GMT

Vivek Ramaswamy continues to warn Americans about our national identity crisis. Brad Yates notices that Vivek’s vision is both conservative and radical, debunks the recent misunderstanding that one can’t be American and connected to one’s ethnic heritage, and elucidates the American meta-identity.

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Colorado’s BGLQT Curriculum for First Graders

Thu, 05 Sep 2024 03:30:52 GMT

Colorado is implementing BGLQT content into the curricula of first grade and up this fall. Brad Yates points out that BGLQT people are not a community that can be taught as a monolith, finds Colorado’s approach to be very reductive, and addresses the equivocation between sex and love that educators are likely to commit.

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Facebook’s Collusion with Government Censorship of Speech

Thu, 29 Aug 2024 03:50:36 GMT

Mark Zuckerberg attested this week that the Biden administration had pressured Facebook to censor certain posts during the COVID-19 pandemic. Brad Yates ponders the existence of a deep state, considers the possible necessity of a purge in the federal government, and warns that censorship is a greater danger than Donald Trump.

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Joe Biden’s Title IX Rewrite

Thu, 22 Aug 2024 02:00:48 GMT

Last week, the Supreme Court allowed ten states to block the Biden administration’s attempt to promulgate new rules to Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972. Brad Yates explains why the Biden administration wanted the preliminary injunction to be more limited, describes the impact that the Loper Bright v. Raimondo case may have on the Title IX rule changes, and speculates that Bostock v. Clayton County might support the Department of Education’s interpretation.

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Conservative is Alternative

Wed, 14 Aug 2024 23:00:22 GMT

Brad Yates reflects on how American history has always leaned towards the liberal, uses illegal immigration as an example of the left’s untenable policies, and suggests that conservatives might be more liberal than liberals.

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Kamala Harris as Another Barack Obama

Thu, 08 Aug 2024 03:00:02 GMT

After Donald Trump questioned Kamala Harris’s racial identity, there was a backlash. Brad Yates illustrates how culture is a primary vector of racial and ethnic identity, explains how Harris is not really black nor Indian, and hopes that Harris doesn’t follow in Barack Obama’s footsteps.

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Supreme Court Reform: Joe Biden’s Misguided Proposal

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 20:00:12 GMT

President Joe Biden presented a proposal for Supreme Court reform this week, stating that “the court is mired in a crisis of ethics.” Brad Yates demonstrates why having every president appoint two justices can backfire, exposes Biden’s hypocrisy regarding term limits for the justices, and questions how an ethics code can be realistically enforced.

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CrowdStrike, Delta & Life in the Cloud

Thu, 25 Jul 2024 03:00:00 GMT

The largest tech outage in history occurred on July 19, 2024 when CrowdStrike Holdings updated its cybersecurity product Falcon. Brad Yates reviews the damage caused by this incident, portrays Delta Air Lines as a cautionary tale, and questions the overreliance on Microsoft for the world’s digital infrastructure.

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Donald Trump’s Classified Documents Case Gets Dismissed

Thu, 18 Jul 2024 02:00:05 GMT

Judge Aileen Cannon dismissed Donald Trump’s classified documents case on the basis that Special Counsel Jack Smith doesn’t have the legal authority to prosecute the former president. Brad Yates explains the rationale for not sticking to legal precedents, clarifies the constitutional foundation of Judge Cannon’s ruling, and points out that Congress can pursue the matter if it truly wants to.

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Moody v. NetChoice: Publisher or Common Carrier?

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 03:00:26 GMT

Moody v. NetChoice looks to be the beginning of a long line of Supreme Court cases regarding social media regulation. Brad Yates questions whether social media platforms create expressive products, analyzes YouTube and Reddit as representative examples, and points out the majority’s equivocation of curation with moderation.

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Teflon Trump is Winning

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 16:00:45 GMT

After winning the first presidential debate on June 27, 2024, Donald Trump won again when the Supreme Court declared in Trump v. United States that Presidents have presumptive immunity from criminal prosecution for their official acts. Brad Yates acknowledges the truth of the Teflon Trump moniker, clarifies how presumptive immunity is merely a courtesy, and praises the majority for their foresight regarding our constitutional order.

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In Vitro Fertilization for Gay Male Couples

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 03:00:50 GMT

Corey Briskin and Nicholas Maggipinto sued the City of New York for discrimination against gay male couples in receiving in vitro fertilization benefits under the city’s healthcare plan. Brad Yates questions these gay men’s inability to accept their natural limitations, laments the gay couples who try to live like straight couples, and critiques the rationality of subsidizing IVF treatments for anyone.

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Mifepristone Survives the Supreme Court

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 02:00:57 GMT

Mifepristone survived judicial scrutiny when the Supreme Court decided in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine that the pro-life organization couldn’t constitutionally bring the lawsuit. Brad Yates reminds us that the Supreme Court unanimously decided this case, questions the aptitude of the Alliance’s lawyers, and suggests that mifepristone might be the key to a balanced future regarding abortion.

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The Family with Kids Bias

Wed, 12 Jun 2024 16:00:22 GMT

In every area of life, there is a bias in favor of families with children. Brad Yates exposes the truth about parents’ motivations, compares the value of parents to engineers, and indicates the real populations that deserve extra attention.

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Just Compensation for College Athletes

Wed, 05 Jun 2024 16:00:28 GMT

The National Collegiate Athletic Association agreed to a $2.8 billion settlement last month in a case about compensation for college athletes. Brad Yates recaps the recent timeline of various developments related to paying college athletes, explains how name, image, and likeness rights figure into the discussion about compensation for amateurs, and reminds us that racial minorities have largely been the victims of the NCAA’s business model.

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OpenAI, Scarlett Johansson & Sky

Wed, 29 May 2024 16:00:25 GMT

OpenAI introduced its latest update to ChatGPT and now it’s under fire because Scarlett Johansson thinks that its Sky voice sounds like her. Brad Yates opines that Sky sounds more like another celebrity, wonders how the legal precedent of celebrity impersonator cases will help Johansson, and hopes for clarity on issues like deepfakes caused by generative artificial intelligence.

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California’s Living Wage for Fast Food Workers

Thu, 23 May 2024 03:00:49 GMT

Starting on April 1, 2024, fast food workers in California began earning a minimum wage of $20 an hour due to a new law. Brad Yates questions why the minimum wage was raised only for fast food workers, presents the fundamental question of whether a fast food job is meant to support a family, and chastises California for not addressing the housing and transportation costs that are at the root of the affordability problem.

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Airlines Get a Comeuppance

Wed, 15 May 2024 22:00:50 GMT

The Department of Transportation issued two new rules for airlines in April 2024 regarding cash refunds and fee disclosures. Brad Yates applauds the overdue definition of the term significant change, suggests that the DOT looks into mandatory compensation policies, and takes a market-based approach to family seating.

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The Boy Scouts’ Gender-Neutral Rebrand

Wed, 08 May 2024 16:00:00 GMT

The Boy Scouts of America announced that it will be changing its name to Scouting America on February 8, 2025. Brad Yates questions valuing inclusivity in all contexts, characterizes the name change as a business move, and laments the loss of yet another space for male communion.

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The Overturning of Harvey Weinstein’s Rape Conviction

Wed, 01 May 2024 22:00:09 GMT

The New York State Court of Appeals overturned Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction last week. Brad Yates explains the court’s rationale regarding propensity evidence, chides Anita Hill for not understanding the impropriety of the trial court, and reaffirms the importance of due process.

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Pro-Palestine Speech on Campus

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 16:00:39 GMT

Across the nation, pro-Palestine college students are protesting the Israel-Hamas conflict and getting arrested for it. Brad Yates questions the motivations of the protesters, clarifies the various political positions to prevent conflation, and reminds us of the only solution to this particular land dispute.

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Labrador v. Poe: Idaho’s Transgender Care Ban Resumes

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 22:00:40 GMT

On April 15, 2024, the Supreme Court granted postponement of Idaho’s transgender care ban law in the case Labrador v. Poe. Brad Yates laments the increasing frequency of universal injunctions issued by federal judges, questions the wisdom of the challengers’ case, and foresees gay marriage potentially becoming collateral damage.

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The Crumbleys: Convicted Parents of a Mass Shooter

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 16:00:09 GMT

James and Jennifer Crumbley made history by becoming the first parents in America to be held criminally liable for a mass shooting committed by their child. Brad Yates explains the prosecutors’ novel legal theory, takes note of Ethan Crumbley’s exercise of the Fifth Amendment, and emphasizes the vigilance that necessarily comes with gun ownership.

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Patriotism Leaves West Point

Thu, 04 Apr 2024 00:00:36 GMT

The US Military Academy, better known as West Point, recently revised its mission statement and received backlash for removing the phrase “duty, honor, country.” Brad Yates explores the role of patriotism in the military, questions the wisdom of replacing the beloved motto with “Army values,” and distinguishes loyalty and patriotism.

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Apple’s Antitrust Lawsuit

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 01:00:03 GMT

Apple is facing its biggest antitrust lawsuit yet after the Department of Justice and multiple states alleged anticompetitive behavior. Brad Yates questions whether Apple is a real monopoly, compares Apple to Disney, and addresses which of the DOJ’s assertions have any merit.

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Texas Illegal Migrant Deportation Law

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 22:00:31 GMT

The Supreme Court declined to look at the case involving Texas’s illegal migrant deportation law, Senate Bill 4, this week. Brad Yates questions the federal government’s plenary power to regulate immigration in Arizona v. United States, pinpoints the weak constitutional foundation of that power, and identifies an opportunity for Texas to use general police powers to address its illegal migrant crisis.

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The TikTok Ban

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 03:00:56 GMT

TikTok has been targeted for either divestiture or a ban by the House in the bill called Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act. Brad Yates clarifies the lack of First Amendment concerns with this bill, mentions another problem of constitutionality, and emphasizes the importance of national security.

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Trump-Biden Rematch: Why Are We Here Again?

Wed, 06 Mar 2024 23:00:38 GMT

Both Donald Trump and Joe Biden bulldozed through Super Tuesday, bringing us even closer to a Trump-Biden rematch in November. Brad Yates addresses the unanimous decision in the Colorado ballot removal case Trump v. Anderson, explains how the Democrats’ uncompromising stance on social issues has pushed Americans towards Trump, and encourages Democrats to reflect on the Biden years.

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Social Media Moderation: Florida & Texas Fight For the First Amendment

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 04:00:53 GMT

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week for the social media moderation cases Moody v. NetChoice and NetChoice v. Paxton. Brad Yates finds the newspaper analogy to be disingenuous, wonders what social media’s editorial voice is, and proposes classifying social media companies as common carriers.

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California’s Experiment with High School Ethnic Studies

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 00:00:03 GMT

California will be instituting an ethnic studies graduation requirement for its public high schools soon. Brad Yates deems ethnic studies to be regressive, cautions us about the tribalization of society, and suggests adding more color to the teaching of American history.

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Earbuds on the Job: The Slippery Slope of Workplace Standards

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 04:00:52 GMT

Everywhere you go these days, you’ll see workers with an earbud on while they’re allegedly working. Brad Yates excoriates this workplace trend, explains why we shouldn’t sympathize with these workers, and warns us that this behavior accelerates the elimination of these workers’ jobs.

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Vindication of the SAT: MIT & Dartmouth Lead the Way

Wed, 07 Feb 2024 19:00:37 GMT

Colleges have rapidly dropped their SAT and ACT requirements for admissions ever since the pandemic, but some prominent schools like MIT and Dartmouth have reinstated them. Brad Yates declares that higher education is not a social program, defends admission tests’ ability to predict college academic performance, and reminds us that poor students can outperform rich kids on these tests anyway.

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Resort Fees & Service Charges: Consumer Deception in Hospitality

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 22:00:36 GMT

Resort fees and credit card service charges have been proliferating during the past two decades. Brad Yates examines how resort fees help hotels’ bottom lines, dispels the misconception that restaurants make so little money that they have to pad their bills with credit card fees, and advocates for all-inclusive pricing.

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Trump’s Ballot Removals & the Next Civil War

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 00:00:44 GMT

In December 2023, Colorado and Maine decided to remove Trump from the ballots for the 2024 primaries, citing a violation of the 14th Amendment. Brad Yates questions whether Trump actually engaged in insurrection, explains how the insurrectionist ban doesn’t have to be at the election stage, and agrees with Harvard Law professor Lawrence Lessig’s warning about the next Civil War.

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FPI State of the Union 2024

Thu, 18 Jan 2024 03:00:28 GMT

Brad Yates looks back at the first year of The Futurist Public Intellectual podcast and discusses an important theme for the year ahead.

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Guns at the Airport

Thu, 11 Jan 2024 00:00:12 GMT

TSA released its grim statistics about the number of firearms they found in people’s carry-on bags in 2023. Brad Yates questions the trustworthiness of gun-toting travelers, wonders if these travelers should be given more severe consequences, and proposes suspending people’s flying privileges.

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Sandra Day O’Connor: A Legal Trailblazer

Thu, 04 Jan 2024 04:00:22 GMT

Last month, Sandra Day O’Connor, the first female Supreme Court Justice, passed away. Brad Yates reflects on how O’Connor was an example of a jurist, not a politician, reminds people to stop expecting the Justices to behave politically, and commends O’Connor for not overemphasizing her gender.

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Black Santas in a White Christmas

Wed, 27 Dec 2023 17:00:30 GMT

Black Santas were everywhere this Christmas. Brad Yates explains how wokeism warps the truth, chastises distorting the truth in the name of inclusivity, and proposes focusing on Kwanzaa as the path forward.

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Antisemitism on Campus: Free Speech & Administrators

Wed, 20 Dec 2023 17:00:24 GMT

The presidents of Harvard, MIT, and the University of Pennsylvania were recently grilled about antisemitism on their campuses. Brad Yates reminds us that free speech in the US has extremely strong protections, distinguishes between blaming Israel’s government and calling for violence against Jews, and criticizes Representative Elise Stefanik’s twisting of the word intifada.

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The Necessity of Karens

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 19:00:30 GMT

The name “Karen” has become a meme to hilarious effect, but it’s starting to be used as a slur for the merely assertive. Brad Yates traces the evolution of the epithet, distinguishes when a woman is called a Karen from when a man is called one, and explains why people should reserve their judgment when someone seems like they’re being a Karen.

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Airlines: Re-regulate a Deregulated Industry?

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 04:30:15 GMT

The proliferation of ancillary fees and shrinking seats have incited some critics to demand re-regulation of the airlines. Brad Yates reminds us of the incredible democratization of air travel since the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978, responds to the critics’ two biggest issues with airlines today, and proposes a surprising solution to dropped routes to small cities.

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Legacy Admissions: Not Exactly Affirmative Action for Elites

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 02:00:55 GMT

Harvard is being criticized again for its admissions policies, but this time for legacy admissions. Brad Yates debunks the view that legacy admissions is affirmative action for elites, explains why legacy admits are treated in the same manner as athletes, and even proposes doubling down on legacy admissions.

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Ohio: A Case Study for New Liberalism

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 17:00:17 GMT

Ohio passed a constitutional amendment that protects abortion and a law that legalizes marijuana on November 7, 2023. Brad Yates details Ohio’s historic political results, recognizes Ohio as a sign of healthy American federalism, and encourages Democrats to harness the momentum of the present.

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The Supreme Court’s Ethics Code

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 01:00:39 GMT

The Supreme Court of the United States issued a historic document two days ago: an official ethics code. Brad Yates notes the hypocrisy of the Democrats’ spearheading of this ethics crisis, details the chaos that would be unleashed by an ethics code enforced by Congress, and approves the new ethics code for being a reasonable compromise.

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Trunk or Treat: Halloween for Wimps

Thu, 09 Nov 2023 04:00:10 GMT

The American tradition of trick or treating has declined while its sanitized variant, trunk or treat, has seen a conspicuous rise in popularity. Brad Yates implores us to stop infantilizing our children, debunks the urban myth of poisoned Halloween candy, and reminds parents of their true purpose.

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Taylor’s Versions: Taylor Swift’s Re-recordings

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 20:00:28 GMT

Last week, Taylor Swift released her fourth re-recorded album, 1989 (Taylor’s Version). Why is she doing this? Brad Yates describes Swift’s legal battle with Big Machine Records in the context of US copyright law, explains Swift’s unprecedented solution to her predicament, and applauds her for being a trailblazer for artists’ rights.

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Term & Age Limits for Congress

Thu, 26 Oct 2023 03:00:20 GMT

With Mitt Romney’s pending retirement from Congress and Dianne Feinstein’s passing, the debate over term and age limits for Congress has been reignited. Brad Yates uncovers the bipartisan support for Congressional term and age limits among registered voters, explains why term limits are fairer than age limits, and encourages Millennials and Gen Z to be more politically active.

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Unwanted Pregnancies & Begrudging Parenthood

Thu, 19 Oct 2023 03:00:35 GMT

Almost half of all pregnancies in the United States are unintended. Brad Yates analyzes the sad statistics of unwanted children, outlines the consequences of growing up unwanted, and makes a surprising connection to the opioid epidemic.

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The Border Wall: Biden, Adams & the Hypocrisy of the Democrats

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 22:00:48 GMT

Last week, the Biden administration announced that construction of the border wall in Starr County, Texas was going to resume. Brad Yates points out President Biden’s reneging of his campaign promise, lambasts Mayor Eric Adams’s tour of Latin America, and questions the political savvy of the Democrats’ handling of the southern border.

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USB-C, GDPR, DSA: Reining in Tech Companies

Thu, 05 Oct 2023 03:00:00 GMT

The iPhone 15 heralds a new era of tech regulation spearheaded by the European Union. Brad Yates questions a government’s ability to pick market winners, chastises the US government for inadequate protection of digital privacy, and highlights the difficulty of balancing content moderation and free speech.

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Hasan Minhaj’s Race Baiting

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 23:00:33 GMT

Hasan Minhaj’s award-winning comedy is built upon a bed of lies. Brad Yates distinguishes between embellishment and fabrication in comedy, explains why the truth matters in Minhaj’s social justice narrative, and laments his impact on nonwhite people’s truthful experiences of racism.

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Susanna Gibson: Politics in the Age of Chaturbate & Revenge Porn Laws

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 23:00:46 GMT

Susanna Gibson has been surrounded by controversy regarding her livestreaming of sex acts with her husband on Chaturbate. Does this deserve public outcry? Brad Yates contextualizes Gibson’s scandal in our era of sexting, discerns revenge porn laws’ real purpose, and addresses the ultimate question of Gibson’s qualification for public office.

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The Girlboss Poisoning of Snow White

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 22:00:55 GMT

Rachel Zegler has ignited a media controversy around the upcoming Snow White remake. Can Snow White really become a 21st century girlboss? Brad Yates chastises Zegler’s disrespectful attitude towards the original movie, explains how Hollywood’s portrayal of strong female characters is sexist, and suggests Ferris Bueller as a role model for future female movie characters.

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Police Brutality: Ta’Kiya Young, Tyre Nichols & George Floyd

Thu, 07 Sep 2023 00:00:41 GMT

Ta’Kiya Young, a 21 year-old black woman, was killed by a police officer in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio. Was that police brutality? Brad Yates uncovers how black noncompliance contributes to unnecessary deaths at the hands of police officers, explains how the Black Lives Matter movement needs to address more short-term concerns, and outlines various potential reforms for police departments.

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Transgender Athletes: Creation of a Third Category

Wed, 30 Aug 2023 19:00:00 GMT

Lia Thomas, a transgender collegiate swimmer, made history when she won a NCAA Division I national championship in 2022. But should she have competed in women’s sports? Brad Yates illuminates the fairness principle that undergirds sex segregation in sports, analogizes transgender people to biracial people, and proposes the creation of trans sports.

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Child Leashes: Are Children Pets?

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 01:00:38 GMT

Child leashes or safety harnesses have a specious history. Brad Yates points out child leashes’ nonexistent safety record, lambasts treating children like pets, and advocates for promoting independence in children.

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Drug Policy Through Oregon's Eyes

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 23:00:48 GMT

Oregon decriminalized illegal drug possession and use in 2021 in a radical attempt to fix the severe drug abuse problem in the state. Brad Yates compares Oregon’s implementation to Portugal’s and Singapore’s, advocates differing approaches for drug users and traffickers, and points out a curious correlation between drug abuse rates and political parties.

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Toxic Body Positivity

Thu, 10 Aug 2023 01:00:17 GMT

The body positivity movement has been accusing people of fatphobia while promoting fat acceptance. Brad Yates explains medicine’s negative position on obesity, examines the equivocation between beauty and goodness, and clarifies the difference between the acceptance of fat people’s humanity and the endorsement of their obesity.

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Dylan Mulvaney: A Tale of Disingenuity & Boycotts

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 20:00:06 GMT

The meteoric rise of Dylan Mulvaney recently led to an embarrassing boycott of Bud Light after Mulvaney promoted the beer brand on her Instagram in April 2023. Brad Yates chastises Bud Light for its hollow pinkwashing, exposes Mulvaney’s true identity as a nonbinary person, and explains why Mulvaney is a bad role model.

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Barbie Movie: Matriarchy is Best

Wed, 26 Jul 2023 23:00:37 GMT

Barbie has seized the cultural zeitgeist, but should we be applauding its message? Brad Yates questions the movie’s choice of setting in light of its misandry, examines the movie’s confusing portrayal of women and trans women, and rejects the movie’s un-American ending.

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The First Amendment Clashes with BGLQT People

Thu, 20 Jul 2023 01:00:44 GMT

The third Supreme Court case to make waves this June was 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis, which grappled with the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act. Brad Yates distinguishes websites from restaurants and hotels in the context of public accommodations laws, explains the importance of protecting the speech of our enemies, and emphasizes the need for a constitutional amendment if sexual orientation is going to be a protected status.

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Student Loan Forgiveness: Whose Money Is It?

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 23:00:00 GMT

Biden v. Nebraska was a significant Supreme Court case that addressed President Biden’s controversial student loan forgiveness program. Brad Yates explains the majority’s analysis, acknowledges Justice Kagan’s reasonable disagreements in her dissent, and questions the timing of the program’s enactment.

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Affirmative Action Is Over

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 23:30:20 GMT

The Supreme Court ended affirmative action in the United States in the cases Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina. Brad Yates summarizes the majority’s reasons for finding affirmative action unconstitutional, excoriates Justices Sotomayor and Jackson’s dissents, and reaffirms the superior bipartisan solution to educational inequities.

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Titan & Titanic: A Tale of Tragedy & Hope

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 20:00:45 GMT

On June 18, 2023, OceanGate’s submersible Titan attempted to dive to the Titanic wreck, but ultimately imploded while underwater. Brad Yates suggests that the Titan’s implosion might be the tipping point for increased governmental regulation of extreme tourism, compares OceanGate to Uber and Airbnb, and reminds us to applaud the risk takers who propel science and progress forward.

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Juneteenth: Are Blacks More Special?

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 19:00:25 GMT

On June 19, 2023, the United States celebrated its newest federal holiday, Juneteenth. What exactly is the point of this holiday? Brad Yates compares Juneteenth to the other federal holidays, questions the historical significance of this holiday for non-black Americans, and suggests a better date to commemorate the end of slavery.

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White Hot: The Rise & Fall of Abercrombie & Fitch

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 14:00:22 GMT

Netflix released a documentary called White Hot about the controversial clothing company Abercrombie & Fitch. Brad Yates questions whether Abercrombie & Fitch was truly worse than other fashion brands, posits that corporations are not responsible for fighting culture wars, and compares the company with Hooters and FUBU.

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Ron DeSantis & The Don't Say Gay Law

Thu, 08 Jun 2023 01:00:13 GMT

Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida have been sending shockwaves throughout the country with its Parental Rights in Education Act (aka the “Don’t Say Gay” law). Brad Yates expounds on the controversy, points out the hypocritical stance that the liberals are taking with the law, and questions whether DeSantis is making the right political move.

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David Choe: Separating Art From Its Creator

Wed, 31 May 2023 18:00:57 GMT

The brilliant new Netflix series Beef has recently been hit with controversy due to David Choe’s fabricated rape story from nine years ago. Is this controversy justified? Brad Yates recounts Choe’s rape story, answers the question of whether art should be judged for the artist’s character, and compares the situation to Harvey Weinstein.

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Twitter v. Taamneh: Section 230 Dodges a Bullet

Wed, 24 May 2023 13:00:47 GMT

Twitter v. Taamneh and Gonzalez v. Google were feared because it was thought that the Supreme Court might scale back Section 230’s protections. Brad Yates details both cases, explains why Section 230 is a sensible law, and acknowledges Section 230’s role in facilitating the First Amendment online.

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Travel Is Not A Personality Trait

Wed, 17 May 2023 16:00:00 GMT

Travel is a popular activity, but is it a personality trait? Brad Yates distinguishes between travel and real personality traits, explains why someone would prefer to present travel as who they are, and describes the kind of travel that is a path for personal growth.

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Illegal Migrants: The Crisis at Our Door

Wed, 10 May 2023 14:00:27 GMT

Title 42’s imminent expiration is forcing Americans to confront the question of whether the current immigration system is working for the country. Brad Yates uncovers the shocking statistics of illegal immigration at the US-Mexico border, explains how migrants abuse the asylum process, and proposes a radical closing of the asylum loophole.

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Female Plumbers & Male Nurses: The Day Equality Arrives

Wed, 03 May 2023 18:00:19 GMT

Many Americans are concerned about the lack of female representation in STEM fields, but why not plumbing? Brad Yates questions the value of encouraging more female engineers, reveals the sexism of not promoting nursing to men, and details what a true gender-equal reality looks like.

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In Defense of Plastic Surgery and Prostitution

Wed, 26 Apr 2023 19:00:39 GMT

Plastic surgery and prostitution primarily serve the same group of customers: ugly people. Brad Yates analyzes the powerful impact of mainstream beauty standards, illuminates a taboo truth about ugly people’s needs, and encourages empathy for those who choose plastic surgery and prostitution to address their pain.

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Love Wins: Nebulous and Misleading

Wed, 19 Apr 2023 16:00:41 GMT

During the time of the Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges, the hashtag #LoveWins went viral. Brad Yates questions whether gay marriage or BGLQT sexuality are really about love, elaborates on how this catchphrase promotes more repression, and notes how love cannot be legislated.

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Free Speech Mayhem at Stanford

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 11:00:55 GMT

On March 9, 2023, federal judge Kyle Duncan was accosted by Stanford Law School protesters during a Federalist Society event. Brad Yates outlines First Amendment jurisprudence, explains the invalidity of the heckler’s veto, and analyzes the two problematic principles followed by the woke protesters.

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Tipping: Out of Control

Wed, 05 Apr 2023 16:00:50 GMT

Between the anxiety-ridden moments at your local coffee shop register and the frustration of making a sub-minimum wage as a server, the American custom of tipping has been roiling the best of us. Brad Yates settles the question of whether to use the pre-tax or post-tax amount to calculate the tip, explores the fascinating history of the custom and its codification in the Fair Labor Standards Act, and proposes erasing the distinction between tipped and nontipped employees.

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Slavery Reparations: Not a Tort

Wed, 29 Mar 2023 12:00:48 GMT

San Francisco is discussing potentially providing slavery reparations to its black adult residents in the form of $5 million. Should reparations be given to the descendants of African slaves? Brad Yates examines the tort paradigm that is used to justify slavery reparations, digs into the poverty statistics of Americans, and proposes policies that could take the place of cash payments.

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Drug Cartels: We Are The Problem

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 16:00:43 GMT

On March 3, 2023, four Americans experienced a horrific tragedy that is increasingly becoming common in Mexico: drug cartel-related violence. Brad Yates explains how the Matamoros incident involving the Gulf cartel reveals the true nature of Mexican drug cartels, how Americans are ultimately culpable for their continued existence, and questions the continuing normalization of drug use.

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Daylight Saving Time: Stop Messing with Our Clocks

Wed, 15 Mar 2023 16:00:35 GMT

Daylight Saving Time has Americans changing their clocks twice a year, but is it time for the ritual to stop? Brad Yates dives into the history of daylight saving time, compares our enactment of it with other countries, and notes the Sunshine Protection Act’s attempt to make daylight saving time permanent.

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Global Warming as a Non-Issue

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 12:00:16 GMT

People continue to debate the veracity of global warming, but global warming can impact a myriad of policy decisions. Brad Yates explains the anthropocentricity of global warming, contextualizes modern global warming with geological history, and contends that exponential human population growth needs to be discussed in seeking a solution. Cockroaches are also featured in the episode.

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Affirmative Action: A Distraction From The Real Problem

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 12:00:42 GMT

Affirmative action is being reconsidered yet again by the Supreme Court in the cases of Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina. Brad Yates explains how Harvard is certainly engaging in racial balancing, poses the conflict between affirmative action and an educational meritocracy, and illuminates the source of the real problem that affirmative action fails to rectify.

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Disney: Theme Parks for the Elite or the Masses?

Wed, 22 Feb 2023 17:00:32 GMT

Disney’s theme parks are beloved by many, but continuous price increases are making them out of reach by the same people. Brad Yates distinguishes Winnie-the-Pooh from Disneyland, explains how Disney is not a common carrier, and invites a new competitor to challenge Disney’s cultural hegemony.

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Lessons From COVID

Wed, 15 Feb 2023 17:00:25 GMT

As COVID’s presence recedes from public life, what have we learned from the pandemic? Brad Yates addresses the inevitability of pandemics and herd immunity, the questionable ethics of lockdowns, the indeterminate value of prolonging the lives of the elderly, and the conspicuous liberal bias that emerged in the media during the pandemic.

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Obergefell & Gay Marriage: The Appropriate Next Step

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 12:00:59 GMT

Now that Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization has obliterated the right to privacy, Brad Yates explains how Obergefell v. Hodges is ripe for overruling, how gay marriage is both a private relationship and a public status, and how rights and legitimacy loomed large in the pursuit of the legalization of gay marriage. He also proposes a new moniker for the LGBTQIA+ community.

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Dobbs & Abortion: The Beginning of the Correction

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 12:00:55 GMT

When the landmark Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade, many people were outraged. But was Roe good law? Brad Yates discusses the Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment, the relationship between the right to privacy and abortion, the cultural differences in attitudes toward abortion between the Japanese and Americans, and how Dobbs is a return to constitutional fidelity and democratic pluralism.

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Welcome to The Futurist Public Intellectual

Wed, 25 Jan 2023 21:00:00 GMT

The inaugural episode of The Futurist Public Intellectual introduces Brad Yates and the purpose of the podcast. Learn about the role of public intellectuals as opposed to journalists and how the logical, contextualized analysis of a public intellectual can inform the public to make better choices in tumultuous 21st century America. Here’s to the future!

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