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    Half-Hour Liberty Hour

    A libertarian podcast from behind enemy lines in the People's Republic of Portland, Oregon. We discuss topics of liberty, politics, and philosophy all while drinking our livers into cirrhosis.
    enBrett and Rob68 Episodes

    Episodes (68)

    Bretts Bemusing 01- Importance of Culture

    Bretts Bemusing 01- Importance of Culture

    As firsts go, this is a new one for Half-Hour Liberty Hour, a solo episode from Brett. In this new mini-series, titled “Brett's Bemusings”, Brett will discuss various topics that are either in the news, concerning his beloved Portland, diving into the culture war, or just whatever is on his mind at the moment.

    In this first part of a two part episode, Brett discusses culture and the culture war, laying out definitions and the importance of culture. Brett discussed how politics is downstream from culture, what culture is, and what shapes our culture.  Brett finishes this episode discussing our current cultural deterioration.

    Rob's Rant Vol. 003 - The Last Great Middle Finger

    Rob's Rant Vol. 003 - The Last Great Middle Finger

    In this rant, Rob explains why he has been unable to record for the past couple of months. Hopefully, that issue will be resolved in the next few weeks. He rants about why the election does not matter, as the State still persists. He also delivers the Christmas speech that he would love to hear Donald Trump deliver. It's sure to anger everyone except for liberty lovers. If it were to happen, sit back and watch the world burn.

    Series 02 Episode 02 - Portland, Seriously?!?

    Series 02 Episode 02 - Portland, Seriously?!?

    In this episode, Brett and Rob discuss the recent election in Oregon, including the mayoral race in Portland, a specific Metro Council commissioner race, and a bond issue. They also discuss the now world-famous ballot measures to legalize psilocybin mushrooms and decriminalize street drugs. There is also an Easter Egg in the episode, so please listen for it.

    This Episode's Drink of Choice: Beer

    New rants are to come, but recording has been delayed to issues outside Rob's control. He'll speak more of it when they are recorded and released.

    Rob's Rant Vol. 002 - Breonna Taylor and Reforming the Police

    Rob's Rant Vol. 002 - Breonna Taylor and Reforming the Police

    In this rant, which has been building for months, Rob talks about the issues with the Breonna Taylor case and the need to reform the police. Specifically:

    • Reactions to the grand jury findings
    • Issues Rob has with the case
    • The real problem (and it's not racism)
    • 7 steps to reforming the police and 1 step to reforming ourselves

    Rob hopes you have a drink in your hand, because you'll probably need one by the end.

    Rob's Rant Vol. 001 - Fighting Over the Body of RBG

    Rob's Rant Vol. 001 - Fighting Over the Body of RBG

    This is a first for Half-Hour Liberty Hour, a solo episode. In this new mini-series, titled "Rob's Rant", Rob will be trying to upload a weekly rant of his over a topic that is either in the news, concerning his beloved Portland, or just whatever is on his mind at the moment.

    In this rant, Rob delves into the fighting over RBG's body, how she will probably be canonized in the American Civic Religion, how both the Left and the Right want to take away your inalienable rights, how the Left are greedy, how the Right are gullible, and who the new Supreme Court justice will be doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things.

    Rob hopes you have a drink in your hand, because you'll probably need one by the end.

    Series 02 Episode 01 - George Floyd, Riots, and the Lies of the Corporate Media

    Series 02 Episode 01 - George Floyd, Riots, and the Lies of the Corporate Media

    WE'RE BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK! And snarkier than ever.

    After a prolonged absence, the Dynamically Drunken Duo have returned. Were they hibernating? Did Brett run off to join the circus? Was Rob committed to an insane asylum?

    In this episode, Brett and Rob discuss the following:

    • Where the heck they've been
    • The murder of George Floyd and the riotous response
    • The murder of Breonna Taylor
    • How the Corporate Media has been lying about the protest and riots
    • What is really happening in Portland

    Sit back, relax, have a drink if you are able to, and listen to the guys for the first time in a while.

    This episode's drink of choice: Water?!?

    Yes, the episode was recorded in the late morning Pacific time, so there is unfortunately no drinking in this one.

    Episode 035 - Oregon, You Never Fail To Disappoint Me.

    Episode 035 - Oregon, You Never Fail To Disappoint Me.

    Rob actually managed to get a day off from work, so he set about clearing out the archives. This episode was originally recorded in late November 2018.

    In this episode of Half-Hour Liberty Hour, Brett and Rob discuss the results of the recent statewide election in Oregon and the local election in Portland (SPOILER ALERT: It went badly for liberty lovers). The guys discuss:

    • The reelection of "Corrupt Kate" Brown as governor
    • The Super-Majority now held by Democrats in the state government
    • OR Measure 102 Bonds for affordable housing
    • OR Measure 103: Ban on grocery and soda taxes
    • OR Measure 104: Change tax raising threshold from 3/5 to 2/3
    • OR Measure 105: Repeal of Oregon's Sanctuary State status
    • OR Measure 106: Banning public funds for abortion
    • Portland Measure 26-201: Gross revenues tax
    • The state of Oregon suing the President of the United States

    It was almost as if the Dynamically Drunken Duo were looking into a crystal ball in this episode. Since the turn of 2019, the Oregon Democrat Super-Majority has completely gone off the rails. From new taxes, to massive unfunded mandates, to weak PERS reform, to the nation's first statewide rent control law, there is nothing to stop this out-of-control government. Oregon has set its path, possibly irreversibly, toward bankruptcy and economic collapse.

    Resources Mentioned In This Episode:
    Nullification by Tom Woods

    This Episode's Drink of Choice: Elijah Craig Small Batch Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

    Refuting Stupidity 006

    Refuting Stupidity 006

    Recorded in February 2019 while Rob was home for jury duty (no worries...when he explained what an Anarcho-Capitalist is, he was removed from the jury pool).

    In this episode of refuting stupidity, Brett and Rob lay into the stupidity of the Green New Deal, proposed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. They originally recorded 90 minutes of material, and Rob had to chop it down into around 30 minutes. They guys point out the stupidity of the GND and the solutions to solving all of the issues that the GND attempts to solve. The guys hope you are sitting down and having a drink with us on this one.

    Brett's microphone had trouble during this recording. Rob has done his best to make repairs, but Brett still sounds like he's speaking over a telephone. Our apologies.

    Bonus Episodelet 017 - The Downsides To Capitalism

    Bonus Episodelet 017 - The Downsides To Capitalism

    This bonus episodelet was promised to you in the liner notes from Episode 029 - Why Capitalism? This is a segment that was cut for time. In this clip, the Dynamically Drunken Duo honestly assess the few weaknesses they find in capitalism:

    • There is no social safety net
    • You can lose everything
    • Derivatives exist
    • Government involvement

    Brett and Rob concede that capitalism is not a perfect economic system, but it surely is the best one that has ever been discovered. Even though they identify four weaknesses, they will defend the true free market (one that has no outside interference from the State) until their last breaths.

    Episode 034 - The Beerpisode

    Episode 034 - The Beerpisode

    In this episode of Half-Hour Liberty Hour, the Dynamically Drunken Duo change things a bit with a beer-focused episode. Using Charlie Papazian's Unspoken Passion recipe, Brett and Rob walk you through the basics of making a batch of homebrew. Although they forget to discuss some very important issues when making beer (such as proper cleaning and sanitation, the equipment necessary for brewing, etc.), hopefully you are pushed into experimenting with homebrewing yourself by this episode. And of course, they have to talk about politics. In this episode you will learn:

    • How beer saved the world
    • The (very) basics of homebrewing
    • What has been going on in the lives of Brett and Rob since last summer
    • How homebrewing can help lead you to living a more liberty lifestyle
    • A brief history of homebrewing

    So sit back, relax, have a beer if you can, and maybe you'll be inspired to start homebrewing yourself.

    This Episode's Drink of Choice: Beer and lots of it (Ninkasi Total Domination IPA)

    Bonus Episodelet 016 - You Like Your Internet Devices? Thank Capitalism.

    Bonus Episodelet 016 - You Like Your Internet Devices? Thank Capitalism.

    This bonus episodelet was a segment cut for content from Episode 029 - Why Capitalism? In this very short segment, Brett and Rob discuss how the price of mass storage has greatly dropped since the mid-1990s (and Brett even makes an allusion to the 1980s) because the free market controlled the prices, not the State. Even though the Internet is never mentioned, the only way that your devices became ubiquitous is due to the cheap price of mass storage. You can thank capitalism for the device on which you are listening to this episodelet.

    Episode 033 - Why A Trade War With China Is A Bad Idea

    Episode 033 - Why A Trade War With China Is A Bad Idea

    Can you believe it? A new episode of Half-Hour Liberty Hour? Say it ain't so!

    It is so. Rob has finally had a couple of days off from his new job and found an episode the Dynamically Drunken Duo recorded while he was on vacation in July 2018. It's the guys' first remote-recorded episode, and boy did it take some time to edit. They think you'll like it. There are two more episodes, both recorded when Rob was briefly in Portland in November 2018, that are due to be edited and released in the future. Keep an eye out for them.

    In this episode of Half-Hour Liberty Hour, Brett and Rob discuss why any trade war, especially one with China, is a bad idea. They lay out the reasons from both economic and social perspectives, with a heavy emphasis on liberty (would you expect anything less?). So sit back, have a drink if you can, and listen to why America will never survive a trade war.

    This Episode's Drink of Choice: Bacardi Silver Rum

    Episode 032 - Little Things You Can Do To Start Living A Liberty Lifestyle

    Episode 032 - Little Things You Can Do To Start Living A Liberty Lifestyle

    July was vacation month. Brett was gone at the first part of the month, and Rob was gone in the middle of the month. Thus, Half-Hour Liberty Hour was on a brief hiatus. However, the guys are back with a new full-episode that is longer than usual.

    In this episode of Half-Hour Liberty Hour, Brett and Rob discuss small ways in which you can start living a liberty lifestyle. The Dynamically Drunken Duo touch upon the following major ideas:

    1. Start Living Austrian Economics
    2. Create Your Own Goods In Order To Consume Less
    3. Learn To Say "No"
    4. Practice The Non-Aggression Principle In Real Life

    Resources Mentioned In This Episode:

    This Episode's Drink of Choice: Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

    Refuting Stupidity 005

    Refuting Stupidity 005

    In this episode of refuting stupidity, Brett and Rob lay into the stupidity of Oregon Ballot Measure 43, which will be on the state's direct democracy ballot come November. It is a gun confiscation measure that has California's legislature looking with green-eyed envy across the border. In their usual bombastic way, the Dynamically Drunken Duo explain what the bill covers, they types of firearms that each section is seeking to ban (with actual examples), and why this is stupid. You're going to need a drink to listen to this one.

    Episode 031 - Is This The Worst Leader In American History? (Part 2)

    Episode 031 - Is This The Worst Leader In American History? (Part 2)

    This is the promised Part 2 to Episode 030 - Is This The Worst Leader In American History? (Part 1). If you haven't listened to Part 1, don't spoil the surprise by listening to Part 2 first.

    In this episode of Half-Hour Liberty Hour, the Dynamically Drunken Duo tackle who they believe is the worst leader in American history (and it may surprise you). Brett and Rob explain the egregious Constitutional violations committed by this president, citing article and section of the document, and give the reasons why he did what he did.

    This Episode's Drink of Choice: Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey

     

    Episode 030 - Is This The Worst Leader In American History? (Part 1)

    Episode 030 - Is This The Worst Leader In American History? (Part 1)

    What? A release on a Monday? Memorial Day, even? Yes. In a first, the guys recorded so much material for this episode that it could be split into two full episodes. The second half is slated for release later this week. Hopefully it sounds OK as Rob has been rage-editing whilst crying in his beer over the Champions League Final (he doesn't want to talk about it...).

    In this episode of Half-Hour Liberty Hour, the Dynamically Drunken Duo tackle who they believe is the worst leader in American history (and it may surprise you). Brett and Rob spend this episode busting a lot of myths concerning the man's actions leading up to his presidency and the time period just prior to and during his first year in office? Who is it? You'll have to listen to find out.

    Shout-outs In This Episode:

    • Matt in Wisconsin
    • Levi in Kentucky

    This Episode's Drink of Choice: Evan Williams Single Barrel Vintage Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey

    Bonus Episodelet 015 - Oregon's Legislature Wants The Feds To Ban Scary-Looking Guns

    Bonus Episodelet 015 - Oregon's Legislature Wants The Feds To Ban Scary-Looking Guns

    Two bonus episodelets on the same day? Say it ain't so...

    This bonus episodelet was a segment cut for time from Episode 028 - Oregon, Have You Lost Your Mind? Brett and Rob discuss Oregon's Senate Joint Memorial 201, which is a resolution begging the General Government to ban firearms based upon scary-looking components, ban bump stocks, ban "ghost guns", expand the definition of firearms to include non-firearms, and ban our universal right to defend ourselves in the manner we choose.

    Brett and Rob completely destroy the Memorial using logic, which is in short supply in the Oregon legislature. The really funny thing is, the state of Oregon could choose to ban all of these things within the state, but once again they pass the buck because they know that if they enacted these measures, it would cause 2/3 of the state to secede. Secession is a beautiful thing...

    Bonus Episodelet 014 - You Cannot Legislate Morality/Ethical Decision Making

    Bonus Episodelet 014 - You Cannot Legislate Morality/Ethical Decision Making

    A twofer today. These segments were cut for time from Episode 027 - Common Objections From The Christian Right. Brett and Rob discuss how legislating morality can come back to bite you in the end, and how Rob taught his students how to think about making ethical decisions, as well as a discussion of Christians in the military.

    It's a good thing The Sexton was flowing...

    Refuting Stupidity 004

    Refuting Stupidity 004

    In this episode of refuting stupidity, Brett and Rob lay into the stupidity of the "young adult-led" gun control/confiscation movement since the Parkland shooting. The Dynamically Drunken Duo tear into the movement and the money behind it; Rob gets diarrhea of the mouth when comparing these children to the suffragette movement of the 1910s; Brett calls out David Hogg by name; Morpheus and Neo make an appearance; and the guys drink a lot while pointing out the stupidity of these children and the movement.