Wallowing Around in a Gerontocracy

The Reason Roundtable

In this week's The Reason Roundtable, Matt Welch is back alongside editors Peter Suderman, Katherine Mangu-Ward, and Nick Gillespie as they wade through the missteps of our modern gerontocracy.

0:32: Nancy Pelosi's countless failures

23:23: President Joe Biden turns 80 years old

36:30: Weekly Listener Question:

Hi Friends! I like weed. Marijuana is a wonderful drug (I don't know why we keep looking for female Viagra when it already exists), and I celebrate recent expansions of legalization. There are risks, just as there are with any drug, and there is a potential for abuse. Nonetheless, if you compare the damage done by weed with the damage done by the war on drugs, it's not even close. Unsurprisingly, I have noted an uptick in news items describing the dangers of marijuana. Yesterday, The Wall Street Journal declared, "Marijuana May Hurt Smokers More Than Cigarettes Alone." The conclusion was based on a study of a whopping six marijuana-only smokers. This news trend makes me nervous. What attacks can we expect now that legalization is spreading? I'm thinking flimsy studies to convince everyone it's a major health risk (from the left) and stories about psychosis (from the right). What do you think is the next move against legal marijuana, and how can we anticipate it?

46:53: Donald Trump returns

52:51: This week's cultural recommendations

Mentioned in this podcast:

"Nancy Pelosi Embodied America's Gerontocracy Problem," by Eric Boehm

"After House Democrats' Midterm Defeat, Nancy Pelosi Says She'll Step Down From Congressional Leadership," by Christian Britschgi

"Dianne Feinstein and the Dangers of Gerontocracy," by Peter Suderman

"Joe Biden: 'Why the Hell Would I Take a Test?…Are You a Junkie?'" by Nick Gillespie

"Pot Prohibition Continues Collapsing, and Psychedelic Bans Could Be Next," by Jacob Sullum

"Republicans Contemplate a Post-Trump World," by J.D. Tuccille

"Donald Trump Announces He Will Run for President in 2024," by Joe Lancaster

Send your questions to [e-mail]. Be sure to include your social media handle and the correct pronunciation of your name.

Today's sponsor:

• We all want to make sure our family is protected in a medical emergency. What many of us don't realize is that health insurance won't always cover the full amount of an emergency medical flight. Even with comprehensive coverage, you could get hit with high deductibles and co-pays. That's why an AirMedCare Network membership is so important. As a member, if an emergency arises, you won't see a bill for air medical transport when flown by an AMCN provider. Best of all, a membership covers your entire household for as little as $65 a year for seniors. AMCN providers are called upon to transport more than 100,000 patients a year. This is coverage no family should be without. Now, as a listener of our show, you'll get up to a $75 Visa or Amazon gift card with a new membership. Simply visit AirMedCareNetwork.com/reason and use offer code REASON.

Audio production by Ian Keyser

Assistant production by Hunt Beaty

Music: "Angeline," by The Brothers Steve

The post Wallowing Around in a Gerontocracy appeared first on Reason.com.