Avsnitt
-
Chris Spangle, Harry and Reinhold talk about when news breaks fast, like the U.S. bombing Iran, forcing them to toss their planned topics and react in real time. From there, they talk about news fatigue and attention whiplash, including how major developments can disappear from the public conversation and how hard it is to verify what is real online. They compare national coverage to alternative sources, argue that trust is shifting toward local outlets and in-person relationships, and share why many people feel overwhelmed trying to fact-check everything.
The middle of the show turns to technology, including surveillance tools, license plate readers and the broader feeling of living inside a modern panopticon. They debate AI from two angles, one seeing a disorienting shift in online life, the other arguing hype and limits, then connect it to the flood of low-quality content and what it is doing to creativity and culture.
In the final stretch, they walk through Iran and the nuclear deal basics, the long-running push for regime change, and how alliances and credibility shape U.S. influence abroad. They close with a sharp argument about war powers, constitutional limits and whether courts and Congress can still function as guardrails, followed by a practical reminder to build real community close to home.
0:00 Cold open and what the episode is about
1:15 Milestones, behind-the-scenes talk, and why they record the way they do
5:05 The day’s big breaking-news pivot
10:20 Information overload, attention whiplash, and tuning out
12:40 Trust, verification, and why people don’t believe what they see
17:35 The future of life online and why it feels disorienting
22:05 Privacy, surveillance, and how tracking is changing everyday life
26:15 AI anxiety vs AI reality and what people get wrong
29:20 The internet’s content quality problem and “AI slop”
31:30 Creativity, culture, and why modern media feels derivative
38:25 Where AI actually helps and the copyright debate
39:50 Middle East context and how big-power politics shapes events
46:50 Diplomacy vs hard power and the nuclear-enrichment conversation
56:20 Trade, alliances, and U.S. credibility abroad
1:01:05 Executive power, constitutional limits, and accountability
1:02:30 Courts, enforcement, and institutional stress tests
1:08:20 What happens next: economy, community, and staying grounded
1:26:10 Closing thoughts and sign-off
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Chris steps back from the daily outrage cycle to tackle a bigger question: Is there a difference between caring for someone personally and how the law should be written or enforced? Using a recent ICE shooting story as a case study, he explores how government power shapes human behavior, why politics is an extension of morality, and why treating people as image-bearers of God matters in public life. He also pulls in a classic libertarian argument from Marshall Fritz on robbery vs. taxation, touches on sphere sovereignty and localism, and closes with Jesus’ model of persuasion over coercion as a guide for Christian engagement.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Saknas det avsnitt?
-
Chris, Harry, and Rhinehold discuss the coming snowpocolypse and what motivates people to buy 8 gallons of milk as a response. While shooting the show, news breaks about a second killing by ICE in Minneapolis.
https://youtu.be/4fXijck0ELQ
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Chris Spangle is joined by Harry Price and Rhinehold for the final We Are Libertarians roundtable of 2025, recorded on the Saturday between Christmas and New Year’s. They trade Festivus-style grievances, talk life and workload, and debate Indianapolis development, public transit, and downtown design, including “no turn on red” frustrations and light rail. The conversation moves into NPR and PBS funding cuts, NOAA and weather data, and why abrupt cuts can create gaps before private solutions adapt. They also dig into “too big to fail,” stadium subsidies, wealth inequality, immigration and tariffs, and worries about an AI hype cycle that could pop. Along the way: John Bolton’s book as a Christmas gift, local versus federal power, and why history keeps repeating.
00:00 Intro & Holiday Banter
03:00 Year-End Reflections & Schedules
08:00 Jokes, Grievances & Festivus Vibes
13:00 Life Updates & Podcasting Behind the Scenes
20:00 Indianapolis Neighborhoods & Housing Market
28:00 City Development, Gentrification, and Sports Strategy
34:00 Public Projects, Taxpayer Money & Convention Economy
43:00 Transit, Traffic, and Urban Design Debates
52:00 Public Transportation & Challenges for the Poor
01:02:00 Funding Cuts, Private Solutions & PBS/NPR
01:10:00 Speculation, Tech Giants & Too Big to Fail
01:18:00 Renewable Energy, Land Use, & NIMBYism
01:24:00 American Preferences, Libertarian Values & Wealth Gaps
01:33:00 Final Thoughts, Historical Parallels & Farewell
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
In the final 2025 episode of The Chris Spangle Show, Spike Cohen shares how he became a Christian and what his first Christmas season in the faith has meant to him. Cohen explains the mission of You Are the Power, an advocacy group that pressures local and state officials to back off when families say they are being railroaded by government systems. The conversation focuses on the Hernandez family in Georgia, who faced felony child abuse charges and the loss of their children before being found not guilty and reunited.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Chris Spangle and Matt Wittlief open Season 2 with essential background for the late 1200s, tracing how the Holy Roman Empire’s electoral system emerged after the Carolingians, how the Great Interregnum unfolded and how the Habsburgs entered European politics. They also outline parallel developments in Wales, Scotland, the Low Countries, international trade, banking and the origins of English common law to set the stage for the reigns of Kings Edward I, II and III.
Topics in this episode:
Early imperial elections after Otto III and the king of the Romans title
The Stauffers and the Welfs, plus the Ghibelline and Guelph factions
Frederick II’s deposition in 1245, William of Holland and the Great Interregnum
The seven prince electors and the contested 1254 election between Richard of Cornwall and Alfonso II of Castile
Rudolf of Habsburg’s election in 1273, later Habsburg influence and Albert’s election in 1298
Wales from Offa’s Dyke to Gruffudd ap Llywelyn, Llywelyn the Great and the Marcher lords
Scotland from the Picts and Gaels to Malcolm III, the Dunkeld line and the Treaty of York in 1237
Norway’s role in northern politics, including control of the Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland
The Low Countries, the county of Flanders, English wool and the trade cities of Bruges and Ghent
The Champagne fairs, the growth of Italian merchant banking and the Knights Templar’s financial system
The position of Jews in medieval Europe, including moneylending, Aaron of Lincoln, the York massacre and the 1255 Lincoln accusation
The rise of universities in Bologna, Paris and Oxford and the development of English common law through writs, precedent and administrative expansion under Edward I
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Chris Spangle and Matt Wittlief reunite to bring back History of Modern Politics after a long hiatus. In this episode, they explain why the show is returning, how seasons two and three are already underway, and what listeners can expect as they continue tracing political thought from the Roman Republic to the American founding. Chris and Matt share behind-the-scenes updates on research, writing, episode structure, and how their work connects ancient history to today’s political shifts. They also discuss season one, the path ahead through the Middle Ages and the Glorious Revolution, and their plans to cover the first American political systems in future seasons.
Subscribe to the History of Modern Politics feed - https://link.chtbl.com/history-of-modern-politics
Join the Substack - https://www.historyofmodernpolitics.com/
Subscribe on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@historyofmodernpolitics5701https://www.youtube.com/@historyofmodernpolitics5701
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Join Chris Spangle, Harry Price, and Rhinehold for an unfiltered conversation exploring everything from tech “enshittification” and the work-from-home debate to the dangers of centralized government power. The trio examines how political and cultural tension mirror the post-COVID era, why Gen Z’s values echo past generations, and what the “success sequence” reveals about personal responsibility. Chris closes with a passionate critique of executive overreach, historic preservation, and America’s fading respect for the rule of law.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Chris Spangle is interviewed by Chuck Pullen and Bob Starkey on "The Fall of Chuck And Bob" on WJOB 1230 AM for an in-depth discussion about libertarian views on Republicans and Democrats, the White House demolition, and the No Kings rallies. The conversation touches on hypocrisy in American politics, the role of power, and the increasing centralization of executive power. Key topics include Rand Paul's stance on drone strikes, the erosion of political standards, and the implications of gerrymandering and legislative immunity in Indiana.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Chris Spangle, Harry Price, and Reinhold reunite for a new episode of We Are Libertarians. The hosts reintroduce themselves and reflect on the history of the show before diving into today’s big issues. They discuss the speed of the news cycle, public trust in media, right- and left-wing biases, and why local journalism still matters. The conversation also explores libertarian principles, cultural debates, Christian nationalism, and the role of free speech in a divided society. Tune in for sharp analysis, humor, and spirited discussion as three different libertarian perspectives come together to debate politics and culture.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
In 1633, Galileo Galilei was condemned by the Roman Inquisition for teaching that the Earth revolves around the Sun. His defiance became a symbol of individual conscience against powerful institutions.
On this episode of The Chris Spangle Show, we explore the history of individualism versus collectivism — from Socrates to the Stoics, from Christianity and the Reformation to Enlightenment thinkers such as John Locke and John Stuart Mill, and into the American founding. We also explore libertarian principles of ethical individualism, free speech, and personal responsibility, contrasting them with the dangers of conformity, censorship, and control inherent in collectivism.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
Galileo’s trial and its impact on science and freedom
How Christianity and the Reformation shaped individualism
The Enlightenment’s role in liberty and natural rights
Ethical individualism vs. collectivist control
Why libertarians defend conscience, speech, and voluntary cooperation
https://youtu.be/q3Y7zGmoYaA
00:00 Galileo vs. the Inquisition
01:49 The Rise of Heliocentrism
02:42 Courage, Individualism, & Libertarianism
03:33 What Is Individualism? Key Concepts
06:07 From Tribes to Individuals: History
07:36 Greek, Christian, and Enlightenment Roots
09:39 Individualism in America
10:39 Ethical Individualism Explained
13:39 Modern Challenges: Speech & Responsibility
15:31 Voluntary Association and Libertarianism
17:59 Political Individualism and Freedom
21:12 Collectivism vs. Individualism
24:03 Government Power and Group Identity
27:01 Case Study: Hong Kong’s Freedom Lost
28:59 Pros and Cons of Each Approach
30:06 Christian Critiques of Individualism
33:55 Expressive Individualism vs. Community
37:00 Individualism in Faith and Society
40:46 Voluntary Cooperation vs. Forced Conformity
41:45 The American Founding: A Radical Shift
45:42 Why Conscience and Principles Matter
47:00 Cancellations, Tribalism, and Consistency
51:00 Embracing Courage and Individual Thought
53:11 Be an Individual, Not Just a Follower
54:10 Outro & Final Thoughts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Chris Spangle reflects on the week following Charlie Kirk’s assassination, the surprising impact on churches, and his own faith journey since September 11, 2001. He explores how tragedy shakes feelings of security, why people turn to church in uncertain times, and the role of parasocial relationships in amplifying grief. Spangle also shares practical steps for those seeking deeper faith, including church commitment, accountability, and daily spiritual disciplines.
The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
Start with the Gospel of John
Then read Romans
Afterward, read Genesis or continue through the New Testament
ESV Study Bible
Life Application Study Bible
Zondervan Study Bible
Tony Evans Bible Commentary
The Bible Project (website and YouTube channel)
Renewing Your Mind with R.C. Sproul
Tim Keller (Gospel in Life)
Matt Chandler – The Village Church Podcast
Insight for Living with Chuck Swindoll
Unashamed with Phil Robertson
00:00 Introduction & Charlie Kirk Incident
02:00 Surge in Church Attendance & Reflections on Security
06:00 Personal Faith Journey Post-9/11
10:00 Struggles with Lukewarm Faith
13:00 Marriage, Divorce, and Spiritual Drift
17:00 Self-Improvement and Facing Personal Struggles
21:00 Reigniting Active Faith & Practical Steps
25:00 Building Strong Church and Community Connections
30:00 Overcoming Stubborn Sins & Accountability
33:00 Fatherhood, Legacy, and Maturity
37:00 Finding Spiritual Role Models & Daily Routines
41:00 Being Open About Faith & Christian Community Today
44:00 Closing Advice: Commit, Connect, and Pursue Wisdom
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Chris Spangle sits down with Carmel City Councilor Jeff Worrell to discuss Project Civility and why disagreement is not something to avoid but a path toward stronger communities. They explore how civility is not about silence or politeness but about creating the groundwork for meaningful conversations on politics, religion, and tough issues. Worrell shares the core principles behind managing conflict, finding common ground, and staying in relationship—even when opinions clash. Learn why courage, listening, and respect are essential for building healthier dialogue in a divided time.
To learn more or attend the upcoming Project Civility Summit, visit projectcivility.com.
https://youtu.be/_nLEIj-kBPY
00:00 Introduction & Recent Events
02:16 What is Civility? Setting the Stage
05:20 Guest Introduction: Jeff Worrell
07:07 All About Carmel, Indiana
14:15 Building Community & Connection
17:36 Isolation, Fear, and Neighborly Issues
18:48 The Value of Disagreement
21:20 Courage, Empathy & Covenant Friendships
23:36 Techniques for Difficult Conversations
26:01 Listening, Pivoting, and Respect
29:00 Defining Civility & Handling Critiques
31:32 Civility is Not Weakness
34:08 Why People Retreat From Conversation
37:20 Navigating Disappointment & Speaking Boldly
40:12 Responding to Uncivil Politics
43:03 The Birth of Project Civility
46:39 The Civility Summit & Spreading the Message
48:23 How to Get Involved & Final Thoughts
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Hosts Adam Binkerd and Erika Crabtree open season three of Leading Adam with a deeply personal conversation with Chris Spangle—director of digital content at IBJ, former Bob & Tom digital lead, and longtime host of The Chris Spangle Show. Spangle shares his journey from early success in radio and podcasting to a season of loss, depression, and faith that reshaped his life. He talks candidly about therapy, breaking unhealthy cycles, and choosing family over workaholism. A podcast editor, co-host of The Patdown and featured juror on BET’s Ms. Pat Settles It, he shares where he thinks media is heading. This episode sets the tone for a season focused on “leading inward,” exploring grit, resilience, and the quiet work of building an “ordered life” brick by brick. Follow him on YouTube here: @ChrisSpangleShow
https://youtu.be/S0LA9jqS7v0
Please support our work now on Patreon or Substack at Chris-Spangle.com.
00:00 Intro & New Season Kickoff
01:07 New Set, New Energy
02:04 Introducing Chris Spangle
05:56 Why Chris? Production & Connection
08:30 Season 3: Leading Inward
13:01 Chris's Journey: Podcasting & Growth
20:53 The Granular Skills That Built a Career
24:53 Getting Personal: Lessons from Childhood
31:31 Finding Grit in Insecurity
38:56 Faith, Recovery, and Second Chances
44:52 Formulas for Values & the Ordered Life
50:59 Balance, Vocational Choices & Family
01:00:10 Building Community & The Future of Relationships
01:13:02 Parenting, Role Models & Generational Growth
01:18:10 Authenticity, Judgment, and Social Barriers
01:21:31 Lessons Learned & Season Wrap-up
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
What are natural rights, and how do they differ from legal rights? In this episode of Foundations of Liberty on The Chris Spangle Show, Chris breaks down core Libertarian principles on rights, freedom, and government power. Learn about natural rights, legal rights, negative vs. positive rights, property rights, and why Libertarians argue that rights come from our nature—not the state. This deep dive explores thinkers like John Locke, Cicero, and Thomas Aquinas, plus key moments in history that shaped America’s founding ideas of liberty and self-government.
https://youtu.be/ZaxSF5tooL8
Please support our work now on Patreon or Substack at Chris-Spangle.com.
00:00 Penn and Meade: The Trial for Religious Freedom
01:12 Bushel's Case and Jury Independence
01:47 Do Rights Come From Government?
02:52 Foundations of Liberty: Introducing Rights
03:43 Natural Rights vs. Legal Rights Explained
04:45 Brief History of Natural Rights
06:48 Examples of Natural Rights in Daily Life
07:03 What Are Legal Rights?
09:41 How Rights Philosophies Evolved
11:12 Natural Rights in Ancient and Medieval Times
13:24 Magna Carta, the Crown, and Pre-Existing Rights
14:53 Enlightenment Thinkers and the Spread of Natural Rights
15:54 Property, Assembly, and Libertarian Principles
17:12 Natural Rights Aren't Handed Out—They're Inherent
18:03 Positive vs. Negative Rights
19:31 Negative Rights: The Libertarian Standard
21:10 Trade-offs and the Limits of Government Intervention
22:28 Why Libertarians Prioritize Natural & Negative Rights
25:36 Limiting Power: Sphere Sovereignty and Social Checks
27:02 Government, Morality, and Personal Autonomy
28:34 Government Dependency vs. Private Solutions
29:52 Why Rights Matter in a Free Society
31:02 Rights as Fundamentals of U.S. Society
32:22 Learning from History: Rights, Stories, and Systems
32:56 Modern Challenges and Demanding Your Rights
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Agustina Vergara Cid, a former immigrant from Argentina and now a U.S. citizen, joins host Chris Spangle to share her powerful story of becoming American. She describes her July 3 naturalization ceremony, the emotional oath of allegiance, and why she has dreamed of America since childhood. Agustina explains how growing up in Argentina shaped her views on freedom, individualism, and government, and why she believes America’s founding values are still worth defending. This conversation offers a unique immigrant perspective on citizenship, immigration policy, and what makes the United States different.
https://youtu.be/9aaLDBkw6B0
Please support our work now on Patreon or Substack at Chris-Spangle.com.
Despite anti-immigrant narratives, Americans still embrace immigrants - https://www.ocregister.com/2025/07/28/despite-anti-immigrant-narratives-americans-still-embrace-immigrants/?share=niagim2rshrngirsieop
The Immorality of the U.S. Immigration System - https://youtu.be/1VOzKYDDkow
Immigration Enforcement and the Betrayal of Due Process - https://youtu.be/mkOadbwUP5s
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Chris Spangle launches a new series exploring the foundational ideas behind libertarianism. In this episode, he outlines eight core principles—individualism, individual rights, spontaneous order, limited government, free markets, the virtue of production, the natural harmony of interests, and peace. Chris reflects on how these ideas shape a free society and wrestles with the tensions between liberty, the common good, and his Christian worldview.
Please support our work now on Patreon or Substack at Chris-Spangle.com.
https://youtu.be/K8VX7BW4UvY
00:00 Welcome & Series Overview
01:00 Chris Spangle's Background & Purpose
03:00 Why Libertarian Philosophy Matters
07:00 Rediscovering the Basics of Libertarianism
09:00 Core Ideas: Individualism Explained
13:00 Individual Rights & Natural Rights
17:00 Spontaneous Order & Hayek's Insight
19:00 Limited Government & Checks on Power
22:00 Free Markets: Voluntary Exchange & Prosperity
23:30 The Virtue of Production & Property Rights
24:30 Harmony of Interests: Cooperation over Conflict
25:30 The Importance of Peace
27:30 The Power and Impact of These Principles
29:00 No Perfect Ideology: Wrestling with Libertarianism
31:00 Conclusion & Call to Engagement
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Chris Spangle returns to share why he’s been away and what’s next for the show. He opens up about fatherhood, intellectual shifts since the pandemic, and his desire to rethink libertarianism and faith in public. Chris also introduces two upcoming themes: the Foundations of Liberty series and reflections on personal formation.
https://youtu.be/9OIPaHHnrjU
Please support our work now on Patreon or Substack at Chris-Spangle.com.
00:00 Show Returns & Life Update
02:00 Coping with Change & New Beginnings
04:00 Reflecting on Growth & Regrets
06:30 Speaking Up vs. Staying Quiet
09:00 Political Disillusionment and Evolving Beliefs
11:30 A New Direction for the Show
14:00 Exploring Foundations of Liberty
17:00 Faith, Family, and Personal Growth
19:30 Balancing Ambition and Family
21:00 Two Core Themes: Society & The Individual
22:30 Plans for Future Episodes & Listener Involvement
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
I was honored to (and surprised) to be asked as a guest on Jacob Winograd's show The LCI Green Room over at the Libertarian Christian Institute to talk about the “Grill Pill”—a mindset that’s all about stepping back from the chaos of national politics to focus on what really matters: faith, family, community, and yes, sometimes literally grilling. He and I unpack the emotional toll of constant political engagement, why many of us are disillusioned with activism, and how to reorder our lives around what God has actually called us to. We talk about libertarianism, Christian cultural engagement, and the dangers of making politics an idol. This one’s honest, raw, and full of hard-won wisdom. Hope it helps you recalibrate.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices -
Senior policy analyst James Czerniawski of Americans for Prosperity joins The Chris Spangle Show to break down the Spectrum Pipeline Act of 2025 and why it’s crucial for America’s digital future. From unlicensed spectrum access for startups to restoring FCC auction authority, Czerniawski explains how wireless innovation impacts everyday life—and why keeping pace with China matters.
https://youtu.be/Kujolbpm9W4
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices - Visa fler
