Biden's Final Insult to Our Intelligence

Plus: A listener asks the editors about the libertarian position on doctor-assisted suicide.

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Biden's Final Insult to Our Intelligence

In this week's The Reason Roundtable, editors Matt Welch, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Nick Gillespie, and Peter Suderman react to President Joe Biden's blanket pardon of his son Hunter Biden and President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of Kash Patel for the role of FBI Director.

04:47—President Joe Biden pardons Hunter Biden
23:14—Kash Patel nominated to lead the FBI
38:13—Weekly listener question
47:33—This week's cultural recommendations

Mentioned in this podcast:

"Joe Pardons Hunter," by Robby Soave
"Comparing Trump's Pardon of Arpaio and Biden's Pardon of Biden," by Josh Blackman
"Can the Just-Pardoned Hunter Biden Claim Privilege Against Self-Incrimination, if Questioned About His Crimes?" by Eugene Volokh
"Trump Pardons 26 More, Including Paul Manafort and Roger Stone," by C.J. Ciaramella
"Trump's Pattern of Self-Serving Pardons Continues," by Jonathan H. Adler
"Ross Ulbricht Is Serving a Double Life Sentence," by Katherine Mangu-Ward
"The Most Important Trial in America," by Nick Gillespie
"Did Silk Road Creator Ross Ulbricht Deserve Life in Prison? Deep Web Director Alex Winter Speaks," by Zach Weissmueller
"Silk Road Trial: Read Ross Ulbricht's Haunting Sentencing Letter to Judge," by Nick Gillespie
"How Government Stifled Reason's Free Speech," by Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch
"They Lied," by Peter Suderman
"Everyone Knows Government Is a Hot Mess. So Why Does It Keep Getting Bigger Anyway?" by Nick Gillespie
"The Death of Obama's 'Noble Lie,'" by Matt Welch
"Two Years To Slow the Spread," by Matt Welch
"When Biden's 'Bubble Wrap' Burst," by Matt Welch
"Some Canadian Health Care Patients Say They're Being Encouraged To Just Die Already," by Scott Shackford
"Who Decides How You Die? Inside Montana's Assisted Suicide Fight," by Zach Weissmueller
"A Good Death?" by Jacob Sullum
"Camus at 100: Rock On!" by Nick Gillespie
"Review: Elvis," by Kurt Loder

Upcoming Events:
Reason Versus debate, December 18, 2024

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

Today's sponsors:

• In an election year, getting overwhelmed by the constant buzz of news and opinions is easy. Understanding the true impact of political events can be a challenge. Not Another Politics Podcast, from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy, provides clear, research-driven perspectives on the biggest issues. Get the insights you need to truly understand the political landscape—no spin, just facts. Subscribe today at harris.uchicago.edu/napp or look for Not Another Politics Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

Audio production by Ian Keyser
Assistant production by Hunt Beaty
Music: "Angeline," by The Brothers Steve

• Video Editor: Ian Keyser
• Producer: Hunt Beaty

What are we consuming this week?

Nick Gillespie

• Wicked

Peter Suderman

• Wicked

Katherine Mangu-Ward

• The Stranger by Albert Camus
• The Meursault Investigation: A Novel by Kamel Daoud

Matt Welch

• Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley

---

Comments

[Dillinger]

>>doctor assisted suicide.

the verb violates the nap.

[BYODB]

Suicide is...pretty easy though isn't it? What kind of 'assistance' are we talking about here?

One thing I could see doing away with are laws that make suicide illegal, but last I checked those laws don't do much good if you actually succeed.

[Gaear Grimsrud]

As with all things suicide requires government permission and the involvement of experts.

[JasonT20]

Suicide is...pretty easy though isn't it?

If it was really as easy as you'd think, then people would rarely fail. Instead, the opposite seems true. Just under 50,000 people died by suicide in 2022, from what I could find. But estimates of the number of people that attempt suicide each year are over 1 million. This looks to be mostly determined through surveys, and they probably try and corroborate the survey results with other data, but even if off by a factor of 10, that still leaves a lot of people failing.

Obviously, no one, especially not doctors, should ever help someone kill themselves if they don't have a terminal illness. So, assisted suicide is a separate issue from suicidal ideation in people not suffering from a terminal disease. But the fact that so many people fail goes to show that being sure that one succeeds, and that they don't leave a mess behind that is traumatic for anyone to see is not that easy.

I can see letting someone facing a horrible, slow, painful death choosing to end their life in a manner that minimizes the pain, the cost of potentially months of care, and the burdens. I'm not committed to that as a policy position, though. There still a lot to think about and consider.

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

^ This is the lefty shit who's down with government murder of protestors:

JasonT20
February.6.2022 at 6:02 pm
“How many officers were there to stop Ashlee Babbitt and the dozens of people behind her from getting into the legislative chamber to do who knows what?...”

Fuck off and die, asshole.

[Alberto Balsalm]

Right on queue, Mr Sevo is here to tell us all the proper way to kill ourselves. Predictable AF

[Fire up the Woodchippers! (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

I’m normally against government funded programs, but I fully support an assisted suicide program for democrats that are despondent over Trump’s recent victory. We should do everything we can to help those poor soulless creatures find eternal rest.

And help as many as possible.

[n00bdragon]

I can see letting someone facing a horrible, slow, painful death choosing to end their life in a manner that minimizes the pain, the cost of potentially months of care, and the burdens.

There are numerous ways to do this already. If you are really committed to it, you can find out how to 100% end your life with no chance of failure. That some people are bad at it, or not sufficiently committed to it, is not a reason to turn killing people into a """medical""" treatment.

[Zipcreature]

Lots of people have car crashes.

Idiots still allowed to drive.

[Vernon Depner]

pretty easy though isn't it?

Yes, if you're healthy. But those who want or need it are usually very ill or very nuts, and then, it can be difficult or impossible for them.

[Zipcreature]

^ This.
Guy this summer I was friends with; inoperable brain cancer. There’s no way he could have done anything - could barely lift his hands towards the end as he wasted away in front of me.
Someone could have helped him (if he wanted).

[Gaear Grimsrud]

Biden's Final Insult to Our Intelligence
Is that the intelligence you displayed when you strategically but reluctantly endorsed him or is this some new found intelligence?

[JesseAz (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

Luckily sarc spent all morning, along with SRG and Jeff, showing they didn't have any intelligence to insult.

[Don't look at me!]

Biden's Final Insult to Our Intelligence

It ain’t over till it’s over. There’s plenty more where that one came from.

[ravenshrike]

Yup. Personally I'm expecting blanket pardons for himself and the rest of his family, along with anybody involved who didn't jump ship to the Kamala camp, at the last minute. The only reason this one came out early is because of the ongoing litigation.

[Zipcreature]

Agreed.

[JohnZ]

How soon before Biden gives Zelly the okie-dokie to use nukes against Russia?
Will Joe pardon Jeffrey Dahmer next?

[Uomo Del Ghiaccio]

Absolutely disgusting and revolting. It further cements Joe Biden as one of the very worst Presidents in the history of the United States.
Even though Hunter was pardoned, the crimes should be exposed and because of the pardon should be pursued more aggressively.

[(Good Riddance Robert L. Peters) Weigel's Cock Ring]

Only seven more weeks until this family of slimy, corrupt scumbags is blessedly, mercifully our of American life forever.

By the way, if anyone in the House is reading this, there's still enough time for you to impeach his ass!

[JasonT20]

Only seven more weeks until this family of slimy, corrupt scumbags is blessedly, mercifully our of American life forever.

The only thing better would be if the same could be said of the Trumps. Instead, we have seven weeks and 4 years more of the Trump Show.

[Don't look at me!]

It hope it drives you insane.

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

^ This is the lefty shit-pile who's down with government murder of protestors:

JasonT20
February.6.2022 at 6:02 pm
“How many officers were there to stop Ashlee Babbitt and the dozens of people behind her from getting into the legislative chamber to do who knows what?...”

Fuck off and die, asshole.

[Fire up the Woodchippers! (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

Trump was, and will be, a good president. You just hate him.

[R Mac]

Non-listener question: any of you fucking retards going to address the specific beginning date of the pardon and how stupid it makes you look?

[keith-otis-edwards]

If the law Hunter Biden violated, specifically ATF form 4473, subsection f, were applied and enforced uniformly and equitably, 83% of the citizens of Southern Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Missouri, Florida, and 98.7% of the citizens of West Virginia, plus all friends and relatives of J D Vance, Matt Gaetz, Pete Hegseth, and 99% of Libertarians would be wearing striped uniforms while breaking large rocks into small rocks.

[Don't look at me!]

Cite?

[R Mac]

BUT DRUMPH!

[JesseAz (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

Cite? Difficulty, no Maddow.

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

Seek help for your TDS. Or die from it, which is preferred.

[Zipcreature]

Are, are you…pouncing?
*Squints in Futurama*

[Fire up the Woodchippers! (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

Hahaha!!!!!! No………

Is this from some democrat fan fiction you’re writing?

[DesigNate]

Libertarians are just Republicans that smoke pot hurr durr.

[LIBtranslator]

That was a Reagan campaign slogan, uh hilk, uh hilk

[Peter Kreeft taught me LOGIC, BEWARE !!!!!!!]

I can tell you are not a lawyer or even a thinking person. All the wiggle room is in your words "Uniformlyl" and "equitably" -- but that fails immediately since there is only one of these people who is the son of a President and same fo 'equitably'. Doesn't being a coke-using prostitute-habituee and purveyor of government favors separate him from Wally Bimpentoad , son of lower west Pleasent Valley land surveryor.

[ravenshrike]

The pardon has jack fucking all to do with the 4473 and tax violations. Hunter is already a felon, so he could have pled guilty and had his daddy immediately commute them or only pardon them. Hell, he could have just pardoned his son for any tax violations, gun crimes, and drug crimes of the last 10 years. The blanket pardon for ANY AND ALL federal crimes committed over a 10 year period starting from the Year Hunter was appointed to Burisma is no coincidence. Expect to see more pardons involving the Biden circle the closer to Jan 20th we get.

[Fire up the Woodchippers! (5-30 Banana Republic Day)]

Joe Biden effectively pardoned himself.

[Vernon Depner]

And the entire Biden Crime Family.

[Bruce D]

No. Since Hunter has no more legal liability, he cannot incriminate himself. Therefore, he has no grounds to plead self-incrimination, i.e. the 5th, to avoid testifying against daddy Joe.

[Peter Kreeft taught me LOGIC, BEWARE !!!!!!!]

Still somewhere in the spreading ripple of blame in the Biden crme pond someone will see that volunteering info will be the best mover for them personally. Seems usually to happen where many have any involvement with a crime. I should talk or maybe I will be killed. Or maybe I risk being killed no matter what, so let me to the right thing.
We'll see...It does happen in govt agencies. Lois Lerner so disgusted many IRS folk that they took early retirement or just left.

[Rick James]

So once again, the Beltway Libertarian Position is: Agree to disagree, keep letting the state suggest nicely push people into killing themselves but quietly grumble in the background about Socialized Medicine and the massive horizon to horizon, bottom-of-the-ocean-to-the-edge-of-the-solar-system welfare system that will never be dismantled ever.

[Sevo, 5-30-24, embarrassment]

Once Reason opened the DC office, there was no hope. The swamp was there, Welsh and others went there. They are TDS-addled swamp-critter, steaming piles of shit

[LIBtranslator]

"There's as much chance of repealing the 18th Amendment as there is for a hummingbird to fly to Mars with the Washington Monument tied to its tail." --Texas Senator Morris Sheppard, author of the Eighteenth Amendment before Liberal Party spoiler votes, the Crash, bullying of Germany, banking panics and Great Depression. Quiz: Who had said "they'll never pass an income tax. The Senate won't allow it."

[Peter Kreeft taught me LOGIC, BEWARE !!!!!!!]

A lazy and stupid liar BUT he has been like this for at least 40 years.

[docduracoat]

There May be a silver lining to this pardon.
Hunter is now immunized against prosecution and cannot claim the fifth amendment during questioning.
Grand juries, special prosecutors, and district attorneys investigating the Biden family can compel testimony.
Refusal/lying/false claims of faulty memory can be prosecuted as perjury.
New cries the pardon does not cover.
He can also be prosecuted in state courts as presidential pardons do not matter in state courts

[JohnZ]

Goodbye and good riddance to the Biden clan.
I cherish the idea that ole Joe will be spending his last days as a burned out, brain dead husk with no more self awareness than a parsnip.

[Flaco]

At 33:10 Nick says "When the Berlin wall came down it did not fix anything in Eastern Europe."

WHAT?

[Peter Kreeft taught me LOGIC, BEWARE !!!!!!!]

THis is someone trying to escape thinking by using the word 'fix' -- as if the actual event itself were of no value. I was there. It was world news and the unexpectedness of it alone inspired great hope in many, many people

[Jokibif0]

I think Katherine's confusing Vanna White/Wheel of Fortune with Carol Merrill/Let's Make a Deal. Of course, she may be too young to know about Carol Merrill.

[DaveH]

I agree with Katherine's assertion that the right to suicide is one of the absolutes. From there, the discussion (from all present) trended into a right to *assisted* suicide, which is by no means the same question.

Clarity would have been helpful.

[Peter Kreeft taught me LOGIC, BEWARE !!!!!!!]

SO you agree. You are also wrong.
You lack all clarity. Do you deny the facts
1) Many suicides are precipitated by intimates of the suicide.
2) Bothched suicides often leave the suicide unable to even communicate.
3) The major harm (and I have known about 3 suicides personally) is the crushing distortion it imposes on survivors.

[John W Berresford]

This might be of interest re assisted suicide. https://www.becker-posner-blog.com/2012/02/physician-assisted-suicideposner.html?cid=6a00d8341c031153ef0168e6f8bae6970c#comment-6a00d8341c031153ef0168e6f8bae6970c

[LIBtranslator]

Nixon boarded a plane to leave Dallas as Parkland doctors sent for priests. JFK is known to all but Ford to have been shot by at least two riflemen in a roughly horizontal plane--NOT from 60 feet up. The Watergate mess and Warren Commissioner Ford's pardon served as insurance against some sort of technology--like the internet--blowing the lid off the fairytale that Oswald was shooting anyond but Connally. Even if proof had emerged that Nixon ordered the hit, then split, Ford's pardon was securely in place as the permanent goalie.

[Peter Kreeft taught me LOGIC, BEWARE !!!!!!!]

I've followed Biden for 40 of his 50 years in public. He is : a stupid man, a lazy man, and he can't express himself.

I only marvel at how anybody can not see this.
So "they" hid his decline for 4 years. But he declined from being stupid and lazy to begin with .,That is the puzzle. When he said Trump handled the Covid thing badly did anyone remember???

"“It is purely a fortuity that this isn’t one of the great mass casualty events in American history,” Ron Klain, who was Biden’s chief of staff at the time, said of H1N1 in 2019. “It had nothing to do with us doing anything right. It just had to do with luck. If anyone thinks that this can’t happen again, they don’t have to go back to 1918, they just have to go back to 2009, 2010 and imagine a virus with a different lethality, and you can just do the math on that.”"