Patrick Deneen, a political philosopher at Notre Dame, says yes. He was a Democrat for years, and has now come to be seen as an “ideological guru” of the Trump administration. But that only tells half the story …
- SOURCES:
- Patrick Deneen, professor of political science at the University of Notre Dame.
- RESOURCES:
- “The Ideological Gurus Battling for the Soul of Trump World,” by Joshua Chaffin and Zusha Elinson (Wall Street Journal, 2025).
- “Why the MAGA-DOGE coalition will hold,” by Patrick Deneen (UnHerd, 2025).
- “‘I Don’t Want to Violently Overthrow the Government. I Want Something Far More Revolutionary,’” by Ian Ward (POLITICO, 2023).
- Regime Change: Toward a Postliberal Future, by Patrick Deneen (2023).
- Why Liberalism Failed, by Patrick Deneen (2018).
- EXTRAS:
- “In Search of the Real Adam Smith,” series by Freakonomics Radio (2022).

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Aisle upon aisle of fresh produce, cheap meat, and sugary cereal — a delicious embodiment of free-market capitalism, right? Not quite. The supermarket was in fact the endpoint of the U.S. government’s battle for agricultural…
428. The Simple Economics of Saving the Amazon Rain Forest
Everyone agrees that massive deforestation is an environmental disaster. But most of the standard solutions — scolding the Brazilians, invoking universal morality — ignore the one solution that might actually work
427. The Pros and Cons of Reparations
Most Americans agree that racial discrimination has been, and remains, a big problem. But that is where the agreement ends.
426. Should America (and FIFA) Pay Reparations?
The racial wealth gap in the U.S. is massive. We explore the causes, consequences, and potential solutions. Also: another story of discrimination and economic disparity, this one perpetrated by an international sporting authority. The first…
425. Remembrance of Economic Crises Past
Christina Romer was a top White House economist during the Great Recession. As a researcher, she specializes in the Great Depression. She tells us what those disasters can (and can’t) teach us about the Covid…
424. How to Make Your Own Luck
Before she decided to become a poker pro, Maria Konnikova didn’t know how many cards are in a deck. But she did have a Ph.D. in psychology, a brilliant coach, and a burning desire to…
423. The Doctor Will Zoom You Now
Thanks to the pandemic, the telehealth revolution we’ve been promised for decades has finally arrived. Will it stick? Will it cut costs — and improve outcomes? We ring up two doctors and, of course, an…
422. Introducing “No Stupid Questions”
In this new addition to the Freakonomics Radio Network, co-hosts Stephen Dubner and Angela Duckworth discuss the relationship between age and happiness. Also: does all creativity come from pain? New episodes of “No Stupid Questions”…
421. How to Prevent Another Great Depression
Millions and millions are out of work, with some jobs never coming back. We speak with four economists — and one former presidential candidate — about the best policy options and the lessons (good and…
420. Which Jobs Will Come Back, and When?
Covid-19 is the biggest job killer in a century. As the lockdown eases, what does re-employment look like? Who will be first and who last? Which sectors will surge and which will disappear? Welcome to…