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Freed Up

Freed Up is a break from the joyless churn of doomscrolling—a lighthearted libertarian podcast from Reason for people who still like to laugh. Each week, cohosts Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi riff on whatever made them laugh, cringe, or roll their eyes, from politics and media freakouts to pop culture and internet absurdities. They roast politicians, mock each other, and occasionally stumble into real debates about the issues that actually matter—like why your favorite Star Wars show is bad, whether the Holy Roman Empire gets an unfair rap, and how everything somehow became political. Freed Up is smart, unserious, and happily unhinged.

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Yesterday · 1 hr 13 min
Jensen Huang, Russell Brand, and Left Libertarians
This week on Freed Up, Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi break down now-former Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's affairs—both with a subordinate and an alleged Chinese spy—which ultimately led to his resignation this morning, hours before Reuters reported that he had an intimate relationship with another employee. Next, they condemn a Maryland activist who blocked a data center from being built in Prince George's County. They then dissect Russell Brand's conviction for rape and sexual assault before pivoting to a lengthy discussion on left libertarianism. 0:00—Huang got honeypotted. 10:19—Malapropisms 12:40—Beautiful women are dangerous. 14:52—What are you at risk of being honeypotted for? 16:32—Mrs. Huang did nothing wrong. 21:55—Maryland activist blocks a data center from being built. 25:45—Christian's contrarian take 34:38—CEOs begin to pivot toward the left. 38:19—Brand is going to prison. 50:20—Did Robby and Christian hang out last weekend? 51:55—Left libertarianism 1:02:10—Which political party should libertarians ally themselves with? 1:06:25—Robby and Christian brag about their knowledge of history. 1:09:00—The Godfather is an anti-immigrant movie. The post Jensen Huang, Russell Brand, and Left Libertarians appeared first on Reason Magazine.
November 5 · 1 hr 10 min
Midterms Massacre, Woke 2.0, Fan Fiction
This week on Freed Up, Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi conduct a postmortem on the 2026 midterm elections and react to how various members of the GOP have responded to the blowout, Vice President J.D. Vance in particular. Next, the boys consider whether these results suggest a vibe shift (Woke 2.0?) before pivoting to cultural commentary, with Christian offering a full-throated recommendation for The Death of Stalin (2017). If you enjoy Freed Up, come watch Robby debate at our upcoming Reason Versus in Washington, D.C. Tickets are available here. 0:00—2026 midterms postmortem 10:05—Vance blames the Iran war for the Republican wipeout. 15:36—Robby's fantasy novel 19:44—Where do Democrats go from here? 26:37—Electoral demographics 31:28—Ballot initiatives 37:15—Our system is not working for young people. 41:08—They/them pronouns and Woke 2.0 46:26—Kalshi vs. Nate Silver 49:30—The Three Musketeers 51:53—Christian loves The Death of Stalin (2017). 1:04:51—Robby is going to Taiwan and Japan. 1:06:20—Fan fiction The post Midterms Massacre, Woke 2.0, Fan Fiction appeared first on Reason Magazine.
October 29 · 1 hr 6 min
You Can See Everything, Halloween Costumes, Mary Peltola
On this week's episode of Freed Up, Robby "Lestat" Soave and Christian "Lizard" Britschgi sport their Halloween costumes while reviewing Nathan Fielder's buzzy new documentary, You Can See Everything. During their discussion, they analyze the psyche of Elizabeth Holmes as well as the differences between documentaries and biographical dramas, and Christian gets an opportunity to defend his written critique of the film. Next, the boys shift gears and unpack reports that Mary Peltola's Senate campaign in Alaska helped recruit a second "Dan Sullivan" to confuse voters who meant to support the incumbent, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R–Alaska). 0:00—Halloween costumes 4:58—Robby and Christian review You Can See Everything 9:05—The ethical dilemmas in You Can See Everything 16:00—Elizabeth Holmes is still a liar 30:00—The Dropout vs. You Can See Everything 42:24—Mary Peltola's dirty tactics come to light. 54:06—Freed Up live for the 2026 midterm elections If you enjoy Freed Up, come watch Robby debate at our upcoming Reason Versus event in Washington, D.C. Tickets are available here. The post You Can See Everything, Halloween Costumes, Mary Peltola appeared first on Reason Magazine.
October 22 · 1 hr 27 min
Vivek Ramaswamy, Elizabeth Holmes, and Jesus
On this week's episode of Freed Up, Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi condemn Vivek Ramaswamy's new attack ad against opponent Amy Acton before discussing their predictions for the 2026 midterm elections. Next, the boys get biblical with references to their favorite parables as they discuss Tyler Cowen's latest article on why he thinks Elizabeth Holmes—and most other non-violent female criminals—should not be in prison. The episode wraps with a thoughtful discussion on aging, state attorneys general, and the latest Meta settlement. 00:00—Vivek Ramaswamy ad controversy 20:00—2026 midterm elections 25:50—Should Elizabeth Holmes be in prison? 49:20—Getting older 58:55—An update on Rep. Ilhan Omar 1:03:10—The importance of grain 1:06:14—Robby and Christian extol author Michael Crichton 1:11:30—The war in Ukraine should end. 1:14:50—Meta settled with the state of New Mexico 1:20:00— Christian continues his crusade against state attorneys general. If you enjoy Freed Up, come watch Robby debate at our upcoming Reason Versus in D.C. Tickets are available here. The post Vivek Ramaswamy, Elizabeth Holmes, and Jesus appeared first on Reason Magazine.
October 15 · 1 hr 23 min
Ilhan Omar vs. DHS, Russia vs. Ukraine, Shane Gillis vs. Women
This week, Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi discuss the federal government's raid of Rep. Ilhan Omar's Washington, D.C., residence and question the temporary pause of U.S. intelligence support to Ukraine. Next, the boys exchange mishaps—Robby lost his phone, and Christian had a bad experience at a local restaurant—before decrying the Pentagon's idea to livestream the execution of the Fort Hood shooter. Next, Christian gives a rave review for the new movie Primetime, and Robby shares a positive reaction to Greta Gerwig's first trailer for The Magician's Nephew. Finally, they wrap with some cultural commentary, striving to answer the age-old question of whether or not women dress like "whores" at the gym. 0:00—The politicized raid on Omar 12:40—U.S.-Ukraine dynamics 26:55—Do not lose your phone. 39:10—Christian might leave a two-star restaurant review. 46:00—Livestreaming the Fort Hood shooter's execution was a grotesque idea. 53:20—Christian wholeheartedly recommends Primetime. 1:02:40—Robby enjoyed the trailer for The Magician's Nephew. 1:10:10—Shane Gillis' Saturday Night Live monologue The post Ilhan Omar vs. DHS, Russia vs. Ukraine, Shane Gillis vs. Women appeared first on Reason Magazine.
October 8 · 1 hr 24 min
Russian Plague, Superintelligence, and Tucker Carlson
This week on Freed Up, Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi tackle the possibility of another global pandemic—this time from Russia—as well as debates over whether or not superintelligence is sentient. They then turn to Tucker Carlson's growing historical illiteracy and wrap with the simple pleasures of autumn. 0:00—Russian plague 12:21—Debates over sentience in superintelligence 25:15—Glenn Greenwald's comments on anonymity in the Cornell 7 lawsuit 34:43—Christian wants to abolish state AGs. 40:15—Meryl Streep as Aslan in Greta Gerwig's Narnia reboot 50:00—Corrupt Kimberly Guilfoyle 55:55—Tucker Carlson's interview with Jacob Rees-Mogg 1:09:45—2026 Senate race 1:16:28—The season of autumn The post Russian Plague, Superintelligence, and Tucker Carlson appeared first on Reason Magazine.
October 5 · 42 min
Whistleblower Frances Haugen Trashes Facebook's Flawed Fact-Checkers
Robby Soave interviews Frances Haugen five years after she disclosed the Facebook Papers, just as her story is about to be dramatized in Aaron Sorkin's upcoming film The Social Reckoning. Haugen argues that the problem with social media isn't simply bad content, but platform design choices that reward virality, compulsive engagement, and algorithmic recommendations, and she claims that design-based fixes can often reduce harm without requiring censorship. She also discusses her concerns about children's safety, foreign influence operations, political misinformation, and Facebook's role in recommending extreme content; at the same time, she pushes back on sweeping bans on social media for minors. Soave presses her on free speech, parental responsibility, Section 230, and whether platforms should really be responsible for preventing users from organizing around false or extreme beliefs. The conversation ends with Haugen reflecting on The Social Reckoning and arguing for greater transparency into how platforms rank and recommend content so users and the public can better understand the systems shaping their online lives. The post Whistleblower Frances Haugen Trashes Facebook's Flawed Fact-Checkers appeared first on Reason Magazine.
October 1 · 1 hr 16 min
Cornell Lawsuit, Data After Dark, Botched Execution
This week on Freed Up, Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi unpack the Cornell rape case before talking about their experience at the Data After Dark party. They also talk about Reason's upcoming documentary Escaping Venezuela before discussing how unserious Congress is. Later, the crew digs into the wild story of a co-pilot who allegedly tried to hijack a plane. They also cover the botched execution attempt in Tennessee. They wrap things up with a discussion of the documentaries Mr. Death and Tabloid. 0:00—The bizarreness of the Cornell rape case 26:40—Data After Dark party 37:19—Escaping Venezuela first look 43:15—Humor in novels and TV 46:00—Sen. Eric Schmitt's (R–Mo.) gaffe during the Jack Smith hearing 52:12—Christian is reading Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution 58:14—Attempted hijacking on Flydubai 1:03:08—Tennessee's botched execution 1:10:20—The documentaries Mr. Death and Tabloid The post Cornell Lawsuit, Data After Dark, Botched Execution appeared first on Reason Magazine.
September 24 · 1 hr 14 min
Feeding Chameleons, Lesbian Bars, and Fight Club
This week on Freed Up, Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi break down former Rep. Mary Peltola's (D–Alaska) latest scandal, the bizarre COVID-conscious lesbian bar story, and the week's biggest culture war debates—from libertarianism and race-conscious admissions to school choice, cult classic movies, and America's prison system. 0:00—Would you feed your boss's chameleon? 11:51—The viral COVID-conscious lesbian bar 20:05—The death of libertarianism? 31:36—Anti-white racism in medical school admissions 35:12—Nikole Hannah-Jones missed the whole point of school choice 42:40—Does Fight Club stand the test of time? 58:00—The Matrix 1:07:40—The history of U.S. prisons The post Feeding Chameleons, Lesbian Bars, and Fight Club appeared first on Reason Magazine.
September 18 · 1 hr 22 min
Is Effective Altruism Really a Doom Cult?
This week on Freed Up, Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi have a lot to say about effective altruists who think we are all doomed. They also make the case for Sydney Sweeney fandom, dig into the Texas football photo that set off fights on the right, and explain why Claire Valdez managed to make them mad too. Later, they react to Hasan Piker's comments on al-Qaeda. Christian closes things out by returning once again to Frasier and The Office. 0:00—We have a lot to say about effective altruism 32:55— We are Sydney Sweeney fans 37:10— The football photo that launched a thousand fights on the right 52:24— Claire Valdez makes us mad too (plus Robby's bane impression of the week) 1:00:30— Hasan Piker's comments on al-Qaeda 1:07:43— Christian's watching Frasier again The post Is Effective Altruism Really a Doom Cult? appeared first on Reason Magazine.
September 10 · 1 hr 29 min
Trump's Bribe, AI Doom Psyop, and the Rapture
Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi kick things off with President Donald Trump's way-too-long Republican midterm convention speech before debating whether stay-at-home moms should get paid to stay home. Then, Robby picks a fight with car insurance; the guys ask whether AI is going to kill us all, and they reflect on where they were on September 11, 2001. They end the show by getting excited about the remake of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and revisit Jennifer Lawrence's character in No Hard Feelings. Finally, they close with a Rapture-themed detour through The Leftovers. 0:00—Trump's speech could have been an email. 11:15—Should moms be paid to stay at home? 25:43—Robby starts beef with car insurance. 33:28—Is AI going to kill us all? 54:32—Where were Robby and Christian on 9/11? 1:08:51—The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time remake 1:16:55—No Hard Feelings 1:22:18—The Rapture and The Leftovers The post Trump's Bribe, AI Doom Psyop, and the Rapture appeared first on Reason Magazine.
September 3 · 1 hr 17 min
Lindsay Clancy, Heehaw the Donkey, and New Magneto Origins
This week on Freed Up, Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi kick things off with the latest in the Lindsay Clancy trial and where the jury stands. Then we dig into a Virginia case involving a mom who received a six-month suspended jail sentence after letting her 5-year-old walk to a nearby pond. We also say goodbye to Heehaw the donkey, talk about President Donald Trump's rallying cry to "let data reign," and come up with some better origin stories for Magneto. Later, we talk about Milo Yiannopoulos getting deported and wrap up with a bigger question facing schools and families: Should students be allowed to use AI? 0:00—Lindsay Clancy jury can't decide. 11:01—Virginia mom's suspended jail sentence 19:38—RIP Heehaw the donkey. 27:10—"Let data reign." 34:42—Better origin stories for Magneto 43:12—Milo got deported. 52:06—Tom Hardy rap album 1:01:41—Should students be able to use AI? The post Lindsay Clancy, Heehaw the Donkey, and New Magneto Origins appeared first on Reason Magazine.
August 27 · 1 hr 13 min
Gavin Newsom Admits He Might Keep Tariffs?
This week on Freed Up, Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi regrettably cover California Gov. Gavin Newsom's surprising economic instincts and the latest moral panics over data centers, kids on social media, video games, and online harm. Then Robby talks about his scooter accident. Later, they remember Dolly Parton as one of the rare American heroes almost everyone liked, and they celebrate the great Tim Curry by talking about his unforgettable movies. Plus: AI-generated articles in The Wall Street Journal, the end of summer, and the national debt hitting $40 trillion. 0:00—Newsom apparently likes tariffs? 4:20—Which moral panic is worse: data centers or children on social media? 17:57—Robby got in a scooter accident. 24:03—How do social media companies measure harm? 31:33—Are young men playing too many video games? 43:12—Parton was one of the few American heroes whom everyone liked. 45:44—So much love for Curry and all of his movies. 51:01—Karen Attiah got re-hired by The Washington Post. 55:05— AI is writing articles in The Wall Street Journal. 1:07:28—Robby is going to miss summer, and the national debt hit $40 trillion! The post Gavin Newsom Admits He Might Keep Tariffs? appeared first on Reason Magazine.
August 20 · 1 hr 25 min
Jason Arday's Downfall, Lindsay Clancy Case, and the Surveillance State
Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi kick off the episode by arguing against new proposed restrictions on the press in the wake of Jason Arday's death before turning to the Lindsay Clancy trial, the war on drugs, and the strange saga of "Pablo Pledgescobar." They also discuss the glory of My Chemical Romance and punk rock, why war is bad, and their concerns about Flock cameras. The episode closes with detours into 28 Days Later, the collapse of dating, and the shocking fact that some listeners may actually make it all the way to the end of the episode. 0:00—We do not need more restrictions on the press. 16:30—Lindsay Clancy trial 24:56—"Pablo Pledgescobar" and the war on drugs 34:35—My Chemical Romance concert was epic, and we miss punk rock. 45:00—"Freedom ain't free," and war is bad. 52:11—Christian defends data centers again. 59:12—We have some problems with Flock. 1:07:34—28 Days Later 1:13:12—Nobody is dating anymore. 1:22:02—If you made it this far, we are actually surprised. The post Jason Arday's Downfall, Lindsay Clancy Case, and the Surveillance State appeared first on Reason Magazine.
August 13 · 1 hr 20 min
Woke 1.0, House of the Dragon, and the Absurd Politics of Surveillance
Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi start off by talking about the craziness of Woke 1.0, which they may never get over. Then they remind all of their viewers that the Fourth Amendment exists in America for a reason, even though Flock cameras like to skirt around those rules. Finally, they end the show by discussing the third season finale of House of the Dragon, with a fun sidebar about magic. 0:00—Are New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's chickens coming home to roost? 10:23—Flock cameras are doing warrantless mass surveillance. 29:11—Karoline Leavitt leaves her post as press secretary. 40:23—House of the Dragon Season 3 finale 49:51—Avatar the Last Airbender sequel 54:52—Our favorite (and most ridiculous) times from Woke 1.0 1:07:54—Who would be a better dictator? The post Woke 1.0, House of the Dragon, and the Absurd Politics of Surveillance appeared first on Reason Magazine.
August 6 · 1 hr 24 min
Francesca Hong's Hateful Holidays, Burrito Prices, and Woke 1.0
Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi survey the latest fights inside American politics and culture, from Francesca Hong's war on holidays to the Midwest's emergence as a hub for democratic socialism. They argue that the war on "woke" has largely been won, while figures like Hasan Piker and Tucker Carlson continue attempting to scramble the political landscape. The episode also detours into burrito discourse, young men's grievances, race relations in Western civilization, and the ethics of euthanasia. Finally, Christian offers his thoughts on The Staircase. 0:00—Hong's war on holidays 1:37—Robby's first Bane impression in weeks 6:00—The Midwest is becoming the breeding ground for democratic socialists. 11:03—We won the war on "woke." 16:34—Piker is a liability, even for Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan 25:02—Tucker Carlson wants to create another third political party 30:34—The burrito discourse is crazy 44:06—Young men are systemically oppressed? 50:10—Race relations in Western civilization 1:03:40—Debate over euthanasia 1:14:15—Christian watched The Staircase The post Francesca Hong's Hateful Holidays, Burrito Prices, and Woke 1.0 appeared first on Reason Magazine.
July 30 · 1 hr 22 min
Fauci Pleads the Fifth, Pluribus, Ross Douthat's New CBS Gig
Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi revisit the COVID-19 era through the lens of then-White House coronavirus adviser Anthony Fauci's newly released diary and testimony before Congress. They debate what the diary reveals about gain-of-function research, lockdowns, and the origins of the virus. They argue that Fauci's private perspective makes the pandemic response look even more disturbing in hindsight. Then the episode turns to lighter—but still heated—culture war territory, including Ayn Rand's treatment in J.D. Vance's new book and Ross Douthat's move from The New York Times to 60 Minutes. 0:00—We will never forgive Fauci. 8:17—Did Fauci lie to Congress about gain-of-function research? 19:08—Fauci's diary reveals how he controlled lockdowns. 29:47—Reliving COVID-19 through Fauci's perspective feels like a horror novel. 35:13—Pluribus was a lab leak! 52:33—Rand, our hero, is misrepresented in Vance's new book. 1:12:04—Douthat leaves The New York Times for 60 Minutes. 1:15:56—Robby's data center debate The post Fauci Pleads the Fifth, Pluribus, Ross Douthat's New CBS Gig appeared first on Reason Magazine.
July 23 · 1 hr 8 min
Debate: Did Wokeness Actually Ruin The Odyssey?
This week on Freed Up, the conversation starts with Robby and Christian's reviews of Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, including why Agamemnon stands out and whether Robby may finally be wrong about a movie. The hosts also dig into the parts of The Odyssey that felt perhaps too modern. Then they pivot to Nolan's action scenes and why they sometimes fall short. Later, they discuss Citizen Vigilante, the New York City mayor's comments about arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and the Democratic Socialists of America's increasing embrace of communist ideas. The episode closes with a broader debate over why socialism has failed historically and what Michigan Democrats seem to be getting wrong. 0:00—The Odyssey reviews are in! 4:40—Agamemnon is so cool. 10:35—Is Robby wrong for the first time? 19:03—The modern parts of The Odyssey 27:01—Nolan's action scenes leave something to be desired. 35:10—Citizen Vigilante 42:00—The mayor of NYC is not going to arrest a leader of an allied nation. 48:57—DSA becoming more and more communist by the day 54:10—Socialism has never worked. 1:03:50—The Democrats in Michigan are confused. The post Debate: Did Wokeness Actually Ruin The Odyssey? appeared first on Reason Magazine.
July 17 · 1 hr 18 min
Vance Exposing Epstein's Intelligence Links on Rogan? Not Quite.
In this episode, Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi discuss Donald Trump's pointless primetime speech, then turn to J.D. Vance and Joe Rogan's continued fixation on Jeffrey Epstein. The hosts also talk about wildfire smoke from Canada reaching Washington, D.C., before they debate the worst person to ever get canceled. Later, they examine Lindsey Graham's foreign policy legacy, interest-group opposition to data centers, and why no one walks in Las Vegas. 0:00—Donald Trump's pointless primetime speech 8:12—J.D. Vance and Joe Rogan keep talking about Jeffrey Epstein. 12:43—The Canada wildfire smoke reaches D.C. 15:30—It's a crime to be a heterosexual man now. 20:37—Zohran Mamdani explaining the expanded definition of rape 26:38—Who was the worst person to get canceled? 30:15—Lindsey Graham did not have a positive influence on American foreign policy. 46:15—Interest groups are trying to kill data centers. 52:40—No one walks around Las Vegas. 55:12—Airport luggage nightmares 1:00:24—Robby loves Mega Man X games. 1:10:22—Medical advances have dramatically improved quality of life over time. The post Vance Exposing Epstein's Intelligence Links on Rogan? Not Quite. appeared first on Reason Magazine.
July 8 · 1 hr 18 min
Democratic Establishment Rages at Graham Platner
Robby Soave and Christian Britschgi discuss why Maine Democratic candidate for Senate Graham Platner is refusing to drop out despite attacks from fellow Democrats, then Robby shares a conspiracy theory he actually believes. They look back at how America elected presidents and vice presidents 250 years ago before turning to the renewed war with Iran. Later, they argue that boomers should pay property taxes like everyone else, examine Netflix's struggle to get audiences to return for second seasons, and close with a discussion of '90s fashion. 0:00—Platner will just not drop out 26:15—Robby found a conspiracy theory he believes 37:14—How we elected the president and vice president 250 years ago 43:15—The Iran war is back on 46:50—Boomers should pay property taxes like everyone else 57:50—Netflix can't figure out how to get people to watch second seasons 1:13:15—Seinfeld haircuts and fashion The post Democratic Establishment Rages at Graham Platner appeared first on Reason Magazine.

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