Thomas Sowell: Facts Against Rhetoric, Capitalism, Culture and Yes, the Tariffs

This interview really made me think again. After listening to another podcast, I went digging and stumbled across this conversation with Thomas Sowell (economist). What struck me most was his point that affirmative action, while often well-intentioned, doesn’t always deliver the outcomes people hope for. It was eye-opening to hear not just the data but also the reasons behind why some of these policies fail.

I don’t necessarily agree with everything he says, but I think it’s valuable to sit with perspectives that challenge our assumptions. I also found it inspiring that, at 96, Sowell is still publishing work to share what he sees as most important: empirical evidence showing that what sounds good doesn’t always work. That distinction feels especially relevant today.

And I loved this line he offers at the very start: “Before you make up your mind on where you stand, make sure you understand where the other person stands first.”

https://youtu.be/uejTE6-nIQI?si=KqtVtCeyjEh7Z52x