Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Where will OCON take us next?
Join us at Keystone Resort in Colorado for OCON 2027—featuring eye-opening talks, outdoor activities, and fresh mountain air as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged.
AynRand.org/OCON2027
Subscribe to ARI’s YouTube channel to make sure you never miss a video:
youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=AynRandInstitute
Download or stream free courses on Ayn Rand’s works and ideas with the Ayn Rand Institute app:
– App Store itunes.apple.com/us/app/ayn-rand-university/id1452535178?mt=8
– Google Play play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aynrandu
ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: ari.aynrand.org/donate
Explore these ideas further! ARI's online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: newideal.aynrand.org
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Keep in Touch! Sign up to receive email updates from ARI: aynrand.org/signup
Follow ARI on Twitter: twitter.com/AynRandInst
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Subscribe to the ARI Live! podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ayn-rand-institute-live/id1440399458
******
Join an upcoming virtual or in-person event: ari.aynrand.org/events
Visit ARI’s website for more about our content and programs: ari.aynrand.org
Where will OCON take us next?
Join us at Keystone Resort in Colorado for OCON 2027—featuring eye-opening talks, outdoor activities, and fresh mountain air as we celebrate the 70th anniversary of Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged.
AynRand.org/OCON2027
Subscribe to ARI’s YouTube channel to make sure you never miss a video:
youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=AynRandInstitute
Download or stream free courses on Ayn Rand’s works and ideas with the Ayn Rand Institute app:
– App Store itunes.apple.com/us/app/ayn-rand-university/id1452535178?mt=8
– Google Play play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aynrandu
ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: ari.aynrand.org/donate
Explore these ideas further! ARI's online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: newideal.aynrand.org
******
Keep in Touch! Sign up to receive email updates from ARI: aynrand.org/signup
Follow ARI on Twitter: twitter.com/AynRandInst
Follow ARI on Facebook: facebook.com/AynRandInstitute
Follow ARI on Instagram: instagram.com/aynrandorg
Subscribe to the ARI Live! podcast: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ayn-rand-institute-live/id1440399458
******
Join an upcoming virtual or in-person event: ari.aynrand.org/events
Visit ARI’s website for more about our content and programs: ari.aynrand.org
![Projecting Weakness: The Iran War Stalemate and Trump’s China Visit
In this episode of the Ayn Rand Institute podcast, Onkar Ghate and Elan Journo discuss the war and subsequent negotiations with Iran, and Trump’s visit to China.
Topics Include:
● [00:00] Introduction
● [01:46] The war’s shifting purpose
● [07:49] The Hormuz evasion
● [12:51] Whim over strategy
● [17:19] Evading Iran’s nature
● [22:31] Stalemate as defeat
● [27:21] Projecting weakness worldwide
● [33:50] Abandoning American ideals
This episode was recorded on May 20th.
Resources:
- “Selfishness Without a Self” [https://courses.aynrand.org/works/selfishness-without-a-self/] in Philosophy Who Needs It by Ayn Rand.
Image Credits: Trump: Saul Loeb / AFP / via Getty Images; China and Iran Flags: Viacheslav Chernobrovin / iStock / via Getty Images
Subscribe to ARI’s YouTube channel to make sure you never miss a video:
https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=AynRandInstitute
Download or stream free courses on Ayn Rand’s works and ideas with the Ayn Rand Institute app:
– App Store https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ayn-rand-university/id1452535178?mt=8
– Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aynrandu
ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: https://ari.aynrand.org/donate
Explore these ideas further! ARIs online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: https://newideal.aynrand.org/
******
Keep in Touch! Sign up to receive email updates from ARI: https://aynrand.org/signup
Follow ARI on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AynRandInst
Follow ARI on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AynRandInstitute
Follow ARI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aynrandorg
Subscribe to the ARI Live! podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ayn-rand-institute-live/id1440399458
******
Join an upcoming virtual or in-person event: https://ari.aynrand.org/events/
Visit ARI’s website for more about our content and programs: https://ari.aynrand.org/ Projecting Weakness: The Iran War Stalemate and Trump’s China Visit](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/OSyqrwXEtBQ/mqdefault.jpg)



![Why the Ayn Rand Institute Comments on Current Events
In this episode of The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Onkar Ghate and Ben Bayer discuss why ARI comments on current events and why applying Objectivism to cultural issues is central to its essence as a philosophy for living on earth.
Among the topics covered:
● How ARI’s commentary fits its mission;
● Why applying Objectivism to current events is essential to understanding the philosophy;
● Why persuading minds about Objectivism requires distinguishing it from mainstream ideas;
● What is wrong with the objection that no one can speak for Ayn Rand;
● What to expect from ARI’s commentary in the future.
Mentioned in this podcast are Ayn Rand’s essay “What Can One Do?” in Philosophy: Who Needs it? [https://aynrand.org/novels/philosophy-who-needs-it/?nab=0], and Onkar Ghate and Ben Bayer’s discussion “How Can We Change Peoples Minds About Ayn Rands Controversial Ideas?” [https://youtu.be/HgB0P3jTqj0]
The podcast was recorded on March 10, 2025 and released on March 12, 2025.
0:00:00 Introduction
0:01:55 ARI’s mission
0:11:10 Importance of applying Objectivism
0:21:10 Distinguishing Objectivism from mainstream ideas
0:30:43 What’s wrong with the objection that no one can speak for Rand
0:38:50 ARI’s commentary in the future
Subscribe to ARI’s YouTube channel to make sure you never miss a video:
https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=AynRandInstitute
Download or stream free courses on Ayn Rand’s works and ideas with the Ayn Rand Institute app:
– App Store https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ayn-rand-university/id1452535178?mt=8
– Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aynrandu
ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: https://ari.aynrand.org/donate
Explore these ideas further! ARIs online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: https://newideal.aynrand.org/
******
Keep in Touch! Sign up to receive email updates from ARI: https://aynrand.org/signup
Follow ARI on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AynRandInst
Follow ARI on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AynRandInstitute
Follow ARI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aynrandorg
Subscribe to the ARI Live! podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ayn-rand-institute-live/id1440399458
******
Join an upcoming virtual or in-person event: https://ari.aynrand.org/events/
Visit ARI’s website for more about our content and programs: https://ari.aynrand.org/ Why the Ayn Rand Institute Comments on Current Events](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QT4O5p3oSAA/mqdefault.jpg)





![The New Iran Deal: Trump Recycles Obama Amoralism
In this episode of The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Elan Journo and Ben Bayer discuss the Trump administration’s move to restart nuclear talks with Iran by rehashing Obama’s failed deal.
Among the topics covered:
● How the Trump administration’s new Iran deal essentially recycles Obama’s failed policy;
● Why hopes for diplomacy with Iran evade the regime’s totalitarian nature;
● Why treating a death-worshipping regime as legitimate empowers its cause;
● The role of tribalism in stripping moral principles from America’s foreign policy;
● How Trump’s amoralism blinds him to the threat of foreign dictatorships.
Mentioned in this podcast are ARI’s Resources on Israel, Palestine, and the Middle East [https://newideal.aynrand.org/aris-resources-on-israel-palestine-and-the-middle-east/], Journo’s book What Justice Demands [https://newideal.aynrand.org/free-read-the-introduction-of-what-justice-demands/], and his co-authored book with Onkar Ghate Failing to Confront Islamic Totalitarianism [https://newideal.aynrand.org/new-ari-book-examines-what-went-wrong-after-9-11/].
This podcast was recorded on April 28, 2025 and posted on April 30, 2025.
0:00:00 Introduction
0:02:38 Recycling Obama’s failed policy
0:09:26 Evading Iran’s totalitarian nature
0:22:29 Empowering Iran’s regime’s cause by treating it as legitimate
0:35:33 Tribalism and stripping moral principles from America’s foreign policy
0:39:53 Trump’s amoralism and blindness to foreign dictatorships’ threats
Subscribe to ARI’s YouTube channel to make sure you never miss a video:
https://www.youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=AynRandInstitute
Download or stream free courses on Ayn Rand’s works and ideas with the Ayn Rand Institute app:
– App Store https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ayn-rand-university/id1452535178?mt=8
– Google Play https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aynrandu
ARI is funded by donor contributions. You can support our work by becoming an ARI Member or making a one-time contribution: https://ari.aynrand.org/donate
Explore these ideas further! ARIs online publication, New Ideal, explores pressing cultural issues from the perspective of Ayn Rand’s philosophy, Objectivism: https://newideal.aynrand.org/
******
Keep in Touch! Sign up to receive email updates from ARI: https://aynrand.org/signup
Follow ARI on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AynRandInst
Follow ARI on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AynRandInstitute
Follow ARI on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aynrandorg
Subscribe to the ARI Live! podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ayn-rand-institute-live/id1440399458
******
Join an upcoming virtual or in-person event: https://ari.aynrand.org/events/
Visit ARI’s website for more about our content and programs: https://ari.aynrand.org/ The New Iran Deal: Trump Recycles Obama Amoralism](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/S53avG169mw/mqdefault.jpg)