The Independent with Scott Atlas

Recorded September 23, 2025 at New College of Florida. Scott Atlas joins Ben Domenech, Mollie Hemingway, and Chanel Rion for an in-depth discussion of the state of the American news media. America’s media is rapidly being transformed, and that transformation is accelerating. Beyond technology, the shift to social media was driven by a plummeting of trust in national news outlets, whose reporting was often overtly biased and false. Ironically, after social media platforms emerged as the new town square, they rapidly became tools for censorship, at times in collusion with government, most vividly on display during COVID. This forum will explore the future of social and legacy media in the search for objective information, especially as we enter the era of artificial intelligence. Dr. Scott Atlas is a world-renowned expert in health care policy and frequent policy advisor to policymakers and government officials. He investigates the role of government and the private sector in health care quality and access, global trends in health care innovation, and the key economic and civil liberty issues related to health policy. The Independent features Dr. Atlas in conversation with high profile, news-making guests around public health policy, science, civil liberties, censorship and free speech, higher education, the media, and more. The Independent with Scott Atlas online: https://www.independent.org/scottatlas/ Follow on X: https://www.x.com/ScottAtlas_IT Youtube playlist of episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8FSqhf6cNyki41A0F0sbM-D5JNrXXONU Rumble https://rumble.com/user/IndependentInstitute Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/independent-truths-with-dr-scott-atlas/id1663559087 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/33UrHovNFYW9ZqoNEftHL8?si=8cc8f456e0524171 Amazon Podcasts https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/10ae1587-de3e-4c39-ad4b-d7e64d2a3619/independent-truths-with-dr-scott-atlas The Independent Institute is a non-profit, non-partisan, public-policy research and educational organization that shapes ideas into profound and lasting impact through publications, conferences, and multi-media programs. Our mission is to boldly advance peaceful, prosperous, and free societies grounded in a commitment to human worth and dignity. INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE ONLINE: WEBSITE: https://www.independent.org FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/independentinstitute X: https://www.x.com/independentinst GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/independentinst YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/independentinstitute RUMBLE: https://rumble.com/user/IndependentInstitute LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/independent-institute MEMBERSHIP: https://www.independent.org/donate/

In this second part of his two-part interview, Scott Atlas and Victor Davis Hanson explore misguided progressive policies that disproportionately harm the poor, encouraging crime as lenient judges and prosecutors push alternative sentencing. They discuss New York's socialist electoral trends, fueled mainly by an attitude of entitlement among America's younger generation. They conclude with a discussion of how Trump's authentic, resilient persona drives leftist vitriol, and how the political landscape might change in a post-Trump America. Watch pt1: https://youtu.be/atyy2YNUuow Dr. Scott Atlas is a world-renowned expert in health care policy and frequent policy advisor to policymakers and government officials. He investigates the role of government and the private sector in health care quality and access, global trends in health care innovation, and the key economic and civil liberty issues related to health policy. The Independent features Dr. Atlas in conversation with high profile, news-making guests around public health policy, science, civil liberties, censorship and free speech, higher education, the media, and more. The Independent with Scott Atlas online: https://www.independent.org/scottatlas/ Follow on X: https://www.x.com/ScottAtlas_IT Youtube playlist of episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8FSqhf6cNyki41A0F0sbM-D5JNrXXONU Rumble https://rumble.com/user/IndependentInstitute Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/independent-truths-with-dr-scott-atlas/id1663559087 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/33UrHovNFYW9ZqoNEftHL8?si=8cc8f456e0524171 Amazon Podcasts https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/10ae1587-de3e-4c39-ad4b-d7e64d2a3619/independent-truths-with-dr-scott-atlas The Independent Institute is a non-profit, non-partisan, public-policy research and educational organization that shapes ideas into profound and lasting impact through publications, conferences, and multi-media programs. Our mission is to boldly advance peaceful, prosperous, and free societies grounded in a commitment to human worth and dignity. INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE ONLINE: WEBSITE: https://www.independent.org FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/independentinstitute X: https://www.x.com/independentinst GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/independentinst YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/independentinstitute RUMBLE: https://rumble.com/user/IndependentInstitute LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/independent-institute MEMBERSHIP: https://www.independent.org/donate/

In this episode Scott welcomes former Trump administration National Security Advisor H. R. McMaster. H.R. is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami senior fellow at Stanford's Hoover institution and also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud fellow at Freeman Spogli Institute, and he also lectures at Stanford's business school. They have a conversation about several of today's hotspots in the world including ongoing military battles arising under the Biden Administration and how our elected leaders are functioning to keep us safe. Dr. Scott Atlas is a world-renowned expert in health care policy and frequent policy advisor to policymakers and government officials. He investigates the role of government and the private sector in health care quality and access, global trends in health care innovation, and the key economic and civil liberty issues related to health policy. The Independent features Dr. Atlas in conversation with high profile, news-making guests around public health policy, science, civil liberties, censorship and free speech, higher education, the media, and more. The Independent with Scott Atlas online: https://www.independent.org/scottatlas/ Follow on X: https://www.x.com/ScottAtlas_IT Youtube playlist of episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8FSqhf6cNyki41A0F0sbM-D5JNrXXONU Rumble https://rumble.com/user/IndependentInstitute Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/independent-truths-with-dr-scott-atlas/id1663559087 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/33UrHovNFYW9ZqoNEftHL8?si=8cc8f456e0524171 Amazon Podcasts https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/10ae1587-de3e-4c39-ad4b-d7e64d2a3619/independent-truths-with-dr-scott-atlas The Independent Institute is a non-profit, non-partisan, public-policy research and educational organization that shapes ideas into profound and lasting impact through publications, conferences, and multi-media programs. Our mission is to boldly advance peaceful, prosperous, and free societies grounded in a commitment to human worth and dignity. INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE ONLINE: WEBSITE: https://www.independent.org FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/independentinstitute X: https://www.x.com/independentinst GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/independentinst YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/independentinstitute RUMBLE: https://rumble.com/user/IndependentInstitute LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/independent-institute MEMBERSHIP: https://secure.independent.org/donate/

In this episode, Scott welcomes back to the show Victor Davis Hanson, world renowned scholar of classics and military history. Victor is the Martin and Ilya Anderson Senior Fellow at Hoover Institution of Stanford University. His latest two books are The Dying Citizen and The End of Everything. Dr. Scott Atlas is a world-renowned expert in health care policy and frequent policy advisor to policymakers and government officials. He investigates the role of government and the private sector in health care quality and access, global trends in health care innovation, and the key economic and civil liberty issues related to health policy. The Independent features Dr. Atlas in conversation with high profile, news-making guests around public health policy, science, civil liberties, censorship and free speech, higher education, the media, and more. The Independent with Scott Atlas online: https://www.independent.org/scottatlas/ Follow on X: https://www.x.com/ScottAtlas_IT Youtube playlist of episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8FSqhf6cNyki41A0F0sbM-D5JNrXXONU Rumble https://rumble.com/user/IndependentInstitute Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/independent-truths-with-dr-scott-atlas/id1663559087 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/33UrHovNFYW9ZqoNEftHL8?si=8cc8f456e0524171 Amazon Podcasts https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/10ae1587-de3e-4c39-ad4b-d7e64d2a3619/independent-truths-with-dr-scott-atlas The Independent Institute is a non-profit, non-partisan, public-policy research and educational organization that shapes ideas into profound and lasting impact through publications, conferences, and multi-media programs. Our mission is to boldly advance peaceful, prosperous, and free societies grounded in a commitment to human worth and dignity. INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE ONLINE: WEBSITE: https://www.independent.org FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/independentinstitute X: https://www.x.com/independentinst GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/independentinst YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/independentinstitute RUMBLE: https://rumble.com/user/IndependentInstitute LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/independent-institute MEMBERSHIP: https://secure.independent.org/donate/

In this episode Dr. Atlas interviews Alex Epstein, bestselling author and philosopher. He is the author of "The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels", arguing that human flourishing and freedom itself require that humanity use more fossil fuels, not less. His most recent book is "Fossil Future: Why Global Human Flourishing Requires More Oil, Coal, and Natural Gas—Not Less". They have a conversation about energy policy, its tradeoffs, and its moral basis, including required energy conversion, mandated electric vehicles, and other policies that have become dogmas to progressive policymakers and many citizens, to a point where even questioning these ideas provokes cancellation and attack. Dr. Scott Atlas is a world-renowned expert in health care policy and frequent policy advisor to policymakers and government officials. He investigates the role of government and the private sector in health care quality and access, global trends in health care innovation, and the key economic and civil liberty issues related to health policy. The Independent features Dr. Atlas in conversation with high profile, news-making guests around public health policy, science, civil liberties, censorship and free speech, higher education, the media, and more. The Independent with Scott Atlas online: https://www.independent.org/scottatlas/ Follow on X: https://www.x.com/ScottAtlas_IT Youtube playlist of episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8FSqhf6cNyki41A0F0sbM-D5JNrXXONU Rumble https://rumble.com/user/IndependentInstitute Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/independent-truths-with-dr-scott-atlas/id1663559087 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/33UrHovNFYW9ZqoNEftHL8?si=8cc8f456e0524171 Amazon Podcasts https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/10ae1587-de3e-4c39-ad4b-d7e64d2a3619/independent-truths-with-dr-scott-atlas The Independent Institute is a non-profit, non-partisan, public-policy research and educational organization that shapes ideas into profound and lasting impact through publications, conferences, and multi-media programs. Our mission is to boldly advance peaceful, prosperous, and free societies grounded in a commitment to human worth and dignity. INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE ONLINE: WEBSITE: https://www.independent.org FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/independentinstitute X: https://www.x.com/independentinst GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/independentinst YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/independentinstitute RUMBLE: https://rumble.com/user/IndependentInstitute LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/independent-institute MEMBERSHIP: https://secure.independent.org/donate/

Dr. Atlas interviews Dinesh D'Souza, bestselling author, award winning filmmaker, and investigative political commentator. D'souza served in the Reagan White House, was President of King's College, and is the author of many books including Illiberal Education, Letters to a Young Conservative, and United States of Socialism. His films include 2000 Mules, and America: Imagine a World Without Her. They discuss freedom in America, ongoing attacks on the ideals upon which the nation was founded, and the resulting division and lack of trust in institutions that threaten the very essence of the nation. Dr. Scott Atlas is a world-renowned expert in health care policy and frequent policy advisor to policymakers and government officials. He investigates the role of government and the private sector in health care quality and access, global trends in health care innovation, and the key economic and civil liberty issues related to health policy. The Independent features Dr. Atlas in conversation with high profile, news-making guests around public health policy, science, civil liberties, censorship and free speech, higher education, the media, and more. The Independent with Scott Atlas online: https://www.independent.org/scottatlas/ Follow on X: https://www.x.com/ScottAtlas_IT Youtube playlist of episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8FSqhf6cNyki41A0F0sbM-D5JNrXXONU Rumble https://rumble.com/user/IndependentInstitute Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/independent-truths-with-dr-scott-atlas/id1663559087 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/33UrHovNFYW9ZqoNEftHL8?si=8cc8f456e0524171 Amazon Podcasts https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/10ae1587-de3e-4c39-ad4b-d7e64d2a3619/independent-truths-with-dr-scott-atlas The Independent Institute is a non-profit, non-partisan, public-policy research and educational organization that shapes ideas into profound and lasting impact through publications, conferences, and multi-media programs. Our mission is to boldly advance peaceful, prosperous, and free societies grounded in a commitment to human worth and dignity. INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE ONLINE: WEBSITE: https://www.independent.org FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/independentinstitute X: https://www.x.com/independentinst GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/independentinst YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/independentinstitute RUMBLE: https://rumble.com/user/IndependentInstitute LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/independent-institute MEMBERSHIP: https://secure.independent.org/donate/

Dr. Atlas interviews physician Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, former associate dean at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and founder of "Do No Harm". Dr. Goldfarb argues that American healthcare is being destroyed as political ideology increasingly supplants excellence in admission and training of medical students, as well as in medical care itself. They have an important conversation about how DEI, racial preferences, and woke politics in medical schools and medical care threaten the health and future of America. Dr. Scott Atlas is a world-renowned expert in health care policy and frequent policy advisor to policymakers and government officials. He investigates the role of government and the private sector in health care quality and access, global trends in health care innovation, and the key economic and civil liberty issues related to health policy. The Independent features Dr. Atlas in conversation with high profile, news-making guests around public health policy, science, civil liberties, censorship and free speech, higher education, the media, and more. The Independent with Scott Atlas online: https://www.independent.org/scottatlas/ Follow on X: https://www.x.com/ScottAtlas_IT Youtube playlist of episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8FSqhf6cNyki41A0F0sbM-D5JNrXXONU Rumble https://rumble.com/user/IndependentInstitute Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/independent-truths-with-dr-scott-atlas/id1663559087 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/33UrHovNFYW9ZqoNEftHL8?si=8cc8f456e0524171 Amazon Podcasts https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/10ae1587-de3e-4c39-ad4b-d7e64d2a3619/independent-truths-with-dr-scott-atlas The Independent Institute is a non-profit, non-partisan, public-policy research and educational organization that shapes ideas into profound and lasting impact through publications, conferences, and multi-media programs. Our mission is to boldly advance peaceful, prosperous, and free societies grounded in a commitment to human worth and dignity. INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE ONLINE: WEBSITE: https://www.independent.org FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/independentinstitute X: https://www.x.com/independentinst GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/independentinst YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/independentinstitute RUMBLE: https://rumble.com/user/IndependentInstitute LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/independent-institute MEMBERSHIP: https://secure.independent.org/donate/

Dr. Scott Atlas is a world-renowned expert in health care policy and frequent policy advisor to policymakers and government officials. He investigates the role of government and the private sector in health care quality and access, global trends in health care innovation, and the key economic and civil liberty issues related to health policy. Independent Truths features Dr. Atlas in conversation with high profile, news-making guests around public health policy, science, civil liberties, censorship and free speech, higher education, the media, and more. Independent Truths with Dr. Scott Atlas online: https://www.independent.org/scottatlas/ Follow on X: https://www.x.com/ScottAtlas_IT Youtube playlist of episodes: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8FSqhf6cNyki41A0F0sbM-D5JNrXXONU Rumble https://rumble.com/user/IndependentInstitute Apple Podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/independent-truths-with-dr-scott-atlas/id1663559087 Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/33UrHovNFYW9ZqoNEftHL8?si=8cc8f456e0524171 Amazon Podcasts https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/10ae1587-de3e-4c39-ad4b-d7e64d2a3619/independent-truths-with-dr-scott-atlas Google Podcasts https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbmRlcGVuZGVudC10cnV0aHMtd2l0aC1kci1zY290dC1hdGxhcy5jYXN0b3MuY29tL2ZlZWQ The Independent Institute is a non-profit, non-partisan, public-policy research and educational organization that shapes ideas into profound and lasting impact through publications, conferences, and multi-media programs. Our mission is to boldly advance peaceful, prosperous, and free societies grounded in a commitment to human worth and dignity. INDEPENDENT INSTITUTE ONLINE: WEBSITE: https://www.independent.org FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/independentinstitute X: https://www.x.com/independentinst GETTR: https://gettr.com/user/independentinst YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/c/independentinstitute RUMBLE: https://rumble.com/user/IndependentInstitute LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/independent-institute MEMBERSHIP: https://secure.independent.org/donate/