#434 Austin Petersen - Former Presidential Candidate Admits "I Was Wrong About Trump"

Zuby is joined by former Libertarian presidential candidate, ex-Fox Business producer, and host of Wake Up America, Austin Petersen. Austin opens up about the things he got badly wrong, from Donald Trump and immigration to tariffs and drug legalisation, and why he was booed on a Libertarian debate stage for saying it should be illegal to sell heroin to children. The conversation covers audience capture and why big podcasters won't change their minds, how becoming a father reshaped his politics, why liberty can't survive without a culture of liberty, the lessons from Javier Milei's Argentina, and why the Gulf states may be the most economically libertarian countries on earth. They also dig into whether the American dream is still achievable, how AI is wiping out entry-level jobs, the boomer housing squeeze, and why so many problems get handed to the state when they belong to families. Real Talk with Zuby is an independent podcast. Our sponsors help make that possible: Veritas Wealth Management helps families, business owners, and retirees build real financial freedom through hands-on expert investment guidance. Schedule a call today at https://veritasalaska.com — Subscribe to Real Talk With Zuby on Apple Podcasts or Spotify: https://fanlink.tv/zubypodcast Listen ad-free on Substack: https://realtalkwithzuby.com — Follow Austin Petersen: https://x.com/AP4Liberty Follow Zuby: https://x.com/zubymusic https://instagram.com/zubymusic https://facebook.com/zubymusic Timestamps: (00:00) Introduction (04:38) What he got wrong about Trump (05:24) Rethinking immigration and tariffs (06:55) Booed for opposing heroin sales to kids (07:24) Why drug legalisation went wrong (10:30) Audience capture and the cost of integrity (12:21) How fatherhood changed his politics (13:43) Guns, safety and who gets the final say (17:10) Fewer parents is changing politics (19:30) Liberty needs a culture of liberty (21:22) The Argentina lesson (25:20) Why you can't copy another country's politics (29:01) The Gulf's zero income tax model (34:05) Is the American dream still achievable? (35:28) AI is killing entry-level jobs (38:41) Boomers, housing and the generational squeeze (41:57) Two incomes and the daycare trap (46:19) Why homes now cost 11x salaries (48:06) America's individualism problem (53:27) Stop looking to government for every solution (55:32) The generational smoking ban (01:01:07) Where to find Austin online Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/real-talk-with-zuby/donations Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy