Ep 229: The Real FDR with David Beito

November 11, 2025
Protestant Libertarian Podcast

In this episode I talk with Dr. David Beito about his brand-new book FDR: A New Political Life, which is a critical biography of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. We discuss his influences and upbringing, how he was shaped by Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and the Progressive Era, and his path to the presidency. We explore the New Deal, FDR’s signature domestic policy legacy, and how it not only failed to solve the economic problems caused by the Great Depression but fundamentally expanded the scope of the Executive Branch. Beito explains how FDR leveraged New Deal policies to win elections and how the New Deal destroyed free markets. We also discuss FDR’s abhorrent treatment of minorities, opposition to free speech, and political intrigue. Beito also examines FDR’s foreign policy record, challenging the consensus view that FDR was the hero of WWII. We then reflect on FDR’s legacy and how he is responsible for much of America’s political dysfunction today.

Additional Resources

FDR: A New Political Life: https://a.co/d/7RhTMca

David Beito on X: @davidtbeito

New Deal episode: https://libertarianchristians.com/episode/ep-118-the-new-deals-war-on-the-bill-of-rights-with-david-beito/

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