This is a strange video for me. I find watching this 20-minute-plus interview uncomfortable to the point of disturbing. But I can’t think of any other video I’ve appeared in that is more frequently praised by both strangers and friends. The interviewer here, Nick Gillespie, is a longtime friend, so that should have helped. But actually, Nick’s super incisive questioning and sort of perma-sarcasm persona got me off my game. So did the fact that we were dressed nearly identically, which also threw me. I guess I’m easily thrown.
As editor of the New York Observer, I felt an obligation to represent the brand so I accepted about of the invitations to shows like this, even though I dread appearing on television. I have written for Reason from time to time, but I am not a libertarian and don’t strongly identify with that ideology.