https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49b6O7nOtZI




Podcast Audio:







In this episode of The Ayn Rand Institute Podcast, Robertas Bakula and Mike Mazza discuss the opposition to autonomous vehicles.



Topics include:




Why some people oppose autonomous vehicles;



The safety of autonomous vehicles;



Economic costs of automobile Accidents;



Fear of displacing jobs;



The “common man” argument;



Divine right of stagnation.




Resources:




Nathaniel Branden’s essay “Divine Right of Stagnation” in The Virtue of Selfishness




This episode was recorded on January 12, 2026, and posted on February 12, 2026. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. Watch archived podcasts here.



Image credits: Waymo: Mario Tama / Staff / via Getty Images; Hawley: Chip Somodevilla / Staff / via Getty Images