Studying for the LSAT requires a total adjustment to your typical way of thinking. "LSAT Logic in Everyday Life" gives you a headstart! In this weekly series, we apply the tools for dissecting flawed LSAT arguments to current events, showing how journalists, advertisers, and politicians all use flawed logic to prove their conclusions.

Listen to individual episodes of the "LSAT Logic in Everyday Life" or subscribe by clicking on your favorite feed from the right.

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Video Game Theory
The release of Grand Theft Auto IV from Rockstar games sparked predictable outrage at the level of violence, gore, and sex, but is that outrage justified?
Added: May 5, 2008
Play or Download "Video Game Theory"

The Price is Rice
Was this week's run on rice due to panicky misperceptions about American food supply, or was it a reaction to the rising price?
Added: April 28, 2008
Play or Download "The Price is Rice"

Listener Logic #11
1) The ABC Democratic primary debate; 2) Single sex schools in Georgia; 3) Percentages and Numbers flaws with article about iPhone users; 4) Personal appeals to Iraqis.
Added: April 21, 2008
Play or Download "Listener Logic #11"

Autism Awareness
Autism Awareness Day brought the debate about a possible connection between vaccines and autism to the national spotlight. We look at the terms of the debate.
Added: April 14, 2008
Play or Download "Autism Awareness"

Cough it Up
This week, we look at a 2006 study on preventing lung cancer that was recently revealed to have been funded by grants from a large tobacco company.
Added: March 31, 2008
Play or Download "Cough it Up"

What Gives?
This week, we look at an article that purports to demonstrate that spending money on others causes happiness more than spending money on oneself. We look at ways to strengthen and weaken this causal conclusion.
Added: March 24, 2008
Play or Download "What Gives?"

No "There" There
An LSAT Logic take on Spitzer, Ferraro, and Rev. Wright.
Added: March 17, 2008
Play or Download "No "There" There"

Listener Logic #10
1) Guns on campuses; 2) Universal Health Care; 3) Poverty and weight correlation; 4) "It's not mean if it's true."
Added: March 3, 2008
Play or Download "Listener Logic #10"

Fat Chance
This week, a bill was proposed (and subsequently rejected) in the state legislature in MIssissippi that would ban obese people from restaurants. We look at why the bill fails to address the problem of obesity.
Added: February 25, 2008
Play or Download "Fat Chance"

The Heart of a Super Fan
A new study warns about the risks associated with rising stress levels during tense sports events. We take apart the argument for watching or skipping the Super Bowl.
Added: February 4, 2008
Play or Download "The Heart of a Super Fan"

Changing the Game
The iTunes Music Store changed the way we discuss, purchase, and create music. Many analysts argue that the iTunes movie rentals will do the same for movies. We look at the strengths and weaknesses of the comparison.
Added: January 28, 2008
Play or Download "Changing the Game"

R we or Rn't we?
This week we discuss why economists don't flat out say whether or not there is a recession, and we look at arguments that discuss whether or not they should.
Added: January 14, 2008
Play or Download "R we or Rn't we?"

Changing "Change"
In the race to the presidential nomination, everyone's talking about change, but using the word in different ways to manipulate the argument in favor of their position. On the LSAT, we call that "equivocation."
Added: January 7, 2008
Play or Download "Changing 'Change'"

80 Men Out
Faced with the evidence of rampant abuse of performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball, the country is grappling with two questions: "Why does it matter?" and "What now?"
Added: December 17, 2007
Play or Download "80 Men Out"

Mitt's JFK Moment
Pundits and journalists began drawing comparisons to JFK before Romney even gave his speech on religion - now they're dealing with their own comparison flaws.
Added: December 10, 2007
Play or Download "Mitt's JFK Moment"

Listener Logic #9
Emails to the lsatpodcast@review.com Inbox. 1) American math/science scores paradox; 2) Necessary and Sufficient mixup in Anthropology class; 3) Strike arguments; 4) Dirty Dancing.
Added: December 3, 2007
Play or Download "Listener Logic #9"

The Georgia Rain
Did prayer cause this week's rainfall in Georgia? In the midst of an historic drought, Georgia's governor called for a prayer vigil on Tuesday, then it rained on Wednesday. In this podcast, we take a close look at the argument that prayer caused the rain relief.
Added: November 19, 2007
Play or Download "The Georgia Rain"

Told You So!
Conservatives point to a recenet Harvard study about press coverage of the primary election candidates as proof of liberal media bias. We take a look at the methodology of the study to determine if it really proves a liberal bias in the media.
Added: November 5, 2007
Play or Download "Told You So!"

Of Mice and Mazes
Hypertension drugs prevent Alzheimer's in mice, but will it work on humans? This week, a study demonstrated that certain blood pressure medications might prevent Alzheimer's disease in mice. We consider reasons why people hoping to stave off Alzheimer's disease might not want to run out and convince their doctors to give them prescriptions.
Added: October 29, 2007
Play or Download "Of Mice and Mazes"

The Maine Point
Trouble and national attention for a Maine school district. The decision by a Portland school board to allow a middle school health clinic to prescribe oral contraceptives has set off a firestorm of debate. We look at the arguments and their underlying assumptions.
Added: October 22, 2007
Play or Download "The Maine Point"

The Wrong Conversation
The logic mess surrounding Graeme Frost and the S-CHIP bill. Many people are up in arms over the smearing of 12-year-old Graeme Frost, but are there legitimate questions about using a child as a spokesperson for a complex piece of legislation?
Added: October 15, 2007
Play or Download "The Wrong Conversation"

Listener Logic #8
Emails to the lsatpodcast@review.com Inbox. 1) Are Christians uglier than non-Christians? 2) Where's the logic in music piracy? 3) Cliche: It's always the last place you look.
Added: October 8, 2007
Play or Download "Listener Logic #8"

Meteor Madness
Cause vs. coincidence in the Peruvian Meteor Mystery. This week we look at the logic behind the Peruvian meteor story, as experts tried to track down exactly what happened and what the results were.
Added: October 1, 2007
Play or Download "Meteor Madness"

Cut to the Tase
Did University of Florida police go too far? This week we look at the University of Florida security enforcement's decision to taser a student who they believed was not acting appropriately during a John Kerry forum.
Added: September 24, 2007
Play or Download "Cut to the Tase"

The Lowdown on Lonely
How does loneliness affect health? This week we take a close look at a recent study that purports to explain the link between loneliness and inflammation.
Added: September 17, 2007
Play or Download "The Lowdown on Lonely"

Iraq Stat Attack
An LSAT Logic in Everday Life Guide to Evaluating Statistics in anticipation of the Iraq Stat Attack. Understanding definitions, statistical comparisons, and parameters in order to be skeptical judges of purportedly objective numbers.
Added: September 10, 2007
Play or Download "Iraq Stat Attack"

America, the Beautiful
The logic of beauty pageant contestants This week, we forgo the trainwreck answer from a recent beauty pageant but take apart the logic of the second try.
Added: September 3, 2007
Play or Download "America, the Beautiful"

Breaking the Chains
Has the iPhone been freed? Of the many groups who have unlocked the iPhone this week, 17 year-old George Hotz has received the most attention. We look at arguments calling him a hero or a criminal.
Added: August 27, 2007
Play or Download "Breaking the Chains"

Listener Logic #7
E-mails to the lsatpodcast@review.com Inbox. 1) Superstitions in Romania; 2) Cliched comeback: That's Old News!; 3) Addicts and Rationality
Added: August 20, 2007
Play or Download "Listener Logic #7"

Pole Dance
Who owns the North Pole? This week we tackle flaws in the Law of the Sea.
Added: August 12, 2007
Play or Download "Pole Dance"

O Really?
Bill O'Reilly teaches us a lesson in part-to-whole comparison flaws. Part-to-whole comparison flaws can be more complicated than they seem at first. We look at Bill O'Reilly's attack on dailykos.com to point out some of the subtleties.
Added: August 5, 2007
Play or Download "O Really?"

Listener Logic #6
E-mails to the lsatpodcast@review.com Inbox. 1) A response to the Potter podcast. 2) Cliches from Dr. Phil. 3) Believing in Science. 4) Splenda and sugar. 5) Prime Beef.
Added: July 30, 2007
Play or Download "Listener Logic #6"

The Soccer Messiah
Will Beckham's celebrity influence American's view of soccer? This week we look at claims that David Beckham's U.S. arrival will take soccer to a new level in the States as well as counterclaims that he will have little influence.
Added: July 16, 2007
Play or Download "The Soccer Messiah"

Let's Talk About Myth Busting
The difference between busting a myth and calling it into question. This week a study was touted as disproving the stereotype that women talk more than men, but the methodology of the study might limit the applicability of its conclusions.
Added: July 9, 2007
Play or Download "Let's Talk About Myth Busting"

Coulter Confrontation
Confusion and counterarguments on cable news. This week we take apart the awkward interaction between Ann Coulter and Elizabeth Edwards on MSNBC.
Added: July 2, 2007
Play or Download "Coulter Confrontation"

Listener Logic #5
Emails to the lsatpodcast@review.com inbox. 1)If it looks like a green duck; 2) Life is unfair; 3) A matter of taste; and 4) That's the way it's always been done
Added: June 18, 2007
Play or Download "Listener Logic #5"

Point of View
Is Google's new Street View feaeture an invasion of privacy? New technology can bring great new benefits but also potential problems. We take apart Google's argument that its Street View feature is not an invasion of privacy.
Added: June 11, 2007
Play or Download "Point of View"

Quarantine Quagmire
Should Andrew Speaker have boarded that plane? This week we look at the ethical principles involved in Andrew Speaker's decision to board an international flight after being told by health officials to stay put.
Added: June 4, 2007
Play or Download "Quarantine Quagmire"

It's Just Gas
Why are so many Americans travelling this weekend, even with gas prices so high? This week we try to resolve the paradox: Americans are concerned about increasing gas prices, which are much higher this year than last year, and yet more Americans will be travelling this weekend than last Memorial Day.
Added: May 28, 2007
Play or Download "It's Just Gas"

Maybe I Would Jump Off a Bridge
Listeners submit their favorite illogical comebacks. This week we look at some cliche retorts.
Added: May 21, 2007
Play or Download "Maybe I Would Jump Off a Bridge"

On the Books
Do the shrinking book review sections in newspapers signify the death of literary culture? This week we examine the discourse surrounding newspaper book reviews versus litblogs on the heels of the decision by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and other newspapers to cut back on their book review sections.
Added: May 14, 2007
Play or Download "On the Books"

We'll Always Have Paris
Added: May 7, 2007
Should Paris Hilton serve hard time? Paris Hilton has been sentenced to 45 days in jail. This week we look at arguments that her celebrity status affected her case.
Play or Download "We'll Always Have Paris"

All Abuzz
Added: April 30, 2007
The Case of the Disappearing Bees. The United States agricultural sector is suffering from a bee die-off that now appears to have global implications. We look at some of the proposed causes, including cell phone radiation and a new fungus.
Play or Download "All Abuzz"

Eye on Imus
Added: April 16, 2007
"Free country" and "what about" arguments. This week, we look at the controversy surrounding Don Imus and the logic behind the punditry.
Play or Download "Eye on Imus"

Hard Cell
Added: April 9, 2007
The FCC refuses to lift the ban on cell phone use in the skies. This week, we look at the FCC's termination of their inquiry into cell phone use on airplanes and we see if their evidence is sufficient to reach their conclusion.
Play or Download "Hard Cell"

Cross Words
Added: April 2, 2007
Does mental exercise help stave off Alzheimer's Disease?
Play or Download "Cross Words"

Pet Peeved
Added: March 26, 2007
Is the pet food panic warranted? This week, Menu Foods announced an enormous recall of its wet pet food lines after reports of kidney failure. We look at some of the extreme conclusions that pet owners are making based on the latest scare.
Play or Download "Pet Peeved"

Listener Logic #4
Added: March 19, 2007
Emails to the lsatpodcast@review.com Inbox. 1) Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and the truth about confessions 2) Gun control in Washington DC 3) How is business size related to labor shortages
Play or Download "Listener Logic #4"

Save the Day
Added: March 12, 2007
Should we extend Daylight Saving Time? DST redistributes time, taking from the morning and giving to the evening. This week, we examine the argument for extending Daylight Saving Time.
Play or Download "Save the Day"

Poll Dance
Added: March 5, 2007
An LLIEDL guide to reading polls. With the horserace of 2008 already on, it’s important to cast a critical eye on polls used by pundits for political purposes.
Play or Download "Poll Dance"

Cocoa-Nuts
Added: February 26, 2007
Will cocoa keep us young? Scientists at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science presented the health benefits of cocoa flavanols, but the presentation and some of the research was sponsored by candy-makers Mars, Inc. Is that reason enough to doubt their conclusions?
Play or Download "Cocoa-Nuts"

Thoughts on 'Thoughts on Music'
Added: February 19, 2007
Should Digital Rights Management become a thing of the past? This week, we dissect Steve Jobs' open letter to the record labels.
Play or Download "Thoughts on 'Thoughts on Music'"

Gadget Ban!
Added: February 12, 2007
Can New Yorkers be trusted crossing city streets with iPods, cell phones, and BlackBerry's? This week we look at the explosion of arguments against NY State Senator Carl Kruger's proposed gadget ban.
Play or Download "Gadget Ban!"

Commercial Bowl
Added: February 5, 2007
A look at the year's most anticipated ads. At over 5 million dollars per minute, there's a lot of pressure on Super Bowl commercials to do their job. But what is their job? A commercial is an argument, but how do we judge its reasoning?
Play or Download "Commercial Bowl"

Measure for Measure
Added: January 29, 2007
How do we judge the strength of our economy? President Bush says that the economy is growing and on the move. Senator Jim Webb believes the opposite to be true. We see how the indicators they choose skew their conclusions.
Play or Download "Measure for Measure"

Listener Logic #3
Added: January 22, 2007
Emails to the lsatpodcast@review.com inbox. 1) Natural is not the opposite of pollutant. 2) Industry funding is not sufficient to conclude bias 3) Arguments for and against mentioning God in the pledge of allegiance.
Play or Download "Listener Logic #4"

Trust Augmentation
Added: January 15, 2007
Bush gambles big on preconditions and assumptions. This week we analyze Bush's argument for a troop increase, identifying its key features, its strengths and vulnerabilities, and the fundamental assumption that more troops will lead to more security.
Play or Download "Trust Augmentation"

Weather or Not
Added: January 8, 2007
Is global warming to blame for warm winter weather? Everyone’s talking about the weather, and it’s not just small talk. This week, we explore the logic of pinning the blame for this year’s winter weather anomalies on global warming.
Play or Download "Weather or Not"

Health Craze
Added: December 18, 2006
What is causing the decline in breast cancer rates? Multiple reports this week attempt to pinpoint causes for breast ancer. We examine the strengths and weaknesses of these theories.
Play or Download "Health Craze"

What’s Next? The Slippery Slope of Food Regulation
Added: December 11, 2006
New York City has banned trans fats in restaurants. Restaurant owners and libertarians object. We look at arguments for and against, focusing on the slippery slope fallacy.
Play or Download "What’s Next? The Slippery Slope of Food Regulation"

True Colors
Added: December 4, 2006
What makes a racist? The media is abuzz with accusations of racism, from Michael Richards to the New York City Police Department. We look at flaws on both sides of the accusations.
Play or Download "True Colors"

Borat's Nest
Added: November 20, 2006
Do the lawsuits against the cultural satire have merit? Some people criticize the plaintiffs as being just out to make a buck. Others say that a release form is a release form and that should end the question. But maybe there are relevant factors being overlooked.
Play or Download "Borat's Nest"

Listener Logic #2
Added: November 13, 2006
Emails to the lsatpodcast@review.com Inbox. 1) Part-to-whole flaws in election results spin; 2) Ahmanedinijad's Holocaust denial; 3) The "MacArthur" option and war analogies.
Play or Download "Listener Logic #2"

(Hypo)Critical Thinking
Added: November 6, 2006
Looking for substance in the Haggard-Jones mess. The allegations against an Evangelical leader were meant to affect a Colorado ballot initiative, but they don't quite hit the target.
Play or Download "(Hypo)Critical Thinking"

Putting the "Ad" in Ad Hominem
Added: October 30, 2006
Do negative political ads go too far? Sometimes it's a fine line between an ad that substantively attacks an opponent's position and an ad that solely attacks an opponents character.
Play or Download "Putting the "Ad" in Ad Hominem"

Madonna and Child
Added: October 23, 2006
Should the pop icon adopt baby David? Andrea Peyser of the Washington Post chastises Madonna for attempting to adopt an African child; others cheer her for saving a life.
Play or Download "Madonna and Child"

Hard-Hitting, Side Splitting
Added: October 16, 2006
Is the Daily Show news, or is the news a joke? A new study claims that the Daily Show contains as much substance as traditional news programs, and bloggers are using it to confirm their conflicting opinions about the show.
Play or Download "Hard-Hitting, Side Splitting"

Foley-mania!
Added: October 9, 2006
The actions of one congressman have set off a firestorm of debate. This week we focus on the logic behind arguments for and against Dennis Hastert resigning as Speaker of the House.
Play or Download "Foley-mania!"

Shop Till You Drop
Added: October 2, 2006
Should compulsive shopping be considered a mental disorder? A recent study finds that men are equally as likely to suffer from compulsive shopping as women, and advocates including compulsive shopping in the official list of mental disorders.
Play or Download "Shop Till You Drop"

They Must Be On Drugs
Added: September 25, 2006
Will the new Wal-mart prescription plan benefit consumers? This week Wal-mart announced plans to offer $4 prescriptions on many generic drugs. We apply the logic of the LSAT to the argument that this will be a significant benefit to consumers.
Play or Download "They Must Be On Drugs"

Hold the Toasts
Added: September 18, 2006
Do drinkers earn more money, or do people with money drink more? This week, in order to demonstrate ways in which causal arguments can go wrong we take apart the findings of a new study purporting to show that social drinking leads to an increase in income.
Play or Download "Hold the Toasts"

Before 9/11 Was A Premise
Added: September 11, 2006
A historical event becomes an uber-premise. In the years since September 11, 2001, we have used the events that occurred that day to justify national, political, and individual conclusions, even when its relevance has been questionable.
Play or Download "Before 9/11 Was A Premise"

Listener Logic #1
Added: September 4, 2006
Ad Hominem Attacks on Judge Taylor, Questions About Analogies, Shortening the NFL Preseason
Play or Download "Listener Logic #1"

Unchartered Territory
Added: August 28, 2006
Statistical flaws in the case against charter schools. New statistics released this week demonstrate that charter schools are not an acceptable alternative to public schools. Or do they?
Play or Download "Unchartered Territory"

The Pluto Principle
Added: August 21, 2006
The Pluto Principle: Does the new definition of "planet" make sense? In this week's podcast, we look at the arguments for and against the proposed new definition of 'planet' that would bring the total number of planets to 12, perhaps opening the door to many more.
Play or Download "The Pluto Principle"

I Know This Isn't Politically Correct, But...
Added: August 14, 2006
Is passenger profiling a logical response to aviation security threats? Following the arrest of would-be suicide bombers, we look at arguments for and against racial, religious, and ethnic profiling at airports.
Play or Download "I Know This Isn't Politically Correct, But..."

What Does it All Mean?
Added: August 7, 2006
Interpretations of Evidence in the Connecticut Democratic primary. This week, we examine the punditry surrounding the upcoming Connecticut primary elections to demonstrate the importance of being skeptical about interpretations of data.
Play or Download "What Does it All Mean?"

Say it Ain't Sufficient, Floyd
Added: July 31, 2006
Does a positive doping test mean that Floyd Landis was positively doping? In this week's podcast, we try to avoid jumping to conclusions that aren't necessarily true as we examine the case against Floyd Landis.
Play or Download "Say it Ain't Sufficient, Floyd"

These Arguments Are Not Spare Parts
Added: July 24, 2006
Bush equivocates, but his detractors fare worse by LSAT standards. In this week's podcast, we discuss the logical missteps taken both by proponents and opponents of the vetoed stem cell research bill.
Play or Download "These Arguments Are Not Spare Parts"

War on Analogies
Added: July 24, 2006
Leaders use analogies to justify military action and sometimes military inaction. Does their logic hold up to LSAT standards? In this podcast, we focus on comparison flaws, examining arguments made by leaders and the media regarding the current Middle East crisis.
Play or Download "War on Analogies"

Money Talks?: Solving the Problem of Terrorism
Added: July 24, 2006
Does the latest revelation of a terrorist threat really mean that New York needs more money from the Department of Homeland Security? In the first podcast of the series, we examine the recent call from New York City lawmakers to increase anti-terrorism funding for New York City in the wake of recently revealed plots.
Play or Download "Money Talks?: Solving the Problem of Terrorism"