Graeme Wood, staff writer for The Atlantic, joins TheRemnant for the first time to discuss the future of the Taliban, the psychology of extremists, and why, depressingly, America’s political situation may only get crazier. For the sake of levity, Jonah is also sure to ask about Graeme’s experiences hitchhiking across Afghanistan and bootlegging liquor in Iraq, as well as the quirks of being bilingual. Tune in additionally for an update on Jonah’s book collection, but stick around for your periodical reminder not to immanentize the eschaton. Show Notes: - Graeme’s author page at The Atlantic - Graeme on the future of ISIS - Graeme on understanding the Taliban - The overrepresentation of converts among jihadists - Evangelicals who don’t go to church - Eric Voegelin’s New Science of Politics - Is the Muslim world ignoring the plight of the Uyghurs? - Graeme’s profile of Peter Turchin - The great man theory of history

Peter Suderman, Reason magazine’s features editor and cocktail connoisseur, makes his first appearance on The Remnant today to preach the gospel of Kanye West. He also gives his thoughts on the Afghanistan withdrawal, the potential of Bitcoin to replace currency as we know it, and the government’s propensity to, as Jonah puts it, “spend like a pimp with a week to live.” Is it finally time to buy gold? Does anyone still believe that Spider-Man: No Way Home won’t be a crossover movie? And will Jonah’s rendition of “Rapper’s Delight” become the new Remnant theme song?   Show Notes: -Peter’s author page at Reason -Cocktails with Suderman -Macheath spends like a sailor -Stein’s law -Money Mischief, by Milton Friedman -Peter on the GOP’s lack of a clear economic policy -The sweet taste of power -Eco-Wilsonians -The Parents Music Resource Center

In the last few years, the conservative movement has gone through a number of obvious changes. But Jonah believes he’s stayed consistent in his views, and uses today’s Ruminant to explain why. He also touches on the end of Biden’s eviction moratorium, the legacy of the “intellectual dark web,” and how hyperpolarization is rotting peoples’ brains. Tune in to hear Jonah’s final thoughts on the Afghanistan tragedy, but stick around to see if he can refrain from giggling at Sidney Powell’s potential disbarment. Show Notes: - The Dispatch’s Afghanistan editorial - The Dispatch Podcast on the Afghanistan evacuation - The Economist on Afghanistan’s consequences - Supreme Court ends Biden’s eviction moratorium - Robert Reich, Jonah’s BFF - “Right-wing extremists” - The sweet taste of vaccines - Just deserts - “Leave the rest to me” - Penetrating analysis from Bret Weinstein - Jonah on the “intellectual dark web” - Last week’s ranty-yet-sentimental Ruminant - “Our people hate the right people” - The Remnant with Charlie Cooke - The Wednesday G-File

On today’s episode, Jonah, now back in his empty nest in D.C., desperately requires a distraction from the oppressive August heat. Fortunately, RealClearPolitics associate editor and fan-favorite guest A.B. Stoddard has just the topic: infrastructure. Exceedingly rank punditry ensues, as they explore divisions within the Democratic Party, racial progress in America, and why moderate Democrats find it difficult to be loud about their moderation. Along the way, they also discuss whether COVID or the Afghanistan tragedy can be blamed for President Biden’s declining approval ratings. Brace your bingo cards. Show Notes: - A.B.’s author page at RealClearPolitics - The Wednesday G-File - Uphill breaks down the latest infrastructure developments - Hakeem Jefferies and Josh Gottheimer launch a PAC to defend incumbents - Drive-thru voting in Houston - The Remnant with Tim Carney - Suicide bombings in Kabul - Biden’s plummeting approval ratings - Jonah on invisible but deadly entities - Republican anger at the unvaccinated - A.B. on Ron DeSantis and COVID in Florida

David French guest-hosts The Remnant today while Jonah returns home from his western voyage. He’s joined by Klon Kitchen, expert on national security and defense technology at the American Enterprise Institute. Together, they explore the state of the Afghanistan withdrawal, deficiencies in American cybersecurity, and social media censorship at the hands of Big Tech. Should the Taliban be understood as a unified or factional entity? Can we expect meaningful Big Tech legislation to be implemented anytime soon? And will David’s DC Comics bias preclude any discussion of Tobey Maguire’s inevitable appearance in Spider-Man: No Way Home?   Show Notes: -The Kitchen Sync -David reflects on the War in Afghanistan -The state of the Afghanistan evacuation -2034: A Novel of the Next World War -Klon on rethinking government access to consumer data -Klon’s report on Section 230

On today’s Ruminant, recorded live from the pungent parking lot of a California West Marine, Yiddish terms are required to describe Jonah’s emotional state. With his daughter Lucy leaving home, he processes his grief by exploring John Rawls’ original position, existentialist movie-making, and why American popular culture is much more conservative than most people realize. Afterward, all sentimentality fades away as an epic rant on the situation in Afghanistan and the dismal state of American politics commences. Animated by unprecedented annoyance, Jonah argues that President Biden has revealed himself to be plainly unfit for office. But that doesn’t make Trump look any more appealing.   Show Notes: -Nine Days, which plunged Jonah into an existential crisis -Philosophy 101 -Jonah’s pro-life ruminations -Sweet victory -The Remnant with Eli Lake -The Dispatch Podcast on Afghanistan -Jonah’s uncontroversial tweet which provoked nothing but love and praise

Bloomberg Opinion columnist Eli Lake joins Jonah for a thorough discussion of the tragic situation in Afghanistan. Is President Biden’s leadership to blame for the catastrophe? Did Biden ignore warnings that withdrawal would result in a Taliban takeover? And how did the Afghanistan war go from being celebrated on Saturday Night Live to such a tragic conclusion? Things aren’t all doom and gloom, however, as Eli is sure to end on a note of optimism. The American experiment has endured challenges on the global stage in the past, but rejuvenation has also been accomplished. Besides, America’s adversaries have plenty of their own problems to contend with.   Show Notes: -Eli’s page at Bloomberg Opinion -Eli’s review of Jonathan Rauch’s The Constitution of Knowledge -It happened  -David Sanger: “For Biden, Images of Defeat He Wanted to Avoid” -Jonah: “Dishonor in Afghanistan” -Well this is awkward -Eli: “Framed and Guilty” -Murphyism -“Suckers and losers” -The great debate -Eli joins Bari Weiss’ symposium -Biden’s latest remarks, which may or may not date this episode

Today’s Ruminant finds Jonah deprived of air conditioning in the middle of brutal D.C. heat, baffled by inexplicable decisions made by figures across the political spectrum. With the Taliban advancing in Afghanistan, progressives arguing that ACTUALLY, kids don’t need to master math and reading, and President Biden considering vaccine mandates for interstate travel, there’s plenty to be annoyed about. Tune in also to hear Jonah’s thoughts on liberal nostalgia, socioeconomic divisions, and the propensity of the politically-obsessed to freak out about minor things. Oh, and bring a squeegee. Show Notes: - The Morning Dispatch breaks down the Afghanistan situation - An emergency Dispatch Podcast on Afghanistan - The Ethics and Public Policy Center’s Honor Among Nations - International community, eh? - Trump’s enduring delusions - Frederick M. Hess on Oregon’s “soft bigotry of low expectations” - David Brooks reflects on Bobos in Paradise - The Wednesday G-File - Sombart on socialism - Jonah on royalty, real and imagined - The Remnant with Jonathan Adler - Biden contemplates vaccine mandates for interstate travel - Amy Coney Barrett upholds Indiana University’s vaccine mandate

Charles C.W. Cooke, National Review’s Anglo-American purveyor of liberty and golf carts, returns to The Remnant for a spirited discussion of accents, constitutionalism, and all things Floridian. Although Ron DeSantis has faced persistent criticism, Charlie believes he got COVID right, and explains why. With many references to James Madison. Meanwhile, Jonah remains puzzled by the right’s fondness for Hungary, the increasingly imperialistic nature of the presidency, and Charles’ blissful ignorance of foreign policy. At the end of it all, a fundamental question remains that only listeners can answer: What’s the best theme song in TV history? Show Notes: - The Wednesday G-File - The great debate - Bill Maher defends Ron DeSantis - Rabbit season - Charlie’s takedown of Rebekah Jones - Hungary eyes - “The Salazar Option” - Achieving our Country, by Richard Rorty

Case Western University professor Jonathan Adler brings his fluency in legalese to The Remnant today for a conversation that would make Milton Hershey proud. In freewheeling fashion, he and Jonah explore the constitutional implications of the eviction moratorium, whether The Suicide Squad is worth watching, and how mitigating the threat of climate change through nuclear power won’t produce an abundance of three-eyed fish. Stick around for a thorough discussion of the principles on which the conservative movement should be based, which causes Jonah and Jonathan to rapidly age into a pair of ornery octogenarians.   Show Notes: -Jonathan’s first Remnant appearance -Jonathan’s unique take on the peanut butter cup -Laurence Tribe defends the eviction moratorium -“A rare act of presidential civil disobedience” -Is the Supreme Court the Guardian of the Constitution? by Robert A. Licht -The Constitution in Congress, by David P. Currie -The latest IPCC report -“I didn’t get rich by writing a lot of checks” -Hankering for Hungary -Kevin Williamson on what’s rotten in Denmark -“The Salazar Option” -Jonathan and Henry Olsen debate fusionism

The drive-time Remnant format returns today to prelude a new era for The Dispatch. With Nick Pompella now off to the wilds of Indiana, Jonah, Ryan, and Guy are left to explore the mad world of D.C. living and marmite advertising as a trio. Brace your bingo cards for a wild ride, as Jonah reflects on his conversation with Steak-umm social media guru Nathan Allebach, Ryan ponders the origin of “Republicans pounce,” and Guy previews an epic oral history of The Simpsons. Was Marbury v. Madison wrongly decided? What’s so funny about the sweet taste of candy? And who will succeed Nick as the Alfred to Jonah’s Batman? Show Notes: - The Remnant with Nathan Allebach - Joe Isuzu - Advertising reaches its peak - Guy and Ryan on The Comments Section podcast - Salty campaigning - “These Superbowl commercials are weird” - The Dispatch Podcast on the eviction moratorium extension - Republicans pounce on Cori Bush  - Vindication for Jonah on “Latinx” - The Wednesday G-File - Jonah’s hatred of the Brookings Institution, colorized - “We do, we do” - Coalitional instincts

In the past, The Remnant has hosted prominent politicians, scholars, and media personalities. But none of them have made Jonah as excited as today’s guest: Nathan Allebach, manager of the Steak-umm Twitter account. In a conversation laden with meat-related puns, Jonah and Nathan take a deep dive into the bizarre world of social media, where fast food brands often offer greater intellectual nuance than most political commentators. Neil deGrasse Tyson, online abuse, and the origins of Nathan’s glorious enterprise are all discussed, as Jonah examines whether we’d be better off without the internet. At the end of it all, one vital hot-button question remains unanswered: Are hot dogs sandwiches? Show Notes: - Wednesday’s “news”letter - Where the magic happens - The Joe Rogan episode that changed everything - The Twitter verification saga - Major beef with Neil deGrasse Tyson - Rationalia, eh? - Vindication for the Baconator - What a time to be alive

Chris Stirewalt is back on The Remnant to discuss how we can make politics boring again. As Chris observes, we’ve entered a “wilderness of grifts,” where opportunistic nationalism and Lincoln Project-style chicanery are all the rage. Meanwhile, a new group is trying to turn Joe Biden into FDR, factions on the right are embracing the progressive vision of government, and rage clicks are poisoning the political well. What can we learn from Lincoln in this bizarre moment? How do Americans really feel about abortion? And will Chris finally make a pious man out of Jonah?   Show Notes: -The Morning Dispatch breaks down the infrastructure negotiations -The Jane Mayer piece that made Jonah’s morning -Jonah explores Trump’s grip on the GOP -Ave, true to Trump -Trump’s endorsement goes awry in Texas -The Remnant with Dan McLaughlin -Biden’s team of rivals -The Great Debate, by Yuval Levin -Jonah’s decadent dysfunction -Jonah on the implications of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health -The real great debate -A musical mystery -Chris’ Instagram, where the magic happens -Kevin Williamson on the big white ghetto

Today’s ranty Ruminant finds Jonah alternately perplexed and irritated by the state of the COVID-19 pandemic, illiberalism in politics, and folks who think Twitter is real life. He begins by digging into the CDC’s revised guidance on masks and the possible implications of America’s stalling vaccine campaign. From there, things get nerdy, as Jonah explores the state of conservative institutions and weirdness of internet culture. Any cartoonists listening should stick around until the end for some striking inspiration. Show Notes: - Christian Schneider on anti-racism - Jonah on the new mask mandates - Wednesday’s “news”letter - Last year’s kooky Washington Times piece on masks - Crisis and Leviathan, by Robert Higgs - The Dispatch Podcast on the CDC and January 6 - The Remnant with Tim Carney - Marty Makary on the push to vaccinate children - Laura K. Field’s essay on the Claremont Institute - The Remnant with Dan McLaughlin - Scarlett Johansson sues Disney

American Enterprise Institute scholar and fan-favorite Remnant guest Tim Carney joins Jonah for a wide-ranging discussion of obscure political philosophy, the state of the COVID-19 pandemic, and why babies are good. In these strange, often distressing times, it can be easy to take a pessimistic view of the conservative movement and America more broadly. Tim, however, believes we should be hopeful on both of these fronts. What does it mean to be an old individualist? Will new mask mandates presage a return to lockdowns? And does it really take a village to raise a child? Show Notes: - Tim’s page at the Washington Examiner - Khaya Himmelman’s profile of Mike Lindell - The Remnant with Dan McLaughlin - “Crisis actors” - Laura Ingraham’s oscars - “Pelosi Republicans” - Patriotic cuisine - The CDC revises its mask guidance - The Wednesday G-File - Washington Examiner: “Vaccinate India” - Making the U.S. more family-friendly - David Brooks: “The Nuclear Family was a Mistake”

Unlike Ozzie Smith on his visit to Springfield, Jonah didn’t fall off the face of the Earth during his northeastern excursion last week. Today, he’s back in control of The Remnant, and invites National Review’s Dan McLaughlin onto the show for a discussion of what the future holds for the Republican Party. Together, they explore the creation of the January 6 select committee, how the role of a political commentator differs from that of a political operative, and whether fusionism will survive the challenges currently facing the right. It’s an episode dedicated to the common good.   Show Notes: -Dan’s page at National Review -Dan’s call for Trump’s impeachment -The Morning Dispatch breaks down the January 6 committee -Trump profits from false election fraud claims -Ali Alexander and the Capitol riot -Liz Cheney and Kevin McCarthy’s ongoing feud -NR’s “Against Trump” issue -Dan’s views on fusionism and Republican history -Jonah’s views on fusionism -Dan responds to Adrian Vermeule

Chris Stirewalt is back in the driver’s seat on today’s Remnant in place of Jonah. This time, his guest is Robert Pondiscio, a newly minted fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and expert on education policy. Together, they explore how various deficiencies in American schooling can be overcome. Can patriotic civics and history be taught without indoctrinating pupils? How significant of a threat is critical race theory? And will discussing their own high school experiences force Chris and Robert to confront painful repressed memories? Show Notes: - Robert’s page at AEI - The National Assessment of Educational Progress - Robert: “How U.S. Schools Became Obsessed with Race” - The influence of Horace Mann - Robert on what the critical race theory debate overlooks

Jonah’s vocal double Chris Stirewalt seizes control of The Remnant today in Dostoyevskian fashion. His guest? CNN’s Harry Enten, who shares Chris’ obsession with polling data. The two explore why polling in 2020 was so inaccurate, the quirks of online polling, and why Republicans who answer polls tend not to represent Republicans at large. They also dig into demographic divisions over vaccine uptake and how vaccine skeptics can be swayed. Tune in for incisive political analysis, but stick around for a considered discussion of which diet cola is America’s finest. Show Notes: - Harry’s author page at CNN - Jeff Bezos casually visits outer space - 2020’s major polling blunders - Inaccurate polling in 1980 and 2012 - How the polls did in 2018 - Max Boot complains about vaccination rates in Republican states - Demographic trends in the vaccine rollout - The vaccine rollout’s partisan divide

Get your bingo cards ready, because Yuval Levin is back on The Remnant today to counteract Alex Tabarrok’s libertarian influence. Which side is the aggressor in the culture war? How will history remember the Trump era? And why is the left substituting relativism for absolutism? Tune in for answers to these vital questions (which include plenty of ostentatious references to Leo Strauss), but stick around to hear Yuval deliver a heartening affirmation of American exceptionalism. The United States is facing challenges, and we have much to fix, but we have even more to be proud of. As any immigrant would tell you, there really is no greater country than America today. Show Notes: - The week’s first Remnant with Alex Tabarrok - Kevin Drum: “If You Hate the Culture Wars, Blame Liberals” - Tim Miller: “Who’s Actually Responsible for the ‘Culture War?’” - Jonah’s G-File responding to both Drum and Miller - Yuval’s third book, The Great Debate - CPAC attendees applaud Biden’s missed vaccine goal - Jonah’s Twitter debate with Nikole Hannah-Jones - The New York Times’ tragic January 6 video - Leo Strauss on liberal education - Gen. Mark Milley feared a Trump “Reichstag moment” - Fame and the Founding Fathers, by Douglass Adair

Alex Tabarrok, perhaps the world’s sole Canadian libertarian, joins The Remnant today for the first time. Inflation is on the rise, the vaccine rollout is stalling, and illiberalism is resurgent. In other words, there are plenty of demanding issues for Americans to be concerned about. Thankfully, Tabarrok has a range of considered policy solutions for Jonah to explore. How can we revitalize democracy? Would open borders work? And should we abandon advanced civilization now before the machines destroy us all?   Show Notes: -Alex’s website -“Inflation, no chance …” -Jonah on the wackiness of vaccine paranoia -Newsmax outcrazies itself -The Mayor Quimby of anti-vaxxers -Jonah on the importance of character -Ezra Klein on the good old days -Alex’s case for open borders -“Born American, but in the Wrong Place” -The Baumol effect -Home Economics, by Nick Shulz -The elite master’s degrees that don’t pay off

On today’s Ruminant, Jonah discusses everything from obscure existentialist philosophy to the realism of zombie TV. Rank punditry is first on the docket, as Jonah examines Biden’s poor handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal and Republican efforts to whitewash the events of January 6. Afterward, Jonah defends his recent comments about Tucker Carlson and explores the world’s progress on vaccinations. Is Western civilization buckling under the weight of liberal guilt? Should America be the world’s policeman? And will Ramesh Ponnuru ever persuade Jonah to change his mind about the death penalty? Show Notes: - Biden brings the Afghanistan withdrawal date forward - The New York Times’ devastating January 6 video  - The latest Dispatch Podcast - Jonah’s debate with Joshua Tait - Jonah’s final word on critical race theory - The week’s second Remnant with Will Saletan - “I’m not getting anything…”  - Jonah’s Tucker tweet, which caused no controversy - Trouble in Tokyo - Republican craziness over Biden’s push to “knock on doors” 

Slate’s Will Saletan joins The Remnant once again to discuss Trump’s lunatic lawsuit against big tech, Biden’s first six months, and the endless debate over critical race theory in education. Plus, in a shocking turn of events, Will challenges Jonah on his oft-repeated line that America has two minority parties, instead arguing that both Democrats and Republicans are engaging in a war on reality fueled by the strangeness of the internet. Be ready with your bingo cards, because Jonah’s references to defunding the police, the term “Latinx,” and the annoyingness of teachers’ unions arrive at an unprecedented rate. Show Notes: - Will’s page at Slate - Will on Trump’s crusade against democracy - Trump’s insane press conference - Jonah: “Yes, progressives. You really do need Joe Manchin” - Yesterday’s “news”letter - Tourism in 2021 - “The American Mythology of Racial Progress” - Trigger warnings are triggering - Facebook’s astonishing list of genders

Only Remnant listeners fluent in legalese should subject themselves to today’s discussion of Supreme Court jurisprudence, in which fan-favorite classical liberal Ilya Shapiro returns to claim his coveted gold jacket. Jonah and Ilya explore what the court’s conservative majority will mean for future cases and whether the conservative legal movement should adapt its philosophy in the wake of Bostock v. Clayton County. They also touch on some of the most controversial issues raised by recent Supreme Court decisions, including Arizona’s voting laws and free speech in public schools. David and Sarah, eat your heart out! Show Notes: - Ilya’s latest book, Supreme Disorder - The mysterious shadow docket - Fulton v. City of Philadelphia - “After Bostock, We’re All Textualists Now” - Walter Olson in The Dispatch on HIPAA - The Supreme Court upholds Arizona voting restrictions - Ilya: “The Voter Suppression Lie” - Advisory Opinions on the Supreme Court’s cheerleader case - Ilya’s campaign for the Falls Church Schoolboard, shamelessly plugged - Ilya explains why he’s running

Today’s ranty Ruminant features killer whales, hunter-gatherers, and a special appearance by Jonah’s importunate dingo. It also includes as much kvetching about partisan craziness and misunderstood aspects of intellectual history as you’d expect. Jonah begins by discussing the latest Trump tax scandal, the root cause of Tucker Carlson’s apparent insanity, and the GOP brouhaha over the January 6 commission. He then reflects on Donald Rumsfeld’s time in the White House. The show concludes with a mini-commercial for Suicide of the West, gratuitous shots at Rousseau and Marx, and reflections on the Fourth of July. It’s a veritable Goldbergian greatest hits. Show Notes: - Andy McCarthy on Manhattan’s Ahab - Scott Gottleib’s new book, Uncontrolled Spread - Encouraging job news - Kevin McCarthy’s response to the January 6 commission - Paul Gosar and Nick Fuentes, BFFs - Thursday’s Twitter-bashing Remnant with Mo Elleithee - Somebody’s (still) watching me… - Tucker blames the FBI for the Capitol riot - Donald Rumsfeld and (gasp!) Leo Strauss - Ezra Klein’s recent podcast on how good we used to have it

The Hangover has now concluded, and Chris Stirewalt thought it appropriate to provide an epilogue to the series. If the last four years have taught us anything, Chris observes, it’s that “people are terrible at predicting the future.” After the GOP’s victory in 2016, nobody could have guessed that the party would be swept out of power four years later, or that our lives would be upended by a pandemic. Going forward, there’s no way of knowing whether the GOP will overcome its current craziness or completely self-destruct, but the rot within the party reveals as much about America itself as it does Republican politicians. Making our republic healthier and stronger is a job for all of us, and we can accomplish it by engaging with our institutions and communities. This series has been a pleasure to put together, and we at The Dispatch send our thanks not only to all of Chris’ guests, but to all of you for listening.