The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg

In “The Remnant," Jonah Goldberg enlists a “Cannonball Run”-style cast of stars, has-beens, and never-weres to address the most pressing issues of the day. Is America doomed? Has liberalism failed? And will mankind ever invent something better than ‘90s-era “Simpsons?” Mixing political history, pop culture, rank punditry, and shameless book-plugging, Goldberg and guests will have the kinds of conversations we wish they featured on TV. And the nudity will (almost) always be tasteful. Brace your bingo cards.

News
Politics
626
Visions of China
Jim Geraghty, National Review’s esteemed purveyor of punditry and “Morning Jolt” mastermind, joins Jonah today to become the Remnant’s first 11-time visitor (his very own Episode 11, if you will…). The pair explore the current state of the COVID-19 pandemic, including recent rumblings that the virus might have originated in a Wuhan lab after all, before examining the Republican Party post-Cheney and ongoing confusion over masks. Should bats be anally swabbed? Are beets toxic? And will the Irish and English ever get along? Listen closely to hear these vital questions answered.   Show Notes: -Jim’s page at National Review -An eerily prescient pandemic piece from 2017 -Jim: “The Taboo on the COVID Lab-Leak Theory Lifts” -That time a fire at a Russian lab released smallpox -Jim: “The Wuhan Lab-Leak Hypothesis Goes Mainstream” -Last week’s first Remnant with Klon Kitchen -Last week’s second Remnant with Niall Ferguson -Jim: “No, Really, Why Is Joe Biden Wearing His Mask Around Other Vaccinated People?” -Bush declares “Mission Accomplished” -Biden’s private, ego-boosting meeting with historians -The National Review editors discuss Liz Cheney -Jim clarifies his Liz Cheney position
89 min
627
Drive-Time Ruminant 2: Bamboo-galoo
Watch out, Howard Stern, because the FM radio Remnant format is back for another nerdtastic broadcast. Jonah is joined once again by Ryan, a covert NBC operative working to undermine The Dispatch from within, Guy, resident Anglophobe and Mark Steyn impersonator who will soon be releasing his own album of old standards, and Nick, Jonah’s long-suffering research assistant who might be America’s only involuntary Hoosier. The quartet explores pertinent topics of the moment, including Israel, mask mandates, all-American conspiracy theories, and the travails of Liz Cheney. But they also indulge in some less substantial discussion, and read some of their favorite listener reviews from recent months. How do you feel about the drive-time format? Enthusiastic, antipathetic, or indifferent? Whatever the case, let us know, because as this episode demonstrates, we pay attention to all of your feedback. Show Notes: - Liz Cheney clashes with Bret Baier - The National Review editors discuss Cheney - “The Paranoid Style in American Politics” - February’s Remnant with Joe Uscinski on conspiracy theories - Jonah on connecting police to slave patrols - The kraken sleeps  - The great bamboo conspiracy - The Wednesday G-File - Guy’s Sinatra piece, shamelessly plugged - George P. Bush battles the English language - Today’s Morning Joe, to be viewed at your own risk - The week’s first Remnant with Klon Kitchen - The week’s second Remnant with Niall Ferguson
66 min
628
Niall Ferguson: God Emperor of Doom
Historian Niall Ferguson returns to talk about his new book (with a glorious, darkly comic cover), Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe. As Sven from SNL might say, this episode has it all: monkey’s paw swag-bags, the phrase “Hunnish data,” and the frighteningly named “three-body problem.” Allow Niall to explain the human tendency to prepare for one disaster scenario while another hits us square in the jaw, the reason why “we may be forced by companies to do Zoom” even after the pandemic ends, and why book tours are still delirium-inducing even when done from the comfort of one’s home. Oh, and stick around for a particularly fantastic celebrity impression in the show’s final moments.  Show notes: Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe Some incredible science fiction that has crossed over from China, The Three-Body Problem Neal Stephenson’s Snowcrash, which is life-changingly good Nick Bloom, “Why working from home will stick” Feynman and the Challenger disaster One of Niall’s previous books, The Great Degeneration “Crazy ideas in Thucydides’ time” Flagellant orders Keith Thomas’ Religion and the Decline of Magic The World Economic Forum’s interestingly-timed 2020 Global Risks Report
70 min
629
Kitchen Sync Realism
Newly minted AEI fellow Klon Kitchen joins Jonah today for an uber-wonky discussion of foreign policy and cybersecurity. The pair explore how the U.S. should respond to recent cyber attacks, the merits of Section 230, and the distinction between dumb and smart hawkishness in national security. Should we revive letters of marque? Can Jonah ever discuss China without cursing Tom Friedman? And will Klon’s love of all things canine lead him to join the fabled pantheon of Remnant regulars?   Show Notes: -The Kitchen Sync -The colonial pipeline hack -Letters of marque and the Constitution -Defending forward -Jonah: “We’re not ‘competing’ with China. But politicians love to make that claim.” -Jonah’s dear friend Tom Friedman on overpopulation -The SolarWinds hack -Section 230 explained -Klon explains quantum computing -Hillary Clinton defines progressivism
65 min
630
Wake Up Little Hawley
The Ruminant returns to its usual format today after last week’s drive-time diversion, as Jonah is once again placed under the unsettling eyes of several silent spectators. After exploring the history of American censorship and the current state of free speech, Jonah dives headfirst into the ongoing Liz Cheney controversy and lingering nuttiness of Donald Trump within the GOP. Will Josh Hawley ever cease to irritate? Is morality hardwired into babies? And why do the women in Jonah’s life all have awkwardly positioned birthdays? Show Notes: - Jonah’s latest column - Jonah on political religions - Ross Douthat: “When Wokeness Becomes Weakness” - Banned in Boston - “The movie's over, it's four o'clock, and we're in trouble deep” - Charlie Kirk, political genius - Josh Hawley rants about free speech - Just Babies, by Paul Bloom - National Review: “Liz Cheney is Not the Problem” - The Wednesday G-File - The Paul Wolfowitz/Sam Tanenhaus controversy
77 min
631
Dr. Stirewalt, the Dragon of Wheeling
The Remnant returns to normalcy today with one of Jonah’s favorite guests: the illustrious Chris Stirewalt. The pair engage in pop culture-infused punditry, focusing on the GOP’s internal war between MAGA advocates and Liz Cheney supporters and America’s supposed entry into a new Progressive Era under President Biden. Prepare to be bedazzled by Chris’ peerless Sebastian Gorka impression, the raw craziness of Donald Trump, and Jonah’s secret history as an adolescent ice cream vendor.   Show Notes: -     Chris’ page at The Dispatch -     Cheneypalooza -     Trump backs Elise Stefanik -     Mike Pence trudges toward 2024 -     What the heck is going on in Maricopa County? -    The members-only Wednesday G-File -    The road to Kenya -    Chris: “The era of big government is here” -    The Election Integrity Alliance, yeesh -   Dr. Gorka -   Jonah’s cordial, not-at-all controversial disagreement with Bill Kristol -   “If the paper turns clear, it’s your window to weight gain!” -   “Welcome to the new progressive era” -   When Trump and the Clintons were BFFs
72 min
632
Social Darwinism and the Straw Man
Jonah flies solo on the week’s first Remnant, as he tries out a format that seeks to provide the footnotes to some of the most commonly landed-on items from the program’s bingo card. On this first explainer, Jonah tackles the straw man and frequent leftist punching bag called social Darwinism, and whether or not such an ideology ever even existed in the first place. Do any conservatives actually believe this stuff? And how did the tables turn on libertarians to such a degree that the most laissez-faire political ideology possible ended up facing accusations of eugenic sympathies? (You can also tune in to learn why you should never trust Wisconsinites.)   Show Notes: -The (underrated) Tyranny of Clichés -Obama calls the GOP budget “social Darwinism” -Schoenwald has some strange opinions on Herbert Spencer -The University of Wisconsin and progressivism -Hofstadter’s book on social Darwinism
44 min
633
Drive-Time Ruminant
In the words of a great album, “How are we feeling out there? How’s your drive-time commute? I need a saga - what’s the saga?” This weekend’s Remnant is less Ruminant-y than usual, as the Greek chorus that has silently watched Jonah during these recordings for the last few episodes finally speaks up. That group includes Ryan, the newest addition to The Dispatch; Guy, noted Mark Steyn impersonator; and Nick, Jonah’s long-suffering research assistant. In this imitation of a kinda-crude FM radio show, the four talk about the latest Gaetzian nonsense, Biden’s joint congressional address, and Chez Goldberg’s interesting history with Newt Gingrich—in addition to Jonah telling some jokes which will get his three companions canceled before they even exit their 20s. Show Notes:   The Daily Beast reports on Gaetz’ grossness The Remnant with Asawin Suebsaeng and Lachlan Markay   #JonahforConan Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene on tour Congressional Caligula Jonah: “Watergaetz” David on yelling in a crowded theatre John Mulaney vs. the Third Amendment Sven Johnson mocks the Third Amendment too Ramesh Ponnuru debates Anand Giridharadas
72 min
634
Jonah and Draper’s Political Caper
Jonah and a brand new guest, Robert Draper of the New York Times, engage in punditry ranker than even the most devoted Remnant listener could imagine before gushing over Draper’s adorable canine companion. If that sounds like a retread of the week’s previous episode with A.B. Stoddard, fear not! Today’s dog talk is entirely spontaneous. The pair have Biden’s joint congressional address to dissect, and Draper has a fascinating new piece on Republican turmoil that stimulates plenty of conversation on internecine party warfare. Will partisanship destroy us all? Can the GOP be saved from insanity? And why do Jonah and Robert both recall Watergate with fondness? Show Notes: - Robert’s page at the New York Times - Robert’s latest piece, “Liz Cheney vs. MAGA” - “I’m a conservative, but I’m not angry about it” - “I am a gaffe machine” - Dispatch Live reacts to Biden’s first joint congressional address - Ross Douthat: “Biden Should Go Big, and Then Brag About It” - Ross Douthat: “What Bidenism Owes to Trumpism” - The Jason Miller tweet that stole Jonah’s heart - Trump discovers “America First” - The week’s first Remnant with A.B. Stoddard - Mark Leibovich on Kevin McCarthy - David Brooks: “The GOP is Getting Worse” - Jonah: “Unity Can Be Worse Than Partisanship” - Karl Rove’s “100-year majority” - The Wednesday G-File 
87 min
635
Two Parties, Both Alike in Crazy
Remnant favorite A.B. Stoddard joins Jonah today for an episode of exceedingly rank punditry. The pair discuss how President Biden has fared in his first 100 days, Donald Trump’s lingering presence within the GOP, and why both parties can’t help but be nutty. Tune in for political eggheadery, but stick around for uplifting dog discussion. A.B. has just taken in a new puppy (Chief!), and Jonah is as excited as he can be.   Show Notes: -A.B.’s page at RealClearPolitics -Dispatch Live gears up for Biden’s first joint address to Congress -A.B.’s last Remnant appearance -Ramesh Ponnuru: “Biden’s Stalled Revolution” -Joe Biden talks to Hunter “at least every night” -Biden: GOP used “defund the police” to “beat the living hell out of Democrats” -Robert Draper: “Liz Cheney vs. MAGA” -Mark Leibovich: “Kevin McCarthy Still on Defensive Over Trump” -The McCarthy-Cheney Trump divide deepens -Mick Mulvaney on The Dispatch Podcast -Lindsey Graham gave up on Trump, then embraced him again -Don’t call John Boehner a squish -Heeeere’s Chief!
89 min
636
The Kids are Alright
In distinctly Goldbergian fashion, Jonah manages to combine musings on Home Depot, climate change, the Chauvin trial, and the classic “Deep Space Homer” episode of The Simpsons into a single, coherent Ruminant, which includes as many references to infrastructure as you’d expect at this point. Tune in not just for Jonah’s eggheadery, but to hear him face his greatest challenge yet: pronouncing the name “Greta Thunberg.” Show Notes: - Ben Shapiro gets wood - “It’s an inanimate carbon rod!” - Jonah on Thanksgiving - The Wednesday G-File - Cornel West: “Howard University’s Removal of Classics is a Spiritual Catastrophe” - Rep. Karen Bass: “It’s open season on black folks” - David Brooks: “The GOP is Getting Even Worse” - Rep. Katie Porter’s daughter thinks we’re all going to die - “How dare you!” - GOP senators release their infrastructure plan - Greg Gutfeld on the Chauvin verdict - The week’s first, ultra-nerdy Remnant with Brian Riedl - The week’s second, Kissinger-loving Remnant with Thomas Joscelyn
61 min
637
Joscelyn ‘Round the Middle East
On today’s episode, Vital Interests author and national security extraordinaire Thomas Joscelyn makes his first Remnant appearance. With a healthy supply of Hayek references on hand, Jonah seems determined to outdo the wonkiness of Brian Riedl’s visit earlier this week. Al-Qaeda, Afghanistan, China, and the meaning of necrocracy are all discussed peacefully by the pair, until a certain name is mentioned; If you thought Jonah’s contempt for Woodrow Wilson was unparalleled, just wait until you hear the disdain that overtakes Tom at the mere mention of Henry Kissinger.  Show Notes: -       Tom’s journal, Long War -    Vital Interests at The Dispatch -    Just in case you happen to know Siraj Haqqani -    The history of the institutionalized form of al-Qaeda, the AQAP -    Bin Laden’s files -    Tom: “The Flawed Reasoning Behind Biden’s Afghanistan Withdrawal” -    Jonah: “Biden Citing the Wrong Reasons for Afghanistan Withdrawal” -    The Remnant with Bing West -    Kissinger makes WWI metaphors in regards to China -    Hitchens: “A necrocracy?” -    The Remnant with Oriana Skylar Mastro -    “The Longer Telegram,” by an anonymous official -   Lin Wells’ memo
99 min
638
Riedl Returns
Senior Manhattan Institute fellow Brian Riedl joins Jonah on The Remnant for an uber-wonky discussion of economic policy. Fresh from testifying before the House Committee on Financial Services on President Biden’s madcap “infrastructure” plan, Brian provides insight on all manner of economic fallacies peddled by Republicans and Democrats alike. What’s to be done about infrastructure? Are inflation and debt really a big deal? And why is everyone turning on free markets? Also, take a shot of your favorite alcoholic beverage every time the words “infrastructure” and “buy gold” are uttered. You’ll soon realize how Jonah felt at the end of last week’s Mike Gallagher episode.       Show Notes: -Brian Riedl - The Manhattan Institute  -Brian’s recent House testimony -Last week’s astonishing Remnant with Rep. Mike Gallagher -Jonah shakes his fist in the direction of infrastructure -The good old days of complaining about Obama’s stimulus -“That’s a shark” -The GOP is more concerned with Green Eggs and Ham than spending -Brian: “The Entitlement Crisis Ignored” -David Beckworth and Ramesh Ponnuru: “Stop Worrying About Inflation” -Brian: “Liberal Economists Say Debt Doesn’t Matter. They’re Wrong.” -Brian: “Who Will Fund $24 Trillion in New Government Debt?” -Brian: “Taxing the ‘Rich’ Won’t Pay for Politicians’ Promises”
89 min
639
Alcohol-Free Ruminations
Today’s refreshingly (or regrettably, depending on your perspective) sober Ruminant finds Jonah surrounded by boxes of books so nerdy that even Goodwill won’t take them. Preoccupied with thoughts on the strange state of the right, and the equally strange state of Joe Biden, he swiftly reaches levels of wonkiness so high that they could cure sleep deprivation. What’s the matter with the Claremont Institute? Will the oft-discussed “Liberal Fascism Revisited” piece ever be completed? And what new euphemism for a mild hangover will soon be sweeping the nation? Show Notes: - Jonah’s pre-coffee reproval of Ryan Williams - The Wednesday G-File - J.D. Vance’s Democrat-esque response to David French - The decline of the Lincoln Fellowship - The week’s first Remnant with Andy Smarick - The week’s second Remnant with Mike Gallagher, which must be heard to be believed - Horseshoe theory - Last Friday’s G-File - Jerry Nadler: “We are not packing the Supreme Court, we are unpacking it.” - The Decadent Society, by Ross Douthat - Biden wears a mask alone in Arlington National Cemetery - Jonah: “Biden Puts Feelings Over Facts in Afghanistan Withdrawal” - The Rectification of Names  
65 min
640
Greenland is Infrastructure
On today’s career-ruining episode, recorded deep within the headquarters of Half-Baked DARPA, Jonah is joined by frequent guest Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Packers) for a jaunt through the land of new and creative ideas that still need some more time in the oven. The show sees the guys return to the idea of annexing Greenland while also bringing new life to half-baked concepts such as spray-painted meteors, an $800 quadrillion infrastructure plan for salvaging the experience of the midpriced American hotel, and the joys of director commentaries when combined with drinking games. Emphasis on the drinking part. Also, find out what masterful modern novel Gallagher thought “sucked.”  Show Notes: -Rep. Gallagher’s webpage -Rep. Gallagher’s appearance on the Remnant’s super-spectacular 200th episode -Trump’s hand on the Ohio Senate primary -“We’re gonna have… tryouts” -Jonah shakes his fist in the direction of infrastructure -Jonah: “Greenland Should Be Ours” -Obi-Wan v. Darth Vader, gloriously re-imagined -It’s “I’m Eighteen,” Jonah -The Jewish space lazer conspiracy  
115 min
641
First-Degree Wonkery
Only those in the wonky 1 percent should subject themselves to today’s nerdtastic Remnant, in which Jonah is joined for a third time by the Manhattan Institute’s Andy Smarick. The pair use Andy’s recent Dispatch piece on the folly of never-ending school closures to launch a wide-ranging discussion of the pandemic culture war and divisions among conservatives. Should you be friends with politicians? Why are some Americans desperate for normalcy to never return? And is it wise for so many right-wing whippersnappers to reject the so-called “dead consensus”? Unsurprisingly, Jonah thinks Hayek has the answer to at least one of those questions.   Show Notes: -Andy Smarick - the Manhattan Institute -Jim Geraghty on opening with the 10th step of a 10-step argument -Last week’s Remnant with Dan Crenshaw -Jonah: “Giuliani's Sorry Path from Law-and-Order Mayor to Villainous Clown” -Giuliani: “My attitude to my legacy is …” -Andy: “What the Narrative on School Reopenings Has Missed” -Randi Weingarten calls American Jews “part of the ownership class” -The View of the World from 9th Avenue -Joy Reid is too scared to enjoy life after she’s vaccinated -Steven Petrow: “I’m Vaccinated, but I’m Not Really Ready to Leave My Pandemic Cocoon” -Hadley Arkes and peers argue for a “better” originalism -Catholics v. libertarians in the 1960s -Marco Rubio: “Amazon Should Face Unionization Drive Without Republican Support” -Mitt Romney’s child allowance proposal -Jonah is flattered by R.R. Reno’s gushing review of Suicide of the West -YouGov’s recent survey of 2020 Trump voters -Hayek’s “The Use of Knowledge in Society” -David French on nutpicking
86 min
642
Recycling Punditry
On this freewheeling Ruminant, Jonah is accompanied by a smaller cast of off-putting onlookers than last time. Still on a high after the week’s earlier discussion of Bigfoot’s messianic powers, he approaches the questions of the day with extra verve. Is recycling a load of garbage? Is President Biden’s rhetoric on race any better? And, of course, has politics supplanted religion? Tune in to find out and, in case you missed it, to learn of the Sasquatch’s alien origins. Show Notes: -      The great plastic recycling lie -      ”Do you kids want to be like the real UN? Or do you just want to squabble and waste time?” -      John Tierny: “Recycling is Garbage” -      The week’s second Remnant with Dan Crenshaw -      “She just dislikes me so much… it’s irresistible!” -      The Suicidal Corporation, by Paul Weaver -      Jonah: “No, Georgia’s Election Law is Not ‘Jim Crow 2.0’" -      The week’s first Dispatch Podcast -      Biden gets four Pinocchios -      Minneapolis newspaper owner thinks we haven’t had racial progress in three generations -      Biden: “They’re going to put ya’ll back in chains” -      Jonah: “WaterGaetz” -      Last week’s Remnant with Shadi Hamid -      The “Religion of Humanity” -      The Revolutions podcast -      The week’s first Remnant with Denver Riggleman
69 min
643
Jawing with Crenshaw 2: Congressional Boogaloo
Jonah collaborates with Texas Rep. Dan Crenshaw on their second Remnant together in an attempt to hash out their differences of opinion regarding why Congress doesn’t work. (Or does it?) Come listen, and discover why members of Congress feel the need to have such robust media teams on staff all the time, why Marjorie Taylor Greene is actually a swamp creature nowadays, and walk through Dan’s “favorite moment of 2021,” which features a shockingly bad instance of Spanglish.   Show Notes: -Dan’s podcast, Hold These Truths -Dan’s article on fighting, not performing -Jonathan Rauch: Is Congress broken? -Jonathan Haidt’s political Turing test -Jonah’s article on Antony Blinken and China -Dan’s Conservative Guide to the Culture Wars -Almost nobody uses “Latinx” -“Si, se pwadway!”
95 min
644
The Six Million Dollar Riggleman
Denver Riggleman, former congressman for Virginia’s 5th District and noted Bigfoot enthusiast, joins Jonah on today’s episode for a colorful discussion of Americans’ freedom to believe anything they want. Sometimes, the consequences can be tragic, as in the case of January 6. But they can also be truly spectacular, and for proof, look no further than those who believe Bigfoot is an interdimensional traveler, psychedelic prophet, and alien scout. Before diving headfirst into Sasquatch lore, the pair also explore fine liquor, what it’s really like inside the House Freedom Caucus, and Denver’s experiences running for office. It’s a Remnant André the Giant wouldn’t want you to miss.   Show Notes: -Denver’s website -Denver, QAnon, and Bigfoot erotica -"The QAnon Conspiracy: Destroying Families, Dividing Communities, Undermining Democracy" - a report co-authored by Denver -Denver’s new book, Bigfoot… It’s Complicated -The Patterson-Gimlin Bigfoot film -9/11 truthers -NYT: “One Republican’s Lonely Fight Against a Flood of Misinformation” -Mick Mulvaney on The Dispatch Podcast -Denver and the church parking lot -Silverback Distillery -Is Bigfoot an interdimensional traveler?  -The Nashville bomber believed in lizard people -Giuliani’s insane voter fraud claims -Judean People’s Front vs. People’s Front of Judea -The Six Million Dollar Man vs. Bigfoot
71 min
645
The Remnant of Misfit Onlookers
Today’s Ruminant features Jonah amid a group of silent watchers, staring at him while on mute in a Zoom meeting as he speaks to himself for an hour in the basement of an undisclosed location. On the docket today: Jonah returns to one of the most interesting political conundrums of our moment. Was our class of political nutjobs always crazy, or did they only get crazy in the last few years? On a completely unrelated note, why is Matt Gaetz the way he is? And, of course, Jonah speaks to the dangers of “thinking about politics like you’re watching a movie.”   Show Notes: -      The ongoing Matt Gaetz scandal -      Politico’s summary of John Boehner’s new book, On the House: A Washington Memoir -      Boehner unloads on the GOP’s “crazy caucus” -      Jonah: “I’m Not Going to Say I Told You So… But” -    Last month’s Remnant with Elaine Kamarck -    Steve Bannon and the “Island of Misfit Toys” -    Kevin Williamson: “Peter Navarro: Trump’s Nutty Economics Professor” -      Peter Navarro believes Fauci created COVID -    Memories of bleach -      This week’s second Remnant with Shadi Hamid -      Chelsea Handler on due process for Derek Chauvin -      Jonah: “Why Bipartisanship is a Weapon to Use Against Your Political Foes” -    Romney pushes Biden on bipartisanship -    The week’s first Remnant with Chris Stirewalt -      Triangulation: the dirtiest word in politics  -      Bill Maher steals Jonah’s joke -    Kevin McCarthy reads Green Eggs and Ham
59 min
646
Without a Shadi of a Doubt
On today’s episode, first-time guest of The Remnant, Shadi Hamid joins Jonah for a comprehensive discussion on religion, identity, and the bizarre wokespeak favored by Twitter’s blue checkmark crowd. Have wokeism and ethno-nationalism superseded religion on the left and right respectively? Are Islam and classical liberalism compatible? And, crucially, can Jonah contain the annoyance that consumes him at the mere mention of Adrian Vermeule?  Show Notes: - Shadi Hamid - Brookings Institution - Shadi: “America Without God” - Shadi’s podcast, Wisdom of Crowds - They’re always eating candy at Brookings… - Jonathan Haidt on moral psychology and religion - Shadi on the “Church of Woke” - Jonah: “The Definition of Dogma” - Trump’s improved Muslim support in 2020 - Just 3% of Hispanics use Latinx - 25% of black Democrats identify as conservative - Shadi’s latest book, Islamic Exceptionalism - Catholics vs. Libertarians in the 1960s - Muslim views on morality - Reopening Muslim Minds, by Mustafa Akyol - Why Liberalism Failed, by Patrick Deneen
92 min
647
Check the Owner’s Manual
On this episode, it’s déjà vu all over again as Chris Stirewalt returns - this time in the guest seat. What do Georgia’s new voter laws, Arlen Specter, mandatory voting, The World According to Garp’s infamous “tongue scene,” Henry VIII, and Robin Williams’ illustrious career in drag have to do with one another? Well, the guys talk about all of it and more in this edition, and hopefully it puts you in a mood to believe that the living will not, in fact, envy the dead - “at least at the margins.”   Show Notes: -Chris’ page at The Dispatch -Chiller Theater -New voting laws in Georgia -Chris’ recent Remnant with Daron Shaw -Jonah: “Voter Apathy Isn’t a Crime” -Obama: the filibuster is a “Jim Crow relic” -Jonah’s love of Arlen Specter -Was the 1960 election stolen? -Jonah “The Center is a Lonely Place to Be” -Jonah: “We Have Two Moon Parties, No Sun Party” -Patriotic Grace, by Peggy Noonan -Boehner and Obama’s bad bromance -Jonah: Congress is a “parliament of pundits” -Revolutions Podcast - The English Civil War -Divided We Fall, by David French -James Kirchichick: “Why White-Nationalist Thugs Thrill to Trump”
82 min
648
Back to the Past
For this weekend’s Ruminant, hop into Jonah’s somewhat underwhelming time machine that goes only to the past – because, after all, “the future doesn’t exist.” Why is Jonah driving through the setting of a Mark Twain story? Why do conservatives look to the past for better times (even when the past is largely worse), and why do liberals look to a nonexistent future? Why are both left- and right-wing kids trying to make the entire world like a college campus? And who is Gabriel Kolko, and why does Jonah find him “useful”? Show notes: -      Jonah’s desert adventures -      The week’s first Remnant with Tevi Troy -      The week’s second Remnant, with David French and Greg Lukianoff -      Jonah reviews Wendy Shalit’s book -      Jonah’s filibuster column -      Gabriel Kolko’s bibliography
70 min
649
Tales from the Free Speech Foxhole
David French graciously guest-hosts in Jonah’s place on today’s program, wherein he has a long-ranging conversation with a longtime friend , Greg Lukianoff, president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. David and Greg discuss some of the silliest and most sinister examples of censorship regimes on college campuses from recent history, the history of the campus free speech movement stretching back to the 1950s, David’s memories of being a conservative at Harvard Law School, and the moment that Greg realized that “the students themselves had become the main proponents of censorship.” By coincidence, it’s our second Remnantin a row that is largely about modern cancel culture and censorship, rounded out by a conversation about the Snyder Cut. The only difference, really, is that David and Greg seriously dig it. Show Notes: - Greg Lukianoff of FIRE - The Coddling of the American Mind, by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt - Herbert Marcuse and campus free speech - Greg: “Speech Codes: The Biggest Scandal on College Campuses Today” - “Inappropriately directed laughter” - “Beirut on the Charles” - Greg’s first book, Unlearning Liberty - Indian River Community College bans The Passion of the Christ - The Eternally Radical Idea - The Ronald Zaccari Memorial Parking Garage - Greg debates Ken White on cancel culture - Greg talks about social justice graduate requirements in the Chronicle of Higher Education - Alexi McCammond fired from Teen Vogue over old tweets - Jonathan Rauch on how to tell if you’re being canceled - The Revolt of the Public, by Martin Gurri - Amazon pulls Ryan T. Anderson’s book on transgender issues
82 min
650
The Tevi Cut
Tevi Troy—presidential historian and all-around smart person—joins the program to talk about the mechanics of cancel culture, and what might be done to prevent it from taking hold in the future. Key to Tevi’s point is that “cancel culture is actually a distinct phenomenon from political correctness, which everyone largely disliked in the ‘90s.” They also talk about the larger culture of censorship in America before moving into the most vitally important topics of our time: Marvel vs. DC, in both their cinematic and comic book forms (Reminder: Sonny Bunch is always right), and the Snyder Cut—including methods for getting through the whole thing without falling asleep.   Show Notes: -Tevi’s page at National Affairs -Biden’s July 4 speech -Jonah: “The Treason of the Epidemiologists” -Lindsey J. Leininger and Harold Pollack: “We’re public health experts. We need to do a better job of talking to conservatives.” -Tevi: “Presidents and Public Health Crises” -Jake Sullivan and Anthony Blinken’s China summit -Tevi: “How to Defend Free Speech” -David Brooks: “Freakish Thinking” -Kindly Inquisitors, by Jonathan Rausch -Barbara Jordan’s 1992 DNC speech -Irving Kristol: “Pornography, Obscenity and the Case for Censorship” -Tevi: “The Fanny Hill Phenomenon” -The Coddling of the American Mind, by Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff -Bari Weiss interviews Jonathan Haidt -Jonah and Bing West laugh at Tevi -Fight House: Rivalries in the White House from Truman to Trump, by Tevi  -Sonny Bunch reviews Zack Snyder’s Justice League
85 min