The Fifth Column

Look, you asked for it. Fifth fan favorite (ed - we really don't understand you people) and Mother Jones editorial director Ben Dreyfuss (né Gould) is back. And the results are wonderfully shambolic. But seriously: make sure the kids are in bed before press play....Ben is "on leave" from Mother JonesWhy Ben's editor blocked him on Twitter (and you should too)No ice in Hawaii, no avocados in WisconsinThe worst movie Ben's dad ever made (Or was it the best?)Why everyone in DC hates FacebookWhy people read dumb articles on Facebook Ben starts a Substack. Obviously.What Ben learned about Donald Trump in the suicide wardManipulating people on the internetAnd so much more... See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

"The Toad style is immensely strong, and immune to nearly any weapon. When it's properly used, it's almost invincible." - Five Deadly VenomsWay Out Of LineThe Incredible Asshole MachineRelated Controversy A Stolen*** ElectionObama 💘 CopsWelcome to Murderapolis A Civil War, A Tent RevivalHan Obviously Shot First (Probably Doesn't Matter)Bothsidesing: Maybe Not a Bad IdeaRevivalist vs RedistributionistAmerican PieRecorded Dec 3nd, 2020Published Dec 4th, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

An issue with the mics. An inspired fix. A nearly aborted dispatch manages to slide into your feed just in time for the stranges Thanksgiving in decades.A Rolling StartWhen Moynihan Met OprahCoup d'é HAHAHAHAHA"I Told You"Salvaging the CultureCrisis of AuthorityCovid MasksMurder RatesGenerational DividesCalling it QuitsIt's A Job, Ain't It?Recorded Nov 24th, 2020Published Nov 26th, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

Guest: Glenn Greenwald @ Co-Founder, The InterceptThe Move to Substack (https://greenwald.substack.com/)The Marvelousness of the Fifth ColumnThe Job MarketThe Reply to CriticsThe Blow by BlowThe CultureThe Hunter Biden Laptop SituationRecorded Oct 30th, 2020Published Nov 19th, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

Guest: Jason Stanley @ Author, "How Fascism Works", Professor of Philosophy @ Yale.The AnswerExtremely Online, Prospective HypocrisyCancel CultureNo TellinTrump's Blacketst SwanBut He's a FascistCritical Race Back and ForthPretty Good (for a Black Guy)CovidRecorded Nov 12th, 2020Published Nov 14th, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

What Election?The Perils of Watching Cable NewsWhat You Talkin Bout WelchThe Got'Damn PollsAnticipated UnrestBlack Woman Stabbed, By Black Lives Matters Supporters?What Happens to the MediaWhat Happens to RepublicansWhat Happens to DemocratsStereotypes are Fine NowYou People Aren't Supposed to Vote That WayWoke-spiracyFighting Them on The BeachRecorded Nov 4th, 2020Published Nov 5th, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

Bannon's back. The New York Post isn't. Don’t talk about Hunter!Are we living in a Techno Fascist Reich?Regulate, regulate, regulateThe unforeseen consequences of deplatforming?Qanon inflation To the gulag, go!Russia, Russia, RussiaWhich New York Times editor does Matt call "a loathsome toad"?FYI: Political journalists cannot cover “politically driven events”Debate, debate, debateCoherent on Corona! But also full of shit!And Corona reporting is still awful Mad Matt on a Mendacious Media Are people still wiping down their groceries?WHATS UP TWITTER WORLD, IT’S THE JUICEJeff Toobin, American Hero / OJ, not guiltyMaybe an election-night Zoom thing? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

Moynihan's Old, New HouseCOVID... is Fake?Siri, Do Black Lives Matter?Dueling Town HallsEveryone is Awful, Even You, (But Not Really)The Brief And Highly Overrated Return of Respectability PoliticsPolitics of BullshitForeign BodiesThe Revolt of the PublicDarkest Totalitarian HellscapeRecorded Oct 18, 2020Published Oct 20, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

Guest: Damon Root @ Reason Magazine, Author, "A Glorious Liberty: Frederick Douglass and the Fight for an Antislavery Constitution"Trump Makes His PickHow Republicans Will Be DisappointedCourt Packing And Other ShenanigansHistorical Context, Oppressing People of ColorCOVID RumorsDebate Night Dog WhistlesWhat Trump Really MeansVote by Mail (But Throw Out the Ballots)The First and Only LadyRecorded Oct 1, 2020Published Oct 3, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

NOTE: This dispatch was beleaguered by technical and logistical challenges. The audio actually turned out pretty good (all things considered), but the entire thing was very nearly scrapped. Those challenges contributed to a delayed-release — and because the world has gone quite mad —the news cycle is evolving rapidly. All the same, still lots of very relevant (even prophetic) stuff in this dispatch, but it was recorded before the Breonna Taylor Grand Jury announcement that inspired a night of protests, riots, and violence. Home ImprovementLatinx, Things You Must Know About The CubanTrust the ProcessDebate PreviewRBGHypocrisy and Norm EviscerationWho to BlameA Loss of Faith, A Looming Election HellscapeAbout that TikTok DealWe Choose Violence1619 Lies, Bullshit, Stealth Edits, Motivated ReasoningIf The Schools Already Suck, Can 1619 Make Them Worse (or better)National Patriotism CurriculumAll My Critics Are Racist, Which Is Terribly Convenient for MeRecorded Sept 20, 2020Published Sept 24, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

Guest: Steve Kornacki, National Political Corespondent @NBC News / MSNBCMaking TV News During a PandemicDoing Your Own MakeupLast Man in MidtownWe're All You Tubers NowIt'll Be a Blow-Out, Or It'll Be ClosePolls You Can TrustBlack Voters, Impeachment, CollusionState of the PartiesState of the UnionState of the MediaPaper or PlasticRecorded Sept 11, 2020Published Sept 13, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

Guest: Nancy Romemelmann, journalist and author of To the Bridge: A True Story of Motherhood and MurderMoynihan is back from Kenosha, and Nancy Rommelmann returns for an update on the goings-ons in Portland.On the ground in KenoshaOn the ground in PortlandMedia Malpractice, Self Deception DC, Rochester, What's NextBiden v Trump*Worse Than Useless Facts*Details That MatterGoing Full MAGARecorded Sept 5, 2020Published Sept 6, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

w / Tina Nguyen (White House Reporter @ Politico)Watching the RNCTrump's on TwitchNasty EmojisThe Fire Next Time (Kenosha Edition)"What's the big deal? Your insurance will pay for it?"Total Failure of Political LeadershipMatt Welch: Snowflake?Marines in Portland? Libertarian Enough?Leaping to Conclusions, Outright LyingIndependent InvestigationsJacob Blake: Things We Don't KnowKyle Rittenhouse: Things We Don't KnowRecorded Aug 31, 2020Published Sept 1, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

w / Coleman Hughes🤫Recorded Aug 21, 2020Published Aug 23, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

We can't believe it. Neither can you. It's our 200th episode!! (Well, not including the thirty-plus, subscriber-only Patreon episodes, which are looser, bawdier, and even more problematic...so stop freeloading and subscribe!). In celebration of this momentous anniversary, we called up our old friend Andrew Sullivan, fresh from his separation with New York magazine and joining from his Provincetown whirlpool, to discuss:- Daddys, bears, and pervs...oh my!- Andrew has a conversation with some younger gays- A generation without tragedy- BTW: No one actually says LGBTQ+- And you're not suppose to like being oppressed- Why did Andrew leave New York magazine and what is the "mysterious miasma"? - Sully starts his own thing, quickly realizes he was underpaid- The drunk brilliance of old-school British journalism- FWIW, Andrew didn't write The Bell Curve- The anti-Sullivan fatwa issued by a former employer- Michael Kinsley's two rules of writing - The future of magazines, the future of media - Why you should read, listen to, and befriend people with bad ideas- Kmele, Kamala, and the prostitutes- Andrew convinces us to...changeRecorded Aug 13, 2020Published Aug 14, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

Drugs You Should TryHeroine, A Black Drug?Black People Are All The SameVoter Fraud, by MailSelecting A VPCognitive Tests (Person, Woman, Man, Camera, TV)Scare TacticsSuburban Lifestyle DreamsThe State of New YorkFBG DuckNew George Floyd VideoThe Trouble With ChinaFacebook vs TikTokBlazing SaddlesRecorded Aug 6, 2020Published Aug 9, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

Guest: Nancy Rommelmann, journalist and author of To the Bridge: A True Story of Motherhood and MurderNancy Rommelmann, friend of the Fifth and former resident of Portland, Amerikkka, returns from the ramparts of the revolution with news, anecdotes, and a glimpse at our glorious future. Alis volat propriis. So we asked our very own Lady John Reed just what the hell is happening in the insurrectionist precincts of the Pacific Northwest...Nancy doesn't recognize parts of PortlandWhat everyone is getting wrong about the protests/riots/federal interventionWait, where is the Portland PD?Shares in a homemade body armor business are trading higher today...Why you're not hearing that amazing, hilarious, enlightening conversation we had about the secret app(It's because the SD card ran out of space and no one noticed...)We return after our tech screw up--much, much drunker--to talk history vs. journalismNo one arguing about colonial history knows anything about colonial historyIt sort of falls apart around this point...And by the way: stop telling us what we should care about See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

Glenn Greenwald,Co-Founder @ The InterceptAuthor, "No Place to Hide"Thomas Chatterton WilliamsContributing Writer @ New York Times MagAuthor, "Self Portrait in Black and White"After a little internet drama related to the Harper's Open Letter, Kmele got together w/ Thomas and Glenn to discuss.Why we needed "A Letter on Justice and Debate"Why Glenn isn't a SignatoryWhat is Cancel CultureDo we really need to talk about this RIGHT NOWEvangelism or ExcommunicationHypocrisy and Healthier ConversationsRecorded July 24, 2020Published July 27, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

We haven't unlocked a Patreon episode since way back in February. But we (Moynihan) were feeling generous, so here's a paywalled bonus episode from July 13, liberated for all of you cheapskates. You're welcome.If you want a new subscriber-only episode every week (plus slurring live Zoom calls, lost episodes, mail bag episodes, a community of like-minded psychos, etc), subscribe here!--------------For only the second time since the Bat Flu, the lads are back in the same room...and back at the Stupid Table™ in Williamsburg. The energy! The booze! The crosstalk! Kmele singing! Yay! It's an hour and half bull session covering the most important debates in America. Zum beispiel: - Moynihan's new CNBC show "Stock Monstah Dood!"- Getting psyched about--and possibly auditioning for--a show Kmele loves but has never seen- Kmele is Mr. 2X. Moynihan is Mr. Angry Irishman Driver- Understanding the core of the anti-racist project- Matt's formative moment as an 18-year-old journalist- The privileged people who hate really privileged people- Yes, the lads talk about the endless LETTER WARS- Kmele rants about a Jo Jorgensen tweet- What does it mean to be anti-racist?- If they win, we will all will end up living in a joyless world- Back to Bay Ridge (and coming upon a pro-NYPD protest) See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

w/ Josh Szeps (né Zepps), ABC Australia and host of the Uncomfortable Conversations podcast.Josh-o's back and the dingo has his baby! Australia's most listened-to radio host joins the Fifth from his COVID-free compound in Sydney to talk nonsense about:Paul Hogan (obviously)How the Aussies handled the COVIDThat story about our friend who resigned from the Times"Cancel culture," right and left"Good Morning ya' ****s!"Armageddon the shit out of that rockAre we becoming a totalitarian hell hole? (Probably not)Viacom race theorist Nick Cannon on masked singers, Mariah Carey, and the Rothschilds.Matt knew a NaziRecorded July 15, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

Two-plus hours with our favorite German, Herr Yascha Mounk, contributing editor at The Atlantic and founder of Persuasion, a publication dedicated to promoting and defending the "values of a free society."The lads discuss that Harper's letter on cancel culture, signed by Kmele and Yasha (and Salman Rushdie, Martin Amis, JK Rowling, et al); the attempt to cancel people who signed a statement opposing canceling people; how everyone's still a fascist; the painful absurdity of Robin Diangelo; a Matt and Kmele fight about Trump's Mt. Rushmore speech; the dangers of the populist right; El Chino; and so very much more.Recorded July 8, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

w/ Wesley Lowery Correspondent @ CBS - "60 Minutes in 6"Lowery Wrote A Thing:"A Reckoning Over Objectivity, Led by Black Journalists" (NYT) - June 23, 2020https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/23/opinion/objectivity-black-journalists-coronavirus.htmlWelch Raised Some Objections:"Journalists Abandoning 'Objectivity' for 'Moral Clarity' Really Just Want To Call People Immoral" (Reason) - June 24, 2020https://reason.com/2020/06/24/journalists-abandoning-objectivity-for-moral-clarity-really-just-want-to-call-people-immoral/Some Twitter Drama Ensues.The Parties Agree to Settle Things Directly....And now, here you are. All caught up, ready for the fireworks (literally + figuratively).Recorded: July 2, 2020Published: July 6, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

w/ Jacob Siegel, Senior Writer @ Tablet"The New Truth" (June 22nd 2020)https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/new-truth-rationalism-religion"Journalists Abandoning 'Objectivity' for 'Moral Clarity' Really Just Want To Call People Immoral" (6/24/2020)https://reason.com/2020/06/24/journalists-abandoning-objectivity-for-moral-clarity-really-just-want-to-call-people-immoral/- The Lisa "Left Eye" Lopez of Journalism- The Great Fireworks Conspiracy (continued)- The NYT Slack- All The Smoke- The New Truth- Rhetorically Invincible- White Fragility, The Message of the Cross- Moral Clarity- World Heritage Sites- The Wages of Sin- Ethical JournalismRecorded: June 25, 2020Published: July 1, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

w/ Jane Coaston, Senior Politics Reporter @ VoxSome Sports StuffTickTock SwiftboatsTulsaTrumps PartyWhat Comes NextImmigration + VisasThe Coaston PlanMore Black Lives Matter TalkBut What About....Unbundling the PoliceLiking the Neighborhood Cops Recorded: June 23, 2020Published: June 25, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

w/ David French, Senior Editor @ The Dispatch and Columnist @ TimeHelp With Your Down Payment?A Busy Day For SCOTUS2A, Qualified Immunity (Part I), Expanding Civil RightsThought CrimesOn Racism (and Anti Racism)The Worst Dinner PartyThe Censorship ImpulseGone With the Wind, Song of the SouthThe Lost Cause... Myth?What Northerners Really WantStill in Love w/ Daisy DukeAnti-racism Must Be Anti-raceWalk Humbly, Seek Justice, See the Humanity in Your OpsQualified Immunity (Part II) -- Why Qualified Immunity MattersRecorded: June 15, 2020Published: June 16, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

w/ Olivia Nuzzi, Washington Correspondent @ New York MagazineAn Unprecedented MovementDefunding the Police... Or Just Abolishing ThemCanceling Most Things, Razing The RestMoral Clarity in the News RoomTrump on the Campaign Trail, Biden's StrengthsWhy Trump and Rudy Can't Stop Talking to NuzziRecorded: June 10, 2020Published: June 12, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

A Brief History of Right NowPunk PoliceIt Might Actually Be LegalBlack on Black on BlackBending the KneeNYT Civil WarEssentialism in PracticeLaw & OrderPassoverMLK on RiotsRecorded:6/4/2020Published: 6/6/2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

Kmele facilitates a follow-up conversation on race, racism, and anti-racism -- this time, in the midst of a global pandemic and increasing social unrest. You can find the first installment in this series of conversations here: http://wethefifth.com/episodes/121GUESTS /Glenn LouryProfessor of the social sciences and economics at Brown UniversityThomas Chatterton WilliamsAuthor, "Self-Portrait in Black and White: Unlearning Race" and "Losing My Cool" John McWhorterProfessor of Linguistics, Philosophy, and Music at ColumbiaColeman HughesFellow at The Manhattan InstituteContributing Editor at City JournalRecorded:5/22/2020 Published: 6/1/2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

She wrote a column in the New York Times. She failed to mention her favorite podcast. She mentioned other podcasts. She texted us asking if she could come on the show to apologize. We agreed. Bari Weiss, the genial and gentle bête noire of woke culture, is back...hat in hand, asking for Fifth forgiveness. But she sticks around to discuss lots of other stuff:- We are all Stasi agents now- You're both Karens!- A murder in Minneapolis- Whose more powerful? Jack Dorsey or one of your senators?- Should corporations be fact-checking politicians?- Matt explains Section 230- Moynihan rants about journalists being annoying- A guest appearance from Nellie Bowles- A really bad piece about white people and spices- Kmele squeezes in some China/Hong Kong talk- And some good news from Spencer!Recorded: May 27, 2020Published: May 28, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

Balaji Srinivasan (@balajis) Investor + Entrepreneur, Former CTO @ Coinbase, Partner @ Andreessen Horowitz Conor Friedersdorf (@conor64)Staff Writer at The Atlantic, Founding Editor of The Best of Journalism- How Startups Think About Failure + Survival - Pandemics, Panics, and Journalistic Incentives- Forging Societal Truth - Why the US Failed to Take COVID Seriously- Why Journalist Hate The Valley- Believing Half of What You Read- Epistemology Algorithms - A Feature Set for Fixing Journalism - Looser ArgumentsRecorded: May 14th 2020Published: May 25th 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

w/ Ethan Strauss Writer @ Athletic, Author "The Victory Machine: The Making and Unmaking of the Warriors Dynasty" (2020)- Getting Political- NBA vs China- Bad Deals and Bad Economics- The Incomparable Michael Jordan- 'What is Best In Life'- Resuming the NBA Season- Pissing off Kevin DurantRecorded: May 13th 2020Published: May 17th 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

w/ Rep Justin Amash US Congressman (Michigan's 3rd Congressional District) and 2020 Libertarian Presidential HopefulU.S. Representative for Michigan's 3rd congressional district since 2011, and currently serving as the first Libertarian Party member of Congress. Amash diagnoses what's wrong with America's politics, parties, and legislative process. And he makes the case for why he's ideally well suited to fix.Recorded: May 4th 2020Published: May 6th 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

w/ Glenn Greenwald Co-founding Editor @ The Intercept, Host @ "System Update"A once in a century pandemic is producing unique and daunting challenges to civil liberties around the world. What are the necessary compromises? Where are the non-negotiable red lines? And what are those mysterious bright lights people have been seeing in the night sky? (The last one is easy: visitors from another galaxy, here to share their advanced technology with us... for a price).ALSO:- Avoiding a Hot War w/ Red-China- COVID in Brazil- Reading the YouTube Comments- Logging Onto CompuServe to Own The Conservatives- A Kinder, Gentler Greenwald- Russia-Gate Revisited- Why FISA Was Always Bullshit- 'Just the Tip' SocialismRecorded: April 30th 2020Published May 2nd 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

w/ Jonah Goldberg Editor-in-Chief @The Dispatch, Host @ The Remnant PodcastPresident Trump has an inspired idea for arresting a global pandemic. It involves ultraviolet rays, disinfectant washes -- and Welch seems convinced that it also has something to do with "butt stuff" -- which, honestly, it wouldn't be the strangest thing you've heard all day.ALSO:- Jonah on Political Homelessness- Define "Prevaricate"- Presidential Ineptitude and Slothfulness,- How Shitty Henchmen Keep America Safe- Why The CDC is So Popular- Trump Punching is Boring- The Most Dangerous Debate- On Tucker Carlson- The Best Rescue Package- Georgia: Open for Business (or something)- Funding Lockdown Protests - The Limits of MitigationRecorded: April 23rd 2020Published April 25th 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

Kmele Foster, Zaid Jilani (@ZaidJilani) and Coleman Hughes (@coldxman) discuss the cacophony of concern about blackness+ racism in the midst of a once in a century global pandemic.RELATED POSTS:"Do COVID-19 Racial Disparities Matter?" - Coleman Hugheshttps://quillette.com/2020/04/13/do-covid-19-racial-disparities-matter/"Don’t Racialize the Pandemic" - Zaid Jilanihttps://www.nationalreview.com/2020/04/coronavirus-race-fight-pandemic-dont-get-bogged-down-racial-categorization/Recorded: April 14th 2020Published April 20th 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

- Gender Traitors- Teddy Pendergrass- Trump’s Absolute Authority- Cutting off WHO Funding- What a Pandemic Can Teach You- China and The American Free PressRecorded: April 15th, 2020Released: April 17th, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

"When America catches a cold, black America... " -- well, we should maybe talk about that.- Welch Makes a Baseball Analogy- Moynihan helps Governor Cuomo shame the traitorous scum who refuse to STAY IN DOORS- Amid growing concern about the disproportionate impact COVID-19 may be having on black folks in America -- Kmele has thoughts- When Billionaires Give Money Away (it's never enough -- and it's never good enough -- for Moynihan?)- China is Using Fake Numbers- A Briefing Full of Jim Acostas- President Trump Lies, Frequently -- Accept When He's Telling the Truth- Trump's Greatest Failure- Foreign Policy Tea LeavesRecorded: April 7th, 2020Released: April 8th, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

With more than 80% of Americans under some form of movement restrictions, civil liberties are in retreat, authoritarians are gaining ground, and Kmele is feeling positively messianic.PLUS "The Fifth Column's Pandemic Shopping Guide: How to beat the system, score hard to find paper products, and avoid deadly CHINESE pathogens"- Keep Buggering OnRecorded: March 31st, 2020Released: April 2ndth, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

- The lads are losing it in quarantine- New York is "authentic" again / full of crackhead zombies- Being entrepreneurial in a time of crisis- So what's happening in COVID world- And what does Kmele think *now*?- Is this all capitalism's fault?- More studies, more confusion- The shitty media is even shittier than ever- Hating on De Blasio- Manufacturing scientific consent- It's MH370. And we're inside the plane- A wee bit of mail from a wee Scot Trot - Is there anything to talk about *but* COVID?- Kmele has a new telescope/is a huge nerd in the woodsRecorded: March 26th, 2020Released: March 27th, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

The quarantine continues...the Fifth Columnists have thoughts...- Kmele is the Kurtz/Lauren Hill of Virginia- Some listener mail- We have the results! (Calm down Todd)- Updates on the COVID- Is it all going to fall apart? Probably- Are we are at war? Not really- Some more listener mail- Some audiobooks to listen to while quarantined- Some more sports to watch while no sports is happening- Kmele really needs to bring it back to COVID- An Italian friend drunk texts, loses her mind- More disaster socialism- The most important thing about COVID is what Trump calls it- Some book recommendationsReleased: March 19, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

UPDATE: The original version of this episode was uploaded out of sync. It has been replaced with a corrected version. We regret the error. But stop complaining. It's free. The bat virus apocalypse continues. The Fifth Column soldiers on, shouting ¡No pasarán!- Kmele is in the woods, Matt is in South Brooklyn, Moynihan is in hiding- All COVID, all the time!- Wait, so does he have it or not?- Kmele questions the consensus- Disaster capitalism becomes disaster socialism- Money is fake. Let's give everyone a billion dollars, ok?- Masked and bonding with the Hasids- Why Matt can't smoke weed? (Yes, it involves Central Europe and the First Gulf War)- Ken Burns gives it away- Let's rerun 70s baseball and hockey games- More on this damn virus- We totally missed the Andrew Gillum wedding party- Dude. The drugs were on the floor- Pick some books. Let's read them- And so very much more Recorded: March 16th, 2020Released: March 17th, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

w/ Ross Douthat Columnist @ New York Times - Author of "The Decadent Society: How We Became the Victims of Our Own Successes"DESCRIPTION: - Decadence, Low and High- The Four Horseman- “Giving Decadence Its Due”- Birth Rates, Populations, Populism- It’s Manifesto Season on the American Right- Ross Still Wants to Ban Porn- TVs Golden Age- The Case for Joe Biden- Don Jr's GOP- A New York Times Conservative See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

w/ Eli Lake ( Columnist @ Bloomberg Opinion)- Typhoid Welch- Biden crushes South Carolina and Super Tuesday- Good 'ol Uncle Joe or Cognitive Decline- "Democratic" Socialism?- MAGA Corps and Bernie Bros Will Excuse Almost Anything Their Candidates Do- Elizabeth Warren Lost -- It's Empirically Not HER Fault- DNC Subterfuge- Biden's Lies About Getting Arrested, Mandela Thanking- Preview of the Biden v Bernie Debate- Schumer SCOTUS Threat- The FISA "Rubber Stamp"- The Horrifying Books on Your Sshelf- President Trump's *Disgraceful* Peace Deal w/ the Taliban- Eli's Libertarian War Powers Fetish- Steve Kornacki: Legend- Chris Matthews- Billionaire Lives MatterUPDATED FILERecorded: March 5th, 2020Released: March 6th, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

w/ Aaron Maté (Host @ PushBack, Contributor @ The Nation)- Throwin Up Gang Signs- COVID-19- Cuban History 101- Giving China Credit- Billionaires and Unicorns- Harvey WeinsteinRecorded: February 26th, 2020Released: February 27th, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

w/ Asawin Suebsaeng and Lachlan Markay (White House Reporters @ The Daily Beast)Co Authors: ""Sinking in the Swamp" How Trump's Minions and Misfits Poisoned Washington"Description:- Moynihan's Vocal Fry and "Actually Good" Accents- Searching for "Henry Hills" in Trumpworld- Lachlan's Conservative Apostasy- Al Gore: Most Boring Interview Subject Ever- Rats and Snitches- Daily Beast: A "High-brow Tabloid"- Woke (Racist?) Bloomberg- The Muslim Ban- From Seb Gorka to Hunter Biden- Reporters vs Opinion Pundits- Will the Press Scrutinize the Next President as Aggressively?- The Never Trumpers Who End Up in the White House Anyway- John Bolton's Next Act- Swin/Lachlan's "Badgers Story"- Drama Queens- Bob Woodward- Godfather 3, still bad- Gore Vidal + Timothy McVeighRecorded: February 18th, 2020Released: February 19th, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

Description:- Black History Month- There's no Barbecue Sauce in American Dirt- Believe Some Death Threats, Leverage Others- Oscar Obsession (Beautiful Mind Edition)- Yang Dead Is Dead, Long Live Yang Gang- Bernie's Ceiling, Biden's Ebony Firewall- A SHOCKING Presidential Endorsement- Bloomberg's Stop + Frisk Memory Hole- ADL: "White Supremacy is On The Rise!"Recorded: February 12th, 2020Released: February 13th, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

The last time we did this, we said don't get used to it. Well, we meant it. But we're also feeling overly generous. So here is last week's Patreon-only dispatch, featuring Moynihan and Kmele. You're welcome.--------Kmele and Moynihan are back in Williamsburg drinking bad wine and talking shit...while trying to figure out why Welch isn't returning anyone's calls. Moynihan returns to Iowa and remembers why he hates journalists. Bumbling around the Hawkeye State, he chats with Andrew Yang, hangs with hardcore Trump types and fanatical Bernie bros. And they're all Iowa nice. Kmele has a black "Big Chill" weekend in Pennsylvania and opens about up his parents--to a gobsmacked Moynihan. As usual, the lads try to catch up on a bunch of listener mail, provoking discussions about tattoos, Chile, Northern Ireland, Goop, The Central Park Five, and the "Preppy Killer" Robert Chambers. And twenty years after it debuted, Kmele finally watches Curb Your Enthusiasm.Outro music: RIP Andy Gill.Recorded February 4, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

Description:- Kmele's Inner MAGA- State of the Union Theatrics- “Oh, God -- Fire the Media!”- "The Big Lie" (and other nonsense)- Mitt Romney’s Moment- Trump’s Criminal Justice Reform- Iowa Fiasco- Waiting for Bernie to Turn on MSNBC- Preview of Upcoming Patreon EpisodesRecorded: February 5th, 2020Released: February 6th, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

Description:- When the mob came for the Fifth- Hong Kong: Proto Police State- The Democratic Field- Bernie's Got a Shot, The Joe Rogan Bounce- Criminalizing Disinformation- Watching Lou Dobbs- Fearing the Bern- Truthy Skepticism- An Impeachment Drive-By- Eli on the FBI- Some Idiot Wrote This (and this... and this...)Recorded: January 29, 2020Released: January 30, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe

GUEST:Miriam Elder, senior political reporter for BuzzFeed News and former Russia correspondent for The Guardian. (@MiriamElder)DESCRIPTION:Our fake biosMiriam's seven years in MoscowGet Shorty, Alex Jones, and the D-list bullshit artistsMatt’s Russophobia isn’t as bad as MSNBC’sPolitical theater provides cover to Putin’s authoritarianism Moynihan and Elder throw down over Bernie's alleged sexism. Plus: Is believing Warren or Sanders a #MeToo lesson?Who is the nihilist candidate?Banning lies on FacebookCan a bully be funny?The “Independents” couple foreverRecorded: January 16, 2020Released: January 18, 2020 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.wethefifth.com/subscribe