The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg

Live from Tel Aviv, author Oren Kessler joins the Remnant to discuss his new book, Palestine 1936: The Great Revolt and the Roots of the Middle East Conflict. The result is a deep dish slice of eggheady conversation, which mixes rank punditry with historical nerdery and a negligible amount of technical glitches. Things kick off with a history of the Arab-Israeli conflict from the 1930s to the present. Afterward, Jonah and Oren explore some pressing questions surrounding the conflict today. How should we regard the ongoing judicial reforms in Israel? Where does nationalism fit into Arab and Israeli intellectual history? And does Israel need to develop a written constitution? Show Notes: -Oren’s new book, Palestine 1936: The Great Revolt and the Roots of the Middle East Conflict -Oren’s webpage -Oren's book preview on Military History Now -George Antonius’ The Arab Awakening Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back from the Caribbean with a radiant glow, Jonah is joined by Stephen Eide—senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute—for an outrageously wonky discussion of homelessness in America. The two kick things off by exploring the history of transient labor and the categorical distinctions between hobos, tramps, and bums, before turning to the root causes of the growing homeless populations in big cities. They also explore the relationship between homelessness and changes to psychiatric health care, the loss of affordable housing in big cities, and the idea that homelessness is a natural outgrowth of late-stage capitalism. Show Notes: -Stephen’s page at the Manhattan Institute -Stephen’s recent book, Homelessness in America: The History and Tragedy of an Intractable Social Problem -Stephen: “Housing First’s Imperial Overreach” -Stephen: “The Adams Homeless Deluge” -Madness in the Streets: How Psychiatry and the Law Abandoned the Mentally Ill -Sebastian Junger’s Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Jonah continues his search for Spanish gold, Sarah Isgur assumes control of the Remnant once again for some predictably eclectic conversation. She’s joined by former Texas Rep. Will Hurd, who’s also a security expert and national park enthusiast. After briefly discussing the ravages of age, they turn to America’s immense beauty, the terrors of AI, the challenges of immigration reform, and everything in between. Are we in a new Cold War? Could Will be preparing for a shocking announcement? And most importantly, where in San Antonio should you get your taco fix? Show Notes: - Sign up for The Brief - Will: “Would China & Russia Attack Hawaii?” - Will’s questionable national park tier list… - The nēnē - Eric S. Raymond’s The Cathedral and the Bazaar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Jonah shirks his podcasting duties to star in a one-man production of Pirates of the Caribbean, Chris Stirewalt takes his place at the helm of the Remnant for a characteristically wonky discussion of the coming presidential primary. He’s joined by Harry Enten, senior data reporter at CNN and host of the Margins of Error podcast, for a conversation that touches on all of the most pressing questions of the day. Is the GOP unifying behind Ron DeSantis? When is the best time for a candidate to jump into the race? And should we declare Harry the chief diet soft drink expert in the United States? Show Notes: - CNN’s Margins of Error Podcast - Harry: “Why it’s better to start a presidential campaign early” - Harry: “Why Biden shouldn't dismiss his negative poll numbers” - Harry: “Why a historically small presidential primary field is possible in 2024” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Jonah prepares to drop off the grid for a week, he brings Guy, his immigrant majordomo, back on the Remnant to ask an eclectic selection of listener questions. Predictably, things start innocently enough with some hyper-rank punditry on 2024 and a brief canine update, but afterward, they quickly get weird. From talk of ChatGPT and zombies overthrowing the established world order to musings on scotch, wrestling, and pretentious foreign movies, the second half of this episode is a unique ride. By the end, Jonah’s perception of Guy may have been permanently altered. Show Notes: - Tuesday’s Ruminant - David Drucker breaks down Nikki Haley’s announcement - The Dispatch Podcast on Haley, Harris, and helium - Kurt Schlichter: “No to Nikki Harris” - The Bing chatbot’s freakouts - The Remnant with Jim Pethokoukis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back from his sojourn in the Land of Lincoln, Jonah invites Coleman Hughes–host of the Conversations with Coleman podcast–onto the Remnant for a lively discussion of race and religion (everyone’s favorite topics). What’s the relationship between authenticity and identity? Is it possible to completely root out racism in American society? And what danger does audience capture pose to responsible journalism? Show Notes: - Coleman’s webpage - Conversations with Coleman - The Panic in Needle Park - Coleman: “Actually, Color-Blindness Isn’t Racist” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stranded without a guest in beautiful Springfield, Illinois, Jonah is forced to record another Ruminant, and the result finds his mind drifting from place to place like a wayward spy balloon. After a brief foray into dirigible-based punditry, he quickly turns to protectionism and Biden’s “Buy American” mantra, providing some extended thoughts on why both are so annoying. From there, his ramblings fall into an uncontrolled tailspin, covering everything from NIMBianism to René Girard and, finally, the incomparable Cronut. Show Notes: - Real life Up - Dominic Pino: “Biden Promises to Spend Your Money Poorly” - Phil Klein: “The Story Construction Tells About America’s Economy Is Disturbing” - George McGovern: “A Politician's Dream Is a Businessman's Nightmare” - Neal Stephenson’s -The Diamond Age Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Ruminant, Jonah once again finds himself agitated by a veritable cornucopia of asininities. From the idea that every problem in San Francisco can be blamed on COVID to our embarrassing balloon response, no topic is safe from his ire. Can every problem be blamed on late-stage capitalism? What is the difference between good politics and good policy? And how should the Remnant advertise itself to the outside world? Show Notes: - The Daily’s episode on San Francisco - Anastasia Tsioulcasa: “An artist's 'Healing Project,' focused on incarceration and violence, wins $1 million” - The Commentary Podcast - What the heck is F Troop? - “It is balloon” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the wake of 2023’s raucous State of the Union address, Jonah invites Noah Rothman back to the Remnant for some obscenely rank punditry on a host of hot topics. They begin by exploring what we should make of Biden’s speech, and whether the rowdy atmosphere that accompanied it was actually a good thing, before turning to issues foreign and domestic. How does Biden look as a 2024 candidate given his age? Does the GOP have anything to offer the electorate? Why did it take so long to pop China’s pesky balloon? And could that floating middle finger be the Sputnik moment America needs? Show Notes: - Noah’s page at Commentary - Noah’s latest book, The Rise of the New Puritans - Noah’s previous book, Unjust - Noah’s previous Remnant appearance - Kevin Williamson: “Joe Biden as Priest-King” - Jonah: “Advice for Biden: Be Like Ike” - A deflated Commentary Podcast - The Remnant with Dalibor Rohac Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AEI Senior Fellow Dalibor Rohac makes his Remnant debut in today’s outrageously wonky discussion of Eastern Europe. In light of the ongoing war in Ukraine, the conversation covers America’s foreign policy debate, Germany’s continued weirdness, and the European Union’s role in modern geopolitics. Will peace require a resounding Russian defeat? Can more can be done to support Ukraine’s defense? And what will a postwar Europe look like? Show Notes: - AEI’s The Eastern Front podcast - Dr. Rohac’s page at AEI - Dr. Rohac: “Dnipro Slaughter Shows Depths of Putin’s Depravity Against Ukraine” - Dr. Rohac: “Fuss over Ukraine Tanks Shows the World Has No Substitute for America’s Defense Industry” - Dr. Rohac: “How We Get Europe to Ensure Ukraine’s Post-War Success” -The Telegraph’s Ukraine: The Latest podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Ruminant, unencumbered by any pretension to organization, Jonah waxes eloquent on everything from the spy balloon over Montana to the breakdown of organized religion. After beginning with a dive into the rhetoric surrounding the war in Ukraine, he directs his ire towards the cult of victimhood that seems to dominate public life. Stick around for a particularly eggheadish discussion on the nature of policing, American racial progress, and why individual choice matters. Show Notes: -Telegraph’s Ukraine: The Latest podcast -The Guardian: Burning of Qur’an in Stockholm funded by journalist with Kremlin ties -Jonah’s 1995 Public Interest article -James Burnham’s Suicide of the West -Jonah: “The Race to Racism” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Podhoretz makes his triumphant return to the Remnant for a characteristically freewheeling discussion covering everything from Israeli politics to the classified document scandals. Who isn’t hoarding a classified document or two nowadays? What’s going on with Israel’s judiciary? How is the GOP doing? Will Joe Biden run in 2024? And is it ever appropriate to sing the Felix the Cat theme song? Be prepared to have it lodged in your brain. Show Notes: - GLoP, the pop culture podcast America deserves - John’s author page at Commentary - FBI search of Biden’s beach house - The Felix the Cat theme song - The Remnant with A.B. Stoddard Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In an attempt to overcome the trauma that developed after his recent visit to Portland, Jonah invites the prolific author and journalist Nancy Rommelmann onto the Remnant for the first time to explore how the city descended into something resembling Escape from New York. They discuss when Portland’s decline began, whether it can fairly be compared to the New York of the 1970s and ‘80s, and whether these problems will be fixed anytime soon. And shockingly enough, no references to The Warriors are included. Show Notes: - Nancy’s Substack, Make More Pie - Nancy’s page at Reason - Nancy’s podcast, Smoke ‘Em If You Got ‘Em - Jonah: “A Pox Upon Portland” - Nancy: “The Dream of the ‘90s Died in Portland” - Nancy: “Is Portland the new Neverland?” - Nancy: “A Murder in Portland” - Nancy: “You’re Not Allowed to Film” - Tom Wolfe: “The Great Relearning” - An exhibitionistic GLoP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah’s eggheadery reaches a new extreme on today’s rambly Ruminant, which may leave you dreaming of the end times. After beginning with some brief thoughts on Biden’s document escapade and when it’s appropriate for the government to declassify information, he turns to a melange of nerdishly complicated questions. Is it the end of the world as we know it? How did the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists blind us with science? Do Irving Kristol’s objections to capitalism have merit? And are Cheez-Its the ultimate snack food? Show Notes: - Jonah “moderates” the Dispatch Podcast - The Economist’s The Intelligence podcast - Daniel Patrick Moynihan’s Secrecy - The Remnant with Bruce Caldwell - Irving Kristol: “When Virtue Loses All Her Loveliness” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah makes an unexpected return to the AEI studio for another in-person Remnant, this time featuring Keith Whittington, beloved egghead and Princeton political scientist. A deep dive ensues into America’s unique preoccupation with free speech and the nature of academic freedom, which raises a number of pertinent questions. How concerned should we be about the state of free speech on college campuses? What are some common misconceptions about academic freedom? And what should we make of Ron DeSantis’ approach to these issues? Those feeling free and expressive are particularly encouraged to tune in. Show Notes: - Keith’s page at Princeton - Keith: “Hamline Takes Quashing Academic Freedom to a Whole New Level” - Keith: “Academic Freedom for Whom?” - Nathan Glazer: “What Happened at Berkeley” - From the New College of Florida to DeSantis U? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In what may be one of the most brazenly nerdy Remnant episodes ever recorded (which is really saying a lot) Duke University’s Bruce Caldwell joins the program to discuss the life and work of Friedrich Hayek. Dr. Caldwell, the pope of Hayekian geekdom, recently published the first installment of a two volume biography of the famed economist. Guided by Jonah’s gleeful prompting, he explores how Hayek rose to international prominence, what he was like as a man, and how we should view his great works today. If you woke up feeling all Austrian this morning, it’s a must listen. Show Notes: - Dr. Caldwell’s page at Duke - Dr. Caldwell’s new book, Hayek: A Life, 1899–1950 - Dr. Caldwell’s intellectual biography of Hayek, Hayek’s Challenge - Hayek: “The Intellectuals and Socialism” - Hayek: “The Use of Knowledge in Society” - Dr. Caldwell on -Political Economy with Jim Pethokoukis Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s annoyingly whispered Ruminant comes to you live from Portland, where Jonah’s on a clandestine mission with his wife. Unfortunately, the city doesn’t seem to be doing so well, which prompts him to begin with a lengthy diatribe on urban decay, the crisis of homelessness in America’s cities, and what’s specifically wrong with Portland. Stick around afterward for some thoughts on Davos and the economic elite, and a rambling digression about the enduring relevance of Liberal Fascism. Show Notes: - Jonah: “One, Maybe Two, Cheers for Partisanship” - The LA Times on Portland’s homeless problem - The Remnant with Jim Pethokoukis - Philip Coupland: “H.G. Wells's 'Liberal Fascism'” - Jonah: “Bellamy’s Children” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Riedl, also known as the “balanced budget good government guy,” is back on the Remnant to answer a pertinent question: Should we believe that the GOP suddenly cares about fiscal responsibility? He and Jonah also provide some wonkified commentary on a whole host of other economic issues. What’s to be done about the national debt? How should conservatives approach the IRS? And is it possible to reform the tax system? Show Notes: - Jonah: “The GOP’s Spending Fight Is More About Fighting Than Spending” - Brian Riedl: “How Republicans Can Get Serious on Spending” - The Remnant with A.B. Stoddard - Byron Donalds spars with Joy Reid Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Remnant gets back to basics today, as A.B. Stoddard returns to the show for some deeply rank punditry on (what else?) the dysfunctional state of our parties and the prospect of a second term for Biden. With insurgents rising among both Republicans and Democrats, how long will it take for the parties to get healthy again? For that matter, how concerned should Democrats be about the loss of black and Hispanic voters? Will the GOP actually raise the debt limit? And is there any way of excusing Biden’s document blunder? Show Notes: - A.B.’s page at RealClearPolitics - Jonah: “GOP’s deficit reduction is a cynical performative gesture” - A.B.: “Kevin McCarthy Is Already a Gift to Democrats” - Jonah: “McCarthy’s Misery” - A.B.: “Yes, He Will Burn It All Down” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s Ruminant, a self-described “rambling, weird, incoherent hot mess,” can perhaps be taken as a reflection of Jonah’s addled brain. With his wife and daughter on a road trip, his mind has regressed into bachelor mode, and he’s begun to subsist on chicken eaten over the kitchen sink. Thankfully, he still has opinions on the biggest stories of the day, including the Biden administration’s potential ban of gas stoves, how Biden’s classified document scandal compares with Trump’s, and technological developments that could counteract climate change. Come for the punditry, but stay for the strange digression about the mating habits of deer. Show Notes: - The Dispatch breaks down the battle over gas stoves - NPR: “We need to talk about your gas stove, your health and climate change” - Jonah: “The Hypocritic Oath” - The Dispatch Podcast on Biden’s classified document scandal - Wall Street Journal: “Climate Startup Removes Carbon From Open Air in Industry First” - The Remnant with Jim Pethokoukis - Jonah: “Two Cheers for Techno-Marxism” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cass Sunstein, the Robert Walmsley University Professor at Harvard and Jonah’s fellow disciple of the dingo, makes an overdue return to the Remnant to discuss his recent book, Noise: A Flaw in Human Judgment. Noise, the book argues, is a deadly flaw in human judgment that clouds many of our decisions and produces errors in fields such as medicine, law, and public health. Dr. Sunstein and Jonah examine how noise should be defined, what separates it from bias, and what we can do to fight it. They also explore whether the phenomenon varies across the world, and how terrifying changes in AI and algorithms may affect it. Show Notes: - Dr. Sunstein’s recent book, Noise - Dr. Sunstein’s other recent book, Sludge - Dr. Sunstein: “Governing by Algorithm? No Noise and (Potentially) Less Bias” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For no particular reason, the Remnant returns to an in-person format today, as Jonah drops by the AEI offices to chat about what the future holds for humans and technology with James “Jimmy P” Pethokoukis. Together, they explore why we still haven’t achieved some of the major advancements that wonks were predicting in the ‘70s, occasionally stopping to ponder the merits of popular sci-fi television shows. AI, fusion power, and space elevators are all discussed, but by the end of it all, an important question still hasn’t received enough attention: Will highly intelligent, taxi-driving super-apes eventually overthrow mankind? Show Notes: - Jim’s Substack, Faster, Please! - Ezra Klein: “The Dystopia We Fear Is Keeping Us From the Utopia We Deserve” - Jim: “Who taught us to fear Dystopia? Who taught us we didn't deserve Utopia?” - Jim: “Paul Ehrlich interview on '60 Minutes' shows the need to finally defeat degrowth environmentalism” - Our World in Data - Jonah’s review of The Reactionary Mind - Alvin Toffler’s Future Shock - Arthur C. Clarke’s Profiles of the Future - Scientific American: “Space Elevators Are Less Sci-Fi Than You Think” - Jonah: “Two Cheers for Techno-Marxism” - Jim: “Billionaires, space, and the Blade Runner Fallacy” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah’s in especially ranty form on today’s Ruminant as he explores the continuing war over the House speakership and where most commentators are going wrong in their analysis of it. He also examines the broader prevalence of annoying misconceptions about Congress, what media bias really looks like, and how conservatism should be measured. Plus, tune in for discussion of a controversial Daily Beast story, the Damar Hamlin incident, and the political proclivities of big corporations. Show Notes: - Wednesday’s (members only) “news”letter - Jonah: “McCarthy’s Misery” - The Daily Beast's Matt Schlapp story - Joshua Green: “Can Ron DeSantis replace Donald Trump as the Face of the GOP?” - Philip Bump: “Can Ron DeSantis Ride an Anti-Business Message to the White House?” - Tim Carney’s - The Big Ripoff Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In what is sure to be the first of many appearances in 2023, Chris Stirewalt joins the Remnant to discuss the ongoing debacle that is Kevin McCarthy’s bid for House speaker. He and Jonah explore what McCarthy’s opponents hope to gain, whether it’s true that opposing him makes you more conservative, and why all of this actually may not matter very much. They also touch on whether wokeism has passed its peak, why scripted comedy is in such a strange position, and what’s irritating about generational generalizations. Plus, tune in for a few obligatory shots at the New York Times’ newest columnist. Show Notes: - The Remnant with Megan McCardle - Chris: “The Agonizingly Low Stakes of Today’s Vote for House Speaker” - This week’s Dispatch Live - Josh Kraushaar: “The Return of the Moral Majority” - David Halberstram’s - The Coldest Winter Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Remnant kicks off 2023 in appropriately rank fashion today, as Megan McArdle returns to the program for some eggheady musings on what the new year could bring for our legislative branch, parties, and broader political culture. She and Jonah begin by examining the state of Congress and what we can do to fix it, before turning to some pressing questions. Will cryptocurrency conquer the world? How does transparency harm institutions? And will the Republican Party start inching back toward sanity anytime soon? Show Notes: - Megan’s page at the Washington Post - Jonah: “So Congress is a mess. It’s supposed to be messy” - The Economist: “How Is Ukraine Using Crypto to Fund the War?” - Matt Levine: “The Crypto Story” - The Remnant with Russ Roberts - Jonah: “The Worst Fang Club” - The Remnant with Yuval Levin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah brings 2022 to a close in typically freewheeling fashion on today’s Ruminant, which aims to provide a minimal amount of crushing morosity. He kicks things off by exploring the Southwest Airlines meltdown and why airline disasters are uniquely infuriating, before turning to the inefficiency of big government, how pandemics and other crises can affect economies, and what can go wrong when we mix up our gemeinschafts. Plus, stick around for a discussion of how fusion power could solve our environmental problems, some obligatory Marx bashing, and a few words about the state of The Dispatch. Happy New Year! Show Notes: - Ezekiel Emanuel: “Covid Isn’t the Only Reason Children’s Vaccination Rates Are Falling” - The Remnant with Scott Lincicome - The Economist: “The great inflation of the 1500s is echoing eerily today” - Jerry Muller’s The Mind and the Market - Wednesday’s “news”letter - David Bahnsen: “Put Not Your Trust in Princes” - Jim Pethokoukis on the state of nuclear fusion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As 2022 winds down, Kevin Williamson returns to the Remnant for some wide-ranging sociopolitical nerdery. He and Jonah explore what characterizes effective social policy, why it pays to be skeptical of new ideas, and what makes no sense about the American tax system. They also provide a modicum of more lighthearted punditry on the George Santos debacle and indulge in a lengthy discussion of the gun debate. Tune in for explanation, but stick around for obfuscation. Show Notes: - Kevin’s page at The Dispatch - Kevin: “A Guide to Guns” - Nick Catoggio: “The Talented Mr. Santos” - Jonah: “Something Short of Tragic” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Christmas Eve, and what’s more germane to the holiday season than some lengthy rambling about authoritarianism? Of course, today’s Ruminant is a little more nuanced than that. It also digs into how political states emerge in the first place, why Russia is becoming a “really crappy” country, and how to distinguish between valid criticism of American foreign policy toward Ukraine and toadying to Vladimir Putin. On the lighter side, Jonah also answers a few questions that arose after the week’s earlier episode with the Fair Jessica. We wish you all a wonderful holiday! Show Notes: - The Fair Jessica’s Remnant return - Zelensky’s speech to Congress - Julia Davis’ Russian Media Monitor - Jonah: “Authoritarianism’s Bad Year” - Francis Fukuyama’s The Origins of Political Order - How Putin’s war became a catastrophe for Russia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Remnant, Jonah’s esteemed wife and bear skeptic, Jessica Gavora (aka the Fair Jessica), makes her highly anticipated return. The two JGs explore some more nerdish topics than last time, including what it takes to be a successful ghostwriter, how the right changed during the Trump years, and what it’s like writing speeches for prominent politicians. They also touch on a few personal subjects, including memories of Jonah’s mom, the recent trip to Istanbul, and Jessica’s current book project (she needs your help!). Plus, stick around until the end to hear Jessica make her best case against human-bear interaction. Show Notes: - The Fair Jessica’s first Remnant appearance - Betsy DeVos’ Hostages No More - Hugh Hewitt: “The ‘Agnew Option’ could be a way out for Trump — and America” - The Fair Jessica’s Tilting the Playing Field: Schools, Sports, Sex and Title IX Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During his wild European vacation last week, Jonah didn’t follow the news too closely. To catch himself up, he invites The Dispatch’s own Andrew Egger back to the Remnant for some intensely rank punditry. Together, they explore the biggest and strangest stories currently unfolding in politics, including Kevin McCarthy’s bid for House speaker, Ron DeSantis’ attack on vaccines, and Donald Trump’s criminal referral. Plus, they offer some musings on the 2024 election and the horrors of Trump trading cards. Show Notes: - Andrew: “Trump 2024’s Terrible Start” - Andrew: “Ron DeSantis Gambles on Vaccine Grievance” - The Morning Dispatch: “The January 6th Committee’s Last Hurrah” - Lauren Boebert and Marjorie Taylor Greene go to war - Trump NFTs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Jonah off on a clandestine mission to Turkey, Chris Stirewalt takes his place in the Remnant captain’s chair for a wonktastic dive into American demography. His guest is Dr. Richard Alba, a sociologist and the author of The Great Demographic Illusion: Majority, Minority, and the Expanding American Mainstream, which explores America’s changing racial makeup and the increasing prevalence of Americans born from mixed families. Their discussion touches on a number of pressing questions. Can we rely on Census data? What does assimilation mean in America today? And how can we create more opportunities for young Americans to move into? Show Notes: - Dr. Alba’s page at CUNY - Dr. Alba’s The Great Demographic Illusion - Chris: “America’s No-Majority Future Is Going to be Delicious” - Dr. Alba: “The Truth About White America” - Dr. Alba: “The Myth of a Majority-Minority America” - The Remnant with Ruy Teixeira Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dedicated Remnant listeners may recall that in 2019, Jonah stopped by the headquarters of the Illinois Policy Institute to record a special, Chicago-centric episode. On his recent voyage to the Windy City, Jonah returned to the institute to record a follow-up with its president, Matt Paprocki. Together, they discuss the challenges facing Chicago, how conservatives can win Illinois, and what policies should be pursued to lift people out of poverty. Tune in for the wonkery, but stick around to find out how many obscure nicknames for Chicago are lodged in Jonah’s brain. Show Notes: - The Illinois Policy Institute - Matt’s page at IPI - Matt’s Substack - Michael Madigan’s scandals - The Remnant with Arthur Brooks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s Ruminant, recorded live from an undisclosed hotel in the depths of Chicago, finds Jonah even more scatterbrained than usual. Although he begins by discussing the nature of the First Amendment and why Twitter isn’t at the heart and soul of American democracy, he quickly abandons rank punditry and veers in a radically different direction. With a vacation in Istanbul coming up, Jonah tells the long, strange tale of his first visit to the city, which may or may not evoke comparisons to Midnight Express. It’s an unconventional episode, but don’t say you weren’t warned. Show Notes: - Bari Weiss’ “Twitter Files” - David French: “Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson Don’t Understand the First Amendment” - Christian Schneider: “Does Nobody Understand How the First Amendment Works?” - The Remnant with Scott Lincicome - The Remnant with Jonathan Rauch - Charlie Cooke and Michael Brendan Dougherty debate Republican electability Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonathan Rauch, beloved scholar at the otherwise hated Brookings Institution, returns to the Remnant for some spirited kvetching about primaries, polarization, and the state of democracy. He and Jonah also mix in some ruminations on the Republican Party’s dysfunction, the nature of racism in contemporary American society, and how identity politics radicalizes people. Be ready with your bingo cards. Show Notes: - Jonathan’s page at Brookings - Jonathan’s previous Remnant appearance - Jonathan’s latest book, The Constitution of Knowledge - Jonathan and Ray La Raja: “Too Much Democracy Is Bad for Democracy” - “Toward a More Responsible Two Party System” - Elaine Kamarck: “Is democracy failing and putting our economic system at risk?” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Heroic wonksplainer Scott Lincicome is back on the Remnant to discuss his new book, Empowering the American Worker: Market‐​Based Solutions for Today’s Workforce, which examines what effective pro-worker policies should look like in today’s political climate. Predictably, things get nerdy, as the conversation explores education policy, the demands of urban living, and the great vampire-werewolf debate (tune in for clarification). Where is the government going wrong in its approach to the workforce? Can relying on the free market ever create problems? And how bullish should we be about remote work? Show Notes: - Scott’s newsletter, Capitolism - Scott’s new book, Empowering the American Worker - Scott previews the book in The Dispatch - The Remnant with Russ Roberts - Ryan Streeter: “Place and the Pursuit of Happiness, Upward Mobility and the American Dream” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finally on the verge of overcoming his lingering COVID symptoms, Jonah approaches today’s rambly Ruminant with renewed verve. After tackling the strangeness of Elon Musk’s Twitter reign and the freakishness of Kanye West, he explores how Trumpification has changed the right and what sane Republicans can do to move forward. From there, things get philosophical, as Jonah examines the nature of ethical universals and what specifically is immoral about authoritarian regimes. Finally, things conclude with some sweet, nourishing dog content. Show Notes: - The Wednesday G-File - Election denial in Cochise County - Newt Gingrich: “Quit Underestimating President Biden” - The Economist’s Drum Tower podcast - The Remnant with Alexandra Horowitz - Jonah: “Mau-Mauing the Dogcatcher” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been a while since the Remnant featured a dog expert, but today, Dr. Alexandra Horowitz—a professor at Barnard College of Columbia University—joins the program to fill that void. Some seriously rank cynology ensues, as Jonah and Alexandra explore everything you could ever want to know about canine cognition. Do dogs have a unique friendship with humans, or are they just social parasites? Why do dogs react in different ways to different people? And are dog shows a stain on mankind? Show Notes: - Alexandra’s webpage - Alexandra’s new book, The Year of the Puppy - Alexandra’s previous books: Inside of a Dog - Being a Dog - And Our Dogs, Ourselves - Alexandra: “What Does it Feel Like to Be a Dog?” - The Remnant with Michael H. Parsons (rat guy) - The world’s smartest dog Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Revitalized after his latest struggle with COVID, Jonah invites AEI senior fellow and foreign policy expert Michael Rubin back to the Remnant to discuss how America should respond to challenges posed by China, Russia, and the Middle East. Should the U.S. government embrace regime change? What’s at stake for the West in Taiwan and Ukraine? And should we be optimistic about liberalism in China and Iran? Show Notes: - Michael’s page at AEI - Michael: “Why Is the US Never Prepared for Regime Change?” - The Chicken Kiev speech - Paul Kennedy’s The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers - Lin Wells’ memo to Donald Rumsfeld Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last year, Remnant regular Matt Ridley published Viral: The Search for the Origin of COVID-19, which explored the theory that the virus leaked from a laboratory. Today, he’s back on the program to discuss how things have changed since the book’s publication with a suitably COVID-addled Jonah. Has the lab-leak theory become more persuasive? Did the pandemic fuel a backslide in vaccinations? And can Britons and Americans ever resolve their linguistic differences? Show Notes: - Matt’s latest book, Viral - Matt’s previous Remnant appearance - Matt: “COVID origin case reopened: A lab leak is a legitimate question”- John Barry’s The Great Influenza Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a long and draining week of speeches, fancy dinners, and finally acknowledging the existence of his intern, Jonah phones in the beginning of today’s Ruminant by simply reading through the stories in Friday’s Morning Dispatch. Luckily, things quickly pick up speed when Jonah turns to a wacky article by the mother of the recently disgraced CEO of FTX on why we should abandon the concept of personal responsibility. A lengthy philosophical discussion follows on the problems inherent in critical analysis, the necessity of pricing signals, and why bad ideas must be taken seriously. Following some thoughts on judicial activism and the future of the Federalist Society, Jonah wraps things up by discussing hope, optimism, and the nature of despair. Show Notes: - Barbara H. Fried: “Beyond Blame”- “A Moment of Truth for the Federalist Society” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In recovery mode from a hectic period of midterm punditry, Jonah invites his immigrant amanuensis Guy back to the Remnant to spend some time answering listener questions. A strange and broad conversation ensues, as Jonah provides some rank predictions for the 2024 election cycle, reflects on his career in blogging, and indulges in a few fiendishly nerdy asides about Marvel and Star Trek. And of course, he can’t resist interrogating Guy about his recent voyage on a Kiss-themed cruise. Show Notes: - Jonah and Guy’s previous AMA extravaganza - Haley Byrd Wilt: “The Freedom Caucus’ Reform Opportunity” - “Florida man makes announcement” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With demand for rank election punditry at historically high levels, Chris Stirewalt captains today’s Remnant voyage through the convoluted current of midterm results. He’s joined by trusted wonk Ruy Teixeira to discuss the 2022 turnout numbers, the nature of “normie” voters, and the inevitable overinterpreting of Democrats’ success in grasping only a small defeat out of the jaws of a much larger one. Demography-galore abounds in the second half of the show, as Chris and Ruy analyze future trends, crackpot electoral theories, and how Democrats should approach the Lovecraftian maw of the 2024 election. Show Notes: -Ruy’s page at AEI -Chris’ page at The Dispatch -Ruy: “Democrats Can’t Count on Trump in 2024” -Chris: “The Wave Against Weirdness” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trapped in the urban prison popularly referred to as Manhattan, Jonah surrenders to the call of rank punditry and discusses the midterm results on today’s Ruminant. How did the Republicans squander such an obviously winnable election, and what role did Trump play in the disaster? Furthermore, could Biden really win again in 2024? Have Jonah’s views on Ron DeSantis shifted? And should these results inspire hope that conservatism can right itself? Show Notes: - The Remnant with Ken Pollack - Wednesday’s “news”letter - The Dispatch Podcast provides a midterm postmortem - Jonah on 2016’s slow-motion Invasion of the Body Snatchers - George Orwell: “Second Thoughts on James Burnham” - Charlie Cooke: “Did Republicans Pick the Right Time to Lose?” - The Remnant with Yuval Levin Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AEI Senior Fellow Ken Pollack returns to the Remnant for a wonktastic discussion of the Middle East. With continued Iranian protests dominating international headlines, the conversation centers on the stability of the Iranian regime, the goals of the Iranian people, and how the United States should respond. Why do continued mass demonstrations in Iran seem to be an intellectual afterthought in the West? What will happen to Iran’s nuclear program if its government collapses? And what are the best things the Biden administration could do to help the Iranian people? Show Notes: - Ken’s page at AEI - Ken: “A Stronger But Less Ambitious NATO” - Ken: “The Middle East Abhors a Vacuum” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shadi Hamid of the hated Brookings Institution returns to the Remnant to discuss his new book, The Problem of Democracy: America, the Middle East, and the Rise and Fall of an Idea. He and Jonah engage in a nerdtastic exploration of democracy—its strengths, its weaknesses, and how it should be understood in the American context. What is “democratic minimalism,” and should we embrace it? Why is democracy particularly well suited to a society as large and diverse as the United States? And what should primary elections be replaced with? Show Notes: - Shadi’s page at The Atlantic - Shadi’s new book, The Problem of Democracy - Shadi: “Can Democracy Exist Without Liberalism?” - Biden’s befuddled speech - Jonah: “The Cult of Unity Is a Poison” - Jonah on the “Life of Julia” - Pajama Boy - Jonah on Making Sense with Sam Harris Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah finds himself unable to resist the allure of rank punditry on today’s Ruminant. He begins by describing how little he cares about the upcoming midterms before diving into a lengthy rant on that very matter. Next, he tackles the state of Trump’s continued influence on the Republican Party, the ills of the modern legislative process, and the undermining of confidence in elections by both parties. After a brief foray into John Dewey’s “screwed up” view of democracy, Jonah finishes the show with commentary on Putin’s rejection of liberal democratic capitalism, the hypocrisy of his attacks on America, and why Francis Fukuyama was right all along (again). Show Notes: - Richard Rorty’s Achieving Our Country - Jonah: “Putin’s Dangerous Blend of Propaganda and Hypocrisy” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Addicted to the sensation of power that the Remnant command chair provides, Sarah Isgur takes control of the program once again. She’s joined by famed pollster Kristen Soltis Anderson to discuss the reliability of polls and the future of the polling industry, as well as the midterms and the 2024 presidential election. Tune in also to learn about Sarah’s spindrift habit, Kristen’s exceptional canine companion, and what really appeals to young voters. Show Notes: -Kristen’s webpage -The Fetterman-Oz debate -Kristen’s The Selfie Vote -Kristen: “Democrats Just Can’t Seal the Deal with Young Americans” - Sean Trende’s The Lost Majority Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Remnant returns to normalcy today as Chris Stirewalt joins Jonah to provide a preview of the midterms. With only a week remaining until election day, what level of turnout should we expect? For that matter, will the Republicans enjoy a red tsunami? How will Dobbs influence the results? And what does the attack on Paul Pelosi reveal about our political climate? Show Notes: -Chris’ page at The Dispatch -Last weekend’s Ruminant -Last Friday’s G-File -Chris' book 'Broken News' -Wall Street Journal: “Republican Election Prospects Rise as Inflation Overshadows Abortion” -Kari Lake mocks the Paul Pelosi attack -The Remnant with Yuval Levin -The Paul Lynde Halloween Special -Never been KISSed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Jonah on today’s solo episode as he remembers his mother, Lucianne Goldberg, who died peacefully this week surrounded by her people –– and pets! –– who loved her. Links: -John Podhoretz’s moving tribute Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s eclectic episode of The Remnant, Sarah is joined by Mo Elleithee, executive director of the Institute of Politics and Public Service at Georgetown University, to discus elections, tribalism, and Halloween. The two explore the shrinking acceptability of bipartisan friendships, the effects of campaign finance reform on polarization, and the importance of understanding the arguments of the other side. Stick around until the end for a heart-wrenching tale of unrequited avian love and to hear Sarah publicly debut her much anticipated screech owl call. Show Notes: -Mo on The Dispatch Podcast -The New York Times on the new campaign press aides Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices