The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg

Today’s jet-lagged Ruminant finds Jonah haunted by uncomfortable memories of John Dean as he tries to make sense of what the Supreme Court’s Bruen decision means for gun laws in America. Afterward, he offers philosophical musings on an array of topics, including consequentialist ethics, stoplights, and religious edicts. It all ends with a brief reflection on why Jonah is a conservative in the first place. Also, please note that this episode was recorded before the Supreme Court released its decision on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization. Jonah will have plenty to say on the subject very soon. Show Notes: - The Wednesday G-File - John Dean’s Worse than Watergate - The Bruen decision - The Fairbanks Midnight Sun Run - Consequentialism - Trump: “I whine until I win” - Rationalia? - Why stoplights use red - The Remnant (guest hosted by Chris Stirewalt) with Josh Kraushaar - The Remnant with Christine Rosen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With Jonah back from the harsh wilds of Alaska, Commentary’s Christine Rosen makes her long-awaited Remnant return. The duo explores the harmful effects of social media on young people, how pornography should be regulated, and what’s led to the rapid spread of transgender ideology. Why has trauma become a political tool? How can epigenetics explain political problems? And will this episode officially bring an end to Jonah’s friendship with John Podhoretz? Show Notes: - Christine’s page at Commentary - The Commentary podcast - The Remnant (hosted by Jonah’s vocal doppelganger) with Josh Kraushaar - Christine: “Ban Kids From Social Media” - Christine: “The Mainstream Media Damaged our Children” - Jonah and Nick Schulz: “Gated or X-Rated?” - Christine: “How Trauma Became a Political Tool” - Jonah: “Who’s Oppressing Whom?” - The Remnant with Jonathan Rauch - The Fair Jessica: “Ms. Myths” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Jonah scrambles to escape the wilds of Alaska, Chris Stirewalt takes control of the Remnant to provide some exceedingly rank punditry. His guest is Josh Kraushaar, who joins to explore whether the Democrats really are doomed in the upcoming midterms and what we can expect from Republicans in the remaining primaries. Josh and Chris also consider some of the most pressing questions about the 2024 presidential election: Will Joe Biden run again? How will Trump affect the race? And have the January 6 hearings been helpful to Republicans? Show Notes: - Josh’s page at National Journal - Josh’s podcast, Against the Grain - Chris’ page at The Dispatch - Democrats attack Mehmet Oz and David McCormick - Josh on the building Republican wave - How Brian Kemp crushed Trump in Georgia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How does The Godfather relate to the January 6 hearings? Jonah has the answer on today’s early-morning Ruminant, which also features disquisitions on the Democrats’ economic malpractice, the asinine argument that those who didn’t vote for Trump are responsible for Biden’s failures, and the future of American democracy. Did January 6 create a constitutional crisis? Will the hearings embolden sane Republicans to speak honestly about Trump? And is it time to say buona sera to American life as we know it? Show Notes: - The Wednesday G-File - How Jonah learned to stop worrying and love the January 6 committee - The Remnant with Chris Stirewalt - The Editors on the January 6 hearings - A criminal referral of Trump? - Andy McCarthy on how Trump should have been impeached - Noah Rothman: “The January 6 Commission’s Biggest Reveal” - Newt Gingrich: “Pelosi’s Stalinist Show Trial” - Jonah: “What I Got Wrong About Fascism” - The Remnant with Fr. Robert Sirico - The 500th Remnant-palooza Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rev. Robert Sirico, co-founder and president of the Acton Institute, joins the Remnant to discuss his new book, The Economics of the Parables, which uses Biblical stories to offer economic advice. With many on the right now embracing theocracy, it’s tempting to argue that the Catholic intellectual tradition is inherently at odds with capitalism. But Rev. Sirico disagrees, and he also isn’t convinced by the common left-wing argument that Jesus was a socialist. How can we heal the American heart? Should religion influence politics? And which of Rev. Sirico’s relatives might have Jonah whacked for the end of this podcast? Show Notes: - The Economics of the Parables, Rev. Sirico’s new book - Rev. Sirico’s column - Jonah on the microcosm and the macrocosm - Understanding Voegelin - Arthur Brooks’ Who Really Cares? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Stirewalt, America’s favorite rodeo expert, is back on the Remnant to provide an inside view of the January 6 hearings. He and Jonah explore how the hearings have played out so far and what we can expect the outcome to be, occasionally stopping for a few strange existential digressions. Will the hearings influence the midterms? What happened on election night when Fox decided to call Arizona? And how well does Chris know his Hume from his Haidt? Show Notes: - Chris’ page at The Dispatch - Chris: “The January 6 Committee and Me” - Chris: “Trump’s Faction of One” - The Hangover with Steve Kornacki - Greta Van Awful - Jonah: “This Was Always the Plan” - Charles Krauthammer: “Bungled Collusion is Still Collusion” - The Remnant 500th episode extravaganza - Jonah: “The Parliamentary-Election Problem” - Jonah: “How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Jan. 6 Committee” - Tim Miller on team normal - Earth’s greatest tweet Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Weird, overlong, and predictably devoid of substance, the drive-time Remnant format returns for another broadcast. Although today’s program begins with analysis of the January 6 hearings, it swiftly takes a turn for the eclectically surreal, as Jonah describes his obsession with pharmaceutical fine print, Ryan ponders the greatness of American dining halls, and Guy provides an account of his visit to a Kiss convention (yes, really). Oh, and to prevent things from becoming too pointless and indulgent (yeah, right) a few thoughts are also sprinkled in on the weakening of institutions and our fragile culture. Show Notes: - The Dispatch breaks down the Jan 6 hearing - Jonah: “What I Got Wrong About Fascism” - The New York Times’ Jan 6 reconstruction - Stanford’s problematic dining halls - Jonathan Haidt on our uniquely stupid decade - Kiss Meets the Phantom of the Park - Marvel’s Kiss comic book - Damnation Alley - The Remnant with Mike Gallagher Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been a while since a recovering Marxist joined the Remnant, but Ruy Teixeira, political demographer and senior fellow at American Progress, is here to fill that void. In predictably wonky fashion, he and Jonah examine the future of the Democratic Party and how the progressive movement has changed in recent years. They also explore racism in American life, wokeism in universities, and Jonah’s renowned distaste for primaries. Whatever happened to the FDR coalition? Is Maoism back in style? And should we still be optimistic about America? Show Notes: - Ruy’s newsletter, The Liberal Patriot - Ruy and John B. Judis’ The Emerging Democratic Majority - Ruy’s The Optimistic Leftist - Ruy: “Eyes Wide Shut” - Ruy: “How to Fix the Democratic Brand” - The Remnant with Francis Fukuyama - David Shor and the Democrats - Jonah: “That Shor Sounds Good” - Tyler Cowen on the Turing test - The Remnant with Elaine Kamarck Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Armed with a smorgasbord of booze, Jonah reunites with Rep. Mike Gallagher for another half-baked extravaganza, in which the duo’s efforts to annex Greenland may finally come to fruition. Trap doors beneath escalators, dad-centric dating apps, and various bovine innovations are among the undercooked ideas proposed for your listening enjoyment, as well as a few novel solutions for the domestic crises sweeping our nation. Tune in also for excessive pop culture discussion, ruminations on the existence of extraterrestrials, and a possible new name for the Remnant. Show Notes: - Jonah and Rep. Mike’s previous career-ruining encounter - Leonard E. Read’s “I, Pencil” - Fully baked - Jonathan Haidt: “Facebook’s Dangerous Experiment on Teen Girls” - Yuval Levin on why we’re still governed by baby boomers - Jonah on capes - Don’t F- with Cats: Hunting an Internet Killer - Tupac’s hologram - Is Al Gore an alien? - The David Weigel suspension - Yuval Levin: “The Changing Face of Social Breakdown” - Jonah: “I Think We’re Turning Japanese” - Geoffrey Household’s Rogue Male Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah plunges into the danger zone on today’s Ruminant, covering topics ranging from the somber to the downright bizarre. After offering a few thoughts on Wednesday’s indulgent “news”letter and the nature of writer’s block, he turns to television, republicanism, and superstition, providing exceptionally nerdy disquisitions on each. Does the djinn genie live on his back? How does Jonah really feel about the Second Amendment? And after the success of the 500th Remnant-palooza, could further live events be coming soon? Show Notes: - The Wednesday G-File - Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special - Justin Fenton’s We Own This City - The Remnant with Yuval Levin - The Remnant with Tony Mills - The Remnant with Francis Fukuyama - When market failure is government failure - The Remnant with Stephen Gutowski - David French on red flag laws - The Ayn Rand poster saga continues - The 500th Remnant-palooza - Have a minute to share The Dispatch? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tony Mills, a senior fellow at AEI whose work focuses on science policy and political theory, joins the Remnant for an ultra-nerdy exploration of the American political tradition. He and Jonah examine whether liberalism alone can sustain the United States and why our experts have fallen into such low repute. Is free market capitalism corrosive? Why is civic republicanism important? And what are the advantages and disadvantages of bureaucracy? Show Notes: - Tony’s page at AEI - The Remnant with Yuval Levin - Tony: “Liberalism is Not Enough” - Tony: “Illiberalism’s True Colors” - Russell Kirk and Lionel Trilling - The Remnant with Daniel Hannan - Daniel Burns: “Liberal Practice vs. Liberal Theory” - Schumpeter’s Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy - Daniel Bell’s The Cultural Contradictions of Capitalism - James Burnham’s The Managerial Revolution - Orwell: “Second Thoughts on James Burnham” - Jonah on beastly bureaucracy - Tony: “Unmasking Scientific Expertise” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

At long last, the Remnant-palooza celebrating Jonah’s 500th episode is here for your listening pleasure. Recorded live at the American Enterprise Institute before a crowd of Dispatch devotees, the episode features two panel discussions featuring three of the program’s most cherished guests. To begin, Sen. Ben Sasse joins Jonah for an hour of high-minded eggheadery, covering the merits of Bigfoot erotica, the loss of a common American culture, and how we can heal the political wounds caused by populism and negative polarization. Then, Chris Stirewalt and A.B. Stoddard take the stage for rank punditry on the midterm elections and what we can expect from the next presidential election. Finally, Jonah fields questions from the audience, greets a special guest, and offers a few words of appreciation for those who’ve made The Remnant so successful. It’s been a weird and wonderful journey to 500 episodes, and we’re grateful to you all for sharing it with us. Show Notes: - The Remnant’s first episode - Jonah on mandatory voting - Renaming natural gas - There he goes again… - A.B.: “Trump - Maker of Clusters, Not Kings” - Chris on the prospect of Trump 2024 - Yuval Levin: “Trump Party or Trump Faction?” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s another very, very early morning Ruminant today, yet somehow Jonah is annoyingly bombarded with texts at the start of the podcast. After figuring out how to stop the interruptions, he delves into what he thinks are the essential books for all conservatives to read. Then, sadly, he shares his thoughts on shootings, guns, body armor, and more. Stick around to hear Jonah’s thoughts on the latest iterations of Star Trek. Finally, a potpourri of topics: Is Jonah actually optimistic about the future of the GOP? Why are we obsessed with “having an honest conversation?” Show Notes: - Road to Serfdom by F. A. Hayek - The Fatal Conceit: The Errors of Socialism by F. A. Hayek - The Use of Knowledge in Society by F.A. Hayek - Why I Am Not a Conservative by F. A. Hayek - Keeping the Tablets: Modern American Conservative Thought by William F. Buckley Jr. (Contributor), Charles R. Kesler (Editor) - The Portable Conservative Reader by Russell Kirk - Irving Kristol Essays - The Remnant with Stephen Gutowski - Sen. Ted Cruz's “American exceptionalism” interaction with reporter - GLoP Culture Podcast - Klon Kitchen on the Heritage Foundation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah is both excited and sad for today’s Remnant guest because Stephen Gutowski might just be the smartest person in the media today to talk about guns and mass shootings, but that means there was another mass shooting to talk about. Gutowski, founder of The Reload, comes on to talk about guns, gun laws, and the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. What even is an AR-15? Should they be banned? What does the “media” get wrong every time something like this happens? What is a “mass shooting?” What, if anything, can be done to help prevent these events? Show Notes: - The Reload: Sober, Serious Firearms Reporting and Analysis - Sign up for The Reload’s free newsletter - The Reload Podcast - The Reload Podcast with David French - National Institue of Justice study Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James “Jimmy P” Pethokoukis makes his long-awaited Remnant return to assure us that life really is better than it used to be. Alternating between gratuitous sci-fi references and shameless wonkery, he and Jonah explore dynamism in American life, the potential for a new Roaring ‘20s, and the future of technology. Is there a case for universal basic income? Will Elon Musk become the next Howard Hughes? And what can we expect from the new space age? Show Notes: - Jim’s page at AEI - Jim’s Substack, Faster, Please! - Jonah reviews The Reactionary Mind - Jim’s idea of a “post-modern” U.S. economy - America’s new space age - Jim on Musk’s Twitter takeover - Kevin Williamson on the strange case of billionaires - Jim explores Americans’ views on trade Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah’s in especially ranty form on today’s Ruminant, which finds him once again deprived of sleep thanks to the wailings of a local fox. He begins by offering a few further thoughts on the relationship between religion and politics following Tim Alberta’s Remnant appearance. Afterward, rank punditry ensues, as Jonah explores how both parties are harming the United States through their concern for short-term power above all else. Stick around for lengthy disquisitions on the Great Replacement theory, immigration, and pluralism. Show Notes: - The Remnant with Tim Alberta - Tim: “How Politics Poisoned the Evangelical Church” - Jonah ruminates on abortion - National Review’s “Editors” podcast on the Pennsylvania race - Last Friday’s G-File - Jonah: “Never Trump Nevermore” - The Remnant with Yascha Mounk - Wednesday’s “news”letter - The Dispatch Podcast on the Buffalo tragedy - The Remnant with Paul Bloom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tim Alberta of The Atlantic joins Jonah to talk about his latest piece How Politics Poisoned the Evangelical Church. The story and the evangelical church is personal to Alberta, as he grew up a “pastor’s kid” in Brighton, Michigan, and has witnessed a changing of the church from the frontlines. What surprised him about writing this piece? Why is he “angry”? Plus, stick around to the end for some rank, 2024 GOP presidential punditry. Show Notes: How Politics Poisoned the Evangelical Church by Tim Alberta Tim’s Twitter Tim’s Atlantic page The Dispatch Podcast episode mentioning Tim’s piece Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yascha Mounk makes his second appearance on The Remnant, this time to discuss his new book, The Great Experiment: Why Diverse Democracies Fall Apart and How They Can Endure. In a conversation tailor-made for holders of the Remnant bingo card, Yascha and Jonah discuss the dangers of tribalism and populism, America’s crisis of community, and what patriotism should look like. They also examine America’s shifting demographics and take a deep dive into the nuances of liberal philosophy. Show Notes: - Yascha’s web page - The Great Experiment - Yascha’s previous Remnant appearance - The coalitional instinct - The cult of unity - The Remnant with Yuval Levin - The Remnant with Francis Fukuyama Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Haunted by the wailings of a local fox, Jonah brings an elevated degree of curmudgeonliness to today’s wide-ranging Ruminant. After offering some further thoughts on the hyper-politicization of American society and the erosion of institutions, Jonah turns to abortion, dispelling a few common myths and outlining what post-Roe law should look like. He also explores inflation, the ongoing Ukraine conflict, and what separates a eulogy from a resume. Plus, tune in for more details on the Remnant’s upcoming 500th episode extravaganza. Show Notes: - The Remnant with Yuval Levin - WeRateDogs - Washington Post journalists prove Yuval and Jonah’s point - Jonah explains his abortion views - The New Republic blasts Justice Alito - The Wednesday G-File - Midge Decter, R.I.P. - Biden’s recent inflation speech - The Wall Street Journal on the looming battle in eastern Ukraine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yuval Levin returns to the Remnant to provide his signature brand of edifying eggheadery. Institutions, the culture war, and the necessity of staying in your lane are all covered in this high minded conversation. Jonah and Yuval also discuss America’s unique fusion of liberalism and republicanism and what we can expect from abortion law if Roe v. Wade is overturned. Plus, tune in for an update on the Remnant’s special 500th episode live event. Show Notes: - Yuval’s page at AEI - Yuval: “How to Curb the Culture War” - The Wednesday G-File - Francis Fukuyama’s Liberalism and its Discontents - The Remnant with Francis Fukuyama - Daniel E. Burns: “Liberal Practice v. Liberal Theory” - Carl Eric Scott: “The Five Conceptions of Liberty” - Yuval on Obama’s second inaugural - Yuval: “Family Policy After Roe” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beth Akers, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, joins The Remnant for extreme wonkery on student debt and the economics of higher education. Why have the Democrats become so fixated on the issue of forgiving student loan debt, and can a moral argument be made for forgiveness? Furthermore, are most graduate programs pointless? How can we fix America’s universities? And can anyone match Jonah’s raw disdain for journalism schools? Show Notes: - Beth’s page at AEI - Beth’s first book, Game of Loans - Beth’s latest book, Making College Pay - Beth on why student loan cancellation will backfire - Jonah ruminates on student debt - The Remnant with Alex Tabarrok - Bryan Caplan’s The Case Against Education - Bryan on Beth’s podcast, “An Economist Goes to College” - Bryan on the Remnant - WSJ: “The Elite Master’s Degrees That Don’t Pay Off” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The drive-time Remnant format returns for another eclectic broadcast that, initially at least, comes dangerously close to providing actual substance. In predictably freewheeling fashion, Jonah, Guy, and Ryan explore the abortion debate and how the culture war manifests in various cultures, evaluate the merits of The Batman, and ponder when China’s influence on Hollywood will decrease. They also make an exciting announcement: On May 24th, the Remnant’s 500th episode will be recorded live at the American Enterprise Institute, and Dispatch subscribers are invited to attend. Tune in to hear all the juicy details, and keep a close eye on the site over the coming days for more information. Show Notes: - The Wednesday G-File - The Remnant with Chris Stirewalt - Yascha Mounk’s The Great Experiment - Last week’s nerdtastic GLoP - Lady Liberty stands tall - Jonah: “A Slow Kowtow to China” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fairy tales can come true, and it may happen to you on today’s Remnant, which sees Jonah reunite with Chris Stirewalt for more rank punditry, dated pop culture references, and gratuitous Clinton bashing. They begin by exploring the Roe leak, digging into what it means for abortion law and how Biden should handle the situation, before turning to J.D. Vance’s victory in Ohio and what we can expect from the Pennsylvania Senate primary. Tune in for political insight, but stick around to see whether Jonah and Chris can resist discussing testicle tanning. Show Notes: - Chris’ page at The Dispatch - The Remnant with Francis Fukuyama - The Remnant with H.R. McMaster - The Remnant with Thomas Chatterton Williams - The Brimley/Cocoon Line - The Wednesday G-File - The Dispatch breaks down J.D. Vance’s win Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Retired Gen. H.R. McMaster—Hoover Institution senior fellow, former national security adviser, and foreign policy expert—makes his first appearance on the Remnant to discuss China, Russia, and Afghanistan. He and Jonah examine what led to the war in Ukraine, the likelihood of Xi Jinping invading Taiwan, and whether institutional failures were to blame for the chaotic Afghanistan withdrawal. They also dig into America’s shifting role on the world stage and what our defense budget should look like. By the end, one question remains unanswered: What’s the best war movie ever made? Show Notes: - McMaster’s page at the Hoover Institution - “GoodFellows,” McMaster’s group video show at Hoover - “Battlegrounds,” McMaster’s interview program - Battlegrounds, McMaster’s latest book - Dereliction of Duty, McMaster’s first book - Putin’s case for invading Ukraine - The Remnant with Klon Kitchen - Sergei Lavrov compares Zelensky to Hitler - The Remnant with Hal Brands on Cold War history - The Economist on countries faking their COVID numbers - Operation Market Garden Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the mend from his sudden bout of illness, Jonah approaches today’s Ruminant with his standard level of nerdy panache. After offering a few thoughts on how The Tyranny of Clichés holds up today, he commences a lengthy rant on why canceling student debt would be a serious moral and political blunder, before turning to Francis Fukuyama’s work on liberalism. What does the relationship between virtue and responsibility look like? When is grad school worthwhile? And is John Rawls one of history’s greatest monsters? Show Notes: - The Remnant with David French - The Remnant with Francis Fukuyama - Wednesday’s totally uncontroversial G-File - Game of Loans, by Beth Akers and Matthew M. Chingos - Puppet Master - Shoshana Weissman on occupational licensing - WSJ: “The Elite Master’s Degrees That Don’t Pay Off” - Jonah reviews Nine Days - The Moynihan Report - Charles A. Reich’s The Greening of America - Jonah’s notes on nationalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Remnant, Francis Fukuyama finally stops by to discuss his new book, Liberalism and its Discontents, and Jonah can barely contain his enthusiasm. The resulting conversation is a feast of philosophical nerdery, which explores the origins of the liberal tradition, the state of liberalism in contemporary America, and the future of the free world. How did “neoliberal” become such a popular pejorative? What are the limits of federalism? And should we be optimistic about the political trajectory of the United States? Show Notes: - Liberalism and its Discontents - The End of History and the Last Man - Our Posthuman Future - The Origins of Political Order - Dr. Fukuyama previews Liberalism and its Discontents in American Purpose - Justice Scalia’s commencement speech - Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff’s The Coddling of the American Mind Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sick with a nasty fever, Jonah approaches today’s Remnant not as an emergency podcast, but a podcast imbued with a sense of emergency. His guest is David French, who returns for a lengthy discussion of Ron DeSantis’ feud with Disney and what it reveals about American polarization. Also on the docket is what we can expect from Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter and how Jonah and David would change the site if they were given control. Stick around until the end for obligatory discussion of TV, movies, and other items of nerdy miscellanea. Show Notes: - David’s page at The Dispatch - The Morning Dispatch breaks down Florida’s plan to annex Disney World - Charlie Cooke: “Ron DeSantis’s Misguided Attack on Disney’s Legal Status” - An extra-feisty Charlie Cooke on National Review’s “Editors” podcast - Jonah’s latest column on the Disney saga - David: “How Twitter Beclowns the American Elite” - Nate Cohn and Kevin Quealy on the Democratic electorate - Francis Fukuyama’s Liberalism and its Discontents Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Ruminant, Jonah serves up a typically eclectic potpourri of rank punditry and historical nerdery. After exploring how, in almost literary fashion, Kevin McCarthy’s hidden normalcy has proved to be his undoing, Jonah turns to the origins of socialism, and what the Soviet approach to collectivism can tell us about Putin’s ambitions for Russia today. He also shares his thoughts on Florida’s Disney kerfuffle, modern architecture, and what we can expect from the upcoming midterms. Show Notes: - The Remnant with Thomas Chatterton Williams - Kevin McCarthy’s political malpractice - Jonah: “Karl Marx’s Jew-Hating Conspiracy Theory” - The Remnant on Marx and antisemitism - The Remnant with Klon Kitchen - Elizabeth Warren’s midterm proposal - Jonah: “More Sandwiches, Less Kale Foam” - Ruy Texiera: “Eyes Wide Shut” - Charlie Cooke: “Ron DeSantis’s Misguided Attack on Disney’s Legal Status” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thomas Chatterton Williams, nonresident AEI fellow and writer at The Atlantic, joins the Remnant for the first time to discuss race and ethnicity in America. Thomas, who describes himself as “ex-black,” believes we need to “unlearn race” to fulfill the promise of the Declaration of Independence. But what would that entail in practice, and how can we move away from racial categories while preserving a diverse culture? Moreover, why is it beneficial to spend time residing in a foreign country? What are “American values?” And will France soon annex the United States? Show Notes: - Thomas’ page at AEI - Thomas’ latest book, Self-Portrait in Black and White - Thomas: “My Family’s Life Inside and Outside America’s Racial Categories” - Thomas: “Saving Classics From Identity Politics” - Albert Murray’s The Omni-Americans - The Remnant with John McWhorter - Emmanuel Macron rejects wokeism - Jonah: “What if we Ran Our Elections Like France?” - James Baldwin: “The Discovery of What it Means to be an American” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah and Matt Continetti continue their tremendously nerdy adventure through the history of American conservatism today, taking us from the 1970s to the present. In a conversation tailor-made for holders of the Remnant bingo card, they discuss the Reagan Revolution, the Clinton years, the future of the conservative movement, and much more. Can the contemporary right hold off resurgent anti-Americanism? Could fascism happen here? And how many more times will Matt need to appear for Jonah to ask everything that’s on his mind? Show Notes: - Matt’s page at AEI - The Right, available now - Part 1 of Jonah and Matt’s shameless nerdfest - Buckley’s The Unmaking of a Mayor - Barry Goldwater’s The Conscience of a Conservative - Milton and Rose Friedman’s Two Lucky People - Kevin Phillips’ The Emerging Republican Majority - John Patrick Diggins’ Ronald Reagan: Fate, Freedom, and the Making of History - Stephen F. Hayward’s The Age of Reagan - Jonah: “Appetite for Power” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After providing an update on his absence this week, Jonah begins today’s Ruminant on a note of uncertainty: He hasn’t decided whether an Elon Musk Twitter takeover is something we should welcome or fear. His mind is also occupied by the idea raised by Megan McArdle that Americans are increasingly “sidestepping institutions” in their daily lives, as well as Matt Continetti’s perspective on the term “right-winger.” Plus, tune in for a predictably nerdy disquisition on populism and why an old-fashioned liberal ethos is what separates conservatism from statism. Show Notes: - The Remnant with Megan McCardle - Martin Kramer’s The War on Error - The Remnant with Michael Brendan Dougherty - Part 1 of the Remnant’s Matt Continetti nerdapalooza - Father Coughlin: Man of the left - Louis Hartz’s The Liberal Tradition in America - Seymour Martin Lipsett’s American Exceptionalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Remnant ascends to a higher plane of nerdom today, as Matthew Continetti returns to discuss his new book, The Right: The Hundred-Year War for American Conservatism. This episode presents the first half of a two-hour conversation between Jonah and Matt, which takes us on a freewheeling journey from the ‘20s to the ‘70s. They begin by exploring whether it’s possible to provide a simple definition of conservatism before digging deeply into the evolution of the movement. What did conservatism look like before the New Deal? How did William F. Buckley Jr. shape modern politics? Is fusionism still relevant? And how should we remember figures like Richard Nixon, Calvin Coolidge, and George Wallace? All of these questions and more are addressed within. But to learn about the Reagan era onward, and to hear some of Jonah’s quibbles with the book, you’ll have to tune in next week. Show Notes: - Matthew’s page at AEI - The Right, available now - George Nash’s The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America Since 1945 - George Weaver’s Ideas Have Consequences - Russell Kirk’s The Conservative Mind - Matthew previews The Right in the Wall Street Journal - Frank Meyer’s reluctant and apologetic essay collection, What Is Conservatism? - Lionel Trilling’s The Liberal Imagination - The Remnant with Stephanie Slade - How William F. Buckley changed his mind on civil rights - Buckley’s The Unmaking of a Mayor - Barry Goldwater’s The Conscience of a Conservative Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Remnant gets wonky today as Klon Kitchen, AEI senior fellow and author of The Current newsletter for The Dispatch, returns to discuss Russia’s information war in Ukraine. With no end in sight for the conflict, Jonah and Klon explore what America’s intelligence support for Ukraine looks like and what other measures we could take to assist the country. They also touch on the veracity of Russia and China’s COVID statistics, what Putin’s war will mean for Taiwan, and how Klon would advise Joe Biden if he were summoned to the White House. Stick around until the end for obligatory dog discourse. Show Notes: - Klon’s page at The Dispatch - Klon: “Why Russia’s Cyber Warriors Haven't Crippled Ukraine” - Daniel Hannan: “Vladimir Putin's kleptocracy will be his own undoing” - Mike Duncan on the Russian Revolution - The Remnant with Mike Duncan - Klon on semiconductors and the “splinternet” - The Remnant with Lyman Stone - Jonah: “Vladimir Putin, Brittle Oak” - The Remnant with Edward Carr - Klon: “School’s in Session” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah’s still in Chicago for today’s Ruminant, and he isn’t terribly comfortable with the pre-summer weather. Still, severe cold in spring is less frustrating than our political dysfunction, and Jonah has plenty to discuss on that front. After exploring the distinction between disinformation and misinformation and the state of American media bias, he turns to the Hunter Biden laptop scandal, Florida’s controversial education bill, and why misusing the term “groomer” is both immoral and tactically foolish for Republicans. Ready your bingo cards for a predictably freewheeling ride. Show Notes: - The Remnant with Megan McCardle - Jonah on disinformation at the UChicago Institute of Politics - Soviet disinformation - The paradoxes of media bias - Jonah on the Kavanaugh allegations - Anne Applebaum’s UChicago panel - Anne Applebaum on Hunter Biden’s laptop - David French: “Against the ‘Groomer’ Smear” - The Remnant with Adam White - How Title IX became a political weapon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Live from the Windy City, Jonah returns to the Remnant driver’s seat. He’s joined by Washington Post columnist Megan McArdle, who has plenty of thoughts on America’s strange plague of mobocratic thinking and workplace safetyism. The pair also explore Jonah’s distaste for public sector unions, Megan’s opposition to student loan forgiveness, and the circumstances in which populism can be put to good use. Plus, for all you bingo cardholders, there’s plenty of dingo discussion and kvetching about primaries mixed in. Show Notes: - Megan’s page at the Washington Post - Megan: “It’s time for major institutions to make their employees get off of Twitter” - Grace Metalious’ Peyton Place - Sleeping with the fishes - The New Yorker “flyover country” cover - Jonah and Elaine Kamarck talk primaries - Megan on student loans - The Remnant with David French and Jonathan Rauch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Jonah traverses the Virginia woodlands, David French assumes control of the Remnant. His guest is Jonathan Rauch, who returns to provide a refreshingly calm perspective on our debates over gender and inclusion. After breaking down the history of the LGBTQ movement, Jonathan and David evaluate the Lia Thomas situation, Florida’s controversial education bill, and how conservatives should approach radical gender ideology. They also discuss a potential academic pushback against cancel culture, and the dangers of misusing the term “groomer” for political gain. Show Notes: - Jonathan’s previous Remnant appearance - Jonathan’s latest book, The Constitution of Knowledge - The French Press - Jonathan: “Walking the Transgender Movement Away from the Extremists” - Jonathan: “What’s Happening on the Left Is No Excuse for What’s Happening on the Right” - David reviews Andrew Sullivan’s Out on a Limb - David and Nancy’s Kanakuk Kamps exposé - Does the anti-woke right pose a threat? - Scott Alexander on liberalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The drive-time Remnant format returns for another predictably eclectic broadcast. Today’s episode finds Jonah, Guy, and Ryan perplexed by Madison Cawthorn’s claims about D.C. debauchery, amused by conspiracy theories about Will Smith’s Oscar's slap, and fascinated by the lowest moments of otherwise great TV shows. They also touch on Jonah’s latent arachnophobia, Guy’s animated obsessions, and Ryan’s fondness for Lucky Charms. By the end of it all, the Remnant may have conclusively jumped the shark. Show Notes: - The Wednesday G-File - Hungary eyes - GLoP, slap edition - The Dispatch’s guide to Oscar nominees - The Remnant with Chris Stirewalt Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Stirewalt, the Remnant’s official “break glass in case of emergency” guest, returns to explain why there actually is such a thing as a free lunch. Over a sumptuous breakfast of granola and omelettes, he and Jonah discuss Joe Biden’s dismal approval numbers and the state of the Democratic Party heading into the midterms. They also examine Madison Cawthorn’s wild claims about the GOP establishment, Ginni Thomas’ unfortunate texts, and the decline and fall of great TV shows. Stick around until the end to decide if “key bump” should be added to the Remnant bingo card. Show Notes: - Chris’ page at The Dispatch - Jonah: “When Gaffes Become Policy” - Could Trump blow the midterms for the GOP? - Ohio’s Senate brawl - The Wednesday G-File - The Remnant with John Podhoretz - The Remnant with Adam White Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adam White, AEI senior fellow and Jonah’s trusted law-talkin’ guy, makes his long-awaited Remnant return. The pair take a deep dive into the Ketanji Brown Jackson hearings and assess what we can expect from her jurisprudence before turning to the state of legal conservatism. With originalism under attack, will common good constitutionalism soon consume legal academia? Is “insurrection” an appropriate term for January 6? And can Jonah suppress his disdain for Adam’s profession and all it represents? Show Notes: - Adam’s page at AEI - Adam on the Ketanji Brown Jackson hearings - Ketanji Brown Jackson, closet originalist? - Adam: “Mueller Agnoistes” - AEI’s nerdtastic event on Justice Alito - The Remnant with Cass Sunstein - Jonah: “Appetite for Power” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Ruminant, Jonah, now recovered from Monday’s birthday revelry, has thoughts on everything from hamburger conspiracies to the history of great societies. After beginning with another deep dive into the evolution of media bias, he turns to the Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmation hearings, which have turned out to be surprisingly boring despite a few moments of painful stupidity. Stick around to hear Jonah evaluate Nikole Hannah-Jones’ argument that tipping is a product of slavery, and to find out why truth is currently winning the day in American politics. Show Notes: - The Remnant with Brian Riedl - Michael Barone’s Our Country - Wednesday’s “news”letter - The media bias paradox - The Cornell “guns on campus” crisis - The Remnant with Kevin Williamson - Mayor Quimby - Noah Rothman on “credible accusation” - The Economist on the siege of Mariupol - Why Nations Fail - Last Friday’s G-File Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin Williamson, the Remnant’s cheeriest regular, is back for another voyage through the strange realm of contemporary America. A free society is messy, and life is all about contradictions, inconsistencies, and trade-offs. But this can be an uncomfortable truth for many to face. In a conversation that will send you scrambling for your bingo cards, Kevin and Jonah explore the problem with social homogeneity. They also touch on the weaknesses of autocratic regimes, realistic climate change solutions, and Kevin’s hatred of Ohio. Plus, tune in to hear Kevin give a rousing reading of “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock.” Show Notes: - Kevin’s page at National Review - Kevin: “Autocracy’s Fatal Flaws” - Kevin: “Make Putin Pay” - Hayek: “Why the Worst Get on Top” - Christopher Caldwell’s The Age of Entitlement - Yuval Levin’s The Great Debate - Kevin’s The Smallest Minority - The Remnant with Brian Rield - Jonah and Deirdre McCloskey at the Cato Institute - The Books of Jacob, by Olga Tokarczuk - The Remnant with Shadi Hamid - Jonah: “Rise of the Underminers” - Unintentional confession Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brian Riedl, the Remnant’s “unofficial budget guy,” returns to discuss our economic woes. After kvetching about inflation, the deficit, and supply chains, he and Jonah dig into the mistaken idea that the president can control every needle of the economy. Brian has noticed an interesting trend: Since Reagan, we’ve consistently elected Republican presidents during booms and Democratic presidents during recessions. But what are the implications of that for the economy? Furthermore, did the New Deal make the Great Depression worse? Is Build Back Better dead? And should anyone take Rick Scott seriously? Show Notes: - Brian’s webpage - Brian: “Presidents as Economic Managers” - Jonah: “The Raw Deal” - The forgotten depression of 1920 - Scott Lincicome on fixing our supply chains - Velocity of Bahnsen - Rick Scott’s “Rescue America” plan - Last Friday’s G-File Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After plotting world domination at AEI’s World Forum, Jonah is back in the D.C. swampland for today’s Ruminant. He begins by elaborating on the strange metaphysical ideas discussed in last week’s episode before turning to the war in Ukraine, and the baffling idea peddled by some on the right that Zelensky is trying to incite a global thermonuclear war. From there, things get nerdy, as Jonah explores whether populism may be falling out of style and indulges in a lengthy rant on Woodrow Wilson. Tune in for the cherished sound effects, but stick around to hear a few ideas for the Remnant’s 500th episode. Show Notes: - Last weekend’s bizarre Ruminant - Metaxy - The Wednesday G-File - The Remnant with Shadi Hamid - Ross Douthat: “Will the Ukraine War End the Age of Populism?” - Michael Brendan Dougherty: “Wartime’s Macabre Predictions of a Populist Defeat” - The Remnant with Vin Cannato - The hater’s guide to Woodrow Wilson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vincent Cannato, noted historian and Jonah’s fellow deracinated New Yorker, returns to the Remnant for a nerdily random discussion of cops, neoliberalism, and latent Russophobia. With tensions rising between East and West, Vin believes we are in the midst of an “ideological Cold War,” but Jonah (whose pronunciation of “Pokémon” may distract from any serious points he raises) is less convinced. How will America’s conflict with Russia and China unfold, and what strategy should the United States pursue? For that matter, is New York heading back to the ‘70s? What’s fueling America’s crime wave? And will safetyism soon destroy Vin’s university from within? Show Notes: - Vin’s webpage - “The Editors” podcast on Russophobia - Jonah: “A Tale of Two Cold Wars” - Elliott Abrams: “The New Cold War” - The Wild Man of 96th St. - Biden’s New York crime speech - Jonah: “The Problem With Claiming That Policing Evolved From Slave Patrols” - Amazon’s Seattle relocation - Jeff Jacoby: “Pushing Back Against Indoctrination at UMass Boston” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shadi Hamid returns to the Remnant to discuss America’s role in maintaining a safe global order. For years, many on the far left and isolationist right alike have argued that the United States should withdraw from the world stage and take a self-limiting approach to foreign policy. But Shadi believes Russia’s aggression has proved that Western power is essential. Will we soon see renewed support for Pax Americana? Should a no-fly zone be imposed over Ukraine? And how many bingo card items can Jonah insert into such an inappropriate conversation? Show Notes: - Shadi’s page at The Atlantic - Wisdom of Crowds - Shadi: “There Are Many Things Worse Than American Power” - Jeane Kirkpatrick: “Dictatorships and Double Standards” - Jonah on the idea of a new Cold War - Lindsey Graham calls for Putin’s assassination - Is the Muslim world ignoring the plight of the Uyghurs? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah gets metaphysical on today’s mumbly Ruminant, recorded live in a chaotic hotel room not far from Stonecutter world headquarters. Unsurprisingly, his under-caffeinated mind is awash with thoughts on conservative intellectual history. Be prepared for an exceedingly nerdy disquisition on the philosophical differences between left and right and the importance of understanding that life is about trade offs. Plus, tune in to permanently change your perception of the theme from Jeopardy! Show Notes: - The Right, Matt Continetti’s upcoming book - Jonah on the cult of unity - Jonah on the complexities of life and conservatism - Alan Wolfe’s The Future of Liberalism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John Podhoretz, the Remnant’s self-professed Paul Lynde, returns to the program to play a game of “Name that Crank.” Throughout history, many brilliant people have also been extremely bizarre. Murray Rothbard hated elevators, Arthur Conan Doyle believed in fairies, and Gandhi was obsessed with bowel movements. John and Jonah dedicate today’s episode to exploring the harmless and not-so-harmless quirks of such figures, before turning to rank punditry on American power, Biden’s floundering presidency, and the awfulness of the ‘70s. Tune in for shameless GLoP-plugging, but stick around to find out which Academy Award nominees are actually worth watching. Show Notes: - GLoP, America’s favorite pop culture podcast - The Commentary Podcast: Live in Palm Beach - Pythagoreanism - Shakespeare conspiracy theories - Jonah: “Karl Marx’s Jew-Hating Conspiracy” - Pure reason - Thomas Edison’s spirit phone - Chris Stirewalt on misplaced ‘90s nostalgia - Only Yesterday, by Frederick Lewis Allen - The return of Dispatch Live Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kori Schake, director of foreign and defense policy at the American Enterprise Institute, joins the Remnant for the first time to discuss the state of the liberal international order. As Putin’s invasion of Ukraine continues, what will the next year hold in store for the conflict and his leadership? For that matter, should Ukraine join NATO? What have been the Biden administration’s biggest foreign policy mistakes? And is America’s role in the world in doubt? Tune in to hear these questions answered, and to find out what most people get wrong about Francis Fukuyama. Show Notes: - Kori’s page at AEI - Kori: “Putin Accidentally Revitalized the West’s Liberal Order” - Kori’s latest book, America vs the West - Biden’s oil import ban - Mike Duncan on the Russian Revolution - Gradually, then suddenly - Biden’s new Iran Deal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The drive-time Remnant format returns for another freewheeling broadcast, one that finds Jonah, Guy, and Ryan preoccupied with questions of loneliness and fulfillment following Arthur Brooks’ recent appearance on the program. Together, they explore the malign effects of social media, whether internet access should be regulated, and how the “Japanification” of America’s youth can be reversed. Plenty of nerdish tomfoolery is also mixed in on the nightmares of American bureaucracy, the threat of World War III, and a recent congressional embarrassment. But at the end of it all, one question remains: What movie should win Best Picture at the upcoming Academy Awards? Show Notes: - The Remnant with Charles C.W. Cooke - Social media goes to war - The Remnant with Arthur Brooks - The Federalist on bagel-snarfing warmongers - The Remnant with Paul Miller - Bari Weiss on America’s sex recession - Caught in the act Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

True happiness can feel elusive, especially in our chaotic age. Thankfully, former AEI president and current Harvard professor Arthur Brooks seems to have cracked the code for achieving it. On today’s Remnant, he joins Jonah to explore common mistakes people make in the pursuit of fulfillment, lies the world tells us about satisfaction, the “fear-based cultural polarity” consuming Western society, and what we can do to address America’s alarming loneliness problem. Be prepared to revise your bucket list. Show Notes: - Arthur’s webpage - Arthur’s Atlantic column - Arthur’s new book, From Strength to Strength - Family formation in post-COVID America - Yuval Levin: “The Changing Face of Social Breakdown” - Jonah: “I Think We’re Turning Japanese … I Really Think So” - Arthur: “The Kind of Love That Makes People Happiest” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices