The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg

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

Paul Miller, regular Dispatch contributor and professor of international affairs at Georgetown, joins the Remnant to discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the difference between patriotism and nationalism. With a new Cold War looking increasingly likely, how should America prepare itself for what may be a major global conflict? For that matter, what does it mean to be a “foreign policy realist?” Has Putin always been this crazy? And what should unify all Americans? Show Notes: - Paul’s work at The Dispatch - Paul’s upcoming book, The Religion of American Greatness - Paul: “How to fight the new Cold War” - Jonah on Putin and the West - Last weekend’s Ruminant - The return of Dispatch Live Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

No babies were harmed in the making of today’s Ruminant, which features puppy parades, obscure German philosophers, and an appropriately large supply of bagels. Putin’s use of Nazi rhetoric to demonize the Ukrainian government has reminded Jonah that we don’t talk enough about the importance of language in public life. The invasion has also prompted him to think about the relationship between language and nationalism, and how national interests should influence foreign policy. Are babies born as blank slates? How would isolationism change America? And will the end of this episode cost Jonah most of his long-term friendships? Show Notes: - The return of Dispatch Live - Johann Fichte’s “Addresses to the German Nation” - Johann Herder - The Remnant with Paul Bloom - Paul Bloom’s Just Babies - The Remnant with John McWhorter - Jonah’s Twitter thread on nationalism - Jonah debates Rich Lowry on nationalism - The Morning Dispatch breaks down the Ukraine invasion Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katherine Mangu-Ward, editor in chief of Reason magazine, joins the Remnant for the first time today to explore whether America’s libertarian spirit is still intact. In a moment where Americans are losing faith in authority, the right is succumbing to power worship, and pluralism is becoming increasingly unpopular, how can we avoid a “squishy apocalypse?” Moreover, is hypocrisy really a problem? Why can’t the government love you? And would the United States be a better place if dog catchers were defunded? Show Notes: - Katherine’s page at Reason - The Remnant with Peter Suderman - The Remnant with Leon Aron - Katherine on why you almost certainly shouldn’t vote - The Declaration of Independents, by Nick Gillespie and Matt Welch - The Libertarian Mind, by David Boaz - Obama’s second inaugural address - The Remnant with Mike Gallagher - Leon Aron: “The Invasion of Ukraine, and Regime Change” - Dispatch Live on the Ukraine situation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Jonah traverses the sunny wilds of California, Chris Stirewalt steps in to host today’s Remnant. He’s joined by Amy Walter, publisher and editor in chief of the Cook Political Report, for exceptionally rank punditry on what we can expect from this year’s midterms and the 2024 presidential race. Would the American people accept a second Trump presidency? Why do certain states stay purple while others become firmly partisan? And could peace and goodwill soon be restored in Congress? Show Notes: - The Cook Political Report - Amy’s previous Remnant appearance - Amy on Biden’s empathy problem - The Democratic Party’s “new politics of evasion” - What do the midterms hold in store for the Senate? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sleep-deprived and bracing for a lengthy flight, Jonah begins today’s Ruminant with an insatiable thirst for coffee. Conveniently, he has plenty of topics to ramble about while enjoying his morning brew. First on the docket is the San Francisco school board recall, which prompts Jonah to ponder why Democrats keep getting the culture war so wrong. From there, a potpourri of nerdery begins, as Jonah explores the origins of rights and freedoms, Russia’s potential invasion of Ukraine, and the importance of distinguishing between “liberal” and “progressive.” Plus, stick around for a tribute to the late, great P.J. O’Rourke. Show Notes: - Try a free 30-day Dispatch membership - Peggy Noonan: “Republicans, Stand Against Excess” - “Alarmingly potent” - Jonah: “It Takes Two Sides to Fight a War” - The San Francisco school board recall - Ruy Texiera’s Substack - “Ugly freedoms” - Jonah on the Ottawa freedom convoy - The “Revolutions” podcast covers the English Civil War - The Remnant with Mike Duncan - The Remnant with Leon Aron - Jonah on the passing of P.J. O’Rourke - The return of Dispatch Live Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

New developments in John Durham’s investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe are electrifying conservative media and dominating the headlines. But for those who haven’t kept up with the story, it may be difficult to fully understand what’s going on. Thankfully, Dispatch associate editor Andrew Egger is on The Remnant to break things down. Together, he and Jonah discuss everything you could ever want to know about the Durham probe. Plus, they indulge in some obligatory kvetching about media bias and share a few tears over the joys of fatherhood. The whole thing may leave you feeling just a little verklempt. Show Notes: - Andrew’s page at The Dispatch - Andrew breaks down the Durham probe - Jonah’s fondness for Sidney Blumenthal - Furorstarter - Philip Bump on Durham and Trump - The return of Dispatch Live Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tevi Troy is back on The Remnant to explore the strange state of the American presidency. In recent years, presidents have used the power of the executive branch to profoundly alter our system of government—indeed, the presidency Joe Biden inhabits is far removed from that which Bill Clinton left behind. But could the increased importance of the presidency to American life actually be a good thing? Furthermore, why have our recent presidents failed to become figures of national unity? What went wrong with the government’s COVID response? And will the American Egg Board soon seize control of The Dispatch? Show Notes: -Tevi’s previous Remnant appearance -Tevi’s conference on the 21st century presidency -Jonathan Rauch on how Trump changed government -The Kennedy-Hatch alliance -Kevin D. Williamson: “Against Presidential Idolatry” -Tevi: “Barking at the Press” -The unmockable Mr. Obama -Jim Geraghty: “The Omicron Wave Subsides” -The Eric Lander controversy -Jonah on Canada’s trucker protests -Try a free Dispatch membership for 30 days Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Haunted by a certain infectious Swedish pop song, Jonah begins today’s Ruminant by expanding substantially on a recent point from the G-File: Americans are addicted to despair even though life has never been better. In a moment where anger merchants dominate the media and environmental pessimism is spreading rapidly, how can the optimistic spirit on which our country was founded be restored? And what responsibilities do prominent figures in journalism and politics have in this regard? Also, stick around until the end to hear Jonah elaborate on his departure from Fox and his new contributor agreement with CNN. Show Notes: - The Wednesday G-File - The latest Dispatch Podcast - Climate change enters the therapy room - The Remnant with Lyman Stone - Manhattan bird alert - The Progress Paradox, by Gregg Easterbrook - Jonah: “It Takes Two Sides to Fight a War” - Turning Japanese - Yuval Levin: “The Changing Face of Social Breakdown” - The Remnant with Shawn Bushway - Stacey Abrams’ mask hypocrisy - Hugh Hewitt interview Chris Christie - Guy Benson debates Mike Gallagher - Edmund Burke's speech to the Electors of Bristol - The Remnant with Hal Brands Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Demographer and Institute for Family Studies research fellow Lyman Stone returns to The Remnant to make the case for having more babies. With America’s birth rate in decline and increasingly large numbers of people living lives devoid of real connections, Lyman believes that we urgently need more pro-family policies. But though Jonah agrees completely that babies are good, he’s less sure about Lyman’s proposal of lowering the voting age to zero. Tune in for distinctly nerdy debate, but stick around to learn about the many varieties of natalist philosophy. Show Notes: - Lyman’s page at AEI - Lyman’s previous Remnant appearance - Lyman: “The Minimum Voting Age Should Be Zero” - Ben Sasse’s The Vanishing American Adult - Pro-natal pontification - Marriage and childbearing in the time of COVID - Jonah on how we’re turning Japanese - The Remnant with Edward Carr - Jonah on Terry Schiavo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Remnant regular A.B. Stoddard is back for more exceedingly rank punditry on our dysfunctional state of affairs. In light of the RNC’s decision to censure Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, is the GOP now committed to normalizing January 6? For that matter, why are major Republican figures continuing to suggest that the election was stolen? Does anyone want Mike Pence to be president besides his wife? And why can’t President Biden celebrate America’s recovering economy? Also, be sure to stick around for discussion of A.B.’s two favorite topics: canine companions and Nancy Pelosi’s reelection bid. Show Notes: - A.B.’s page at RealClearPolitics - Jonah on the RNC’s impeccable statecraft - Marc Short’s Meet the Press appearance - Marc Short can’t make up his mind - Commentary: “What Democrats Can’t Say About the Jobs Numbers” - Jonah: “Let It Go” - Jonah on “Sway” with Kara Swisher Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Donald Trump, Whoopi Goldberg, Young Frankenstein, and dentistry - all unrelated in ordinary circumstances, but strangely intertwined on the latest drive-time Remnant. Today’s episode begins with Jonah, Guy, and Ryan exploring the juvenile group chats of esteemed scholars and reacting insensitively to a tragic news story. Afterward, the gang turns to rank punditry, rambling nerdily about current events while stopping occasionally to discuss Yiddish slang, extreme skiing, and whether all animals really do taste like chicken. When should you give up on a political party? What would a film adaptation of Trump’s attempted election theft look like? And should Mel Brooks do us all a favor and run for president in 2024? Show Notes: - China’s continued respect for human rights - The New York Post’s unapologetically craven news item - The Wednesday G-File, released to the masses - John Podhoretz blasts Whoopi Goldberg - Trump doubles down on January 6 - Mel Brooks’ bad drive Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are we living through a new Cold War? Possibly. But we’re certainly in a new era of great-power competition between China and Russia and the United States. In a Remnant surprisingly lacking in ‘80s references, historian and American Enterprise Institute scholar Hal Brands joins Jonah to explore what America’s victory over the Soviet Union can teach us about how it should prosecute today’s global conflicts. Hal and Jonah also take a deep, extra-nerdy dive into Cold War history and the nature of American foreign policy during that strange era. Was the Cold War just about economics? Should Joe Biden pursue a modern version of Harry Truman’s containment strategy? And was China’s authoritarian turn inevitable? Show Notes: - Hal’s page at AEI - Hal’s new book, The Twilight Struggle - Hal Brands and John Lewis Gaddis: “The New Cold War” - Charles Krauthammer: “The Greatest Cold War Myth of All” - The Truman Doctrine speech - Henry Wallace’s divided mind - Jonah on the perils of our virtual reality - The Remnant with Leon Aron - The Remnant with Edward Carr Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a brief respite from the horrors of book writing, Chris Stirewalt returns to The Remnant for another round of overpoweringly rank punditry. Mixing shameless self-promotion with nicotine-fueled insight, he and Jonah explore some pertinent political questions. Why do Americans frequently change their party alignment? Are hardcore progressives crazier than members of the House Freedom Caucus? And what is Joe Biden’s biggest weakness? There’s also a lengthy aside about what life in America was like when Jonah and Chris were young and horse drawn carriages had yet to be replaced by cars, but you’ll need to stick around until the end. Show Notes: - Chris’ page at The Dispatch - Chris’ newsletter, Stirewaltisms - Last weekend’s Ruminant - Michael Moore on the “SmartLess” podcast - Could the GOP expel Cheney and Kinzinger? - The Remnant with Leon Aron - The latest Gallup poll on shifting political party preferences - The poll discussed on the FiveThirtyEight Politics podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah’s in a professorial mood on today’s nerdtastic Ruminant, which features disquisitions on censorship, pragmatism, and vestigial partisanship (be sure you tune in to find out what the latter actually means). Also included in this weekend’s potpourri is a lengthy discussion of Stephen Breyer’s retirement and Joe Biden’s pledge to appoint an African American woman to the Supreme Court. Plus, for those still confused by Jonah and Charlie Cooke’s argument about Congress during the Anglo-Floridian’s appearance on the program this week, there’s a detailed explanation of how the two disagree. Show Notes: - The Wednesday G-File - Adam J. White on the Commentary podcast - Jonathan Chait on affirmative action for the Supreme Court - John Podhoretz still likes Ike - The Remnant with Charles C.W. Cooke - The Remnant with Yuval Levin - The Remnant with Leon Aron - Charles Sanders Peirce - Richard Rorty and William James - Bertrand Russell’s critique of pragmatism - Jonah: “Banned Books Week is Just Hype” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charles C.W. Cooke, senior writer at National Review and Anglo-Floridian golf cart enthusiast, returns to The Remnant for another round of exceptionally rank punditry on Joe Biden’s dismal first year in office. Before assuming the presidency, Biden made some big promises that he hasn’t been able to keep. But is his problem that he refuses to adjust to political circumstances, or that he’s simply a hack who was never qualified for the job in the first place? Mixing hearty debate with vigorous agreement, Jonah and Charlie discuss this question at length, while also touching on mandatory voting, the perils of public opinion, and how thrilled we should be to live in a moment where journalists and politicians can regularly insult each other. Oh, and Charlie also can’t resist rambling about firearms. Show Notes: - Charlie’s page at National Review - Charlie on Biden’s year of failure - Jonah’s uncontroversial third-party proposal - Jonah’s words with friends - Biden’s first-year report card in Politico - “You guys were almost separated at birth” - Michael Tomasky’s attempted mic drop - The Remnant with Josh Kraushaar - Jonah contemplates mandatory voting - Mad Dogs and Englishmen on the bumbling Mr. Biden - #DontBrowbeatMyPete - Big time! - Charlie’s upcoming course on the history of the Second Amendment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As Sting once sang, “in Europe and America, there’s a growing feeling of hysteria.” With war in Ukraine looking increasingly likely and tensions mounting between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin, it feels an awful lot like we’re back in 1987. To explore how Russia’s bellicosity might affect the global stage, Jonah is joined by Leon Aron, director of Russian studies at the American Enterprise Institute. Together, they address heady questions on Russia and narrowly resist performing a duet of “99 Red Balloons.” Would the Russian people support an invasion of Ukraine? How is Russia influencing European politics? And is there any chance of Russia becoming a quasi-democratic country in the near future? Show Notes: - Leon’s page at AEI - Leon’s contributions to The Dispatch - Leon on what lies ahead for Putin - The Morning Dispatch gives the latest on Ukraine - Alexei Navalny profiled in Time - Jonah on the dangers of conceding to Putin - Putin on the nukes - The Gerard Schröder controversy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah returns to the solo Ruminant format to end the week, reflecting on Joe Biden’s dismal first year in office and contemplating what the next three years might hold in store for the country. After what John Podhoretz labeled the “worst press conference in presidential history,” can Biden recover, or will his poll numbers continue to sink to increasingly humiliating lows? For that matter, is unity its own virtue? How would the Russian people and the global community react if Vladimir Putin conquered Ukraine? And do negative comments on his writing hurt Jonah’s feelings? Show Notes: - GLoP’s latest grand aventure - Chris Stirewalt’s latest newsletter on Biden’s political flailing - The Morning Dispatch on the threat of war in Ukraine - Jonah on Biden’s Georgia speech - Be like Ike - Literally - The Dispatch Podcast reflects on Biden’s first year - Bob Driscoll on the Voting R ights Act - The Remnant with Michael Shellenberger - The Remnant with Edward Carr Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Remnant’s British invasion continues as Economist deputy editor Edward Carr joins to provide a perspective on how the pandemic has affected nations beyond the United States. Together, he and Jonah examine how issues such as vaccine skepticism, excess deaths, and pandemic-related insanity vary between countries, all while kvetching vigorously about teachers’ unions and the politics of marmite. Can we trust China’s COVID statistics? Are things as weird in Russia and the U.K. as they are in America? And are we in the early stages of a new Roaring ‘20s? Show Notes: - England prepares to drop COVID restrictions - Boris Johnson’s latest scandal - “There’s no such thing as learning loss” - Steven Brill: “The Rubber Room” - The Remnant with Paul Bloom - Jonah: “Fear and Loathing in the Time of COVID” - Apollo’s Arrow, Nicholas Christakis’ book on pandemic madness - The Remnant with Matt Ridley - The Remnant with Michael Shellenberger Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a young man, Jonah left his heart in San Francisco. But after today’s conversation with Remnant first-timer Michael Shellenberger, he probably won’t be going back for it any time soon. Michael joins the show for an exceedingly wonky discussion of his new book, San Fransicko, which explores how progressive policies are enabling an addiction and mental health crisis in America’s cities. Together, they explore the causes of urban decay and what conservatives can do to reverse the trend in places like New York and San Francisco. Tune in for ruminations on nuclear power, Nietzschean philosophy, and criminology, but stick around to hear Jonah and Michael compare notes on what it’s really like to be mugged by reality. Show Notes: - Michael’s Substack on cities, energy, and the environment - Michael’s new book, San Fransicko: Why Progressives Ruin Cities - Michael’s previous book, Apocalypse Never - Tom Wolfe’s “The Great Relearning” - San Fransicko reviewed in the New York Times - Madness in the Streets, by Rael Isaac and Virginia Armat - The Homeless, by Christopher Jencks - The Remnant with Shawn Bushway - Michael: “Why Wokeism is a Religion” - Woke Racism, by John McWhorter - John Dewey’s “universe with the lid off” - Paul Tillich’s definition of religion - Jonah on the case for nuclear power Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ll do it live! 2022’s first drive-time Remnant is here, and it’s predictably lacking in substance. With Guy and Ryan currently starring in their own production of The Odd Couple, Jonah invites them both into The Dispatch studio for a freewheeling discussion of vocabulary, D.C. geography, and movies ranging from The French Dispatch to Howard the Duck. There’s also plenty of serious punditry mixed in on America’s nightmarish immigration process, the awfulness of Biden’s Georgia speech, and the difficulty of finding purpose in modern society. Tune in and be led to glory! Show Notes: - Bill Buckley on the art of big words - Advisory Opinions on the Supreme Court’s vaccine mandate dismissal - Make my funk the P-Funk - Bill Oakley’s fast food reviews - The Remnant with Ross Douthat, featuring generous Don’t Look Up criticism - The Remnant with Ryan Bourne - “It’s not a comedy” - Spider-Man: No Way Home reviewed in The Dispatch - Howard the Duck and the evil of George Lucas - The Wednesday G-File, released to the masses - Tapper, Biden, and the Bull - What’s the deal with fascism? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ross Douthat takes his place in the Remnant five-timers club today, joining Jonah for a discussion of (what else?) the dysfunctional state of American politics. Unlike last time, however, the nudity is tasteful, the Exorcist references are sparse, and the tone is (slightly) more optimistic. Is the United States on the cusp of a new civil war, and what would that look like in practice? For that matter, why is Biden a less effective president than Bill Clinton? Can a case be made for mandatory voting? And is there anything worthwhile about Don’t Look Up? Show Notes: - Ross’ previous Remnant appearance - Ross: “Let’s Not Invent a Civil War” - Ross on the Remnant discussing The Decadent Society - Jonah’s latest G-File on Biden’s Georgia speech - David Brooks: “How the Bobos Broke America” - Jason Stanley, How Fascism Works - The Remnant with Yuval Levin - Jonah’s distaste for Don’t Look Up - Ross on why the movie needs a second cut - Eric Levitz dissects Don’t Look Up - The latest Dispatch Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cato Institute economist Ryan Bourne joins The Remnant for the first time to discuss his new book, Economics in One Virus, which offers a crash course in economics using the COVID-19 pandemic as a case study. Over the last two years, many questions have been raised about America’s preparedness (or lack thereof) for the pandemic, and Ryan has answers. Did any country get COVID right? Why is testing still a mess? And is the libertarian movement as divided as the conservative movement? Show Notes: - Ryan’s page at Cato - Ryan’s new book, Economics in One Virus - Ryan: “A Cure Worse Than the Disease?” - Scott Gottlieb: “A Second Major Seasonal Virus Won’t Leave Us Any Choice” - Strife in the fast lane with John Nestor - Biden’s Pandemic Preparedness Plan - Peter Nicholas: “There Are No Libertarians in an Epidemic” - Jonah: “When Narrative Trumps the Facts” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A still Covid-brained Jonah does his first Ruminant of the new year today. Assuming most listeners are over the January 6th coverage, a brief point on the politics of that day leads the pod. Then, let’s talk about Fascism, baby. Then a potpourri of topics for you to enjoy this weekend. Why is the GOP so uncomfortable with January 6? What’s the deal with Fascism? How accurate was Ted Cruz’s impression from John Belushi in The Blues Brothers? What do pizza and sushi have to do with the role of the federal government? Show Notes: Wednesday G-File January 6 piece for Bari Weiss’ site The Dispatch Podcast on January 6 Jonah on MTP Daily Sen. Ted Cruz grovels to Tucker Carlson like John Belushi to Carrie Fischer in The Blues Brothers The Remnant with Yuval Levin Pod’s niche podcast with Matthew Continetti Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Liquor connoisseur and noted Wisconsinite Christian Schneider joins The Remnant for the first time to discuss America’s strange plague of misinformation. In an age where politicians are incentivized to embrace ludicrous positions and all facts are negotiable, how can sanity be restored? For that matter, what’s wrong with modern political campaigns? Did God create Listerine? And what does the future hold for college education? Show Notes: - Christian's page at The Dispatch - Christian’s page at The College Fix - Christian’s new book, Anti-Knowledge - Christian: “Our Elected Officials Are a Threat to Civic Knowledge” - The (ostensible) madness of Ron Johnson - Critical Path, by Buckminster Fuller - Institutional comedy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On 2022’s first Remnant, a COVID-addled Jonah is joined by fan-favorite guest Yuval Levin for a discussion of voting rights in America. Voting, Yuval argues, has never been easier, despite claims to the contrary made by progressive and conservative commentators alike. The real problem is that both parties are fueling a loss of public confidence in elections, and trust must be restored for American democracy to continue to function. Jonah also quizzes Yuval on his case for expanding the House of Representatives and what it means to be a “recovering political scientist.” Grab your bingo cards for a thoroughly wonky beginning to the year. Show Notes: - Yuval: “Democrats, Voting Rights Are Not the Problem” - Does high voter turnout help one party? - A war on democracy? - The Policy State, by Karen Orren and Stephen Skowronek - Ben Sasse’s Schoolhouse Rock moment - Yuval: “One way to reform the House of Representatives? Expand it.” - Jonah, Yuval, and an expert panel discuss expanding Congress - The Remnant with Michael Strain - The Remnant with Sally Satel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With 2021 drawing to a close, Jonah invites his vocal doppelganger, Chris Stirewalt, back to The Remnant for a recap of this bizarre year. The show begins with a small but satisfying amount of rank punditry on the fate of Build Back Better and the state of voting rights in America. After that, Jonah and Chris look back at the last 12 months by conducting a mock award ceremony, naming winners in various categories. Who was 2021’s biggest loser? What was the year’s most delightful pop culture surprise? And in which category will Chris select “America” as a surprise answer? Tune in for all of this and more, and remember: There’s no harm in revisiting and sharing some of your favorite Remnant episodes from earlier this year over the holiday season. See you in 2022! Show Notes: -Give someone a Dispatch subscription this Christmas -Jonah on Joe Manchin and Build Back Better -Jen Psaki slams Manchin -Chris on #FreeBritney -The nerdiest Remnant ever on the new Dune movie -Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death -The Remnant with Paul Bloom -The year’s final, holly jolly GLoP Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s Ruminant is all about privilege, and Jonah has many nerdy thoughts on the subject. He also offers plenty of anecdotes about day drinking, a few meditations on Build Back Better hitting a brick wall, and a disquisition on the nature of consumerism. How many varieties of privilege are there in America today? Why do certain people tend toward conservatism? And why has Jonah finally decided to open up about Fox News? Brace your bingo cards, too, because Jonah still can’t stop complaining about Theodor Adorno and his mythical authoritarian personality. Show Notes: - The Morning Dispatch breaks down the Build Back Better stalemate - Let’s talk about privilege - The Remnant with Sally Satel - Sumptuary laws - Veblen goods - Huntington’s “Conservatism as an Ideology” - Sally Satel: “The Experts Somehow Overlooked Authoritarians on the Left” - Politics and Prose lawyers up - Harvard stops requiring SAT scores - Jonah opens up about Fox - Matthew Mehan’s new children’s book - AEI Today - Give someone a Dispatch subscription this Christmas Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sally Satel, a psychiatrist and lecturer at Yale, makes a long-awaited return to the Remnant to discuss the influence of woke culture on medical science. In our woke moment, Sally argues, doctors are at the mercy of “indoctrinologists” who want them to become more concerned with social activism than healing the sick. What’s driving this trend, and should we fear for the future of science? Furthermore, how has psychotherapy changed over the years? What can be done to address the opioid epidemic? And will people only get crazier as the COVID-19 pandemic refuses to end? Show Notes: - Sally’s page at AEI - Sally’s previous Remnant appearance - Sally: “What is Happening to My Profession?” - Sally: “Taking on the Scourge of Opioids” -Sally: "Keep Social-Justice Indoctrination Out of the Therapist’s Office" - Critical race theory and medicine - The cardiologist suing the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine - False advertising - Political religions - Barry Goldwater’s mental fitness - Jonah: “Fear and Loathing in the Time of COVID” - The Remnant with Paul Bloom - John Tooby on coalitional instincts - How the Mind Works, by Steven Pinker Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brush up on your legalese, because Keith Whittington is back on the Remnant to poke plenty of fun at Advisory Opinions. Over the course of an exceptionally nerdy hour, he and Jonah explore the pros and cons of court packing and judicial term limits, occasionally stopping to discuss what would happen if the world were taken over by giant, hyper-intelligent ants. Are Supreme Court justices all partisan hacks? Why did Joe Biden establish the Supreme Court reform commission? And is there any real difference between lawyers and vampires? Show Notes: -Keith’s scholar page on Princeton’s website -Keith’s previous Remnant appearance -The Supreme Court commission’s final report -Inside the Supreme Court commission -The Constitution in exile? -Keith: “Court Packing is Discreditable as Ever” -The genius of Mark Meadows -The Soldier and the State, by Samuel P. Huntington Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Broadcasting live from Fargo (the movie is still better than the TV series), Jonah can’t help but spend most of today’s Ruminant gloating about how he’s been correct on recent issues ranging from the silliness of “Latinx” to the craziness of Tucker Carlson. Political demographics, the Omicron variant, and the future of conservatism are also discussed, but at the end of it all, one question remains: Is “I informed you thusly” a more satisfying phrase than “I told you so?” Show Notes: - The Wednesday G-File - No one uses “Latinx” - Are Hispanics evenly split between the parties? - The Commentary podcast on Democrats and Hispanics - Rich Lowry on the WSJ poll - Sean Trende on what motivates Hispanic voters - Whitelash, by Terry Smith - Can’t hold it back anymore - Jim Geraghty on good news regarding Omicron - Well-known progressive Mitch McConnell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah reopens the emergency punditry supply on today’s Remnant, recorded live from the Bozeman Public Library. His guest is A.B. Stoddard, who believes the Democratic Party is poised to implode thanks to poor governance and the strange influence of wokeism. Together, they explore why both parties have alienated ordinary voters, why Nancy Pelosi stepping down could send the legislative branch into further disarray, and why Trump could win re-election in 2024 if Biden’s poll numbers don’t improve. Optimism, who needs it! Show Notes: -A.B.’s page at RealClearPolitics -A.B.’s previous Remnant appearance -A.B. on congressional decline -A coming Democratic crack up? -Tom Wolfe: “The Intelligent Co-ed’s Guide to America” -The Remnant with Chris Stirewalt -Jonah on superspreaders of asininity -Kamala Harris’ disastrous vice presidency -Bill Clinton and Ricky Ray Rector -The Morning Dispatch on reforming the Electoral Count Act Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michael Strain, economist at the American Enterprise Institute, returns to the Remnant today to explore the strange state of the American economy. Consumer demand for goods has skyrocketed in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and supply chain chaos is dominating the headlines. In these unusual times, should conservatives embrace common good capitalism, or does zombie Reaganism still have plenty to offer? For that matter, which industries have been permanently changed by the pandemic? Have our lives actually improved since March 2020? And can even the most devoted Remnant listener tolerate more than 30 minutes of Jonah and Michael rambling about Battlestar Galactica? Show Notes: - Michael’s page at AEI - Michael’s previous Remnant appearance - Jonah and Scott Lincicome kvetch about the supply chain - Michael on the need for an economic cooldown - Michael: “Republicans Battle Over ‘Socialism-Lite’” - Hungary eyes - Jonah on how politics destroyed Battlestar Galactica Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices