The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg

Marriage is a fundamental institution, so why is it under attack from both ends of the political spectrum? In his new book, Get Married, Brad Wilcox—a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a professor at the University of Virginia—makes the case that getting married and starting a family is the best way of leading a prosperous life. But how can law and culture encourage Americans to tie the knot? Why has public interest in marriage declined? And how does marriage make people better off? Show Notes: – Brad’s page at AEI – Brad’s new book, Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization – Brad: “Marriage Is Key to Living Your Best Life” – Brad: “Why You Should Get Married” – The Remnant with Russ Roberts – Elizabeth Grace Matthew: Can People Be Persuaded to ‘Get Married’? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode of The Remnant, Jonah’s disdain for the elderly leads him to step into the intellectual octagon with a man nine days his senior: novelist and CNN host Jake Tapper. Jake’s new show, United States of Scandal, takes a darkly comedic look at some of America’s wildest political controversies, and Jonah’s eager to discuss all the sordid details while keeping the nudity as tasteful as possible. Is Washington full of conspiracies? How many chemicals were in Larry King’s hair? And do scandals even matter anymore in the age of Trump? Show Notes: - Jake’s new show, United States of Scandal - Jake on the origins of the series - Watch this episode on YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Having woken up to the Alexei Navalny news, Jonah spends this Ruminant thinking through what the Russian opposition leader’s death might portend. From tzars and (real) settler colonialism to useful idiots a-la Tucker Carlson, the good listener should expect a very Russian episode. Пожалуйста. A more patient listener will also hear Jonah revisiting his conversation with the Lewis brothers, due to somewhat popular demand. Show Notes: -The Lewis brothers on The Remnant -Kevin Kosar on The Remnant -Bernie Sanders on Soviet chandeliers -Dan McLaughlin: "Tucker Carlson's Lowest Moment" -Kevin D. Williamson: "The Full Duranty" -WSJ: "China's Shipyards Are Ready for a Protracted War. America's Aren't" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Once again, Jonah has abandoned his Remnant duties to spend the week nibbling on sponge cake while watching the sun bake. Fortunately, Chris Stirewalt, America’s favorite simple country pundit, is on hand to take control of the program. He’s joined by Ruy Teixiera, author of Where Have All the Democrats Gone? and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, to discuss what the wretched state of our parties could mean for the 2024 election. The GOP has spent the last decade having an extended nervous breakdown, so why haven’t the Democrats used this opportunity to become the dominant party? For that matter, why can’t Democratic candidates get a grip on working class voters? And why can’t all politicians just be normal? Show Notes: - Ruy’s AEI webpage - Ruy’s Substack, The Liberal Patriot - Ruy’s latest book, Where Have All the Democrats Gone? - Ruy’s The Emerging Democratic Majority Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is there really such a thing as left and right? Scholars Hyrum and Verlan Lewis don’t think so. In their book, The Myth of Left and Right, the brothers argue that this generalization is undermining sophisticated political discourse. And on today’s episode of The Remnant, they join Jonah to explain why, when two tribes go to war, a point really is all you can score. Do terms like conservative and liberal really have any use? Why are we having an election between two wretched candidates? How do industrialized democracies around the world think about the political spectrum? And will Jonah ever get sick of talking about Liberal Fascism? Show Notes: - Hyrum’s blog - Verlan on the myth of ideological polarization - Hyrum and Verlan’s book, The Myth of Left and Right Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tired and sunburnt, Jonah chimes in from somewhere in the Virgin Islands to share his thoughts (ramblings?) on the little he knows from the news of the past week. But stay tuned for a crossover of his appearance on Kevin Williamson’s podcast, How The World Works. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’ve never been a resident of the Washington egghead-osphere, you’re probably not familiar with the 20th-century political scientist Edward Banfield. But Kevin Kosar—a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and noted KISS fanatic—thinks that you should be. In 1951, Banfield published Government Project, an account of the U.S. government’s attempt to remake the lives of some of its citizens by establishing a cooperative farm in Arizona during the Great Depression. The project didn’t go so well, and Kevin believes it holds vital lessons about the limits of government planning that Americans across the political spectrum would be wise to recall today. Tune in for neocon nerdery, but stick around for some more contemporary wonkery on what’s gone wrong with Congress. Show Notes: - Kevin’s page at AEI - Kevin’s podcast, Understanding Congress - Edward Banfield’s Government Project, reissued with a new introduction by Kevin - Kevin on Banfield’s The Unheavenly City - Banfield’s The Moral Basis of a Backward Society - Kevin and Phil Wallach: “The Case for a Congressional Regulation Office” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s the meaning of life? 42? Pizza? The Remnant? David Bahnsen may or may not have the answer, but he’s at least certain of what makes life satisfying: honest, productive work. In his new book, Full-Time, he explores how work can allow us to find purpose and fulfillment. But is all work equally meaningful? Is the market best placed to determine its value? And does David have a higher net worth than Scrooge McDuck? Show Notes: – David’s webpage – David’s new book, Full-Time: Work and the Meaning of Life – David: “The Problem with a ‘Work–Life Balance’” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah starts on a cheerful note with lessons from Groundhog Day, but quickly the grim realities of our fallen world drag him back to punditry. If you manage to get past the brooding about Taylor/Kelce, philosophical pragmatism, and the American propensity for conspiracies, then you'll be subjected to passages from Liberal Fascism and, worst of all, notes about anti-NATO Twitter. Good luck. Show Notes: –Jonah: “It’s Nietzsche’s World, You’re Just Living In It” -Jonah: "A Movie for All Time" -The United States of Paranoia: A Conspiracy Theory -Jonah: "Look What You Made Me Do" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah serves up a jumbo slice of rank eggheadery on today’s Remnant to compensate for yesterday’s shockingly (or perhaps mercifully) brief episode. He’s joined for the first time by Peter Berkowitz, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution and prolific writer on politics and America’s liberal tradition, to wax Yiddish on topics of both broad and minimal interest. What do academics and philosophers have against the English language? Do ideas actually matter? And what does the nationalist right get wrong about freedom? Show Notes: -Peter’s webpage -Jonah: “It’s Nietzsche’s World, You’re Just Living In It” -Peter’s first book, Nietzsche: The Ethics of an Immoralist -Samuel Moyn’s Liberalism Against Itself -Peter’s Constitutional Conservatism: Liberty, Self-Government, and Political Moderation -Peter responds to Robert Kagan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Has America lost its sense of humor? In Jonah’s view, only a Brit with a distinctly stiff upper lip can answer that question. He’s joined on today’s Remnant by journalist and politician Daniel Hannan, who’s back on the show to explore when and why America began to take a turn for the crazy. Why do recessions lead to populism? Is political apathy actually a good thing? And has the United Kingdom become besotted by its own post-liberal movement? Show Notes: – Daniel’s webpage – Steven Pinker’s The Better Angels of Our Nature – Matt Ridley’s The Rational Optimist – The Remnant with Yuval Levin - Watch this episode on YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah is well-rested which means an extra long and digressive Ruminant in which he recounts his experience debating Ezra Klein at an event in Ohio. He then ruminates on conservative intellectual history (the free spot on your bingo cards), the left-wingification of the right wing, and the benefit of “invisible hand” systems. Ignore the sounds of the asylum staff trying to break through the door. Show Notes: — Jonah: Does Reality Change Ideas or Vice Versa? — Adrian Vermeule: Liberalism and the Invisible Hand Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finally back from his escapades in the Midwest, Jonah invites Brian Riedl, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and resident "debts and deficits" wonk, back on The Remnant. They discuss the necessity of raising taxes on the middle class, how much weed it would take to balance the budget, and the extinction of fiscally conservative Republicans. What can be done about the debt? What would happen if the IRS is abolished? Why is Jonah so afraid of monetary policy? Show Notes: — Brian's page at the Manhattan Institute — Brian: The Rich Aren’t Rich Enough to Balance the Federal Budget Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s special and prematurely released episode of The Remnant, Jonah is joined by Sarah Isgur, the host of the niche legal pseudo-podcast, Advisory Opinions, to explain Chevron deference and its prognosis at the Supreme Court. They explore the potential implications of overturning it—the good, the bad, and the ugly—and the likelihood of Congress getting its act together. However, the main event is the debate over whether our lizard brains truly care about policy. Did the abolition of slavery affect the 1860 election? Did Lincoln win because he was tall? Is Sarah a vulgar Marxist? (Plus, Sarah provides an update on Mailboxgate.) Show Notes: —Jonah’s LA Times column on Chevron —Advisory Opinions on Chevron —Ben Sasse on the third episode of The Remnant —Last week’s episode of The Dispatch Podcast —Kim Strassel: The Them-vs.-Us Election Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah is in a suspiciously pleasant mood coming off The Dispatch's live event in New Hampshire but regular disclaimers of tiredness still apply. Before replaying the Ruminant's greatest hits, he criticizes Rand Paul's ironic response to Donald Trump's claim of presidential immunity, explains how 2024 might begin to look like 2016, and kvetches about the anti-Trump crowd's catastrophization. Stick around for some ruminations on doggy eugenics. Show Notes: — Trump's "full immunity" truth — Rand Paul's filibuster against John Brennan —G-File: The Unpopular Vote —Jonah: Mau-Mauing the Dogcatcher Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Jonah heads to New Hampshire, Chris “Dixville’s Notch” Stirewalt reassumes his rightful position as chief poobah of The Remnant. He’s joined by Christine Rosen—AEI senior fellow, Commentary magazine columnist, and noted “quiet car Karen”—to discuss the state of the 2024 election as we approach the New Hampshire primary. At this point, it seems certain that Trump will be the GOP nominee, but what will this mean for his opponents? For that matter, who will be his running mate? Is America still like The Handmaid’s Tale? And should people who eat loud snacks on airplanes be shown no mercy? Show Notes: - Christine’s AEI webpage - Trump takes the lead in New Hampshire - Chris discusses the 2024 election at AEI - Chris: “Haley’s Narrow Path Runs Across DeSantis’ 2028 Ambitions” - Watch this episode on YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ross Douthat is back on TheRemnant to provide a post-mortem for the Iowa caucuses. With the first result of the race now in, is Donald Trump’s renomination guaranteed? Where did Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley go wrong? Would a second Trump administration be staffed entirely by crazy people? And could a Trump-Biden rematch cause Jonah and Ross to rethink their life choices? Show Notes: -Watch this episode on YouTube -Ross: “How Trump’s Opponents Made Iowa Easy for Him” -Ross’ 2020 book, The Decadent Society -Ramesh Ponnuru: “The 2024 Campaign Has Left Republicans in a State of Confusion” -Martin Gurri’s The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority in the New Millennium Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Full of rage and regret, Jonah reconsiders the life choices that led to him watching the interminable DeSantis-Haley debate start to finish, and plans to inflict his pain on listeners. He also revisits his argument about Hitler inflation in Democratic electioneering, and, at a listener's request, considers the ties between DEI and Marxism. Show Notes Jonah's Never Go Full Hitler Jonah on CNN (DEI debate) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Determined to prove that Advisory Opinions is merely a niche secondary podcast, Jonah is joined today by Adam White—the American Enterprise Institute’s resident law-talkin’ guy—to ramble through the latest in legal controversies. Topics on the docket include a potential Biden impeachment, legal threats to Donald Trump, and how the Supreme Court is holding up in these turbulent times. Plus, tune in to find out if America will ever become a land without lawyers. Show Notes: —Adam: “Common Law Judgements, Common Sense Justices” —Kurt Lash on the 14th Amendment Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your bingo cards ready, because Remnant stalwart Mo Elleithee makes an overdue return to the program to kvetch about some familiar topics. Mo believes that we’re heading for a terrifying 2020 rematch. But could one of Donald Trump’s opponents still make a comeback, and will Joe Biden manage to make it through a full campaign? For that matter, what’s wrong with American elites? How can we reverse declining trust in institutions? And how did Jonah come to have more hatred for primaries than life itself? Show notes: - Watch this episode on YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hungover from a night of CNN debate wonkery and inadequately caffeinated, Jonah provides an especially nerdy Ruminant covering yesterday’s town hall with Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, the strange desire to have a beer with presidential candidates, and the Biden administration’s lacking response to the Houthis, the latter inevitably leading to a lengthy defense of having a Navy. He discusses all of this while leaving enough (probably too much) time for the reification of diversity and some lousy defenses on behalf of Claudine Gay. Show notes: - Yesterday's Dispatch Podcast - Jonah’s piece on Haley’s civil war answer - Jonah’s most recent G-File on Claudine Gay Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah completes his American Enterprise Institute hat trick on today’s Remnant with Yuval Levin, AEI’s director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies. The two start with some hesitant media criticism of the reaction to Harvard President Claudine Gay’s resignation before turning to the novelty, or lack thereof, of the oppressor-oppressed paradigm, the usefulness of horseshoe theory, and the need for strong institutions. Prepare your bingo cards. Show notes: - Yuval's AEI page - Conservatism as an Ideology by Samuel Huntington - Jonah's LA Times column on horseshoe theory - AEI Summer Honors Program - Watch this episode on YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s finally 2024, but instead of looking ahead with optimism, Jonah would rather use The Remnant to kvetch about the many lows of last year. Today, he’s joined by Matthew Continetti—still adjusting to his new role as the American Enterprise Institute’s leading corporate suit—to decide whether 2023 should be considered the worst year in modern political history. But given the unfolding presidential race, is 2024 shaping up to be any better? Is a Trump renomination guaranteed? And will Biden even make it to the finish line? Show Notes: - Matt’s AEI webpage - Jonah: “Nikki Haley’s Slavery Gaffe Is a Rare Misstep From a Good Politician” - Robert Kagan on a Trump dictatorship - Matthew Schmitz: “The Secret of Trump’s Appeal Isn’t Authoritarianism” - Video version Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Of all the (many) things Jonah hates, he has a unique resentment for the concept of New Year’s Eve. If you share his disdain for the holiday, then try ringing in 2024 with the bitter grumblings of today’s discombobulated, needlessly lengthy Ruminant rather than a trip to Times Square or an overpriced prix-fixe dinner. As usual, a number of urgent questions are addressed: Could Nikki Haley’s recent slavery gaffe tank her campaign? Why is partisanship problematic? What’s the latest on the war in Israel? And how did Jonah learn to stop worrying and (sort of) love horseshoe theory? Show Notes: - Jeff Blehar: “Nikki Haley’s Sin Isn’t Racism” - Jonah: “The Left’s Whackjob Problem—and Ours” - Michael Lind: “The New National American Elite” - Jonah: “New Year’s Kiss-Off” - Jonah: “The Year of the Horseshoe Theory” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah’s in full fanboy mode on today’s long-anticipated Remnant. His guest is Paul Bloom—respected psychologist, prolific author, and noted body double for Al Gore and soundalike for Donald Sutherland—who’s back on the program at last to answer all of Jonah’s burning questions about human behavior and the mind. How should we feel about Freud? Who should decide what issues are taboo? And are people born with an innate political orientation? Viking babies and sci-fi aficionados alike will find much to appreciate. Show Notes: - Paul’s website - Paul’s previous Remnant appearance - Paul’s latest book, Psych: The Story of the Human Mind (now available in paperback) - Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil - The Sweet Spot: The Pleasures of Suffering and the Search for Meaning - Jonah: “Speaking Freely About Free Speech” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah indulges in one of his favorite traditions in today's Remnant: kvetching about economics with Michael Strain, the American Enterprise Institute’s director of economic policy studies. Their conversation offers a crash course in the history of economics as a social science, a guide to the myths of income inequality, and a few musings on what really caused the Great Depression. Plus, they explore perhaps the most important topic of all: TV shows you should watch instead of paying attention to your children this holiday season Show Notes: -Dr. Strain’s page at AEI -Dr. Strain: “The Myth of the 1%” -Jonah: “Mr. Piketty’s Big Book of Marxiness” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The holidays are nearly here, and there’s nothing more likely to encourage festive cheer than a wide-ranging, ultra-rambly Ruminant. Today’s episode offers musings on Trump’s removal from Colorado ballots, the complicated politics of abortion, and the enduring dumbness of populism. But those also looking for an uplifting seasonal message will find it in Jonah’s thoughts on why gratitude is so important this time of year. Merry Christmas! Show Notes: - The Remnant with Frederick Kagan - Advisory Opinions on the Colorado Supreme Court decision - Advisory Opinions with Will Baude on Trump’s presidential eligibility - Yuval Levin on the anti-Trump 14th Amendment strategy - Jonah on Trump’s dictatorial flirtations - The Dispatch Podcast on abortion law - Ramesh Ponnuru’s The Party of Death - Jonah on Claudine Gay and diversity Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As 2023 draws to a close, Jonah invites Frederick Kagan—director of the American Enterprise Institute’s Critical Threats Project—back on The Remnant to explore how we can expect the conflicts between Israel and Hamas and Russia and Ukraine to unfold in 2024. They also discuss how the Biden administration should approach Iran and China, what the 2024 election could mean for American foreign policy, and what history can teach us about modern warfare. Show Notes: - Dr. Kagan’s page at AEI - Dr. Kagan: “If the West Cuts Aid to Ukraine, Russia Will Win. If the West Leans In, Ukraine Can Win.” - Dr. Kagan: “The High Price of Losing Ukraine” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this interview only episode, Eli talks to Jonah Goldberg, host of the Remnant Podcast and a founding editor of the Dispatch. They discuss the inevitability of a GOP Trump nomination and the recent warnings that a second Trump term will bring the end of democracy. Note: This episode originally aired on The Re-Education with Eli Lake Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah’s even more bleary-eyed than usual on today’s Ruminant, which begins innocently enough before transforming into an epic rant of astonishingly nerdy proportions. After opening with a few thoughts on why free speech absolutism might actually not be something to strive for, he dives into an ultra-indulgent reflection on the legacy of Liberal Fascism prompted by a recent Niall Ferguson piece on the goals of higher education. Listeners with a penchant for intellectual history will delight in the esoteric questions raised: How did antisemitism originate? What did the Nazis do to change institutions? And how can members of the Remnant remain in high spirits? Show Notes: -Jonah: “Speaking Freely About Free Speech” -The Remnant with Sarah Isgur on Nazis marching in Skokie -Niall Ferguson: “The Treason of the Intellectuals” -Julian Benda’s The Treason of the Intellectuals -The Remnant with Bret Devereaux -Jonah on Trump the day-one dictator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Remnant, Jonah joins GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw of Texas to discuss what we can do to fix Congress and our other broken institutions of government. Come prepared with your bingo cards, because the nerdery covers some of Jonah’s favorite bugaboos, including Congress’ transformation into a parliament of pundits, the weakening of our major parties, and the historical roots of antisemitism. Note: this episode originally aired on We Hold These Truths with Dan Crenshaw. Show Notes: -Watch this episode on YouTube -Dan’s podcast, Hold These Truth -Jonah’s problem with small dollar donors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ancient historian Bret Devereaux is back on the Remnant to provide a definitive answer to the year’s biggest question: Why do men really think about the Roman Empire? He also gives an overview of Israel’s history and the origins of today’s conflict, and examines whether Donald Trump could really become the next Caesar. Prospective dictators in need of career advice are strongly encouraged to tune in. Show Notes: -Watch the episode on YouTube -Bret’s pedantic blog -Bret’s previous Remnant appearance -The Remnant, hosted by Brother Stirewalt, with Mike Duncan -The Remnant with Russell Moore Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hulkamania’s running wild on the latest excruciatingly indulgent Ruminant, which sees Jonah’s curmudgeonly ranting reach new heights of excess. Major topics today include the rise of antisemitism on college campuses, the hideousness of Vivek Ramaswamy, and whether the ongoing GOP primary is just one big waste of time. But devoted listeners should also tune in to learn about the link between pro wrestling and Donald Trump, Jonah’s growing urge to deport his assistant, and why the Howard Zinnification of the left is so dangerous. Show Notes: -The Dispatch Podcast on another pointless GOP debate -Advisory Opinions on antisemitism in higher education -Jonah: “Antisemitism Is Just a Symptom” -The Remnant with Ruy Teixeira Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since the war in Ukraine began, Jonah has made a habit of plugging the Telegraph’s daily podcast on the subject, Ukraine: The Latest. Today, Francis Dearnley—an assistant comment editor at the newspaper and one of the podcast’s regular hosts—joins The Remnant for an in-depth look at how the show gets made, and what the future holds for Ukraine. Other topics include the fatal allure of historical determinism, the dreary state of British politics, and why Woodrow Wilson is still history’s greatest monster. Show Notes: -Francis’ page at the Telegraph -Francis’ podcast, Ukraine: The Latest -Follow Francis on X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While Advisory Opinions continues its slow transformation into a dating podcast, Jonah invites Sarah Isgur back to The Remnant for some potent punditry on the unfolding 2024 election. Are the Bidens a crime family? Is it inevitable that Trump will be renominated? And what would a second Trump term actually look like? All of these questions and more will be addressed, but you’ll need to stick around until the end to learn about a man’s correct placement on the sidewalk and the virtues of food sharing. Show Notes: -The Remnant with Frank Foer -New York Times: “Why a Second Trump Presidency May Be More Radical Than His First” -Robert Kagan: “A Trump dictatorship is increasingly inevitable. We should stop pretending.” -Jonah: “George Santos hasn’t been convicted of a crime. Congress was still right to kick him out” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's interminable Ruminant, Jonah subjects listeners to musings about the death of Henry Kissinger and the gross reveling by some. He then turns to the shortcomings of realpolitik and realism, the debate between Gov. DeSantis and Gov. Newsom, the anticipated sequel to Suicide of the West, and the presence of post-liberalism on the right. Stick around to find out why Jonah doesn't write comedic columns anymore. Show Notes: -G-File: Elizabeth Warren, Countess of Sandwich, Schmears the Market -Henry Kissinger, War Criminal Beloved by America’s Ruling Class, Finally Dies -George Will: The Conservative Sensibility -Axios: The Trump job applications revealed -Donald Trump poses the biggest danger to the world in 2024 -Paul Wolfowitz’s interview with Vanity Fair -Tim Alberta on The Remnant -Danielle Pletka on The Remnant Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah returns to distinctly Frenchian territory on today’s Remnant, which explores the state of evangelicalism in America. His guest is Tim Alberta, a staff writer at The Atlantic and author of The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism. Tim’s new book raises an exigent question: Why are so many interpreting faith through the lens of politics instead of the other way round? Tune in to learn all about Tim’s religious journey, how Donald Trump’s relationship with the evangelical movement is changing, and why Jonah feels both ideologically homeless and secure at the same time. Show Notes: -Tim’s webpage -Tim’s new book,The Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory: American Evangelicals in an Age of Extremism -Tim: “My Father, My Faith, and Donald Trump” -Tim: “Donald Trump Is on the Wrong Side of the Religious Right” -The Remnant with Russell Moore -Jonah: “No Movement That Embraces Trump Can Call Itself Conservative” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s Remnant features the overdue first appearance of AEI senior fellow Danielle Pletka, who joins the program to discuss the ongoing conflicts in Israel and Ukraine. What does the future hold for both countries? Why has antisemitism become so prevalent? How’s Benjamin Netanyahu doing? And does the U.N. have any reason to exist? Show Notes: - Danielle’s page at AEI - Danielle’s podcast, What the Hell Is Going On? - Ruth Wisse on the explosion of antisemitism - Mike Gallagher on TikTok’s propaganda - Danielle: “Iran Is the Problem” - Fred Kagan: “If the West Cuts Aid to Ukraine, Russia Will Win. If the West Leans In, Ukraine Can Win.” -Video version Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah delivers another ill-advised Ruminant full of his regular grievances such as: the lack of national gratitude, the moral equivalent of war, the antiquated concept of left and right, and of course the misuses of the term fascism. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a Thanksgiving treat, Jonah invites Chris “Giblets” Stirewalt—his favorite Gen X nostalgist—back on The Remnant to dispense some ruthlessly rank punditry on the state of the 2024 election. With Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley now doing most of the fighting in the GOP primary, do either of them pose a viable threat to Donald Trump? And if the former president captures the nomination, what will that mean for an increasingly fragile-looking Joe Biden? You’ll also want to tune in to learn why men really think about the Roman Empire (yes, the issue is unresolved), and to learn some dark, turkey-related secrets. Show Notes: - Chris’ page at The Dispatch - Chris interviews Mike Duncan on Ancient Rome - Chris: “Nikki Haley’s Unproven Reserves” - Ben Smith: “Why Nikki Haley is Ready for This Ugly Media Moment” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Twenty years ago, the Democratic Party seemed poised to dominate American politics. But having alienated many of their traditional working class voters, that dominance didn’t come to pass—and the party could be on the precipice of a political disaster. To understand how we got here, Jonah invites Ruy Teixeira—senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and author of The Liberal Patriot on Substack—back on The Remnant for some white hot wonkery on the shifting demographics of America’s major parties. In his new book, Where Have All the Democrats Gone? Ruy explores the Democratic Party’s evolution and what it should do to get back on track. Why did the working class turn on the Democrats in the first place? What will it take for the party to embrace a more moderate policy platform? And why is everyone so determined to make the perfect the enemy of the good? Show Notes: -Ruy’s page at AEI -Ruy’s Substack, The Liberal Patriot -Ruy’s new book, Where Have All the Democrats Gone? -Ruy’s earlier book, The Emerging Democratic Majority -Ruy: “A Three Point Plan to Fix the Democrats and Their Coalition” -Jonah’s first AMA on The Skiff, The Dispatch’s members-only podcast feed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah begins today’s Ruminant by staring blankly into the ether, but he’s quickly jolted back to reality by the latest in political asininity. Recently, America has faced an upsurge in antisemitism across the political spectrum, and Jonah has plenty of thoughts about why this is happening and how we can stop it. In predictably slapdash fashion, he also explores the astonishingly dumb trend of young Americans sympathizing with Osama bin Laden, and what 2024’s political coalitions will look like. Also, tune in for an important dingo update. Show Notes: -Jonah: “Democrats Are Right to Worry About Biden in 2024” -Matt Lewis: “Ben Shapiro Astonished by Candace Owens Being Her Usual Self” -Isaac Schorr: “The Shameful Nods to Antisemitism From Candance Owens and Tucker Carlson” -Ian Haworth: “Tucker Carlson Sells ‘Just Asking Questions’ Antisemitism” -Charlie Cooke: “Wokesters for Osama bin Laden?” -The Economist’s Intelligence podcast on another Trump victory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah’s even more sleep-deprived than usual on today’s Remnant due to dingo-related difficulties. Thankfully, however, his guest has more than enough rich insights on hand to keep him awake. He’s joined by Alexandra Hudson—writer, academic, and author of the new book, The Soul of Civility: Timeless Principles to Heal Society and Ourselves. It’s clear that American society isn’t in a particularly civil state, and there’s plenty of appetite for improvement. But Alexandra thinks that we often fail to grasp what civility really means in the first place. Armed with an esoteric collection of historical references, she and Jonah explore what the distinction is between civility and politeness, how we can bring about a “civility renaissance,” and why civility is foundational to liberal democracy. Break out your bingo cards. Show Notes: - Alexandra’s webpage - Alexandra’s new book, The Soul of Civility - Defining the World: The Extraordinary History of Dr. Johnson’s Dictionary - Video version Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah teams up with Mike Rothschild (who, shockingly enough, is not a member of the Rothschild family) to discuss conspiracy theories and the fallacies that undergird them on today's Remnant. In a conversation that touches on wackiness ranging from Pizzagate to the Rothschilds' supposed lease on Israel, Jonah and Mike try to understand why conspiracy theories formulate and what makes people subscribe to them. What do pro-Trump conspiracy theories indicate about the state of our institutions? Why is antisemitism such a pervasive evil? And a general decline in in social media to connect crazy people to crazy ideas in ways that underground bookstores never could. Show Notes: -Mike’s new book, Jewish Space Lasers -Mike: “The Internet Never Met a Conspiracy Theory It Can’t Love” -Mike: “On the Rothschilds’ Myth in Literature and Film” -The Rothschilds and Waterloo Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The close of another week brings another indulgent Ruminant, in which Jonah dedicates an inordinately long rant to the one subject he’s unquestionably an expert on: his own beliefs. Today’s topics include the latest Republican presidential debate, Joe Biden’s prospects for 2024, the ongoing conflict in Israel, and David Brooks’ recent suggestion that Jonah belongs on the “right edge of the left,” all of which raises important questions: How likely is it that someone other than Biden will be the Democratic nominee? Is there really a distinction between anti-Zionism and antisemitism? Why will Jonah never consider himself a leftist? And will the Fair Jessica’s efforts to end the solo podcast ever prove successful? Show Notes: - The Dispatch Podcast, recorded live from New York, on the latest GOP debate - An audience Q&A with Jonah and Steve, available exclusively for Dispatch subscribers - Jonah: “How Anti-Zionism Shrugs Off Antisemitism” - The Remnant with David Brooks - Jonah’s review of Yuval Levin’s The Great Debate - Bid to win a lunch with Jonah in D.C. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Remnant, Jonah welcomes Dan Senor, a prolific pundit, political adviser, and author of the new book, The Genius of Israel: The Surprising Resilience of a Divided Nation in a Turbulent World. As tragic as the unfolding situation in Israel may be, Dan joins the program to bring a welcome degree of optimism to our discourse on the subject. Israel, it turns out, has become one of the happiest societies in the world in recent years. But simultaneously, levels of fulfillment have plummeted in the United States. Dan’s book explores why this is the case, and what lessons Americans should take from Israel to strengthen our social fabric and build communities that emphasize the importance of each individual. Tune in for all of the uplifting details.Show Notes: - Dan’s new book, The Genius of Israel - Sebastian Junger’s Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging - The Remnant with Russ Roberts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For the first time in far too long, New York Times columnist David Brooks is on the Remnant to dispense some of the hottest political wisdom you’ll find this side of Lake Michigan. Lately, David’s been concerned with a serious challenge to America’s social fabric: It seems like most of us can’t really get to know other people. Our country is full of people who feel unseen or misunderstood, and this is fueling our loneliness epidemic and the broader collapse of community. In his new book, How to Know a Person, David offers some solutions to this crisis that largely begin on an interpersonal level. But what does it really mean for people to be seen? What common mistakes do we make in our interactions with others? And will those punk kids ever get off Jonah’s lawn? Show Notes: -Watch this episode on YouTube -David’s page at the New York Times -David’s page at The Atlantic -David’s new book, How to Know a Person -Richard Weaver’s Ideas Have Consequences -The Remnant with Jean Twenge -Enter to win a lunch with Jonah in D.C. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah seldom discloses his fears, but on today’s Ruminant, he’s forced to reveal his greatest weakness: the common cold. Despite the large amount of travel he’s undertaken in recent weeks—which he begins the episode by describing in needless detail—he’s managed to avoid getting sick, but germs are closing in on him. If there’s one thing Jonah hates more than man flu, however, it’s young people (or, at least, society’s misguided worship of young people). Today’s episode is all about youthful opposition to Israel in America: what’s driving it, what it says about our culture, and why it seems to prove that the experiment with “safetyism” on college campuses has failed. Stick around until the end for a few thoughts on Donald Trump’s strange relationship with the law. Show Notes: - Jonah: “Settle This One for Me” - The Coddling of the American Mind - “Hip hip hooray” is fascist? - The Remnant with Jean Twenge - The Dispatch Podcast introduces Jamie Weinstein Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Joe Biden a secret genius? Today’s Remnant guest—Atlantic staff writer Franklin Foer—wouldn’t quite go that far, but he does believe that the president is much more politically adept than you might think. Foer developed a newfound respect for the commander in chief while writing his new book, The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden’s White House and the Struggle for America’s Future, and he joins Jonah to explain why. Listeners are also encouraged to tune in to hear Jonah and Frank yearnfully reflect on their misspent youth and the joys of cross-partisan lunches. Show Notes: - Frank’s page at The Atlantic - Frank’s new book, The Last Politician -Jonah: “Advice for Biden: Be Like Ike” -Nate Cohn: “Why Less Engaged Voters Are Biden’s Biggest Problem” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah’s finally back from Europe after plotting world domination there for the last few months, and he’s ready to get the Remnant party started. Today’s episode features the overdue return of Greg Lukianoff, president and CEO of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. He’s written a new book, The Canceling of the American Mind, which digs into the rise of cancel culture in American life and what we can do to reverse it. But how should cancel culture be defined in the first place? Why does Greg see it as a crisis of historic proportions? How can colleges be fixed? And is Jonah the ultimate grifter? Show Notes: - Greg’s webpage - Greg’s new book, The Canceling of the American Mind - The Coddling of the American Mind - “Steven Salaita, the Media, and the Struggle for Academic Freedom” - Carole Hooven’s T: The Story of Testosterone - Greg is profiled in Politico Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices