The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg

Jonah's never-ending vacation brings him to Prague on today’s worldly Ruminant, but fleeing deeper into Europe can’t help him escape his mid-life crisis. After a few brief musings on such intellectually stimulating subjects as toilet paper and Indonesian cuisine, he dives into less significant issues like the House speakership debacle, the ideological origins of left-wing opposition to Israel, and the ongoing dumbification of the GOP. Get your Che Guevara shirts ready for an interesting ride. Show Notes: - Eli Lake on Frantz Fanon - Frantz Fanon’s The Wretched of the Earth - Edmund Burke on the East India Company - Orwell on Gandhi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah’s Italian vision quest has nearly concluded, but he still has a few corners of his subconscious left to search. That leaves the Remnant in need of a guest host, and who better to captain the ship once again than Chris Stirewalt, America’s favorite country pundit? Chris has worn his egghead hat for his last few episodes, but today, he embraces his true nature as a political dirtbag driven solely by the pursuit of rank punditry. To that end, his guest is The Dispatch’s own David Drucker, who joins to discuss the 2024 election in all of its endless stupidity. Do any of the GOP candidates not named Donald Trump actually have a chance? How’s Biden been doing lately? And is going “all in on Iowa” a political death knell for Tim Scott and Ron DeSantis? Show Notes: - David’s page at The Dispatch - Chris’ Remnant with Amity Shlaes - Chris’ Roman Remnant with Mike Duncan - David’s Dispatch interview with Chris Christie - David: “Ron DeSantis Endorsements Keep Coming” - Ben Terris: “The Make-Believe Republican Primary” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Remnant further affirms itself as America’s leading podcast in book promotion today, as journalist and NPR host Steve Inskeep brings his velvety tones to the program to discuss his new book, Differ We Must: How Lincoln Succeeded in a Divided America. Though studies of Honest Abe aren’t exactly in short supply, Steve’s has a unique hook: It tells Lincoln’s life story by examining sixteen of his encounters with prominent figures, each of whom disagreed with him in some way. The questions raised are significant: Why is there an abiding fascination with Lincoln in the American consciousness? How did Lincoln become a Republican? And could a novel about Lincoln fighting Nazis with a pet poodle in tow become an all-time bestseller? Show Notes: -Watch this interview on YouTube - Steve’s page at NPR - Steve’s new book, Differ We Must: How Lincoln Succeeded in a Divided America Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After yet another week of chaotic travel, Jonah can’t resist recording a Ruminant to settle his addled mind. Coming to you from the seas of Southern Italy, today’s offering is marginally less excessive than usual, as Jonah focuses his ornery energy on the Israel-Gaza war and how America’s political parties are reacting to it. Other, equally grim topics include the limits of the United Nations, the state of the Ukraine conflict, and Russian collaboration with Iran. Show Notes: - The Wall Street Journal on potential Iran support for Hamas - The Trotskyite origins of postcolonial theory - President Biden's Oval Office address on Ukraine and Israel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been a while since the Remnant featured some spirited kvetching about identity politics and wokeness in American life, but those issues haven’t exactly faded away. Today’s guest is Yascha Mounk, a prolific author and academic whose new book, The Identity Trap, examines where exactly woke ideology emerged from and how it became so influential. Yascha’s thesis is that an obsession with group identity is leading many progressives astray despite their good intentions, and that this is ultimately hindering progress toward true equality in American life. But why are so many people from across the political spectrum falling into the identity trap? What’s the appeal of populism and nationalism? And will Jonah’s growing crotchetiness soon cause him to completely give up on intellectual history? Show Notes: -Watch this interview on YouTube -Yascha’s webpage -Yascha’s new book, The Identity Trap -Yascha’s previous book, The Great Experiment -Yascha’s previous Remnant appearance -Calvin Coolidge’s speech on America’s 150th birthday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unable to secure an interesting guest or topic of conversation for today’s Remnant, Jonah is forced to invite Steve Hayes—his benevolent business partner and world-renowned cheese curd enthusiast—back to the program for their annual reflection on the state of The Dispatch. All of the obvious topics are addressed, including how The Dispatch is doing, what goals have been achieved, and what’s coming next as things continue to grow. But loyal listeners will also want to tune in for answers to some common questions. How has election coverage changed over time, and what will The Dispatch do in 2024 to set itself apart? What will it take for The Dispatch to attract new readers and continue to expand? And will a Corner-style blog ever surface on the site, or will Steve remain blinded to its usefulness by a haze of beer and Buffalo sauce? Show Notes: - The Dispatch’s manifesto - The Skiff, a new podcast feed exclusively for Dispatch members Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s not everyday that people show you who they are, but the terrorist attack in Israel gave us a glimpse into the soul of America's overeducated elite - and it wasn't a pretty sight. In a contempt-fueled rant, Jonah blasts the left for its wishy-washy response to the massacre and the right for losing the plot on America's foreign interests. Stay tuned for some rank punditry before Jonah takes a break from this darkening world and absconds to the Italian coast. Show Notes: -Jonah’s Remnant with Jay Cost -Law firm rescinds offer to Summer Associate for Palestine support -The incredibly tragic CNN report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is America a republic or a democracy? Jonah has forced many recent Remnant guests to answer this question, but only Jay Cost—a historian and senior fellow at AEI—has written a whole book on the subject. It’s called (creatively enough) Democracy or Republic? The People and the Constitution, and Jay joins the show today to flesh out its thesis. In an era of declining civic virtue and institutional trust, are the tools of government that the Founders developed strong enough to deal with today’s challenges? What are the pros and cons of the democratic process? And how can we help restore an understanding of the Constitution among America’s youth? Show Notes: - Jay’s page at AEI - Jay’s new book, Democracy or Republic? The People and the Constitution - Jay’s previous Remnant appearance - The Remnant with Jim Pethokoukis - Irving Kristol: “The American Revolution as a Successful Revolution” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Saturday Hamas militants invaded Israel, gunning down and abducting civilians, firing rockets on city centers, and holding entire villages hostage. In response, Israel has declared war on Gaza and things are only about to get uglier from here. A sleep-deprived Adaam James Levin-Areddy, senior multimedia producer at The Dispatch and host of Uncertain Things, joined Jonah to discuss the past 24 hours in Israel, Hamas' brutal reign in Gaza, Adaam's theory of peace privilege, Bibi's legacy, and what's coming next. By the way: This was also the inauguration of The Dispatch's members-only feed The Skiff, which will include all future impromptu chats and bone-picking arguments between Jonah and friends, as well as AMAs, emergency pods, and other random audio goodies. In his magnanimity, Jonah decided to share this debut episode with the freeloading masses. But if you want more Remnant, along with the moral ebullience of supporting The Dispatch, please join us. And to all our members who've already come aboard our Skiff –– thank you, from the bottom of our tired, shriveled hearts. You are the reason the lights are still on. And we have lots in store for you. Stay tuned. To get The Skiff on your personal podcast player: CLICK HERE to get your personal feed. How to subscribe to The Skiff: To follow The Skiff on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or wherever you catch your podcasts, please follow these instructions: -Choose which device you prefer to listen on (Mac, iOS, Android…). -Click here to get your personal feed. (Make sure you’re logged in as a Dispatch member!) -Select The Skiff. -Select your device and podcast player (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pocket Casts, etc.): this will let you subscribe to the feed for direct updates! Note: If your preferred podcast player asks you to subscribe by RSS feed you’ll need to copy and paste a URL link. To get that link, go back to the menu with all of the options to subscribe (the page with all of the player logos), scroll to the bottom, and copy the link you see there. Then, go back to your player and paste it in the field. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The end of another week brings another unfocused, ultra-rambling Ruminant, which finds Jonah aggravated by a fresh potpourri of political asininity. Featured topics today include the crisis at the border and Biden’s declining credibility, similarities between the radicalism of the young right and left, and the incoherence of arguments for student loan debt forgiveness. There’s even some brief criticism of the Clintons mixed in for anyone feeling nostalgic. Show Notes: - The Remnant, hosted by Brother Stirewalt, with toga community ambassador Mike Duncan - The Remnant with James Pethokoukis - NBC lists the “terrifying trade-offs” of student loan repayment - The Remnant with Beth Akers - The great climate conspiracy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The future has a lot of enemies these days, and most of them seem to agree that progress is behind us while nothing but disaster lies ahead. Today, AEI’s Jim Pethokoukis is back on the Remnant to challenge that idea. His new book, The Conservative Futurist, makes the case for a risk-taking, future-oriented American society driven by technological change. But what would such a society look like in practice? How could it come into being? And what makes futurism and conservatism compatible? Show Notes: - Jim’s page at AEI - Jim’s book, The Conservative Futurist: How to Create the Sci-Fi World We Were Promised - Jim’s Substack, Faster, Please! - Jim’s Political Economy podcast - Jim’s previous Remnant appearance - Virginia Postrel’s The Future and Its Enemies - Kim Stanley Robinson’s The Ministry for the Future - Half-Earth Socialism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do men really think about the Roman Empire? If that question has been keeping you up at night in recent weeks, you’ll want to tune in to the latest Remnant for some conclusive answers. Jonah’s away again on a wild expedition through the commonwealth, which means it’s up to Chris Stirewalt to host today’s crash course in Ancient Roman politics and history. His guest—making an eagerly anticipated return to the program—is Mike Duncan, host of the oft-plugged Revolutions podcast, bestselling historical author, and noted influencer for the toga community. If you don’t know your Caesar from your Caligula, their conversation will get you up to speed. And it’ll also help you appreciate what relevance Rome has to the contemporary United States. Show Notes: - Mike’s Revolutions podcast - The Storm Before the Storm, Mike’s history of the Roman Republic - Hero of Two Worlds, Mike’s biography of the Marquis de Lafayette Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Though his wife and RA continue to plead for him to stop, Jonah can’t be deterred from following the self-destructive path of the weekly Ruminant, especially with a legion of overly eager wedding guests on his side. Today’s episode features a predictably peculiar melange of topics, among them the hideous second GOP debate, the misguided fondness for autocrats present on parts of the right, and the validity of the Biden impeachment inquiry. Remnant devotees should stick around until the end for further details on The Skiff, an exciting new podcast feature coming to The Dispatch that’s sure to consume far too much of your life. Show Notes: - The Dispatch Podcast on the second GOP debate - Philip Bump: “The Rise of ‘Chinese Communist Party’ as a Pejorative” - Jonah: “When the Stupid Futility Is the Point” - Do the facts speak for themselves? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get your bingo cards ready once again, because today’s Remnant offers a greatest hits of Goldbergian geekdom. Jonah’s joined today by libertarian writer Brink Lindsey, a senior vice president at the Niskanen Center and the author of The Permanent Problem on Substack. Together, they dig into urgent matters of social policy—institutional decay and the challenges of modern capitalism among them—libertarian philosophy, and Thailand’s problematic geography. Did the libertarian project fail? Do intellectuals really shape the world? And how can we make the mass affluence provided by capitalism sustainable? To sign up to The Skiff (the members-only Dispatch super-feed): Choose the device you want to listen on Make sure you're logged in as a member of The Dispatch! Click here: https://members.thedispatch.com/account/feeds Select "The Skiff" Choose which player you want to listen on Subscribe Show Notes: -Brink’s Substack, The Permanent Problem -The Captured Economy -The Age of Abundance -Liberaltarians -Brink: “Life Under ‘an Immense and Tutelary Power’” -Brink: “The Advance of the Monoculture” -Brink: “Libertarian Roots Revisited” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah’s travels have concluded and he’s back on the homefront, which can only be good news for holders on the Remnant bingo card. To celebrate his return, the ever-reliable Matthew Continetti is back on the program for some piping hot punditry on the latest in political dysfunction. Matt recently abandoned Jonah’s department at the American Enterprise Institute to become the director of its domestic policy division, and this betrayal won’t go unpunished. But when they aren’t viciously attacking one another’s office allegiances, the duo is able to provide incisive answers to a host of political questions. Is a government shutdown incoming? What’s going wrong with conservative institutions? How can populism be a good thing? And what will it take for politicians to stop beclowning themselves? Show Notes: - Matt’s page at AEI - National Review: “Pence’s Populism Speech Was Admirable, but It Misidentified the Target” - Jack Butler on Pence and populism - How much do voters trust both parties? - Jonah: “Uniform Stupidity” - The Remnant with Tom Nichols Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Frank Sinatra once observed that “you’ve either got or you haven’t got style,” but when you’re living out of an RV in the wilds of Iowa—or, for that matter, representing your state in the halls of the US Senate—that doesn’t really matter. Jonah’s still on the road today, but he can’t outrun his existential dread. To drown it out for a while instead, he delivers yet another unfocused, inordinately long Ruminant to end the week. This time, much of his irritation is directed toward the renewed jackassery of Matt Gaetz and the politics of a potential Biden impeachment, but plenty of righteous indignation is also reserved for the Senate’s new dress code and the increasingly shaky prospect of a second Biden term. Plus, tune in to hear Jonah elaborate on why men spend so much time thinking about Rome (almost as much, in fact, as they spend thinking about Nixon). Show Notes: - Jonah: “Why Rome?” - Mike Duncan’s Revolutions podcast - Jerry Muller’s The Mind and the Market Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah’s vision quest isn’t ending anytime soon, which means there’s an opening for a continuing stream of guest hosts to captain the lumbering vessel that is the Remnant. Today, Sarah Isgur takes the leading role, and her guest is fellow Texan Kevin Williamson, who joins primarily to discuss everything you could imagine about the Lone Star State. Topics include recent impeachment drama, Ted Cruz’s chronic case of annoying-itis, the strange state of local politics in the state, and the heresy that is sauce on Texas smoked ribs. Stick around until the end to hear what all of this has to do with Ken Paxton’s crusade against the mystical deep state. Show Notes: - Kevin and David French field listener questions - The Wall Street Journal on why Ken Paxton was acquitted Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hurry up and pay your union dues, because today’s Remnant is all about labor. It’s been more than a week since his departure, but Jonah’s still lost in the wilds of the heartland, vainly attempting to overcome his mid-life crisis from an RV living room. In these desperate times, Chris Stirewalt reassumes control of the program to bend it to his West Virginian will, but thankfully, he’s joined by a special guest who brings some leaven to the Goldberg-less loaf. That guest is renowned historian Amity Shlaes, who’s here to discuss the origins of labor unions, Lyndon B. Johnson’s relationship with industry, and the elections of the 1960s and ‘70s. It’s a crash course in US history that’ll leave you significantly more pro-Coolidge. Show Notes: - Amity’s page at National Review - The Forgotten Man: A New History of the Great Depression - Coolidge - The Great Society: A New History - Chris’ book on populism, Every Man a King -Video version of this episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a brief respite from his latest cross country adventure, Jonah camps out beneath the Idaho mountains to record another rambling Ruminant. As usual, the questions raised cover a little of everything: How should we think about Mitt Romney’s legacy? Is Russia still a terrible country (spoiler alert: Jonah’s answer is yes)? What’s the difference between authoritarianism and totalitarianism? And will Jonah’s ignorance of music allow him to discuss Nicaraguan Sandinistas without once referencing the Clash? Show Notes: - Phil Klein: “Mitt Romney Was No Profile in Political Courage” - Nick Catoggio: “The Party’s Over” - McKay Coppins: “What Mitt Romney Saw in the Senate” - The Dispatch Podcast on Putin’s bromance - Mike Duncan’s podcast on the Russian Revolution - Claire Berlinski: “Dear Linda Yaccarino” - The Remnant with Megan McArdle - The Remnant with Scott Lincicome Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Having ascended from the proletariat to the ruling class in the hierarchy of the Cato Institute, Scott Lincicome returns to the Remnant not simply to flaunt his success, but to issue an urgent defense of an embattled concept: globalization. In these troubled times, many of the left and right alike have become hostile to the relatively free movement of people, goods, and ideas across national borders. But Scott maintains that globalization is an unequivocal force for good, and that the most common criticisms of it are rooted in myths. With that in mind, Cato has launched “Defending Globalization,” a new multimedia initiative dedicated to—shockingly enough—combating anti-globalization narratives. Can Scott make a compelling case for the project in the Remnant arena, or will he melt like nacho cheese under Jonah’s intense scrutiny? Show Notes: - Scott’s page at The Dispatch - Scott’s work at the Cato Institute - “Defending Globalization,” Cato’s new initiative - Cato’s Green Card Game Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Megan McArdle returns to the Remnant today for a discussion that has the luxury of being detached from current events. Things operate at a high level of abstraction throughout—even the rank punditry is more nerdishly academic than usual—as she and Jonah analyze and debate a handful of topics that seem to render him increasingly despondent. Can resentment among elites explain Donald Trump’s success? Do ideas actually matter, or have all intellectuals wasted their lives? Just how ugly should we expect 2024 to be? And can Jonah outrun his ongoing mid-life crisis in a ramshackle RV? Show Notes: -Megan’s page at the Washington Post -Fusion, a new magazine from the American Institute for Economic Research -The Remnant with Tom Nichols Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah’s in a distracted state of mind on today’s Ruminant, but that can’t stop him from rambling at a wholly unnecessary length. Springing haphazardly between subjects, he offers thoughts on the distinction between populism and conservatism, the brain-killing stupidity of our election, and the role ideologues should play in society. He also reflects on his discussion with Tom Nichols about the state of the right from earlier in the week, and clarifies a few key points. In these troubled times, you can’t keep a good pundit down. Show Notes: - Mike Pence attacks populism - The Dispatch Podcast on our stupid election - The Remnant with Tom Nichols - The Remnant with Jean Twenge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Stirewalt can be many things—caveman lawyer, Southern fried good old boy, etc.—but today, he’s a simple pundit from the backwoods who’s back on the Remnant to dispense some rank insights on the state of our parties and how the 2024 election is shaping up. The resulting conversation is exactly what you’d imagine: an onslaught of pop culture references tempered by a modicum of sobering political analysis. How clear is it that Biden can defeat Trump? What do the current Democratic and Republican coalitions look like? And should the Department of Energy move to West Virginia (Chris’ answer won’t surprise you)? Show Notes: - Chris’ page at The Dispatch - Chris: “Five Known Unknowns for 2024” - The Remnant with Tom Nichols - Steven Teles and Robert Saldin: “The Future Is Faction” - Chris’ book on populism, Every Man a King - Michael Lind: “America’s Woke Elite Monoculture” - The Remnant with Robert P. George - Jonah: “Democrats Are Making a Risky Bet With Biden” - Mike Duncan’s The Storm Before the Storm - Kevin Williamson: “The Whited Sepulcher” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Remnant’s streak of obvious guests who have inexplicably never appeared on the program continues today, as professor turned Atlantic staff writer Tom Nichols joins the show to provide some uncut, fiercely nerdy analysis of our current political malaise. Much of his conversation with Jonah concerns the ongoing conflict in Ukraine—namely, how America has handled it, and what’s really motivating Putin. But after that, the stage is set for an epic debate between the duo on what it means to be “Never Trump” in 2023, and where principled conservatives should go from here. Also, fans of Succession may recognize Tom from his appearances on the show; tune in to learn some behind the scenes secrets. Show Notes: - Tom’s page at The Atlantic - Tom’s latest book, Our Own Worst Enemy - Orlando Figes’ The Story of Russia - Tom: “The Ukrainian Counteroffensive Is Not an Action Movie” - Tom: “I Was a Pundit on Succession” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ignoring the desperate pleas of those closest to him, Jonah reaches new heights of excess on today’s needlessly long Ruminant. Still on a China kick, he begins by addressing the country’s spiraling economy and illiberal regime, but quickly becomes distracted by a handful of similarly grim topics, including the awfulness of Russia and the poisonous role of the coalitional instinct in American life. Stick around for musings on the Clarence Thomas controversy, Mitch McConnell’s health, and civic ignorance in American life. Oh, and to hear a few intimate details about the discomfort Jonah feels when staring at himself for an extended period. Show Notes: - Jonah: “China’s Economy Is Spiraling” - Jonah: “Xi’s Republic of China” - Jonah: “Czar Gazing” - The Remnant with Luke Coffey - The Prince, The Economist’s podcast on Xi Jinping - John Tooby on coalitional instincts - David French: “The Articulate Ignorance of Vivek Ramaswamy” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Luke Coffey returns after an appearance last October with esteemed Remnant guest host Klon Kitchen. In that time, a whole mess of insanity has gone on in Ukraine—some of it good, some of it worrying. Now that we’re a year and a half into the maelstrom, do Ukrainians still like Zelensky? How long can Russia keep its hand on this kind of a hot burner before wrenching it away? And above all, Luke gives us the reasons for optimism about the situation and why it’s not only desirable but important to keep that optimism alive for Ukraine’s sake. Show Notes: -Luke’s page at the Hudson Institute -Luke: “How the War Could Make Ukraine a Defense Powerhouse” -Luke: “Don’t Hold Your Breath for an End to the Ukraine War” -The Remnant with Leon Aron Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

By popular demand, psychologist and author Jean Twenge joins the Remnant today to affirm Jonah’s status as America’s most arrogant Gen Xer. Dr. Twenge’s recent work has focused on generational differences, the challenges facing Generation Z, and how generational changes are influenced by developments in technology. All of these subjects and more are examined throughout, and many disturbing questions are answered: Why are Gen Zers living life at such a slow pace? What’s the real link between pornography and America’s sex recession? What determines generational happiness? And can anything shatter Jonah’s ‘70s-bred ego? Show Notes: -Dr. Twenge’s webpage -Dr. Twenge’s latest book, Generations: The Real Differences Between Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X, Boomers, and Silents―and What They Mean for America's Future -The Remnant with Jonathan Haidt and Greg Lukianoff -William Strauss and Neil Howe’s Generations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s Ruminant raises a predictably peculiar question within its opening moments: How can rodentology help us understand the first Republican debate? Jonah’s answer may surprise you, but what’s more surprising is that it connects quite naturally to another of the week’s hot topics: the debate over what America’s role should be in the war in Ukraine. With plenty of vim and slightly less vigor, he dedicates most of this episode to exploring what form American foreign policy should take, and why we must remember that Putin is the villain in this conflict. Show Notes: - The Remnant with Michael H. Parsons (rat guy) - The Dispatch Podcast on the debate that didn’t matter - A post-debate Dispatch Live - Jonah breaks down the debate with Chuck Todd - Tevi Troy: “Moderators Have Ruined Presidential Debates. Let’s Get Rid of Them.” - The Remnant with Luke Coffey Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If the Remnant has a failing, it’s that, in almost 700 episodes of relentlessly nerdy conversation, Robert P. George hasn’t once appeared on the program. Today, Jonah rectifies that mistake, inviting the beloved Princeton professor and director of the James Madison Program onto the show to discuss America’s fraying civic bonds, and what we can do to stem the tide of illiberalism. They also provide some uniquely sophisticated punditry on the 2024 election, examine what it takes to build a conservative institution, and clear up some confusion around Robby’s name. Brothers and sisters alike are encouraged to tune in. Show Notes: - Dr. George’s webpage - Dr. George: “Universities Shouldn’t Take Political Positions” - Dr. George: “How Universities Can Restore Academic Freedom and Free Speech” - Dr. George’s advice for incoming students - Julien Benda’s The Treason of the Intellectuals Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s another round of intense national security wonkery on today’s Remnant, but this time, Jonah’s joined by an overdue first-timer rather than a returning favorite. His guest is Robert D. Kaplan, a prolific writer on foreign policy and author of the new book, The Loom of Time, which explores the state of politics in the Greater Middle East and makes the case for a realist approach to the region. But what does foreign policy realism look like in practice? What kind of shape is democracy in around the world? And what does the future hold for today’s great powers? Show Notes: - Robert’s webpage - Robert’s new book, The Loom of Time: Between Empire and Anarchy, from the Mediterranean to China - Robert: “Order After Empire: The Roots of Instability in the Middle East” - Robert: “Will America Share Rome’s Fate?” - Frederick Kagan: “Biden Could Have Stopped the Taliban. He Chose Not To.” - Orlando Figes’ The Story of Russia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah’s in an uncharacteristically effulgent and ebullient mood on today’s Ruminant, but don’t let his high spirits trick you into expecting a less ranty and discombobulated episode than usual. Jonah kicks things off with some extended thoughts on the problems with small dollar donors, before shifting, somehow, into a discussion of the coalition instinct among human beings. If that sounds a little too cerebral, rest assured that the latter half of this episode provides nothing but unfiltered punditry on the ongoing Hunter Biden scandal, the latest Trump controversies, and the state of conservative commentary. Show Notes: - Jonah’s problem with small dollar donors - This weekend’s Dispatch Podcast - The Remnant with Daniel Hannan - The Remnant with Ken Pollack - Advisory Opinions on the Georgia indictments Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In keeping with the Remnant’s long tradition of providing edifying counter-programming, Jonah’s joined today by Ken Pollack—AEI senior fellow and expert on the Middle East—to discuss the latest on Iran and American policy toward the region. “Since the 1979 revolution,” Dr. Pollack writes in his latest piece for Foreign Policy, “Iran’s leadership has single-mindedly attempted to dominate the Middle East and drive the United States and Israel out.” But now, Tehran is shifting its approach, and Iranian grand strategy is placing a new emphasis on diplomacy. What does that mean for the United States? How will it affect other relationships between nations? And does Jonah’s general grouchiness stem from his political realism? Show Notes: - Dr. Pollack’s page at AEI - Dr. Pollack: “Iran’s Grand Strategy Has Fundamentally Shifted” - The Remnant with Frederick Kagan - The Remnant with Daniel Hannan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sleep-deprived and disoriented in his shrinking ghetto of the egghead-osphere, Jonah’s in desperate need of a euphonious English accent to help him collect his thoughts. Fortunately, prolific author Daniel Hannan is on hand to provide exactly that, and to offer some erudite insights into a wide range of political and philosophical topics. How should we define republican virtue, and what does that have to do with fighting wokeism? Is Britain’s conservative movement a stable force or a hot mess? Has Russia always been awful? And do Europeans think America has gone insane? Show Notes: - Daniel’s webpage - Inventing Freedom, Daniel’s oft-plugged book - Kevin Carroll: “An Unthinkable Choice” - Orlando Figes’ The Story of Russia - Joseph Henrich’s The WEIRDest People in the World - George Orwell: “Second Thoughts on James Burnham” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah’s world is often defined by the things he hates, but just can’t resist talking about. Today’s Ruminant kicks off with an unrelenting rant against many of such subjects, including Trump; populism; and petty, meaningless Twitter feuds. After that, things drift in a more eggheady direction, as Jonah examines Israel’s governmental framework and provides a few musings on public morality. But even if none of those eclectic topics interest you, you’ll want to stick around until the end of this episode to answer an urgent call. The Remnant has received a nomination in the 2023 Podcast Awards, and we need you, our faithful listeners, to vote for the show right here. Show Notes: - The Remnant with Andy McCarthy - The Dispatch Podcast on Israel’s constitutional moment - Politico on the online porn industry’s retreat - Vote for the Remnant in the 2023 Podcast Awards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s Remnant—which happens to be more than a year in the making—Jonah’s joined for the first time by Ian Rowe, a senior fellow at AEI and the author of Agency (2022), which explores how young people can build strong families and take control of their destiny. Much of their conversation focuses on one of Ian’s primary interests, the success sequence, and whether it’s still valid in modern America. But plenty of wonkish musings are also mixed in on the importance of stable marriages, the achievement gap in education, and the values we should impart to our children. Show Notes: -Ian’s page at AEI -Ian’s book, Agency -AEI’s special forum on the 60th anniversary of the March on Washington -The Remnant with Thomas Sowell -Ian: “The Game of Life” -Ian: “A Vision of Black Success” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you were hopelessly confused by Jonah’s recent conversation with Sarah Isgur on the Trump indictment, prepare to be even more bewildered by today’s follow-up, which features the overdue Remnant return of Andy McCarthy, National Review’s chief legal poobah. It’s an episode of relentless legal nerdery as they dig deep into the weeds on Trump’s latest legal woes, and whether the claims against him hold up to scrutiny. There’s also some less mind-melting discussion mixed in on the legacy of the Civil Rights Act, the madness of Sidney Powell, and whether the federal government was right to punish Al Capone for tax evasion (yes, really). Show Notes: - Andy’s page at National Review - Jonah and Sarah on the indictment - The McCarthy Report on the indictment - Andy: “Anti-Indictment and Pro-Editorial” - Andy: “The Civil-Rights Theory of Indicting Trump for Election Interference” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From a mysterious fortress in the depths of the Adirondacks comes today’s Ruminant, which may be the most pointless in quite some time. Addled from weeks of often traumatic travel, Jonah can’t quite keep his thoughts in order, and the result is an episode that glides across the surface of a whole range of topics. Among these are English theater, the Trump indictment, and the evolving Hunter Biden saga. But thanks to the sublime landscape around him, he dedicates most of his time to climate change and the latest hysterics from Greta Thunberg. No, Soylent Green still isn’t reality. Show Notes: - The Economist: “Soylent Green Is an Eerie Prophecy” - Jonah: “Soylent Green Is Wrong, People” - Jonah: “Threat Level Midnight Forever” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Back in the USA—but sadly not back at chez dingo—Jonah’s in a particularly exhausted state on today’s Remnant. It doesn’t help that his original plan for this episode—a fun, substance-free conversation with Sarah Isgur—was thwarted by the latest Trump indictment news, which forces the duo to engage in some actual serious discussion on the subject. They explore whether the indictment holds up to scrutiny, how the field of GOP candidates should respond to it, and whether Trump could rightly be convicted under criminal law. Then, as a bonus feature, Jonah taps into another area of Sarah’s expertise—she’s both the mother and wife of a male—to examine how we can address the challenges facing men in civil society. It’s an episode so informative, you’ll wonder why that niche legal podcast even exists. Show Notes: - The Collision, Sarah and Mike Warren’s new newsletter - Sarah and Mike on the new Trump indictment - The Morning Dispatch, three strikes edition - Jonah: “Who Are the Real Kingmakers? Voters.” - Nate Cohn: “Yes, Biden and Trump Are Tied” - Christine Emba: “Men Are Lost. Here’s a Map Out of the Wilderness.” - Jonah: “The New Right Is Neither New nor Right” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s been no shortage of disgruntled commentary in conservative media about the state of New York City recently, but it’s important to remember how bad things used to be in comparison. Today, Jonah is joined by old friends Tevi Troy and Vincent Cannato to reflect on what the Big Apple was like in the ‘70s. They dig into urban politics, criminology, and what it takes to reverse social decay, while also providing a few nostalgic musings that could serve as the foundation for an Odd Couple reboot. Just as Rodgers and Hart intended, they’ll have Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island too. Show Notes: -Tevi’s webpage -Vin’s webpage -Broken windows theory, again -The Remnant with criminologist Shawn Bushway -The Remnant on Portland’s decline with Nancy Rommelmann -Tevi’s Intellectuals and the American Presidency -Tevi: “The Odd Couple Metric” -The Remnant with Matt Continetti on The Right Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s Ruminant finds Jonah across the pond, indulging in greasy fish wrapped in newspaper while trying to forget about some of the less pleasant aspects of his recent trek through the Italian mountains. After recounting a few tales of that arduous expedition, he switches his brain into pundit mode, addressing some of the biggest political questions that have arisen during his absence. What’s going on with the Hunter Biden plea deal? Have the wheels fallen off the DeSantis bus? And what happens when you find a stranger in the Alps? Show Notes: -The Telegraph’s Ukraine podcast, which should really be sponsoring the show at this point -The McCarthy Report on Hunter Biden’s plea deal -Kathryn Jean Lopez: “Jason Aldean Isn’t Helping” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thanks to David French’s treachery, Jonah is forced to step into the world of evangelicalism on today’s episode, which features the Remnant debut of Russell Moore, a theologian, pastor, and writer at Christianity Today. Dr. Moore’s new book, Losing Our Religion: An Altar Call for Evangelical America, calls for an evangelical revival in the face of America’s contemporary challenges. Together, he and Jonah take a deep dive into what that revival should look like and what role religion should play in American life, while providing enough context to ensure heretical listeners won’t be lost at sea. This episode is sponsored by our friends at FIRE. FIRE's mission is to safeguard and uphold the right of all Americans to freedom of speech. Be a part of the front line of a growing movement by joining the FIRE Update. Show Notes: -Dr. Moore’s webpage -Dr. Moore’s new book, Losing Our Religion -C.S. Lewis’ The Weight of Glory -Christine Emba: “Men are lost. Here's a map out of the wilderness.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re fearful of the future, you may not want to tune in to today’s terrifying Remnant. Jonah’s guest is Nita Farahany, a professor at Duke Law School and the author of The Battle for Your Brain: Defending the Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology. The book explores the rise of neurotechnology—devices designed to track our brain signals to figure out exactly what we’re thinking and feeling and why. But would a world of mental surveillance and ubiquitous neural interfaces be exciting or dystopian? And what are the implications of this technology for our laws, behaviors, and liberties? This episode is sponsored by our friends at FIRE. FIRE's mission is to safeguard and uphold the right of all Americans to freedom of speech. Be a part of the front line of a growing movement by joining the FIRE Update. Show Notes: -Dr. Farahany’s webpage -Dr. Farahany’s new book, The Battle for Your Brain -The Remnant with Jonathan Adler -Dr. Farahany: “TikTok Is Part of China’s Cognitive Warfare Campaign” -Shoshana Zuboff’s The Age of Surveillance Capitalism -Dr. Farahany: “Searching Secrets” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah performs a rare act of magnanimity on today’s Remnant, freeing Abe Greenwald, Commentary’s executive editor, from the verbal oppression of John Podhoretz. Abe’s first appearance on this program is long overdue, and he’s quick to dispense some dark secrets of the Commentary podcast that he’s clearly been bottling up. But when the political analysis begins, it’s as pure and wide-ranging as you’d expect. There’s an extended discussion of how America became a low-trust society, an exploration of conspiracy theories and whether those who peddle them are worth debating, and a round of obligatory kvetching about the state of conservatism. Whether Jonah and Abe are as seductive as many new right thinkers seem to be, however, is for you to decide. This episode is sponsored by our friends at FIRE. FIRE's mission is to safeguard and uphold the right of all Americans to freedom of speech. Be a part of the front line of a growing movement by joining the FIRE Update. Show Notes: - Abe’s page at Commentary - The John Podhoretz Show, aka the Commentary podcast - Abe: “The Trust Crisis” - Abe: “Leave the Grandkids Out of It” - Jonah: “When Reality Is a Punch in the Face” - Sen. Tommy Tuberville’s mishap - David French: “The Rage and Joy of MAGA America” - Crushing Senority on the Commentary podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Any malefactors of great wealth who also happen to be devoted Remnant listeners may wish to avoid today’s episode. Jonah’s guest is Matt Lewis, a senior columnist at The Daily Beast, who’s on the program to discuss his new book, Filthy Rich Politicians: The Swamp Creatures, Latte Liberals, and Ruling-Class Elites Cashing in on America. Together, they explore “how the rich get elected and the elected get rich,” and what that means for American politics. Some grouchy musings on the future of the GOP are also mixed in, as well as a few more wholesome reflections on Matt’s life in West Virginia. This episode is sponsored by our friends at FIRE. FIRE's mission is to safeguard and uphold the right of all Americans to freedom of speech. Be a part of the front line of a growing movement by joining the FIRE Update. Show Notes: - Matt’s new book, Filthy Rich Politicians - Matt’s page at The Daily Beast - Mike Murphy on why Trump won’t win the primary Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you thought the Ruminant was incoherent at the best of times, you may be completely unprepared for today’s unpredictable onslaught of twists and turns. Grappling with a serious hangover, Jonah begins with a reflection on the war in Ukraine and somehow ends by discussing his newfound love for The Bear, all the while emitting a distracting array of grunts and groans. Along the way, he also finds time for a few more substantial and vituperative rants, which primarily concern his disdain for Adam McKay and what we get wrong about college admissions. This episode is sponsored by our friends at FIRE. FIRE's mission is to safeguard and uphold the right of all Americans to freedom of speech. Be a part of the front line of a growing movement by joining the FIRE Update. Show Notes: - The M*A*S*H Up GLoP - Scott Lincicome: “‘The Bear’ Is a Tribute to Dynamism—and What Blocks It” - Jonah on friends on the life and legacy of Paul Cantor (skip to 2:55:35 to hear Jonah’s most despised question) - Brown’s social contagion? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re obsessed with pop culture but can’t stand Rob Long and John Podhoretz, today’s Remnant may be the weird, wonderful, and interruption-free GLoP alternative you’ve been waiting for. Jonah’s joined for the first time by Christopher Scalia, former academic suit turned scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. Their paths recently crossed during an AEI panel on the legacy of cultural critic Paul Cantor, where they offered some exceptionally square-eyed geekery on TV shows both obvious and obscure. Jonah felt the event raised a number of urgent questions, so today, they provide answers: What happened to P.I. shows? Does The Godfather glamorize the mafia? How is wokeness influencing television? And is Chris really related to a famous justice? (Spoiler alert: Yes.) This episode is sponsored by our friends at FIRE. FIRE's mission is to safeguard and uphold the right of all Americans to freedom of speech. Be a part of the front line of a growing movement by joining the FIRE Update. Show Notes: - Chris’ page at AEI - Jonah and Chris discuss the life and legacy of Paul Cantor - Joan Biskupic’s American Original: The Life and Constitution of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia - Chris: “‘Tom Jones’ Is No Masterpiece” - The Remnant with Bret Devereaux - Paul Cantor’s Gilligan Unbound - Paul Cantor’s The Invisible Hand in Popular Culture Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s been quite the media furore about rising crime rates in recent years. But now that COVID is behind us and cities are alive again, are the numbers on crime moving in a more positive direction? RAND Corporation criminologist Shawn Bushway is back on the Remnant today to answer this question, and to address a few other points of concern and uncertainty surrounding policing and criminal justice in modern America. What determines rates of recidivism? Are certain crimes becoming more common than in the past? Is there merit to broken windows theory? And have we finally got beyond defunding the police? Show Notes: - Dr. Bushway’s webpage - Dr. Bushway’s previous Remnant appearance - Dr. Bushway’s research on hiring people with criminal histories - “Ex-Prisoners Face Headwinds as Job Seekers, Even as Openings Abound” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s Ruminant finds Jonah on an uncharacteristic high, and no, his good mood can’t be attributed to a certain substance that was recently discovered in the White House. He’s actually in elevated spirits because a recent AEI event prompted him to rediscover the work of Paul Cantor, a late scholar at the University of Virginia who analyzed pop culture through a conservative lens. He begins today’s program with a thorough exploration of Cantor’s work, before delivering similarly overlong rants on the American Founding and the purpose of the Supreme Court. Sometimes, the Remnant can feel like a wonderful drug. Show Notes: -Jonah and friends discuss Paul Cantor -“The Macbeth of Meth” -Vanity Fair: “America Has a Supreme Court Problem” -The Remnant celebrates the Fourth of July Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trapped on the island of Nantucket, a guestless Jonah uses today’s Remnant to provide an impromptu meditation on the Fourth of July. His musings explore the meaning of the Declaration of Independence, whether America is a nation or an idea, and why it’s vital to teach American history. Listen with a hot dog in one hand and a miniature flag in the other to feel like a true patriot. Show Notes: - Henry Fairlie: “The Shot Heard Round the World” - The Gettysburg Address and the meaning of the 4th - Irving Kristol: “The American Revolution as a Successful Revolution” - Calvin Coolidge on the Declaration of Independence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rather than dedicating today’s Ruminant to another interminable rant about the state of the GOP (although if you’re interested in one of those, you might want to read Wednesday's members-only G-File, hint-hint), Jonah focuses his attention on topics less likely to drive him utterly insane. These include some major recent Supreme Court decisions, his shrinking skepticism of horseshoe theory, and our tendency to overlook the meaningful distinctions between friends, family, and strangers. Tune in also to hear Jonah thoroughly dispel all rumors of his anti-Italian bigotry. Show Notes: - The GLoP Culture podcast - The Dispatch Podcast on the end of affirmative action - The Remnant with Bret Devereaux - Guy is released from the pit for a Remnant AMA - Jonah: “Defending Conservatism—From the Right” - Gertrude Himmelfarb’s The Roads to Modernity: the British, French, and American Enlightenments - Violence and Social Orders: A Conceptual Framework for Interpreting Recorded Human History Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices