The Ricochet Podcast

It takes a special occasion to take The Big Show® to bigger things and higher heights. What’s bigger than the AEI/Ricochet Podcast Summit? Try the 400th episode of our aural extravaganza. There are ruminations on the changes in our nation’s capital since the Reagan years, presidential portraits and Korean water heaters. (Yeah, Korean water heaters.) Meanwhile, Peter attempts a variety of new... Source

This week, we go deep on North Korea with AEI’s Nicholas Eberstadt and Salena Zito tells us not to break out the surf boards quite yet — that blue wave may not be so big after all. Also, Rudy can’t fail and Peter Robinson gets schooled on Kanye. Yo. Music from this week’s podcast: Rudi Can’t Fail by The Clash... Source

This week, it’s our good pal Jonah Goldberg for the full hour to talk about his new book, Suicide of the West: How the Rebirth of Tribalism, Populism, Nationalism, and Identity Politics is Destroying American Democracy (yes, you MUST buy it!). We delve into the book’s argument, the lineage of the title, and what can be done in terms of suicide prevention. It’s a fantastic conversation. Also... Source

This week on the Big Show®, we’ve got former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul (pre-order his new book From Cold War to Hot Peace: An American Ambassador in Putin’s Russia) on the new warming relations with North Korea, what to do about Syria, and yes, that pesky President Putin. Then Commentary’s associate editor Noah Rothman (yes, he’s one of the stars of the world famous Commentary... Source

This week, two terrific reporters join us from their beats: first up, Salena Zito., National Political Reporter for The Washington Examiner (and author of the forthcoming book The Great Revolt: Inside the Populist Coalition Reshaping American Politics) as well as an expert on the denizens of Trump country. Then, Debra Saunders, the White House Correspondent of the Las Vegas Review-Journal gives us... Source

A few times a year, we forgo the guests and open the floor to you, our faithful members to ask us anything. Also, some thoughts on the firing of Kevin Williamson and announcing our live podcast event in Washington DC on May 10th and 11th! Music from this week’s episode: Bad Blood by Taylor Swift... Source

In this bonus episode, Ricochet founder Rob Long leads a discussion between Ann Coulter and Mickey Kaus hosted by the Columbia University College Republicans. The event took place on March 27, 2018. Listener beware: There’s some explicit language. Source

This week, we are very media centric: first, a few thoughts about the Ingraham-Hogg contretemps, then a deep dive into the Rosesanne phenomenon with noted TV expert Rob Long. After that, it’s out good pal Robert Costa, national political correspondent for The Washington Post and inexplicably a Phish fan (but we still love him). Finally, Niall Ferguson, the Hoover Senior Fellow and the author of... Source

First, apologies to all of our faithful listeners for being 24 hours late with this edition of the Ricochet Podcast — we were felled by technical issues yesterday with the first half of the show. But this one is worth the wait: first, Original Cast Member Rob Long is back from making TV great again and has been seated in his rightful place in the host chair (from Miami Beach, no less). Then... Source

This week — UNICORNS. Well, James mentions one. Also, the great Kori Schake on how we ought to deal with North Korea. Republican Congressional candidate in California’s 52nd District Michael Allman on using software to figure out what constituents want, some thoughts on Think Tank personnel changes, and a Ricochet Podcast host joins the Trump administration (no, Rob Long has not become Secretary... Source

This week, we span the human entire life span: first up, 16 year old Marjory Stoneman High School junior and 2nd Amendment advocate Kyle Kushuv. Young Kyle has had a busy week, meeting with Senators, the President, the First Lady and others. We’re grateful he had a few minutes for us (thanks to Bethany Mandel for the help in booking him!). Next up, the éminence grise himself, the legendary... Source

For this (very) rare Sunday Ricochet Podcast, we’ve assembled our original cast as Rob Long, Peter Robinson, and James Lileks gather ’round their respective audio capture devices to chat about current events. Also stopping by, That Sethany Show hosts Seth and Bethany Mandel (the latter is of course also a Ricochet Editor and a member of The LadyBrains Podcast). Guns and due process, trade tariffs... Source

This week, we mix it up across a wide variety of views with guests from all over the right side of the ideological map. First up, AEI’s Christina Hoff Sommers, author of The War Against Boys: How Misguided Policies are Harming Our Young Men. She wrote a Tweet this past week that set social media on fire. So we talk about that. Then, the main event: Charlie Sykes is a longtime time talk radio host... Source

Who doesn’t love a parade? Certainly not us. We also love a rising market, good explanations of complicated investigations, and clear and concise commentary on the economy. That’s why we invited Andrew McCarthy and Larry Kudlow on this week’s show. They ably guide us through both issues with clarity, good humor, and yes, a bit of scolding. Also, a Minnesotan’s view of the Super Bowl and more about... Source

First, let it be known that we recorded this podcast before The Memo® was released. We’ll dissect that (assuming there’s anything left to dissect) on next week’s show. Instead, we’ve got the great Bari Weiss from the New York Times to discuss the shaming of Nikki Haley, Aziz Ansari, and other cultural touchstones. Then, our old friend and consummate insider Haley Barbour talks immigration... Source

This week, football, firings (real and alleged), and free trade. First up, the great Victor Davis Hanson, who’s National Review cover story is a balanced look at the pluses and minuses of Trump’s first year. After that, Philadelphia Eagles fan John Yoo (OK, he’s a law professor too) takes us through all the machinations, schemes, and strategies in the seemingly never-ending Mueller investigation. Source

This is a special announcement on behalf of our friends at Wondery podcast network. Introducing their new “American History Tellers” podcast: Every part of your life can be traced to our shared history, but how well do you know the real stories of our nation? American History Tellers takes you to the events, times, and the people that shaped America and Americans, and they’ll show you how American... Source

We’ve got the great Shelby Steele on the podcast this week (read him fantastic WSJ column Black Protest Has Lost Its Power) to discuss the NFL and (the lack of) racism in the culture. Then, the indispensable Jim Geraghty guides us through the politics of shut down. Finally, finally, a real sports discussion: Vikings fan boy James Lileks on his home town team. Music from this week’s episode: Shut... Source

Yes, we discuss that phrase, but no, we don’t say the word. Instead, we do a deep dive on immigration with two of the sharpest minds on the issue: the Center for Immigration Studies’s Mark Krikorian and our good pal Mickey Kaus. Dig in. Music from this week’s podcast: Dreamer by Super Tramp... Source

First podcast of 2018 so we wanted to out our best foot forward. We’ve got Commentary’s Sohrab Ahmari on Iran and The Washington Examiner’s Byron York on The Book, collusion, and Congress. Buckle up, it’s going to be a bumpy year. Music from this week’s show: Everyday I Write The Book by Elvis Costello... Source

This is it. folks — our very last show of 2017. To help us take a look back, we’ve enlisted NewsMax CEO (and Trump confidant) Chris Ruddy who give us the inside Mar-A-Lago POV. Also, we tackle the following questions in this show (h/t: The Commentary Podcast): The best thing Trump did in 2017 The worst thing Trump did in 2017 What you thought would happen in 2017 that didn’t happen? Source

This week, Powerline’s (and Berkeley’s!) Steve Hayward sits in and we anoint Roy Moore as a loser, Al Franken as a memory, and discuss with Ricochet alumni Claire Berlinski her fantastic and now famous piece The Warlock Hunt. Also, what exactly is Mueller mulling? And our guys pick their favorite movies of 2017. Music from this week’s episode: Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? Source

This week, a run through Jerusalem with the Washington Free Beacon’s Matt Continetti and then back home to Alabama guided by the Wall Street Journal’s Bill McGurn. Also, Lileks on Franken and what’s next for Minnesota, Peter Robinson goes for a ride on the Orient Express, and what do they call a Quarter Pounder on Vulcan? Tune in to find out. Music from this week’s episode: One Never Knows... Source

This week, a Minnesotan’s view on Franken and Keillor, we get handsy with our old pal David Limbaugh (would he vote for Roy Moore — tune it to find out), and a chat with an actual southerner about the south (that’s Weekly Standard writer Barton Swaim). Also, a bit about Flynn, and some turkey and tax talk. Music from this week’s episode: Stars Fell On Alabama by Ella Fitzgerald & Source

We were going to take this week off, but then we decided why not gather a couple of hosts (that’d be Rob Long and James Lileks) and let them just riff on the events of the day and other topics, freeform for an hour or so. So that’s exactly what we did. Enjoy it! Music from this week’s podcast: Black Friday by Steely Dan... Source

As more (Moore?) sexual harassment revelations (the Al Franken story was breaking as we were recording this show) appear, we thought it might be good to take a breather and visit (by phone) our old friend and ardent Ricochet fan, Purdue University President Mitch Daniels. We talk about the state of higher education, what he’s doing at Purdue to combat student debt, and the place of academic... Source

This week, it’s the sexiest Ricochet Podcast in memory as we parse the continuing harassment revelations, and the troubling and bizarre saga of Judge Roy Moore. But before we get to that, former New York Congressman Chris Gibson stops by to talk about his book Rally Point: Five Tasks to Unite the Country and Revitalize the American Dream and his views on uniting the country and revitalizing the... Source

This week, noted author Rob Long (come on, buy his book!) is back on the big show, so we booked a guest he’d have a lot to chat about with, California Congressman Devin Nunes. We talk collusion, Russia, Mueller, all the good stuff. Also, Bush the elder says the President “is a blowhard,” are entitlements bad for the nation’s health?, and Steve Martin’s King Tut is racist. Well, at least at Reed... Source

“It’s time for the Ricochet Poooodcaaaast!” If only we had Vin Scully to announce that the epic way he did earlier this week at Game 2 of The World Series. But this podcast ain’t too shabby either: leading off we’ve got the great Mollie Hemingway on that whole dossier controversy and batting cleanup, it’s power-hitter Pat Sajak on the greatest game, this series, and why baseball will always be the... Source

It’s relatively rare to put out a Ricochet Podcast with only one guest, but when that guest is Victor Davis Hanson, well that’s all you need. First, we do a deep dive on Victor’s new must-read book The Second World Wars: How the First Global Conflict Was Fought and Won, a definitive history of WWII. Then, a bit of talk about current events, including North Korea. Go get your thinking cap out of... Source

It’s been a bad week for Hollywood’s grasp on moral authority. First, Harvey Weinstein is fired for transgressions going back decades, and then some guy from Amazon gets fired for basically the same thing. To help guide us through the moral minefield, we call up New York Times columns extraordinaire Ross Douthat. We also talk Hefner and that pesky 25th Amendment. Then, Christopher Scalia... Source

This week, Jon Gabriel captains the good ship Ricochet in place of James Lileks and podcast amigo Andrew Klavan is in the Long Chair® this week. Our guests are Charles C.W. Cooke, the foremost authority on firearms (also roller coasters, but that’s for another show). Then, TV’s and noted Trump supporter Rob Long stops by to plug his new book Bigly: Donald Trump in Verse. Also... Source

This week, we call of a couple of our most popular podcasters to help us parse the week’s events: Michael Graham, the Boston based host of or daily podcast Michael in the Morning sits in for Peter Robinson, while Michael Stopa from the Harvard Lunch Club podcast stops by to talk about how the President is doing so far (and yes, he and Rob Long get into another one of their epic rap battles). Then... Source

This week, we’ve got Powerline’s John Hinderaker in the Long Chair®, John Yoo protecting us from sentient robots (read his new book Striking Power: How Cyber, Robots, and Space Weapons Change the Rules for War ), and the Hoover Institution’s Kori Schake with some thoughts on how to take down Rocket Man. Also, Minnesota statues and other assorted ephemera. Music from this week’s podcast: Rocket Man... Source

This week, Larry Kudlow sits in the Long Chair ® as the President and his new BFF’s Chuck and Nancy strike a deal over dinner, Heritage’s Steve Moore on the administration’s tax plan and Tevi Troy on how the President did on Storm Watch ’17. Music from this week’s podcast: The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead by XTC You’re a good egg... Source

Whenever immigration rises to the top of the national agenda, we like to call on the best guys we know on the topic, Mickey Kaus and Mark Krikorian. We do a deep dive into the Dreamers, DACA, and The Wall. Also, that deal with Chuck and Nancy, Rob defends Betsy DeVos, and James remembers a dog named Scout. Music from this week’s podcast: Bodhisattva by Steely Dan... Source

Ricochet Founders® Peter Robinson and Rob Long take your questions (after they chat about current events for a few minutes). Thanks to everyone who chimed in with the great queries. We’ll do this again in a few months. Happy end of summer! Music from this week’s podcast: I’m Still Here by Follies (New Broadway Cast Recording) Yes, you should absolutely subscribe to this podcast. It helps! Source

This week, a special edition of the Ricochet Podcast. Peter Robinson and Rob Long (Lileks is cruising the Atlantic) are joined by The Weekly Standard’s Andrew Ferguson and the great P.J. O’Rourke. You’ll definitely want to check out P.J.’s new venture AmercianConsequences.com. As you would expect, this show a wide ranging ramble through the culture, but past and present, including but no limited... Source

Another busy week and to help us parse it, we enlist Ricochet Editor @jongabriel (not a member? Join Ricochet using the new ExJon leve1!) and guests Victor Davis Hanson and The Federalist’s Ben Domenech. We cover everything: the protests, the statues, and the firings. Listen! Music from this week’s podcast: The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down by The Band (from The Last Waltz) The all new opening... Source

In our continuing effort to bring as much ideological balance to the flagship podcast, today we bring you Bill Bennett, host of The Bill Bennett Show (conveniently available right on this site) sitting in the Long Chair®. You’d think that would be enough, that we wouldn’t need to go even further in our quest to feature all sides of the movement. But no! We go even further with this week’s guest... Source

This week, our good pal Larry Kudlow sits in for the making-tv-great-again Rob Long. We’ve also got Henry Olsen, author of The Working Class Republican: Ronald Reagan and the Return of Blue-Collar Conservatism who tell us what why Reagan’s greatest influence may have been Franklin Roosevelt, how The Great Communicator would’ve come down on the health care debate, and supposes who would have won in... Source

This week, we take something of a break from the rough and tumble of the news cycle and spend an hour chatting with our old friend, the great Harry Shearer (hit this link if you are one of the few unfamiliar with his work). We stalk some politics, we talk some media, we talk about Nixon (you must see Harry’s one man show Nixon’s The One immediately), we talk about comedy. Oh, just listen. Source

The President is on the record, the WSJ’s Bill McGurn talks about Charlie Gard, The Washington Post’s Bob Costa on the mood in DC, @Lileks ponders Russian history, Long wonders who’s going to get fired, and Robinson has one last question. Or three. Music from this week’s podcast: Charlie Don’t Surf by The Clash The all new opening sequence for the Ricochet Podcast was composed and produced by... Source

On the Ricochet Podcast, we go to great lengths to provide breadth and depth in covering the news of the day. Where else can you hear incisive legal analysis from John Yoo and great social commentary and levity from Pat Sajak? Nowhere else, that’s for sure. We give some free legal advice to those in need, talk about walls (those that were torn down and those yet to be built)... Source

We were going to take this week off, but the opportunity to do a special holiday weekend edition of the Ricochet Podcast with just The Founders *and James Lileks, of course) proved to be too tempting. The guys talk about Presidential tweets, what to do about health care, what they like to do on the 4th, and life in the ten years since the iPhone debuted. Enjoy the weekend, everyone. Source

Summer’s here and that means vacations and that means….guest hosts! Today, Peter Robinson teams up with our podcasting colleagues at The Weekly Standard, Steve Hayes and Fred Barnes. They talk about Georgia’s 6th district race, and of course the new health care bill now in front of the Senate. On the topic, we call on the most knowledgeable person we know on health care law, Avik Roy. Also... Source

Another busy week with much to talk about and to help out we’ve got (along with @jongabriel sitting in for Rob Long) the great Yuval Levin and Adam Carolla. Yuval schools us on the rumors that the President will fire Robert Mueller and the black box that is the Congressional Budget Office, and Adam stops by to talk about his upcoming film the Dennis Prager ( they’re raising money to underwrite it... Source

Long Parkcasting We’re all over the globe physically and all over the map topically this week as we cover the British elections with our guests Toby Young from The Spectator (read his take on the election here) and we’ve got the great Andrew McCarthy on Comey, the NSA, and Trump’s legal conundrums. Also, Rob is in a park in London. Yes, in a park. Now, that’s devotion. Music from this week’s... Source

The hard thing about producing a weekly podcast is coming up with relevant topics to talk about. Nothing ever happens in this boring administration we’ve elected. Yawn. This week, we’ve got Pat Buchanan (you must buy his new book Nixon’s White House Wars: The Battles That Made and Broke a President and Divided America Forever) who weighs in on those endless Nixon/Trump comparisons... Source

Bodyslamming, Trump in Europe, the great Mollie Hemingway (you are hereby ordered to buy her new Encounter Broadside Trump vs. The Media right now), the lies we tell ourselves about terrorism (thanks John Kluge), and Peter Robinson once hung out with Roger Moore. No, we didn’t know that either. Happy summer, everyone. Music from this week’s podcast: Nobody Does It Better (The Spy Who Loved Me) by... Source