Classicist

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The Classicist is the weekly podcast of Victor Davis Hanson, scholar, writer, farmer. Tune in each week to hear VDH's unique perspective on the issues of the day.

Hoover Institution


    • May 28, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 22m AVG DURATION
    • 163 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Classicist

    E228. VDH Q&A

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2021 56:28


    On this, the final episode of The Classicist Podcast, Victor Davis Hansons answers listener questions on everything from farming to war movies to which books he’s always wanted to write but never gotten around to. Tune in for a jam-packed episode featuring VDH like you’ve never heard him before. It has been an honor to carry this show since its inception 6 years ago, and we are sorry to see it go, but excited for Victor to explore news ways to get his thoughts out to a new audience. Victor will still make appearances on our other shows and we even start a new show with him in the future. Until then, we wish him much success in his new venture.

    E227. The Israelis, the Palestinians, and the Future of the Middle East

    Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2021 26:14


    Victor Davis Hanson analyzes the recent conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians, how it reflects on the foreign policy of the Biden Administration, and what the consequences may be for the future of the Middle East.

    California, at Dusk

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2021 36:53


    Victor Davis Hanson analyzes the decline of California — and a few hopeful signs that it may not be permanent.

    E225. What Killed Higher Education?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2021 43:25


    Victor Davis Hanson explains how today’s campus radicalism is different to that of the 1960s, analyzes the factor that led to higher education’s decline, and provides a blueprint for what a more enlightened university might look like.

    The Woke Breaking Point

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2021 40:19


    Amidst woke ideology’s takeover of elite institutions, a hopeful sign is emerging: a counterrevolutionary backlash amongst the American people.

    How Much More Can America Take?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2021 43:01


    Victor Davis Hanson analyzes the decay of America institutions — from politics and education to the military and law enforcement — and asks “at one point does America hit it’s breaking point”

    222. Will the Great Awokening Succeed?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2021 44:25


    Victor Davis Hanson examines how ’The Great Awokening’ has morphed from a boutique obsession into a society-wide attack on meritocracy … and considers whether that is setting the state got a brutal backlash.

    221. Failures at Home, Dangers Abroad

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2021 38:26


    In a wide-ranging conversation that covers voting rights, COVID, Immigration, foreign policy, and debt, Victor Davis Hanson looks at the perilous consequences of the Biden Administration.

    220. Racism By Any Other Name

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2021 47:21


    Victor Davis Hanson examines the dramatic change in elite racial attitudes in recent years and issues a stern warning: there’s never been a bigger threat to America’s ability to hold together as a successful multiethnic society.

    218. Collision Course with China?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2021 42:41


    In the wake of the Biden Administration’s diplomatic fiasco with Beijing, Victor Davis Hanson looks at the trajectory of Chinese ambitions, the elements necessary for America to face down the threat, and what the future may hold if the tensions boil over into conflict.

    218. Print the Legend

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2021 38:55


    Victor Davis Hanson looks at how many of the most important stories of the last several years — from the Russian collusion charges to the COVID epidemic to the Capital riot to the Biden Administration’s handling of immigration — have been distorted by progressives in government and media until the public can barely decipher the […]

    217. Post-Trump or Trump Redux?: The Future of the GOP

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2021 34:13


    Victor Davis Hanson considers the Republican Party’s future as it deals with the long shadow cast by the presidency of Donald Trump. Should the GOP embrace a Trump comeback? Or should it attempt to find a new standard-bearer who can blend the Trump agenda with a different sensibility? And what’s the one issue to which […]

    216. War and Peace — From Thucydides to Joe Biden

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 4, 2021 31:08


    Victor Davis Hanson explores how military history can illuminate current foreign policy challenges, delineates which nations pose the greatest threats to the United States, explores the role that human rights should play in international affairs, looks at the changing shape of America’s alliances, and provides a reading list for future commanders-in-chief.

    215. Remembering Rush

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 18, 2021 46:37


    Victor Davis Hanson diagnoses the biggest challenges facing America in the years ahead, from debt to immigration to Chinese aggression — and pauses for a special remembrance of his friend Rush Limbaugh.

    214. The Lidless Eye: How Progressivism Conquered American Institutions

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 11, 2021 44:26


    In a sweeping new installment of The Classicist, Victor Davis Hanson looks at how the Left has moved from a countercultural movement in the 1960s to the commanding heights of American culture in the 2020s.

    213. Understanding Progressive Illiberalism

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2021 37:30


    Victor Davis Hanson examines how progressivism has captured American institutions: everything from higher education to high finance, from tech to sports. Along the way, he explains what progressives’ cultural ascendance has revealed about their ideology, predicts what it means for the Right, and analyzes whether a backlash is imminent.

    212. The 1776 Commission and the Relearning of American History

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2021 40:06


    Victor Davis Hanson explains the work of President Trump’s 1776 Commission (a body on which he served), describes the decline of history as an academic discipline, and explains why humility is an essential ingredient when judging figures from the past.

    The Unity Presidency Gets Divisive

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2021 38:17


    Victor Davis Hanson analyzes how Joe Biden’s early policy moves contrast with his campaign-trail rhetoric, reflects on the last days of Donald Trump, and explains how a fractured Republican Party can move forward.

    137. Trump AgonistesTrump Agonistes

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2021 36:51


    As the president spends his final days in office embattled, progressives in Congress, Silicon Valley, and the incoming administration seize on the opportunity to mount new offensives against the Right. Will conservative populism survive the onslaught? Victor Davis Hanson explores that question and others in the newest installment of The Classicist.Sponsored by Helix Sleep Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/the-classicist/trump-agonistestrump-agonistes/.Now become a Ricochet member for only $5.00 a month! Join and see what you’ve been missing: https://ricochet.com/membership/.Subscribe to The Classicist with Victor Davis Hanson in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

    An Exhausted Civilization

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 7, 2021 36:37


    Victor Davis Hanson examines the confluence of trends — a contempt for American history; the decline of the rule of law; the intellectual rot of the academy; the rise of ingratitude and cultural contempt — that are weakening the foundations of American society.Sponsored by BetterHelp Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/the-classicist/an-exhausted-civilization/.Now become a Ricochet member for only $5.00 a month! Join and see what you’ve been missing: https://ricochet.com/membership/.Subscribe to The Classicist with Victor Davis Hanson in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

    Special Episode: Chaos at the Capitol

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 6, 2021 15:29


    In a Classicist first, Victor Davis Hanson reacts in real time to an outbreak of mob violence at the U.S. Capitol. Professor Hanson calls for peace, encourages President Trump to cool the passions of his followers, and provides advice to president-elect Biden on how to lower the country’s temperature.Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/the-classicist/special-episode-chaos-at-the-capitol/.Now become a Ricochet member for only $5.00 a month! Join and see what you’ve been missing: https://ricochet.com/membership/.Subscribe to The Classicist with Victor Davis Hanson in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

    207. The Scars of 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2020


    In the final Classicist of the year, Victor Davis Hanson takes a look back at the intellectual and political trends that defined 2020 — and predicts what they mean for the year to come.Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/the-classicist/the-scars-of-2020/.Now become a Ricochet member for only $5.00 a month! Join and see what you’ve been missing: https://ricochet.com/membership/.Subscribe to The Classicist with Victor Davis Hanson in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

    The Scars of 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2020 23:43


    In the final Classicist of the year, Victor Davis Hanson takes a look back at the intellectual and political trends that defined 2020 — and predicts what they mean for the year to come.

    206. The Case for a Cynical Biden Foreign Policy

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2020


    Victor Davis Hanson describes the foreign policy challenges facing the incoming Biden Administration, analyzes the makeup of the incoming national security team, and prescribes a formula for the new president’s success in international affairs: change the rhetoric, not the policies.Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/the-classicist/the-case-for-a-cynical-biden-foreign-policy/.Now become a Ricochet member for only $5.00 a month! Join and see what you’ve been missing: https://ricochet.com/membership/.Subscribe to The Classicist with Victor Davis Hanson in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

    The Case for a Cynical Biden Foreign Policy

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2020 19:34


    Victor Davis Hanson describes the foreign policy challenges facing the incoming Biden Administration, analyzes the makeup of the incoming national security team, and prescribes a formula for the new president’s success in international affairs: change the rhetoric, not the policies.

    205. History and the Tragic Hero

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2020


    Victor Davis Hanson explains the concept of the “tragic hero” — a figure both uniquely suited to address the issues of his time but destined to be reviled — and explains why the label may apply to Donald Trump.Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/the-classicist/history-and-the-tragic-hero/.Now become a Ricochet member for only $5.00 a month! Join and see what you’ve been missing: https://ricochet.com/membership/.Subscribe to The Classicist with Victor Davis Hanson in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

    History and the Tragic Hero

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2020 22:48


    Victor Davis Hanson explains the concept of the “tragic hero” — a figure both uniquely suited to address the issues of his time but destined to be reviled — and explains why the label may apply to Donald Trump.

    204. The Election and its Aftermath

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2020


    Victor Davis Hanson looks at Donald Trump’s transformation of the Republican Party, the shifting of the conservative coalition, the implications of sharply divided federal government, and the foreign policy challenges ahead.Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/the-classicist/the-election-and-its-aftermath/.Now become a Ricochet member for only $5.00 a month! Join and see what you’ve been missing: https://ricochet.com/membership/.Subscribe to The Classicist with Victor Davis Hanson in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

    The Election and its Aftermath

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2020 18:41


    Victor Davis Hanson looks at Donald Trump’s transformation of the Republican Party, the shifting of the conservative coalition, the implications of sharply divided federal government, and the foreign policy challenges ahead.

    203. Trump and the Future of the GOP

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2020


    Victor Davis Hanson describes the transformative effect Donald Trump has had on the Republican Party — and explains how it will shape the party in the years to come, regardless of the outcome of the 2020 election.Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/the-classicist/trump-and-the-future-of-the-gop/.Now become a Ricochet member for only $5.00 a month! Join and see what you’ve been missing: https://ricochet.com/membership/.Subscribe to The Classicist with Victor Davis Hanson in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

    Trump and the Future of the GOP

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2020 24:17


    Victor Davis Hanson describes the transformative effect Donald Trump has had on the Republican Party — and explains how it will shape the party in the years to come, regardless of the outcome of the 2020 election.

    202. One Last Debate

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2020


    Victor Davis Hanson examines the strategic mistakes made by President Trump in the first debate, gives pre-debate pointers on how the candidates should handle their final confrontation, and considers whether presidential debates have outlived their usefulness.Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/the-classicist/one-last-debate/.Now become a Ricochet member for only $5.00 a month! Join and see what you’ve been missing: https://ricochet.com/membership/.Subscribe to The Classicist with Victor Davis Hanson in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

    One Last Debate

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2020 18:30


    Victor Davis Hanson examines the strategic mistakes made by President Trump in the first debate, gives pre-debate pointers on how the candidates should handle their final confrontation, and considers whether presidential debates have outlived their usefulness.

    201. A Debate Like No Other

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2020


    Victor Davis Hanson analyzes the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, explains why Biden’s positions have become hard to pin down for the first time in nearly 50 years, and looks at what the differences between the candidates might mean for the future of American foreign policy.Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/the-classicist/a-debate-like-no-other/.Now become a Ricochet member for only $5.00 a month! Join and see what you’ve been missing: https://ricochet.com/membership/.Subscribe to The Classicist with Victor Davis Hanson in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

    A Debate Like No Other

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2020 19:41


    Victor Davis Hanson analyzes the first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden, explains why Biden’s positions have become hard to pin down for the first time in nearly 50 years, and looks at what the differences between the candidates might mean for the future of American foreign policy.

    200. The Embers of California

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2020


    Victor Davis Hanson describes the myriad dysfunctions besetting state government in California, a state once known as a national pacesetter.Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/the-classicist/the-embers-of-california/.Now become a Ricochet member for only $5.00 a month! Join and see what you’ve been missing: https://ricochet.com/membership/.Subscribe to The Classicist with Victor Davis Hanson in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

    The Embers of California

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 23, 2020 26:49


    Victor Davis Hanson describes the myriad dysfunctions besetting state government in California, a state once known as a national pacesetter.

    199. Descent into Tribalism

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2020


    Victor Davis Hanson explains how the social unrest unleashed in 2020 threatens urban decline, increasing political animosity, and the erosion of Americans’ common identity.Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/the-classicist/descent-into-tribalism/.Now become a Ricochet member for only $5.00 a month! Join and see what you’ve been missing: https://ricochet.com/membership/.Subscribe to The Classicist with Victor Davis Hanson in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

    Descent into Tribalism

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2020 27:17


    Victor Davis Hanson explains how the social unrest unleashed in 2020 threatens urban decline, increasing political animosity, and the erosion of Americans’ common identity.

    198. World War II at 75

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2020


    On the 75th anniversary of World War II’s conclusion, Victor Davis Hanson looks at how the war continues to shape international affairs, and points listeners towards some of the war’s underappreciated figures.Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/the-classicist/world-war-ii-at-75/.Now become a Ricochet member for only $5.00 a month! Join and see what you’ve been missing: https://ricochet.com/membership/.Subscribe to The Classicist with Victor Davis Hanson in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

    World War II at 75

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2020 22:08


    On the 75th anniversary of World War II’s conclusion, Victor Davis Hanson looks at how the war continues to shape international affairs, and points listeners towards some of the war’s underappreciated figures.

    Trump’s Jacksonian Realism

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2020


    Victor Davis Hanson explains the philosophical underpinnings of the Trump Administration’s foreign policy — and explains how it’s affected America’s relationships with China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea.Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/the-classicist/trumps-jacksonian-realism/.Now become a Ricochet member for only $5.00 a month! Join and see what you’ve been missing: https://ricochet.com/membership/.Subscribe to The Classicist with Victor Davis Hanson in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

    Trump’s Jacksonian Realism

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2020 21:35


    Victor Davis Hanson explains the philosophical underpinnings of the Trump Administration’s foreign policy — and explains how it’s affected America’s relationships with China, Iran, Russia, and North Korea.

    Woke Privilege

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2020 21:51


    Victor Davis Hanson describes how professional athletes and franchise owners have embraced the language of revolution while getting rich off of the status quo.

    Woke Privilege

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2020


    Victor Davis Hanson describes how professional athletes and franchise owners have embraced the language of revolution while getting rich off of the status quo.Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/the-classicist/woke-privilege/.Now become a Ricochet member for only $5.00 a month! Join and see what you’ve been missing: https://ricochet.com/membership/.Subscribe to The Classicist with Victor Davis Hanson in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

    A Winning Agenda for 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2020 23:14


    Victor Davis Hanson proposes a policy agenda — and a strategic posture — for the Trump campaign to take up in the presidential election.

    A Winning Agenda for 2020

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2020


    Victor Davis Hanson proposes a policy agenda — and a strategic posture — for the Trump campaign to take up in the presidential election.Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/the-classicist/a-winning-agenda-for-2020/.Now become a Ricochet member for only $5.00 a month! Join and see what you’ve been missing: https://ricochet.com/membership/.Subscribe to The Classicist with Victor Davis Hanson in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

    Radical Chic and its Terrified Enablers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2020 26:55


    What will bring the wave of radical protests and cancel culture to an end? It would help if the leadership of America’s elite institutions grew a backbone.

    Radical Chic and Its Terrified Enablers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2020


    What will bring the wave of radical protests and cancel culture to an end? It would help if the leadership of America’s elite institutions grew a backbone.Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/the-classicist/radical-chic-and-its-terrified-enablers/.Now become a Ricochet member for only $5.00 a month! Join and see what you’ve been missing: https://ricochet.com/membership/.Subscribe to The Classicist with Victor Davis Hanson in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

    Triumph of the Country Mouse

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2020 27:07


    Victor Davis Hanson explores the historical, political, and economic aspects of the rural-urban divide — and its implications for American culture.

    Triumph of the Country Mouse

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2020


    Victor Davis Hanson explores the historical, political, and economic aspects of the rural-urban divide — and its implications for American culture.Join the conversation and comment on this podcast episode: https://ricochet.com/podcast/the-classicist/triumph-of-the-country-mouse/.Now become a Ricochet member for only $5.00 a month! Join and see what you’ve been missing: https://ricochet.com/membership/.Subscribe to The Classicist with Victor Davis Hanson in Apple Podcasts (and leave a 5-star review, please!), or by RSS feed. For all our podcasts in one place, subscribe to the Ricochet Audio Network Superfeed in Apple Podcasts or by RSS feed.

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