The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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? 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