Podcasts about wwi

Brad Zerbo presents his 2020 documentary on Edward Bernays, the nephew of Sigmund Freud and the architect of modern propaganda. The episode traces Bernays' influence on everything from breakfast culture to political manipulation, showing how his tactics, like using trusted professionals to sell ideas, still shape society today. Viewers learn how Bernays applied group psychology, staged public spectacles, and even advised U.S. presidents to sway public opinion, including his role on Woodrow Wilson's Committee on Public Information during WWI. Brad connects these historical strategies to present-day media manipulation, political division, and social engineering, arguing that understanding Bernays' blueprint is key to dismantling the propaganda machine controlling public perception.

Send us a textPeaches kicks off this drop swinging at everything from the chaos in D.C. to the ridiculous idea that military academies ever needed race-based admissions. National Guard troops are back in the capital because apparently it's become Mad Max with monuments. Cyber interns get a salute for their terrifyingly cool hacking skills, a World War I badass gets long-overdue recognition, and Space Force is about to light off the Vulcan rocket like it's the Fourth of July. There's also some sharp-shooting at West Point, desert fun with the Marines, and a not-so-subtle reminder that your enemy doesn't give a damn about your DEI training—they just want you dead. Strap in.

Starbucks in South Korea asks customers to stop bringing desktop computers and printers to the cafe. French man arrested after lighting a cigarette off the flame of a WWI memorial. Woman gets engaged to an AI chatbot after dating for five months. // Weird AF News is the only daily weird news podcast in the world. Weird news 5 days/week and on Friday it's only Floridaman. SUPPORT by joining the Weird AF News Patreon http://patreon.com/weirdafnews - OR buy Jonesy a coffee at http://buymeacoffee.com/funnyjones Buy MERCH: https://weirdafnews.merchmake.com/ - Check out the official website https://WeirdAFnews.com and FOLLOW host Jonesy at http://instagram.com/funnyjones

Ellen Adair and Eric Gilde discuss the 1952 Grover Cleveland Alexander biopic, "The Winning Team." They introduce the film (1:36), with an overview of the story, the cast, and filmmakers, and review the 20-80 baseball scouting grades for rating the film (7:00). Amount of Baseball (11:53) reveals a new take on this tool from Eric. Ellen has a player comp. Neither scout can refrain from getting into Baseball Accuracy in this category, but when it finally does come around, Baseball Accuracy (17:35) is a doozy. They discuss Alexander's Hall of Fame plaque, his nicknames (Alex, Pete, Dode, and later "Down and Away Alexander") Bill Killefer and David Ross comps, Galesburg team accuracy, old timey team names, and geography issues. How long was Alexander knocked out? When was he sold to the Phillies? Unsurprisingly, Ellen looks at how bad the Phillies usually were in the first half of the 20th century. They also discuss Eddie Plank, Eddie Collins, Rogers Hornsby, Alexander in WWI, his drinking, tragic Christy Mathewson inaccuracy, and the complete mess of the timeline of Alexander's career, as depicted. Oh, and the relationship with Aimee is a complete fabrication. Some accuracy issues with the 1926 World Series, and the famed Lazzeri at bat. Storytelling (53:47) essentially considers the following question: is this the worst thing that these scouts have ever seen? Ellen has some theories about some of the reasons it's bad, which only serve to make it worse.  Score (1:16:51) is a relief, by comparison.  Acting (1:17:14) considers various insufferable and unbelievable moments from Ronald Reagan, Doris Day, Gordon Jones, and others. How did Ronald Reagan become President? In Delightfulness of Catcher (1:26:32), Bill Killefer and James Millican do fine. Brief mention of catcher archetypes in "Game of Thrones." Delightfulness of Announcer (1:31:31) discusses whether the World Series announcer was a secret producer of the film, how many times he blinks, and why these scouts are obsessed. In Lack of Misogyny (1:37:17), they discuss some early Aimee story points and the general pre-feminism of the film. No spoilers on the following segments: Yes or No (1:43:11), Six Degrees of Baseball (1:47:17), Favorite Moment (1:47:46) Least Favorite Moment (1:49:28), Scene We Would Have Liked to See (1:50:27), Dreamiest Player (1:51:48), Favorite Performance (1:52:13), and Next Time (1:54:30). Join Our Discord & Support The Show: PL+ | PL Pro - Get 15% off Yearly with code PODCASTProud member of the Pitcher List Fantasy Baseball Podcast Network

For this round of Paramount 1932, we watched our first Marx Brothers movie for the podcast (hard as that is to believe), Horse Feathers (directed by Norman Z. MacLeod), alongside Ernst Lubitsch's only sound-era drama, Broken Lullaby. Lubitsch's batshit WWI melodrama, bursting with intensity and unease, claims our attention first, and then we turn to the detached anarchy of the Marx Brothers. Elise probes Dave's obsession with their antics and offers her outsider's take on the poetics of their personas for his contemplation.  Time Codes: 0h 00m 25s:      Paramount and 1932 0h 08m 41s:      THE MAN I KILLED aka BROKEN LULLABY [dir. Ernst Lubitsch) 0h 41m 01s:      HORSE FEATHERS [dir. Norman Z. McLeod]   Studio Film Capsules provided by The Paramount Story by John Douglas Eames Additional studio information from: The Hollywood Story by Joel W. Finler 1932 Information from Forgotten Films to Remember by John Springer                                 +++ * Marvel at our meticulously ridiculous Complete Viewing Schedule for the 2020s * Intro Song: “Sunday” by Jean Goldkette Orchestra with the Keller Sisters (courtesy of The Internet Archive) * Read Elise's latest film piece on Preston Sturges, Unfaithfully Yours, and the Narrative role of comedic scapegoating. * Check out Dave's new Robert Benchley blog – an attempt to annotate and reflect upon as many of the master humorist's 2000+ pieces as he can locate – Benchley Data: A Wayward Annotation Project!  Follow us on Twitter at @therebuggy Write to us at therebuggy@gmail.com   We now have a Discord server - just drop us a line if you'd like to join! 

August 7, 2025 | Resizing Gov; Putin/Trump; Tariffs; Jones Act; mRNA; Satellites; Gaza | Yaron Brook ShowFrom shrinking government to the Putin–Trump power game, Yaron takes on tariffs, the Jones Act, mRNA breakthroughs, satellites, Gaza, and Hezbollah. No spin—just hard truths about economics, foreign policy, and freedom.Live Q&A: Revolutionary spirit vs. today's complacency, falling TV prices vs. rising college costs, Gaza's “starvation” claims, school choice ethics, moral judgment, Israel's PR problem, animal rights, Trump's tariffs myth, WWI, socialism's war on the family, and more.Key Time Stamps:02:15 Resizing Gov17:50 Putin/Trump30:15 Tariffs49:05 Jones Act1:01:40 mRNA1:08:40 Satellites1:11:20 Gaza1:19:55 Hezbollah1:27:00 Putin/TrumpLive Questions:1:28:49  Did early Americans think they would win v Britain? What principle changed to make it tolerable now?1:39:10 Is this "starvation in Gaza" narrative nothing but a modern day anti-Semitic olood libel? Or has Hamas found a way to effectively starve its own population?1:39:58 What about late Andrew Coulson's argument that non-refundable tax credits are only acceptable school choice option, with other options too coercive and associated with subsidization? Do ESAs facilitate single-payer education?1:49:41 College tuition went up 194.4% in the past 25 years. Has the VALUE of a college education gone up by at least that much since 2000?1:52:26 Rand had a principle that one must never fail to pronounce moral judgement. Could condemning and shaming someone who cheats on their spouse be an application of this principle?1:56:00 Are most Americans morally good most of the time and just don't realize they're being moral because altruism is the accepted morality? What are the consequences of denying egoism intellectually even if one practices it?1:57:02 Why is Israel so bad at PR? Or is antisemitism so entrenched, no matter what they do, they will be crushed by ignorance? Netanyahu tried to get on Joe Rogan's podcast and was turned down.1:58:22 Are animals our slaves?1:58:37 Some animals have demonstrated a limited but very real capacity for reason. Such as Elephants, Chimps, Magpies, and Dolphins. Should they have some limited rights to the degree of their limited reason?2:01:07 Who'd be in the coalition on Dodd-Frank repeal?2:01:38 Bill Maher, etc., are saying: “I guess Trump's tariffs aren't bad; economy is good; I was wrong.” But they're not even in effect yet. What's the deal?2:02:32 is it helpful to debate policy on social media?2:04:03 I've heard you say that USA shouldn't have entered WW1. Did you know that Germany bombed NY harbor in 1916 and were sinking US vessels in 1915 & 172:05:50 did you see any clips from the DSA (dem-soc of A) Town Hall? they want to abolish the family. Said marriage=prostitution; childhood=slavery2:08:10 Do you have time for Portugal/Spain recommendations if I send an itinerary? Mostly looking for great food.2:08:12 See pinned comment for timestamps of additional questions

Was dropping the atomic bomb necessary? For nearly 80 years, historians have debated President Truman's decision to use nuclear weapons against Japan. But secret intelligence intercepts - classified for decades after the war - reveal what Japanese leaders were actually planning in the summer of 1945.Using newly available evidence from the "Magic" intercepts, Mat McLachlan examines the brutal alternatives Truman faced: invasion projections of over a million American casualties, Japanese preparations to turn their entire population into combatants, and intelligence proving Japan's refusal to surrender.Through the stories of Colonel Paul Tibbets, who piloted the Enola Gay, and Reverend Kiyoshi Tanimoto, who survived Hiroshima, this episode explores one of history's most controversial decisions - and why the evidence suggests it was the only choice that could end the war and save lives.The atomic bombs killed 200,000 people. But would the alternatives have killed millions more?Presenter: Mat McLachlanProducer: Jess StebnickiReady to walk in the footsteps of heroes? Join Mat McLachlan on an exclusive river cruise that visits the battlefields of Waterloo, WWI and WW2 in 2027: https://battlefields.com.au/pre-register-for-2027-battlefield-river-cruises/Find out everything Mat is doing with books, tours and media at https://linktr.ee/matmclachlanFor more great history content, visit www.LivingHistoryTV.com, or subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/LivingHistoryTV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is solving complex problems across a host of disciplines, here Professor Lucy Blue asks Dr Alexandra Karamitrou, Lecturer in Archaeology and AI, University of Southampton to outline its use in maritime archaeology. Alexandra explains how AI models can analyse multiple datasets, such as geophysical data and satellite imagery to identify potential shipwreck locations by recognising patterns associated with submerged features.  Applications are many, including processing imagery to identify Crannogs, WWI and WWII wrecks, and offshore structures like oil rigs  – crucial for the protection of the ocean environment as leakages of harmful substances can occur from ageing wrecks and rigs. Hear Alexandra's views on how to ethically use AI and produce a more holistic picture of what our oceans comprise.  Can you believe there are three million shipwrecks to be identified and recorded?

Christian Historical Fiction Talk is listener supported. When you buy things through this site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Sarah Loudin Thomas returns to the podcast this week to chat about her latest release, These Blue Mountains. It's a stunning story about German POWs in the US during WWI and a young woman's search for her missing fiancé in the time between the two wars. We talk about what the times were like, what Sarah would have done if she found herself in the heroine's position, and allow her to brag about her sweet dog. Patrons will hear her opinions on the Rocky Mountains vs. the Appalachians. These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin ThomasA moving story of love, betrayal, and the enduring power of hope in the face of darkness.German pianist Hedda Schlagel's world collapsed when her fiancé, Fritz, vanished after being sent to an enemy alien camp in the United States during the Great War. Fifteen years later, in 1932, Hedda is stunned to see Fritz's name in a photograph of an American memorial for German seamen who died near Asheville, North Carolina. Determined to reclaim his body and bring closure to his ailing mother, Hedda travels to the US. Her quest takes a shocking turn when, rather than Fritz's body, his casket contains the remains of a woman who died under mysterious circumstances.Local deputy Garland Jones thought he'd left that dark chapter behind when he helped bury Fritz Meyer's coffin. The unexpected arrival of Hedda, a long-suffering yet captivating woman, forces him to confront how much of the truth he really knows. As they work together to uncover the identity of the woman in the casket and to unravel Fritz's fate, Hedda and Garland grow closer. But with Hedda in the US on borrowed time while Hitler rises to power in Germany, she fears she'll be forced to return home before she can put the ghosts of her past to rest."These Blue Mountains is a masterful tale that weaves together two continents, two wars, and two lives defined by longing and resilience."--PATTI CALLAHAN HENRY, New York Timesbestselling author"North Carolina's mountains hide the secrets of a war long past and a young love cut short in this atmospheric tale of unexpected hope."--LISA WINGATE, New York Times bestselling authorThis inspirational historical fiction is set in the mountains of North Carolina in the tumultuous years before World War II. With threads of intrigue, romance, and an international cast of characters, These Blue Mountainsis the perfect book club pick and Southern fiction read.Get your copy of These Blue Mountains by Sarah Loudin Thomas.Sarah Loudin Thomas grew up on a 100-acre farm in French Creek, WV, the seventh generation to live there. Her historical fiction is often set in West Virginia and celebrates the people, the land, and the heritage of Appalachia.Sarah is the director of Jan Karon's Mitford Museum in Hudson, NC. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from Coastal Carolina University and is the author of the acclaimed novels The Right Kind of Fool–winner of the 2021 Selah Book of the Year–and Miracle in a Dry Season–winner of the 2015 Inspy Award. Sarah has also been a finalist for the Christy Award, ACFW Carol Award and the Christian Book of the Year Award. She and her husband live in western North Carolina.Visit Sarah Loudin Thomas website.

In this program: Interview with Emmanuel Sada from Assyrian Democratic Movement about Assyrian Martyrs Day commemoration; Homer Abramian talks about his lecture about the Mistakes made by Assyrian leaders before and after WWI, and, from ALC features, a report about the Pro Palestine Harbour Bridge rally

This week Mike speaks with Ja Ian Chong, Associate Professor of Political Science at the National University of Singapore. They discuss the lessons and parallels of WWI and WWII for the contemporary Indo-Pacific, the potential for an outbreak of crisis and conflict in the region, the need for Singapore to review its geopolitical strategy, and much more.  

On July 27th, 2025, the Sam and Esther Dolgoff Institute (SEDI) hosted labor historian and anarchist writer Mark Leier for a riveting talk on the life and contradictions of Robert Raglan Gosden—Wobbly, saboteur, free speech fighter, draft evader, police informant, and mystic.Drawing from extensive archival research and his biography Rebel Life, Leier traced Gosden's trajectory from militant IWW organizer in British Columbia and San Diego, to an advocate of sabotage and general strikes, to his eventual—and deeply controversial—role as a labor spy during Canada's post-WWI strike wave. Gosden's story raises profound questions about class betrayal, revolutionary alienation, and the capacity of labor institutions to hold space for rage, action, and unorthodox radicalism.Leier also drew parallels between Gosden and broader political phenomena such as the Reagan Democrat, the professionalization of the left, and the mystification of radical disillusionment in mid-century Canada. What emerges is a cautionary tale and historical mystery wrapped into one—essential listening for anyone interested in the tensions between revolutionary sincerity and political marginalization.Mark Leier is a professor at Simon Fraser University, author of Bakunin: The Creative Passion, and a longtime contributor to the history of labor radicalism in North America.This event was part of SEDI's ongoing speaker series, bringing together radical thinkers, organizers, and historians to deepen our understanding of the past and sharpen our interventions in the present. Most talks are not recorded, but SEDI is working to make more of these vital conversations accessible to wider audiences.The Sam and Esther Dolgoff Institute: https://www.dolgoffinstitute.com/Explore Mark Leier's work:Rebel Life: The Life and Times of Robert Gosden, Revolutionary, Mystic, Labour Spy - https://www.newstarbooks.com/book.php?book_id=155420058X Works at The Anarchist Library - https://theanarchistlibrary.org/category/author/mark-leierLIKE, SUBSCRIBE, AND SHARE!https://youtube.com/cyberdandySupport the showSupport the show

Christine Benne discusses the new Gold Star Family monument being established at Victory Park on Fort Riley, honoring the 13,578 members of the First Infantry Division who made the ultimate sacrifice across multiple conflicts. This monument provides Gold Star families, those who have lost a loved one in military service, a place for reflection and remembrance.• Gold Star Family Fund initially created to help Kansas families visit the First Infantry Division Memorial in Washington, DC• Monument features the inscription "Their duty was to serve, Ours is to remember" with the Gold Star family seal• Monument lists total casualties: 5,516 in WWI, 4,325 in WWII, 3,079 in Vietnam, 27 in Desert Storm, 439 in Iraq, and 192 in Afghanistan• Unveiling ceremony scheduled for September 26th at 1:00 PM at Victory Park with Senator Marshall and General Rohn attending• Memorial service at Kansas State Capitol in Topeka on September 25th at 10:00 AM, organized by the Kansas Commission on Veterans Affairs• Support for Gold Star families available through Fort Riley's Survivor Outreach Support (SOS) programTo support the Gold Star Family Fund, visit the Armed Forces Community Foundation website at www.armedforcescf.org or contact GMCF directly through mcfks.org.GMCFCFAs

This month, Paul welcomes frequent network guest Captain Entropy to the show. They discuss DC Special #26 from 1977 starring Enemy Ace! Tune in for an entertaining combo of WWI aerial action and somber brooding! Plus a wolf! This month's instocktrades.com selections: https://www.instocktrades.com/products/sep247462/atlas-comics-library-hc-no-4-war-comics-vol-1-(mr) https://www.instocktrades.com/products/aug247336/gi-joe-a-real-american-hero-compendium-tp-book-01-book-market-andy-kubert-brad-anderson-cvr Have a question or comment? Have a specific issue you love and want to talk to us about it? Have a favorite issue and want to be a guest? E-mail us at dcspecialcast@gmail.com Follow us on Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/dcspecialcast.bsky.social Subscribe to DC SpecialCast: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dc-specialcast/id1781264740 Don't use Apple Podcasts? Use this link for your podcast catcher: http://feeds.feedburner.com/dcspecialcast Also available on Spotify, Audible, and Amazon Music This podcast is a proud member of the FIRE AND WATER PODCAST NETWORK: Fire & Water website: https://fireandwaterpodcast.com Fire & Water Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/FWPodcastNetwork Fire & Water on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fwpodcasts.bsky.social Fire & Water Podcast Network on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fwpodcasts "Cloud Dancer " Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

“They will never see their gold again, just as they do not see their own ears.”Josef StalinGold's strength is that its value exists in and of itself. It's nobody else's liability. Unlike money in the bank or a bond, it carries no promise from a third party, and its value is not dependent on the creditworthiness of any issuer or guarantor. Hand it to someone else and its value is transferred. It is a “bearer” asset, effectively owned by whoever has possession of it. For this reason gold has been the target of many a heist. Quickly resmelt it, and its provenance is very hard to prove.So there is one obvious problem with gold: that is keeping it safe. It's all very well having a pot of gold, but if somebody comes along and takes it from you, as Alexander did from the Persians, or the Conquistadors from the Incas, then you're left with nothing at all.When the Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936, the Soviet Union, under Joseph Stalin, supported the Spanish Republican government. The Nazis supported their opponents, the revolutionary fascist forces led by General Franco. At the time Spanish gold reserves, some 635 tonnes, were the fourth largest in the world.Much of that treasure had been accumulated during WWI, when Spain had stayed neutral. Selling stuff to the British seems to have been the really big earner: 70% of Spanish gold holdings were British sovereigns.With Franco just 20 miles from the capital, the Republicans were on the verge of defeat. Never mind the fascists, there were also rumours that Catalan separatists had hatched plans to take the gold from Madrid to Barcelona. All that gold was at risk.Finance minister, Juan Negrín, and Prime Minister, Francisco Largo Caballero, leant on President Azaña to sign a secret decree to move the gold - some 10,000 cases - to a place “which in his [Negrín's] opinion offers the best security”. Azaña signed and the gold was moved, starting the next day, to Cartajena on the south coast, as far from Franco's armies as possible. The Spanish soldiers who transported the cases thought they were lifting munitions. A fifth of it was then shipped to Marseille where it was traded for French francs, which the Republicans used to fund their side of the war. The rest, 510 tonnes, would be sent to Joseph Stalin in Moscow for safekeeping.Even if Bolshevik sympathisers, what were Negrín and Caballero thinking? The Russians had already demonstrated that they had no qualms about seizing other people's gold. In 1916, the Romanian government sent its treasury of 91 tonnes of gold to Tsarist Russia for safekeeping, worried that it was vulnerable to the Axis powers when Romania had just joined WWI on the side of the Entente. Shortly afterwards, during the Great October Revolution, communists, led by Lenin, seized power, sequestered the gold and refused to give it back. Though small amounts were returned in 1935, 1956, and 2008, “as a gesture of goodwill”, the large majority was retained. As you can imagine, it has been something of a sore spot in diplomatic relations between the two nations ever since.It seems Negrín and Caballero did not know the story. In any case, Caballero actually wrote to Stalin asking if he would “agree to the deposit of approximately 500 tonnes of gold.” Two days later, he got a reply from the Soviet leader, not previously known for his prompt responses. No surprise: Stalin would be “glad” to take the gold.Buying gold or silver to protect yourself in these ‘interesting' times? The bullion dealer I use and recommend is the Pure Gold Company. Pricing is competitive, quality of service is high. They deliver to the UK, the US, Canada and Europe or you can store your gold with them. More here.Alexander Orlov was the Russian agent in charge of transporting the booty. Negrín gave him fake documents to show he was an US official from the Bank of America, in case he should be stopped. Negrín, who, remember, was finance minister, had thought Bank of America was the US central bank. That would be the Federal Reserve. Russian agent Orlov didn't realise either. It's extraordinary.Four Russian ships came to Cartagena to collect the bounty, and the gold was loaded on. There was a discrepancy of 100 cases between Orlov and Spanish treasurer Mendez Aspe's number: Aspe said 7,800 cases, Orlov 7,900. Orlov said nothing. He reported the discrepancy to his superiors, who told him, “Do not worry about figures. Everything will be counted anew in Moscow. Do not mention your figure to anybody.” Aspe didn't even get a receipt off Orlov (who had been instructed not to give him one). “Don't worry, my friend,” said Orlov, “it will be issued by the State Bank of the Soviet Union, when everything is checked and weighed.” We will never know whether Orlov miscounted or whether those 100 boxes went missing.It took them three nights to load the four ships. The Russians then left Cartagena for Odessa in the Black Sea, escorted by the Spanish as far as Italy. From Odessa it was loaded onto a freight train bound for Moscow. "If all the boxes of gold that we piled up on the wharfs of Odessa were to be placed here side by side,” said one of the officials. “They would completely cover up the Red Square".When the gold arrived in Moscow, Stalin celebrated with a banquet at the Kremlin. “They will never see their gold again”, he laughed. “Just as they do not see their own ears.”The Spanish eventually got their receipt: for 5,619 standard cases and 126 damaged. Some distance below both Aspe and Orlov's figure. But three months later the Russians completed the audit, calculating that the shipments totalled 510 tonnes of gold coins and ingots, 90% pure, thus around 460 tonnes of pure gold. There were gold coins from across Europe and Latin America, especially those British sovereigns and Portuguese escudos, but also Spanish pesetas, French, Swiss and Belgian francs, German marks,, Russian rubles, Austrian schillings, Dutch guilders, and Mexican, Argentine and Chilean pesos. The numismatic value of the coins was higher than their gold content.The following year Spain met with a currency crisis. With exceptional chutzpah, even by the standards of politicians, Republicans blamed the inflation on the free market. Nothing to do with the absence of all that gold!Later, the Franco regime was happy to let the story of the "Moscow gold" stolen by Russia spread, as part of its anti-communist propaganda. And yet it appears sell orders from Negrín were actually carried out in 1937 and 1938, for which Spain received pounds, dollars and francs. Spain also received planes, tanks, machine guns, artillery, rifles, cartridges, food and fuel from Russia. The Soviets demanded some compensation for what they had sent during the war, but it's believed that aside from various expenses, the Soviets did not abuse their position and defraud the Spanish. Ultimately then, most of the gold went, one way or another, on the cost of the civil war. Such is the way with war. It is expensive.And just a couple or three years later, as Nazi forces advanced through Europe, the farce of transporting gold would be repeated many times over, and across the continent.Stories like this fill the pages of The Secret History of Gold (although this one didn't actually make the cut).The Secret History of Gold is available to pre-order at Amazon, Waterstones and all good bookshops. I hear the audiobook, read by me, is excellent. The book comes out on August 28. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theflyingfrisby.com/subscribe

“They will never see their gold again, just as they do not see their own ears.”Josef StalinGold's strength is that its value exists in and of itself. It's nobody else's liability. Unlike money in the bank or a bond, it carries no promise from a third party, and its value is not dependent on the creditworthiness of any issuer or guarantor. Hand it to someone else and its value is transferred. It is a “bearer” asset, effectively owned by whoever has possession of it. For this reason gold has been the target of many a heist. Quickly resmelt it, and its provenance is very hard to prove.So there is one obvious problem with gold: that is keeping it safe. It's all very well having a pot of gold, but if somebody comes along and takes it from you, as Alexander did from the Persians, or the Conquistadors from the Incas, then you're left with nothing at all.When the Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936, the Soviet Union, under Joseph Stalin, supported the Spanish Republican government. The Nazis supported their opponents, the revolutionary fascist forces led by General Franco. At the time Spanish gold reserves, some 635 tonnes, were the fourth largest in the world.Much of that treasure had been accumulated during WWI, when Spain had stayed neutral. Selling stuff to the British seems to have been the really big earner: 70% of Spanish gold holdings were British sovereigns.With Franco just 20 miles from the capital, the Republicans were on the verge of defeat. Never mind the fascists, there were also rumours that Catalan separatists had hatched plans to take the gold from Madrid to Barcelona. All that gold was at risk.Finance minister, Juan Negrín, and Prime Minister, Francisco Largo Caballero, leant on President Azaña to sign a secret decree to move the gold - some 10,000 cases - to a place “which in his [Negrín's] opinion offers the best security”. Azaña signed and the gold was moved, starting the next day, to Cartajena on the south coast, as far from Franco's armies as possible. The Spanish soldiers who transported the cases thought they were lifting munitions. A fifth of it was then shipped to Marseille where it was traded for French francs, which the Republicans used to fund their side of the war. The rest, 510 tonnes, would be sent to Joseph Stalin in Moscow for safekeeping.Even if Bolshevik sympathisers, what were Negrín and Caballero thinking? The Russians had already demonstrated that they had no qualms about seizing other people's gold. In 1916, the Romanian government sent its treasury of 91 tonnes of gold to Tsarist Russia for safekeeping, worried that it was vulnerable to the Central powers when Romania had just joined WWI on the side of the Entente. Shortly afterwards, during the Great October Revolution, communists, led by Lenin, seized power, sequestered the gold and refused to give it back. Though small amounts were returned in 1935, 1956, and 2008, “as a gesture of goodwill”, the large majority was retained. As you can imagine, it has been something of a sore spot in diplomatic relations between the two nations ever since.It seems Negrín and Caballero did not know the story. In any case, Caballero actually wrote to Stalin asking if he would “agree to the deposit of approximately 500 tonnes of gold.” Two days later, he got a reply from the Soviet leader, not previously known for his prompt responses. No surprise: Stalin would be “glad” to take the gold.Buying gold or silver to protect yourself in these ‘interesting' times? The bullion dealer I use and recommend is the Pure Gold Company. Pricing is competitive, quality of service is high. They deliver to the UK, the US, Canada and Europe or you can store your gold with them. More here.Alexander Orlov was the Russian agent in charge of transporting the booty. Negrín gave him fake documents to show he was an US official from the Bank of America, in case he should be stopped. Negrín, who, remember, was finance minister, had thought Bank of America was the US central bank. That would be the Federal Reserve. Russian agent Orlov didn't realise either. It's extraordinary.Four Russian ships came to Cartagena to collect the bounty, and the gold was loaded on. There was a discrepancy of 100 cases between Orlov and Spanish treasurer Mendez Aspe's number: Aspe said 7,800 cases, Orlov 7,900. Orlov said nothing. He reported the discrepancy to his superiors, who told him, “Do not worry about figures. Everything will be counted anew in Moscow. Do not mention your figure to anybody.” Aspe didn't even get a receipt off Orlov (who had been instructed not to give him one). “Don't worry, my friend,” said Orlov, “it will be issued by the State Bank of the Soviet Union, when everything is checked and weighed.” We will never know whether Orlov miscounted or whether those 100 boxes went missing.It took them three nights to load the four ships. The Russians then left Cartagena for Odessa in the Black Sea, escorted by the Spanish as far as Italy. From Odessa it was loaded onto a freight train bound for Moscow. "If all the boxes of gold that we piled up on the wharfs of Odessa were to be placed here side by side,” said one of the officials. “They would completely cover up the Red Square".When the gold arrived in Moscow, Stalin celebrated with a banquet at the Kremlin. “They will never see their gold again”, he laughed. “Just as they do not see their own ears.”The Spanish eventually got their receipt: for 5,619 standard cases and 126 damaged. Some distance below both Aspe and Orlov's figure. But three months later the Russians completed the audit, calculating that the shipments totalled 510 tonnes of gold coins and ingots, 90% pure, thus around 460 tonnes of pure gold. There were gold coins from across Europe and Latin America, especially those British sovereigns and Portuguese escudos, but also Spanish pesetas, French, Swiss and Belgian francs, German marks,, Russian rubles, Austrian schillings, Dutch guilders, and Mexican, Argentine and Chilean pesos. The numismatic value of the coins was higher than their gold content.The following year Spain met with a currency crisis. With exceptional chutzpah, even by the standards of politicians, Republicans blamed the inflation on the free market. Nothing to do with the absence of all that gold!Later, the Franco regime was happy to let the story of the "Moscow gold" stolen by Russia spread, as part of its anti-communist propaganda. And yet it appears sell orders from Negrín were actually carried out in 1937 and 1938, for which Spain received pounds, dollars and francs. Spain also received planes, tanks, machine guns, artillery, rifles, cartridges, food and fuel from Russia. The Soviets demanded some compensation for what they had sent during the war, but it's believed that aside from various expenses, the Soviets did not abuse their position and defraud the Spanish. Ultimately then, most of the gold went, one way or another, on the cost of the civil war. Such is the way with war. It is expensive.And just a couple or three years later, as Nazi forces advanced through Europe, the farce of transporting gold would be repeated many times over, and across the continent.Stories like this fill the pages of The Secret History of Gold (although this one didn't actually make the cut).The Secret History of Gold is available to pre-order at Amazon, Waterstones and all good bookshops. I hear the audiobook, read by me, is excellent. The book comes out on August 28. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.theflyingfrisby.com/subscribe

The Constitution Study with Host Paul Engel – This set of medical ethics was also established after WWI in an effort to prevent the horrors of medical experimentation performed in Nazi Germany. The cornerstone of the Nuremberg Code is voluntary and informed consent for the patient. One of the most fundamental rights a person has is the right to their body...

William Joseph Donovan—better known as “Wild Bill”—was a soldier, spy, and lawyer. He was the founder of the Office of Strategic Services, or the OSS, which later morphed into the CIA.William Donovanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_J._DonovanLucis Trusthttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucis_TrustFaith in Actionhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faith_in_Action

The Constitution Study with Host Paul Engel – This set of medical ethics was also established after WWI in an effort to prevent the horrors of medical experimentation performed in Nazi Germany. The cornerstone of the Nuremberg Code is voluntary and informed consent for the patient. One of the most fundamental rights a person has is the right to their body...

Our journey to reconnect America in Death Stranding continues with Episodes 3 and 4. Time for us to learn a lot about our friend Fragile, deliver some pizza, and then fight in WWI? As you'd expect from Kojima, lots of wild stuff for us to talk about.Episode 64: Unafraid of Your Words And Deeds

The Best Things to Do in -1. St. Louis, MO:St. Louis is often called the “Gateway to the West,” but it's also a gateway to a memorable, well-rounded travel experience. From world-class art and live entertainment to major league baseball and local culinary treasures, this Midwestern gem packs a punch. Whether you're here for a weekend or a longer stay, here are some of the top things to do in St. Louis that highlight the city's diverse appeal.

Senator Rick Scott says Florida's next governor will inherit a major mess with the insurance market created over the past six and a half years; Jeffry Knight is charged in the deadly Clearwater Ferry crash; Lionel Messi and his wife appeared on the Coldplay kiss cam in South Florida; a woman is charged after leaving children in a 100-degree car; another woman is hospitalized after being struck by lightning while riding a lawnmower in Hernando County; and a possible WWI-era explosive is discovered on Indian Rocks Beach.

From massive national memorials to simple plaques in tiny villages, the need to remember and try to make sense of World War I was universal. Though World War I memorials stand across the U.S. it wasn't until 2021 that a national World War I Memorial was created in Washington, D.C. To explore the significance of the National World War I Memorial and its place in history, the World War I Podcast hosted Chris Christoper, a member of the Doughboy Foundation Board.To access additional resources and view images of the National World War I Memorial, please visit the Doughboy Foundation website: https://doughboy.org September 12 Symposium Registration: https://thedoughboyfoundation.ticketspice.com/inaugural-world-war-i-symposium-the-generation-that-changed-the-world-voices-from-the-great-war Have a comment about this episode? Send us a text message! (Note: we can read texts, but we cannot respond.) Follow us: Twitter: @MacArthur1880 Amanda Williams on Twitter: @AEWilliamsClark Facebook/Instagram: @MacArthurMemorial www.macarthurmemorial.org

SO many laughs in this one! We're joined again by singer/songwriter Jordan Yewey, who is as open, authentic, and hilarious as ever.This episode spirals (in the best way possible) from music into meditation, wild synchronicity, and some seriously deep conversations you'd never expect to hear on a Tuesday night podcast.What's inside:The Banana Rule Agreement – Tony shares the craziest ChatGPT conversation ever (he got goosebumps… you might too)Jordan's love of weird, metaphysical books, Buddhism, and The AlchemistMeditation, dreams, self-hypnosis, and ChatGPT's spiritual side (yes, really)A thoughtful dive into God, Jesus, Buddha, and religion – plus what ChatGPT has to say about it allAI-generated music & Rick Rubin's surprising take on itJordan's new single and her growth as a producerFun Facts: Pear cider is called “peary,” Mike Tyson was arrested 38 times before 13, and WWI spies used… um… semen as invisible ink

Discover the untold story of Indian soldiers during the Gallipoli Campaign of World War I in this fascinating discussion with Professor Peter Stanley, one of Australia's leading military historians.This video explores the sacrifices, challenges, and hidden histories of over 16,000 Indian soldiers who served in one of the most brutal battles of WWI.Learn about their role in the first major amphibious operation of modern warfare—and how their contributions, often overlooked, helped shape the course of history.Dive deep into this riveting topic, brought to you by Ramblings of a Sikh, and gain a unique perspective on this historic event.Subscribe for more insights into military history, cultural heritage, and hidden narratives.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit andrewsullivan.substack.comTara Zahra is a writer and academic. She's currently the Hanna Holborn Gray Professor of East European History at the University of Chicago. This week we discuss her latest book, Against the World: Anti-Globalism and Mass Politics Between the World Wars.For two clips of our convo — on the starving of Germany during and after WWI, and what Henry Ford and Trump have in common — head to our YouTube page.Other topics: growing up in the Poconos; her parents' butcher shop; ballet her first career goal; her undergrad course on fascism that inspired grad school; how the Habsburg Dynasty was the EU before the EU; the golden age of internationalism; cutting off trade and migration during WWI; the Spanish flu; the Russian Revolution; pogroms across Europe; scapegoating Jews over globalization and finance; the humiliation at Versailles; Austria-Hungary chopped up and balkanized; Ellis Island as a detention center; massive inflation after the war; the Klan in the 1920s; Keynes; the Great Depression and rise of fascism; mass deportations in the US; autarky; Hitler linking that self-reliance to political freedom; Lebensraum; anti-Semitism; the Red Scare; the WTO and China; the 2008 crash; Trump's tariff threats; rare earths; reshoring; fracking and energy independence; MAHA; Elon Musk and Henry Ford; Mars as Musk's Lebensraum; and the longing for national identity.Browse the Dishcast archive for an episode you might enjoy (the first 102 are free in their entirety — subscribe to get everything else). Coming up: trans activist Shannon Minter debating trans issues, Scott Anderson on the Iranian Revolution, and Johann Hari turning the tables to interview me. Please send any guest recs, dissents, and other comments to dish@andrewsullivan.com.

Steven Rabalais, litigator and author of General Fox Conner: Pershing's Chief of Operations and Eisenhower's Mentor,  joins the show to discuss the extraordinary influence of now-forgotten General Fox Connor on the outcome of WWI and Eisenhower's career.   ▪️ Times     •      01:51 Introduction     •      03:10 Growing up with history      •      05:47 A southern story      •      07:44 West Point struggles      •      12:07 A reader            •      14:50 Coastal artillery          •      20:46 Rocks and airplanes     •      23:51 Mechanism of victory     •      27:54 WWI logistics        •      32:47 Summer 1918     •      46:03 Eisenhower     •      51:24 Panama        •      01:01:58 Foreshadowing Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find a transcript of today's episode on our School of War Substack

Send us a textWhen three friends—a doctor with a glass eye, an African-American lawyer, and a mysterious nurse-turned-artist—become entangled in a murder investigation in 1930s New York, they uncover a sinister conspiracy that reaches to the highest levels of American power. What begins as a quest to clear their names transforms into a fight against a fascist plot to overthrow the U.S. government."Amsterdam" represents one of the most perplexing cinematic experiments of recent years. Christian Bale delivers a fully committed, physically transformed performance as Dr. Burt Berendsen, a WWI veteran who creates unconventional pain medications for fellow soldiers while sporting a prosthetic eye that refuses to stay in place. Alongside John David Washington's stoic Harold Woodman and Margot Robbie's enigmatic Valerie, they form an unlikely trio whose bond was forged in the trenches of Europe and the artistic paradise of Amsterdam.The film attempts to tackle weighty themes—fascism's rise, America's flirtation with authoritarianism, racism, and the corrupting influence of wealth—but repeatedly undermines itself with jarring tonal shifts. One moment we're witnessing the horror of war wounds, the next we're watching Mike Myers and Michael Shannon engage in bird-watching espionage comedy. Taylor Swift makes a memorable appearance only to meet an abrupt and darkly comedic end that epitomizes the film's bizarre approach to storytelling.What makes "Amsterdam" particularly frustrating is the glimpse of greatness hidden within its meandering narrative. Based on the real-life "Business Plot"—a legitimate 1933 conspiracy by wealthy industrialists to overthrow FDR's government—the film had the potential to deliver a timely warning about democracy's fragility. Instead, it buries this fascinating history under quirky character studies and surrealist digressions that never cohere into a satisfying whole.Robert De Niro brings gravitas as the decorated general these conspirators hope to manipulate, while Rami Malek and Anya Taylor-Joy deliver unsettling performances as the wealthy siblings with disturbing agendas. The cast's commitment can't rescue a script that constantly loses focus, jumping between 1918 flashbacks and the 1933 main storyline without allowing either timeline room to breathe.What could have been a powerful historical thriller or an effective period comedy instead lands uncomfortably between genres, testing audiences' patience with its 134-minute runtime and convoluted storyline. Has a film ever left you more bewildered by the gap between its potential and execution?Written Lovingly by AIBe our friend!Dan: @shakybaconTony: @tonydczechAnd follow the podcast on IG: @hatewatchingDAT

Authors MaryAnne Maher and Larry Scallan join me in studio to share the extraordinary research behind their new book Mons Star to the Royal Irish Regiment. Tracing the stories of the 1,928 men awarded the 1914 'Mons Star' medal, including their own relatives, this deeply personal and historical work brings new light to Ireland's involvement in the early days of WWI. With a Wexford book launch just around the corner, they tell us what inspired the project — and what they uncovered along the way.

I discuss the thumbnail sketches of US military failure since the end of WWI and try to elucidate some of the reasons for the failure and the existential threat this cavalcade of calamities is to 21st century America if the ship of state doesn't reverse course. This a a dangerous time for America to continue […]

Same Time, Same Station 2025-07-20 Everett Sloan Part 10. “21st Precinct” 07/07/1953 #001 The Nolen Brothers. “Phillip Morris Playhouse On Broadway” 08/19/1953 The Night Has A Thousand Eyes. Peter Lorre “Stroke Of Fate” 11/22/1953 #8. What Might Have Happened Had The French In 1936 Used Force To Oppose Hitler’s Occupation Of The Rhineland? “Hallmark Hall of Fame” 03/07/1954 (043) Nurse Edith Cavell, Heroine of WWI. If you would like to request shows, please call (714) 449-1958 E-mail: Larry Gassman: LarryGassman1@gmail.com John Gassman: John1Gassman@gmail.com

Same Time, Same Station 2025-07-20 Everett Sloan Part 10. “21st Precinct” 07/07/1953 #001 The Nolen Brothers. “Phillip Morris Playhouse On Broadway” 08/19/1953 The Night Has A Thousand Eyes. Peter Lorre “Stroke Of Fate” 11/22/1953 #8. What Might Have Happened Had The French In 1936 Used Force To Oppose Hitler’s Occupation Of The Rhineland? “Hallmark Hall of Fame” 03/07/1954 (043) Nurse Edith Cavell, Heroine of WWI. If you would like to request shows, please call (714) 449-1958 E-mail: Larry Gassman: LarryGassman1@gmail.com John Gassman: John1Gassman@gmail.com

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit andrewsullivan.substack.comTom is a novelist, essayist, and critic, who once described himself as a “supposed literary intellectual/homosexual/Republican.” He's the former literary editor of GQ and a professor emeritus of English at GW. He's the author of 11 books of fiction, including Up With the Sun, Dewey Defeats Truman, and Fellow Travelers — which was adapted into a miniseries. His nonfiction has focused on plagiarism (Stolen Words), letters (Yours Ever), and the Kennedy assassination (Mrs. Paine's Garage). His new book is The Very Heart of It: New York Diaries, 1983-1994.For two clips of our convo — on the “mixed marriages” of the AIDS crisis, and Hitchens before cancel culture — head to our YouTube page.Other topics: his struggling middle-class family on Long Island; his dad a WWII vet; neither parent finished high school — and Tom went to Harvard for his PhD; the Space Race; when you could make a good living as a freelance writer; novelist Mary McCarthy as a formative influence; Capote; Vidal; Mailer; Updike; Orwell and clarity in writing; the Danish cartoonists; the Jacob Epstein plagiarism scandal; Martin Amis; Elizabeth Hardwick; Tom's conservatism; the New Deal as a buffer against socialism; the anti-Communism of Catholics; Bobby Kennedy; leftist utopianism on campus; Bill Buckley; AIDS bringing America out of the closet; losing a boyfriend to the disease; the fear of an HIV test; the medieval symptoms; the deadly perils of dating; the dark humor; writing Virtually Normal thinking I would die; the miracle drugs; survivor's guilt; advocating for gay marriage; its relatively quick acceptance; and Tom's husband of 36 years who's had HIV for more than three decades.Browse the Dishcast archive for an episode you might enjoy (the first 102 are free in their entirety — subscribe to get everything else). Coming up: Tara Zahra on the revolt against globalization after WWI, trans activist Shannon Minter debating trans issues, Scott Anderson on the Iranian Revolution, and Johann Hari turning the tables to interview me. Please send any guest recs, dissents, and other comments to dish@andrewsullivan.com.

On June 7th 1907, a ship packed with Russian Jews sets sail not to Jerusalem or New York, as many on board have dreamt, but to Texas. The man who persuades the passengers to go is David Jochelmann, Rachel Cockerell's great-grandfather. It marks the beginning of the Galveston Movement, a forgotten moment in history when 10,000 Jews fled to Texas in the lead-up to WWI. In today's episode historian and author Rachel Cockerell tells this fascinating story in conversation with James McAuley, journalist and Global Opinions contributing columnist at the Washington Post. If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £4.99 per month you'll also receive: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared episodes, wherever you get your podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series - 15% discount on livestreams and in-person tickets for all Intelligence Squared events  ...  Or Subscribe on Apple for £4.99: - Full-length and ad-free Intelligence Squared podcasts - Bonus Intelligence Squared podcasts, curated feeds and members exclusive series … Already a subscriber? Thank you for supporting our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations! Visit intelligencesquared.com to explore all your benefits including ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content and early access. … Subscribe to our newsletter here to hear about our latest events, discounts and much more. https://www.intelligencesquared.com/newsletter-signup/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who doesn't like beer? Lots of people, apparently. As Americans sought to remedy the ills plaguing their society, beer was caught in the cross hairs. We tell the story of how the American beer industry rose to defend itself against Progressive Era reforms in a decades-long fight. And it almost worked.Find the full transcript of this episode including citations at our website:https://www.americanhistoryremix.com/episodeguide/american-beer-In this episode we cover…Introduction [0:00-04:01]Beer in Early America [04:01-08:06]Early Reform Movements [08:06-11:54]Beer Responds to Temperance [11:54-12:46]Moderate Success [12:46-14:03]Growth of the Beer Industry [14:03-16:37]Second Wave of Temperance [16:37-17:46]Women, Alcohol, & Women's Rights [17:46-21:30]Beer as Medicine [21:30-24:04]Beer & the Economy [24:04-24:45]Failures of the Second Wave of Temperance [24:45-26:26]Saloons [26:26-30:22]Local Option [30:22-32:29]Pure Food Movement [32:29-36:20]Beer & Pure Food [36:20-37:48]     Tax Revenue & Regulation [37:48-41:18]Beer on the Defense [41:18-42:42]World War One [42:42-44:47]Anti-German Sentiment [44:47-46:23]Beer & WWI [46:23-47:47]Prohibition & Other Reforms [47:47-49:46]Conclusion-To dive deeper into these topics (affiliate links):Stanley Baron, Brewed in America: A History of Beer and Ale in the United States.https://tinyurl.com/Baron-BrewedThomas C. Cochran, The Pabst Brewing Company: The History of an American Business. https://tinyurl.com/Cochran-PabstPerry R. Duis, The Saloon: Public Drinking in Chicago and Boston, 1880-1920.https://tinyurl.com/Duis-The-SaloonRichard F. Hamm, Shaping the Eighteenth Amendment: Temperance Reform, Legal Culture, and the Polity, 1880-1920. https://tinyurl.com/Hamm-ShapingLisa McGirr, The War on Alcohol: Prohibition and the Rise of the American State. https://tinyurl.com/McGirr-The-War-Support the show

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit andrewsullivan.substack.comEd is the US national editor and columnist at the Financial Times. Before that, he was the FT's Washington Bureau chief, the South Asia bureau chief, Capital Markets editor, and Philippines correspondent. During the Clinton administration, he was the speechwriter for Larry Summers. The author of many books, his latest is Zbig: The Life and Times of Brzezinski, America's Great Power Prophet.For two clips of our convo — on how China played Trump on rare minerals, and Europe's bind over Russian energy — head to our YouTube page.Other topics: growing up in West Sussex near my hometown; the international appeal of English boarding schools; the gerontocracy of the USSR; Ed making a beeline to the Berlin Wall as it fell; Fukuyama's The End of History; Brzezinski's The Grand Failure — of Communism; enthusiasm for free markets after the Cold War; George Kennan warning against Ukraine independence; HW Bush and the Persian Gulf; climate change and migration; a population boom in Africa; W Bush tolerating autocracy in the war on terrorism; Trump tearing up his own NAFTA deal; the resurgence of US isolationism; the collapsing security umbrella in Europe leading to more self-reliance; Germany's flagging economy; the China threat; Taiwan's chips; TACO on tariffs; the clean energy cuts in OBBBA; the abundance agenda; national debt and Bowles-Simpson; the overrated Tony Blair; Liz Truss' “epic Dunning-Kruger”; Boris killing the Tory Party; the surprising success of Mark Carney; Biden's mediocrity; Bernie's appeal; and the Rest catching up with the West.Browse the Dishcast archive for an episode you might enjoy (the first 102 are free in their entirety — subscribe to get everything else). Coming up: Tara Zahra on the revolt against globalization after WWI, Scott Anderson on the Iranian Revolution, Shannon Minter debating trans issues, Thomas Mallon on the AIDS crisis, and Johann Hari turning the tables to interview me. Please send any guest recs, dissents, and other comments to dish@andrewsullivan.com.

Vampires. Hoodoo. Juke joints. And Michael B. Jordan playing twins?! We sink our teeth into Sinners (2025)—a Southern Gothic horror full of blood, blues, and bold Black storytelling. It's scary, soulful... and kinda sexy too. Set in 1930s Mississippi, Sinners (2025)  follows twin brothers and WWI vets who return home to open a juke joint for their Black community—only to face an ancient evil masked in charm, blood, and white linen. Join our cult of personality as we dive deep in the Delta and review and analyze Ryan Coogler's Sinners (2025), and see if given the circumstances of the movie, we can survive. Let us know if YOU think you can survive too by taking the survey linked below: (SURVEY LINK) https://forms.gle/GRZqj4Rs152vkyZa8 *DISCLAIMER: THIS PODCAST IS INTENDED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY. Would You Survive? is a Moonburst Studios Production, and no copyright infringement was intentional in the making of this podcast* Connect With Us! https://linktr.ee/wouldyousurvive Instagram--> https://www.instagram.com/wouldyousurvivepod Tik-Tok--> https://www.tiktok.com/@wouldyousurvivepod Twitter--> survive_podcast Facebook--> https://www.facebook.com/wouldyousurvive Patreon--> https://www.patreon.com/wouldyousurvive Email-->thesurvivepodcast@gmail.com Source Material! Likert Scale Explanation https://www.simplypsychology.org/likert-scale.html IMDb - Sinners (2025) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31193180/ SINNERS REVIEW: MICHAEL B. JORDAN DOUBLES THE MAGNETISM IN RYAN COOGLER'S AUDACIOUS JOURNEY INTO A COMMUNITY'S VIOLATED SOUL https://tinyurl.com/3t36vpvt Rotten Tomatoes - Sinners (2025) https://tinyurl.com/mww3ent7 ‘A safe haven from racial violence': Sinners shows the importance of juke joints https://tinyurl.com/ya4k924w 'Sinners' gives Michael B. Jordan two roles of a lifetime https://tinyurl.com/y4bbhnbm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THE DEVIL WITHIN Mini-Series: The Beasts of France Description: France is a country of cathedrals, castles… and cryptids. In this chilling six-part series from The Devil Within, we journey into the haunted forests, fog-laced vineyards, war-ravaged trenches, and bone-lined tunnels of France to uncover a dark and forgotten legacy: the loup-garou. Part folklore, part true crime, The Beasts of France explores six terrifying cases—some legendary, others all too real—where the line between man and monster vanished. From the infamous Beast of Gévaudan that terrorized the countryside in the 1700s… to the Black Beast that stalked soldiers during WWI… to a secret cult beneath Paris in the 1970s that believed the werewolf wasn't a myth—but a destiny. PART ONE:     1    The Beast of Gévaudan – A brutal string of killings in 18th-century France blamed on a creature that couldn't be caught… or killed.     2    The Werewolves of the Jura – A cannibalistic hermit confesses to transforming into a wolf—and sets off a legal and spiritual panic.     3    The Beast of the Vosges – In 1994, livestock mutilations and phantom sightings resurrect France's most ancient fears. PART TWO:     4    The Werewolf of Bordeaux – A calm, lucid man is arrested for murder—and insists he was simply answering the call of the wolf.     5    The Black Beast of Normandy – World War I soldiers report a hulking predator in the fog of battle… and it may not have left.     6    The Devil's Breath – A Parisian cult, a forgotten detective, and a series of disappearances that point to something living beneath the City of Light. Submit your own sightings, stories, or artifacts tied to werewolf lore:

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit andrewsullivan.substack.com(It's the July 4th holiday. The full Dish — including my weekly column and the window contest — will return next Friday. Happy Independence Day!)Walter is the Leonard Lauder Professor of American History and Values at Tulane. He's the former CEO of the Aspen Institute, where he is now a Distinguished Fellow, and he's been the chairman of CNN and the editor of Time magazine. He's currently a host of the show “Amanpour and Company” on PBS and CNN, a contributor to CNBC, and the host of the podcast “Trailblazers, from Dell Technologies.” The author of many bestselling books, the one we're discussing this week is Benjamin Franklin: An American Life.As Walter says on the pod, my invitation to him to come talk about Franklin spurred him to propose writing a new, second brief book on Franklin's meaning for America, especially his hatred of “arbitrary power.” For two clips of our convo — on why Franklin opposed a one-person presidency, and his brutal rift with his son William — head to our YouTube page.Other topics: raised in NOLA in a diverse neighborhood; his work during the recovery from Katrina; Michael Lewis and Nick Lemann as NOLA contemporaries; Harvard in the ‘70s; the benefits of being an outsider; Franklin as the 10th son of a Puritan immigrant in Boston; indentured to his brother as a printer's apprentice; running away to Philly; his self-taught genius; his 13 Virtues; his many pseudonyms; Poor Richard's Almanack; poking fun at the elite; his great scientific feats; giving away the patents for his inventions; becoming the most famous American abroad; leaving his wife in Philly; his philandering; struggling to hold the empire together as a diplomat in London; humiliated by elites in the Cockpit in Westminster; returning to Philly as a fierce revolutionary; seeing his son William stay loyal to the Crown as governor of NJ; embracing William's abandoned son; securing an alliance with France and its crucial navy; the deism of the Founders; balancing faith and reason; power vs arbitrary power; Trump's daily whims (e.g. tariffs); the separation of powers; judicial review; private property as a check against tyranny; the commons; Posse Comitatus; the Marines in L.A.; Congress ceding power to Trump; the elites' failure over Iraq and Wall Street; and the dangers of cognitive sorting.Browse the Dishcast archive for an episode you might enjoy (the first 102 are free in their entirety — subscribe to get everything else). Coming up: Edward Luce on America's self-harm, Tara Zahra on the revolt against globalization after WWI, Thomas Mallon on the AIDS crisis, and Johann Hari turning the tables to interview me. Please send any guest recs, dissents, and other comments to dish@andrewsullivan.com.

THE DEVIL WITHIN Mini-Series: The Beasts of France Description: France is a country of cathedrals, castles… and cryptids. In this chilling six-part series from The Devil Within, we journey into the haunted forests, fog-laced vineyards, war-ravaged trenches, and bone-lined tunnels of France to uncover a dark and forgotten legacy: the loup-garou. Part folklore, part true crime, The Beasts of France explores six terrifying cases—some legendary, others all too real—where the line between man and monster vanished. From the infamous Beast of Gévaudan that terrorized the countryside in the 1700s… to the Black Beast that stalked soldiers during WWI… to a secret cult beneath Paris in the 1970s that believed the werewolf wasn't a myth—but a destiny. PART ONE:     1    The Beast of Gévaudan – A brutal string of killings in 18th-century France blamed on a creature that couldn't be caught… or killed.     2    The Werewolves of the Jura – A cannibalistic hermit confesses to transforming into a wolf—and sets off a legal and spiritual panic.     3    The Beast of the Vosges – In 1994, livestock mutilations and phantom sightings resurrect France's most ancient fears. PART TWO:     4    The Werewolf of Bordeaux – A calm, lucid man is arrested for murder—and insists he was simply answering the call of the wolf.     5    The Black Beast of Normandy – World War I soldiers report a hulking predator in the fog of battle… and it may not have left.     6    The Devil's Breath – A Parisian cult, a forgotten detective, and a series of disappearances that point to something living beneath the City of Light. Submit your own sightings, stories, or artifacts tied to werewolf lore:

The politics of memory is everywhere in Germany. To discuss how Germany selectively uses the history of WWII and the Cold War--and how the memories of these events are invoked abroad--Ted speaks with Berlin-based journalist Alexander Wells about the politics surrounding the bombing of Dresden, the DDR and Stasi, and the heroic "dissident." Plus, how Australian tourists in Europe relate to all this.-Read Alex's pieces on Dresden here, the Stasi here, Aussies in Berlin here, and WWI here.-Check out his website here: https://sites.google.com/view/ajbwells-Listen to our past episodes on the "Clean Wehrmacht myth" here, and historical tourism in Berlin here.*****Follow Spaßbremse on Twitter (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@spassbremse_pod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠). Edited by Nick. Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lee Rosevere⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Art by Franziska Schneider.Support us on Patreon here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/spassbremse

This week Beau discusses the history of air power, from the earliest flight, through WWI, the inter-war years, WWII, and all the way up to modern times.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit andrewsullivan.substack.comPaul is a writer, an editor, and an old friend. He's a regular contributor to The New Yorker and a senior fellow in Georgetown's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. He's the author of The Life You Save May Be Your Own and Reinventing Bach, and his new book is The Last Supper: Art, Faith, Sex, and Controversy in the 1980s.For two clips of our convo — on Martin Scorsese's extraordinary religious films, and the strikingly resilient Catholicism of Andy Warhol — head to our YouTube page.Other topics: Paul raised in upstate NY as a child of Vatican II; his great-uncle was the bishop of Burlington who attended the 2nd Council; Thomas Merton and Flannery O'Connor as formative influences; working in publishing with McPhee and Wolfe; Cullen Murphy on the historical Christ; Jesus as tetchy; Czesław Miłosz; Leonard Cohen making it cool to be religious; the row over The Last Temptation of Christ and Scorsese's response with Silence; Bill Donahue the South Park caricature; Bono and U2; The Smiths; The Velvet Underground; Madonna and her Catholic upbringing; “Like A Prayer” and “Papa Don't Preach”; her campaign for condom use; when I accidentally met her at a party; Camille Paglia; Warhol the iconographer; his near-death experience that led to churchgoing; Robert Mapplethorpe; S&M culture in NYC; Andres Serrano's “Piss Christ”; Jesse Helms' crusade against the NEA; Sinead O'Connor's refusal to get an abortion; tearing up the JP II photo on SNL; the sex-abuse crisis; Cardinal O'Connor; the AIDS crisis; ACT-UP's antics at St. Patrick's Cathedral; the AIDS quilt as a cathedral; and Paul's gobsmacking omission of the Pet Shop Boys.Coming up: Edward Luce on the war with Iran, Walter Isaacson on Ben Franklin, Tara Zahra on the revolt against globalization after WWI, Thomas Mallon on the AIDS crisis, and Johann Hari turning the tables to interview me. (NS Lyons indefinitely postponed a pod appearance — and his own substack — because he just accepted an appointment at the State Department; and the Arthur Brooks pod is postponed because of calendar conflicts.) Please send any guest recs, dissents, and other comments to dish@andrewsullivan.com.

Brea and Mallory go through their most anticipated books for July and August. Email us at readingglassespodcast at gmail dot com!Reading Glasses MerchRecommendations StoreSponsor -GreenChefwww.greenchef.com/50GLASSESCODE: 50GLASSESLinks -Reading Glasses Facebook GroupReading Glasses Goodreads GroupAmazon Wish ListNewsletterLibro.fmTo join our Discord channel, email us proof of your Reading-Glasses-supporting Maximum Fun membership!www.maximumfun.org/joinBooks Mentioned -It Rhymes with Takei by George Takei and Harmony BeckerThe Lilac People by Milo ToddJulyFinding Grace by Loretta RothschildLiterary fiction, family drama, dual timelines, moral dilemmaThe Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth WareSequel to The Woman in Cabin 10Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly JacksonThriller, mystery, woman trying to solve her own murder before she diesA Resistance of Witches by Morgan RyanHistorical fantasy, WWII, British witches, magic book, magical espionage, FranceVolatile Memory by Seth HaddonSci fi, queer love story, adventure, novella, tech, AIThe Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-GarciaHorror, witches, 19th century Mexico, 1990s Massachusetts, dual timelinesAngel Down by Daniel KrausHistorical horror/fantasy, WWI, angels, soldiersTotally and Completely Fine by Elissa SussmanRomance, dual timelines, widowed single mom, normal person/celebrity, small town MontanaRose in Chains by Julie SotoRomantasy, first in trilogy, princess imprisoned in castle auctioned off to rivalsThe Irresistible Urge to Fall in Love with Your Enemy by Brigette KnightleyRomantasy, Dramoine, sick assassin falling in love with enemy healer, first in duology, slow burn enemies to lovers, rival magician ordersA Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu MandannaRomantasy, cozy, witch and magical historian at an enchanted inn, talking foxTenderly, I Am Devoured by Lyndall ClipstoneYA, gothic, horromance, queer, folklore, love triangle, rituals, godsGlorious Rivals by Jennifer Lynn BarnesYA, Inheritance Games saga, competition, puzzles, secretsImmortal Consequences by I.V. MarieYA, romantasy, dark academia, boarding school, competitionNo Sense in Wishing by Lawrence BurneyEssay collection, critical moments with art that transformed the author, Black diasporaA Marriage at Sea by Sophie ElmhirstNonfiction, married couple who sells everything to live on a sailboatI Want to Burn This Place Down by Maris KreizmanEssay collection, funny, living in AmericaKilling Stella by Marlen Haushofer, translated by Shaun WhitesideNovella, literary fiction, confession from housewife of crimeThe Age of Video Games: A Graphic History of Gaming from Pong to VR and Beyond by Jean Zeid, illustrated by Émilie Rouge, translated by Jen VaughnNonfiction, graphic historyThe Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne by Chris SweeneyNonfiction, forensic ornithologyNecessary Fiction by Eloghosa OsundeQueer literary fiction, multiple POV, Lagos, navigating identitiesBeasts of Carnaval: A Caribbean Historical Fantasy Tale of Mystery and Magic at El Carnaval De Bestias by Rosália RodrigoYA historical fantasy, Caribbean islands, Black diaspora, decadent carnivalHot Girls With Balls by Benedict NguyễnLiterary fiction, satire, queer, competitive volleyball, social media, trans volleyball players, romanceThe Convenience Store by the Sea by Sonoko Machida translated by Bruno NavaskyMagical realism, Japanese convenience store, three interconnected storiesSimplicity by Mattie LubchanskySurreal graphic novel, near future sci fi, trans protagonist, isolated communityThe Dance and the Fire by Daniel Saldaña París, translated by Christina MacSweeneyCli fi, love triangle, dancing, three friends returning to hometown, Mexico, surrealArchive of Unknown Universes by Ruben Reyes Jr.Literary fiction, dual timelines, Salvadoran civil war, loveThe Payback by Kashana CauleyLiterary fiction, three co-workers turned friends launch a heist to wipe out student debtPan by Michael CluneLiterary fiction, teen having panic attacks and thinks the god Pan is trapped inside of himLonely Crowds by Stephanie WambuguLiterary fiction, 1990s New England college campus, coming of age, Catholic guilt, art worldThe Original by Nell StevensQueer historical fiction, 1899 English country house, aspiring art forger must figure out if her long-lost cousin is an impostorHuman Rites by Juno DawsonBook 3 in Her Majesty's Royal CovenCall Your Boyfriend by Olivia A. Cole and Ashley WoodfolkYA sapphic rom com, two teen girls want revenge on the popular girl they're in love withMoon Rising by Claire BarnerQueer near future romantisci, lunar colony, battling eco terroristsThe Gryphon King by Sara OmerQueer Southwest Asian inspired epic fantasy, monsters, dynastic politics, slow burn romanceTaste the love by Karelia and Fay Stetz-WatersSapphic romance with rival chefsNo Body No Crime by Tess SharpeQueer thriller, romance, secrets, two girls killing a shitty guyHouse of Beth by Kerry CullenQueer literary fiction, unhinged women, OCD, family secretsWayward Girls by Susan WiggsQueer historical fiction, 1960s Buffalo, six girls in a Catholic reform schoolThe Lighthouse at the Edge of the World by J.R. DawsonQueer fantasy, waystation for the dead, ghostsThe Elysium Heist by Y. M. ResnikQueer sci fi, heist in a space casino with six women, intergalactic card tournamentThe Haunting of Bellington Cottage by Laura ParnumMiddle grade horror, two girls trying to see if they're still friends in a haunted vacation houseAnother by Paul TremblayPaul's middle grade horror debut!!!!!The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra KhawHorror, wicked dark academia, dark magic academy for the dangerously powerfulGirl in the Creek by Wendy M. WagnerHorror, Pacific Northwest, missing hiker, body horror, eco-horror, sporrorOddbody by Rose KeatingHorror short stories, “weird girl fiction”Never the Roses by Jennifer K. LambertRomantasy, epic fantasy, Circle meets The Witch's HeartThe Frozen People by Elly GriffithsSci fi thriller, time traveling cold case teamHow to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory ArnoldFantasy thriller, famous horror author dies & invites writers to his manor to play a game, locked room mysteryThe Secret Market of the Dead by Giovanni De FeoFantasy, Italian inspired, historical, gothic, magic competition, “young woman who finds her power in the nocturnal realm that lurks beneath her town.”The Art of Vanishing by Morgan PagerSci fi, love story between a museum employee and a man in a paintingThe Alchemy of Flowers by Laura ResauModern fantasy take on The Secret GardenArcana Academy by Elise KovaRomantasy, woman who wield magic tarot cards in a fake relationship with the headmaster of a mysterious academy, first in seriesHit Me with Your Best Charm by Lillie ValeYA fantasy, small magic town, autumn festival, secrets, magic forest, missing kidSoulgazer by Maggie RapierPirate romantasy, lost mystical isleAugustThe Hounding by Xenobe PurvisHistorical horror, mystery, small town, girls transforming into houndsThe Locked Ward by Sarah PekkanenPsychological thriller, psychiatric institution, solving a murder, shady rich familyToo Old for This by Samantha DowningFunny thriller, elderly female serial killer, small town OregonForget Me Not by Stacy WillinghamMystery, new series, journalist solving case, old diary, vineyard, SouthernHouse of the Beast by Michelle WongDark fantasy, fairy tales, pact with a magical entity, revenge on rich familyThe Magician of Tiger Castle by Louis SacharAdult cozy fantasy, princess escaping arranged marriage with quirky found familyThe Society of Unknowable Objects by Gareth BrownFantasy, secret society protecting world from powerful magical objects, LondonHemlock and Silver by T. KingfisherFantasy, Snow White retelling, herbal healing, potions, magic mirrorsKatabasis by R.F. KuangFantasy, two PhD students go to hell to rescue their crappy advisorThese Memories Do Not Belong to Us by Yiming MaSci fi, memory, thriller, memory-monitoring tech, memory capitalismBlack Flame by Gretchen Felker-MartinHorror, queer, sexual repression, film archives, exploitation films, lost filmLucky Day by Chuck TingleHorror, cosmic horror, Vegas casino, statistics, mysterious federal agentWhat Hunger by Catherine DangHorror, coming of age, teen angst, generational trauma, female rageThe End of the World as We Know It edited by Christopher Golden and Brian KeeneHorror anthology inspired by The StandThe Possession of Alba Díaz by Isabel CañasHorror, historical, 1700s northern Mexico, demon, gothicWell, Actually by Mazey EddingsRomance, second chances with publicly documented datesLove Arranged by Lauren AsherRomance, Lakefront Billionaires series, fake relationshipMistress of Bones by Maria Z. MedinaYA debut fantasy, multiple POV, necromancer who wants to bring her sister back from the dead, romance, floating continents, rapier fightsBaldwin: A Love Story by Nicholas BoggsBiography of James Baldwin, queer history Vulture by Phoebe Greenwood Literary fiction, Gaza war correspondent protagonist, dark comedy A New New Me by Helen Oyeyemi Surreal literary sci fi, protagonist with multiple personalities Extinction Capital of the World by Mariah Rigg Short stories, cli fi, Hawaii, love and regret The Re-Write by Lizzie Damilola Blackburn Romance, rom-com, lovers to enemies to lovers, her ex goes on a reality dating show while she's hired to ghost write his memoir Lessons in Magic and Disaster by Charlie Jane Anders Cozy fantasy in autumn in New England!!!, witch trying to reconnect with her mother, spellsThe Midnight Shift by Seon-Ran Cheon, translated by Gene PngQueer vampire murder mystery in KoreaToni and Addie Go Viral by Melissa MarrSapphic romance, fake relationship, Victorian historian and actress

I spent way too much time trying to shoehorn a Warhammer 40K reference into this episode title, and it devolved into something that would make a Chaos Marine blush. So we're keeping it professional (kinda) and diving straight into the space weather for 2025's back 9. Watch along on YouTube here, if you like. This is what we cover. Space Baby Update & Good Enough Goals  Austin's 30-pound toddler is harder to carry than heavy deadlifts, and "good enough" is our 2025 achievement mindset Failed 40K References & First Half Lookback  From the eternal Mars season to the Carnival of Chaos that delivered perfect tariff confusion Iran & Playing for All the Marbles  Why this could mark the start of World War III and how it connects to the Jupiter-Saturn square Uranus Enters Gemini: The Pilot Episode  The seven-year transit that historically reshapes America, plus the flying wedge formation of outer planets The Bow and Arrow Configuration  Peak craziness in August with Mars-Saturn tension creating a cosmic weapon aimed at change The Pause That Does Not Refresh  September's retreat into swampy Pisces energy—like WWI trenches where your feet rot in gross water Pisces-Virgo Eclipse Season  The tail of the dragon's Buddhist letting go vs. the head's overwhelming hunger for the dream Neptune in Aries & Individual Glory  From woke-era uniformity to the pursuit of personalised excellence and looking combat-ready Jupiter in Cancer Magic  Learning what you really need and how to ask the divine for surgical beneficence Personal Updates & H2 Plans  Austin's book progress, Gordon's Peru trip for the Festival of the Sun, and preparing for a louder 2026  

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit andrewsullivan.substack.comBatya is a journalist and author. She's a columnist for The Free Press, a co-host of The Group Chat on 2Way, and the author of two books: Bad News: How Woke Media Is Undermining Democracy, and Second Class: How the Elites Betrayed America's Working Men and Women. Her forthcoming book is about, as she puts it, “why Jews are Democrats and why the left turned on the Jews.”For two clips of our convo — on Trump's class warfare, and deporting non-citizens over speech — head to our YouTube page.Other topics: raised in an Orthodox family; debating issues with her parents and five siblings during Shabbat; spending high school in Israel; same-sex education; the mikveh; how sexual desire is better with limitations; becoming secular for a decade; getting a PhD in English literature; her “accidental” entry into journalism during Hurricane Sandy; the Great Awokening in media; Trump's despicable character; his fickle tariffs; his tax cuts; Congress ceding power to Trump; Biden's tariffs; his investment in factories and infrastructure; his disastrous immigration policy; Batya's evolving views on Trump; marriage equality; Bostock; trans activist ideology; Trump's EO on trans servicemembers; Scott Bessent; the overreach of neoliberalism; Adam Smith; the tax cuts in the BBB; crypto; defunding science at Harvard; gutting USAID; the State Dept's AI surveillance; the 1952 McCarthyite law; Öztürk and Khalil; UNRWA and Gaza; Israel striking Iran; and the possibility of regime change.There were eight clashes over facts in the episode. Chris ran them through Grok, which one presumes would not be too biased against Trump. You can read the eight back-and-forths on the web version of the episode. You should listen and, with these independent sources in mind, decide for yourself on the facts. I think I missed the mark a little a couple of times, but was specifically wrong in assuming that Batya was all in on the war against Iran and always had been. I apologize for that — and for getting a bit too amped up. I should try not to do that when I'm a host and I hope Batya will forgive me. But a vast amount of the chat was nonetheless delightful — and this is a stressful time. Coming up on the Dishcast: Paul Elie on crypto-religion in ‘80s pop culture, Walter Isaacson on Ben Franklin, Tara Zahra on the revolt against globalization after WWI, Thomas Mallon on the AIDS crisis, and Johann Hari turning the tables to interview me. (NS Lyons has indefinitely postponed a pod appearance — and his own substack — because he just accepted an appointment at the State Department; and the Arthur Brooks pod is postponed because of calendar conflicts.) Please send any guest recs, dissents, and other comments to dish@andrewsullivan.com.

Listen to Victor Davis Hanson and co-host Jack Fowler as they discuss commencement speeches praising Hamas, Harvard should accept the truth about their anti-Semitism, Trump's counter-revolution goes to the core, Rubio revokes visas, Jamie Dimon's honesty about the economy, Greece post-WWI, Trump's post, and relations between Trump and the Federalist Society.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Do IQ tests measure your fixed intellect, or is there more to the equation? Despite their dark history, Michael Regilio bears good news on Skeptical Sunday!Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we're joined by skeptic, comedian, and podcaster Michael Regilio!Jordan's must reads (including books from this episode): AcceleratEdFull show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1159On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:In 1927, the US Supreme Court supported forced sterilization of "feeble-minded" people based on IQ scores. Over 7,000 were sterilized in North Carolina alone. Nazi war criminals later cited American eugenics programs as inspiration.Early IQ tests asked about Edgar Allan Poe and bowling terminology. These measured cultural knowledge, not intelligence, disadvantaging anyone without specific educational or social backgrounds. This could mean the difference between becoming an officer or cannon fodder in WWI.Researcher James Robert Flynn determined that IQ scores have risen three points per decade throughout the 20th century. But contrary to claims made in the 1994 book The Bell Curve, this "Flynn effect" isn't due to evolution or genetics, but factors like better nutrition, cleaner water, smaller families, and more cognitively demanding environments.ChatGPT scores 99.9th percentile verbally but fails simple logic puzzles humans solve instantly. This demonstrates how intelligence isn't a single number — it's more like a jazz ensemble where mathematical reasoning, emotional intelligence, creativity, and street smarts all play different instruments. Trying to capture that symphony with one test is like describing a rainbow using only numbers.IQ tests aren't worthless — they're just misunderstood. Use them as diagnostic tools, not destiny predictors. Low pattern recognition score? Practice puzzles. Weak verbal reasoning? Read more complex texts. Identify specific cognitive areas to strengthen rather than accepting a single number as your limit. Your IQ isn't your written-in-stone fate — it's your starting coordinates on an infinitely expandable map of human potential.Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!Connect with Michael Regilio at Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, and make sure to check out the Michael Regilio Plagues Well With Others podcast here or wherever you enjoy listening to fine podcasts!And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here — even one sentence helps! Sign up for Six-Minute Networking — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger!This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors:FlyKitt: 15% off: flykitt.com, code JORDANCaldera Lab: 20% off: calderalab.com/jordan, code JORDANHiya: 50% off first order: hiyahealth.com/jordanSimpliSafe: 50% off + 1st month free: simplisafe.com/jordanProgressive: Free online quote: progressive.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Part one of this 2016 classic covers the social unrest in the U.S. after WWI. There was a fear that Communist revolutionaries would try to take over the country. Adding fuel to the fear were two bomb plots in 1919.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.