The Fifth Column Tucker, Totenkopf, and the Fascist Question w/ Michelle Goldberg #554
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Apr 23, 2026 
Michelle Goldberg, New York Times columnist and author, joins to tackle foreign policy and culture. She dissects the Iran conflict, U.S. credibility, and the fallout of recent interventions. She explores the rise of right-wing populism, resurging anti-Semitism, and the appeal of outsider candidates. Sharp, wide-ranging conversation on politics, power, and political theater.
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Unpredictable Moves Sabotage Negotiating Credibility
- Trump's unpredictability undermines U.S. negotiating credibility, as he has attacked Iran while claiming to negotiate.
- Axios reporting and Goldberg suggest killing key Iranian figures worsened internal Iranian divisions and hampered diplomacy.
Force Can’t Substitute For Political Strategy
- Military force can degrade an enemy's capabilities but cannot reliably produce regime change or long-term political outcomes.
- The hosts compare this to Vietnam credibility logic and argue force begets escalation without political resolution.
Risk Successes Normalize Aggressive Foreign Policy
- Tactical successes (e.g., Venezuela operation) can retroactively justify a risk-taking presidency and encourage further risky interventions.
- Goldberg warns this normalizes 'take the oil' realism and erodes U.S. soft power and moral standing.