The Mona Charen Show

AEI's Kori Schake joins to discuss Ukraine funding, GOP's moral and strategic collapse, Nikki Haley's role, calls for a Gaza ceasefire, and more. highlights / lowlights  Damon: John Avlon: I'm running for Congress. Linda: Something’s Fishy About the ‘Migrant Crisis’ A Rage in Harlem by Chester Himes Liberation Struggle Kori: NATO Gives Ukraine the Go-Ahead to Cross Putin's Red Line Mona: What Losing My Two Children Taught Me About Grief Bill:  For Gen Z, an Age-Old Question: Who Pays for Dates?

The podcast discusses interesting topics such as the recent NY special election, implications for November, dysfunction in the Democratic Party, GOP's stance on international affairs, and the question of replacing Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee. It also touches on Trump's NATO threat, Putin's dismissal of Tucker Carlson, the impact of immigrants on the US economy, and more.

The Dispatch's Scott Lincicome returns to discuss cheap avocados, the "China shock," and other economic matters. The panel then discusses the GOP heel turn on the border, betraying Ukraine, and whether the Crumbley verdict was a step too far.highlights / lowlights:Mona: As Kids, They Thought They Were Trans. They No Longer Do. (Pamela Paul, NYT)Linda: Isaiah Berlin and the Tragedy of Pluralism (Damon Linker, Persuasion) 1961 Debate Between Malcolm X and James BaldwinBill: Firing Ukraine’s top general would be a mistake (Adrian Bonenberger, The Hill) Damon: Special Counsel Robert Hur's Biden classified documents report.

ABC's Jonathan Karl joins to discuss Trump's under-covered first two years as post-president. Also the immigration deal that isn't.highlights / lowlightsDamon: Baumgartner by Paul AusterLinda: After a Decade of Decline, the US Undocumented Population Increased by 650,000 in 2022, Journal on Migration and Human SecurityThings Fall Apart: How the Middle Ground on Immigration Collapsed, New York TimesMona: MAGA Has TDS—Taylor Derangement Syndrome, A.B. Stoddard, The BulwarkJonathan: Lowlight: The collapse of the Ravens and Lions in the NFL playoffs.Bill: EU Leaders Agree to $54 Billion Ukraine Aid Package as Hungary’s Orban Backs Down, Wall Street Journal

Yascha Mounk joins to consider the NH results, Greg Abbott's defiance of the Supreme Court, and a dissenting view on a much-praised TV series.highlights / lowlightsMona: Jamie Dimon Joins the Trump Normalizers by Dennis Aftergun and Walter H. White, Jr.The Best Minds: A Story of Friendship, Madness, and the Tragedy of Good Intentions by Jonathan RosenYascha: Emmys 2024: Succession, The Bear and Beef among winners'I just love you': Tim Scott and Donald Trump's other challengers fall in line Damon: The 25th Anniversary of The SopranosLinda: Remembering Bayard Rustin by Arch PuddingtonBill: Netanyahu rejects Hamas conditions for Israeli hostage deal

Zack Beauchamp of Vox joins the panel (plus Will Saletan) to discuss Iowa and New Hampshire and the role of death threats in the Republican Party. Highlights / Lowlights: Mona: Peter Schickele, Composer and Gleeful Sire of P.D.Q. Bach, Dies at 88 Zack: Cape Verde becomes fourth African country to eliminate malaria Will:  Trump’s unsubtle crusade to cast foes as less American comes for Haley Bill: The Anti-Liberal by David Bell in Liberties. Linda: What the Asa Hutchinson incident reveals (and why it's important)

The podcast discusses the rot within white evangelical Protestantism, Christie's exit from the political race, Haley's strong bid in the Iowa debate, and the impact of anti-Trump sentiments on the rule of law. It also explores the complex relationship between white evangelical Christians and Trump and the politicization of evangelical churches. Additionally, it delves into Chris Christie's influence on the 2015 elections and speculates on motives and concerns about Fannie Willis' romantic relationship. The speakers express pessimism and discuss ethical conflicts in a humorous manner.

Nick Grossman of Arc Digital joins to discuss plagiarism, double standards, DEI, Israel, Iran, and Hamas.highlights / lowlightsMona: Hydroxychloroquine could have caused 17,000 deaths during Covid, study finds and Florida surgeon general calls for halt on mRNA covid vaccines, citing debunked claimDamon: The Law and High Politics of Disqualifying President Trump by Steve VladeckNick: Slow Horses on Apple+ and Why the GOP Doesn’t Really Want a Deal on Ukraine and the Border by David Frum.Linda: ‘Screams Without Words’: How Hamas Weaponized Sexual Violence on Oct. 7Bill: Fed Minutes Suggest Rate Hikes Are Over, but Offer No Timetable on Cuts and Kyiv Issues Dire Warning After 'Record' US Patriot Sweep

Guest host A.B. Stoddard and special guest Jim Swift join the panel to discuss Nikki Haley's Civil War / slavery stumble in New Hampshire. highlights / lowlights A.B. Stoddard: What Mitt Romney Saw in the Senate by McKay Coppins (The Atlantic) and My Father, My Faith, and Donald Trump by Tim Alberta (The Atlantic) Jim Swift: The Day After: The Night My Father Scared America, read by A.B. Stoddard (The Bulwark) Damon Linker: The Rise of Narrative and The Fall of Persuasion by Leon Wieseltier (Liberties) Linda Chavez: Here’s the Civil War history they didn’t want you to know by Howell Raines (WaPo) Bill Galston: Ukraine Doesn’t Need All Its Territory to Defeat Putin By Serge Schmemann (NYT)

Eric Edelman joins the group to consider whether Trump should be barred by 14th amendment, prospects for Ukraine, and whether Americans' sour views on the economy are right or wrong. highlights / lowlights  Mona: Right-wing pundits tremble in fear of … tap-dancing, by Catherine Rampell (WaPo) Eric: The mystery of the missing binder: How a collection of raw Russian intelligence disappeared under Trump (CNN) / Trump repeats 'poisoning the blood' anti-immigrant remark (Reuters) Damon: Rudy Giuliani's descent into bankruptcy, a personal story. Linda: Florida Republican Party censures chairman Christian Ziegler, by Lori Rozsa (WaPo) Bill: Rudy Giuliani files for bankruptcy following $146 million defamation suit judgment