The Fifth Column
Kmele Foster, Michael Moynihan, and Matt Welch
Your weekly rhetorical assault on the on the news cycle, the people who make it, and occasionally ourselves. Kmele Foster (Freethink), Michael Moynihan (Vice), and Matt Welch (Reason) talk and laugh and drink their way to at least quasi-sanity in a world gone mad, often with the aid of clean and articulate guests. Weekly Members Only subscription edition often comes with listener mail and professional-quality (if inappropriate) singing. Analysis. Commentary. Sedition. www.wethefifth.com
Episodes
Mentioned books
22 snips
May 12, 2026 • 20min
Robert D. Kaplan on a World Getting Darker (Members Only #320)
Robert D. Kaplan, geopolitical analyst and bestselling author, offers a wide-ranging, worldly perspective. He discusses the rise of anti-expert sentiment and a tragic view of history. He explores Malthusian pressures in Africa and how development can spark instability. He also explains why the South China Sea matters for global security and trade.
41 snips
May 7, 2026 • 1h 24min
Masquerade of Morons (Episode #556)
Conversation jumps from weird White House leaks and intra-administration jockeying to confusion over Trump’s letter about the Iran conflict. They debate military effects versus civilian costs and how information blackouts shape perception. Politics, from rising gas prices and wealthy donors to California gubernatorial chaos and performative protest, come up. AI campaign ads and viral social-media shaming finish the rundown.
27 snips
May 5, 2026 • 20min
Premeditated Fingering w/ Anthony Scaramucci (Members Only #319)
Anthony Scaramucci, founder of SkyBridge Capital and brief White House Communications Director, shares provocative takes. He riffs on astrology and lunar cycles. He weighs in on space enthusiasm and UAP skepticism. He recounts his short White House stint and reacts to media moments. He warns about Steve Bannon and reflects on immigration, populism, and political cycles.
27 snips
Apr 30, 2026 • 1h 52min
David French on the Supreme Court, Race, and the Miracle That Confirmed His Faith #555
David French, conservative columnist and constitutional lawyer, reflects on recent Supreme Court rulings and legal limits around free speech and gerrymandering. He discusses how polarized voting blurs race and politics, the role of disparate impact in investigations, and how adopting a Black daughter reshaped his view of American racism. He also shares a personal faith-affirming healing experience.
6 snips
Apr 28, 2026 • 20min
Crimes of Boredom (Members Only #318)
They break down a failed attack at a high-profile dinner and the oddities in its reporting. They mock and analyze the attacker’s manifesto, identity claims, and moral reasoning. The conversation digs into religious justifications for violence, media self-focus, and on-site confrontations among journalists. They debate how heated rhetoric and political culture may feed real-world attacks.
42 snips
Apr 23, 2026 • 1h 25min
Tucker, Totenkopf, and the Fascist Question w/ Michelle Goldberg #554
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.
Apr 22, 2026 • 19min
Live From Village Underground: The 10th Anniversary Show w/Ryan Long (Members Only #317)
A raucous 10th anniversary live show with quick banter, mystery drinks, and crowd antics. They roast past controversial appearances and trace the career twists of familiar personalities. Live mishaps, merch reveals, and cringe-worthy listener mail keep the night chaotic and hilarious.
7 snips
Apr 21, 2026 • 19min
Audience of One w/ Brian Kilmeade (Members Only #316)
Brian Kilmeade, longtime Fox News presenter and Fox & Friends co‑anchor, discusses his grueling routine and why cross‑coverage is expected. He talks about how The Five reshaped Fox’s culture and the network’s digital push to reach younger viewers. Conversation touches on covering 2020’s chaos and balancing reporting with opinion.
Apr 16, 2026 • 19min
Nothing is Impossible w/ Mark Harmon (Members Only #315)
Mark Harmon, American actor and author of the Ghosts of Sicily series, shares family lore and Hollywood memories. He recounts an encounter with Steve McQueen and classic Mini Cooper tales. He reflects on his father Tom Harmon’s Heisman fame, wartime plane crashes, and how those stories shaped family myth and memory.
49 snips
Apr 15, 2026 • 1h 13min
A Blockade of the Blockade #553
A wide-ranging political roundup that tackles media fairness and the speed of misconduct allegations. They debate US strategy in the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions, and limits of military action. Conversations cover gambling and personal responsibility, the appeal of Viktor Orban to American conservatives, and tensions between religion, Trump, and the Pope.
