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
16 snips
Mar 28, 2026 • 19min
The Limits of Sound and Fury w/ Rahm Emanuel (Members Only #311)
Rahm Emanuel, former White House chief of staff and two-term Chicago mayor, reflects on big political choices and their fallout. He recalls picking healthcare over other fights and how that helped pass the ACA but transformed politics. He digs into the financial crisis, bailouts, and the sources of long-running public anger. He also shares vivid anecdotes from life in Washington and City Hall.
14 snips
Mar 26, 2026 • 1h 23min
Is Apple Still Apple? #550 (w/ David Pogue)
David Pogue, longtime tech columnist and author of Apple: The First 50 Years, joins to unpack Apple’s secret history and future. He traces the Newton’s rescue role, Project Titan’s $10 billion car gamble, Apple’s pivot into medical sensing, deep ties with China, and its privacy-first AI approach. Quick, lively takes on Vision Pro, supply-chain realities, and why Apple still has runway.
Mar 24, 2026 • 26min
The Hungarian Road to Havana (Members Only #310)
They unpack Viktor Orban's international reach, alleged wiretaps, and a reported Russia-linked plot. They compare Hungary's economy and politics to Poland and warn about outside conservative backing. They also critique influencer trips to Cuba, staged propaganda tours, and sensationalized claims about Cuban healthcare.
31 snips
Mar 19, 2026 • 1h 44min
There’s Always a New Monster to Destroy (w/ Noam Dworman) #549
Noam Dworman, owner of the Comedy Cellar and long-form podcaster, joins to debate comedy, free speech, and fraught geopolitics. He recounts running a club that thrives on argued conversations. Conversations range from Israel and Iran policy to how conspiracies and provocative voices gain traction. Stories about booking controversies and the culture of public debate round out the chat.
Mar 17, 2026 • 19min
Cuba in the Dark (Members Only #309)
Banter about a thrift-store portrait sparks comedic set stories. Critics weigh in on Oscars moments, K-pop references, and viral reactions. A debate unfolds over comparisons between American and authoritarian systems. Old communist papers and claims of Cuban gains lead to a discussion of literacy, healthcare, and Havana’s visible decline and blackouts.
51 snips
Mar 12, 2026 • 2h 2min
Gov. Chris Christie Tells on Everyone #548
Chris Christie, former New Jersey governor and ex-federal prosecutor, offers blunt political stories and courtroom memories. He tells colorful anecdotes about politicians, media moments, and the Kushner prosecution. He discusses Trump’s instincts, DOJ politicization, and why some Republicans bend. Short, candid, and packed with behind-the-scenes tales.
Mar 11, 2026 • 17min
A Brief Defense of the Vampires w/ Lloyd Blankfein (Members Only #308)
Lloyd Blankfein, former CEO of Goldman Sachs and author, offers a candid mini bio as a finance veteran. He talks markets, oil shocks, and geopolitical risk. He discusses the U.S. economy’s strength, asset-driven wealth gaps, and historical perspective on polarization. He reflects on postwar prosperity, global cycles in Russia and China, and why U.S. capitalism stays more dynamic.
9 snips
Mar 9, 2026 • 21min
Many Worlds, Bad Science, and the Strangeness of Being w/Sean Carroll (Members Only #307)
Sean Carroll, theoretical physicist and science communicator known for work on quantum foundations and cosmology, joins to talk multiverse ideas and the many-worlds interpretation. He also explores how scientific concepts seep into culture and the risks of bad science and online overconfidence. Short takes on music, reading, and why expertise often gets misunderstood.
59 snips
Mar 5, 2026 • 1h 31min
Iran and the Fog of Regime Change (w/Hooman Majd) - #547
Hooman Majd, Iranian-American author and commentator on Iran and its history. He discusses the human cost of war and public reactions in Iran. He explores regime change versus regime adjustment, the legacy of the 1979 revolution, censorship and propaganda, the role of the IRGC, sanctions’ effects, and prospects for regional normalization.
21 snips
Mar 3, 2026 • 23min
Iran and the Dee Snider Doctrine (Members Only #306)
Breaking reports of Iranian strikes and the viral footage that followed spark discussion. The conversation explores how images of liberated Iranian women shape public sentiment. Political messaging and the use of emotive rationales for military action get dissected. They trace war powers, historical precedents, and debates over U.S. involvement, allies, and strategic stakes.
