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
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.
10 snips
Mar 2, 2026 • 24min
One Hitter: War With Iran and Jewish Space Lasers w/ Nadav Eyal (Members Only #305)
Nadav Eyal, Israeli journalist and Columbia lecturer on strategic surprises, breaks down the Iran strikes and regional escalation. He discusses how foreknowledge and visible deployments signaled action. He maps how proxies like Hezbollah and the Houthis could cascade conflict. He explains why U.S. leaders saw a limited-risk window and how tech and intelligence shaped recent successes.
17 snips
Feb 27, 2026 • 28min
The Revolutionaries (w/ Ken Layne) -- #5
Ken Layne, founder and voice of Desert Oracle, a teller of Mojave folklore and regional history. He describes the radio-show’s storytelling style and bioregional mission. They explore desert monsters and literary influences. Conversation then shifts to Revolutionary-era memory, hardships of the Continental Army, and Washington’s emergence.
53 snips
Feb 26, 2026 • 1h 54min
State of the Union Post-Mortem with Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) - #546
Elissa Slotkin, U.S. senator from Michigan and former CIA official, discusses foreign policy, war powers, and defending alliances. She takes on tariffs' local harms and White House carve-outs. She also describes DOJ politicization and her push for institutional reforms. Short, direct takes on Ukraine, Iran, and the need for coherent U.S. strategy.
18 snips
Feb 24, 2026 • 22min
Locker Room Talk and the Pizzagate Reunion Tour (Members Only #304)
Casual drinking-show banter leads into takes on locker-room antics after Olympic hockey wins. Conversation spins into celebrity appearances at team celebrations and a Mexican cartel operation with possible US involvement. They mull UFO file releases and the dangers of unverified investigative leaks. The discussion circles Epstein document fallout and the spread of conspiratorial misinformation.
6 snips
Feb 20, 2026 • 10min
A Big, Beautiful SCOTUS Decision (with Damon Root) MO #303
Damon Root, legal journalist and author of Overruled, breaks down a big Supreme Court tariff ruling. He highlights separation of powers, the major questions doctrine, and why three justices dissented. Short, sharp takes on congressional abdication and conservative inconsistency.
58 snips
Feb 19, 2026 • 1h 7min
Ambiguity in the Age of Outrage (w/ Jon Meacham) - #545
Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and presidential biographer, offers a clear-eyed mini tour of American political complexity. He teases Jefferson’s contradictions and reframes Lincoln’s anti-slavery stance. They probe ambiguity as an antidote to ideological weaponizing, media-driven outrage, and the institutional strains seen since January 6.
Feb 17, 2026 • 22min
Voodoo Socialism and the $3 Million Rainy Day Fund w/ William Neuman (Members Only #302)
William Neuman, investigative journalist and former New York Times Caracas bureau chief, shares on-the-ground reporting from Venezuela. He walks through Chávez-era institution erosion, media spectacle and televised politics. He also covers PDVSA’s purge and the oil-driven narratives around U.S. intervention.
Feb 13, 2026 • 24min
The Revolutionaries (w/ Robert Sullivan) - #4
Robert Sullivan, author and journalist behind My American Revolution, recounts his obsession with Revolutionary War sites. He talks about how place and memory shaped the book. He explains organizing history by the calendar. He shares quirky reenactment stories and why some historic sites fade from public memory.
