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
54 snips
May 30, 2024 • 2h 29min
#457 - The Witch Trials of Alvin Bragg, The End of Vice, The Beginning of Reflector (w/ Matt Boll & Andy Mills)
Matt Boll and Andy Mills join in discussing Vice's downfall and the Black Panther Party's collapse. They also chat about the weirdness of the New York Trump trial and their new series called Reflector, a show about the strange human experience. The topics cover Israel in Rafah, legal cases, podcasting, journalism, rap music scrutiny, and societal values.
May 28, 2024 • 20min
Members Only #211 - The Ann Landers Edition
Topics covered include a humorous critique of a Libertarian party convention, controversial stances on child pornography, discussions on poetry, restaurant service, children, and sports, exploring truth and adaptation in storytelling, family encounters and activism discussions.
May 24, 2024 • 1h 48min
#456 - Hoops, Sneks, and Very Bad Doctors (w/ Aaron Sibarium)
Writer Aaron Sibarium discusses the UCLA Medical School controversy. Topics include serious race controversies, Supreme Court snek references, defending Marilyn Mosby, Israel-ICC relations, disparities in women's sports, and racial considerations in medical school admissions.
May 18, 2024 • 1h 52min
#455 - Debate Me, Joe
Guest Joe, a debater, discusses winning strategies and analysis of current political issues with hosts. Topics include Mitt Romney's views on Donald Trump's trial, post-Trump era Republican party divides, legal controversy surrounding Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels, and escalating conflict in Ukraine.
May 14, 2024 • 20min
Members Only #210 - Odds, Bobs, Feminist Bank Tellers, and the Records That Changed Us
Jake Siegel joins in to discuss his moderate dissent and reactions. Topics include Italian bootlegs, warm Fanta, pre-internet travel, encounters with feminist bank tellers, dealing with public name-calling, awful media critics, and the influence of Steve Albini in music.
20 snips
May 9, 2024 • 1h 34min
#454 - A Conspiracy So Vast (w/ Jacob Siegel)
Jacob Siegel, a veteran of Afghanistan and Iraq, talks about the Disinformation Industrial Complex, Trump's foreign policy, ending American aid to Israel, and his unified theory of censorship. The episode delves into conspiracy theories, Russia Gate hoax, COVID-19 narratives, democracy, political governance, varied perspectives on Israel, US presidents' stance on Israel, American foreign policy, and media manipulation.
May 6, 2024 • 22min
Members Only #209 - Rotten (and Racist) in Denmark
Topics discussed include Shogun erasure, debates on Israel, anti-Semitism, teaching kids versus raising kids, and cultural representation in media. The hosts also touch on revolutionary accents, bootleg videos, and the complexities of historical accents in films.
10 snips
May 3, 2024 • 1h 19min
#453 - No Step on Snek
The podcast discusses revolution, media restrictions, Al Sharpton's defense, forgiving student debt debates, the economic sense of college, Twitter's dynamics, and jihad rehab. A mix of humor and serious topics keep the conversation engaging and thought-provoking.
Apr 30, 2024 • 18min
Members Only #208 - Bananas Foster
Topics include banana genocide, conspiracy documentaries, journalism ethics, discussing ADHD and Adderall, RFK in CA, talking to Auschwitz survivors, memory challenges, and peaceful protesting
26 snips
Apr 25, 2024 • 1h 39min
#452 - The Strawberry Statement 2024 / The Eternal Adderall Shortage (w/ C.J. Ciaramella)
Reason's journalist C.J. Ciaramella discusses the government war on Adderall and his ADHD diagnosis. The hosts also cover student protests, free speech, and the influence of social media on political debates. They explore the challenges of obtaining Adderall legally, the impact of ADHD medications, and navigating misconceptions surrounding ADHD.
