The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg
The Dispatch
In “The Remnant," Jonah Goldberg enlists a “Cannonball Run”-style cast of stars, has-beens, and never-weres to address the most pressing issues of the day. Is America doomed? Has liberalism failed? And will mankind ever invent something better than ‘90s-era “Simpsons?” Mixing political history, pop culture, rank punditry, and shameless book-plugging, Goldberg and guests will have the kinds of conversations we wish they featured on TV. And the nudity will (almost) always be tasteful. Brace your bingo cards.
Episodes
Mentioned books
18 snips
Apr 20, 2026 • 1h 4min
War, Terrible and Awful | Interview: Mick Ryan
Mick Ryan, retired Australian Army major general and author, offers a concise military mind on modern conflict. He discusses Iran’s short war and its limits. He analyzes Russia’s strategy in Ukraine and the gamification of drone warfare. He explores ground robotics, the role of legacy platforms, and what America should have done — and might still need to do — to prepare for future wars.
32 snips
Apr 18, 2026 • 1h 29min
Boba Tea and Swahili-Themed Lesbian Poetry | Ruminant
A romp through Chicago travel chaos, steamy speaking gigs, and the city’s civic decline. Sharp critiques of politicians, hypocrisy in foreign-policy posturing, and debates about just war and Israel. Warnings about antisemitic dog whistles and historical demagogues. Oddball cultural moments like boba tea invites and Swahili-themed lesbian poetry keep things surreal.
33 snips
Apr 15, 2026 • 1h 15min
Israel on Trial | Interview: Roy K. Altman
Roy K. Altman, a U.S. federal judge and author, offers a legal-minded look at accusations against Israel. He examines claims like settler colonialism, apartheid, and genocide using legal methodology. The conversation covers historical presence, statehood criteria, Palestinian statehood offers, wartime civilian harm, and regional consequences.
119 snips
Apr 13, 2026 • 1h 23min
Last Branch Standing | Interview: Sarah Isgur
Sarah Isgur, author and legal commentator known for Advisory Opinions, discusses her book Last Branch Standing and Supreme Court history. She unpacks the Court’s origins, how docket control reshaped power, and her 3-3-3 model of justice blocs. Conversation covers originalism vs textualism, surprising coalition patterns, notable rulings, and quirky justice trivia.
48 snips
Apr 11, 2026 • 1h 26min
Grading Rhetoric | Ruminant
Reflections on family memories and the emotional work of sorting a life’s papers. A deep look at rhetoric’s power and why words shape politics and national mood. Critiques of Pentagon leadership, sectarian optics, and military messaging. A skeptical take on Vance’s praise of Orbán and the allure of illiberal models. Worries about online fringe influence, identity-politics inversion, and wartime leadership rhetoric.
17 snips
Apr 8, 2026 • 1h 10min
Finding Meaning in the Matrix | Interview: Arthur Brooks
Arthur Brooks, behavioral scientist and former AEI president, offers a compact bio and big ideas on purpose. He explores meaning as coherence, purpose, and significance. Conversation touches on modern life’s “Matrix,” phone habits, living like your grandparents, identity as a portfolio, religion, love, friendship, suffering, and a six-step plan to reclaim meaning.
36 snips
Apr 6, 2026 • 1h 4min
Has Trump Betrayed His Base?| Interview: Ross Douthat
Ross Douthat, New York Times columnist known for sharp cultural and political analysis, joins to dissect Iran, whether U.S. strikes aimed at regime change, and the risks of targeting leadership. They debate if Trump’s Iran moves felt like betrayal to MAGA voters, explore Israeli influence, and argue about the future and coherence of post-Trump conservatism.
35 snips
Apr 4, 2026 • 1h 20min
Pam Bondi, Cuba, and Plato | Ruminant
A wide-ranging conversation ruminates on Pam Bondi, loyalty in political appointments, and the fallout from congressional testimony. Sharp takes on Trump’s Iran speech and how he juggles competing audiences. A critique of media coverage of Cuba and a legal spotlight on the Meta case. Brief detours into Rawls, Plato, Hannah Arendt, and a spicy take on birthright citizenship.
41 snips
Apr 1, 2026 • 1h 27min
Hannah Arendt and the Crisis of Truth | Interview: Roger Berkowitz
Roger Berkowitz, founder of the Hannah Arendt Center and Bard professor, guides a fresh look at Arendt’s life and ideas. They explore origins of totalitarianism, the banality of evil, Arendt’s ties to Heidegger, politics as shared world-building, education’s role, and whether she fits liberal or republican labels. Short, sharp conversations probe why Arendt matters today.
36 snips
Mar 30, 2026 • 1h 17min
Has Scotland Forgotten Adam Smith? | Interview: Samuel Gregg
Samuel Gregg, a political economist and author who studies Adam Smith and the Scottish Enlightenment, joins to examine Smith’s unified moral and economic thought. They explore how commerce shaped flourishing, Scotland’s political shifts, Smith’s opposition to slavery, mercantilism and cronyism, and why liberal norms emerged from custom and institutions.
