The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg

Elliott Abrams, a longtime Middle East specialist and former U.S. national security official, joins to tour Venezuela, Cuba, Iran, India, and more. They debate Trump-era unpredictability, the limits of realism in foreign policy, democracy promotion versus realpolitik, and how alliances and reputations shift when leaders act personally and ad-hoc.

Robert P. George, Princeton jurist-philosopher and director of the James Madison Program, discusses truth-seeking, natural law, and speaking truth in public life. He traces Western truth roots, critiques the age of feeling, and contrasts rights, marriage, and penal principles. Conversations touch on conservatism’s future, populism, and defending liberal principles.

A solo reflection on why labeling opponents 'fascist' weakens persuasion and how semantic inflation harms debate. A dive into progressivism’s troubled intellectual past and why movements should self-scrutinize. A look at corporatism, regulation as a barrier to entry, and how complexity can subsidize incumbents. Quick takes on the Melania film, The Washington Post’s strategy, and political hypocrisy.

Eli Lake, national security columnist and host of Breaking History, offers a concise mini bio as an Iran and geopolitics reporter. He discusses Iran’s legitimacy crisis and violent repression. He examines regime cohesion, elite fractures, and use of foreign forces. He traces historical roots from Mossadegh to 1979 and weighs U.S. strategic pressure and strike options.

Jenna Storey, AEI scholar focused on civic education and liberal arts revitalization. Ben Storey, AEI scholar working on liberal education and civic reform. They explore university governance, reviving civics within the liberal arts, local school startups and associational life, and debates over postliberalism, subsidiarity, and why teaching 'how to think' and civic purpose matters.

A weary commentator returns from cross‑country travel and dissects a high-profile political event and its travel chaos. He debates party stewardship, nomination systems, and the risks of performative politics. He scrutinizes national conservative leaders and controversies around antisemitism claims. He examines a deadly Minneapolis enforcement action and whether federal tactics provoked predictable harm.

Matt Franck, constitutional scholar and teacher of law and the presidency, discusses federalism, executive power, and institutional reform. They debate why the right fractured and the psychology of following flawed leaders. Conversation covers the unitary executive, limits on removal and pardons, territorial authority, and ideas like repealing the 17th Amendment to revive state-centered politics.

John McCormack, The Dispatch journalist with a long Tucker profile, and Jason Zengerle, New Yorker staff writer and author of Hated by All the Right People, dig into Tucker Carlson’s media rise. They trace the Daily Caller’s clickbait turn, Fox-era influence on Trump, ties to Breitbart and Nick Fuentes, and how fringe ideas were normalized in conservative media.

A wide-ranging take on presidential staff responsibility and why leaders need internal restraint. A critique of empty political threats, campus protest culture, and permissive policing. A candid look at contemporary antisemitic tropes and how they warp debate. Pop culture detours into Star Trek, sitcom neighbors, and TV recommendations sprinkled throughout.

Elliot Williams, a journalist and author of *Five Bullets*, returns to delve into the Bernie Goetz case, the 1980s backdrop of New York, and their enduring relevance today. He discusses the shock of the 1984 subway shooting, linking Goetz’s story to contemporary issues of vigilantism and public safety. The conversation also paints a vivid picture of 1980s New York's chaos, shaped by crime and economic decline. Williams shares insights from his interviews with key figures, revealing the complex legal and social implications still resonating in current debates.