The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg

On today’s Ruminant, recorded live from the pungent parking lot of a California West Marine, Yiddish terms are required to describe Jonah’s emotional state. With his daughter Lucy leaving home, he processes his grief by exploring John Rawls’ original position, existentialist movie-making, and why American popular culture is much more conservative than most people realize. Afterward, all sentimentality fades away as an epic rant on the situation in Afghanistan and the dismal state of American politics commences. Animated by unprecedented annoyance, Jonah argues that President Biden has revealed himself to be plainly unfit for office. But that doesn’t make Trump look any more appealing. Show Notes: -Nine Days, which plunged Jonah into an existential crisis -Philosophy 101 -Jonah’s pro-life ruminations -Sweet victory -The Remnant with Eli Lake -The Dispatch Podcast on Afghanistan -Jonah’s uncontroversial tweet which provoked nothing but love and praise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bloomberg Opinion columnist Eli Lake joins Jonah for a thorough discussion of the tragic situation in Afghanistan. Is President Biden’s leadership to blame for the catastrophe? Did Biden ignore warnings that withdrawal would result in a Taliban takeover? And how did the Afghanistan war go from being celebrated on Saturday Night Live to such a tragic conclusion? Things aren’t all doom and gloom, however, as Eli is sure to end on a note of optimism. The American experiment has endured challenges on the global stage in the past, but rejuvenation has also been accomplished. Besides, America’s adversaries have plenty of their own problems to contend with. Show Notes: -Eli’s page at Bloomberg Opinion -Eli’s review of Jonathan Rauch’s The Constitution of Knowledge -It happened -David Sanger: “For Biden, Images of Defeat He Wanted to Avoid” -Jonah: “Dishonor in Afghanistan” -Well this is awkward -Eli: “Framed and Guilty” -Murphyism -“Suckers and losers” -The great debate -Eli joins Bari Weiss’ symposium -Biden’s latest remarks, which may or may not date this episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s Ruminant finds Jonah deprived of air conditioning in the middle of brutal D.C. heat, baffled by inexplicable decisions made by figures across the political spectrum. With the Taliban advancing in Afghanistan, progressives arguing that ACTUALLY, kids don’t need to master math and reading, and President Biden considering vaccine mandates for interstate travel, there’s plenty to be annoyed about. Tune in also to hear Jonah’s thoughts on liberal nostalgia, socioeconomic divisions, and the propensity of the politically-obsessed to freak out about minor things. Oh, and bring a squeegee. Show Notes: - The Morning Dispatch breaks down the Afghanistan situation - An emergency Dispatch Podcast on Afghanistan - The Ethics and Public Policy Center’s Honor Among Nations - International community, eh? - Trump’s enduring delusions - Frederick M. Hess on Oregon’s “soft bigotry of low expectations” - David Brooks reflects on Bobos in Paradise - The Wednesday G-File - Sombart on socialism - Jonah on royalty, real and imagined - The Remnant with Jonathan Adler - Biden contemplates vaccine mandates for interstate travel - Amy Coney Barrett upholds Indiana University’s vaccine mandate Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charles C.W. Cooke, National Review’s Anglo-American purveyor of liberty and golf carts, returns to The Remnant for a spirited discussion of accents, constitutionalism, and all things Floridian. Although Ron DeSantis has faced persistent criticism, Charlie believes he got COVID right, and explains why. With many references to James Madison. Meanwhile, Jonah remains puzzled by the right’s fondness for Hungary, the increasingly imperialistic nature of the presidency, and Charles’ blissful ignorance of foreign policy. At the end of it all, a fundamental question remains that only listeners can answer: What’s the best theme song in TV history? Show Notes: - The Wednesday G-File - The great debate - Bill Maher defends Ron DeSantis - Rabbit season - Charlie’s takedown of Rebekah Jones - Hungary eyes - “The Salazar Option” - Achieving our Country, by Richard Rorty Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Case Western University professor Jonathan Adler brings his fluency in legalese to The Remnant today for a conversation that would make Milton Hershey proud. In freewheeling fashion, he and Jonah explore the constitutional implications of the eviction moratorium, whether The Suicide Squad is worth watching, and how mitigating the threat of climate change through nuclear power won’t produce an abundance of three-eyed fish. Stick around for a thorough discussion of the principles on which the conservative movement should be based, which causes Jonah and Jonathan to rapidly age into a pair of ornery octogenarians. Show Notes: -Jonathan’s first Remnant appearance -Jonathan’s unique take on the peanut butter cup -Laurence Tribe defends the eviction moratorium -“A rare act of presidential civil disobedience” -Is the Supreme Court the Guardian of the Constitution? by Robert A. Licht -The Constitution in Congress, by David P. Currie -The latest IPCC report -“I didn’t get rich by writing a lot of checks” -Hankering for Hungary -Kevin Williamson on what’s rotten in Denmark -“The Salazar Option” -Jonathan and Henry Olsen debate fusionism Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The drive-time Remnant format returns today to prelude a new era for The Dispatch. With Nick Pompella now off to the wilds of Indiana, Jonah, Ryan, and Guy are left to explore the mad world of D.C. living and marmite advertising as a trio. Brace your bingo cards for a wild ride, as Jonah reflects on his conversation with Steak-umm social media guru Nathan Allebach, Ryan ponders the origin of “Republicans pounce,” and Guy previews an epic oral history of The Simpsons. Was Marbury v. Madison wrongly decided? What’s so funny about the sweet taste of candy? And who will succeed Nick as the Alfred to Jonah’s Batman? Show Notes: - The Remnant with Nathan Allebach - Joe Isuzu - Advertising reaches its peak - Guy and Ryan on The Comments Section podcast - Salty campaigning - “These Superbowl commercials are weird” - The Dispatch Podcast on the eviction moratorium extension - Republicans pounce on Cori Bush - Vindication for Jonah on “Latinx” - The Wednesday G-File - Jonah’s hatred of the Brookings Institution, colorized - “We do, we do” - Coalitional instincts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the past, The Remnant has hosted prominent politicians, scholars, and media personalities. But none of them have made Jonah as excited as today’s guest: Nathan Allebach, manager of the Steak-umm Twitter account. In a conversation laden with meat-related puns, Jonah and Nathan take a deep dive into the bizarre world of social media, where fast food brands often offer greater intellectual nuance than most political commentators. Neil deGrasse Tyson, online abuse, and the origins of Nathan’s glorious enterprise are all discussed, as Jonah examines whether we’d be better off without the internet. At the end of it all, one vital hot-button question remains unanswered: Are hot dogs sandwiches? Show Notes: - Wednesday’s “news”letter - Where the magic happens - The Joe Rogan episode that changed everything - The Twitter verification saga - Major beef with Neil deGrasse Tyson - Rationalia, eh? - Vindication for the Baconator - What a time to be alive Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Stirewalt is back on The Remnant to discuss how we can make politics boring again. As Chris observes, we’ve entered a “wilderness of grifts,” where opportunistic nationalism and Lincoln Project-style chicanery are all the rage. Meanwhile, a new group is trying to turn Joe Biden into FDR, factions on the right are embracing the progressive vision of government, and rage clicks are poisoning the political well. What can we learn from Lincoln in this bizarre moment? How do Americans really feel about abortion? And will Chris finally make a pious man out of Jonah? Show Notes: -The Morning Dispatch breaks down the infrastructure negotiations -The Jane Mayer piece that made Jonah’s morning -Jonah explores Trump’s grip on the GOP -Ave, true to Trump -Trump’s endorsement goes awry in Texas -The Remnant with Dan McLaughlin -Biden’s team of rivals -The Great Debate, by Yuval Levin -Jonah’s decadent dysfunction -Jonah on the implications of Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health -The real great debate -A musical mystery -Chris’ Instagram, where the magic happens -Kevin Williamson on the big white ghetto Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s ranty Ruminant finds Jonah alternately perplexed and irritated by the state of the COVID-19 pandemic, illiberalism in politics, and folks who think Twitter is real life. He begins by digging into the CDC’s revised guidance on masks and the possible implications of America’s stalling vaccine campaign. From there, things get nerdy, as Jonah explores the state of conservative institutions and weirdness of internet culture. Any cartoonists listening should stick around until the end for some striking inspiration. Show Notes: - Christian Schneider on anti-racism - Jonah on the new mask mandates - Wednesday’s “news”letter - Last year’s kooky Washington Times piece on masks - Crisis and Leviathan, by Robert Higgs - The Dispatch Podcast on the CDC and January 6 - The Remnant with Tim Carney - Marty Makary on the push to vaccinate children - Laura K. Field’s essay on the Claremont Institute - The Remnant with Dan McLaughlin - Scarlett Johansson sues Disney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

American Enterprise Institute scholar and fan-favorite Remnant guest Tim Carney joins Jonah for a wide-ranging discussion of obscure political philosophy, the state of the COVID-19 pandemic, and why babies are good. In these strange, often distressing times, it can be easy to take a pessimistic view of the conservative movement and America more broadly. Tim, however, believes we should be hopeful on both of these fronts. What does it mean to be an old individualist? Will new mask mandates presage a return to lockdowns? And does it really take a village to raise a child? Show Notes: - Tim’s page at the Washington Examiner - Khaya Himmelman’s profile of Mike Lindell - The Remnant with Dan McLaughlin - “Crisis actors” - Laura Ingraham’s oscars - “Pelosi Republicans” - Patriotic cuisine - The CDC revises its mask guidance - The Wednesday G-File - Washington Examiner: “Vaccinate India” - Making the U.S. more family-friendly - David Brooks: “The Nuclear Family was a Mistake” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices