The Remnant with Jonah Goldberg

Latest Episodes:

Authoritarian Mental Gestures Oct 09, 2021

Show notes

On today’s Ruminant, Jonah aims to set the record straight on a matter of international significance: Despite what the producers of American Crime Story would have you believe, he has never owned an oversized poster of Atlas Shrugged. Thankfully, this misunderstanding gives him an excuse to indulge in a nerdtastic exploration of the differences between objectivism and conservatism, the significance of religion to conservative belief, and the differences between conservatives and “men of the right.” There’s also a disquisition on social anxiety and Theodor Adorno’s idea of the “authoritarian personality,” as well as a rant on those who continue to minimize January 6. Plus, as a special treat for The Dispatch’s two-year anniversary, tune in to learn the intimate details of Jonah and Steve Hayes’ late night telephone conversations.

Show Notes:

-The Dispatch manifesto from two years ago

-Today’s underwhelming job numbers

-Whittaker Chambers’ review of Atlas Shrugged

-The Remnant with George Will

-George criticizes Whittaker Chambers

-Al Felzenberg on George’s opposition to Spiro Agnew

-Jonah ruminates on Richard Hofstadter

-The Age of Reform, Hofstatder’s book on status anxiety

-Hofstadter’s Social Darwinism in American Thought

-The (underrated) Tyranny of Clichés

-Theodor Adorno’s The Authoritarian Personality

-Sally Satel: “The Experts Have Overlooked Authoritarians on the Left”

-Karen Stenner’s The Authoritarian Dynamic

-The Remnant with Joe Uscinski

-Bring the villain forward

-Jonah’s latest Special Report appearance

-The January 6 subpoena saga

-Dinesh D’Souza’s evil tweet

-Jonah and Hugh Hewitt debate the alt-right in 2016

-Jonah: “This Was Always the Plan”

-Revelations from Peril, by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa

-The Remnant with Scott Gottlieb

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The Full Gottlieb Oct 07, 2021

Show notes

Former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb joins The Remnant for the first time to explore the state of the COVID-19 pandemic and what went wrong with America’s response last year. With cases falling nationally, Scott believes that the “pandemic phase” of the virus is drawing to a close. But we’re still remarkably unprepared for whatever the next pandemic might be. What were the successes and failures of Operation Warp Speed? How do natural immunity and vaccine immunity compare? And is Scott too deep in the pocket of Big Dairy to be trusted on the validity of yogurt expiration dates?

Show Notes:

-Scott’s new book, Uncontrolled Spread

-Scott’s page at AEI

-Alex Tabarrok (also known as Jack McKee) reviews Uncontrolled Spread

-Scott on our failed pandemic prep

-GOP officials and natural immunity

-Jonah on the great pandemic freakout

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The Cheerful Pursuit Oct 06, 2021

Show notes

The incomparable George Will makes his long-awaited return to The Remnant to discuss his latest book, American Happiness and Discontents. As George writes in its introduction, “happiness has been elusive for this dyspeptic nation” in recent years. Together, he and Jonah examine why Americans have become so restless and what can be done to address the causes of their disaffection. They also discuss how populism should be understood, what it means to be a “faint-hearted originalist,” and how the degradation of America’s elite institutions can be reversed. Happy warriors and scowling primitives alike are encouraged to tune in.

Show Notes:

-The Dispatch manifesto from two years ago

-George’s previous Remnant appearance

-George’s new book, American Happiness and Discontents

-George’s previous book, The Conservative Sensibility

-George debates Oren Cass on creative destruction

-Jonah on status anxiety

-Charles Murray’s Coming Apart

-Walter Berns on democracy

-Graeme Wood on our elite surplus

-Graeme Wood on The Remnant

-Schumpeter’s Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy

-Nietzsche’s On the Genealogy of Morals

-George on the “1619 Project”

-George on public choice theory

-George on judicial review

-“Conservatism is soiled by scowling primitives”

-Hayek: “Why I’m Not a Conservative”

-George reflects on his career and philosophical evolution

-Jonah and George discuss conservatism on C-SPAN

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Going Native Oct 02, 2021

Show notes

If there’s one group Jonah has less patience for than post-liberal Catholic integralists, it’s progressives who want to replace Madisonian democracy with a parliamentary system. On today’s ranty Ruminant, he explores why America’s system of government is exceptional, why the Electoral College should stand, and why the Germans don’t always do it better. There’s also a disquisition on historicism and relativism, obligatory kvetching about Democrats spending money they don’t have, and an aside about conservative intellectuals turning their backs on light. Tune in for nerdy references to Leo Strauss, but stick around to see if Jonah can actually make it to the end without mentioning Woodrow Wilson.

Show Notes:

- Wednesday’s “news”letter

- Ben Sasse’s rant at the Kavanaugh hearing

- George W. Plunkitt, no relation to Harry S. Plinkett

- Jonah defends the Electoral College

- The Morning Dispatch breaks down Germany’s election

- Biden can’t read the room

- The Remnant with Mike Duncan

- The Remnant with Scott Lincicome

- Leo Strauss’ critique of historicism

- “Hello lamppost, whatcha knowin’?”

- Hillbilly lunacy

- Robert Kagan: “Our Constitutional Crisis is Already Here”

- The latest Dispatch Podcast

- Actually, it’s the common good

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Selling Out Sep 30, 2021

Show notes

Scott Lincicome, The Dispatch’s resident expert on all things free and economic, returns to The Remnant for a distinctly wonky discussion of tariffs, taxes, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Jonah and Scott tackle our most pressing regulatory questions. Is corporate personhood a legitimate concept? Has Biden undone any of Trump’s protectionist measures? And will supply chain shortages deprive us all of Tickle Me Elmos this Christmas? There’s also a bit about boar-cobra hybrids enslaving humanity, but you’ll have to listen to fully understand.

Show Notes:

-Scott’s Capitolism newsletter

-“Unfair and absurd”

-Scott on the exciting world of corporate tax rates

-Econ 101 with Peter Suderman

-“Human beings, my friend.”

-China’s energy crisis

-Christmas who?

-Britain braces for the end times

-Scott on America’s ports problem

-Scott’s love affair with the Jones Act

-The parley in Pittsburgh

-We need to talk about tariffs

-Wild boars reclaim the Roman Empire

-Otters annex Alaska

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Fight the Power Sep 28, 2021

Show notes

The revolution won’t be televised, but it will be broadcast to the world on today’s long-awaited Remnant, in which Jonah is joined by Revolutions podcast host and fellow history obsessive Mike Duncan. Over an exceptionally nerdy hour, they explore how Mike prepares for his podcast, whether America’s ghastly political situation really does resemble the decline of the Roman Republic, and why even Hamilton can’t convince the French to love the Marquis de Lafayette. They also dig as deeply into revolutionary history as you’d expect, comparing the French and American revolutions and discussing how studying the Haitian revolution transformed Mike’s outlook. Stay tuned for the references to Burke, Marx, and Yuval Levin sprinkled throughout.

Show Notes:

-Revolutions

-Mike’s new book on Lafayette, Hero of Two Worlds

-Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments

-Samuel Rawson Gardner’s history of the English Civil War

-Christopher Hill on the English Revolution

-The great man theory of history

-The March of Folly, by Barbara Tuchman

-A Time to Build, for all of you bingo card holders

-Reflections on the Revolution in France

-Irving Kristol: “The American Revolution as a Successful Revolution”

-Mike breaks down the Haitian Revolution

-Pauline Maier on the Declaration of Independence

-The Storm Before the Storm

-Jonah: “This Was Always the Plan”

-Government by rabble-rousing

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Drive-Time Ruminant 6: Twice in a Lifetime Sep 25, 2021

Show notes

As if experiencing the Monica Lewinsky saga first-hand wasn’t strange enough, Impeachment: American Crime Story is now subjecting Jonah to it all over again. How did we get here? And when exactly did American politics stop making sense? Unable to answer those questions alone and with David Byrne ignoring his calls, Jonah summons Guy and Ryan for a journey into the world of book royalties, internet comment sections, and broadcasting secrets best left in the green room. Their ramblings also address the passing of Norm Macdonald, dark behind the scenes secrets of The Dispatch, and why political provocateurs usually don’t enjoy more than 15 minutes of fame. Plus, tune in to hear Jonah tell an epic story of identity theft.

Show Notes:

- Wednesday’s G-File, released to the masses

- The Remnant’s super-spectacular 400th episode

- Conan’s tribute to Norm Macdonald

- Guy’s Bret Stephens profile, shamelessly plugged

- Jonah’s return to National Review

- The Remnant with Will Saletan

- Florida, Florida, Florida

- The double

- “Schindler es bueno, señor Burns es el diablo”

- Duke Zeibert’s

- Milo Minderbinder

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Happy Anniversary Sep 23, 2021

Show notes

To distinguish The Remnant’s 400th episode, Jonah thought it would be refreshing to bring on a guest renowned among fans for his cheerfulness: Kevin Williamson, National Review’s roving correspondent. Together, they take an extra long, extra nerdy voyage through the morass that is modern American politics to determine whether the end times will really be as awesome as Kevin predicted several years ago. Why are young men so dispossessed? Is there any harm in grifting to earn a living? And will January 6 be remembered for presaging the death of American democracy? It’s a conversation that covers everything from cattle trading to Satan’s balls, and we’re grateful to you all for listening.

Show Notes:

- Kevin’s previous Remnant appearance

- Kevin on the never-ending coup

- John Eastman’s plan to overturn the election

- Jonah: “This Was Always the Plan”

- Jim Glassman on Hillary’s cows

- Make bureaucracy great again

- Sidney Powell’s latest insanity

- Kevin’s time among the flat-earthers

- The decline in male college enrollment

- Twilight of Democracy, by Anne Applebaum

- The Smallest Minority, Kevin’s defense of the individual

- Charles C.W. Cooke: “Roe is the Problem”

- Kevin on Texas’ “heartbeat bill”

- Mad Dogs and Englishmen on the Met gala

- Kevin’s spat with Dan Bongino

- Kevin’s latest book, still in the running for “Greatest Subtitle Ever,” Big White Ghetto: Dead Broke, Stone-Cold Stupid, and High on Rage in the Dank Woolly Wilds of the “Real America”

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Mere Evangelism Sep 21, 2021

Show notes

Chris Stirewalt returns to The Remnant for punditry so intense it could rival the summer heat of New Orleans. Religious definitions are first on the docket, as Jonah and Chris explore the voting habits of Catholics, whether “Evangelical” is an outdated term, and the relationship between political beliefs and church attendance. Afterward, a deep dive into party politics commences, covering the GOP’s embrace of working-class men, the right’s broader commitment to bogus election fraud narratives, and how the return of radical chic could spark a new class war. Ultimately, only German words are sufficient to express Chris’ horror at our current situation.

Show Notes:

- Trash of the titans

- Chris on dumping “Evangelical”

- Making the church great again

- Catholics and politics

- The New York Times on Harvard’s atheist chaplain

- Jim Banks’ push for a working-class GOP

- Jerry Seib on the California recall

- The Emerging Democratic Majority

- An excuse for whenever you break the law

- Coincidence? I think not!

- Tucker Carlson outcrazies himself

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Mau-Mauing the Wealth Taxers Sep 18, 2021

Show notes

On today’s Ruminant, an addled and isolated Jonah is haunted by Muppets and their irresistibly catchy songs. He’s also fascinated by the Mark Milley affair, irritated by political figures who disregard the importance of rules, and amused by elites who’ve clearly never read “Radical Chic.” Why are politicians more interested in trolling the opposition than actually doing their jobs? Was the Cigarette Smoking Man really behind the Kennedy assassination? And how many people had to sample poison berries before mankind perfected the art of cooking?

Show Notes:

- The ultimate tweet

- You’re welcome

- Wednesday’s Dispatch Podcast

- Musings of a cigarette smoking man

- Griffin on Milley

- Wednesday’s “news”letter

- The hidden law

- That gala at Anna’s

- It’s unputdownable!

- Inside Tom Wolfe’s apartment, and more…

- The Remnant with Will Saletan on elite overproduction