In this just-under-the-wire episode, Charles starts by talking about the Republicans' doublespeak on the debt: they insist that they want to balance the budget, but they don't want to touch any of the programs that are necessary to do so. Then, in the spirit of the hour, he talks to Vic Matus about his book 'Vodka: How a Colorless, Odorless, Flavorless Spirit Conquered America.'

Episode 16: Cocktail Hour

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On episode 61, Charles talks to Rick Brookhiser about his new book, 'Glorious Lessons: John Trumbull, Painter of the American Revolution.'

Episode 61: The Revolution Will Be Painted

On episode 60, Charles talks to Peter Robinson about the famous 'Tear Down This Wall' speech that he wrote for President Ronald Reagan. Among the topics they discuss are how Peter became a speechwriter in the first place, what Ronald Reagan was like, and how The Speech came to be.

Episode 60: Write and Ron

On episode 59, Charles invites Michael Brendan Dougherty and Noah Rothman to continue the debate over Ukraine that they started on Tuesday's episode of The Editors.

Episode 59: Ukraine

On episode 58—recorded from Lord Ravenscroft's desolate manor—Charles reviews objections to his approach to counting states, relates the most recent problems he's had with his golf cart, and talks to Tim Carney about his new book, 'Family Unfriendly: How Our Culture Made Raising Kids Much Harder Than It Needs to Be.'

Episode 58: The Parent Trap

On episode 57, Charles announces a special jigsaw puzzle and relates which 44 states he's visited before talking to Robert Frommer about an extraordinary case of civil asset forfeiture.

Episode 16: Cocktail Hour

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