Know Your Enemy

Know Your Enemy episodes:

• 04.17.2024

  "Write Like a Man" (w/ Ronnie Grinberg)

  Matt and Sam are joined by historian Ronnie Grinberg to discuss her book "Write Like a Man: Jewish Masculinity and the New York Intellectuals."

  
• 04.09.2024

  Arguing the World: Howe, Kristol, Glazer, and Bell [Teaser]

  Matt and Sam watch the wonderful 1998 documentary "Arguing the World" — and go deep on Irving Howe, Irving Kristol, Daniel Bell, and Nathan Glazer.

  
• 03.26.2024

  Taylor Swift Derangement Syndrome (w/ B.D. McClay)

  Matt and Sam talk to B.D. McClay about the right's deranged freakout over Taylor Swift — and what she can tell us about American fame, fortune, and fear.

  
• 03.19.2024

  UNLOCKED: Keeping Up with the Bozells

  Matt and Sam discuss a conservative family saga for the ages — the Bozells — in a classic KYE episode unlocked from the Patreon.

  
• 03.11.2024

  Why the Right Loves Foreign Dictators (w/ Jacob Heilbrunn)

  Matt and Sam talk to Jacob Heilbrunn about his new book, America Last: The Right's Century-Long Romance with Foreign Dictators.

  
• 03.04.2024

  A Remedy for Envy? René Girard Redux [TEASER]

  Matt and Sam return to René Girard via Pope Francis—whom Matt personally met at a recent general audience at the Vatican! Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest.

  
• 02.26.2024

  René Girard and the Right (w/ John Ganz)

  Matt and Sam welcome back John Ganz to discuss René Girard, the Stanford polymath whose theory of "mimetic desire," violence, and the meaning of secular modernity has inspired a devoted following—including Peter Thiel, Girard's former student.

  
• 02.11.2024

  Thinking the "Far Right" [Teaser]

  What is the relationship between the "right" and the "far right?" Matt and Sam return to questions of historiography. Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest.

  
• 01.30.2024

  Project 2025: Building a "Better" Trump Administration

  Matt and Sam explore how movement conservatives — and their think tanks — are preparing for a second Trump administration.

  
• 01.26.2024

  [TEASER] The Politics of Seinfeld (w/ Gabe Winant and Jesse Brenneman)

  Matt is joined by historian Gabe Winant and Know Your Enemy producer Jesse Brenneman to discuss the politics of Seinfeld.

  
• 01.17.2024

  The History of the History of the Right (w/ Kim Phillips-Fein)

  Matt and Sam are joined by historian Kim Phillips-Fein to discuss the "state of the field" of historical studies of American conservatism. How has the study of the right changed since 2016? And how should it orient itself to 2024?

  
• 01.01.2024

  Tom Wolfe (w/ Osita Nwanevu) [TEASER]

  Writer Osita Nwanevu joins to discuss the life and work of novelist and "new journalist" Tom Wolfe.

  
• 12.19.2023

  Bomb Power (w/ Erik Baker)

  Matt and Sam welcome historian Erik Baker onto the podcast to discuss Garry Wills's blistering critique of the national security state and unaccountable presidential power in his 2010 book, Bomb Power.

  
• 12.03.2023

  Milton Friedman and the Making of Our Times (w/ Jennifer Burns)

  Matt and Sam interview historian Jennifer Burns about her new biography of Nobel Prize-winning economist and libertarian intellectual Milton Friedman.

  
• 11.22.2023

  Anarcho-Capitalism in Argentina? (w/ David Adler) [TEASER]

  KYE Latin America correspondent David Adler returns to breakdown the (terrible) election results from Argentina.

  
• 11.17.2023

  The Kennedy Imprisonment (w/ Jeet Heer)

  Matt and Sam discuss Garry Wills's 1982 book, The Kennedy Imprisonment, with the Nation's Jeet Heer.

  
• 11.04.2023

  More Questions, More Answers [Teaser]

  Some more answers to listener mail! Subscribe on Patreon.com/knowyourenemy to hear the rest.

  
• 10.28.2023

  Your Questions, Answered

  Matt and Sam answer listener questions—about topics ranging from the influence of post-liberal intellectuals on the right to their favorite Willie Nelson albums—in the podcast's annual mailbag episode.

  
• 10.13.2023

  In Search of Anti-Semitism (w/ John Ganz)

  John Ganz returns to discuss William F. Buckley's 1992 book "In Search of Anti-Semitism."

  
• 10.07.2023

  House of Pain (w/ Eric Levitz) [Teaser]

  Eric Levitz of New York Magazine joins to discuss the fate of Kevin McCarthy and the GOP meltdown in Congress. Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest.

  
• 09.30.2023

  The Debate, the Donald, and the Strike [Teaser]

  Matt and Sam suffer through the second GOP debate — and Trump's deceptive counter-programing. Sign up on Patreon to hear the rest!

  
• 09.26.2023

  Elon Musk, the Jews, and the ADL (w/ Mari Cohen, Alex Kane, & Peter Beinart)

  We discuss the contradictory history of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) — and how to make sense of its recent showdown with Elon Musk — with Mari Cohen, Alex Kane, and Peter Beinart of Jewish Currents.

  
• 09.19.2023

  Reading the Trump Indictments [Teaser]

  Matt and Sam read the Trump indictments and weigh the risks and rewards of criminally charging a former president. (Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest!)

  
• 09.05.2023

  What the Cold War Did to Liberalism (w/ Samuel Moyn)

  Matt and Sam welcome Yale professor Samuel Moyn back to the podcast to discuss his new book, Liberalism Against Itself: Cold War Intellectuals and the Making of Our Times.

  
• 08.24.2023

  The First 2024 GOP Presidential Debate [TEASER]

  Matt and Sam breakdown the first GOP presidential debate of 2024. Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest of this episode!

  
• 08.21.2023

  The Hochman Affair

  Matt and Sam discuss former KYE guest and disgraced DeSantis speechwriter Nate Hochman — fired for sharing a neo-nazi meme. What is going on with young conservatives?

  
• 08.11.2023

  Grateful Dead Conservatives (w/ Sophie Haigney) [TEASER]

  Matt and Sam are joined by writer/editor Sophie Haigney to discuss why (some) conservatives love the Grateful Dead — and why we do too. Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest!

  
• 07.27.2023

  Midge Decter: Anti-Feminist Cold Warrior (w/ Moira Donegan & Adrian Daub)

  Matt and Sam join Moira Donegan and Adrian Daub to discuss the life and work of the late Midge Decter, a neoconservative icon and anti-feminist.

  
• 07.21.2023

  TEASER: Sin and Salvation in the Righteous Gemstones (w/ Jesse Brenneman)

  Matt and Sam discuss HBO's The Righteous Gemstones with Know Your Enemy producer Jesse Brenneman. Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest!

  
• 07.17.2023

  Legal Trouble

  Matt and Sam finally get to talk about the lawsuit that's been hanging over the podcast; then we turn to analyze three devastating SCOTUS rulings from last month.

  
• 07.06.2023

  Impossible Professions: Freud and Janet Malcolm (ft. Patrick Blanchfield & Abby Kluchin)

  Sam joins Patrick Blanchfield and Abby Kluchin for a lengthy discussion of psychoanalysis, conservative minds, and Janet Malcolm — on their excellent new podcast, "Ordinary Unhappiness."

  
• 06.30.2023

  Grow Up, Men (w/ Phil Christman) [TEASER]

  Matt and Sam are joined by writer Phil Christman to discuss the limits of "manhood" as a lens for thinking about how to be a good person. Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest!

  
• 06.17.2023

  The Prayers and Prophecies of Pat Robertson [TEASER]

  Matt and Sam talk Pat Robertson (RIP), James G. Watt (RIP), and how they shaped the Christian right. Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest.

  
• 06.05.2023

  What's Wrong With Men?

  Matt and Sam explore the "crisis of masculinity" in America — reading books on the subject by Senator Josh Hawley and Harvard political theorist Harvey Mansfield.

  
• 05.18.2023

  The 2024 Race: "It's Showtime, Folks!" (TEASER)

  Matt and Sam sit down for some rank punditry about the state of the 2024 presidential race. Subscribe on Patreon to hear the rest.

  
• 05.04.2023

  "Succession," "Extrapolations," and TV Writing Today (w/ Dorothy Fortenberry and Will Arbery)

  Matt and Sam talk to two television writers, Will Arbery of "Succession" and Dorothy Fortenberry of "Extrapolations," about how they approach political topics and themes on their shows, and close out the conversation with a discussion of the WGA strike.

  
• 04.29.2023

  TEASER: The January 6th Committee Report

  Matt and Sam discuss Matt's recent Dissent essay on the January 6th Committee report. Sign up on Patreon.com/knowyourenemy to hear the rest.

  
• 04.18.2023

  Ron DeSantis Wants to Make America Florida (w/ Gillian Branstetter)

  Matt and Sam are joined by the ACLU's Gillian Branstetter to discuss the ignominious career of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

  
• 04.10.2023

  TEASER: Whittaker Chambers, Redux (w/ Sam Tanenhaus)

  The great Sam Tanenhaus, biographer of Whittaker Chambers and William F. Buckley Jr., returns to the podcast. Sign up on Patreon.com/knowyourenemy to hear the rest.

  
• 04.04.2023

  Bob Dylan's America (w/ Will Epstein)

  Matt and Sam are joined by songwriter and composer Will Epstein to talk about Bob Dylan's recent book, "The Philosophy of Modern Song."

  
• 03.29.2023

  TEASER: Our Lady of Guadalupe and American Democracy (w/ Nichole M. Flores)

  Matt talks to University of Virginia theologian Dr. Nichole M. Flores about her book, The Aesthetics of Solidarity: Our Lady of Guadalupe and American Democracy.

  
• 03.20.2023

  TEASER: Suffering, Solidarity, and Ritual (w/ Susan Bigelow Reynolds)

  Matt talks to Catholic theologian and Emory University professor Dr. Susan Bigelow Reynolds about her new book, People Get Ready: Ritual, Solidarity, and Lived Ecclesiology in Catholic Roxbury.

  
• 03.12.2023

  Whittaker Chambers and the Freight Train of History

  Matt and Sam discuss the life and times of Whittaker Chambers, the Communist spy who became a conservative hero.

  
• 02.27.2023

  Realignments (w/ Timothy Shenk)

  Tim Shenk joins to discuss his book "Realigners: Partisan Hacks, Political Visionaries, and the Struggle to Rule American Democracy."

  
• 02.22.2023

  TEASER: Le Carre's Cold War (w/ Jamelle Bouie and John Ganz)

  Sam is joined by Jamelle Bouie and John Ganz to discuss the Cold War espionage thrillers of John le Carre and the 1984 film "The Little Drummer Girl." Sign up on Patreon to hear the rest.

  
• 02.13.2023

  Triumph of the Therapeutic (w/ Hannah Zeavin & Alex Colston)

  Hannah Zeavin and Alex Colston join to discuss Philip Rieff, his book "The Triumph of the Therapeutic: Uses of Faith After Freud," and the conservative side of psychoanalysis.

  
• 01.31.2023

  TEASER: Realignments (w/ Timothy Shenk)

  In this bonus episode, Timothy Shenk joins Matt and Sam to discuss his book on American political "realignments" and the men and women who made them.

  
• 01.18.2023

  The Eyes of the Ranger (w/ Jesse Brenneman)

  Matt and Sam are joined by KYE producer Jesse Brenneman to discuss “Walker, Texas Ranger,” Chuck Norris's hit CBS crime/action show — treating it as an ur-text of 1990s Americana & conservative values.

  
• 01.08.2023

  TEASER: The Death of Pope Benedict XVI (w/ Michael O'Loughlin)

  Matt is joined by America Magazine's national correspondent, Michael O'Loughlin, for a conversation about the late Pope Benedict XVI. Listen to the entire conversation by subscribing to Know Your Enemy on Patreon!

  
• 12.26.2022

  Jesus and Bob Dylan (w/ the Jokermen)

  Matt and Sam talk Bob Dylan, the late 1970s, and Christianity with Ian and Evan of the Jokermen podcast.