Jonah makes an unexpected return to the AEI studio for another in-person Remnant, this time featuring Keith Whittington, beloved egghead and Princeton political scientist. A deep dive ensues into America’s unique preoccupation with free speech and the nature of academic freedom, which raises a number of pertinent questions. How concerned should we be about the state of free speech on college campuses? What are some common misconceptions about academic freedom? And what should we make of Ron DeSantis’ approach to these issues? Those feeling free and expressive are particularly encouraged to tune in.
Show Notes:
- Keith’s page at Princeton
- Keith: “Hamline Takes Quashing Academic Freedom to a Whole New Level”
- Keith: “Academic Freedom for Whom?”
- Nathan Glazer: “What Happened at Berkeley”
- From the New College of Florida to DeSantis U?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Say It Loud

In “The Remnant," Jonah Goldberg enlists a “Cannonball Run”-style cast of stars, has-beens, and never-weres to address the most pressing issues of the day. Is America doomed? Has liberalism failed? And will mankind ever invent something better than ‘90s-era “Simpsons?” Mixing political history, pop culture, rank punditry, and shameless book-plugging, Goldberg and guests will have the kinds of conversations we wish they featured on TV. And the nudity will (almost) always be tasteful. Brace your bingo cards.

News

Politics

Jesse Singal makes his Remnant debut to discuss his piece for The Dispatch on the Cass Review and the problem with the current consensus about gender transition treatments for children. The two debate the question of social contagion and the difficulties in reporting on "The Science."
Show Notes:
—Jesse Singal's piece for The Dispatch
—Hannah Barnes on Blocked and Reported
—Galileo's Middle Finger: Heretics, Activists, and One Scholar's Search for Justice Middle finger to Galileo
—Tics and TikTok
—Steven Pinker's Enlightenment Now
—Coverage on the shooting of Jacob Blake
—Will Saletan's piece for Slate on GMOs
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trust the Scientism

After fending off the voices coming from inside his walls, Jonah begins today’s Ruminant by discussing the latest entry in the House Speakership saga and Marjorie Taylor Greene’s incoherent foreign policy. He then turns to the recent pro-Palestinian protests and how their facing consequences is a sign of nature healing. Stick around for the usual intellectual history nerdery.
Show Notes:
—Boiling Frogs on Mike Johnson
—Dispatch Politics on Mike Johnson
—Wanderland on MTG’s appeasement and Neville Chamberlain
—Boiling Frogs on Joe Biden’s “Sister Souljah moment”
—Friday’s Dispatch Podcast
—Activist threatening Bakersfield city council
—The Remnant with Nancy French
—Ukraine: The Latest
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Losing Patience With Dumbassery

Eli Lake, The Remnant’s resident bloodthirsty war hawk, returns to the pod to break down the situation with Israel and Iran. The two get into why America has no strategic vision on Iran, the growing alliance of left- and right-wing isolationists, and how Tucker Carlson has become so unhinged.
Show Notes:
—Eli’s profile at The Free Press
—Eli’s piece on Tucker Carlson and Russia
—Eli's piece on the FBI
—The Remnant with Nancy French
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tucker Carlson, King of the Isolationists

Jonah is joined by author, speechwriter, and ghostwriter Nancy French to discuss her new book, Ghosted: An American Story. Nancy tells the tale of how she came to meet the permanent guest host of Advisory Opinions (who is now dead to Jonah), how the Republican Party’s embrace of Donald Trump left her and her family ostracized, and also gives an update on her battle with cancer.
Show Notes:
—Ghosted: An American Story
—Bristol Palin’s book, Not Afraid of Life: My Journey So Far
—Nancy’s investigation into abuse at a Christian camp
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fancy Nancy

Jonah opens up this week’s Ruminant with an indulgent diatribe against Top Chef and Wisconsin cheese. He then pivots toward even more divisive topics, such as Trump’s abortion statement and the messiah-like energy around Barack Obama. Then our culinary-political connoisseur goes on an epicurean journey of topics: hostile work environments, the problems with binary choices, and the definition of a liberal.
Show Notes:
—Jonah's Wednesday G-File
—Friday's Dispatch Podcast roundtable
—Top Chef Wisconsin Cheese Festival recap
—American Masters: "The Incomparable Mr. Buckley"
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Say It Loud

Download our free app to listen on your phone