The Moynihan Report

Historian and bestselling author Simon Sebag Montefiore joins Michael Moynihan to discuss his new book, The Cauldron: The Making of the Modern Middle East, and the history behind one of the world's most contested regions. They examine the myths surrounding Israel's founding, the Palestinian Nakba, the rise and fall of Arab nationalism, and the emergence of political Islam. Montefiore challenges the popular decolonization narrative, explains why the Iranian Revolution of 1979 transformed the region, and considers why Western audiences, particularly younger generations, have embraced increasingly distorted versions of Middle Eastern history. Along the way, they discuss antisemitism, the failures of Israeli leadership, the prospects for democracy in the Arab world, and whether Israelis and Palestinians can ever reach a lasting political settlement.

Chapters

-From Russia to the Middle East

-Antisemitism and Montefiore's Family History

-The Internet and the Persistence of Historical Myths

-Why Historians Need to Speak Up 

-Challenging the Settler-Colonial Narrative

-Criticizing Israel vs. Antisemitism

-Why Is the West Obsessed With the Middle East?

-Anti-Colonialism and the New Crusaders

-Was the 1948 War Inevitable?

-The Nakba and the Palestinian Exodus

-Zionism Before 1948

-From Left-Wing Radicalism to Islamism

-Nasser and the Muslim Brotherhood

-Why the Iranian Revolution Changed Everything

-Can Democracy Take Root in the Middle East?

-How the West's View of Israel Changed

-The Future of a Two-State Solution

-The Biggest Misconception About the Middle East

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Oscar-winning documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney joins Michael Moynihan to discuss his new film, Musk, a critical examination of Elon Musk's rise to extraordinary wealth and political power. They debate Musk's genuine achievements at Tesla and SpaceX, his transformation into a Trump ally, and whether his greatest talent is innovation or self-promotion. Gibney also defends the film's more controversial claims involving Ashley St. Clair, the 2024 election, DOGE, and access to sensitive government data, while Moynihan presses him on the line between legitimate investigation and conspiracy theory. Plus, Tesla's self-driving promises, the dangers of AI, and why Gibney believes Musk is ultimately a confidence man.

(0:00) Cold Open

(0:03) Monologue

(1:09) Musk’s Accomplishments at Tesla and SpaceX

(3:14) The Myth of Elon Musk

(5:45) Musk’s Political Transformation

(9:07) The Politics of Rage

(11:53) Interviewing Elon’s Father

(13:41) Musk’s Break With Trump

(17:22) Musk’s Attacks on Gibney

(18:22) Ashley St. Clair and Her Credibility

(22:31) Musk and the 2024 Election

(26:58) DOGE and Government Data

(30:46) Evidence vs. Speculation

(33:33) Starlink, Government Contracts, and Crony Capitalism

(36:07) Musk and the Dangers of AI

(40:03) Tesla’s Self-Driving Claims

(44:39) Musk’s Greatest Talent: Selling the Future

(46:44) Is Elon Musk a Con Man?

(50:58) Walter Isaacson’s Musk Biography

(54:00) Is Musk a Genius or a Villain?

(56:15) Money and Political Influence

(58:30) Musk’s Drug Use and Behavior

(1:00:00) Self-Delusion and Noble Cause Corruption

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Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Joby Warrick joins Michael Moynihan to tell the story of Carlos the Jackal, the Venezuelan Marxist who became the world’s most notorious terrorist. They discuss his rise through the Palestinian militant movement, his ties to the Soviet bloc, and the governments that allowed him to operate across Europe and the Middle East for decades. Warrick also recounts meeting an unrepentant Carlos in a French prison and explains how his brand of international terrorism anticipated Al-Qaeda, ISIS, and the decentralized political violence of today.

We're nominated for Signal Awards! Vote for The Moynihan Report for:
Best video podcast: https://bit.ly/4jxj2wY
Best guest (William Shatner): https://bit.ly/4AG4zoz
Best episode: https://bit.ly/4dxq7tZ
Also: The Fifth Column is in the running for Best News & Politics show: https://bit.ly/3U0K8ST 

CHAPTERS

(0:00) Cold Open
(0:20) Intro
(1:44) Becoming Carlos the Jackal
(5:10) Terrorism, Marxism and Antisemitism
(8:34) The Paris Grenade Attack
(11:35) Why Europe Paid Off Terrorists
(15:42) The Soviet Terror Network
(22:49) Terrorism and the Palestinian Cause
(28:20) Meeting Carlos in Prison
(35:55) Carlos and the Nazis
(39:02) From Marxism to Radical Islam
(41:58) The CIA Informant Who Betrayed Carlos
(44:45) How Dictators Protected the Jackal
(47:02) The Legacy of 1970s Terrorism
(49:21) What Happened to Al-Qaeda and ISIS?
(52:45) Israel and the Axis of Resistance
(56:08) Political Violence Today

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Michael Musto Is Mr. Adjacent 

Village Voice and NYC icon Michael Musto joins Michael Moynihan for a tour through the New York he chronicled from the inside, from growing up gay in Bensonhurst to the glory days of downtown nightlife, celebrity gossip, the Club Kids, Michael Alig, ACT UP, RuPaul, and the AIDS crisis.

They also talk about outing celebrities, Rosie O’Donnell calling Musto a “gay Nazi,” the changing city, and what it meant to spend decades watching New York culture from just off center.

Chapters

-Growing Up Gay in Bensonhurst

-Escaping Brooklyn for Manhattan 

-Outing Celebrities

-Blind Items and Village Voice Lawyers

-Michael Alig and the Angel Melendez Murder

-Old New York and Gentrification

-Mamdani

-Making Money in Journalism

-Was Musto Too Mean?

-When Straight People Call Themselves Queer

-AIDS 

-What Happened to the Old Club Scene?

-Mr. Adjacent

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 Jon Lovett joins the show to talk about what Pod Save America is actually trying to be, why Democrats have struggled to find a coherent political identity, and how Lovett went from writing jokes for Hillary Clinton to becoming one of the biggest voices in liberal media.

They get into Hassan Piker and the socialist left, the disappearance of old-fashioned liberalism, Kamala Harris, Katie Porter, Zohran Mamdani, the politics of Woke 1.0, antisemitism on the left, Israel and Zionism, and whether a life spent arguing about politics ever gets exhausting. Plus, the childhood humiliation Lovett says made him a Democrat.

Why Are Democrats So Bad at This?
Why Jon Lovett Chose Politics
Writing Jokes for Hillary Clinton
Al Franken, Air America, and Liberal Media
Hassan Piker and the Left’s Media Problem
Who Gets to Be in the Democratic Tent?
The Maoist Wing of the DSA
What Happened to Liberalism?
Kamala Harris, Katie Porter, and Political Talent
How Democrats Lost Working-Class Voters
Mamdani and The Fifth Column Batting Average
“Desire Paths” and Woke Politics
Is It Hard to Be Jewish Right Now?
Brad Lander and Antisemitism on the Left
“Genocide” as a Political Litmus Test
Is Jon Lovett a Zionist?
Does Politics Ever Get Exhausting?
Ambition, Fame, and Why He Keeps Doing It

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Penelope Spheeris has spent her life around chaos, from Richard Pryor and the early days of punk to Wayne’s World and the machinery of Hollywood. She joins Michael to talk about The Decline of Western Civilization, turning down Spinal Tap, fighting over Wayne’s World, and collecting decades of grudges along the way. There are stories about Lemmy, Tina Fey, Britney Spears, Jennifer Aniston, Chris Farley, and a rhinestone dildo. Penelope has seen some shit, and she’s still happy to talk about it.

(0:00) Cold Open
(0:18) Monologue
(1:03) Richard Pryor and the Lost Movie
(6:02) Decline, Chaos, and Making Sense of Her Demons
(10:45) Guns N’ Roses Bails, Megadeth Steps In
(12:33) Lemmy’s Bad Review
(16:16) Punk Rock, Childhood Trauma, and Seven Stepfathers
(19:46) Fame, Money, and Unfulfilled Expectations
(22:57) Passing on Spinal Tap
(24:03) Chris Holmes and the Pool Scene
(27:34) The Decline vs. Wayne’s World
(29:30) Losing Wayne’s World 2
(32:07) Dana Carvey, Tina Fey, and Britney Spears
(35:08) Life With Her Schizophrenic Partner
(37:53) Chaos, Boredom, and Happiness
(39:05) Getting Rich Without Trying
(41:30) The Memoir and Being Written Out of Hollywood
(44:48) Jennifer Aniston and the Dildo
(47:27) Mike Myers, Chris Farley, and Black Sheep

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Gene Simmons sits down with Michael Moynihan in Los Angeles for a conversation about family, ambition, and the American dream. They talk about his mother’s survival of the Holocaust, coming to America, KISS, Bob Dylan, money, marriage, and why the music business isn’t what it used to be. Oh yeah, and after nearly 50 years as the Demon, Gene Simmons is still speeding up.

(0:00) Cold Open

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William Shatner sits down with Michael Moynihan in Los Angeles for a conversation about life, time, and knowledge. They talk about death, God, AI, Blue Origin, The Intruder, and the relentless curiosity that keeps Shatner looking for whatever comes next. Oh yeah, and at 95 years old, he’s releasing a heavy metal album.

In the episode:

(00:00) Cold Open 

(00:29) Monologue 

(02:09) Fear of Death 

(03:59) Religion, God and the Universe 

(09:26) Judgment at Nuremberg & the Holocaust

 (11:12) Curiosity, Aging, and Learning 

(19:20) Conversations With AI 

(22:28) Why Humans Need to Go to Mars

 (25:20) Blue Origin & Jeff Bezos 

(30:14) Growing Up Jewish & The Intruder 

(34:41) Luck, Failure and a Career Without a Plan 

(37:28) “What the F Is Heavy Metal?” 

(46:45) AI and Shatner’s Opera 

(50:16) Why Shatner Doesn’t Do Politics

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Before The Moynihan Report goes on a break to regroup (and reconstitute), Michael Moynihan takes a deep dive into the "stupid era" of modern media and the weaponization of history. From the useful idiots romanticizing the Cuban regime to the decline of the public intellectual in favor of the hyper-reactive influencer, Moynihan dissects how context is lost in our chopped-up media landscape.

The conversation moves from the town square test of free societies to the curious parallels between far-left and far-right propaganda. Michael also answers listener questions regarding his tenure at The Fifth Column, his diverging paths with other media figures, and why studying history is the only defense against an epidemic of dangerous stupidity.

(00:00) Welcome and Announcement: The Final Episode in This Format

(01:16) How to Stay Connected via Substack

(01:56) The "Open Swim" Q&A: Addressing Online Criticism

(02:35) Confronting "Useful Idiots" and the Trip to Cuba

(02:59) Discussing Brace Belden and the TrueAnon Podcast

(03:46) Criticizing Hassan Piker and The Young Turks

(04:44) The Culture of Chopped-Up Media and Contextual Misunderstandings

(06:08) Natan Sharansky’s "Town Square Test" for Free Societies

(08:17) Debunking Pro-Castro Myths and the Reality of Cuban Repression

(12:59) The Exoticization of Poverty and Propaganda Tours

(14:18) Examining Cuban Foreign Policy and Historical War Crimes

(16:13) Fact-Checking Ryan Grim and Misinformation Regarding Cuban Hotels

(20:18) Audience Question: The Similarities Between Far-Left and Far-Right Propaganda

(23:48) Douglas Murray and the Challenges of Independent Journalism

(25:07) Paul Hollander and the Psychology of Anti-Americanism

(27:29) Documenting Russian Casualties in the Ukraine War

(30:12) Audience Question: The Rise of Influencers Over Public Intellectuals

(32:42) The Benny Johnson Plagiarism Scandal and "Deep State" Narratives

(35:43) Victor Klemperer and the Manipulation of Language

(39:26) Audience Question: Diverging Paths with Megyn Kelly

(43:41) The "Real Housewives" of Conservative Politics: TPUSA and Candace Owens

(46:12) Reflecting on Ten Years of The Fifth Column

(48:33) Audience Question: Anti-Semitism and the Influence of the Israel Lobby

(55:10) Analyzing Public Support and Bipartisan Policy Toward Israel

(59:37) Audience Question: Why We Study History and the "Weaponization" of the Past

(01:10:39) Distorting Figures like Winston Churchill and Oswald Mosley

(01:13:58) Goodbye... for now: Shaking Up the Snow Globe

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Eli Lake of The Free Press joins Michael Moynihan to break down his latest reporting on Donald Trump’s strategy toward Iran—what the administration is trying to achieve, how serious the military threat is, and what it could mean for the region.

They’ll unpack the policy, the politics, and the risks of escalation.

(00:11) Intro & Recent Violent Attacks

(03:27) Welcoming Eli Lake & Trump's Iran Plan

(11:41) The "Day After" in Iran & Regime Change Scenarios

(15:25) The History of Iranian Protests & State Violence

(23:43) October 7th, Hamas, & Western Leftist Support for Iran

(26:09) Critiquing Tucker Carlson & the "Israel Controls America" Narrative

(32:03) Israeli Intelligence, Operations, & Military Subsidies

(38:42) Megan Kelly, Ryan Grim, & Justifying Anti-Semitism

(54:29) MAGA Polling on Iran & Independent Media Conspiracies

(01:01:42) Show Wrap-up & Upcoming Automation Nation Event

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