In this episode Eli examines why the government purports to protect so many secrets and how overclassification erodes democratic accountability. His guest is Elizabeth Goitein, senior director of the Brennan Center's Liberty & National Security Program

Time Stamps: 

00:21 Monologue 

17:10 Interview with Elizabeth Goitein

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In this episode, I examine how unrest in Iran, the Russian army and Chinese cities exposes the fragility of regimes that appear so imposing and unyielding from the outside. My guest is Mariam Memarsadeghi, the founder and director of the Cyrus Forum. We discuss the revolution in Iran and our hope for a free Iran in 2023.

Time Stamps:

00:48 Monologue

13:10 Interview with Mariam Memarsadeghi

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In this episode, I examine in the monologue how Christopher Hitchens migrated from the anti-imperialist left to become the most eloquent supporter for the liberation of Iraq. My guest, Michael Moynihan and I then discuss the life and writings of our friend and mentor.

Time Stamps: 

00:42 Monologue 

26:14 Interview with Michael Moynihan

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In this monologue only episode I examine Christopher Hitchens' observation that America becomes a one party state every December. I argue that it's ok for non-Christians to tap their feet and hum along with the holiday music all around them. A lot of it is pretty good. 

Time Stamps:

00:22 Monologue 

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In this episode Eli discusses the tension between populism and conservatism in the American right with Matthew Continetti, the author of a new intellectual history of the American right. Get Matt's book here. 

Time Stamps:

00:32 Monologue 

19:17 Interview with Matt Continetti 

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Happy Hanukkah. On today's show I tackle the story of a Jewish revolt against the Seleucid empire and how that revolt pitted assimilation against tradition and identity. My guest is Ari Lamm, the founder of SoulShop studios and the chief Rabbi of the Re-Education podcast.

Questions? Comments? Email [email protected]

Timestamps: 

00:38 Monologue

21:30 Interview with Ari Lamm

Today’s show delves into the history of movements that seek to blur the line between speech and violence, and why this conceit endangers the very democracy these voices claim to be protecting. The conflation of speech and violence is a big part of the context to the war over content moderation at Twitter 2.0. My guest is the very talented Damon Linker, the founder of the Eyes on the Right substack and a former columnist at the Week. Check out his substack here. https://damonlinker.substack.com/

Time Stamps: 

00:23 Monologue

16:50 Interview with Damon Linker 

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In this episode Eli examines the legacy of J Edgar Hoover, the man who waged a political and psychological war against Martin Luther King and created the modern FBI. His guest is Yale Historian Beverly Gage, whose majestic new biography of Hoover paints a scathing and complex portrait of the first G man. 

Time Stamps:

00:50 Monologue 

38:21 Interview with Beverly Gage

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In this episode, Eli examines the difference between what Israel's leaders must do to survive and what Ukraine needs from the civilized world. He also talks with Harvard University emeritus professor of Yiddish literature, Ruth Wisse about her extraordinary essay in Commentary from May 2022 about the rise of Ukraine's Jewish president. https://www.commentary.org/articles/ruth-wisse/zelensky-jewish-hero/  

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In this episode, Eli examines the legacy of the trial and lynching of Leo Frank, a Jewish factory manager false accused of murdering a 13 year old girl. The trial helped launch the anti-defamation league, and the lynching was conducted by the haters who would relaunch the Ku Klux Klan. Eli's guest to discuss anti-Semitism and the ADL is the brilliance journalist and editor at Talbet, Liel Leibovitz. 

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