The last time Razib Khan—a geneticist and author of the Unsupervised Learning Substack—appeared on The Remnant to discuss genes and behavior, Jonah couldn’t resist focusing their conversation exclusively on canines. Today, Razib is finally back to explore the genetic makeup of the world’s second most important animal, human beings. He and Jonah try to keep the science simple and the nudity tasteful as they explore some highfalutin topics: How has our knowledge of genetics evolved over time? What can our genes tell us about our ancestors? And are genes the ultimate predictor of intelligence and disease?

Show Notes:

- Razib’s Substack, Unsupervised Learning

- Razib: “The Longer I Live, the Wronger I Get to Be”

- Razib interviews Chris Stringer

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How do habits influence behavior? Significantly, according to returning Remnant favorite Cass Sunstein, Harvard professor and co-author of the new book Look Again: The Power of Noticing What Was Always There. In it, he argues that breaking habits and routines can enable us to find greater fulfillment in life. But why did humans evolve to acquire habits in the first place? How do habits desensitize us? And how can we encourage people to adopt healthy habits of the heart?

Show Notes:

- Cass’ new book, Look Again

- Cass and co-author Tali Sharot on how we become habituated to horrible things 

- Cass’ Democracy and the Problem of Free Speech

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Jonah, used and abused by CNN, is prepared to deliver a level of rank punditry not yet seen in legacy media. He begins today's episode of The Ruminant by eulogizing Mitch McConnell's tenure in the Senate, noting the positive correlation between disdain for McConnell and general unseriousness. Briefly touching on the state of primaries and Biden's low popularity, he then explains his most recent G-File on Aaron Bushnell's suicide and how boredom is (not so slowly) killing us. Stick around for some ruminations on his episode with James Kirchick.

Show Notes:

—G-File on boredom

—The Remnant with James Kirchik

—Principles First conference

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If the American Enterprise Institute were a prison, education policy scholars Rick Hess and Michael McShane would be the leaders of its most feared inmate gang. Today, they join Jonah not simply to pressure him into swearing loyalty, but to discuss their new book, Getting Education Right: A Conservative Vision for Improving Early Childhood, K-12, and College. It’s no secret that America’s education system is struggling, but what can actually be done to reform it? What does it mean to be a conservative in education? Are teachers paid enough? And does the Department of Education have any reason to exist?

Show Notes:

-Rick’s page at AEI

-Mike’s page at AEI

-Rick and Mike’s new book, Getting Education Right

-The Remnant with Brad Wilcox

-Rick and Mike: “The Past and Future of Education Reform”

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Today’s episode of The Remnant features James Kirchick, the prolific pundit and author of Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington. Recently, James published an essay in Liberties that examined how gay culture has changed in American life since the 1980s. But despite the success of the gay rights movement, LGBTQ issues remain prominent in the culture war. Why is this the case? Where do we go from here? And how would Jonah’s grandpa feel about this episode?

Show Notes:

—Watch this episode on YouTube

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Jonah attempts to avoid the straitjacket while The Fair Jessica is away, so he decides to spend an hour talking to himself in a dark basement. He goes through a number of topics to make even the most excitable eggheads nauseated, from the fad of stay-at-home girlfriends (why milk the cow ladies?) to Biden’s irresponsible dog ownership. Jonah regains sanity for a second to talk about the Alabama Supreme Court's IVF ruling before hallucinating about rodents and going gonzo on Tucker's trip to Russia.

Show Notes:

–Stay-at-Home Girlfriends Are Having a Moment

– Brad Wilcox on The Remnant

– Listen to Advisory Opinions on Alabama's IVF issue

– Biden's German shepherd banished from the White House

– Jonah's G-File: Nations, Nation-States, and Nationalism

– The Lewis brothers on The Remnant

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Marriage is a fundamental institution, so why is it under attack from both ends of the political spectrum? In his new book, Get Married, Brad Wilcox—a nonresident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a professor at the University of Virginia—makes the case that getting married and starting a family is the best way of leading a prosperous life. But how can law and culture encourage Americans to tie the knot? Why has public interest in marriage declined? And how does marriage make people better off?

Show Notes:

– Brad’s page at AEI

– Brad’s new book, Get Married: Why Americans Must Defy the Elites, Forge Strong Families, and Save Civilization

– Brad: “Marriage Is Key to Living Your Best Life”

– Brad: “Why You Should Get Married”

– The Remnant with Russ Roberts

– Elizabeth Grace Matthew: Can People Be Persuaded to ‘Get Married’? 

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On today’s episode of The Remnant, Jonah’s disdain for the elderly leads him to step into the intellectual octagon with a man nine days his senior: novelist and CNN host Jake Tapper. Jake’s new show, United States of Scandal, takes a darkly comedic look at some of America’s wildest political controversies, and Jonah’s eager to discuss all the sordid details while keeping the nudity as tasteful as possible. Is Washington full of conspiracies? How many chemicals were in Larry King’s hair? And do scandals even matter anymore in the age of Trump?

Show Notes:

- Jake’s new show, United States of Scandal

- Jake on the origins of the series

- Watch this episode on YouTube

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Having woken up to the Alexei Navalny news, Jonah spends this Ruminant thinking through what the Russian opposition leader’s death might portend. From tzars and (real) settler colonialism to useful idiots a-la Tucker Carlson, the good listener should expect a very Russian episode. Пожалуйста. A more patient listener will also hear Jonah revisiting his conversation with the Lewis brothers, due to somewhat popular demand.

Show Notes:

-The Lewis brothers on The Remnant

-Kevin Kosar on The Remnant

-Bernie Sanders on Soviet chandeliers

-Dan McLaughlin: "Tucker Carlson's Lowest Moment"

-Kevin D. Williamson: "The Full Duranty"

-WSJ: "China's Shipyards Are Ready for a Protracted War. America's Aren't"

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Once again, Jonah has abandoned his Remnant duties to spend the week nibbling on sponge cake while watching the sun bake. Fortunately, Chris Stirewalt, America’s favorite simple country pundit, is on hand to take control of the program. He’s joined by Ruy Teixiera, author of Where Have All the Democrats Gone? and a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, to discuss what the wretched state of our parties could mean for the 2024 election. The GOP has spent the last decade having an extended nervous breakdown, so why haven’t the Democrats used this opportunity to become the dominant party? For that matter, why can’t Democratic candidates get a grip on working class voters? And why can’t all politicians just be normal?

Show Notes:

- Ruy’s AEI webpage

- Ruy’s Substack, The Liberal Patriot

- Ruy’s latest book, Where Have All the Democrats Gone?

- Ruy’s The Emerging Democratic Majority

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