The Secret Podcast

Big show today. Sarah and JVL drop the news that TNL is taking over CSPAN on Saturday morning. They talk about Nikki Haley’s second look. America’s SpaceX problem. And the secret history of “Gay Obama.”

It’s total, nonstop action.

Don’t miss Sarah, Tim, and JVL on C-SPAN on Saturday morning at 9am in the East.

Today Bill Kristol sat in for Sarah and we talked about book-banning in Iowa schools, America coming apart, and the extent to which the stupidity of a culture war doesn’t mean it’s benign.

You should read this op-ed as background on the Iowa book-banning law.

And a reminder: If you’re listening to the preview version and want to …

Sarah and JVL catch up on the debate—about Nikki and Ron and Vivek. And about Trump’s mugshot.

Warning: Sarah’s audio is a little wonky for the first section, but it clears up.

Finally: Before we roll up our sleeves to save democracy again, maybe grab a moment of levity with one of these.

Sarah is out and JVL has a special guest: Amanda Carpenter!

Amanda brings the ALL CAPS to the Georgia indictment, the Republican debate, and a dark fate that even JVL hasn’t started contemplating yet.

It’s an epic show with your old friend and you’re gonna love it.

Sarah and JVL talk about the politics of Joe Biden’s Hunter problem and the game theory on whether or not Ron DeSantis should stay in the race. Also, Barbie. And Oppenheimer.

Sarah and JVL talk about the latest arraignment, the Triangle of Doom through history, and Barbie.

Sarah and JVL talk about Jack Smith’s superseding indictment, Hunter Biden not getting pardoned, Sarah’s new campaign, and Barbenheimer. It’s a pretty good show this week.

Sarah and JVL dig into Ron DeSantis’s awful campaign reset and then try to figure out just what the No Labels people are thinking. And then they go really long on book shelves and Hamilton. This is the epic, hour-long Secret show you’ve been waiting for.

This week Sarah and JVL talk about the gap between people’s vibes about the economy, and the actual, real-world state of the economy itself. And then—as if that isn’t enough—we delve into the question of what it is about modernity that leave so many older Americans susceptible to the Triangle of Doom.

On today’s show Mona Charen sits in for Sarah and she and JVL talk about this David French piece. It’s about how MAGA types seem to simultaneously believe that they are in a fight for the future of civilization—but also, everything is awesome!

Here’s French:

It’s no coincidence that one of the most enduring cultural symbols of Trump’s 2020 c…