In this episode Eli examines the history of Ayatollah Khomeini's fatwa against the author Salman Rushdie in light of his near assassination last week in New York state. The Fatwa and Iran's role in a murderous campaign against the editors, translators and author of the Satanic Verses reveals the truth about a regime that has not reformed or moderated. His guest is Nazenin Ansari, the managing editor of the London based Kayhan newspaper. Time Stamps: 0:18 Monologue 11:44 Interview with Nazenin An...
Aug 17, 2022•1 hr 8 min
In this episode, Eli explores how the word punk can be both an insult and high praise and why after nearly 50 years, the degenerate rebels of the late 1970s who created punk rock are still so culturally relevant. His guest is the host of the Reason Magazine interview podcast, Nick Gillespie. This is a long one, but worth your time. Time Stamps: 0:20 - Monologue 13:20 - Interview with Nick Gillespie
Aug 12, 2022•1 hr 36 min
On Monday the FBI made an in kind donation to Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign when they conducted a search warrant of his Mar-a-Lago compound. If this turns out to be part of an investigation into a Presidential Records Act violation or the mishandling of classified material, as has been reported in the press, then the Justice Department has just secured Trump's win in the GOP primaries. Eli's guest is Andy McCarthy, a former US attorney and one of the sharpest commenters today on fede...
Aug 10, 2022•37 min
In this show, Eli examines the United Kingdom's decision last month to shut down the Tavistock clinic, the only facility in the country to specialize in transgender youth. The decision to shut it down exposes a false consensus imposed by activists on the safety of what are known as puberty blockers. His guest is the co-host of the Blocked and Reported podcast, Jesse Singal. Time Stamps: 00:04 Introduction 00:23 Monologue 10:59 Interview
Aug 05, 2022•36 min
In this episode Eli and Foundation for Defense of Democracies fellow Bill Roggiio discuss the death of al Qaeda's leader, Ayman al Zawahiri and what it means for the organization that brought down the twin towers. America has made plenty of mistakes in the war on terrorism, but al Qaeda's dream of restoring the Caliphate looks like it will die with Zawahiri. Time Stamps 0:01 Introduction 00:33 Monologue 12:19 Interview with Bill Roggiio
Aug 03, 2022•1 hr 9 min
Does the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade mean other gains of the women's movement are in danger of slipping away. It depends on how you think about the legacy of second wave feminism. If it's a political movement, perhaps. But the real accomplishment of women like Betty Friedan was that she and her movement changed American culture. Eli will explore the issue with philosopher and author, Christina Hoff Sommers. Time Stamps: 00:02 Introduction 00:14 Monologue 13:00 Interview with ...
Jul 29, 2022•57 min
In this episode Eli looks at what recent Russian history tells us about the relationship between the Russian state and its citizens, and why so many Russian leaders have been so cruel. His guest is Fred Kagan, the director of the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute. Time Stamps: 00:02 Introduction 00:23 Monologue 11:44 Interview with Fred Kagan
Jul 27, 2022•57 min
The First Avenue club in Minneapolis helped break Prince, one of the most controversial artists of the 1980s despite backlash that decade from social conservatives who worried that his music was dangerous for the youth. Today that same club has caved to pressure from moral scolds on the left who claim Dave Chappelle's comedy endangers the trans community. In this episode Eli and guest, Jeff Blehar examine First Avenue's decision to cave to the censors. Time Stamps: 00:02 Introduction 00:17 Monol...
Jul 22, 2022•42 min
In this episode of the Re-Education, I examine why so many Americans are filled with despair when the quality of life has improved so much in the last century. My guest is the host of the Good Faith Effort podcast, Ari Lamm. Time Stamps: 0:02 Introduction 00:24 Monologue 11:58 Interview with Ari Lamm
Jul 20, 2022•1 hr 4 min
In this episode, Eli explores why so many creative geniuses have embraced some truly vulgar and horrific political causes and movements. His guest is Vice reporter and Fifth Column podcaster, Michael Moynihan. Time Stamps: 0:04 Introduction 0:22 Monologue 9:38 Interview with Michael Moynihan
Jul 14, 2022•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 23
In this episode, the Re-education examines the similarities between the woke scolds of today and the puritans of earlier moral panics in America. Our guest is Noah Rothman, the author of the new book, "The Rise of the New Puritans." Time Stamps: 0:06 - Introduction 0:24 - Monologue 7:03 - Interview with Noah Rothman
Jul 12, 2022•47 min
In this bonus episode, Eli argues America deserves a better national anthem than the Star-Spangled Banner and suggests four alternatives.
Jul 04, 2022•16 min
Happy Birthday, America. On this episode, Eli and author Tevi Troy explore the cultural legacy of our national charter and the tension between order and liberty, safety and freedom. Time Stamps: 0:08 - Introduction 0:31 - Monologue 7:09 - Interview with Tevi Troy
Jul 01, 2022•39 min
On Today's Re-Education, Eli examines the phenomenon of the red pill in our politics today, people who have chosen to pursue an uncomfortable truth despite enormous pressure to go on believing a lie. His guest is Maud Maron, a New York City public defender who is now running for Congress in a crowded primary. Time Stamps: 0:03 - Introduction 0:51 - Monologue 9:44 - Interview with Maud Maron
Jun 28, 2022•40 min
In this episode, Eli explores why it’s hard to shun an ally like Saudi Arabia, even when the new Saudi crown prince acts like a tyrant. If there were easy answers in foreign policy, every pundit would be a statesman. Time Stamps: 0:03 - Introduction 0:24 - Monologue 9:03 - Interview with Brian Katulis
Jun 21, 2022•44 min
In this episode, we examine what life was like for gays and lesbians when they were second-class citizens and forced to live in the closet and how and why this unjust regime changed. The guest is the author of a new history of gay Washington, Jamie Kirchick. 0:03 - Introduction 0:52 - Monologue 7:09 - Interview with Jamie Kirchick
Jun 16, 2022•1 hr 8 min
When you can't support a demagogue who won’t accept the results of elections he loses, but you also can’t support a resistance that claims to be restoring our political norms by violating them, you have few places to turn. This week on The Re-Education, Eli is joined by Mary Katharine Ham to discuss where Americans should turn when they feel stuck in the middle. Time Stamps 0:04 - Intro 0:23 - Monologue 16:49 - Interview with Mary Katharine Ham
Jun 14, 2022•43 min
There was a time in America when the bullies plagued our schools and workplaces. This week we look at the "cry bully", a new type of bully that can be described as a "hideous hybrid of victim and victor, weeper and walloper" and how they have infiltrated our newsrooms, colleges, and public offices. Time Stamps: 0:03 - Intro 0:21 - Monologue 9:53 - Interview with Abe Greenwald
Jun 09, 2022•47 min
The citizens of San Francisco vote this week on whether to recall their district attorney, Chesa Boudin. This episode looks at a progressive prosecutor who doesn't want to prosecute a lot of crime. Time Stamps: 0:03 - Intro 0:17 - Monologue 15:29 - Interview with Richie Greenberg
Jun 07, 2022•45 min
When a Washington DC jury acquitted a former lawyer for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign this week, many Democrats rejoiced. But the real story from his trial is how much it exposed the FBI and its willingness to take any innuendo and smear from the Clinton campaign as grist to investigate Donald Trump. On this episode of the Reeducation, Eli looks at why the FBI is in desperate need of reform. Time Stamps: 0:03 - Segment: Intro 0:21 - Segment: Monologue 10:22 - Segment: Interview wi...
Jun 02, 2022•35 min
As the Republican party sorts out whether they will be a party of election deniers or election acceptors, Democrats should take another look at how Hillary Clinton's campaign did not respect the peaceful transfer of power in 2016. Times: 0:03 - Segment: Introduction 0:20 - Segment: Monlogue 15:23 - Segment: interview with Rich Lowery
May 31, 2022•41 min
Lawmakers, activists, and others called for action after this week's tragic elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. With an increase in mass shootings in recent years, many wonder what can be done to prevent such horrors from happening in the first place. What is the best way forward for gun laws and gun ownership?Today on The Re-Education with Eli Lake: Guns. Featuring an interview with gun policy reporter Stephen Gutowski. Times 00:02 - Segment: Introduction 00:17 - Segment: Monologue 11:...
May 26, 2022•49 min
Tyrants can only retain power when the masses cooperate with tyranny. Successful nonviolent resistance movements—from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s civil rights demonstrates to modern protests in Iran—show that taking up arms is not always necessary for, and can be antithetical to, advancing freedom. Today on The Re-Education, Eli Lake discusses nonviolent resistance with Cameron Khansarinia, policy director of the National Union for a Democratic Iran. Times 00:03 - Segment: Introduction 00:23 -...
May 24, 2022•49 min
The trial of former Washington lawyer Michael Sussman began this week—highlighting how the Hillary Clinton campaign tried to gin up FBI investigations into her opponent's ties to the Kremlin. That's right—we're talking Russiagate on this episode of The Re-Education with Eli Lake. Featuring Washington Free Beacon senior investigative reporter Chuck Ross. Times 00:02 - Segment: Introduction 00:19 - Segment: Monologue 19:33 - Segment: Interview with Chuck Ross Link Chuck's work for the Free Beacon...
May 19, 2022•41 min
What happens when we judge speech and opinions by the actions of rogues and sociopaths instead of the thinker? Eli Lake asks on this episode of The Re-Education, featuring author Batya Ungar-Sargon. Times 00:02 - Segment: Introduction 00:25 - Segment: Monologue 13:48 - Segment: Interview with Batya Ungar-Sargon Link Batya's book
May 17, 2022•47 min
What are norms? What societal and political norms should we continue to observe today? And when is it okay to break the norms? On this episode of The Re-Education, Eli Lake talks norms with Liberties founder Leon Wieseltier. Times 00:03 - Segment: Introduction 00:18 - Segment: Monologue 07:38 - Segment: Interview with Leon Wieseltier
May 12, 2022•1 hr 5 min
What would have happened to Jesse Jackson's work in racial justice movements if American Jews ostracized the activist after his anti-Semitic comments? Instead of ending the careers of those who err, what if cancel mobs sought apologies, and feuding parties made amends? Eli Lake talks apologies on this episode of The Re-Education. Times 00:03 - Segment: Introduction 00:24 - Segment: Monologue 12:47 - Segment: Interview with Abe Foxman, former national director of the Anti-Defamation League
May 10, 2022•33 min
Terrible artists can be great people. And terrible people can be great artists. Modern-day pressure campaigns to cancel stars for their abhorrent behavior fail to separate the art from the artist—and pose a threat to our culture. On this episode of The Re-Education, Eli Lake considers what we stand to lose when we boycott disgraced geniuses. Times 00:03 - Segment: Introduction 00:20 - Segment: Monologue 15:05 - Segment: Interview with author and art historian Victoria Coates Link Victoria’s book...
May 05, 2022•54 min
Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a war of terror. From bombing children's hospitals to sniping innocent, fleeing civilians, Vladimir Putin has undoubtedly committed atrocious war crimes. Should Putin remain in power? And who is responsible for keeping Putin accountable? On this episode of The Re-Education, we discuss Putin's army of terror with New York Times columnist Bret Stephens. Times 00:03 - Segment: Introduction 00:20 - Segment: Monologue 08:48 - Segment: Interview with Bret Stephens Links...
May 03, 2022•47 min
What happens when the gatekeepers of information—newspapers, television, social media platforms—dictate what is true? On this episode of The Re-Education, Eli Lake talks disinformation and misinformation. Times 00:03 - Segment: Introduction 00:20 - Segment: Monologue 20:44 - Segment: Interview with Commentary Magazine writer Christine Rosen Link Christine’s work in Commentary Magazine
Apr 28, 2022•43 min
