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 Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]
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 Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]
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 Questions, Comments? Email us at [email protected]
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 Questions, Comments? Email us at [email protected]
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 Questions, Comments? Email us at [email protected]
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/ ...
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 Questions? Comments? Email [email protected]
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/ Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]
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. Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]
The mid-terms delivered a clear signal to both Democrats and Republicans. The only problem is that Donald Trump and Joe Biden failed to get the message and are threatening a rematch in 2024. In this monologue only episode, Eli urges Trump and Biden to follow the example of Nancy Pelosi and step aside. Questions, Comments? Email us at [email protected]
In this episode, Eli previews the mid-term elections in America and makes the case for Republicans winning control of Congress. His guest is Washington based reporter Ben Jacobs. Time Stamps: 00:17 Monologue 20:16 Interview with Ben Jacobs Questions? Comments? Email us at [email protected]
This week's elections in Israel brought back Benjamin Netanyahu to power. He will form a coalition with a political party that seeks to deport disloyal Arab citizens of Israel. Jerusalem Post contributing editor, Lahav Harkov joins Eli to discuss what the next government means for the Jewish state. Time Stamps: 00:27 Monologue 26:02 Interview with Lehav Harkov
Elon Musk has done it. He's taken over Twitter. In this monologue only episode, Eli explains why he hopes Musk will return neutrality to the internet's town square and rebuild the trust that Twitter has squandered since 2021. Questions, Comments? Email us at [email protected]
In this episode Eli talks with Andrew McCarthy about Special Counsel John Durham losing his second trial in his Russiagate investigation. It's strange that he brought two cases against bit players and hasn't charged senior FBI officials, despite presenting compelling evidence that the FBI investigation was riddled with errors and deceptions. Time Stamps: 00:22 Monologue 16:02 Interview with Andrew McCarthy Questions, Comments? Email us at [email protected]
In this episode, Eli examines the parallels between the 20th century literary genius, Ezra Pound and the 21st century musical genius, Kanye West. Both men were brilliant artists and both were haunted by mental demons. Then Eli discusses Kanye's recent anti-semitic outbursts with Ross Anderson, whose recent piece in Tablet can be read here. Time Stamps: 00:28 Monologue 23:39 Interview with Ross Anderson Questions, Comments? Email us at [email protected]
Since Vladimir Putin launched his war of conquest against Ukraine, his regime has hinted that it may have to use nuclear weapons. So far, he has bluffed. But the threats in the last two weeks have gotten louder as his own army loses ground. Tim Morrison, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute and expert on nuclear policy, joins Eli to talk about how to deter a wounded bear. Time Stamps: 00:40 Monologue 16:28 Interview with Tim Morrison Questions, Comments? Email us at [email protected]
If you create a super pac devoted to waging one side of the political cultural war, are you really saving democracy? Eli and Jamie Kirchick discuss the Lincoln Project. Time Stamps: 00:26 Monologue 15:33 Interview with Jamie Kirchick Questions? Comments? Ideas? Contact us at [email protected]
Ever since former FBI Associate Director Mark Felt outed himself as the source for the Washington Post's Watergate reporting, he has been praised as a kind of dissident hero. Over time, we've forgotten that Mark Felt's role in authorizing warrantless surveillance of American citizens. Eli's guest is historian Tim Naftali. Time Stamps: 00:16 Monologue 17:30 Interview with Tim Naftali Questions? Comments? Ideas? Contact us at [email protected]
In this special episode, the host of Hardcore History Dan Carlin talks with Eli about the similarities and differences between the American and Roman republics. Can we learn from the Roman Republic's decline and avoid the mistakes the great republic of antiquity made as it became a decadent empire? Click here for Carlin's great series on the death throes of the Roman Republic. Time Stamps: 00:38 Monologue 15:08 Interview with Dan Carlin Questions? Comments? Ideas? Contact us at Eli@nebulouspodca...
As Iranians once again pour into the streets to wish death to their ailing tyrant, the west has an opportunity to begin to plan for a transition in Iran. As tempting as nuclear negotiations may be for the west, it is a delusion. The Iranian regime has revealed its character for years. It's time to support their most potent enemies, the Iranian people. Eli discusses the state of Iran's freedom movement with Alireza Nader. Time Stamps: 00: 22 Monologue 20:00 Interview with Alireza Nader Questions?...
In this special edition of Re-education, we are running the latest episode of Aaron MacLean's School of War podcast. Eli was the guest and the two discussed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and how President George W. Bush approached the Middle East after 9-11. Questions? Comments? Ideas? Contact us at [email protected]
Americans have a love-hate relationship with the CIA. On the one hand, we revere and glamorize the agents who fight for our country in the shadows. On the other hand, we are shocked when we learn the CIA plays dirty. In this episode, Eli and veteran intelligence journalist Mark Hosenball discuss how the CIA looked the other way as the Contras they supported in Nicaragua trafficked cocaine to fund their war against the Sandinistas. Time Stamps: 00:29 Monologue 26:25 Interview with Mark Hosenball ...
Great people can't always be great spouses or parents. In this episode, Eli looks at the bad marriage of one of Israel's great leaders, Golda Meir, and the sacrifice her only husband made so his wife could fulfill her destiny and rise to lead the Jewish state. This show is only a monologue. Questions? Comments? Ideas? Contact us at [email protected]
On this episode Eli looks at how the left on college campuses today are driving many Jewish students into a Zionist closet. They are forced to choose between their friends and their beliefs. Eli's guest is Blake Flayton, a columnist at the Jewish Journal of Los Angeles and a recent graduate of George Washington University. He talks about his decision to emigrate to Israel. Read his piece for Common Sense here. Time Stamps: 00:02 Monologue 11:33 Interview with Blake Flayton Questions? Comments? I...
What should a Republic do about a populist demagogue? The fate of a Roman Tribune named Tiberius Gracchus provides a warning today about the perils of indicting Donald Trump. Eli's guest is Bulwark writer Tim Miller. The two do not agree on Trump and have a lively and spirited debate. It's Neither Trump versus Never Trump. Time Stamps: 00:40 Monologue 13:50 Interview with Tim Miller Questions? Comments? Ideas? Contact us at [email protected]
Is a college education worth the exorbitant cost if so many of its scholars do not believe in objective truth? In this episode Eli talks with Gabriel Noah Brahm, the founding director of the center for academic and intellectual freedom about the influence of the post modernists of the 20th century on academic scholarship today. Time stamps: 00:29 Monologue 14:30 Interview with Gabriel Noah Brahm Questions? Comments? Ideas? Contact us at [email protected]
This show explores how Russia, like the Soviet Union before it, seeks to confuse and divide the west through psychological warfare and disinformation. The Russian state's cruelty is both an advantage and a liability when it comes to skullduggery. The guest is Peter Savodnik, author of the 2013 book Interloper about Lee Harvey Oswald's sojourn to the Soviet Union. The Interloper by Peter Savodnik Time Stamps: 00:02 Introduction 19:57 Interview Peter Savodnik Questions? Comments? Ideas? Contact us...
From PT Barnum to Donald Trump, Americans have had a soft spot for bullshiters. We all know the type, the carnival barker, the fast talking pitchman, the colorful politician who insists "a lot of people are saying." On this episode Eli talks with actor, podcaster and comedian Michael Rapaport about how Donald Trump's super power is his ability to spew entertaining bullshit. Be warned, there is a lot of profanity in this episode. Time Stamps: 0:20 Monologue 12:07 Interview with Michael Rapaport Q...
Since the Mar-a-Lago raid, there has been a raging debate over whether Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump were treated the same by the FBI. In this special episode, Eli dives deep into this question and compares the bureau's two investigations into presidential candidates in 2016.
